Agnes Vol. 2 — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

AGNIS; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASTRE. 123 Jated Carlotta. ‘“ We should then talk over every- | darkened nuok fermiong oae half of the confes- thing which is now occurring!—Ab, and we | sional, while the priest was seated in the other. sbould laugh too at the incident of the huge! How hurricd and anxious was nuw the glance basket!” P which Ciprina flung towards the dial of the clock ‘Oh, yes! depend upon it we will yet see bappy in front of the centre gallery! It wanted only days together—and we will laugh and rejoice as | five minutes to two: Father Faleonara had been we think of the perplexities and embarrassments;a few minutes later than usual. Ciprina next of the present moment! But tell me, my dear looked towards the door: the old sextoness was Carlotta—did everything take place as you had still stationed there. Ciprina swept her glances foreseen ?"’ around: nut another soul was to be seen in the “Everything was even more propitious thanI chapol, besides those whom the reader already could have anticipated,” responded the young knows tu be there. Ah! if that sextoness would dameel; “for the moment 1 entered the room but move away from the vicinage uf the door, where my parents were seated, my father saidthat there would be no one to watch Ciprina’s actions be could not accompany me for the promised ride, or to auspect them! But the old barridan seemed because he must draw up a report of everything to stick fast at that door: and the young lady tbat had occurréd io reference to the escape of the thought to herself, “It is only tuo clear that as L young prisoner last night. This report he will entered in the company of tie Governor’ s daughter, have tu send of to the Minister of Pulice in I shall not be permitted to g> forth alone.” Florence.” But searcely had she made this reflection, when “And thus,” said Civrina, “everything pro- a gentle knocking was heard at the door by which ceeded to your"utmost satistacvion P” Father Falconura bad entered the chapel. This ‘‘ Yeo: your meassage in reference to the chapel door opened frum the male compartment of the was duly delivered to my father—and then my prison; and some of the inmutes of that compart- mother bagan to read me a long lecture un the ment were now coming, in the custody of a turn- necessity of being regular in my devotions andj key, to attend tho priest’s ministrations. The old attending the confessional often; for you muet | sextoness hastened across the chapel to open tuo know that she has becume very devout Of late~she door to which we have just alluded. thinks Father Falconara the best preacher she ever With what exultation leapt Ciprina’s heart! heard - She glided away trom the front of the little altar “Ts it not tame for us to proceed tothe chapel ?” in the immediate vicinity of the confessiunal: she asked Ciprina. dived down a narrow passage betwixt the amphi- “Yes. Come!” replied Carlotta, after consult: theatrically arranged rows of seats; aud unper- ing her watch. “Lave you a veil? If not, I ceived by a sou!, she gained the door opening ite must run and fetch you one. I really guite forgot I tho yard belonging to the femuio compartment, itr” 1A plance towards the further extremity of that “T have one,” returned Ciprina,—“ a thick black | yard, showed her that the bakers were there; an‘ one, And here it is?” | one of them was lounging, as if with a negligent ‘You must put it on, in order tu visit the | air, against tie large basket, so that Ciprinn fe chape',” said Carlotta; “because as a matter of cunvineced it had been alieady emptied of ita con- course, the priest is not supposed to know who it tents. Ou! how her heort palpitated as she at onco is that ente.s the confeasi@aal.” and unhesitatingly bent her steps towards the Thus speaking, she drew the hood of her own basket, her countenanco completeiy congealed by mantel over her countenance: Ciprina put on her the veal v ‘hich sho held in double or broble folds bonnet, and folded tho thick black veil over ber over her features. nee. the two young ladies ee from ae , My regal within a dozen paces of we Cell: they crossed the court-yard—toey reache nek C ww baker who was leaping aginst it, the duor of the chapel, which was standing ajar, | | gave a short cvagh; and his companion unmesi- i suppowe he rT) — ae Sogn the old ' a i oma forth tr < the —_ room, whore pe sextoness to Carlotta Kelluno, whom sbe recognised | had been having a tew minutes’ chet wi a by her mantle. . | warder whose duty it was to receive tho bread and ‘It is I,” answered the damee) : “and this ie a! take an aecount of it. prisoner—Number Thirty—who comes with me What followed was the work of a moment. by my father’s permission.” , Both the bakers swept their looks youtmd with ‘The sextonese stood aside ; Carlotta and Ciprina: lightning rapidity; and the. pee ore thal > tilted up the passedon. Ina few minutes they bebeld a dour they were unobaorved, one of them ; open ab the.other oxtrey ity of the chapel—and basket in such a manner that Ciprina was enabled Fathér Falconare - made: bis. appearanco : but he at once to step into it. The green baize cloth was aAmont instantaneoudly vanished again, for he thrown over her—the two bakers took the ex- ‘passed into the Veatiary to put on his surplice. tremities of the pole upon their shonsidera—and Ffe.anon lesued thoutte again, and proceeded towards away they went, one humming a tune and the the confessfonal.: Carlotta and Ciprina were now other whistling in an equally of hand nonchalar: kneeling on hassocks at a little altar near the con- manner. Just at tho very moment thet the gate a fessional ; and the priest could not as a matter of of the other extremity of the yard wore throw: cuuree distinguish who they were, their counte- open, the clock of the castle proclaimed ne hee nances being concealed. So soon as they heard of two. the door of the confessional close bebind him, Car- = Nuthing would have surprised Ciprira io than lotta bastily presscd Ciprina’s hand as an indica- to have heard a shriek pealing through the air—a tion ha ihe. important moment was now ap- scream froro tholips of Carlotta Bell uno—or olsa proaching; and abe at once passed into the the rushing forward of the young dainse: to Git, COMmmicoooks CO