Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 124: what you’re looking at

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126 But now hope-had fled, and withitloye. The words he had uttered had crushed out the last germ, and contempt and hatred alone found a home in her heart. Had he gone down upon his knees before her, and craved her pardon for the cruel words he had uttered—had he sworn to love her with all the streneth of a pure and holy love—had he laid the wealth of the world at her feet, she would have spurned him now. Now and for ever her heart was steeled against him. He had won her love, and she would have been content to be his slave; but the slave of another, and that other a rival in his affections, was too much for her to bear. Every feeling she had once possessed towards him had vanished, and bitter, lasting, undying hatred alone found a resting-place in that bosom that had beat alone for him. ii CHAPTER XLIV. “THE TWO VILLAINS—THE AGREEMENT—THE LISTENER. THE bully—for such in heart was Richard Cla- vering—felt his cowed spirit revive as he found the violent passion of his wife give way to despair. : | His trembling limbs regained their wonted power. . | His quailing eye rose from the carpet to the form of the suffering Jessie. The look of terror gave place to one of triumph, and a smile stole over his quivering lip. “‘ Again,” he thought, ‘‘I have quelled the fiery spirit—humbled her to the dust. I have added one pang more, and my revenge is almost complete ; but one thing now is wanting to crush her stubborn spirit, and release me from the chain which binds me to her. Her fury is spent She will do my bidding, and seal her doom, that doom I so long for.” | He turned and left the apartment. The smile of triumph still on his lips, hope in his heart—the-hope that he’ had nearly rid him- self of Jessie for ever. “She shall tend and wait upon her rival,” he muttered. ‘“‘She shall feel what it is to force _Ine toa hated marriage.” Oh! I will be revenged— bitterly revenyed |” He glided into the drawing-room, and flung himself into a seat. So absorbed was he with his own thoughts that he observed not the neat figure of Lizzie, formerly a housemaid, but now raised to the dignity of lady’s maid and confidant of Jessie, spring quickly into a large closet, with hand- somely-carved doors, at the further end of the room. He saw not that the doors were just ajar, and knew not that eyes were watching his every movement, and ears were strained to eatch his every breath. ‘but for my anxiety for Jessie’s death, I would not bring the beautiful and innocent Mildred Hendon hitherto. Poor fool! how she will be deceived when she learns—which she must do when I tire of her—that the ceremony SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. place her in my arms! spurned my advances at first. But no matter, there is but one way to obtain her, and that by marriage. Ha! ha! She shall be married, but the tie which binds us can be easily snapped asunder. lt will be a glorious revenge to humble her proud spirit. even as it is to humble that of Jessie's. But I have no time to delay. The licence is to be got, then minister and witnesses provided, for the day after to-morrow she has fixed for the ceremony—the day after to-morrow I have my ~ revenge on her, and plant another thorn.in the breast of her who calls me husband.” ee His back was to the closet door, or he must haye seen the white face of Lizzie peering upon him. | “u He raised a small silver bell from the table, and shook it. | | Its silvery tones rang through the room, and. silently the watcher drew to the door of the closet, leaving only a little crack by which to see into the room. ‘The summons was immediately answered by James, the repulsed lover of-the pretty Lizzie. “Tf you please, sir, did you ring, sir?” asked the man, standing on the threshold. | “1 did, James.” phen . “May LI ask your pleasure, sir ?” ‘Yes ; come in.” | " hah The man took a step forward, then paused. - ‘‘ Close the door.” yf \ hada “Yes, sir.” | This order was obeyed by James, who looked somewhat surprised, and became half fearful that his master intended to give him warning for some dereliction of duty or other, of which he might have been guilty. ; silt ‘Sit down, James.” : James looked as if he could not be had heard aright. © “T beg your pardon, sir,’’ he began. | ‘““Sit down, man. You can sit, I presume ?” said Richard. , Ny * Yes, sir,” stammered the man, now convinced that he had heard aright in the first instance. © Still he was surprised, both at the tones and | condescension of his master. cm) He sidled into a seat close to the wall of the apartment. | | ‘‘Come, sit here beside me,” said Richard ; “I have a question to ask you.” ) The man obeyed, half trembling, half proud at the familiarity. Wh ‘“You have been a long time in my service, James, have you not?” began Richard, looking him in the face with a strange, keen glance. ‘‘ Yes, sir,’’ replied the man; “and though I say it, sir, as oughtn't, I have always been a good servant, sir, and willing to oblige, sir.” “Yes, yes; but ”?—— Richard paused. James’s features fell. He felt very nervous indeed, and shifted un- easily on his chair. ; Bigs, Lizzie strained every nerve to listen, while a look of contempt stole ever her face, as she gazed through the crack at her quondam lover, | * But you are going to leave me, I hear,” said. Richard. Boe * (e(e) was but a sham, a mockery—a means adopted to | Better had she not | 1 + lieve he — 3 16 fe any ih. * hy a a 14 f 4 », © a » Pe 4 :