Agnes Vol. 2 — page 238: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. “‘Doubtless,” interjected Mrs. Hardreas, “ jea- lousy is at the bottom of it?” “Yes— to a very gieat extent,” rejoined Charles ; and then, as he mused over the complica- tions which had arisen, he said in a kind of ab- stracted manner, “ And to think that I should have got myself involved in this way !”” Cicely gave a slight start, as she mentally eja- culated, “ Oh! ho! I have discovered the entire truth now! Jealousy indecd! And of whom should Mr. Barrington have been jealous but of Charles De Vere P Ab, Charles is no saint after all! But he is handsome enough for me to win as a lover for the moment, although he may possibly prefer his dusky-complexioned mistress the qua- droon! (ood heavens, whata world itis! While poor Agnes flatters herself that ber lover is the *very paragon of fidelity and rectitude and virtue, he ie in reality just as bad as other men !” All theso thoughts flitted through Cicely’s brain fer more rapidly than we could possibly place them on record; and then turning towards Charles, shoe said, with a smile that revealed her brilliant teeth, “I think, Mr. Do Vere, that the blame of all frailties and peccadilloas in the world ought not to bo thrown upon us poor women ; but that you men ought to take your fair share.” . ®, Charles naturally thought that Mrs, Mardress meant tv express a belief that Gustavus Barring- ton had given his wife cause fur jealousy ; and so he simply said, with a laugh, “ The ladies of course cannot think that they are wholly and solely in the wrong.” “ No-not when men are handsome, and fasci- nating, and endowed with every quality to win poor women’s hearts!’-—and here Cicely bent so peculiar a look upon Charles that a suspicion for an instant flashed to his brain. “Tie affair of the Barringtons is indeod a most unpleasant one,” he said, immediately banishing that suspiciun. “I wish that I had never any- thing to do with if, and that I was fairly out of it |” | “Ah!” said Cicoly, who thought that this was intended asa compliment to herseli, and that it was as rauch as to imply how far happier Charles would feel if engaged in an affair of gallantry with her rather than with the quudroon: “ wo poor women cannot alwaya tell when vou gontlomen are sincere. I often think that the younger you are, the more artful you are likely to be. Desides, talk of the inconstancy of our sex !-—~what is it in comparison with that of your’s ? Nevertheless, wy dear Mr. De Vere,” continued Cicely, bending upon bun another long lingering look of sensucusness, and suffering a portion of her muslin wrapper to be disordered at her bosom, so that her eyes were full of encouragement aud overture while her appear- ACS was most voluptuously provocative—“ uever- theless, my dear Mr. De Vore, I am fully disposed to believe you ; aud if you tell me the tele which. I know those lips are as ready to breathe as my ears are to drink it in 7 “ Mrs. Hardress!” ejaculated our hero, bewil- dered almost to atupefaction. * Ol!” she cuntinued, “ you are surprised that the impression shuuld be mutual, and that it should be fur me to give you all this encouragement. But Ob, Charlies! from the very moment I first saw you in Hngland I feit that I liked yuu!— 2ol marriage with another has not offaced the impres- sion—and now that we meet again in a foreign country ——” ; “Good heavens, Mre. Hardress!” criod our hero ; “such language as this " “Oh, do not think me too bold!” interrupted Cicely: and snatching our hero’s hand in both her own, she pressed it to her lips‘and to her bosom before he could possibly anatch it away. “ Mrs. F£ardress,” ho said, her conduct now ut- terly unmistakablo, “is it possible that by any look, word, or deed on my part you could possibly have so completely misunderstood me P” “What !”’ she cried, hor countenance suddenly becoming crimson : “ misunderstood you ?” “ Yes, madam,” rephed our hero coldly and sternly ; “completely misunderstood me,” Ah !"——and thoso eycs which were usually so soft in thoir exprossion, suddenly flashed forth sinister fires — her countonance became ghastly with rage—tho rich hue fled from tho full pouting lips, leaving them livid white—and at that mo- ment she looked just as sho appearod when we described her to the reader on the occasion when she stood beforo Mra. Chicklade in tho jane, with the darkest thoughts passing in hor omnind. But all in an instant the colour rushed again to her cheeks—they becamo crimson—the scarlet hue spread over her neck and her bosom—ana her white teeth gleamed betwixt tho rich carnation of her lips, as she experienced all tho utter:nuat shamo and humiliation following as a natural ro- vulsion from tho phase of rage and fury. Mrs. Hardress,” said Charles, 1u @ cot. severo tone, “deeply, decply shuuld I bo afilictod if 1 thought that through any levity on my part you had been led into this fatal error. But J can place my band on my heart, and with a clear con- science rejoice in my own self-acquittal. 1 take my leave of you, madam, sorrowful that one woom I always hitherto respected ” “Oh, hypocrite! vile hypocrite!” ejaculated Cicely; “how daro you address me in terms auth as these? Say that you cannot love me—say that you cannot even hke me—aay*® that your fancy leads you not in this direction !—yee, insult my vanity if you will—tnsult my pride !—bub ine sult aot my understanding !” “Yon are evidently Jahbouring under some strange mistake, madam, with regard to me,” re plied Charles; “but f shail nut condescend to vindicate myself any further.” With these words he bowed with a cold haughty dignity; and ho wasabcul to leave the room when Cicely sprang forward, and catching him by the wrist, said in a low hoarse vee, “At all events, Mr. De Vere, you will not expose mo—you will not render me the subject of ridicule ?—you will not let me bv pointed at by your triends and ac- guaintances ?” | * Madam,” answered our hero, “ the humilistion Which you now experienco is a sufficient punith- ment. In reference to this semne the seal of silence shal rest upon my lips. But there 19 one thing that I stipulate; and this iy that yeu neither associate nor correspond with Agnes Livalen henceforth.” a Cwely turned away from’ him withvus givtag any reply; and when the door civaed belind finn, she threw herself upon the sulfa aad buvied her face lO©OlKKS ULC () (SO)