Agnes Vol. 2 — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

LET g moment she placed her hand upon her forehead like one who is bewildered by some intense racking * of the brain. “My dear girl,” said Marcellin, now looking at her very seriously, and speaking very carnestly, T gee that you are distressed by my abrupt and You have every impetuous manner towards you. reason to be. I have moro than once spoken petu- lantly and angrily ” ‘Tor heaven’s sake do not utter anothor syl- ‘lable of excuse, Edgar!” interrupted Ciprina, “I am not angry —I am not offended! Only— only—these constant successions of excitement will end by killing you outright !” Iler faeo bent forward until it reposed on Tidgar’s shoulder—for ho was half sitting up in the bed; and she burst into toars. Yor nearly a minute so passionate was that outburst of weeping —so violent this gush of emotions—that it really seernod as if tho young lady’s heart wore about to break. idgar, to do him justice, forgot for the time everything in reference to Charles De Vere; and winding his arms about Ciprina’s neck, he strained her to his breast—ho said all he could to console her. She left off sobbing-~she wiped tho tears from her large black eyes—smilea now playod upon her lips—and she murmured in the melo- dious intonations of her voice, “ I have been very foolish, Kdgar—but pardon me this®outburst of grief, and think of it no more.” “Qh! I am happy, Ciprina,” he responded, * now that I sce you smile again! Did you hear what I read on the back of this card, dearest? But stay! you know English very well In- jeed, I remember once to have heard it said, when ( was formerly in Iflorence, that you speak the anguage as woll as a nativo 4 “Ob, yes-—l can read English with the utmost ‘acility,’. she said, as she tovk the card which Kidgar Marcellin now handed to her. “ But vlho—but who “Ob, do not ask me any questions now, learest !” ejaculated Lidp&r, playfully placing his ingers upon Ciprina’s rosy lips. “I am in all iusto to sea Mr, De Vere! Let Antonia depart ygain!—-lef her conduct the young [inglish gentle- man hither! Will you give these orders, Ci- prina 2” “ Yes—at once,” answered the young lady. *Cumpose yourself—lie down again, I beseech you--for if is this exeiteinent which does you se much harm, and theretore makes me so vory, very unbappy.” “ {will do everything you tell me, Ciprina,” rejoined Marcellin, Antonia-on perceiving that sudden outburst of strong feelings on the part of her mistress—had discreetly relired from the bed-chamber, and had sought the ante-room,—thus passing from one ex- tremity of the suite to the other. Ciprina has- tened to join the damsel in that ante-room—on entoring which, she closed tho door behind her. “Tell me, Antouia,”’ she said, “ exactly what passed between yourself and Signor De Vere.” Antonia gave the required explanations, which were brict enough, as the reader may suppose from what has been recorded in reference to the inter- view between the cameriste and the young diplo. taatist, “Sand therefore hoe knows nothing ?” said Ci- AGNES; OR, BEADTY AND PLEASURE. e 55 prina: “he asked uo questionsP But no! how foolish on my part! How could he know? how could he even suspect P—Antonia,” she continued, seeming all in a moment to recover her presence of mind, “ you rust go back to Signor De Vero — you must tell Lim that the French gentleman will receive him immediately—but you neal not tell him that he is ill or wounded—you nead not say that it is to the Mirano mansion he is being led!” “T will say nothing, eignora,’ observed Antonia, “except that he is to fuilow me. ILave you any further instructions?” “ Yes,” rejvined Ciprina, looking at hor watch: “it is now eleven o'clock. Bo not tov hasty !—[ Moan, you need not be in tuo great a hurry to brivg the Iinglish gentleman hither. If he is hero by midnight, it will suffice. Ah! and ono word more! The moment you havo introduced him into this anto-room, you may retire, Nover mind if tha light bo burning dim, or if you do not find me here——-I will see that propor attention is paid to the Kaglish visitor. Do you under- stand ?” “J will obey your orders, signora,” answered the cameriste : and she then touk her departure. The moment she was gone, Ciprina retraced her way as far as hor own bel-chamber, where a silver chocolate pot was being kept heated over a spirit-lamp. She poured into a cup « sinall quan- tity of the chocolate: she then tovk the pull which La Doltiua had given her in tho box on the pre- ceding evening: and this pill she put into the cup. “He must sleep!” she thought within herself: “he must sleep while [ have this interview with Charles To Vere! To morrow they may meet perhaps—but not till ¢en!’ I have now a clear hour bofure me. Ah! it was well thouzht on my part to bid Antunia delay his coming until mid. niybt! During the interval the soporific medica- ment will perform ity work, and Edgar will sleep ! Ab, if I wero to Bescech him to take this medicine fur his good, he would refuse !—he would not tako a suponfic, now that he expects to moct Charles Do Vero! Therefore must I deceive him by mvans of thia beverage: and Ah! I deplore the neeesvity of using deception With him!” When she found that the pill was completely dissolved in the chocolate, Ciprina passed iuto the inner reuin, carrying the cup. “ Were, Edgar,” she said; “it is rather late for you to take any more chocolate to night—but it is strengthening—you soem to fancy it moro than anything else——” “ Yes—tho very thing that I was on the point of asking for!’ he exclaimed : and then he kissed the hand which presented hin the cup. “ You have sent Antonia to [vtech Charles De Vere ?” ha asked, as le pave back the cup, having swallowed its coutenta, “Yas,” replied Ciprina. Vere, as you call him YT will tell you, Ciprina, all about it,” inter- rupted Mareellin. ‘ You must have road the name of Agnes Kvelyn ” “ Agnes,” echoed Ciprina, it might almost have seemed mechanically. ‘Ah, L forgot!’ said Mareellins “the name of Agnes ia not on this card—it is simply Miss Evelyn that Mr. De Vere has writtou. {Sut now * But this Caarles Do +P ] GORMGOOOKXS (C@