Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

/126 a feeling of respect either for Sir Humphrey’s nature as a man, or his position as a gentleman, Sir Humphrey was fond of low company, but he was fond of his dignity also; he mixed among the lowest with perfect freedom, but he did not approve ‘of them rising to his level even when he was mixing with the lowest. This feeling it was that made him act so brutally to Jessie ; and now boiling with rage at being entirely shut out of all the good graces of the pretty girl whom he most coveted, and by one also whom he looked upon with contempt, while he had in the house ruffians laughing at him, and to be thus un- ceremoniously seized by a perfect s'ranger, his fury knew no bounds. He strove to strike the stranger a violent blow in the face. | His wrist was caught and brought harmless to his side ; in an instant he found himself in the power of a young Hercules. It was Darby ! A quick conviction presented itself that he could not cope with his antagonist in feats of sirength. He resolved to wait for an unguarded moment, and rid himself of a rival more potent than any he could have anti- cipated meeting in such a place. He therefore ceased wrestling and stood still, looking his foe in the face that he might know it again if he n»w escaped him, and to wait the issue of the chivalrous defence of the girl he had so offended. On turning to scan the face of Darby he started back, even though under the restraint of his grip. An exclamation escaped his lips ; the face shone upon him like a well-remembered portrait. 3 It seemed that of one with whom he was well acquainted— of a character never to be forgotten after it had once been seen. But where had Sir Humphrey seen Darby before? — It was that of one beheld recently, yet he could nof recall when or under what circumstances. All was plainly stamped upon his brain as he now beheld it. That it must have been by some means in some high circle or company, yet he could not recall one single circumstance to memory to afford a clue as to where he had séen it; yet the face strangely influenced him. He felt to cower beneath the glance; his nerves thrilled under this influence, which was one of terror. It compelled him to remain quiet under the glittering eye of the young man and listen with an abashed air, which strug- gled with one of defiance and hauteur, to the quiet but stern remarks then delivered to him. “ You are called Six Humphrey Greathead,” commenced Darby, speaking with marked emphasis in order that some half-dozen strangers who had just entered might hear what he uttered, “ You are called aknight,” he repeated ; “ and knight never disgraced spurs as thou hast. Upon thine order thou hast, by thy degrading deeds, brought lasting contempt ; and if its members were acquainted with thy malpractices they would cast thee out in shame and with ignominy, Sir Humphrey, One peculiarity of thy venality seems to be that of endeavour- ing to insult and degrade those whom thou art sworn to pro- tect and cherish—the very oath of thy knighthood being charged with tbis honorable command ; yet this clause in thy oath thou hast sought every means to violate, and it is fit thou shouldst be punished.as thy deserts warrant, even at hands as humble as mine.” _ As he concluded he removed his hand from the wrist of the astonished Sir Humphrey, which he had held with the strength of a vice, and seizing him by the nose he dragged him forcibly along the room | He then thrust him through the doorway along the bar in sight of the astonished rascals who there congregated, and so over the open threshold, hurling him into the street with such violence that he lay upon the ground stunned, Regarding him with one contemptuous glance over his shoulder he returned into the room, preparatory, when he had fulfilled his mission to rescue Jessie, to quitting the place. He found all present in the parlour paralysed with astonishment, while several strangers who had recently arrived were laugh- ing heartily in the corner, out of the way of all observation, With an air of boldness and defiance, that quieted all the IVAN THE TERRIBLE. company, and surprised them, too, Darby re-entered the parlor, and sat beside the trembling Jessie, and said in whispers, “Fear not : relief is at hand. You know who Jam; be silent, and all will be well shortly.” For a moment or two Jessie could not speak ; but at last she sighed, : a “ Heaven be thanked, I knew it was you. I knew,” she sobbed, the large tears glittering in her eyes, ‘*T knew thou hadst a bold heart, Darby. I could not be deceived, and well thou hast avenged me. Oh, it was the very thing I could my- self have done had I had the strength to have dragged him as you bravely did, Howcan I show you my heart’s thanks, dear Darby?” si, Darby, much confused at her words, and blushing deeply, gazed upon her eyes, her flushed features betraying her strong emotion. He could plainly see she had a little respect, indeed not a little love, for him. ° It was not egotism—there was no need of self-love to hint the fact—it was as palpable to others as to himself. a She made no effort to disguise it ; she wished him to see how ~ very greatly his valour had endeared him to her, and how ready she was to acknowledge it to him. The soul of Jessie was as bare to him, rough as he was, as a carved tablet. His first few minutes with her prompted an impression which soon became a certainty that she was still _ virtuous among the vicious, a fair flower blooming among the rankest weeds there present. There was somethiog frightful in her purity—in its hourly peril—something wonder- — ful in its preservation. What was to be the issue? “ Why dost thou look so pale, Darby? Speak ! ought to know the cause of your fears.” ' “ Truly ought you, Jessie. You will not be offended with such a rough fellow as Darby, the groom?” - “‘ Offended with you? Oh, no, good Darby.” “ T fear, shouldst thou remain here buta single night, Jessie, thy ruin might ensue.” “My ruin, Darby? myruin? What mean you?” sheasked, with eyes of innocence. “Idonot understand you. Iam poor. I work hard day by day as you do, Darby. No, no, Darby, speak no more of ruin, How can J be ruined that have nothing to lose ?” ‘“‘ Indeed, but thou hast, Jessie |! to know.” “What have J, then, to loose ; I am but a poor gipsy girl reared by the noble Earl Percy for charity ?” “Thou hast been abroad in the streets. and seen ladies walking with their friends; thou hast been in houses where thou hast seen young maidens good and without sin, who would die to enter this fearful place !” ““T have seen very little of this; but where virtue is good, Darby, we need fear nothing—we need not riches, but can be happy without them, here or anywhere.” “But you are not happy here, Jessie, and could never be.” Darby sighed, and, taking her hand, said, impressively, ‘Have you no idea of what is wrong and what is right ?” “ How foolish! Tobe sure I have! It was wrong of that insolent fop to speak to me as he did ; it was very right and very kind of you to do what you did, good, brave Darby.” “Jessie, you have heard of angels ?”? said Darby, in a soft voice. : “Tn heaven? Yes!” she cried, once more bending her large dark eyes upon him, ke “They are free from taint, spotless ; free from all earthly corruption, Jessie,” “TI know, I know; I have seen them in my dreams !” ‘“Then, look you on those girls in your career, See you aught in them to compare to the angels of whom I speak? How happy is it for thee, Jessie, that Darby, rongh as he is sought thee out to deliver thee.” “ Yes, yes, yes, good Darby !" J ‘““Now, understand me, Jessie, there is as wide a space between them and thee and all the virtuous maidens in this world, as there is between the angels of which you have dreamed. You are yet one of the virtuous, on the verge of the precipice between virtue and vice; one step and youtall headlong from the heayen of purity into the depth of vice,” Eomichooks:;com Surely I But you are yet too young