|
||||||||
I did not say close at hand, he answered smoothly; they are at no great distance. Your friends, sweet one, he added, addressing Dolly, are within a few hours journey. You will be restored to them, I hope, to-night. My uncle, sir faltered Emma. Your uncle, dear Miss Haredale, happilyI say happily, because he has succeeded where many of our creed have failed, and is safehas crossed the sea, and is out of Britain. I thank God for it, said Emma, faintly. You say well. You have reason to be thankful: greater reason than it is possible for you, who have seen but one night of these cruel outrages, to imagine. Does he desire, said Emma, that I should follow him? Do you ask if he desires it? cried the stranger in surprise. If he desires it! But you do not know the danger of remaining in England, the difficulty of escape, or the price hundreds would pay to secure the means, when you make that inquiry. Pardon me. I had forgotten that you could not, being prisoner here. I gather, sir, said Emma, after a moments pause, from what you hint at, but fear to tell me, that I have witnessed but the beginning, and the least, of the violence to which we are exposed, and that it has not yet slackened in its fury? He shrugged his shoulders, shook his head, lifted up his hands; and with the same smooth smile, which was not a pleasant one to see, cast his eyes upon the ground, and remained silent. You may venture, sir, to speak plain, said Emma, and to tell me the worst. We have undergone some preparation for it. But here Dolly interposed, and entreated her not to hear the worst, but the best; and besought the gentleman to tell them the best, and to keep the remainder of his news until they were safe among their friends again. It is told in three words, he said, glancing at the locksmiths daughter with a look of some displeasure. The people have risen, to a man, against us; the streets are filled with soldiers, who support them and do their bidding. We have no protection but from above, and no safety but in flight; and that is a poor resource; for we are watched on every hand, and detained here, both by force and fraud. Miss Haredale, I cannot bearbelieve me, that I cannot bearby speaking of myself, or what I have done, or am prepared to do, to seem to vaunt my services before you. But, having powerful Protestant connections, and having my whole wealth embarked with theirs in shipping and commerce, I happily possessed the means of saving your uncle. I have the means of saving you; and in redemption of my sacred promise, made to him, I am here; pledged not to leave you until I have placed you in his arms. The treachery or penitence of one of the men about you, led to the discovery of your place of confinement; and that I have forced my way here, sword in hand, you see. You bring, said Emma, faltering, some note or token from my uncle? No, he doesnt, cried Dolly, pointing at him earnestly; now I am sure he doesnt. Dont go with him for the world! Hush, pretty foolbe silent, he replied, frowning angrily upon her. No, Miss Haredale, I have no letter, nor any token of any kind; for while I sympathise with you, and such as you, on whom misfortune so heavy and so undeserved has fallen, I value my life. I carry, therefore, no writing which, found upon me, would lead to its certain loss. I never thought of bringing any other token, nor did Mr Haredale think of |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Copyright: All texts on Bibliomania are © Bibliomania.com Ltd, and may not be reproduced in any form without our written permission. See our FAQ for more details. | ||||||||