Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

134 IVAN THE quitted the room hastily to avoid being betrayed into emotions ke did not care to exhibit. The morning passed, and still her strange host appeared not. Fatigued, and almost heartbroken in her gorgeous prison house, she tottered to her chamber in the afternoon, She securely fastened the door, let slip the strong spring bolt the dumb page bad pointed out, and lay down for an hour or more. She slumbered lightly ; but when she awoke again she was horrified to percéive that, secure it as she might, the fastenings of her door had been once more withdrawn, all, in truth, save the spring bolt. As she perceived this she felt more keenly than ever how frail was her security in this place, where every effort would be made to make captive her senses so that her soul might be enslaved. : The simple act of the page in showing her the spring which had so befriended her, and his present of the dagger, had effectually awakened her from any sense of security in which she might have been lulled. She hardly knew when she was to encounter her enemy, but she looked for him everywhere and treated everything with suspicion. The name of the mansion even in which she was she knew not, and she felt sure that, after all, her deliverance from the Forge might have been only a plan of the rufiians to place her in the hands of some refined and titled scoundrel who, with wealth, ease, and leisure at his disposal, delighted in ruining by torturing degrees all who resisted his vile passions or thwarted his ungovernable pride. | Her expectations, alas, were not deceived. She sat in the quiet evening by the side of a brilliant lamp, gazing upon the wreathing flames which shot forth their fanciful forms as they ascended the spacious chimney, but, from some unknown cause, she became conscious of the presence of some one in the apartment. She turned her head. There, gazing upon her with a look of passion as alarming to her as repulsive, she beheld Lord Barnaby. She instantly rose to her feet, but he motioned her to be seated again. “Remain seated, Jessie, I beg. You must be fatigued after your hasty and unexpected journey hither, Villains are skilful judges of that which is priceless, and though they must have greatly alarmed you at the Forge you must consider yourself vastly fortunate at receiving such timely aid from me. Your péace shall no more be disturbed, charm- ing Jessie, and I will see,” *he added, significantly, ‘“ that no further attempts at insult shall prove annoying to you while you are here under my protection.” ‘¢To make this sure then, sir, I pray you let me depart at once.” ‘‘ What, sweet one, before you hear the magnificent offer I purpose making to you?” ‘No offer can tempt me,” Jessie said, sorrowfully. “ Not my hand ?” sweet one. “Oh! no, I have no heart to give, if even I wished to bestow it upon you.” ‘What if Z had not one, fair creature ?” * Thou mayst not.” ‘Oh | most deeply do I love thee, Jessie. I would not; nay, I could not, wed where I loved not.” “ Sir, I know not the meaning of your words.” ‘You may learn to love me,” “© Never |” “ Still to Zike me—loving and liking are akin. What if I am content with the liking? I will strive to make you like me by tenderness, consideration, and attention to your slightest wish. This would surely make you like me?” “Tt would only render my situation more wretched.” age have fallen in love, perhaps, with one who loves you not?’ ‘‘T think not,” replied Jessie, unknown to you.” ‘Have you certain hope he will one day respond to your affection ?” he returned, y ‘* His name, however, is TERRIBLE. “Tt may or may not be,” she archly replied. “Then, why deny me? See your position, and do not be so hasty in expressing your decision. I ask younot to decide now, but to ponder well upon what Ihave said. I will give you time for consideration ; but, for your own sake, pause ere you decide against me, fair one.” | ‘Will you let me quit this place at once, si, I ask 2” ‘When your decision is given, dear Jessie, you are free to depart, if you still wish it,” he replied, : “Then my decision is formed. I decline gratefully the offer you have made ; tempting as it is, yet will I remain as I am, working, as I have always done, for all nature requires of me, and sigh for nothing on earth more. I feel I should be happier thus than to accept of favours of tenderness and kind- ness which I can never return,” ‘You think not. You could try. With the effort to will it the power would come.” . “Not to me ; Lhave not control over my heart. My impulses, ~ my feelings are beyond the government of my wish, and, I pray you, believe me every new act of kindness on your part would only show the stronger and deeper how little worthy I was to receive all this goodness, and make each hour more wretched still. No, thankful as Iam for saving me as you did from those cruel ruffians, and for the distinction you would fasten upon me, I feel I cannot, I would not but remain as I am.” “Since you are so very candid,” he exclaimed, with a sneer, ““I may as well be candid too, What I have now said is true. Do you credit me?” eT dot ‘ You had better yield to kindness that which will other- wise be compelled by force.” ‘“‘T trust in heaven I can, with such aid, protect myself.” “Ha! ha! canst thou—darest thou thwart me? There is hho human aid near, How will you protect yourself against my power ?” | : *< By death!” “* What ! thine own, silly fool ?” ‘No, thine !”’ “Mine? Ha |” ‘“‘ Aye, monster, thine} See’st thou this blade ?” she cried, in a startling tone. “‘ Look at it; it is long, keen-edged, and in the hand of one strong enough to strike home to thy vile heart if thou shouldst so depart from all that becomes one of honour or principle to crush the worm in your path, Stand- back !” she cried, “‘ my blood leaps like boiling lead through my veins. I would not have your death upon my soul; but nought shall stay my hand if thon dost not maintain that distance between us which will preserve me pure and thee more honorable than thou hast the will to be.” The expression which now shone on the beautiful face of Jessie was of a singular character. It displayed a cool firmness, a settled determination that was unmistakable in its purpose. There was no wavering, no faltering ; but everything to denote, did he advance, she would plunge that dagger, and with desperate effect too, into his black heart, Lord Barnaby read the expression of her countenance with | correctness. He was cowed ; he dared not advance, He stood irresolute. To seize her in his arms was to incur a desperate wound, if not the death she predicted. The dagger might be poisoned ! To retreat was to showa base fear, which he was inwardly convinced she would detect and scorn accordingly. He was, however, relieved from this Gilemma by the unex- pected appearance of the page, who, noiselessly entering thé room, confronted him before he was aware of his presence. Lord Barnaby started and turned to him with dn angry gesture at his intrusion. The dumb youth fixed acalm glance upon him, and waiting until the passionate impulse had passed away, presented him with a packet, signifying it had been brought by a messenger: who had pleaded great emergency for its immediate delivery. Eb Ecomichooksrcom