Agnes Vol. 2 — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

AQNEB; OR, BEAUTY ANI) PLEASURE, love him devotedly! and I would lay down my lift for him! You, percvive, however, that I am no altogether happy: yuu see that there is somethin; perbaps indeed you have already guessed it. ForeOh! you must have heard those noises las night———In short, Mr. De Vere, 1¢ is with a deep sense of humiliation I admit to you that the un- YoMynate Gustavus has acquired an inveterate tasto——you understand me———and it is drink that maddens him!” Charles had not been vory far from conjecturing the truth: indeed he had alroady suspected that this would prove the solution of the mystery. lo therefore started not with surprisv; but his countenanco wore an oxpressiun uf sympathy on behalf of the young lady who was thus revealing her grievances unto him. “Yes,” she continued, “drink maddens him So wild and strange is his humour that I am com- pelled to pet,anud pamper him as if he were spoilt ebild. Lis appetite at times so completely fuils bim that be c&n only be tempted by the variety as well as tbe delicacy of his repaste. tence that profusion which you may perhaps have already noticed ;—and it has now become a habit with mo to maintain this profusien on every occasion. I saw that you were startled and bo- wildered last night when the groom made certain allusions. Tho truth 1s, Mr. Do Vere, that Cus- tavua plays such wild pranks, the faithful John is always trombling lest the attention of the autho- rities should be directed to the house, and that an order should even be issued from tho mayor of the neighbouring village to consign my unfortunate husband to an asylum ora prison. I have how- ever more than once declared that if those bar- barians of Italian sbirri dare venture tu make their appearance at this house, I will convert it intu a castle and defend the entrance unto the very lust! Gustavus shall not, be snatched from me!” -—and the quadroun’s magnificent eyes flashed fire as she thus spoke. “In the name of heaven, Mrs. Barrington,” exclaimed Charles, “take care how you embruil yourself with the authorities !—for remember that tho laws on the Cuntinent are very different from those under which you have fs either in EKng- tyrannous acts are land or in the colonies; an perpetrated with facility an@ readiness in these climes, which could not even be dreamt of in the atinvsphere where the British banner waves.” Ktest assured, Mr. De Vere,” replied the qua- drvon, “I would not willingly court a quarrel with the authorities: I am only too much afraid bhat the proceedings of Gustavus will souner or later invelve us in difficulties. Alas! as you may bave sevn—vor at least have suspected —hbe is at limes quite mad, and also of a violence that no tuaxinbg nor persuasion can subdue. Has proceed- Inge of last might must havo afforded you sume idva of all that 1 have to put up with, and the ponsequences uf which I have to apprehend. Le rises in the middle of the night, vowing that he 1s baunted by a spectre ~and ho will mount his Lorse aud gallup away from the frightful presence of the goblin! Twice last uight did he thus spring ‘row bes couch aud rush to the dour of the cham- or: but on both vecasiuns I succeeded in holding sim back ” "I twice heard tho door of a chamber ou the 109 kame landing and shut forcibly,” said Charles. “And Ah!” ejaculated the quadroon, “ you know not how vexed and annoyed I was on your ac- count. Guodheavens! I wondered what you must think? JI was half inclined to steal forth from my chamber when Gustavus slept again—knock at your duor—and beg you not to take heed of any disturbances which might occur: but—but —in short, I hoped that you were sleeping soundly,”’ “Alas, madam,” said Charlos, “all you tell mo is very dreadful—and I deeply sympathize with open you! Dut so long as Mr. Barrington shall be permitted to indulge iu his fatal prediloc- tion ” Ab! how am I to broak him of it?” ejacu- lated tho quadroon. “ But I have not yet told you all,” she hastened to say. “1 had fallen into a deep slumber last night, when on awakening I missed my husband from my side. I glided down stairs,—having tarriod only a moment to throw on @ mourning wrapper and a straw-hat which I wear in tho garden; and I sped to the stables. It was as I dreaded: Gustavus, haunted by his imagi- nary spectre—only half dressed—~with wild looks —was hastily sadding and bridling his steed ; and then away be went as if borne on the wing of the whirlwind! His mania is always to’ gallop ‘hrough the neighbouring village ; for he believes hat the instant he passes the churchyard the ipectre leaves bim. But good heavens! what ust the people of that village think ?—and how it indeed that they have remained quict sv ong? I ought to have observed, Mr. De Vero,” iontinued the quadrovn, “that when Gustavus is 1 these insane moods, all wy influence over him annibiiated—and tho groum shrinks in terror rom the fierce looks which his master bends upon am. Ob! it is dreadful tu see such a young man —a more youth—in such a state! Lut let me hasten to bring these explauatious tu a cunclusiun. - waited anxiously fur my busband’s return last ughe " . “But what fearful vigila for you to keep, madam!” oxclaimed Charles, naturally feeling in- ligoant at the conduct of young Barrington. “Oh, I do not complain on wy acouunt!” re- lied Emily; “but I fear for my husband—TI foar or all the cunscquences that may ensue—and | ixperienco the deopest mortification and buwilia- ion when meeting any of the dwellers in this alley. Ob! last night you may conceive what I elt on your account: and when with emotions hich I cannot doscribe, I peeped round the angle f the building to sve whether tho light wae still urning in your chamber, and whether you wero aoving about—whother, in short, you bad been darmed by the furious trampling of the horse's ioofs ” “Yes—I saw you, Mrs. Barrington,” inter- xcted Do Vero. “ But I beseech you to quit this salnful topice—unless indeed you would permit mou » offer wy advice ” “Well, we shall sve,” cjacalated the quadroon, 1 & somewhat evasive manner. “ But let me say few words more in references to the incidents uf he past night. Gustavus returned from his mad ‘ide : he sesmod tu be thoruughly exhausted ~aud bie bead tuuched the pillow sleep tell upun bis ? EORAIC OO® SS