Eugene Aram, Book 3.

I have raise

ch I have stud

nfr

e village, and not till he had regained

the short-eared owl.] that before the month waned many days, would be seen no more in that region, came heavily from the trees, like a guilty thought that deserts its shade. It was one of those nights, half dim, half glorious, which mark the early decline of the year. Nature seemed restless and instinct with change; there were those signs in the atmosphere which leave the most experienced in doubt, whether the morning may rise in storm or sunshine. And in this particular period, the skiey influen

fore the Student. "I tarried for you here, Aram," said he, "instead of seeking you at home, at the time you fixed; for there are certain private reasons which make it prudent I

ay, when you visited me some months since, that you were about

iar to me, to the dull and solitary life that I might have led in tending my old bed-ridden relation in Wales, who after all, may live these twenty years, and at the end can scarce leave me enough for a week's ill luck at the hazard-table? In a word, I joined my gallant friends, and entrusted myself to their guidance

stand you. Do you mean to imply, that yourself, and the lawless associat

ard of our exploits last ni

hat villai

e. "Come, Master Aram, these words must not pass between

espite of Nature, drove down her dark tide in a momentary companionship, by the name of friends. F

eman, sneeringly; "for my part, I care

hat. Has life no medium in its ties?-pooh-poo

least at present," sa

our presence. Is not the world wide enough for us both? Why haunt each other? what have you to gain from me? Can the thoughts that my sight recalls to you be brighter, or more peaceful, than those which start upon me, when I gaze on you? Does not a ghas

them, it would be to starve. They will not linger long in this district; a week, it may be; a fortnight, at most; then, like

s foot violently on the ground, as he saw Houseman about to interrupt him;) "listen to me throughout-Speak not to me of tarrying here-speak not of days, of weeks-every hour of which would sound upon my ear like a death-knell. Dream not of a sojour

t, and shaking him with a vehemence that Houseman, though a m

ce me with the vengeance of such a thing as thou, and,

murder," gasped Houseman with difficult

and, his own self- possession completely restored, stood gazing upon him with folded arms, and his usual deep and passionless composure of countenance; and Houseman, if he could not boldly c

enace me, that it is not your menace that subdues or shakes my spirit; but that which robs my veins of their even tenor is that you should deem your menace could have such power, or that you,-that any man,

ly; "I have nothing to say; farewell

say you would starve should you leave your present associates. That may not be; quit them th

little as not to counterbalance the advantages I should lose in quitting my

indeed beyond me. I told you when we last met that it is

mewhere, in order to prove that you need not vex your benevolent heart to afford me relief. I knew well the sum I named was out of your power, unless indeed it be part of th

I shall receive any marriage portion whatsoever: If I do, I am willing to make some arrangement by which I could engage you to molest me no more. But it yet wants s

, not in hope, but possession. But why interfere with me? I seek not my hoards i

re that I would exorcise in ridding me of your presence. Yet this is not what I now speak of. You are engaged, according to your own lips,

tifled me, but now?-so truth may be said one moment with impunity, and the next at peril of life! These are the subtleties of you w

m: the subjects discussed between myself and you, are of life and death; let us approach them with our senses collected and prepared. Wh

haracter is marked; those who once knew me, shun now. I have no resource for society, (for I cannot face myself alone,) but in the fellowship of men like myself, whom the worl

leeping and awake? Seek your relation; in that quarter, you yourself said your character was not branded: live with him, and know the quiet of easy days, and I promise you, that if aught be in my

f again you forget yourself, and lay hands on me-" "Threaten not, threaten not," interrupted Ar

nes, where, to my judgment, a certain advantage waits me, solely that I may lighten your breast of its selfish fears. You dread the dangers that await me on your own account. And in my apprehension, you forebode your own doom. You ask me, nay, not ask, you would command, you would awe me to sacrifice my will and wishes, in order to soothe your anxieties, and strengthen your own safety. Mark me

useman, you utter nothing that surprises or appalls me. You hate me; it is natural; men united as we are, rarely look on each other with a friendly or a pitying eye. B

I can fetter the tiger within, in hi

not your interest to betray m

am apprehended, and to

you be removed from the peril of apprehension, and your interest replies, that if you can obtain equal advantages in security, you

, or could you obtain your bride's dowry (no doubt a respecta

otion, made several strides forward, muttering rapi

would be spent, and I again in the state to which you have compelled me now; but without th

whistle sounded below, as from the water. Houseman paused abruptly-"Th

to-morrow, should you know of any means by which I could feel secure, beyond

t you-but not here-some miles hence. You know the foot of the Devil's Crag, by the waterfall; it is a spot quiet and shaded enough in all conscience for our interview; and I will tell you a secret I would trust to no other man-(hark, again!)-it is close by our pr

his hand, and hurried away in the direct

and remained for several minutes rooted to

en-till then! what remedy can I then invent? It is clear that I can have no dependance on his word, if won; and I have not