Agnes Vol. 2 — page 229: what you’re looking at

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

£22 up so that it seemed to dilate before him, and her whole aspect became invested with an uuspeakable majesty. But nothing could be more striking nor more marvellous than the rapid change which took place in her,—the fierce fires of scornful indigna- tion suddenly melting into those of love—the lightnings of her eyes subduing themselves into looke of tendernese—the hauteur of her lips losing iteelf in wreathing smiles—and the bosom begin- ning to heave and fall with tender emotions, as she said, “ Yes, dearest Gustavus! you shall be my master if you will love me as before! Give me back that affection which you bestuwed upon me when together we rambled through the plantation in Jamaica—be to me now the same loving, tender, and devoted Gustavus that you were then,—and Ob! I shall rejoice to become your slave !—and then you shall nut merely be my master in name —not my master through a miserable fiction only —~but you shall be veritably and truly so, because you will be the master of my heart !” “There was a time, Emily,” anewered Gustavus, “when such language as this would have touched me to the very quick and subdued my eoul into the most servile submission. But now your ap- peal produces not the effect which you desire! The spell is broken. I no longer fear you when in your stormiest moment of passion you present to me the terrible Moedusa’s head; and I shall no longer be rendered the slave of infatuation when yuu clothe yourself with the cestus of Venus. And this very night too—nay, this moment—will I show you that benoeforth I am determined to be my ownmaster, by leaving you alone to deliborate wpon your future conduct, while [ go and seok sume place of recreation. Farewell until to- morrow.” With these words Gustavus turned away; and quitting the chamber, be closed the door behind him. He traversed the ante-room—bhe reached the sitting apartment—and he was on the very point of snatching up his hat, when ho beard the dour open vivlently. He turned—and again was ao confronted by bis wifey. “You shall not leave mo thus, Gustavus !" sho said, with a look of terrible determination. “ Almost naked as I am, I will cling to you—I will hang to you—I will follow you everywhere! I care not how I may bring down ridicule upon us both : but by heaven “ By heaven !"" repeated Gustavus, “ if it come to this, I will ¢ake a leaf out of your own book !”— then snatching up a knife from the table, he said, “You ere now threatened me with this weapon; aud I] in my turn now threaten you. Take care of yourself, Kmily !—you are dealing with a man whom yuu have goaded to desperation !” Scarcely sad be thus spoken, when she flew at him like a tigress, and endeavoured to snatch the knife from bie grasp. In this attempt she tore bie face with her nails; and he, being now ren- dered infuriate, and under the influence of a rage which had become ungovernable, cried, “ By heaven, Ewily ! I will strike !” A sudden terror seizéd upon the quadroon; and breaking away from her hasband, she rushed back into the bedchamber, He bounded after her, ox- claiming “ Now, wretch! I have taugbt you a lesson J-~and as there iaa God above us, if you dare mulest me more I will immolate you to wy rage !” AGNES; OR, BRAUTY AND PLEASURE. “QOoward!” thrilled from the lips 2 Of the qua- droon, “Yes—more than coward ! —-jurderes, murderer ! you tried to murder me in Jauaica !” “Repeat not the abhorrent lie!” vociferated Gustavus, who was actually livid with rage. “Lief Lie in your teeth!” cried the qua- droon. “Ab, this is too much !’—and the furious young man fastened his grasp upon Emily, at the same time brandishing the knife as if he wero about to plunge it deep down into her naked bosom. “Spare me! do not kill me!” she cried, sinking at his feet. “No—I would not kill thee !” ejaculated Gus- tavus ; and he tossed the knife from him. It was with a sudden cry of triumph that Emily bounded towards it: she caught it up—and then again she sprang at her husband. Down he fell ; and she instantaneously placed her foot upon him, at the same time brandishing the weapon over his head, in the same way that 4e had so lately bran- dished i¢ over her own, He thought that his last moment was aqgm6, so terrible was her ap- pearancé, with her dilating form and her eyes flashing fire, He was on his knees; it was now his turn fo say, “ Spare me! do not kill me!” “Qh, if in this moment of bitter, bitter provo- cation,” cried the quadroon, “I oan go far con- trol myself—— But at this instant the door of the room was burst open; and a lady in her night-dress rushed in, exclaiming, “ For God’s sake, what is the mat- ter? Would you commit murder P”’ Gustavus sprang up to his feet; and the lady, who evidently lacked not courage, bounded for- ward to snatch away the knife from the hand of the quadroun— who, fearfully annoyed at the scandal produced by the scene, surrendered it up without the slightest resistance or hesitation. ‘“‘ Good heavens! what is the meaning of this dreadful quarrel P” asked the lady, who in the ex- citement of the occasion seemed to forget that she was merely in her night-dress in the presence of a stranger of the male sex. “ Let my wife explain it if she think fit!” ejacu- lated Gustavus: and he hurried out of the cham- ber. Snatching up his hat in the outer apartment, he at once eallied forth from the hotel, CHAPTER XXXVII. CHARLES AND THE QUADBOON. THR quadroon did not make the slightest attempt to retain her husband : she sat down slowly upon a chair by the side of the bed; and her mournful countenance and drooping posture now appeared to indicate that she thought everything was lost. “Good heavens, how you have frightened me!” said the lady. “J heard the violent altercation— for I occupy the adjoining apartment—my hus- band has not yet returned from some dinnor-party of gentlemen to which be has gone——” “And who are vou, madam ?’’ asked Emily ; “ for I at least owe you my gratitude for the woll- meant purpose which brought you hither.” CORDIC LOO SS CO