Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

~, . . a ' ee fetver into jooxed it agsin, and restored it to its tormer place. This done, he dug his heels viciously into his horse's flanks, and in & nsement was lost to Tom’s view. This sudden departure was something that Tom King had scarcely anticipated, or it is possible he might have tried to prevent it, though had he reflected apon his own weak condition he would scarcely have made so rash an attempt, for the man was of a yowerful, muscular build. But the ineident was one which set Tom thinking, though all his thought did not enable him to arrive at any definite conclusion respecting it. ‘“‘It cannot be any concern of mine,” he muttered, ‘and I am not in fit condition now to follow up the adventure, especially as it is broad daylight. No, no—I must push on, and find some place where I can lie down and rest.” He drew back a little way from the hedge as he spoke, and, glancing first to the right, then to the left, perceived a little gate that had hitherto escaped his notice. Towards this he directed his horse’a footsteps, and then, passing through it, gained the road. Without a thought—indeed, quite unconsciously—he gazed in the direction the mar had taken, and as he did so his attention was immediately arrested by the appear- ance of a small white object lying near the verdant bank on the summit of which the hedgerow had been planted. . A second glance showed him that this white cbject greatly resembled a letter, and, impelled by curiosity, he walked his horse slowly towards it. He soon found this conjecture verified—a letter most certainly it was. There was little difficulty in guessing it had reached there. The man, in pulling the others out of the bag, had allowed this one to fall. It was smail, and had fluttered to the ground un- noticed. T'om dismounted, and, picking up the missive, glanced at the address. He had some little difficulty in making it out, for the handwriting was a straggling one, and the paper had become soiled by cantact with the road. The following words, however, he managed to decipher : “ Sir Ralph Cromer, Wilfirs Cross.” “Wilfirs Cross?” he muttered, repeating the last words. ‘I wonder where that may be? Surely close at hand. No doubt the house I saw a little while ago.” This was a probable enough conjecture, seeing that there was no other habitation visible for miles. Tom lapsed into an attitude of deep reflection, during which his eyes were fixed upon the letter, though in reality he saw it not. ‘It may be,” he murmured at last, “that this is a favourable chance thrown in my way. Whocan tell? The question is, shall I avail myself of itr” He glanced down at his disordered aress while he spoke ; then set to work to improve its appearance as well as he could, from which it may be inferred that he had come to a decision. : The letter he had placed carefully and securely in his breast pocket, and, when all his preparations were cor.- pleted, he remounted his steed. Following the route wlready taken by tne dishowest servant, he made his way along the road, whicn he was not long in finding was a private one, leading only to the mansion he had seen, and towazis which he had felt so mysteriously attracted. “Surely,” he thought, as mv 10u> slowly onwards, ‘ the service I shall render them is of some inportance. The chances aro that they will never recogrise me, then surely it would not be too much to ask for alittle aid and shelter. Could they possibly refuse such an appeal ?” A few moments afterwards, Tom found himself in front of some massive wooden gates, so high that he could not ser over the top of them. His approach evidently hau been’ heard, for one half was slowly thrown open, and the form of a good-lociing, middle-aged female made its appearance. Bae curtsied respectfully to Tom, who, ia answer to ker inquiriug gaze, said: one of his pockets; then cleaing the bag, he by what means 1s KNIGHT OF THE ROAR «EBSD “ T suppose this is Wilfirs Oross, is it mot 5” “It is, sir,” was the reply. | * “The residence of Sir Ralph Crciner?” coniinwes om. “ You are quite right—it is.” “ Then I have business with us.” ‘Pray come in, sir,” was the reply. “Foilow this ath , it will bring you to tke front door of the hall. Sir alph is an early riser; you will no doubt find him at breakfast.” Tom tossed a guinea to the woman, and rode through the gates. She was accustomed to receiving presents from the different visitors who passed by, but this was a greater amount than she had ever had before, and when Tom reached a bend in the avenue and looked back, he saw that she had not recovered from the effects of his munifi- cence, for she was curtseying still. The next turning brought Tom in view of the hall, which was a much more imposing structure than it had appeared to be from the distance. A momentary hesitation came over him, for he began to think that it was really carrying the force of impudence too far to intrude himself into such an abode. A sharp twinge of pain making itself felt at this moment changed the whole current of his thoughts, and so, with renewed confidence, he continued his course towards the mansion. OHAPTER CMXXXIX. TOM ExNG INTRUDES INTO A STRANGE HOUSEHOLD As Tom King drew nearer and nearer to the hall, the thought uppermost in his mind was how happy, peaceful and contented all its inhabitants must be. To him, the quiet serenity of the scene around him strack him all the more forcibly wuen contrasted with his own violent, turbulent career. A glimpse which he had through one of the large windows on the ground floor served to strengthen this impression. He caught sight of a large fire burning briskly in the grate, and its bright rays were reflected with great brilliancy from the massive silver ornaments upon the table, and from the gold frames of the pictures against the walls. He saw, too, that the table was spread for the morning meal, and that around it several persons were seated. Once again he hesitated, but now hesitation came too late. He had gone too far to retract, for his advent had been noticed by the occupants of the breakfast-room. Half a dozen steps more brought him to the portico, where he dismounted. Scarcely had his feet touched the ground than a servant approached, who took charge of his horse, and then the front door was thrown open, and an invitation given to enter. Tom complied, and then said: ‘‘T have particular and important business with your master. Tell himso. It is useless for me to give my name, as I amas great a stranger to him as he isto me.” The servant seemed rather unwilling to convey this message; but when Tom presented him with a gratuity his reluctance vanished at once. “Sir Ralph is at breakfast,” said the servant, ‘‘and as le is almost an invalid, he wishes you to enter at once, and make known your business to him.” Tom bowed acquiescence. The hall was crossed, a door thrown open, and he found himself upon the threshold of the apartment af which he had caught so transient & griiapee. At the first glance, he saw an elderly man, rather thin, with a slight fringe of short white hair around kis head, seated in a capacious easy chair, engaged ia locking at a letter. At the head of the table sat a lady, much younger than Sir Ralph—young enough, indeed, to te one of his daughters. But there was something in her confident, authoritative manner that made Tom immediately aware thet she w= taistrese of the hall. (E(@) =) a NOOLKS (E(@)