Agnes Vol. 2 — page 133: what you’re looking at

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

124 mand whv the basket was borne of ere she ba entered it? But there was no molestation o hindrance of either kind. We have said tha Fatber aloonara was a few minutes late in th chapel on the present occasion ; and thus Canlotta could not escape from the confessional with such exceeding punctuality. The gates of the yard closed behind the bakers and their basket: another yard was traversed-— there was more opening and shutting of gates— and each stoppage, if only for an instant, appeared to Ciprina to be a perfect age. At length the puter gates were cleared ; and Ciprina was fairly beyond the threshold of the castle. Oh, if her heart had previously been beating anxiously or exultingly, how much more anxiously, and how much more exultingly did it now beat! —anxiously, because she dreaded lest any misadventure might cause her to be retaken and borne back into the castle—and oxultingly, because thus far succcss was so completo ! For the first fifty yards or so after the threshold of the castle was crossed, the two bakers pursued their way at the game deliberate pace as at first, because they were alill within view of the sontries at the portals; but they svon quickened their course—and as they abruptly turned to the right, it was @ positive run which they made of it for nearly a hundred yards. Then they abruptly stopped: short—the baaket touched the ground— ina moment it was tilted wp—and Ciprina stepped forth, still keeping her veil densely folded over her countenance. “There, signora! bebind that clump of trees yonder!” cried one of the men quickly ; and away ped the liberated lady as if it were really for her rery life that she was running. At the same moment the two bakers, catching ip the pole on their shoulders, again hastened sack into the straight road which led into Bagno, where they presented themselves at their master’s bop with an air of as much covulpess as if nothing anusual had taken placo. Meanwhile Ciprina was speeding towards the slump of trees which had been pointed out to her, snd which was at a distance of nearly a hundred und fifty yards from the spot“where she had itepped out of the basket. The instant she ‘eached that tuft of evergreens, Sir Alexander Holeroft sprang forward, and was about to catch 1or in his arms, when Ciprina suddenly threw yack her veil, at the samo time bursting out into s merry Jaugh. ‘“Good heavens!” ejaculated the Baronet : ‘Mrs. Clifford ?— Floribel ?” “Yes—’tis I!” she exclaimed; ‘I who have ust escaped from that fortress, and who now ibrow wyself upon your generosity to convey me o some place of safety! Ab! you have a vehicle n readiness! Come! come!” | Thus speaking, Ciprina rushed towards the post- | ‘haise and pair which stood farther behind the lump of trees; as Sir Alexander’a contiden-— ja) valet was holding the door open in readiness, -Iprine sprang inside. . But in the name of heaven,” said the bewil- | lered Baronet, thrusting his bead into the vehicle | vithout taking his seat in it, “what does all this’ pean p” AGNXS; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. Cipriva, “that if you have a spark of true British chivalry in your composition, you will take pity on your fellow-countrywoman who bas been infa; mously treated ! devise another stratagem for her rescue.” As for your Carlotts, you must “By heaven, this is perplexing !” ejaculated Holeroft: then flinging himself into the chaise ith what seemed to be a species of desperation, he added impetuously, “ Driveon !" The door was banged—the valet leapt up into he rumble—the postilion cracked his whip—and way went the equipage. “Now that I am so readily obeying your adju- ‘ation, madam,” said Holcroft, “and that I am bandoning some one else, I know not under what | ‘ircumstances—pray be so kind as to give me an xplanation in terms as concise as possible.” “A very few words will sufficc,”’ answered C1- wrins. “Carlotta made me her confidant — and considering every stratagem to be fair that a cap- ive adopts in a prison, I availed myself ——” ‘And therefore you came out in a basket yaculated Holoroft: and bis humour all in a noment changing, he burst out into the loudest od bearticst laugh in which he had indulged for ‘ears past. Ciprina was plad that he now took the affair in uch a jocular mood; and she laughed merrily kewise. “ This is excellent! This is capital!” exclaimed he Baronef, laughing again till the tears ran down is cheeks. “The only thing is that it is too ‘ood! Tur what the devil that poor Carlotta will hink ” “She will think that I have outwitted her,” ‘eturned Ciprina. * But what will she do ?” cried Holcroft, “She must wait until you devise ancther etra- gem for her release,” rejoined Ciprina. ‘Poor creature! it is really too bad!” eaid the Baronet. ‘“ But after all, if you were a prisoner in that castle-———” “Yes,” said Ciprina; “and I will give you some tidings which are calculated to astonish you still more. Your friend Charles Dv Vere ” “One of the finest young fellows ia all Chriat- endom !” ejaculated Holcroft. “But you do not mean ” “Toat he was in the fortress of Bagno—and that he escaped last night,” said Ciprina. “Gvuod heavens! But how did all these things happen? Surely, my dear madam, you and Churlea De Vere 7 : “Sir Alexander Holcroft,” interrupted Ciprina pee seriously, “ Charles De Vore is incapable of look ing upon me otherwise than as a friend-~an errin; and a lost one! But he loves another " Yes, yes—I know it !—your cousin Aguee ?’ exclaimed Holcroft. ‘ We fought a duel on you! account “Qa my account ?” cried Ciprina: and it wa now her turn to experience an immeasurabl surprise. “Yes—on your account,” rejoined the Baronet and he at once gave some explanations. “ Charles Do Vene is indeed a noble character !’ murmured Ciprina: and then she in her turt began giving explanations, succinctly and rapidly ihowing how sbe and Charles had met in Florence: *¥¢ means, Sic..A'exandor,” quickly rejoined! at the Mirano ‘mansion. and how thev had heer DOO SS