Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, “Ab! you begin to be melted!” ejaculated Hector, in accents thrilling with delight. “You are setting my mind at case,” she re- joined, “I naturally looked upon Cicely as a {-'.ad—I bed known her as Miss Neale—I am also aware that my cousin Agnes entertained an affection for her, and doubtless still entertains it—’ “ And now all those compunctions on your part are sot at rest! But I will even toll you more,” continued Hardress, growing sentimentally maud: lin and confidential in proportion as he flattered himself that the beautiful Fioribel was yielding to his views. “I have not only agreed that Cicely shall take a lover, if she choose—but she ha already found one—or at least her fancy was scttled in a particular quarter when I left Florence; and LT have no doubt that by this time she is as com. pletely happy io her affair of gallantry as I fondly hope to become in mine.” “The whole adventure is charming,” ejaculated Floribel; “ arfd it interests me immensely! Who can be tho favoured one ?” “Ah! thad, perhaps, is the most extraordinary port of it all !” interjected Hardress. You would searcely believe it~and I am at a loss whether I ought to go to such an extrege “OL!” ejuculated Floribel, suddenly pouting hor lips, ‘ where there is no confidence there is 20 love. Give mo all your confidence—sbow that you ure sincero in making theso advances towards me-———”? * A singlo word from your tongue becomes tan- tamount to a command!” cried Hector, growing More and more infatuated with the beautiful crea- ture before him; for never once from his memory was absent the ravishing spectacle he had beholden when in the morning he hed intruded upon the privacy of her chamber, “ You shall have all my confidence !—there is no secret upun earth which I puseess that L will not communicate to you! You will be astonished when I*tell you that the object of Cicely’s fantasy ig none other than Guess ! But nu! you will never do it! I mean Charles De Vore.” Viursbel started with the utmost amazement : then she bent her large dark cyes with a look of ineredulity upon Tlector Hardress : but suddefily recollecting that he had merely said his wife had tuken a fancy in that quarter, without averring that tho passion was reciprocated, she said, “ Ab! is it indeed eo P” “Ttisas I tell you, Floribel: but of course I cannot do more than surmise concerning tho suc- ceas that Cicely may have experienced—tor I lett Fiorence on the very day when wo came to our arrangement, And now, adorable creature ! what hope dure I entertain? Ab! I might urge asa passport to your favour that I punished the man who played so villanous a part towards you—1 killed Theodore Clifford " © Yes!” interjected Floribel, with a look of aver- sion and disgust; “ but you wero not purpuscly avenging we ut the time—you were vindicating Bume private quarrel of your own—and therefore you must not make a merit of that deed !” " Let us put it out of the question,” said Hard- Teegy “ But for wy own sake—for the love that I bea _ ; ‘1 cannot become the mistress of a married 200 man,” answered Floribel. “You have now ny decision.” “Your decision?’ echoed the young patrician with a look of mingled astonishment and vexation “What ! after all I havo told you in reference t my wife and myself ?” “T have thought better of it,” said Floribel * My decision is given: it is pusitive and it i: final.” “Do you mean mo to understand that I have nc hope ?” asked Hector, his cheeks and his lips white with the rage that was gathering withir him. “Do not let there be any folly botwoen ue!” rejoined Floribel : “do not speak a hope and love in the same sentimental style as if you were won: ing mo fora wife! Be sensibie aud bo rvason: able! Youask mo to become your mistress—and I decline the honour. You will now havo the goodness to leave me.” “ No—by heavens, no! not on these terms!’ exclaimed Hector. ‘‘ Why did you ere now amik encouragingly upon me? why did you call me by my Christian name P” “I was reficcting—I was meditating at the time. I had not made up my mind. Surely you would not havo had me givo you an abrupt! gnswei in the negative without the slightest reflection | If I had done so, then indeed you might have aaic that 1 was treating you with insuit !” “All this is evasion, Floribel!” ejaculated Hector. “ For some reason you have tmade re your dupe: but fam not a man to saffer myact to be trifled with! I give you one more chance — and if you still scorn my overtures, beware ! —for by beaven! I will be avenged !” “Oh, if ever thore were a momont when I thought well of your overtures,” exclaimed Flo: ribel, disduinfully, “the conduct which you are now diaplaying—so infamous and so cowartly in “You do not know my character!” cried Hector, “1 will either love or bate you: I will dv all I can to serve you—or I will become your bitterest persocutur ! Ab! you smile? you defy me? Beware! Think you that | am izavorant ot the weak point through the medium of which the sharpest poniard may be plunged into your heart, orthe barbed arruw be made to rankle there! Yes !—I know it !—you would sooner die than lot your cousin Agnes know that Fioribel Lister was identical with that Ciprina whvuse name has be- come notorious in Florence !” Fioribel’a cheeks became pale; but quickly re- gaiuing her self-poussession, she rose from her seat, and suid with a calm air of defiance, “You will not dare make those revelations to my cousin Agues,” “ Reckon not upon my forbearance !” exclaimed Hardress menacingly. “No,” said Floribel, “I do not reckon upon your forbearance: but I reckon upon your fears.” “My fears?” cjaculated Tlardress: and he aughed scornfully. “My fears! Of what?” “That I should retuliate most bitterly,” re- Joined Floribel. “Ol! it was not without a mo- tive that 1 ere now smiled eaceuraygine!y aud called you by your Christian name! Lt was tol lead you on in your confidential moni. Curiosity at firat iuspired me; and then it sudcenly sirack me that it were as well to provide myst with Ccomicboo SS CO