The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 336: what you’re looking at

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

<r THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. you do not wish me to go to Berkshire at onee, 8 99 “Yes, yes,” returned Sir Henry, “you must go at once, Surely you forget that you are compromised with Cromwell.” “T know it.” “ And it will take all my endeavours to set you right,” ‘‘Merely because I helped to save a Royalist in trouble.” Sir Henry smiled, “That is a heinous offence,’ he said, “ re- member that.” “And yet Harold, my old companion, saved the prince.” ‘That is another thing entirely. That saved the country from trouble.” “see; then I must go at once?”, ** Indeed, yes.” “« And without bidding adieu to Alicia, without once clasping my bride to my heart. It is very “It is indeed, but it must be, Depend upon my discretion, and when I do find her, be assured I will send you word at once. Farewell,” added the old advocate, pressing his hand—" farewell— leave this senseless fellow to me, 1 will lock him in so that he cannot escape, and when he recovers, he must either disclose all he knows, or die.” With these words, he led the young man away, and locked the door on the outside. In a few minutes more, Rupert Changeling was rushing away upon a fleet steed, towards Berkshire, little dreaming who was in pursuit ! CHAPTER XXII, WHICH IS SHORT, BUT EXPLANATORY OF MANY INTERESTING THINGS. BEFORE following the fortunes of any of our characters, we must pause to explain how it is that Rupert Changeling, the second apprentice of the armourer, the river boy whom Harold had saved from destitution, appears in our pages as the nephew of a baronet and the newly-made husband of Alicia Leslie. Time, of course, has passed rapidly since the moment when we first introduced him to Frank Leslie’s service, and during Leicester’s absenee, he had repeatedly seen and spoken with Alicia, who, having heard and seen proofs of Leicester’s repeated acts of villany, began to repent en- tirely the course she had taken in regard to im., Bitterly she thought of the acts with which she herself had been led, acts which might well have been made into crimes, had not circum- stances prevented such an issue, One day, long after Alicia had quitted entirely the House of the armourer, a gentleman entered the shop of Frank Leslie. No one was in, save Rupert and the servant, The former was hard at work upon a corslet, singing as he satonred. «can I speak “ Young man,’ said the stranger, “‘canIs to Master Leslie ?’’ S ‘“‘ He is from home, sir,” The stranger eyed him fixedly at first, and then eagerly. “Are you his apprentice ?” he asked, “ Yas, sir.” * Harold Fordyce 2?” ‘No, sir, my name is Changeling—Rupert Changeling.” The stranger started back in astonishment. ‘Changeling! Nay, is that your name, or one given you by your friends ?” ‘It is, I have every reason to believe,my own name, Rupert Changeling was marked upon my clothes when I was picked up upon the banks of the river.” . bh The stranger smiled, advanced, and took his an @ ‘ Young man,” he said, “fortune has smiled upon you. You have found a friend when you least expected it.’’ “In you, sir?” “Yes, I am Sir Henry Hastings, the advocate, your uncle. But I have no time to tell you more. Now, come with me, and I will explain all, I bring you wealth, but I bring you also tidings that your life is in danger.” “« My life 1” “Aye, your life. Pause not to ask why. Leave a message with the servant, and come.” Bewildered, and scarcely knowing what to think or do, Rupert Changeling quitted his work, briefly explained matters to the servant, and followed his new friend, who led him in the direction of his house in the Temple. Here he conducted him to his private study, “ Now, my pours friend,” he said, “now I will explain all.” ‘‘T am all eagerness.” ‘¢ Be patient then. In the first place, I will commence by telling you who your father was, and how you came to be deserted. _ ‘Your father, Sir Rupert Changeling, was a gentleman of fortune, who was always of an adventurous and military turn of mind. He had no need to enter into any of the battles of the day, but he did so, and fought bravely on the side of the commonwealth, and ultimately took the command of an expedition to the Weat. “You were left under the charge of your mother.” ‘My mother ?” exclaimed Rupert Changeling, eagerly, as a feeling of yearning sympathy ran throu gh his frame, at the words. ‘Where is she P”’ A smile passed over the features of Sir Henry Hastings. ‘Your mother needs no love or pity from you,” he said, ‘she is dead ; were she alive, she would be no comfort to you. It is through her that you have thus been cast upon the world, without a friend to assist you. She never loved your father, and as soon as the news of his death reached her, she married the one upon whom her heart had long been set. ‘ Between them, they contrived means to rid themselves of you, and fearful of committing crime, and destroying you, in order to drive you for ever from their path, they gave you in charge of an old woman, who exposed you on the river’s brink, with a name written on your clothes. I heard all this from the old woman herself, and since then, nothing has been heard of you until to day.” ‘‘ This is strange indeed ; and why came you here ?” asked Rupert, - } : eo HT GOVE OO © eS CO