Agnes Vol. 2 — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. F i 204 the nvoieman; ‘for your mother was endowed; Agnes; “but itis very certain that vbe nuptis with a remarkably handsome countenance, You, | ceremony was subsequently performed according my child, possess a beauty which somewhat re- to the rites of tbe English Church. Her uncle be: sempies her's; but your's is softened and chastened haved very kindly to her: he gave her a dower oi ~your’s is @ modest angelic loveliness ” thirty thousand pounds.” But here he stopped short; for he found that “Indeed!” ejaculated Ormsby. “ But that was he was speaking audibly in a musinggstrain— an amazing instance of liberality on the part of whereas his observations were really not intended | such a man as Mr. Timperley, who I believe ie for the ears of his daughter nor her cousin, but | were rather meant as a sort of silent and mental apostrophe. He took from the ease! the panel on which the outline of the long-dead MHonoria’s eatures wero already sketched; and as Agnes itood in front of him, he contemplated first the ineaments of the deceased mother, and then raised | very fond of money.” “Qh! but Cicely wields immense influence over him,” ejaculated Agnes. ‘It was through her, you know, my dear father, that I obtained the deed which enabled poor Mr. Barrington to eman- cipate himself from captivity.” “Ah! that deed which experienced so many vis eyes to survey the features of the daughter. | adventures,” interjected Ormsby, “before it Jorinns, standing by the side of the chair on which reached its destination. +he nobleman was seated, viewed the scone with that deep pathetic interest which was inseparable Well, this niece of Mr. Timperley must indeed possess 4¥ immense in- fluence over her uncle that she could induce bim ‘rom it; and at length Lord Ormeby said, “ Let | to give her a dower of thirty thousand pounds in me again sco the original, Agnes! vell the other day; but I would fain behold it nee more } The portrait of Honoria was brought. It was painted at the marriage of the nobleman with Waldron’s daughter, noarly twenty years back: it was an admirable work of art, and faithfully de- ineated the countenance of her who, if she were low alive, would be Lady Ormsby. A thousand ‘ecollections, alike tender and painful, camo troop- I studied it | the first instance, and in the second to surrender up a document which must bave been so essen- tially useful to him in the f rtuous, double-deal- ing, fast-and-loose game which we now kuow he was playing hatween por old Mr. Barrington and the late Get ae Balham.” “ ObM€ cdiy has said to me,” remarked Agnes, “her uncko would refuse her nothing.” . “So it would appear,” said Ormesby, musing : and then he added in a lower tone, “ This is at ng in unto the mind of the nobleman; and a tear | least singular! She must have some peculiar hold rickled down his cheeke. Tho beautiful Agnes, |upon her uncle: he is not the man to make such who was weeping also, glided towards him, and vound her arms about his neck. ‘Their tears ningled ; and Corinna, raising her kerchief tu her ace, ger likewise. “Come,” said Ormsby, suddenly, “let us look wer the water-colour drawings ;’—and the port- vlio was accordingly produced. “ This isa beautiful undecape,” he said: “the lights and shades are idmirably contrasted. But, Ab! in thie next ono you are particularly happy, dear Agnes !’’ “You see, my lord,” said Corinna, “that Agnes levelops in that picture a perfect knowledge of what we Italians call the chiar’ oscuro.” “True!” ejaculated Ormsby. ‘ But, Ah! this yortrait P It is that of a woman who would be itrikingly handsome were it not that the mouth 1s ;omewhat too large and prominent. It is no fancy- sortrait - ‘ No,” said Agnes: “16 is the likeness—or at east ig intended to be that of a lady who has yroved a very kind friend. I mean Mr. Tim- petley’a niece,” “Ah! this ie Mr. Timperley’s niece?” cried Lord Ormsby : “ Cicely Neale—or rather, I should say, the HLlon. Mrs, lector Llardresa ?” “The same,” rejoined Agnes. “By the bye, let us speak of her,” said the nubleman. ‘* How came she to marry the son of a peer P Was he attracted by her beauty P” - ‘It happened very suddenly,” replied Agnes. ‘She eloped with Mr. Hardress; and they were first of all married in Scotland—at least I believe 1O 53 “Or perhaps they proclaimed themselves man and wife in that country,” said Lord Ormeby; “ which according to the Jocal law constitutes a valid marriage.” .. “] know not exactly how if was,” rejoined great concessions to his niece through motives of affection.” The discourse was now interrupted by the en- trance of Rachel, who came to announce that Sir Roderick Dalbam had called, and that he requested an interview of a few minutes with Lord Ormaby. “‘ It 18 doubtless on some private matter that he wishes to consult me,’ said the nobleman. Thus speaking, he quitted the boudoir and passed into the drawing-room, to which the Baro- net had been shown. After the exchange of a fow complimentary expressions and kind inquiries, such as existing circumstances suggested, Sir Roderick said, “ You have of course heard, my lord, that my father is no more ?”’ ‘“Yea—I heard of his death last evening,” re- plied the nobleman. “It appears that grief for the loss of the suit killed your fathor, as joy for ite gain proved fatal to your wife’s grandfather.” Sir Rodorick answered in the affirmative; and be then proceeded to narrate to Lord Ormsby everything which had taken place between himeelf and Mr. Timperley at the villa. “By heaven!” ejaculated the nobleman, “ thie is intolerable! For twenty long years have I known that Timperley is an accomplished villain ! But methinks that you have more to communi- cate ?”’ “T have, my lord:” and Sir Roderick proceeded to explain how the faithful valet James had visited him in the evening for the purpose of making « particular communication, Ormaby listened with the deepest attention: then followed a most serious deliberation betwixt himself and Sir Roderick, but the nature of which it ia not now requisite to lay before the reader.’ “1 scarcely know how to advise you, my friend,” ‘aid Lord Ormaby; “but I trust you will agree ECORNICELOOO© SS COLUM