The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 337: what you’re looking at

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

= \ 2 fi 5) a ~_ 4 Cyr 316 oo” THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, “T was told that a youth named Changeling had entered the service of the armourer, and knowing well that the name was no common one, I resolved to ascertain at once whether you were really my long-lost nephew.” © “ And my mother?” ‘¢ She is, as I have before told you, dead. She died repentant, leaving to me all her wealth in trust for you.” A flush of joy overspread the face of Rupert Changeling. ‘1 am rich, then?” he said, “You are, very rich.’ ‘‘Thank Heaven, then! my wish can be gratified.” Sir Henry smiled. “I guess your thoughts,” he said. “Can you?” said Rupert Changeling, also smiling. ‘Yes, you love one whom now you think it possible to marry. Is it not so?” “It is. Such were my thoughts. I love Alicia, the supposed danghter of the armourer. I can pow offer her a home.” “ Alicia is not the armourer’s daughter,”’ re- turned Sir Henry Hastings,” she is the daughter of one whom I shall at present only speak of as Master Elliot Lovechase, She will, I have no doubt, accept you, now that you are Sir Rupert,and arich man, and you shall be married herein my house, if you wish it. But after the ceremony is ormed, you must quit London for a time, and retire to my old manor-house, in Berkshire. You succoured a rank traitor—a royalist spy—on one occasion, and enabled him to make good hia escape to France. For that act, Cromwell will be long ere he forgives you. In fact, you cannot hope to be forgiven at all, unless you perform some service to the Commonwealth, which will atone your other deed. I know well where Mistress Alicia Lovechase is, and to-night, when there is no danger of our being seen, we will go to her.” We need not describe that love scene. We need tell more than that, with her head upon young Sir Rupert's shoulder, and her bosom heaving tumultuously against his, she consented to be his bride. We have seen how the wedding came off, and what strange events followed it. We must now leave Leicester senseless, in the bride’s nuptial chamber, and Rupert on his way to Berkshire, while we return to Brighthelm- stone, and see how things fared with Lord Raymond and Ettie, CHAPTER XXIII. THE ARRIVAL OF LOBED CLEMENT VILLIERS— THE CONTEST—THE LEAP FROM THE WIN- DOW-—THE -FLIGHT-—-THE ESCAPE--THE RE- TURN OF HAROLD FORDYCE AND THE ABRMOUBER—LADY VILLIERS AND THE RUF- FIAN—THE STRANGE PRISON IN THE FOREST --THE MEETING OF OLD FRIENDS. LokD CLEMENT VILLIERS having been sent down to the coast, to escort Harold Fordyce and the armourer to London, upon their return from France, had ascertained from the servant who had been left in charge of the house, the name of the person with whom Ettie Leslie had been placed by her father. He had heard certain sinister rumoura in regard to this person, and upon entering the house with Ben Firebrace, the captain of the troop, he had heard Ettie’s cries, and at once sprang to the rescue. ‘* Dastardly villain !’* he exclaimed, as he saw Ettie on her knees and Lord Raymond beside her, “what do you here? I had thought that long since the world had been rid of your hate- ful presence, and now you are here again, to bring ruin and disgrace upon all with whom you are acquainted,” Lord Raymond laughed loudly and coarsely. “Hal ba!” he cried, “hal ha! and now that you have me, what then ?” Lord Clement disdained any reply. Seeing that Lord Raymond had drawn his sword, he advanced towards him, regardless of the fact that Ettie was standing in an imploring attitade, at the other end of the room, The swords were crossed. . Not asin a duel, politely, courteously. They were crossed with a clang and a ring, and with eyes fiercely gleaming on both sides, Not a word was spoken It was a silent, deadly battle. A battle, in which the death of one or the other was the hoped-for event. Lord Raymond saw his mistake. Though Ben Firebrace stood stern and silent by the side of Ettic Leslie; though he knew full weil that nothing but the imminent danger of that young and lovely girl, would induce him to act upon the offensive, Lord Raymond felt as if he was no match for the young and brilliant Lord Villiers, Lord Clement was furious, yet he had right on his side, and there was, therefore, in his manner and attitude a certain amount of calmness and resolution, which Lord Ray- mond could not command. For this reason, and seeing as he did that no victory could be gained, he retreated towards the other end of the room where a broad window overlooked a wide green. Here he made a stand. The window was open. He might therefore kill Lord Clement Villiers, and fly. He might, on the other hand, fly when all hope of victory was gone. So, standing with his back against the wall, and the fresh breeze of night blowing upon him, and invigorating him for the conflict, he made a last and determined stand against the valiant attacks of Lord Villiers. ‘* Hal ha!” he laughed, as Lord Clement, wounded in the arm, was obliged to draw back. ‘“ Hal hal you are touched, and that severely ! How now, my loyal friend to Cromwell ; who is best now? Is the royal pluck vanished from those who adhere still to the memory of his most sacred majesty? Are wecurs,eh? Ah! touched again, by good Providence !” His words were true, Lord Clement, exasperated by the insolent beariug of his foe, was fast losing all his self- command. Irritated at not being able at once to put an end to the combat, and rid his friends of one EDOO rd C eS a G » (C CO