Ernest Maltravers, Book 1

guard

roof it shelter

ith dolefu

of /Sh

d from him. Those /first/ letters are an event in a girl's life-in Alice's life they were a very melancholy one. Ernest did not ask her to write to him; in fact, he felt, at such an hour, a repugnance to disclose his real name, and receive the letters of clandestine love in the house in which a fath

s so tender, looked cold upon the lifeless paper. If she but knew the exact spot where he was it would be some comfort; but she only knew that he was away, and in grief; and though he was little more than thirty miles distant, she felt as if immeasurable space divided them. However, she consoled herself as she could; and strove to shorten the long miserable day by playing over all the airs he liked,

ills were unpaid-some portion of the rent was due; and Alice, as she was desired, intrusted the old servant with a bank note, with which she was to discharge these petty debts.

ones? you have no news of h

uld I? But I'm sure I don't wish to frighten you; th

en that's all!"

ow Betty-a most respectable 'oman, who has known sorrows, and drinks tea with me once a week. Well, miss, they (only think!) bound Betty to the bedpost, with nothing on her but her shift-poor old soul! And as Mr. Harris gave me the change (please to see, miss, it's all right), and I asked for half gould, miss, it's more convenient, sich an ill-looking fellow was by me, a-buying o' baccy, and he did so stare at the money, that I vows I thought he'd have rin away with it from the counter; so I grabbled it up an

rves; not half so much indeed, as the noise Mrs. Jones made in double-locking all the doors, and barring, as well a

and wept a little; and, with the tears yet moist upon her dark eyelashes, had glided into dreams of Ernest. Midnight was passed-the stroke of one sounded unheard from

by a very faint noise, like the tinkling of small fragments of glass on the gravel without. At length it ceased, a

one: "hang out the glim,

presented to the gaze of the robbers no

gh valuable enough in a house-agent's inventory, are worthles

h at the spoons and forks, and then hey for the mone

ained its tenor. She rose, however, and the kindness of her nature being more susceptible than her fear, she imagined Mrs. Jones might be ill-she would go to her. With this idea she began partially dressing herself, when she distinctly heard heavy footsteps and a strange voice in the room beyond. She was now thoroughly alarmed-her first impu

; but where's the gold-dust-where's the money?-

y! John Walter

back; "so you knows me then; but you sha'n

that moment of deadly peril, the second ruffian, who had been hitherto delayed in securing the servant, rushed forward. He had heard the exclamation of Alice

tween his teeth. "Don't you know he

nife, and now, with eyes strained and starting with hor

y father!" she mutter

I shall not put my scrag in her power; recollec

oached doggedly with a look of such settled ferocity as it wa

vering. We are leaving the country; I have a right to my daughter-she shall go with us. There, man, grab the money-it's on the table; . . . . you've got the

" said Walters, grumbl

" answered Darvil, turning round,

llen hills. She was lying upon rough straw-the cart was jolting over the ruts of a