Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

THE BALLET-GIRL’S REVENGE. — 151 ee eee eee She then gave her a hurried sketch of her singular career. She touched upon her abduction from the theatre by Count Lerno, her captivity by the Whartons, the ad- venture at the Danger Mine, and finally the murder she had witnessed, and the persecution she had suf- fered since, and giving her reasons for making a fur- ther move now. _ “And now, dear Blanche,” she said, “you may judge how desperate are the dangers to be appre- hended from these fearful people.’’ “TI doindeed. Poor Rose! I should have died I am sure.” _ © And now what do you think ?” ~ £€ Upon what 2” ** Will you still accompany me?” ‘Tf you will have me.”’ “‘ Bless you, dear girl,’’ said our heroine warmly. “We shall bea protection to each other. You will serve to lighten my troubles.’’ “Ah, dear Rose,”’ said the girl, “‘we have both suffered much, and shall, I hope, see an end to our troubles now.”’ ; Rose pointed out to her, whilst now upon the sub- ject, the necessity of preserving silence upon her his- tory, as much of it—and that, too, connected with the incidents which involved the most personal dan- gers—it was impossible to substantiate. With many leave-takings, and the best wishes of their brother and sister professionals, the two girls quitted the town, and started upon their new career together. They were travelling across country by coach, and the town to which they were proceeding was distant two days’ journey ; so they had to cut it half way at aninn. The house was rather superior in style to what would have been their choice, from the scanty state of their purses. However, it was the only house that offered, and they were obliged to accept the accommodation it afforded, and at its own price, resolving to retrench, to make up for the involuntary extravagance, at the end of the journey. As Rose and Blanche Bowerini entered the hotel a travelling carriage drove up to the door of the inn, from which a lady alighted, accompanied by a coloured woman, evidently her attendant. Blanche and Rose were seated in the coffee-room, where they had ordered some refreshments to be served previous to retiring for the night. _ Now ever since our heroine had confided her strange history to her new sister it had been the constant topic of conversation for them. Evidently it filled Blanche Bowerini’s thoughts. The horrors which Rose had so briefly touched upon were so startling that Blanche could think of nothing else, and chose it always as a subject for discussion as soon as they were alone. As they were awaiting the refreshment ordered for their supper she started upon the subject again. “‘ But dear Rose,’’ she said in an undertone, ‘* you should never be unarmed, with such bold enemies as yours.” “‘T never am,” said Rose. ‘“Eh! good gracious, dear, you startle me, a fearful thing !’’ ““Mr. Chowler, the manager of the theatre I came from, provided me with a small pocket pistol. It also has a spring dagger concealed in it, which flies out, and makes it a very formidable little weapon I can tell you. Here itis.” She was about to produce it, when the lady with her coloured attendant entered the room. :; ‘Tell them to take the luggage to my room,” said the lady. Rose looked up in wonder. What She recognised the voice. She looked hard at the speaker, and found that her features were familiar to her as well. But where she had met with them before she was at a loss to divine. : The lady glancegl curiously at our heroine, as if she, ape her part, had the same kind of recollection of ose. Then, with some excuse, she rose and left the room. She went straightway to the parlour door and called the landlord, who came out with a run to the service of his illustrious guest. “* Pardon my curiosity,”’ said the lady, with a. most amiable smile, ‘*‘ but can you possibly inform me who those two young ladies are ?’’ “‘ In the coffee-room ?”’ FEVER.” ‘‘No. They have not said anything beyond giving their orders, madam.,’’ ce Oh 19? . “They are travelling alone.’’ ** Alone ?” ‘‘ Ay, looks queer, madam.’’ ‘¢ Sir ‘Eh? Oh, no. Perfectly respectable you may feel assured, or they should not stay here, believe me, madam.” ‘‘ Enough. That is all I wished to know about them.” ““Then I’m sure—”’ *¢ Thank you.” And, cutting him thus short, the lady returned to the parlour. Rose glanced up as she entered, and for the third time their eyes met. This time a mutual gesture of recognition escaped them. Both would evidently have fain suppressed it, had they then had sufficient command over themselves, but their astonishment was so thoroughly unassumed and natural that it was one involuntary movement. The instant that Rose Mortimer recognised her, and perceived that she was also recognised, she trembled painfully from head to foot. So noticeable was this, too, that Blanche Bowerini remarked it. ‘* What is it, dear?’’ she asked. *Nothing,’? returned Rose, shudderingly, “ but pray don’t leave.” The tone was so very low that Blanche failed to catch the words. “What, Rose ?” ‘‘Hush! WNo’names!’ said Rose, glancing once more to the lady. Her eyes were still fixed motionless upon our heroine, and the poor girl felt drooping beneath her fascinating basilisk eyes. ** Don’t leave_me,’’ she murmured once more in a whisper to Blanche. ‘Very well, dear.” But she had again misunderstood our heroine. The tone was so low that she had only caught the last two words. : Imagining that her companion desired, for some purpose or other, to be left with the lady and her black attendant, she rose to her feet and left the room. Rose, having just spoken upon this matter; did not divine her attention until too late. She was gone, and Rose was alone with the lady and the black woman. She jumped up and made for the door. However, before she could get to it the lady sprang forward and placed herself in her path. ‘What would you?’? demanded Rose Mortimer, faintly. **T know you,” said the lady. Comiclbool