Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

B546 Oue other pe: sou alone was present. This was a young girl of such rare beauty that Tom King bent before it in respectful admiration. Naturally, Tom expected that the baronet would address him, and, indeed, the feeble old man seemed about to do so, but the lady at the head of the table, gazing somewhat scornfully at ‘l’om, inquired: ‘* Well, sir, what may be your business? Be good guough to explain the meaning of your intrusion.” The words were uttered in sharp, cutting accents. Nothirg certainly could be further from a welcome. Toru bowed again, for he was not ready with his reply. ; fe haa noticed several things which struck him as beiug strange. lu the first place, the fady who had spoken to him had her hand resting upou the letter-bag, from which, it uppeared, that she drew forth the letters, opened them, rad them first, then handed them to the baronet. The second was, that this lady’s countenance reminded him of a face that he had somewhere seen beforr Where, for a moment puzzled him. But he quickly recollected. In the contracted brow, the cunning expression of the eyes, the crue! lines about the mouth, he recognised a close resemblance to the man whose movements he had watched in the lane. ‘hat man, however, evidently was a servant, and this saily was the mistress of the mansion. as the resemblance between them accidental, or were they really related ? It was easy enough for Tom to ask himself these ques- tions and speculate upon them, but he bad no means of arriving atany satisfactory reply. “IT trust,” he said, after his brief and scarcely-notice- able hesitation—“ I trust you will excuse this most un- seasonable intrusion on my part; but, as I stated, I have ea'led because I have particular business with Sir Ralph Gromer.” “Sir Ralph is here,” said the lady, indicatine the old sian in the chair. * Yes, Isce it,” said Tom, “but what Ihave 4 say is private—it concerns hiin alone.” “ Ellen, my dear,” said the lady, addressing the young girl, ** you may leave the room.” , ‘** Pardon me,” said Tom, “I fear you do not understand me. What I have to say is solely for Sir Ralph's ears.” The lady started angrily to her feet, and drew herself up erect. . “You make a great mistake,” she said, in sbrill, guerulous tones, “if you think Sir Ralph has any secrets icom me! No matter how private your communication may be, you must speak it in my presence. I am quite in the baronet’s confidence, so hesitate no longer—speak at once.” Now, if Tom had been unwilling in the first place to speak in the presence of this lady, he was now ten thousand times more so. His perceptions were al] sharp and keen, and especially s0.0n that morning. An insensible something came over him that made him fee] things were not going on as they should—that some evil influence was at work—an influence which he might oe able to counteract. He saw that the young girl looked pale, and sad. end suffering. He saw that tne baronet was wholly, both for good or for evil, under the dowinion of his wife. “ You nust really excuse me,” said Tom, “if I beg to differ from your ladyship. It is not indeed a matter for me to judge. When I have made my communication to Sir Ralph, it will be for him to decide whether he acquaints you with it or aot.” he lady’s eyes flashed, and she stamped her foot angrily upon the ground. “Speak out, sir,” she said—“speak out and bsegone ! We want no intruders here !” Tom King bowed «ad then, in faint, trembling ace: r ta, tine old maa said: “My dear—my dear, pray don’t be so violent, chere is av occasion for %—none indeed! But when you get so fierce and angry you terrify me—with such weak nerves ses | have you terrify me tc a degrea BLACK BESS; OK, “Then,” was the quick, stern answer, ‘if such is the case, bid this stranger disclose his errand—tnat ‘s all that is required.” “But, sir,” said Tom with great respect, “{ should prefer acquainting you with it alone.” “Weal, well, so you shall. Why should he not, my dear? Let him have his own way, and | wid tell you what he has said afterwards.” “No, sir,” said the iady—‘*? demand that ‘his snbject be spoken out before me.” ‘Well, well, let it be so—let it be so.” Tom King looked with the greatest pity and distress at the poor old man who spoke these words. It was dreadful indeed to think that any human beiug's mind should be so shattered—vacillating. “T regret this,” Tom said, breaking the silence— F regret this very much indeed; but [ can assure you my instructions are so peremptory, that if Ido not delives my message to Sir Ralph in private I must depart with my errand undisclosed.” f This was a threat that made the lady hesitate a ittle, | She began to feel that Tom King was not one to bend and bow before her authority, and 30, with quite a sudden change of demeanour, as though she had been struck by a fresh and sudden thought, she said: “Very well, sir—very well! Since you choose to create dissension in a household by your obstinacy, and since you choose to act with so much discourtesy, [ will oppose you no longer—you shall have your own way. You can remain here with Sir Ralph.” The young girl called Ellen had already left the break- fast-room, and now the baronet’s wife, with a haughty, angry mien, walked hurriedly to the door, passed out, ané closed it. Poor Sir Ralph witnessed this act with the greatest éurprise. It was to him something unparaileled, and he began to look upon Tom with feelings very closely appruaching awe, “T trust you will pardon me, sir,” Tom said, advauciag: more closely to him. ‘ Perhaps when [ come to tel! you my errand you will think that | have made a needless fuss about it; if so I must entreat your forgiveness. Rest assurad that all I have done has been with the bess intert,” ‘Well, well, young man,” exclaimed the baronet— ‘sit down there in that chair, and make yourself com- fortable. Now, what have you to say 2” T'om sank his voice to a whisper. ‘“‘T am sadly afraid,” he said, “that we shall be over— heard " ‘“Oh, no, po—there is not any fear of that!’ ‘Excuse me, but [ should like to satisfy myself upon that point,” and, while he spoke, Tom King, with » uger and rapid tread, croased the room. : There was a look of great satisfaction on his counte— nance ag &e did so, for the fact was, he believed that oe had come to the right conclusion as to the cause which had induced her ladyship so suddenly to alter her de- meanour. He paused a moment near the door, then, placing his. finger on his lip, turned the handle softly. At the same mement he pulled the door open with great. suddenness, and closed it again with equal quickness, blundering sound, a sharp crack, and astifled erp resutfted. “ 4h!" said Tom, with a smile, “I am atraid some one «as been hurt! Let us see.” -He opened the door again as he spoke. But the hall was clear—no trace of anyone could be seen. “T rather think that will do,” he added. closing tbe door. “I really thought some one was there |" The baronet looked greatly astonished, but on all occa- sions he was so accustomed to yield to others that he never even in this instance thought of asserting his authority. But he knew perfectly well that her ladyship must have received a very sharp blow from the panel of the dvor,, and he trembled for the consequences. * Young man,” he said, in trembling tones, as Tom ap- proached him, ‘do you know what you bave done ?” “Vos,” said Tom, quieily, ‘some one bas bad rather (E(0) JOOKS (ECO)