Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 329: what you’re looking at

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

1701 Her heart beat quickly with alarm. She apprehended she knew not what. On retiring she had left the can:lle burning. It was alight now; but it carricd a wick of such por- fentious length, and with such a huge ‘Turk's head sur- rounding it, that it gave forth only the dimmest and most oucertain illumination conceivable. Her alarm increased, for eithe’ in fancy or reality the - tapping increased in loudness. With the exception of this the silence which prevailed was oppressi Sa AR ap The longer Maad remained thus the more did her courage evaporate. The dread of all kinds of evil came over her. At last, by a most vigorous and determined effort, she slipped off the bed, resumed those clothes she had re- moved, and looked around her with a calmness that was more assumed than real. : It appeared now that the sound was less equivocal in its character. Maud was certain that it was produced by tapping upon glass. But the suund wasso strange, so constant, that all kinds of superstitious imaginings came crowding unbidden into her mind. To what kind of visitation was she to be subjected ? for she could scarcely believe that the mysterious sound pro- ceeded from any human agency. Her heart throbbed so painfully that she seemed every moment in danger of suffocation. Nevertheless, it was almost involuntarily that her eyes turned in the direction of the window. Having gazed upon it, she could no longer doubt that the tapping was given upon one of its panes. But by whom? For what reason ? Vainly she asked herself these questions. Her curiosity was raised to the highest pitch, yet it was some time before she could summon up sufiicient courage to enable her to meve slowly towards it. As she approache', the tapping abruptly ceased. Drawing closer still, Maud endeavoured to peep through the glass, but at first the intense darkness with- out completely bafiled her. Another tap, tap, was given. ? She saw something move, and recoiled in affright. Just then she thought of the condition of the candle, and, with a trembling hand, removed the snuff. A bright, clear light immediately ensued, by the aid of which, as she again glanced towards the window, slie saw a human face pressed closely against the panes. She seemed about to shriek aloud in the extremity of her alarm, but terrorseemed to freeze up her voice, end only a hoarse whispering sound escaped ner lips. The countenauce was one well calculated to strike terror into apy sensitive breast, and its ugliness was probably much increased by the manner in which all the features were flattened against the glass. Maud had to clutch the-edge of the table very tightly to support herself, otherwise she must have fallen. All the time her eyes remained riveted upon the face at the window as though her eyes had been fascinated by some serpent. The tapping was resumed, and Maud was no longer in any doubt as to the exact cause which had produced it. The person outside, whoever he might be—Maud had no doubt about the sex—was clatteripg with his finger mails upon the glass. As she continued to gaze, however, she could net help fancying that the face had upon it a friendly expression, and which, if rightly interpreted, meant that, for s-me reason or other, a communication was desired. ‘his idea, having once taken possession of her #ymd, increased so much in force that she by slow degreea again approached the window. There could be no mistaking the satisfactiop visibie upon the features of the face outside. The hand that had been so busily engagea in wmppimz was now employed in making signs, the evident purport ei which was that she should open the casement. But naturally Maud hesitated ty comply witn this de- sand. tg admit this stranger to her apartment It might be a most serious thing—perhaps a fetal step Her feelings must have expressed themselves upon ine: countenance, for the face assumed an aspect ef so im- penne and entreating a nature a3 to be almast irresist- ible. Hesitatingly Maud stretched forth her hand to remove the fastening. Then drew it back again without effecting her pur- pose. The face looked deeply disappointed—nay, despairing. Again Maud hesitated. Her hand touched the fastening. It was removed, and a gust of cold night air, carrying Upon it some thousands of watery particles, dashed into the room. lis immediate effect was to extinguish the candle. Finding herself in the dark so suddenly by no means tended to calm Maud’s feelings, though the cool wind seemed to disperse those vapours which hitherto had seemed to hang about her brain. ‘Don’t be afraid, lady,” said a suppressed voice, in what was doubtless intended to be a very encouraging tone—“ don’t be afraid. I have come to save your life! Do not doubt me, but let me enter.” ‘Come in,” said Maud—“‘come in. If you intend me any harm, may Heaven pardon you for your wickedness in thus deceiving a poor, helpless woman !” Almost before she had finished giving utterance to these words, she found one of the strangest and most uncouth-looking figures she had ever beheld standing before her. Her first sentiments were those of undissembled terror. The being who had entered was scarcely an inch taller than the oak chest close to which he stood, yet his head and face had the appearance, both in size and expression, of a full-grc wn man. In this appearance his shoulders joined, for they were uncommonly broad, square, and muscular. His arms, too, were long and powerful, and so out of proportion to the rest of his body that when he stood upright he could almost touch the ground with the tips of his fingers. His back seemed to have received some kind of injury in childhood, which had prevented the growth of the lower part of his body, so that, in fact, he presented the appearance of a child's body surmounted from the waist upwards by the body of a man. Well, then, might Maud feel terrified at bebolding this iutruder into her chamber, for the darkness, although it permitted her to make out his general appearance, would not allow her to scrutinise him with any close- ness. ‘© Don’t be afraid, lady,” he satd, in a faint, piping voice, which sounded very oddly coming from so capacious 4 chest, “ Hunch will not hurt you, lady. Wait a moment— I will shut the window and get a light.” There was something assuring in these words, and also in the manner in which they were uttered, and Maud felt much of her fear abate. The window was closed, and when the candle was re- lighted, Maud was able to look more closely at the form of her nocturnal visitor. So far from exhibiting any aversion or disgust, her heart filled with pity and commiseration for the unfortu- nate being. She was, however, scarcely prepared for the result. He recognised in a moment, as if by intuition, the state of her feelings towards him, and the tears rose thickly to his eyes. At the same time he threw himself down upon his knees, and seizing her dress, pressed it repeatedly to his lips. ‘i My life is yours—my life is yours, lady, for you are the very first that has ever given a kind glance at poor Hurch! Be kind to me; but whether you are or not, } nave come here to save your life! Don’t be frightened, Hunch can doit! Hunch will save your life—he wil! indced. lady—he will indeed !” CHAPYTER MXV., FR°SH DANGER IS FOUND BY MAUD AT THE OLD INN. MavuD gazed for a moment or two in silence upon this singular specimen of humanity. (2) JOO mie <S (E(@)