Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 274: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AGNES; OH, RRAUTY AND PLEASURE. “Ab! I wks speaking as if you knew me!” cried the lad,. “ My husband is the Hon. Mr. Hardrese,,<he son of Lord Mendlesham.” “I have heard of him,” said the quadroon. “You are the niece of Mr. Timperley; and it was through your intervention that Miss Agnes Evelyn procured a certain document for the liberation of old Mr. Barrington.” “True!” ejaculated Cicely. “ And, you there- fore, must be the wife of the younger Mr. Bar- rington P” “IT am that most miserable woman,” replied Emily. “Ob, do not talk in this way !” exclaimed Mrs. Hardress good-naturedly. ‘“ AH husbands and wives will quarrel now and then.” “Ab! but such a fearful quarrel as this!” ejacu- lated the quadroon. “Well, it certainly is not a petty or trivial dis- pute,” said Cicely : “ but I daresay that it will be made up to-morrow.” Tho quadroon shook her head; and then she inquired, “ How did you know who I am P” ‘‘Mr. De Vere happened to mention that ‘he was waiting in Figrence for youlig Mr. and Mrs. Barrington,” responded Cicely; “and he said that Mrs. Barrington was a West Indian lady; so that I-——-you will forgive me for adding that I. at once suspected who you were.” “Ah! I would that Mr. De Vere could be fetched at once!” ejaculated the quadroon ; “ for he would advise me how toact. I am afraid I have gone too far! Ob, I am afraid I have gone too far !” “Do not despond,” said Mrs, Hardress. “I 223 aware of the reality of the incidents. Mre. Hardress presently made her appesrance; and on learning that Gustavus had not returned through. oué the night, she said, “The affair does really look serious. What can I do for you P” “A thousand thanks for your kindness!” an- swered the quadroon. “Would you send at once and fotch Mr. De Vere ?” “Immediately,” replied Mre. Hardress: and she hastened from the quadroon’s chamber. In less than half-an-hour Charles arrivod at the hotel, The quadroon had by this time performed her toilet: she was dressed in an clegant morning deshabillée ; but she looked ill and careworn. As she rose from her seat to welcome our hero, she saw that his countenance wore as serious ex- pression; and she at once ejaculated, “Perhaps you already know what has happened ?” “Yes—I know everything,” responded Charles. “Your husband came to me last night-——” “ Last night P” ejaculated Emily, almost in an angry tone. “And you did not persuade him to return to me P” “ Mrs. Barrington,” answered De Vere, “I said all I could to effect a reconciliation—I used every | Possible argument =~ “ And you failed ?” oried the quadroon. “Oh! then he has resolved to abandon me altogether! But it shall not be ao!” sho ojaculated with a oy fierce flashing of tho eyes, “I will go to im !" “You know not where to find him, madam,” interrupted De Vere. “Oh! it distresses mo deeply to be compelled to speak to you on such disagreeable subjects the very instant when we will do anything I can to serve you. At the same | again meot; for I feel that I owe you a deep debt Lime you must confess that it was rather an out- | of gratitude—and fain would I have displayed it rageous thing for a wife to stand with a sharp- puinted knife like that over her husband ?” “But you know not the provocation |” said Emily. “Oh, I have loved him so fervidly——” “ And perhaps he does not appreciate your love as ho ought,” interjected Cicely. “ Come— ‘ranquillize yourself. Wo will see what is to be Jone in the morning.” Mrs. Iardress then took her leave of the qua- lroon, and glided back to her own chamber without »ncountering a soul in the passage, Emily did not for a long time re-enter her souch. She kept waiting and waiting in the hope that Gustavus would return, though at the bottom of her heart there was a deep misgiving that he would not make his appearance again until the morrow. Sho did indeed feel that she had gone too far, and chat presuming too much on the etrength of her position, she had proportionately exaggerated the weaknoss of her husband’s—so that the result was ‘by showing my readiness to bring you joyous in- telligenco! But, alas! it is otherwise !” “Good heavens!” exclaimed the quadroon, with a frightened look: “have you anything worse to impart ?—has anything happened to Gustavus ?— has he in a moment of desperation A “No, no!” ejaculated Charles: “you havo nothing to apprehend on this head. Your hus- band is far more rational and sane thea I could possibly have expected to find him, after all that took place in your house in the Apennines, and after all you told me on that occasion. Indeed, Mrs. Barrington, he is completely rational. No doubt he was very much excited when he came last night te seek mo—but still he knew porfeotly well what he was saying: and this morning———” “Ab! you have seen him this morning ?” ex- claimed Emily. “He must be ataying at the same hotel as yourself; and yet you told me just now, Mr. De Vere, that I should not know where to ‘hat when she arbitrarily refused to relax the; find him !” sxords of discipline with which she had bound him, “And I told you the truth, Mrs. Barrington,” he gathered together hie strength like Sameon, | replied Charles. “I myself do not know. Yet ind snapping them in twain, threw them off sltogether. . Hours passed on-—-Gustavus returned not—and it length the quadroon lay down upon her couch : nut it was a long time ere sleep fell upon ber yen, T Ween she awoke in the morning, the first idea that atruck her was that ehe had passed through a troubled and terrible dream: but on perceiving hat Gastavas was not by her side, she became I come from him now :—I was on the very point of eetting out when Mrs. Hardrese’ footman camo with a message———” “Ob, Mr. De Vere! what am I to understand ?” asked the quadroon: “what does Gustavus mean todo? ‘Will he never return to me?—is every- thing at an end between us?” “No, Mrs. Barrington—do not think it,” re. joined our hero. “ But if you will tranquillize yourself—as you really ought to do—I will explain Oo comicboo S CO