The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 383: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, “Indeed! What, to-night?” exctaimed Meroy, asa cold thrill passed through her frame, “ Why do you speak, thus? ” “QOb, I only thoaght that—that—I did not suppose that you would marry me a0 s00n.” Well, if—if——” The prince was evidently pnszled to know how to frame the idea he wisked to give utter- ance to in the words that would not offend the irl, : So he came to a full stop, and she said, ‘Ts the clergyman alone?”’ ‘‘Oh, yea, with the exception of his olerk ; and those two and myself comprise all the in- habitants of this portion of the palace of Sé. James.” ‘And is this portion so shut out from the others that nothing can be weil heard of what passes here?” ‘‘ Not a soand, I promise yea.” “Tead on, prince; I will follow doubtleas have some room opening to If you have, I~—I-——” ‘What mean you !” ‘‘T am a little faint, and would like to sit at some open wisdow awhile. The hurry of my spirite—the very onssual circumstancesin which I am placed, aad meany contending feelings, all conspire to make me feel as if I could scarcely breathe.” “This way, ob | come this way, my charmer ; the gayest and the prettiest apartment we have here opens te the palace gesdens, This way— this way, if you please.” pp rather ated & the og oman be which 6 young spoken, the prince aben for dhe moment his intention of taking her to one of the inner sooms, and at once he con- ducted her to an apartment that opened upon the garden by a French window, that, itm fact, was not above six feet from its level, A dimly-lighted chemdelier hung from the ceiling of the room, and@ by its light the prines led Mercy to the window, and there placed her in a chair, as she fiung the casement open. ‘‘ Are you better ?’* he said. “Yes; Ithink Iam. The air revives mo,” You garden. “Oh! what joy to hear you speak again it» © | voice. 1 do love you . nave force than pleazsantry, vomsionstely |" ded Chasles, saising her hand assionately |" co es, er han to his lips.” “See what danger [ am ranning for your sake—here in a republican fortress | t Silence—silenoce ; you me.’ A sound came from the gitiden like the faint note of some forest bird. ‘‘ Blezs me! what is that ?” said the prince. ‘ Shall we have more light ?”’ “Yes, yes.” The prince got upon a chair to tria the chandelier, and at the same moment Mercy dropped from the window into the garden the pass that she had retained, and a figure seined’ upor it, and then glided away. ‘‘Time—time !"" gasped’ Mercy, as she clasped: her hands over her face, wAN E want vow is time, and then I shail heave performed my dreadful mission.’’ “Eh?” said the prince, as he atepped down from the chair upon which he had stood to trim the oil-burnera of the chandelier. “Did you speak, my charmer f”’ ' prince. a6 No, no,” * Ob, I thought you did, upon my word.” Mercy gesed out into the darkness, where she had cast the pass, and a feeling of satisfaction erossed her mind, as she saw another dark figure cross the line of ber vision. “Come, come,” said the prince; “you are agitated.” “Tam; indeed, I am.” “Well, I am quite sure you need not be. Why, you know how entirely I love you.” ‘© Do you 80?” ‘Yes, to be sure. Do you think, now, that I would take all this trouble if I did not? Oh, dear, no ; quite the reverse, for you must know, my dear, that it is quite a part of my disposition not to like trouble.” “Ts it so?” “Yea; and if you knew me bettor, you would have known that quite well. But we need not say anything more abeut that; let me hope that you feel better than you did ?” “ Ob, yes, I am fast recovering now, I assure you. A little more time, prince, and all will be well. Have you kept the promise you made to communicate to no one what you had heard there ?” “Oh, yes, of course. But you know I was obliged to tell the clergyman who is to unite us that a lady was coming, and by-and-bye he asked me your name.” ‘* Marner.” “Oh, yes, I know that; but he wanted to know who you were, and all that sort of thing.” “Such curiosity was surely very imperti- nent,”’ “iiem! Well, it was, but——”’ & tap at the door of the room now called the attention of the prince, and going te it he found the colonel and Sir Robert both just on the outside of it, and with broad grins on their aCes, * Come, I gay,” said Sir Robert, who, it was evident, had teken ywather too much wine, “Come, I say, don’t be smuggling up the girl | GB to yourself in this sort of way.” “Silewes {| silence, Sir Robert,” said the ediene!, as he nudged him with his elbow with ‘‘Silence,do. We only felt anxious to know, your royal highness, if our services were required as yet.” “Go to the deuce with you both,” said the “T'll come into the painted room with the girl when I want you.” The prince shut the door of the apartment in the faces of his dissolute associates as he spoke, and, with a vexed expression of countenance, came back to Mercy Marner. “ Never you mind them, my dest Mercy,” he said, “they are nobeds, I asgeure you. Bat , now, let me ase you, dud: prdes yon to take a glass of wine." ‘¢ No, no.” “ Nay, F shall feel quite offended if, the first tine you are beneath a roof of mine, you refuse to do me that honour. Come, now, don’t say no _to me. Here, upon this buffet, I have rome choice wines and other refreshments. There, now, if it is only one glass, I am sure you will take this Madeira.” To tell the truth, Mercy fclt grateful for the GOVE OOO