Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 264 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 264: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis: *Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil* This is a page of running prose from a Victorian penny dreadful serial (page 246). The text depicts a scene in which characters named Pink, Colonel Lloyd, St. John, and Captain Anderson are organizing the transport of an unconscious man (Sir Æneas) to Lord Rawdon's Headquarters. Pink's sister Peggy arrives, and Captain Anderson considers escorting her home. The passage includes light banter about politics—Pink makes a quip about the king that prompts Peggy to accuse him of treason, to which he responds with a Virginia patriot's aphorism about making "the most of" treason. The scene involves quick movements between locations and romantic/social tension among the characters.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
246 Tom ANDERSON, Dare-DEVIL handed his aunt into her neighbor’s coach. “Now, Colo- nel; you and our Scotch friend,” caustically. “Well done, Pink!”’ exclaimed Colonel Lloyd, when the unconscious man had been lifted into the carriage. The door closed. There was a glimpse of Lloyd’s strained, white face at the window. Rory held Sir A‘neas in his arms. St. John spoke to the coachman. “To Lord Rawdon’s Headquarters. Lay the whip on, Steve.” ‘The coach whirled off, and Pink turned to Troupe. “That puts you out of the business of lighting yourself to perdition! — eh, Captain?”’ “You’re a schemer, Pink!” The boy laughed exultantly. “Trumped that trick. Always have a trump in my shoe! So, if you will lend me that lantern, you can prowl back to Hungry Hall and go to bed. And I'll take Peg home. This is my sister. Come and be presented, Captain.”’ Troupe’s coat, by the way, was still hanging on the chancel-rail in St. Michael’s. Miss Peggy St. John’s startled curtsy was not lost on Captain Anderson. What was this princely young fellow carrying a lantern for? Like a servant! And what was he doing in his shirt-sleeves? — like a butcher! With that ragged red rose pinned on — like a boutonniere! But yet — such grace, such nobility! The girl’s bewildered blue eyes amused him. “IT am unfortunate in being without my coat, or I would do myself the honor of escorting Miss St. John, with her permission.’ “George! Wish I had n’t forgotten your coat, Captain. You could take Peg home, and I could run round yonder and see about Sir Aineas. Lord, I hope it’s not all up with, him! The little baronet’s tiptop, if he zs a Royalist. Not a braver man in the service of a rotten old king.” “Oh, Pinckney!’’ — the girl flushed crimson; “how can you say such wicked things about our royal sovereign! That ’s treason!” “Well, as that Virginia fellow put it, ‘if this be treason, make the most of it.’” ECONMMICLOOOKSn(E©) m