The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 332: what you’re looking at

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

EONS) \ c This seemed honest advice enough, and Ettie, therefore, at once acceded to the proposal. . On the following evening, therefore, she once more took her way towards the sea with her companion. For some time they saw no one near them, either man or woman. Presently, however, as inthe hush of the deep twilight, she had sat down upon a rock by the ocean, she beheld a tall, dark man pass her quickly, and point towards her. ing round in surprise at this strange action, she beheld a sight which caused ber still - greater astonishment. Standing near her, was a tall, commanding figure, which she at onoe believed to be her father, the armourer. ‘“‘ My father, my father !"4 she cried, springing to her feet. But as she spoke he rushed behind a mass of chalk cliff, and disappeared. In vain she pursued—in vain"she searched ; no one was to\be seen. Disappointed and sick at heart, she returned to moore she had left her ariend. *noddin © WAS & ntly eep, (nn to and fro in her slumber. » s Whether this sleep was assumed or not, it was difficult for Ettie Leslie to tell, but she lost no time in explaining to Mrs, Ludlow what she had seen. The old lady had seen quite enough on a former occasion to prove to her that she would be most imprudent in making any more allusions in favor of the unknown, and she, therefore, ex- pressed great surprise, and even indignation, at the idea that they could not walk on the beach, even of an evening, without being followed by the stranger. “ Let us go home at once,” she said, So they passed at once homeward. The house was very still as they neared it, Never had it seemed to Ettie so dull, . There appeared to be something unusual ‘about For a moment, indeed, there was in Ettie’s mind a doubt as to whether she should enter. But she dismissed it at once as a foolish alarm, and proceeded up into her own room. This room was a peculiar one, and we must deecribe it. It was a long chamber, having a door at either end ; the one leading to the landing, the other to another bed-room, This latter had been for some time unused ; and, in fact, the bedstead upon which Ettie slept was Placed so that part of it almost closed t oor, Ettie sat down to think, dropping down into a chair near the fire, and passing into a reverie. She was dreaming of home, thinking of her father and the Young Apprentice, when a sound startled her, The door near the bed opened, and a man entered. She sprang up, and screamed in affright, as she recognised him. It was Lord Raymond ! “What do you here, sir?” she cried. “ Do not be alarmed, dear one,” he said, ad- vancing. THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. “ Alarmed! Leave me at once, your presence is an insult.” ‘¢ You do not remember me, surely ?’ *T do, and hate you because I do ‘remember you,” returned Ettie. “Then, who am I?” “Yord Raymond,” He laughed loudly. “Ah!” he said, “then I have not' been flattering myself wrongly ; my accident, fearful as it was, did not disfigure me for ever, Dearest Ettie, you will atill then be able to look upon me without horror. I have followed you every- where, I have worshipped you from afar, and now I shall be enabled to show you how firmly, how devotedly, how passionately I love you.” As he spoke these words, he advanced towards er, She fled from him and uttered a loud cry. “Ho! ho!” he cried, with a savage laugh ‘you may shriek and scream as you like. No one will hear you. This house is lonely ; your cries will be heard only by the sea-gulls on the cliff, or the smugglers, whose duty it is to look after their cargoes, and not to heed the screams of every silly maiden. Oome, let us have one kiss, it will not harm you.” He rushed across the chamber as he s clasped her round the waist and kissed her. She uttered a piercing shriek and fell upon her knees. “Oh!” she cried, “if you are a man, spare me, spare me.”’ He laughed loudly. “Spare you. No, my charmer; you are mine —mine now.” As he spoke, there was a rush of feet without, , and .and as Ettie was still on her knees, the door of the chamber was burst open, and Lord Olement Villiers rushed in, sw in hand, followed by a troo _ Saved, saved !” cried Ettie, holding ont her ds, But before we explain how Lord Clement Villiers arrived so opportune! y, we must return to Lord Leicester, who had just received, when we left him, a letter, which had qnite taken away his breath, CHAPTER XXII. RETROSPECTION—-THE DEBUGGED WINE—A LITTLE DREAMING—THE BRIDEGEOOM—THE DISCOVERY OF THE SBODY—THE . BIRD FLOWN—THE ENDEAVOUR TO CESTER—THE FAILUBE—THE FLIGHT. We have seen that Lord Leicester did his best to wrest his promised bride from the house of Sir Hen astings. Our readers will remember that he made his way towards the Temple gardens by the aid of Darvil, the waterman, who was accustomed to being employed by the Court gallants, whom he always, as in this instance, watched, to discover their secreta, They will remember also, that the villain Blacklock fell by the sword of young Rupert Changeling, who hoped also that Lord Leicester was no more, There were more reasons than one for the state in which Leicester was reduced. ‘k. WAKE LEI- ° am © GOVE OO © \ eS ‘ ) CO