Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

4GNES; OR, BRAUTY AND PLEAQUEE dear tignora,” cried Attoiie, her coun- suddenly-brightening up,# if it were dream which hss left its idfluence upon nd—and no real trouble———* as only @ dream, Antonia. But then w the coincidence! Ab, I see that you understand me——-es indeed how can I must seem to be talking in enigmas ! mean is that it is not the first time I have ‘ dream :—it is the Second.” il, dear signora,” answered Antonia, “I 160 @ person mey dream the same thing over “or three times—especially if on the first ooca- wit leaves any particular impression on the nd,” ‘Yot there are dreams, Antonia, so different m others,” pursued Floribel, in a low melan- ly voice,“ dreams which sppear to fore- dow one’s very destiny! Let me tell you some- ng-—for you are in my confidence, end you ow that when I paid that stealthy visit to the merino mansion, it was to see my cousin Agnes. id I have told you likewise that this cousin of ne has led the purest and chastest and holiest 2, and she is now about to be rewarded by os- using bim who possesses her heart. Well, atime ago, Antonia, I dreamt that she received rift of a simple chaplet of flowers ;—an’ that aplet was emblematical of the virgins purity of r thoughts and of her life down to the present ae. She by her conduct has fulfilled that pro- etic portion of my dream!” “Te: only by straining the point very much, af ugnora,”’ remarked Antonia, ‘that you can plete gmour illuetration or make your deduc- 4.” Ob, but I tremble with a euperstitious fear,” onded Floribel, shuddering visibly, “ lest the sining, portion of my dream should receive its orical fulfilment! That portion of which I spoke, referred to my cousin Agnes: the other » on*relates to myself. Aad it is this latter artion which I dreamt again last night, Antonia, lich has left a saddening effect upon my All day long I have endeavoured to rally spirita—but vainly. St. Didier saw that I melancholy and desponding : at first he per- ad in questioning me—TI pleaded a headache, . he believed me.”’ And that dream, signora=-=was it then so very, _ terrible ?” asked Antonia. Floribel again shuddered visibly ; and she said 4 low voice, which had something hollow in its 4, “Terrible indeed, Antonia! Methought oat I was suddenly brought to gaze upon that “sad object which affords the hideous proof that thly enjoyment and luxury, all display and - well as pleasure, must terminate in a skeleton ‘at last !’’ aia started, and something like a faint cry her lips. -es—such was my dream,” resumed Fioribel. « Ynot enter into further details. Suffice it va), Antonia, that it was reproduced last night st aa dreamt it at the very time when I was avering upon the brink of the precipice down I soon after fell! Can it be an omen of Antunia, this reappearance of that vision? I torne the name of Pleasure—and am I des- like pleasure itself to be short-lived P” 418 “Dearest signora,” cried the young abigail, with a frightened ais, “ do not abandon yourself to these gloomy ideas~-and all for a dream! You are come to Genoa to enjoy yourself—vou are with one who loves you devotedly, and whalis pruud of you—you will create a sensation here! And look at yourself in the mirror, dearest signora !—how handsome you are! When you join Captain St. Didier in the dining-room, you will see with what joy and pleasure his eyes will light up as he sur- veys you.” = “© Woll,” aaid Floribel, “ I must make an effort to regain my spirits: I have no right to sadden him. Besides, I daresay all this is very foolish on my part—and the impression will presently pass away and to-morrow I shall laugh or else be angry with myeelf for having entertained these fears. ioa— you have taken more than usual pains with my toilet, dear Antonia,” added Floribel, as she looked in the mirror which reflected her face and form of ravishing beauty. Antonia smiled with delight to observe that her mistress was Svidently becoming more cheerfal. “ And now I will proceed to the dining-room,” said Floribel. ‘But, Ab! what disturbance is that ?” she ejaculated, as she opened the door of the chamber. “ Vuices in altercation! What can it mean?” and she sped along a little passage be- longing to the suite of apartments and leading to the dining-room. But let us pause to ascertain what was the origin of the disturbance the sounds of which had thus suddenly reached Fioribel’s ears. hector Hardress, maddened with his ideas and with wine, had rushed forth from the coffee-room and had sped into the court-yard, where he put a few hasty questions to a hostler in respect to the arrivals which Cap n Fitzherbert had already. mentioned. He le. 1t enough to convince him that Floribel was indeed at that moment an inmate of the hotel: but he could not discover who her male companion was. He paced to and fro for upwards of a quarter of an hour, vainly endeavour- ing to cvol his fevered brain—until goaded to madness by the influence of his evil passions, end by the copious draughts of liquor which he had swallowed, be resolved to seek an interview, at all risks and at all hazards, with Floribel. He had no settled aim in view: he was far from being sufficiently self-possessed to deliberate upon the proceeding: his only thought—the all-absorbing one—was that inasmuch as Floribel was here, be must see her. By means of an inquiry put to a waiter, he learnt to which suite of apartments the recently arrived travellers had been shown , and he rushed up the stairouse. He opened the outer door of the suite—he strode across the little veastibule—he entered the dining-room. At that very instant St. Didier entered the room likewise, from @ door at the opposite extremity. “ Your business, signor?” demanded the Sar- dinian officer somewhat curtly, for there was enough in Hector’s manner to make him look sus- picioualy or at least strangely upon ¢he intruder. “My business is not with you, signor,” ex: claimed the excited Englishman. “ But your name?” asked St. Didier. “My name? You shal! not know it. It eon- cerns you not!” comiclooolk CO