The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 275: what you’re looking at

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— 230 ° consolatory in her present position, Agnes Vernon foll upon her knees before tho two amazed ladies, exclaiming, as she extended her clasped hands wildly towards them, “Take me home again to my cottage—take me home again, J implore you!” “My dearest child,” said the elder Miss Theobald, accompanying her soothing words with tho tenderest caresses; “wltt do you fear?—wherefore do you wish to leave us? Are wo not your mothor’s friends?—and can you not persuado yourself to look upon us in the same light ?” “Oh! yes, madam—I know~—I feel that you are my friend—that you wish mo well!” cried Agnes, her approhensions dissipating, but only to allow scope for her anguish to burst forth again. ‘Why, then, do you thus give way to your gricf?” asked Miss Theobald, raising tho young maiden gently, and as gently leading hier to a seat. “J cannot explain my sensations,’ sobbed the poor girl: “and yet I fool very—very unhappy.” “You have doubtiess beon much excited this evening, my love,” was the reply: “but a good night’s rest will tranqnillise you. And remember —you are beneath a friendly roof, and where harm cannot reach you.” “But I tromblo lest I have dono wrong, madam,” exclaimed Agnes, “ Iow is it that my fathor or- dains ono thing, and my mother counsels another ? Oh! Iam bowildored with misgivings—I know not what to think, nor how to act!” “ Are you not pleased at having at longth om- braced a mother 2”? said the younger Miss Thoobald, in a tone of gentle reproach. Yes—oh! yes!” cjaculated Agnes, fervently: then, in a mournful voice, she observed, “But I havo fled—surroptitiously fled from the home provided for mo by a fond and trusting father !’’ The two ladies fully comprehended the nature of the conflicting thoughts that were agitating in tho breast of Agnes Vernon; and they exchanged rapid glances of mingled sorrow and apprchonsion. They saw that on one side was a suddenly awakened and ardent love for a mother; and that on the other was 2 sense of the deferonce and obedience, as well as of tho gratitude, duo to an affectionate father. They woro, therefore, filled with regret that family cir- cumstances should have placed that puro, artless, and innocent girl ina position which compelled her to balance between the two; and, although they would have moved heaven and carth to induce her to doside in favour of the matqrnal parent, they re- cognised tho difficulty of the task, and entertained the deepest alarm for its results. “To-morrow cvening, long before this hour, my dear Agnes,’’ said the elder of the ladies, “ you will bo comfortably sottled in your now home, The villa which your mother intonds to inhabit at Bayswater, bolongs to my sister and mysolf. It is a neatlittle dwelling—necither too much secluded, nor too near to the neighbouring houses; and a largo, well-cultigated, and delightful gardon is at- tached to it. ‘hen, my doar child, refloct—re- momber, tlat you will possess a constant, a dovoted, and a loving companion in your mother: you will no longer pass many, many hours—indced, the greater portion of your time~-in solitude and lone- liness, nor be thrown upon the incompatible society of servants, who, however good in licart and well- intentioned, are not such associates as you would solect of your own free will.” * Ah! madam—your words console me,” snid | of the ovening repast. ~~ 4 ewes: been,” returned Miss Theobald; “and I seo that I not—could not dwell with you entively—that he could only be a visitor at your place of abode, wherever it might be—and, therefore, I naturally conjectured that you were thrown almost com- pletely upon your own resources.” Vernon, ingenuously, as the thought suddenly struck her,—“can you tell me how it is that my upon her? wen: THE MYSTENIES OF LONDON, Agnes, endeavouring to stifle hersobs. “But how happens it that vou should be acquainted with my late mode of life?” ,. ; “J did but guess what that mode of lifo must have was not far wrong. I knew that your father did “And can you tell me, madam,” asked Miss father shonid wish me to dwell undor his guardian- ship only, and my mother wishes me to rely solely Or, indeed,” sho added, after a few moments’ pauso, “I should rather inquire the rea- son which prevents my parents from living togo- ther bencath the samo roof, and having me with thom? for, according to all the books I havo over read e «Al! my dear Agnes,” intorrupted tho clder sis- ter, “you would not seek to penetrate into those mystorics which so unhappily belong to the desti- nics of your paronts 2” “Oh! no—no—if it be improper for achild to ask an explanation of such secrets!” oxclaimed Miss Vernon, the natural purity of her soul instantly absorbing the sentiment of curiosity that had prompted her querics. “ And now let mo implore your pardon for having testified so much excite- ment——” “Tt was to be expected, dear child,” said Miss Theobald; ‘and you have no pardon tv golicit. We aro dolighted to perceive that you have at longth ro- covered some depres of calmness. Rest assured that you will be happy in the socicty of your mother, whom we hare known for years—yes—manuy, many years, and whom we love as much as if sho wero a near relative. You will be surprised to learn, Agnes, that when you were a babe, we often fondled you in our arms. Yes: you may regard mo with sur- prise—but it is novertholess the fact, that my sister and myself have frequently—very frequently nursed and dandloed you for hours together.” “Oh! I was wrong to exhibit somuch mistrust and want of confidence in you just now !” exclaimed Agnes, her affectionate soul being doeply touched by assurances so well calculated to move her, and which were indeed strictly consonant with truth. “Think not of what has gono by, my dear child,” said the younger sister. “ Wo make all possible al- lowances for the excited state of your mind; and we sincerely hope, as wo beliove, that happiness awaits you. Butitis growing late; and youdoubt- less staud in necd of refreshment cro you retire to rest.” Then, without waiting for an answer, she rang the bell; and the servant was ordered to bring in the supper-tray. Agnes was in no humour to par- take of the meal: indeed, she was in that stato of mind when the individual rather loathes tho idea of , cating, through a total suspension of the appetite, Lv. But so delicate were the attentions of .“%.. “the kind- | | | hearted sisters, and so persercring we're they in Noe much “at n With them ng, yet her y Age” nature their endeavours to render thoir guest a, homo’ as possible, that Agnos satedow!l to table; and, if sho scarcely ate anythit, , spirits revived somewhat from the sociab a “~ econmlelooolks (CO)