Agnes Vol. 2 — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

56 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. egonenian® you know her name to be Agnes Evelyn. ‘Well, | of ber countenance in an opposite’mivror, and sh then, Agnes Evelyn is a most excellent-hearted | eaw that it was as pale as death. Evon her ver, and benevolent young lady—and accident threw | lips were bloodless, and she was affrighted at thi her in the way of the Paoli family at a time when | contemplation of herself. There was somethin; they were in the greatest distress, Paoli’s children | awful in her aspect : it was eo altered that i are now living at Sidney Villa.” seemed as if she never could become changed bac! ‘Ah, then you have doubtless seen them at | again to what she naturally was. Quickly avert this how is the villa called?” and Ciprina | ing her rogards from the mirror, she looked a stooped down to pick up the card which she had | ber watch. It wanted ten minutes to midnight, just let fall from her hand. “Ah! Sidney; “Ample time!” she mentally ejaculated. Villa !” She then took a lamp and hastened inte the “Yes—TI saw them at Sidney Villa~and it was | ante-room, where a couple of tapers were burning from one of the children I happened to learn that | upon the mantel. Both these tapers she extin. Miss Evelyn is engaged to a young diplomatist | guished: and she turned down the wick of the named Charles De Vere.” lamp in such @ way that it only shed a very dim “And therefore that name was iromediately | and partial light through the room. Sho then familiar to you?” said Ciprina. “ But what do | hastened baok into her own chamber, where alre you suppose—I mean, what——” drew from a wardrobe an ample cloak, and from a “You mean to ask what Charles De Vere can | drawer she took forth a thick black veil. Sho next purpoge todo? This is very strange there is | peeped into the furthermost chamber, where she a drowsiness but I must shake it off. Ah! | perceived that Edgar Marcellin was still sleeping that’s it! I must sit up in the bed. How foolish | profoundly. Sheclosed the door of communication I was! Of course if ono lics down, sleep is sure ! between the two chambers; and when again in to come stealing over one!” _ own apartment, she pud on the cloak—she ‘And Agnes Evelyn,” said Ciprina,—“ this | covered her head with the veil, folding i¢ in such a young lady of. whom you spoke - manner that it was totally impossible for even the “Speak louder, dearest,” interjected Edgar ; | keenest eye to obtain a glimpse of her features. “for eithor your voice is very tremulous and low | She then passed into the boudoir, closing the door —or else I am really getting more and more sleapy. | behind her :—thenco she proceeded into the ante- Ab! you were speaking of Agnes? She is very | room, and this last door she likewise shut. good, and very lovely. She is gonerally known by | The ante-room, as wo have already said, was the title of The Beauty of Sidney Villa; and| merely dimly and partially lighted by the feobly some of the people in the neighbourhood call her | burning lamp; and Ciprina, muffled in the dark Beauty just as if i¢ were a regular name, or as | closk and with a black veil over ber head, ap- they might say Agnes. Corinna told me all; peared to bea gloomy shape from another world this.”’ 'in the midst of that sombre semi-obscurity. She ‘And who is Corinna?” asked Ciprina. “Oh | heard footsteps approach on the landing outside : --I suppose one of the Paoli family P” the outer-dour of hor suite of apartments was “Yos—just so,” responded Marcellin, who was | thrown open—and Charles Do Vere was iatro- evory instant getting more and more drowsy. | duced into her presence. “ Paoli’s daughter —a girl of some sixteen or 2) 80 “And beautiful doubtless ?” asked Ciprina, ° somewhat quickly. : CHAPTER XI. * Yes—beautiful—both beautiful—Agnes and Corinna,” murmured Marcellin, with his eyes more TIE INTERVIEW AND ITS RESULTS, than half closed and his head falling forward upon his breast: “ both beautiful—beth beautiful, | Tire door immediately closed again; and Antonia What was I saying ?” he asked, opening his eyes | retired aecording tothe instructions which sho had aud staring vacantly, “Ab! Agnes—yes they call | received. Our hero was stricken with astonish- her Beauty. And she had a cousin——let mej ment on finding himself in so gloomy an apart- seo~—~ 1 heard her name——=I have forgotten | ment, and in the presence of what seemed tu be it———Ab! no! it was—i¢ was—FTloribel! that | the funereal form of a woman instead of that wasit! And she ran away——a splendid crea- | of a young man who would at ouce announce ture, 1 believe she was sv Coriuna heard it} his name to be IJidgar Marcellin. And our said and now no one knows what on earth | readers will not think one whit the less favour- has become of her. Yes—yes nu I mean! | ably of Charles De Vore’s courage, if we adit but Agnes has somohow or another received | that he was even for a moment smitten with a the assurance that her cousin what is her | senso of alarm at everything which was so totally name P—Ah! Floribel! —has become virtuous | diferent from what he had expected —the moro so again—and gone into some strict seclusion——I| as tho young girl who had guided him thither, don’t know whether—whether it’s a convent or | closed the door upon him and disappeared, as if not but—but—I did hear that Miss Evelyn | she were thus leaving him in somo treachcrous ig now tranquillized about her erring cousin.” snare to which she had lured him. But that Hero Edgar Marcellin fell back upon the pil- | feeling of alarm was as evanescent as a passing lows: bh ade one more eff -rt to open his eyes | shadow; and it even left him before Ciprina, in and Jifé his head; but it fuiled—and a@ profound ;a soft low voice, said in the French language, slumber seized upon him. ‘Pardon me, sir, for giving you such @ strango Ciprina started up from her seat by the bed- | reception as this: but there are reasons which L eide: at tho same mument she caught a glimpse | will presently explain.” GORMGOOOKXS (C@