The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 355: what you’re looking at

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

1 OMS “D) 334 THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OBR, There was something on his mind, a terrible dead weight of remorse, disappointment, and there was nothing, nothing absolutely to com- fort or console him. : Preeently—it seemed a short time, though in truth it was a long one—for the old man’s mind wandered into many strange, old, familiar scenes, There was another step on the threshold, and a light fairy form came tripping along the pas- sage. But the trippingness was only haste after all, for the light had gone from the eyes, and the rosinees from her cheeks, as the light and the sunshine had died out from her heart. The old man sprang up delighted. * Ah! Lucy, you have come back now at last !" he cried. ‘‘ What! you too pale, and ill, and distracted? What is the matter?” “ Nothing, dear father,”’ she said, “only let me go to bed and reat. Qh, donot speak to me ; do not ask me anything, Heaven has saved me from a dreadful deed this night, and I am thankful, deeply thankful, for it,” _ She kissed him, and passed up the stairs, and into her own room, where, on her knees, she thought of the dark, rushing river, and the sin she had been saved from. Then as still she prayed, and the wish for death went out of her head, there was a noise below in the courtyard ; then a familiar voice could be heard, saying— “'Who’sthere? Is it you?” She knew it well, It was the voice of Ralph Lawson, “What is this? I must know thissecret,’’she murmured; “can it be Mercy Marner who speaks? Oh! my jealous heart! keep atill { O God! di fender of the innocent, save me from my thoughts !”” She approached the casement, and drawing it gently inwards, looked out. Below, in the courtyard, was a man, a tall man, wrapped in a cloak, one we have met before, the assassin of the boat-house, There he stood like a minister of evil, with folded arma, as if waiting for some new victim to fall into his clutches. “Who's there?” repeated the voice of Ralph Lawson, ‘' Speak.” “Tt is I,” said a deep voice ; “is all right ?” ‘No; old Simon is not abed yet. Keep yonder in the shadows, and when he retires, [ will come to you. Hush! here he comes,” And as Ralph spoke, he closed the window violently, and the courtyard was dark and silent as before, when the old jeweller came plodding wearily up the creaking staircase. After the old man had ascended to his bed- room, the house remained for a time in solemn ritlence, and the darkness and stillness in the yard below was unbroken, Lucy Rayner, leaning against the window within the shadow, could feel how her form trembled as her soft bosom throbbed against the cold stone, and her heart pulsed violently. . Eagerly she waited for a sound below, which should tell her that her recreant lover had once more made hig appearance in the courtyard. No wonder, In her heart, wildly confused and fall of that Ralph was engaging himeelf in some des- perate and lawless enterprise, She had not long to wait, Presently a light tapping was heard. Then a voice. “Js all right |” ‘‘ Yes,” answered Ralph, “all is well, I am coming.” Drawing back into the shadow, Lucy oon- cealed herself where she could see all and hear all, without being seen. There she stood motionless. In another moment her lover had sprang into the courtyard, and the tall man of mystery had advanced to meet him. All was very dark below. Yet Lucy could understand all. The tall man was a stranger, truly. But the voice of Ralph was like well-known music to her. “ Well, Ralph,” said the unknown ; “well, I am here, and I am come for your decision ?”’ “J fear to make it,” returned Ralph, in a low tone. A quiet, satanic laugh rang through the courtyard. “Fear to make it, why, you are mad,” cried the stranger, ‘‘quite mad, Listen, the king will soon be in power, and be enabled to reward those who have courageously declared them- selves his friends. You have the same chance of danger as others, but you have twice the chance of reward. You will have wealth. You will have love, forAhe most lovely women in the Court will long to touch the hand of him who did his king such service.” Lucy trembled, ‘Why, what can he mean?” thought she; * what power is this that lies in Ralph's hands? I fear he is being made the tool of some horrid delusion.” Eagerly, indeed, she awaited his reply. ‘“T cannot answer,” he said, “because you tpeak so vaguely. What guarantee have I of ealth 7” ‘ People do not in general carry fortuncs with them in their pocketa,” said the stranger, drily ; “but if you require money as an earnest of my truthfulness, here ig a purse containing a heavy rum in gold. Take it—nay, no refusal, for in your enterprise you will require it.” The young man took it almost unwillingly. “ And the beauties who are so eager for my society,’’ he said, almost sneeringly. ‘‘ Ah ! you disbelieve my words,” said the unknown ; “ but they are, nevertheless, true. At this very moment [ could take you to one— arich and powerful lady, whose bright eyes and graceful form wonld enchant you—one whose movements are fairylike—whose voice is silvery as music, whose bosom swells with ardent love, This one, this lovely being, would bless you— would kneel to you, would give you her heart were she to know that you would do as you are desired, Say, will you cast aside honor, wealth and love for nothing ?” “ No, no,” cried Ralph. ‘“ No, 1 wall do your biden: Tell me what is it you require of me ?” . “ J will,atonce, You belong to the Society of Apprentices, which calls itself the ‘ Brothers of the Oroas,’” g emotion as it was, there was a firm conviction Pos Ce CAL - _" i OS COVED OOKSEEON