Agnes Vol. 2 — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEAGU GE. 10% PP Bhai aA ONS he was giving a great deal “of trouble: but the “ We never see any one,” replied the quadroon ; quadroon lady paused not to listen, and hastened “and therefore, apart from the pleasure thas I from the apartment. Our hero warmed himself have in rendering a service to an English gentile- by the cheerful fire; and he mentally ejaculated, man, your visit is a porfect godsend. But Ah! “ How singular, that scarcely five minutes have _you have no fruit!—and we have a delicious elapsed since I longed to find myself in this com- fruitage close at hand !” ‘fertable room--and here Jam! But who is this | The’ handsome quadroon glided across the apart- lady P Why do I not see her husbund P—why did | ment, opened the casement again, and passed forth she make no apology for my not finding him here | into the front garden. when she conducted me into this roomP—and, ‘They drink quantities of wine beneath this what meant those singular observations on the roof,” said Charles to himeelf; “and yet they see no part of the groom in the stables? Ab! and howis company! Hore too is a suppor which seems to be it that she is su ready to play the heroine and de- the remnant of a dinner prepared for a dogon fend the house against any attack that may be | made upon it? Good heavens! can it be possible — that she really has any fear of a visit from the police ?” Charles then remembered how she had come forth from the room when he had stopped at the fence; and he went on to ask himself, “ Was it not to breathe .the fresh air, nor to gaze upon the beauty of the heavens? but wasit because she had peeped furth, and des®rying the uniform of the law’s officers, was alarmed—~and then mustering up all her courage, she came forward to address me? Can it be possible she has a guilty con- eclevce ?” ” Charles De Vere know that many parte of the Apennines were infested with banditti, and that it was no uncommon thing for families seemingly respectable to be in leagpe with those wretches for the more effective plundering of unwary or confiding travellers. Had he fallen into euch a soxure P For an iostant he dreaded lest there might be something only too truthful in the idea: but the nest inatant he dismissed it from bis mind, —at the same time feeling his countenance be- come crimson with shame as be mentally cried, “Tbe bare suspicion is a flagrant insult and dia- bolical outrage tuwards one who has treated me with the most hospitable kigdness !” The door now opened, and the quadroon reap- peared. She bore a large tray, piled up with such a quantity and variety of provisions ae to prove that the larder was indeed most copiously as well | us luxuriously furniebed. Dae Vere sprang forward | to receive the tray from her hands: but she said, : With a most amiable smile, “ Ob, it ib nos toy | heavy! 1 ean assure you 1 am neither very weak nor very fastidious. Pray be seated! I, bave supped—or I would keep you company. Ab! | you sbal) have wine |” Again she glided from the room; and in a few | minutes returned, carrying a basket filled with hotilea, each containing a different sort of wine. | Charles was astonished and bewildered by this: profusion: he was again confounding himeelf with | rningled apologies and thanks — but the quadroon begged him to be seated and to do justice to the | repust which (1s she expressed horscl!) she Was | only too happy to be enabled to place before hia, | Then she began drawiug cork atter cork, notwith: | stauding that Charles assured her he never in- ’ dulyed copiously in wine, and that at all events one species would be sufficient for him. But she exclaimed, as if in the most ingeruous manner in the world, “Ob, we are accustomed to draw quan- titics of gurka beneath ‘ais rool!” “Ah, then, you #72 a grest ceal of company P” . sald var heru, people. It is unaccountable ! Again did the mystery and bewilderment of hig thoughts produce an unpleasant effect on his mind: but again did he succeed in repelling the suspicion which bad lifted its reptile-bead in -his heart. The quadroon reappeared, closing the casement behind her, and carrying two enormous bunches of the most splendid grapes in some leaves which served as it were for a basket in the united hollows of her two exquisitely-shaped hands. “Ob, madam!’ exclaimed Charios, “I really must once more entreat you to pardon me for all the trouble 4 “Trouble?” ejaculated the quadroon: “I do again beseech that you will not mention it! And now, if you will excuse me for a little while, J will just see that there is a chamber properly arranged for your reception. I have already called up a maid-servant for the purpose.” . “Ob, I can repose myself anywhere !” ejacu- lated our hero; “I can stretch myself upon a sofa——"’ “And what is the necessity of putting yourself to any inconvenience,” asked the quadroon, with a smile, “when you put me to none? I have half. a-dozen bed-chambere at my disposal, and there- fure can assuredly spare you one.” With these words the quadroon again tripped forth from the apartment, leaving our hero with the exquisite cold collation, the half-dosen different kinds of delicious wines, and the luecious fruitage from the vine that festooned over the portico. ““Thia ia the moat admirable and generous hoa- pitality!” thought Charles: and then’ he found himeelf mentaliy adding, “provided there be no sinister alm or ulterior intent !”’—but literally staining his foot with anger, and feeling his cheeks glow with shame, he cried, “Let me put away these suspicions which are even more dé grading to myself than dishonouring for her !”” Tne guadroon returned to the apartment: and she said with a most amiable courtesy, “Your chamber is prepared. Not that I wish to burry , a ‘ JT am ready, madam,” responded our hero: “for I now feel overwhelmed with fatigue.” “Come then,” she said, taking up a wax-lights and she escorted him from the apartment. We sbould have vbaecrved that the room was elegantly furnished. Charles wae led through 4 hail roust tastefully fitted up; and the staircase which he now ascended had a richly svulptured baluat rade, and was handsumely carpeted. The landing showed some eight or ten doors communicating wita different apartments: and the hvure thus proved tu be much larger when seen inside than 16 ape peared when viewed externally, Ose co: use GOHMGOOO© CS