The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 205: what you’re looking at

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

(ter ne 5 186 THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, then use this freedom to escape from this house,” “TY think,” said Harold, “that I'll take your advice this time ; I have found that open defiance of my Lady Grace is of no avail, and I will try, therefore, the other course. As for doing it gradually, however, it is useless to speak of that; I have no patience even to think of rar “T don’t think she'll be taken by storm,” re- turned the man; “she’ll suspect you, now that you have once defied her.” ‘We must see,” said Harold, “I will do my best to persuade her into my wishes, Let her come to me as s00n as possible—the sooner the better,” CHAPTER XXXIV. THE NEW PRISON-—THE RE-APPEARANOE OF LADY GRACE—HER ALTERED MANNER — HAROLD DISSEMBLES — HER STORY — THE YOUNG LOVERS-—THE STOLEN MEETINGS— THE NIGHTS OF LOVE—THE DISOOVEBY—~ THE MEETING IN THE PLANTATION -- THE ELOPEMENT PROPOSED—THE LONG HOURS OF WAITING—THE PALE FAOE OF THE DEAD —THE MUBDER—THE PHANTOM OF THE MURDEBRER—THE ESOAPE. ) WuHeEn the trooper had quitted the room he had an opportunity of examining his new place of ca ° ptivity It was indeed far diffent from the place which he had just left. Instead of a dark cell—without even a window to admit the light of day—he found himself in @ room luxuriously furnished, with all the ele- gance which is inseparable, as it were, from the homes of the rich and noble. To one who had no one absent of whom his heart could not be forgetful, the place might have been s very comfortable home ; but to one whose heart was afire with eagerness to escape, it was, perhaps, more irritating than a dark and dismal cell. Daring the first day Herold was left com- pletely alone, excepting as regarded the attend- ants who brought him his meals, Towards night, however, he was visited onoe more by Lady Grace. She entered the room with a smile. ' “How like you your new quarters?” she asked. : Harold gmiled also. “ There ig scarcely a comparison to be made,” he said ; “the one is a prison, the other is a * You like it, then ?”’ “I do indeed. Who could help being com- fortable in such a place as this?” She had now sat down beside him near the glowing fire, ‘‘Then you are contented?” she added, ‘* Except as regards one thing,”’ returned the Young Apprentice. ‘ And what is that ?” “Freedom |” “Ah! it is too early to speak of that. At present I cannot think of allowing you your berty, because I cannot trust you, Perhaps I ‘myself with, is the fact of my shall soon be able to do so, and on the first moment I will give it you.” “ Well,” said I must submit. Iam caged like a bird, and am as helpless, and the only thing I can comfort aving so beau- tifnl a bird as my companion,” Lady Grace smiled. “You are becoming complimentary,” answered. “No,” returned Harold, “no; beauty is not always accompanied by goodness.” “Not with me, at any rate,” answered Lady Grace, with flashing eyes. ‘I feel, when I look upon you, that I ought to crush you—to trample on you as I should trample on a hideous and venomous snake.”’ “ And yet you ask me to be your husband.”’ ‘‘ Ah! that is another thing.” “Truly—you would marry me that you may have your revenge upon me.” “No; that is not it. Perhaps, then, I might look upon you in a more tender light; but if you will listen for a few moments, I will give you the history of my life. You will then see why I speak s0 bitterly, and why I oughz to hate you.” “ Speak, then,” returned Harold, “I will listen ] Lady Grace gazed for a moment intently into the fire, and then with a sigh, as if she had thered together her strength for an effort, “JT do not intend to give youal histary ; it is too late to remain here long, for those with whom I am living will wonder at my absence. I will skip the years that brought me to fourteen and begin with the evening wiicn brought me into communication with Lord Herbert Fitz- maurice, @ young and handsome cavalier of sixteen. “His age would stamp him as a boy; his atatue and his intellect stamped him as a man. ‘My father introduced me to him, and Her- bert was invited to remain for some time in the house, “'We were thus brought into constant com- munication with each other ; we walked together alone through this grand and spacious house, and through the wide grounds, ‘‘My father never interfered with us; and very soon after Herbert's arrival at the house he was called away to London. ‘‘ Our attachment now became intense. “We were never out of each other's society, except during the night, and even during these dark hours we at length found a means of meet- ng. ‘In this very room we contrived to meet when all the rest of the household had retired to she reat, * This went on for a long time without being diacovered—in fact, for close upon six months. ‘Gradually we became more and more fond of one another, and I was never happy unless I was clasped in his arms, ‘Remember, when I confess these foolish things I was very young, that this waa my first love, and that I had, in fact, never before been brought much into contact with any one of my own age. “I had no mother living ; the only guardians GOVE OOO arold Fordyce, “ Isuppose then — CO