Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 294: what you’re looking at

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

296 SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. he finished speaking, and bounded from his seat. | “ Yes, Inspite of a thousand Jacks, I will yet humble her pride, break her haughty spirit, make her a thing loathsome even to herself. IL swear to do so, and I will keep my oath, not that I have more respect for an oath than the ground on which I tread, but my mindis made up. And those who know Ralph Grasper, can assert he never broke his word, where his own interest or gratification was concerned. It was love which first prompted me to obtain this woman, but now ’tis hatred and revenge.” He paced the narrow limits of his room for some time in meditative silence, knitting his heavy brows together, and twisting his massive gold watch-guard round his finger, with a fierce- ness which threatened to snap their links asunder. ‘¢Yes, to-night!*’ he muttered at last, “ I will tear her from her retreat—from her place of fancied security, and bear her miles away where I need fear no rescue by that rascal, whom the walls of a gaol should keep from her protec- tion. This night—this very night! There shall be no delay, I am resolved, if I have to bear her in my arms the whole distance. Curses upon the hand that tore her from me! But she shall be beyond its grasp—far beyond it— beyond all aid.” | He seized his hat, and was about to leave the room, when a gentle knock at the door caused him to change his severe look, and utter, in a calm tone— | “Come in.” | | The door opened slowly, and an aged lady stood on the threshold. Grasper measured her with his eyes, and then, somewhat sruffly, exclaimed— “ Weil, madam, what do you require ? ” With a simpering smile, the lady curtseyed, and entered the room, and Grasper recollected that he had often seen her before. It was none other than Miss Frump, the mis- chief-making old maid whom Jack and the young cashier had so sadly plagued, for her gar- rulous and unfeeling nature. But the poor lady did not seem to be quite so lively as she used to be, a circumstance which may be accounted for by the following conver- sation, : — “Oh! it’s you, is it? Miss—Miss”’ “Frump, sir. Yes, Miss Frump,” interrupted the lady. ‘’ You recollect me, sir—one of your neighbours ! ”’ “Yes, slightly,” said Grasper. ‘* And, pray, to what am I indebted for this visit ?”’ ‘Well, sir, the fact is,’ said the lady, first looking up, and then down, and toying with the fringe on her shawl, “I have called ?”—— “ Yes—yes! Be quick, if you please; for it is time I was at my office,” said Grasper, rather testily. “ Well, sir, the fact is” _ Miss Frump paused, raised her eyes timidly to those of Grasper, and heaved a deep sich. “ Ts what ?” said the merchant, ‘Why, sir, you see, I’m a lone woman, who has always done my best to keep myself respec- table, and never interfered with anybody or 12 AU er pe i nee ee eee eee been grossly imposed upon and persecuted.” “ What is that to me, maam?” growled Grasper. , ‘“ Nothing, sir; only, as I was a saying, being a lone woman, as keeps herself to herself, and minds: her own business, I’ve been made a vic- tim of by cruel, unprincipled people. I have got a little income, but it ain’t much ; and so, to be able to be respectable, I took a house— you know it, sir, down the road—and let fur- nished lodgings to respectable aged gentlemen. Well, sir, one went away without paying me at all, and the others—oh! it breaks my heart to think of the base ingratitude of cruel, unfeeling men ! ” ‘“What has all this to do with me, Miss Frump?” said Grasper, quite out of patience. “You shall know, sir ; but it ain’t everybody I would speak to as I do to you. The other lodger, the deaf gentleman in the parlour, has left me under the most painful circumstances, Of course, I don’t mind telling you of his cruelty, the wicked deceiver. We were going to be mar- ried, when all at once he lacerated my heart’ by refusing to lead me to the altar, and packed up his traps and started, even refusing to pay me for the last six months’ board, lodging, and attendance—and now my house is empty.” “But, Miss Frump, I cannot possibly see what anything that didn’t concern me. I’ve always kept myself to myself, and, in consequence, I’ve | your misfortunes have to do with me, a stranger to you,” said Grasper, putting on his hat, as a~ hint to the lady to take her departure. ‘T’]1 tell you, sir. I’ve come to the determina- . tion to give up keeping house for myself, sell my furniture, and go into service.” | “ Well, ma’am, I should advise you to seek a situation at once. Good morning.” | “That's what I’m doing, Mr. Grasper,” said the lady, taking no notice of the hint. Grasper opened his eyes. aD» ‘¢You see, sir, knowing that’ you was a nice gentleman, without any incumbrances, | thought, perhaps, that a respectable, middle- aged single lady might be just the sort of person to suit you.’ “Suit me!” cried Grasper. ‘*‘ What the devil do I want with an old woman hanging about me ? I have my health, and I hope it will be a long while yet before [ shall require a nurse.” * “A nurse! Lor’, sir! | could never descend | so low—a housekeeper.” | Well, [don’t want a housekeeper. I can’t be bothered with a house.” “ But, sir, as Iwas saying, I thought, perhaps, as you were a single gentleman, who must find , it very unpleasant living in lodgings, that if you ceuld meet with a respectable, middle-aged, do- mesticated person like myself, you might feel. disposed ” “Miss Frump, I don’t feel disposed to listen — to you any longer. If you wish to give up housekeeping for yourself, and do it for some- ‘ one else, you can do so, but it will not be for me. I am very well suited as I am ; and if I was not, I do not think I should engage any person of your age to look to my house.” | “My age, sir,’’ said Miss Frump, her face. scarlet, either with blushes or indignation, [ | So leat cor teeksrcom