Agnes Vol. 2 — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

F AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. 79 RETO naar II mL nL TINT which they communicated, and within the glass CHAPTER. XIV. frame- work of which heavy elusters of ripe grapes wore ready for the hand that might be stretched forth to pluck them. It was evident that the Governor's wife and daughter bad studied to THE lady in whose presence Charles De Vere thus subdue the prison like gloom of the fortress as und himeelf, was elegantly dressed in the evening much as they possibly could, so far as their own fsa Handeome she was vnot—neither tf habitation was concerned. e exactly pretty; but yet her countcnance w “Will you not advance?” the lady at length interesting, while ber figure waa voluptuous aid said rising from the sofa, and now flinging upon itriking. She appeared tu be about six-and-thirty': the seeming priest a look that was expressive of ragrs of age; Bue might even have been a couple ; her own fluttering pleasure, and at the same timo ears older——for her toilet being gay and. deprecatory of any remonstrance or rebuke on his efile in its fashion, afforded her the benetit of | part. “Did not Ursula tell you that my husband its gdvantages. She had emall features, which had gono to pass the ovening with some friends in ‘ro flelicate without being regular, and which ' ‘the town? Carlotta has gone with her father— vaio faomewhat doo diminutive for the fulness of and therefore l——But wherefore do you remain headfico; but she had handsome dark blue eyes ‘there? why thus persist in concealing your coun- ind dct of admirably preserved teeth. Her brown | tenancer Ab! have my looke been really mis- lair was thrown back from above her high fore- | ‘understood? or have you altogether failed to per-y’ lead: aod it was euffered to flow upon her ceme the dewunstrations of love which I ha boulders and‘down hor back with what may be from time to time ventured ” ermed a studied negligence, and which was ren-' “Signora,” said Charles, suddenly resolving to lered all the more piquant by a picturesque kind bing matters to a crisis, “you are mistaken ! ff head-dress to which a veil was attached. Alto- ;1——” ogether, with the advantage of her toilet, with | ‘A low half-subdued shriek burst from the lips iar fine figure, her softly rounded shoulders of | of Signora Belluno; for the tones of our hero's nowy whiteness, her handsome cyes, afd her good | voice had enabled her to anticipate the avowal seth, the lady was far from an unattractive per | which he was about to mako—namely, that he was onape. Wnot Father Falconara. . She sat in a species uf half pensive, balf bashful; “Be silent, Signora! or you wilk bétray 300d, for nearly a minute after Charles De Vere” yourself!" he ejaculated, as be suddenly removed hus found bimeelf in her presence: her 01 es, whiclt the kerchief from bia face and advanced quickly or an inetant had been fixed upon bim with a ‘towards her, full of @ feverish excitement as he eoul ae luok, were bent down; and she seemed as: found that she was now seized with a terror which ' she had taken some step of which she was half: if loudly and passionately expressed, might prove fraid, but which nevertheless was the result of , destruction to himself. pme irresisiible infatuation. Charles now sud-{| ‘“ Who are you, holy sir?’ she guickly de- enly fancied that ho had made another discovery’ manded. “ Aad how came you here ?” 1 reference to the adventure wherein he found | “Can you not understand, Signora, that [ am a imself involved. Father Falconara had spoken | friend of Father F&alconara’s ?” f the: Governor’s wife an@ daughter. This then! “ But you are not an Italian?” she interjected. aust assuredly be the wife? She had conceived ai “No—I ama Frenchman,” was the ready re- uilty passion for the young priest, but she had! sponse given by our hero, “In short, I am the ot hitherto gone to any great lengths in avowing | chaplain to the French Embassy at Florence—I perhaps indeed she had seen that her looks, came tu see my beloved friemi Father Fal- er hints, and her intimations were either under- ; conara p wood but partially, or else reciprocated but feebly; “Just heaven! and what a secret bave you -even if at all; and now she thought to avail | discuvered !’’ exclaimed the lady, now throwing erself of her husband's temporary absence to' herself upon the sofa and wringiog ber hands. “I ring matters to an explanation. am ruined! Iam degraded! 1 am undone! Oh, These were the ideas which swept through the | fatal passion !—miserable, miscrable infatuation !” nud of Charles Do Vere; and they were naturally: “ Bignura,” Charles hastened to explain, “ take ogendered by the halt-bashful, half-frightened courage: Tam a man of honour! and though a emounour which the lady wore; for if things bad | priest, I can make allowances! Alas, full well do one further than ho suspected, and if thero really I know that the flesh is frail- —— xisted any undue familiarity between horself and' ‘ But, Oh! reverend sir: cried Signora Bel- ‘lather Valconara, would she not have sprung for- luno, “you will betray me to sour friend! You ard tu clasp in her arms the seeming priest who | ‘will now render me contemptible and ridiculous ow atood in her presence? ‘in his eyes!” Yes—a minute passed while De Vere remained | «N Oo, signora~-no!”’ cried Charles. ‘anding close by the door, and atill hiding his | “Ob, if I could put faith in your promise,” oun‘enance with a white kerchief. Thus he had | cried the unhappy lady, “1 should be comforted! ot merely leisure to observe the appearance of ian immense weight would be taken off my 1@ lady, as we have already described it— ; miud!” ut he also noticed that the ‘s Signora, wherefore should you not believe »mely furnished and exhibited all tho evidenres | me P” asked our hero, who was driven almost to [ feminine taste. There were vases of flowers: | frenzy by this delay which was taking place ere 1e draperies were well appointed; and the open /furtber steps were adopted to ensure his escape ‘semonta affurded a glimpse of a green-house with | from the castle; for he dreaded lest at apy in- TIE TWO DVISGUISBKS. COMME HOG SS