Agnes Vol. 2 — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

102 some countenance became all in a moment illu minated with confidence, she cried, “Oh, yes! I believe you! -it ia impossible that such as you could be criminal !” * Thanka, lady, whoever you are !—a thousand thanks for those generous words!” and Charles spoke with a gushing enthusiasm ; for he was in- deed in the position of one to whom an act of friendship had become of most vital importance. “ Hasten !” said the quadroon, —“ hasten to bring your horee bither!”—and she was tripping towards a gate at the extremity of the fence, when Charles, suddculy inspired with a chivalrous thought, ejaculated, “Ab! but if I should com- promise you P—if thie place should be searched ? Perhaps you may be living alone——” “Now I know that you are an honourable young man!” exclaimed the quadrovn,—“ even if l° had before the slightest doubt upon the sub- ject! You are gonerous—and generusity is good- nese! No—I do not live alone. I am married -——--my husband ia here ” “And you are taking all this responsibility upon yourself ?” cried Charles. “Oh, yes!” rejoined the handsome creature ; and it struck our hero for a moment that a smile of pity or contempt paased over her moist red lips. “Come! come! or you will perhaps be pursued and captured! As for searching this bouse, let anybody dare attempt it--and never trust me if we du not give our enemies a warm reception ! But here are the stables.” Charles De Vere had flung a look of gratitude upon the quadroon for the assurasce she had given bim that she took upon herself the responsibility of the present proceeding—thereby meaning, 8 he supposed, that she would auswer for the con- currence of her husband: and now it was a look of wonder and admiration which he threw upon her, as she seemed to display tho courage of a heroine and talk of resisting an aseailing foe, The stables were reacbed; and Charles found three beautiful horses in the etalls, one of which was evidently meant forthe use of the lady herself. With the utmost readiness she had taken a lan tern from the shelf aud lighted it,—but at the same time summoving a domestic by the uumis- takabie Knoglish name of Jolr. “The groom bas retired to rest some while,” seid the lady to our hero; “for it is eleven o‘olock,” she added, glancing at a beautiful little watch attached to a superb gold chain that fes- tooned over her busom. “Yes, ma'am! Coming, ma’am !” exclaimed ® somewhat gruff voice from a loft which reached by a ladder from the harness-room. wer joining the atable. “Ie anything tho matter, ma'am? Them alarms again—or them freaks and distui bances ” “ Hush, Juin!” cried the quadrvon somewhat sternly ; “and make haste to come duwn and put up the horee of a gentleman—an English ger‘lo- man—a friend of ours~-who has just arrived.” in avery few WBments the groom mace his appearance, balf dressed, and dt first with a very sleepy look: but be quickly opened his eyes as wide as ever in his life they were opened, on be- holdjog an individual in the uniform of a police- ofiver. | “Ah, ma’am! so they've coms at Inst—have AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASORR. they P” exclaimed the groom in a woe-begone voioa, “T always thought it would end in thia! I knowed it! That last night’s business ——” “ Silence, sirrah! silence!” interrupted the quadroon in a peremptory manner, and her bril- liant black eyes darted forth shafts of angry light- ning: but instantaneously regaining her self. pos- session, she said mildly, and even with kindness, ' You are foolish, John, to give way to these idle ‘ears and speak thus unguardedly: you might lead persons to entertain singular idezs concerning ug— as if we really stood in terror of the police-autho- rities |" Charles De Vere could not help thinking there ‘as something vory strange in the remarks made by the man and the observations which they had now clicited on the part of the quadroon herself : but when he again flung a look upon ber counte- panes, he could not for another instant suppose ‘here was anything wrong with regard to her. As ‘ur the groom, we should observe that he was an Iderly mun, short and thick-set, and with a comical ixpression of countenance», rhich bowever denoted good-nature of disposition as well as simplicity of mind, * Do not ask any questions, John,” resumed tha usky complexioned lady; “but see that you ‘ollow m. commands to tho very letter. Carry iis military saddle up into your own room. Yes ~—and the bridle likewise. Let no one penetrate hither, at your peril! Cover up this horse with the cloths : aud if any one should by chance enter the stable, fell him to the ground if be should stretch forth a hand to lift the cloths and exa- ming the horse! In conclusion, keep a atill tongue in your bead.” The groom—who had been dividing hia looks between his mistress and our hero, gazing with profound respect upon the former and with no smull degree of curiosity on the latter—signified by a low bow and a few words that the instructions he bag just received should be faithfully adhered to. “ Follow me, sir,” said the quadrvon, now turn- ingto De Vere. “It would be as woll for you not to show yourself in front of the house.” Thus speaking, she opened a door leading out of the barness-ruom, and conducted our bere into a back-yard—and thence into the house itself, She led the way into thut very room on the ground- floor where he had seen the light burning, and from one of the cusements of which his benutifal hostess bad firat emerged. She now hastily pro- _cecded to close that casement ; and approaching Charles, sho said, “ If you wish to have an immo- diate change of apparel, you shall he provided with it : but if you mean soun to retire to rest, it will perhaps be needless.” [tis needless for to-night,” reaponded Charles. “ But, Oh, Madam! how can I cxpross wy grati- tude 7 “Enough!” interrupted tho quadroon, laying her finger upon her lip: “I have as yet done nothing for you: I sco that you require the ad- vantage Of friendly offices~and theses you shall assuredly receive at my--—~I mean at our hands. Wait! you are hungry! The servants have re- tired tu rest—but I will see what the larder gan do fur you.” Cuarles was again about to express his fear that EORRIC OOO () S CO