The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 253: what you’re looking at

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

“Ah! Nelly,” he cried, in a tone fall of emotion, “‘if you knew how much I loved you, you would not wonder how much I threaten —you would not be surprised at my vehemence,” *¢ am surprised at your cruelty.” ‘You have never seen it exercised.” ‘And I hope never shall, Love is self-deny- ing—say you will prove yours to be true love, and let me go—let Max go. There are other girla as young as Iam, and far more beautifal. With one of them you can be happy and forget me,” Clement turned away his head and did not answer, When he was near the door he said, without turning to look at her, . “T will give you till the morning to decide, meanwhile you will remain here.” Nelly rushed towards him with a look of alarm. ‘“ Here,” she cried, “remain here alone ?” “Yes, Why not? You will be undisturbed.” She glanced round her fearfully. “ Yes—yes; but this is too still—too gloomy, Why not let me be in the other place—in the next room ?” “With your lover?” said Clement Morpeth, gneeringly. “ Yes—yes ; with some one to speak to.” Clement hesitated for a moment, ‘‘ No,” he said, “no; you had better be alone. You will have more time and opportunity then to think over my proposition. Good night. Nay, do not follow me; I am determined,” So saying, he opened the door quickly and passed out. Nelly was now alone, The place was very still. The door was too thick to admit of any voices being heard through it. She knocked loudly. No answer came, Again and again she struck upon the hard wood with her little hand, Bat it was in vain, No one would answer, At length she desisted, and sinking down upon we bench, leaned her aching head against the wall, CHAPTER XVI. QUELF’S OFFER--THE INDIGNANT REFUSAL —THE SOUNDS OF PAIN—THE TERRIFIED LISTENER—-THE SOUNDS OF STRIFE—TRHE — CLASH OF SWORDS—A WELL-KNOWN VOICE— ITAROLD TO THE BESCUE—THE MBETING OF OLD FOES~—A COMMENCEMENT OF HATE=— HARRBOK DYSER. SoME time elapsed, and still all was quiet. Nelly gave way to despair, and wept loudly. She could not contain her feelings; and felt, indeed, as if the last hours of happiness were gone for her. Her case seemed, indeed, a hopeless one, Horrified, aa she was in this underground chamber, she had no means of escape, except through a hateful marriage, and had no means, moreover, of letting any one know her where- aboute THE YOUNG APPRENTIOE; OR, Her lover, too, was bound and helpless in the next room. From him there was no use in hoping for as- sistance, and he was in terrible danger, more- over, Fall of these thoughts, she did not observe the entrance of any one until she felt a hand upon her shoulder. | She started round in alarm, Nor was her alarm lessened when she gazed at the new comer. ° It was her old enemy. Peter Quelf, the dwarf. She jumped up in excitement. ‘* What want you here ?” she cried, Quelf grinned horribly. ‘Don’t be afraid,” ke said. “T am not afraid of you,” she answered, sum- moning to her aid all ker courage. The dwarf sat down on the bench “Very good,” he said, taking her hand, and forcing her to sit by him, ‘I am glad you are not afraid of me, because I have come to save you.” “To save me |” “ Yes,” “I do not believe it.” | “ But I swear it. Iam here for no other pur- pose.” “You are a vile creature — the Olement Morpeth.” “No, no, the pretended friend. I assumed friendship for him in order to save you.” “ Andif you save me, what then? Where will you are me’? How soon can I leave this horrid place ?’ “Now; within half-an-hour, at least, if you consent to my terms.” ‘And what are thosef” inquired Nelly, tool of eagerly, “ That, instead of Clement Morpeth, you have me. Nelly shuddered. “Horrid villatn! fideous monster !” answered. Quelf fumed terribly with rage. “ Take care |” he said, “take care | you are in my power.” ‘“¥t is false!” she cried, proudly. ‘I have those here who will protect me, Quit my sight instantly, or I will ory aloud for help !”” There was a im the next room at this moment, Peter Quelf eprang up. He dreaded lest Clement Morpeth might dis- cover him. “Very good,” he said, as he passed towards the door, “very good, seek your own fat acoept your own doom. To-morrow you will be the wife of Clement Morpeth, or you will hear the dying groans and yells of Max Bowden.” As he said this he opened the door and passed quickly into the adjoining ¢hamber. Nelly leaned her head ohte more against the wall. She tried to court sleep. But it would not come, Her mind was brimful of horrors. At one moment, as she fell off into a dose, she found herself being transported through apace by some fearfnl demon, she 4a pe Con J EDOOIES > ~~ —~. * ae) ~ (~, “S. lin