Agnes Vol. 2 — page 253: what you’re looking at

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

246 about my sojourn in Jamaica and the circum- stances connected with my marriage—you even warned me against an alliance with Emily—you are cognizant of her behaviour in respect to the document which so vitally concerned the interests of my poor old grandfather-——” “And therefore,” interjected Ormaby, who guessed what was coming, “ you will now admit me completely into your confidence and tell mo what has occurred P”’ “Emily has led me the most wretobed of lives,” pursued Gustavus: “she has sought to usurp a etupendous empire over me by enthralling me in bonds more fatal than those which ihe wiles of Dalilah wove for the infatuated Sampson. She plunged me into a vortex of dissipation, in order that luxurious pleasures might render me her slave, I have both loved and hated her. Oh, it was impossible to escape altogether from the im- pression which that love of hers so frenetic and so strangpe-—so wild and so ardent—was naturally calculated ty make upon my soul! And thus perhaps I should have continued captive in the bonds which she had cast around me, if circum- stances had not suddenly transpired to turn all my thoughts and ideas into a new channel—to make me a man once more--to raise mo up from the grovelling position of a dissipated voluptuary, and lead me to think of the various duties that I owed to suciety, to myself, and to others! Then a ter- rible sceno took place between us at tho hotel where we put up in Ilorence,—a scono upon the details of which I will not dwell. Suffice it to say that it was more than man could onduro—and I separated frota her!” “Ab! you separated from her ?” said Lord Orwaby. “And what followed P” “Kuowing how generous-hearted and high- principled was Charles De Vere,” pursued Gus- tavus, “I resolved to consult him. J had no other fricnudin Vierence—and, Oh! I felt the necessity of being well advised in such circumstances. I xnorely wished to separate from Emily for a period, tha@she might have leisure to reflect upon the whole tenour of her conduct towards me, and make up her mind tu the pursuance of a different vourse. I implored De Vere tv act as a mediator —and ho covsonted. tL proposed that Emily dhould go to Jamnica to attend upon her father, while I proceeded to England to sojourn awhile in the society of my cousin Winifred and her hus- band. ‘Emily demanded time to reflect upon the propusals; and she likewise insisted upon being removed from the hotel into private lodgings. I begged De Vere to see that this was done, and to | ment. +P escort her to her new abode “You begged him to do this?” said Ormsby, | who fult as if a mist wero beginning to clear away | “nobleman: “\iet us hasten to his hotel! let mo from before his eyes. ““Yes-—for l knew that in De Vere both Emily and myself had a stanch friend who would act impartially betweon us. And now, to be brief, an entire week has passed away—and day aftor day, therefore, have I been compelled to request De Vere to call upon her—to reason with her—to re- monstrate—to entreat that she will be reasonable —or even to threaten her if she refused; and puinful though to him the task has been, yet has he fulfilled it. Yes—pairful indeed !—for he has véxperienced scenes of violence with Imily AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASUBE. aye, and on the other hand, he has also been fearful lest her reputation should sulfer by these continued visits on the part of a young man who was in no way related to her.” “He has told you all this?” asked Lord Ormaby. “Yes,” rejoined Gustavus; “and I owe him a thousand obligations. Ah! I remember, on one occasion Emily endeavoured to cajole him over to her own interests; she caught him by the hand, and at that moment the landlady’s daughter on- tered the room. An equivocal interpretation might possibly have been put upon the scene ; and De Vere’s virtuous spirit revolted against it. He therefore represented to me how painful and in- convenient his position was becoming——"’ “Is it all so?” ejaculated Ormaby. ‘Good heavens, Mr. Hargrave!” cried Gus. tavus, “you seem to doubt it? Why should you do so? Oh! believe me there cxists not a nobler character than Charles De Vere !—and it is not his fault if everything yet remains most unsatisfactory and unsettled in reference to my wife. Perhaps you will accuse me of weakness, but I could not possibly leave Florence while she is in such a frame of mind. It is a sort of madness: and when I know*that 2¢ all springs from the illimiteble love which she bears for me, I experience a certain degree of pity-~~yes, a sympathy and a commiscra- tion, which would not suffer me to quit Florence until somethigg definitive shall have been sottled.” “What does your wife require ?” demanded Ormsby.’ “ That we should live together again, without any interval of separation,” rejoined Gustavus, “ Wer incessantly reiterated stipulation is that we should meet and discuss our differences toether without the aid of an intermediary. But to this I will not assent. To tell you the truth, Mr. Hargrave, there are cortain reasons which not merely make me tremble for my own life, but also dread lest she should lay violent hands upoa herself. Thus I dare not meet her—ncithor dare IT abandon her in Florence amongst strangors; for J cannot forget that with all her faulta sho is my wife, and that perhaps the greatest of thuse faults is that of loving me too devotedly and tov well! Ob, if you would intorest yourself in our behalf !—for I dare no longer expect that Charles De Vere will consent to encounter such painful scenes 7 “Oh, how I have wronged him! how I have wronged him!” ejaculated Ormsby. * Wronged him ?” echoed Gustavus, in astonish- “What on carth do you mean? To wrong Charles De Vere would be the groatest of crimes !” “Come quick! come quick!” exclaimed the clasp him in my armas, as if he were my own very dear son! let me tell him that Agnes shall bo his bride !’ Gustavus was amazed at this gush of words which poured forth trom the other’s lips; and following the track of his rapid footsteps, ho in- quired, “ Good heavens! what does all this mean ? and what have you been saying to Charles De Vere P” . “IT have misjudged him in overy sense !”’ ejacu- lated Ormsby. “Thero have been misropresenta- () COMIC OOS SS ceo