Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE dozen of those fervid kisses which had before offendéd her | on their way thither. With an instinctive shudder she could not help attempting to liberate her hand. She succeeded, and retreated some paces backwards, He gazed at her earnestly for a minute, and then, with a wicked smile, said, ‘“Wair Jessie, the sound of this silver bell on the table will bring you an attendant on the instant. You need refresh- ment and repose, Until we meet, fair one, again, I am yours.” He waved his hand and quitted the apartment. Jessie seated herself upon one of the cushioned chairs, and cast her eyes around, and saw in every object evidence of wealth and luxury. | She gazed upon her own travel-stained apparel. She recollected that on their way hither her unknown deliverer had said times and times again, ‘She might be mistress here,” Aye! but at what price? A cold quiver of apprehension ran through her frame, for she felt the unknown meant her no good. What cared she for all this luxurious comfort compared ae that position which simple Darby iad pointed out to er No, no; the room grew repulsive in her sight, and she wished herself away, anywhere, anywhere, out of the trials, dangers, fears, and afflictions she had lately suffered. “It would almost seem as if Ivan knew of my deadly hatred towards him and his villanous band, and wished first to dis- honour and then to destroy me,” she mused, She impulsively quitted her seat, and, placing her hand upon the silver bell, rang a sweet-toned peal. It was immediately responded to by a page. His dress was remarkably superb in all its appointments, and his face, with some pretensions to beauty, was pale, while the expression was calm and sad. He fixed his large blue eyes upon Jessie and stood awaiting her commands, At first she took him to be some one of high rank from his superb attire, and she herself stood motionless, expecting him to speak, He remained silent, until, finding that she gave no token of engaging his services, he pointed to the bell and then to him- self. | He made her a low obeisance, and she now understood that he was there to do her bidding. She turned upon him an anxiously enquiring look, as though to fread his every thought, and, clasping her hands, said, _ ‘T would quit, this moment, from here ; can you not assist me to depart ?” _ The page shook his head. rhe Fr iahs He pointed to his ear and mouth, indicating his want both of speech and hearing. He pointed to writing materials upon the table, and placed a sheet of paper before Jessie. She, however, could not write—in those days by no means a remarkable deficiency. She blushed, but was not, however, at a loss to describe by pantomime her wishes, which he was able to comprehend. He placed his hand upon his heart and intimated that he had no power to comply with her wish, or he would. _ He made signs, too, that it would be dangerous for her at that hour to quit the place. Opening a small door concealed by the tapestry, he showed her a sleeping apartment within, fitted up with the same luxurious taste which had guided the furnishing of the sitting room. He made motions to her that this was to be her chamber. It was with some difficulty that she made him understand she was not there of her own free will, - He then drew her attention to the fastening on the door of her chamber and explained to herthe movement of a spring, which held it secure within. ~ | He showed her also a mechanical contrivance which enabled any one without to remove the inner fastening at a touch. | | | TERRIBLE. 133 He drew from his girdle a long, narrow, and very sharply- pointed dagger. He gave it to her, raised his hands as though imploring pro- tection for her, and then, pointing to the silver bell and to himself, to indicate that he would answer apy summons she might give, he bowed and retired. , The gift of the dagger was one of the greatest value to her, and she placed it in her bosom, resolved to perish rather than not preserve her honour spotless. She felt and knew that it was easier to die than to be ruined by any ruthless voluptuary, be he whom he might. When the page had departed she sat deep in thought, and wept bitterly to think how much she had suffered, and how much she had been tempted ; but, thoughts of escape and deep laid designs for revenge coloured her pale cheeks with ex- citement. She retired to her chamber, and secured all the fastenings as the dumb page had directed her. She was greatly fatigued, and slept soundly. When she awoke it was broad daylight ; all on the river was bustle and gaiety, Every one seemed happy but her, 3 She thought she heard footsteps approaching her chamber oor. . She listened at the door intently for a few minutes, but no further sounds met her ear. Pressing the spring the door flew open. A fire blazed upon the hearth in the sitting apartment. The table was spread with the morning meal, but save her- self the room was untenanted. She seated herself, half filled with a nervous apprehension of seeing her mysterious deliverer enter, Time flew on, and he came not. She partook but sparingly of the delicacies spread before her in gold and silver vessels. Having finished, she rang the little silver bell. The page, who had responded to it the night previously, immediately obeyed the summons, He stood, as before, motionless, but respectful, awaiting the expression of his mistress. Once more she intimated her desire to depart, but the youth replied by signs that it could not be until she had obtained the permission and signet of him who had brought her there ; that his orders must be strictly obeyed, indeed, it was akin to death to disobey them, With a significant gesture and a bitter smile he pointed to the outside fastenings of her chamber door. Jessie started with surprise as she perceived that during the night they had been tampered with. Some one had been endeavouring to gain admission while she was fast asleep. She became deadly pale and trembled. Jessie, believing the dumb page to be the only friend she had then in the world—the only one, at least, who was able to advise her or to assist in her escape—knelt before him, and by passionate words and pantomime, begged of him to assist her to escape. The page, with many eloquent motions, told her to be not alarmed. As long as she did not neglect the inside fastenings of her chamber door she was safe frcm all intrusion and violence. In dumb show also he bade her to stab to the heart any one who should dare, thief-like, to enter her chamber, and attempt to violate her. ; His pale countenance, as he rapidly conveyed this advice, changed from its mild and sorrowful character to one in which the most deadly and implacable passions were pre- dominant. His brow and cheeks were flushed, his teeth were clenched, his gestures were vehement, and it seemed that, knowing who was likely to be the aggressor, he had some deep revenge to obtain, and would gladly hail the hand that would procure it for him. He noticed the almost alarmed look which Jessie bent upon him as she watched the changes which passed over his features, and resuming at once, his aspect he usual ca Tic NOOKS.«cOlnn