Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

42K Deo Vere, Ambassador,—vour hero having been prosented b: the Tuscan Minister of tho Juterior. On the following day, at about noon, Agnes wa in ber own chamber at the hotel, engaged with her two lady’s-maids and a Florentine milliner, it supcrintonding the preparation of tho brida yaiment,— when another of her handmaiden entered the room, and presenting a card, said “The lady wishes to sce you, Miss, immediately i convenient.” Agnes planecdt ot the name upun the eard, anc at once replied, “Oh, yes! I will see her ladyshbiy without delay! Let her be shown into my sitting: room,’ _ Agnes then hastened to change her morning. “GrekY tur g costume that was more appropriate for thie recep ‘of ber patrician visitress; and shc then proceeded to tile sitting-room belonging tc her own special suite. The two ladies who now met, beheld each other for the first timo; but they had nevertheless heard much of each other, and all that they had thua heard was 60 pleasing and so favourable that they were already prepared to become friends and to love each other. Thus it was not a mere exchange of formal salutations when they met; but they at onco took each other’s hande—and then, with n quick and sudden simultaneousness, they opencd their arme and locked each other in a fervid embrace. When this effusion of the beart’s most generous ! yearnings and inspirations had found its vent, the two young ladies sat down together, ‘ben they Jouked upon each other in silence. Agnes beheld before her a woman of remarkeble beauty—about three-and-twonty years of age, and with an ex- pression of such ineffable sweetness and true genuine modesty in her looke that it was impos- sible to bo otherwiso than irresistibly attracted towards her., On the other hand, this lady was gezing upon @ young creature of ninctcen, whose loveliness was of a truly angelie descriptivn, the masses of whose auburn hair were floating in a golden redundance upon shoulders stainlessly fair, and in the depths of whose large blue eyes might bo read the purest and chastest thoughts. Tho survey which thus mutually tovk placo was ro- ciprocally favourable; and it was Agnes who first broke the silence by saying, “ You know not what pleasure this visit effords mo! 1 bare now an opportunity of expressing my thanks to one who has conferred a thousand obligations on him in whem, as you well know, I am so deeply inte- rested !” “Aud belicyve me, doar Agnes,” was the reply given with an equal fervour, “it is with the most unfeigned pleasure I now form your acquaintance -—I greet you as a friend--I clasp you by the hand—and I perceivo at a glance that you are in every way fitted to bocomo the bride of him whom I am proud to regard os my friend!” You call me by my Christian name of Agnes,” eaid cur heroine, taking the lady’s hand; “and I am rejviced that you thus at once prove that you look upun mo as if I were your eister! Beheve therefore, dear Lucia, it 19 @ sistcrly love that I shall ever experience towards you !” “Yes—wo will love each other, and we qill think of cach other as pisters!” rejoined the who wero introduced by the British . AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. Ls Countess de Milazzo--fur sho the visitress was. “Embraco me egain, dear Agnes!—embrace me, and repeat the assurance that henceforth we are to love each other as sisters !” Our young boroine throw herself into the arms of tho Countess, murmuring with much emotion, “We are sisters!” “Tt was not my intention to make mysolf per. sonally known fo you,” resumed the Countess di Milazzo, after a long pause, “until you should havo become the happy brido of him who loves you so devotedly and whu is the noblest-minded young man that ever existed op the face of the earth! But within the last two montle—since those terrible events at Sienna, and sinco I beleld my eister enter a cloister—I have reflected eeri- ously and deeply —— aud I have come to a par- ticular determination.” Agnes gazed upon hor now friend with the most oarnest interest; for the Countess was speaking with a fone and look of melancholy resignation. “T cannot explain myself further now, dcar Agnes,” proceeded Lucia; “but you shall shortly know-—in a fow weeks—what is the meaning of the words that may now appear mysterious unto you. You have promised to lovo me as a sister ; and by this love 1 conjure you not to question me at present. Ihave another boon to ask——sand it is also in tho name of our aisterly love that I adjure you to grant it.” ‘Ob, what could you ask of me that I would i not grant P” cried Acncs with emotion. “ Bolieve me, thou pure and beautiful creature » thou carthly incarnation of the angel-nature of those who dwell in heaven !—believe mo,” cried > the Countess, with fervour, “‘I am incapable of asking you anything that you may not accord! | From all that 1 have previously heard of you, I | was prepared to love you duvotediy: but now thet I have secn you, dear Arnos, I fecl that if is ono of the most blessed privileges to receivo the ase surance of a sisterly love froia such lips as your’s! pincss! And now the boon that I ask is that you will permit me to offer you a testimonial of this earnest friondship and sincero love that 1 entur- tain for you. Say, Agnes—will you grant mo the boon? will you accept the prvuof of those feelings with which you have inspired me?” “tow could I refuse you? or why should I re- fuse you?” murmured our young hervine, her heart swelling with emotions, and teur-drops pliatening like twin-diamonds ia her eyes. “Oh, I shsll rejoice to accept a testimony of your fricude ship and of your sisterly love!” “ You have made me happy, Agnes!” oxclaimed Lucia, a smile of joy—almost of triuwph passing over her beautiful countenance; and then puixting to a bux of some dark wood which stood upon tho table, but which had hitherto remained cuncealed by her white kercbief as if it had been ucgligently flung there, sho said, “ This, dear Agnes, is my little offering. You can look at it when I am gone—for I am now about to bid you farowell.” “To bid mo farewell?” exclaimed our heroine, “ You are not about to depart?” “TZ arrived in Florence only an hour ago,” an- swered Lucia, “and tho horses which are to bear me hence aro by this time already harvessod tu my Carriage.” comiclooolk Oh, 1 would lay down my lifo to insure your hap-: