Agnes Vol. 2 — page 270: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, “Ah! you begin to be melted!” ejaculated Hector, in atoents thrilling with delight. “You are setting my mind at case,” she re- jetands “JT naturally looked upon Cicely as i vd—I bed known her as Miss Neale—I am alsc aware that my cousin Agnes entertained an nffection for her, and doubtless still entertains it-——’ “ And now all those compunctions on your part are sot at rest! But I will even toll you more,’ continued Hardress, growing sentimentally maud lin and confidential in proportion as he flattored himself that the beautiful Floribel was yielding to his views. “I have not only agreed that Cicely shall take a lover, if she choose—but she hat already found one—or at least her fancy was scttled in a particular quarter when I left Florence; and IT have no doubt that by this time she is as com. pletely happy ino her affair of gallantry as 1 fondly hope to become in wine.” ‘The whole adventure is charming,” ejaculated Floribel; “arfd it interests me immensely! Who can be tho favoured one ?” “Ab! thal, perhaps, 1s the most extraordinary port of it all !” interjected Hardress. ‘You would searcely believe it—and I am at a loss whether I ought to go to such an extreye—~’ "ORY" ejuculated Floribel, suddenly pouting hor lips, “ where there is no confidence there is no love. Give moe all your confidenco—sbow that you ure sincero in making theso advances towards me-—”’ A single word from your tongue becomes tan- famount to a command!” cried Mector, growing more and more infatuated with the beautiful crea- ture before him; for never once from his memory was absent the ravishing spectacle he had beholden when in the morning he hed intruded upon the privacy of her chamber, “ You shall have all my confidence !—there 1s no secret upon earth which I poseess that [ will not communicate to you! You will be astunished when J*tell you that the object of Cicely’s fantasy 1s none other than Guess! But nu! you will never do it! I mean Charles De Vere.” Viunbel started with the utmost amazement : then she bent her large dark cyes with a look of incredulity upon Tlector *“Hardress : but suddefily recollecting that he had merely said his wife had tuken a faney in that quarter, without _averring that tho passion was reciprocated, she said, * Ah! is it indeed eo P” “Itisas I tell you, Floribel: but of course I Cannot do more than suriuise concerning the suc- ceas that Cicely way have experienced—tor I lett Tiorence on the very day when we came to our arrangement, And now, adorable creature ! what hope dare J entertain? Ab! I might urge asa passport to your favour that I punished the man who played s0 villanous a part towards you-1 killed Theodore Clifford © Yes!” interjected Floribol, with a look of aver- sion and disgust; “ but you wero not purposely avenging we at the time—you were vindicating sume private quarrel of your own—and therefore you must not make @ merit of that deed !” * Let us put it out of the question,” said Hard- recy, “ But for wy own sake—for the love that I bee _ ‘1 cannot become the mistress of a married BRAUTY AND PLEASURR. 260 man,” answered Floribel. “You have now wm: decision.” “Your decision?” echoed the young patrician with a look of mingled astonishment and vexation “What ! after all I havo told you in reference t my wife and myself?” “T have thought better of it,” said Floribel My decision is given: it is pusitive and it i: final.” “ Do you mean me to understand that I have nc hope ?” asked Hector, his cheeks and his lips white with the rage that was gathering withix him. “Do noé let there be any folly botwoen us!’ rejoined Floribel : “do not speak of hopa and love in the same sentimental style as if you were won: ing mo fora wife! Be sensibie and boa rvason: able! Youask mo to become your mistress—and I decline the honour. You will now havo the goodness to leave me.” * No—by heavens, no! not on these terme !' exclaimed Hector. “ Why did you ere now amik encouragingly upon me? why did you call me by my Christian name P” “T was reficcting—I was meditating at thé time. I had not made up my mind. Surely yor would not have had me givo you an abrupt gnswe: in the negative without the slightest reflection ¢ If I had done so, then indeed you might havo aaic that 1 was treating you with insult !”’ “All this is evasion, Floribel!” ejaculated ITector. “ For some reason you have rade me your dupe: but [am not a man to saffer niyascll to be trifled with! I give you one more chance — and if you still scorn my overtures, beware ! —for by heaven! I will be avenged !” “Oh, if ever thore were a momont when I thought well of your overtures,” exclaimed Flo: ribel, discainfully, “the conduct whieh you are now displuying—so infamous and so cowartily ” “You do not know my character!” cried Hector. “1 will either Jove or bate yous I will dv all I can to serve you—or I will become your bitterest persoeuter ! Ab! you smile? you defy me? Beware! Think you that I am iy aor ant of the weak point through the medium or whieh the sharpest poniard may be plunged into your heart, orthe barbed arruw be made to rankle there! Yes !—I know it !—you would sooner die than let your cousin Agnes know that Fionbel Lister was identical with that Ciprina whvuse name has be- come notorious in Florence !” Floribel’a cheeks became pale; but quickly re- gaiuing ber self-pussession, she rose from her seat, and said with a calm air of defiance, “You will not dare make those revelations to my cousin Agues.” “Reckon not upon my forbearanco!” exclaimed Wardress menacingly. “No,” said Floribel, “I do not reckon upen your forbearance: but I reckon upon your fears.” “My fears?” cjaculated Tlardress; and he aughed scornfuily. “ My fears! Of what?” “That I should retaliate moat bitterly,’ re- Joined Floribel. “Obl! it was not without a mo- tive that I ere nuw smiled eacouraging!y aud called you by your Christian name! It was ta lead you on in your e@onfidential une i, Curiosity at firat inspired me; and then it sudcenly sirack me that it were as woll to provide myself with GOMmIGOOo <S (©