The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

= 4 tS i“ wi { —% 134 THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, The two young lovers were engaged some time in eager talk. . Then there was another kiss—another em- brace—and they parted, Nelly Dyser going in One direction and the two apprentices departing in another. As soon as he was sure that his enemies were out of hearing distance, he ran towards her, “ Stay—one moment,” he said. “IT have some- thing to say to you.” The young girl started back with a loud cry. Evidently she was not only startled but horri- fied by his aspect. ‘What do you want with me?” she ex- claimed. “T want to say one word—just one word,” cried Quelf, approaching nearer. “T don’t want to hear it,” she said. like you. I'd rather go home at once.” “No, no,” cried Peter Quelf, seizing her hand, and holding it as in a vice. ‘I must tell you one thing. Your father trusts me, and the queen trusts me; 80 may you. I mean nothing but your good. Those two apprentices, whom you have just met, are traitors—-treacherous foes, who pretend to be friends, and stab in the dark. ‘Trust them not. I know them well and can vouch for them.” “ They know you well, and can vouch for you,” returned the girl. Quelf placed his hand over his heart. ‘‘ Mistress Dyser,” he said, ‘I pledge myself to the truth of what I say. These youths will do you no good. They are plotters and schemers, and you will do well to avoid their company. Does yotr father know of you friendship with them ?” He had expected the girl to start and tarn ale. P He was mistaken, : ‘My father does know, most certainly,” she said. “And yet he is the queen’s friend and they are the friends of Cromwell! It is strange, to say the least of it,” Yet it concerns you not. Let me pags,” ‘You are scarcely grateful for my warning,” said Quelf, trying to be pathetic. “Grateful !” cried the young girl, with a sneer, ‘T laugh at your warning, and detest your character, which I know well. It is a pity that my father ts compelled for the queen's sake to have anything to do with you. Let me pass, I say.” With a violent effort Quelf restrained his auger, and assumed an air of humility. “ Go, then,” he said, “ since you will not hear me, It has always been my misfortune to be reviled and misunderstood. Time, which proves all things, will prove how wrong you are,” He bent his head humbly, as if he were affected to tears, and stepping aside, allowed her to “7 don't ass. When she turned once more he was still in the same position. ‘Can I be wrong ?” she thought. “Can it be that they revile him because of his distorted form and hideous features? Yet no; the devil sits enthroned upon his brow. He isone of the evil ones, and best avoided.” The next morning, on awakening, she found a bouquet of the choicest flowers lying on her pillow. How they came there she knew not. CHAPTER XV. THE FIGHT ON THE BIVER BANK—THE TWO DABK FIGURES— PREPARATIONS FOR THE QUEEN’S FLIGHT—THE WATCHER AND THE WATCHED—THE DEPARTURE OF THE HUN- DRED TROOPERS~THE QUEEN AND THE AP- PRENTICES—THE FLIGHT—THE SHADOW ON THE CLIFF, MEANWHILE, Quelf, the dwarf, made his way once more towards the ship where Lord Ray- mond and his partizans eagerly awaited his return, and in fact were beginning to be nervous as to his long absence. - Quelf was so absorbed in his own reflections that he did not observe that he was watched. Thinking of the piece of acting he had done, and remembering that Nelly Dsser bad turned back after she had left him, he began to indulge a hope that he had succeeded in moviog her heart, however slightly ; and he saw not, there- fore, a tall stout figure which had emerged from the corner of a street near the house of the mountebank, and followed him. The man who followed him quickened his pace as they neared the river, aud by the time Quelf reached the banks of the Thames he had caugbt him up. “What ho! my apprentice,” cried a vocie, which he recognised as that of the Alsatian captain ; “we meet again, then.” Qnelf turned angrily, with his hand on his sword. “We do; because you are a spy, and watch my actions,” ‘A truce to bard words, my fine fellow,’’ cried Lackland, blusteringly. ‘1 told you but now that you were wanted to-morrow night at ten.” “You did.” “T take it that you are not coming.” “Tam not, Be that your answer.” The Alsatian glanced back. Two dark forms could be distinguished cone cealed in the shadow of the buildings near the river. ‘* What ho! there ; Boyce and Radatock,” cried the Alsatian, in a loud voice; “this young rascal needs persuasion. Come hither.” The two dark forms advanced. Quelf at once drew his sword, at the same time glancing down at the river to see if his boat was near, It was there still where he had left it; but it would have been vain to try to reach it. He was evidently in for a fight; so knowing well the cowardice of the Alsatian bully, he re- solved to attack him first. Without waiting, therefore, for the arrival of the others, he drew his sword, and dashed at Lackland, who was compelled to unsheathe the far-vaunted Armida. “ Ha, ha! my bully |” cried Quelf; “ Armida EDOOo <S) ~*~ Ul , ~ r «a CO lin