Agnes Vol. 2 — page 220: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; GR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, 233 opened the door; and she particularly noticed the “What! Timperley my fiend ¥’ exclaimed fine tall figure, the stylo of dress, and the thick Ormsby, “Ob, no! Heaven forbid !” black vei} concealing the countenance. While I “Then who are you P’” inquired the woman, was engaged bargaining with the young lady, my now turning deadly pale even through her rouge. servant went out for some purpose; and lo and “No matter whol am!” replied Ormsby. “ Suf- behold! as she was coming through Fitzroy Square fice it for you to know that I am not the friend of on her way homo, she was suddenly struck by per- Timperley.” ceiving the tall lady with the veil, A gentleman “But what have I done P what have I done?” was following—the lady raisod her veil—and then, cried Mrs. Maddox, wringing her hands. “ Per- as the light of the lamp fell upon hor countenance, bapa you aro an officer of justice? Ab, I thought the features were completely revealed te the view I had seen you before !—it atruck me there was of my servant. Whenshe came home she told me something in your look that was not altogether un- what had happened, and she described the young | known to me!” lady's face.” ‘““No—I am not an officer of justice,” said “Well,” said Ormsby, ‘and did that descrip- Ormsby ; “ and I do not know that you have very tion lead you to the discovery of who the young much to fear-———” lady was ?” “ But why did you tell mo you were a friend of “Not at the time,” responded Mrs. Maddox. Mr. Timperley? It was shameful! ‘You have ‘Indeed it was only yesterday that the discuvery taken scandalous advantage of me !” was made, I have still got that servant-woman “I confess that your complaint is not altogether with me; and last evening she comes in, oxclaim- unfounded,” said the nobleman; “and it would ing, ‘Now. I know who the young lady was.’— really be unpardonable if I wero to leave you in ‘What young lady?’ I asked, for the adventure any painful uncertainty. No, no! I will not! So had gone out of my-.mind.—‘ Why, the young lady 3 far from suffering for what you have told me, you with the black veil, “wards of a year ago,’ said! shallbe rowarded. And you can atill farthor serve Sane perhaps,” added Ormaby in a musing tone. “But who are you, sir?’ asked the woman: ; ; | why did you play me such a trick P how did you described it after I came in that night®from Vitz- | kuow that I had written to Mr. Timperley to beg roy Square.” So I went—and I not only saw tho; him to call on me this evening or to-mor- picture, but I bought one of the copies. And; row P” here it 19, sir!” | “knew nothing beyond what your own lips Thus speaking, Mrs. Maddox opened a drawer | have uttered,” replied Ormsby. “TI called to make in the table; and producing a lithographic print, a particular inquiry—an inquiry totally uncon- displayed it before the nobleman. nected with Mr. Timperley ” “ Ah!” he ejaculated: for i¢ was the likeness of “ And what is that inquiry?” demanded Mrs. the Hon. Mrs, Hardress! Maddox. “Of course you knew who she was in amo- ‘“ About twenty yeara ago —— you see I am ment,” said Mra, Maddox; “ because, as you are @ | going back to a remote date- friend of Mr. Timperley’s, you must bo acquainted; “Twenty yoars ago?” echoed Mrs, Maddox. with his niece.” ‘liow did you know that I lodged here twenty Yes, yes,” said the nobleman: “ that is his years ago?” niece Cicely !” “JT did not know it. There! your own lips “Tho instant I found out that the young lady have told it to me!—and in the agme way was it was the Hon. Mrs, Hardress,” pursued Mrs. Mad- that you went on speaking about Mr. Timperley dux, “1 set to work to know whothe Hon. Mra in a manner that afforded me a clue——” Ifardress might be. The Peeraye soon gave me “ Yes, yes—I see that now !” said the woman. that information ; and to my surprise I found that “ But twenty years ago you were speaking of she was niece to Thomas Timperley [sy., solicitor, that-remote date did I know you then P” of Lincoln’s Inn Fields!” “TI cannot tell—I should think not,” ssid ‘And it was his niece Cicely who purchased those Ormsby. papers from you!” cjaculated Ormsby. ‘‘Ah!”| “ Yes, yes~I am almost convinced that I have Le thought within himeclf, as a sudden light i seen you before! Why, twenty years ago ” flashed upon his mind and be remembered what; ‘There was a young female living in this his daughter Agnes bad told him of Cicely,— | house,” said Ormsby,—“* one in whom I tovk an “no wonder she exercises a strong hold upoo her | interest-——’ uncle !”’ ‘‘T remember !” cried Mrs, Maddox, holding up “ And so you see, sir,” continued Mrs. Maddux, her hands in astonishment. ‘“ You mean Lucy “that when I yosterday discovered that the young Maitland !” came to buy the papers of mo was Mr. “Ido. What has become of her?” igce, 1 began to put two and two to- “Oh! she wont away almost immediately after " you came to see her. I recollect it all well enough what it is that you sus- now! ‘She was a good girl—ehe Aad been seduced # Xou thought that as -~—she was in a way to become a mother—but she Mr. Timperley’s piece emo 8) buy up the papers, would ng turn into the pathway of crime. Yes— it was on account of Nat letter which he had those were her very words! I recollect them as if written to Mrs. Chickladc. it was but yesterday they were spoken ! And she “No doubt of it!” ejacult¥ed the woman: “it said that you had ead her !” ie Oi as clear as daylight ! do not wish tobe “Did she merdion my name ?” asked Ormeby. rude, sir, in speaking of your fRend~—~" “ No—but po told me that she knew it; she peoved !” said Ormsby ECOMrnicloookks ©