The Armourer's Apprentice — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

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That he had enemies Stephen knew well enough, for on several occasions when re- - turning home after curfew he had been - attacked by armed men; and had had to | oe with the greatest valour to save his e, : The smith, to do him justice, had always deelared his disfayour and abhorrence at these attacks, but Stephen could not help doubting the truth of his declaration, and, although he had no proofs, he finuly be- Tieved that all these attacks were set up by George Wynyard, and that someone in Robert Smith’s family gaye him informa- tion as to Stephen’s movements. - Stephen, in the few years which had elapsed since the opening of the story, had shot up to be a fine, tall fellow, so that his only defect (shortness) had entirely disap- peared, and he looked now the very beau | ideal of a smart soldier. ‘This was his birthday, and a glorious day ait it was, the sunlight, failing on the pleasant City of London, making the wooden houses, the roof of many of which were covered with lichens, look glorious in its golden Tay. | Ee The wooden shutters of the armourer's shop were thrown open to display the different pieces of his workmanship, which ~ghone like silver in the sunshine. | _ Old Iron Arm was at an anyil, beating away lustily at a morion. Rufus the Rip, who had become apprentice to the armourer, was leaning listlessly on the handle of the bellows watching Stephen Sternhold, who was dressed out in his holiday clothes, over which he had placed - a leathern jerkin, and was busily engaged _ finishing the exquisite chasing of the hilt of a dagger. “What are vou doing, you red-haired imp?” cried the armourer, suddenly look- aa at Rufus, ore | 2 y it please, you, master, but I ain’t - doing anything,” said Rufus, trying to ply the bellows’ handle violently. “ Doing nothing, thou incorrigible lout; thou never yet didst anything but mis- ehief. But I will teach thee, thou whelp, 2 em idleness and impudence doesn’t pay _ Bore.” Seizing & piece of iron he flung it with ell his might at Rufus the Rip, and that with such force that had it taken effect it must haye proved fatal, “But Rufus utter- ing 8 fearful howl, fell flat upon his back, so that the iron bolt passsd over him, and _ there he laid, sprawling and howling as if ™~ », Stephen made no reply, but continued tp “Fy dl “Get up, Rufus,” said Stephen, calmly: “thou art not hurt.” . ~ —-| ~ “And what has it to do with thee, Master Stephen, whether he be hurt or whether he be not hurt. Remember, un’ the clock strikes twelve thou art still x servant.” a4 wy his work, a smile playing round his lips. His silence seemed to annoy the armoure “ who exclaimed, hastily— ¥ “Thou mayest laugh, sirrah—-thou may- est laugh, but I will teach thee yet the f thou art in my.power. It is pei deed, struck eleven, and thou hast still one hon ” -* . Ja) >, ae ¥ ix! longer to serve me. Therefore, put that dagger on one side, strip of thy gaudy arments, and set me thai viser OL ‘th Stephen’s cheek flushed crimson, and his bands involuntarily closed as if he would: have flown at the smith, but he checked himself, and, laying aside the dagger, took off his leathern apron and cloth doubk put on the apron again, and, seizing steel cap, commenced rivetting o yiser, : Br ica eK This compliance did mot seem fo the smith, who, striding up to the « which Stephen had lately used, caught ip the dagger. oa “What pretty bauble is this?” he cried. “Marry come up! I know now why my work was neglected. It was to makes ch things as these.” ae “It was not neglected,” said Stephen, proudly. ‘I worked at that early in the morning and late at ni ut, before and after ~ by rv, : , ; oD - ‘ » ee % > ee, Sar a | » . your work was done. The time was then my own, and I used it as pleased me best.” = pee “Your time your own! Was not the food you ‘ate, the table whereon it was seryed, the bed whereon you slept, ant tee roof that covered you all mine? Nay! by the law, your body—your whole time was mine, And where did you get the n ela the velvet, and the jewel to mal beautiful toy?” | oe a “Jt matters not to you,” returned Ste- phen, quickly, for he was DOW yo losing his temper. ‘It is sufficient for you to know that they were hot yours” His “How know I that?” Foes 8 - se be “You have my word for it. — That, you : know, you cannot doubt.” “ But [ do doubt it!” cried Robert Smith, as he flung the dagger away. “Thus do I’ cast the tcy on one side, and I will } Lve., you hauled before the nearest justice aS # thief.” ii AMET “You lie!’’ thundered forth Stennhen: “and from this moment I will not do , Se ~ « * 7 ~-SE€omicbooks.com oo ae A . Re wis - v4 Ate aes AES