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of Simmuns。
What Emma Haredale and Dolly would have done； or how long
Miss Miggs； now that she had hoisted her true colours； would have
gone on waving them before their astonished senses； it is
impossible to tell。 Nor is it necessary to speculate on these
matters； for a startling interruption occurred at that moment；
which took their whole attention by storm。
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This was a violent knocking at the door of the house； and then
its sudden bursting open； which was immediately succeeded by a
scuffle in the room without； and the clash of weapons。
Transported with the hope that rescue had at length arrived；
Emma and Dolly shrieked aloud for help； nor were their shrieks
unanswered； for after a hurried interval； a man； bearing in one
hand a drawn sword； and in the other a taper； rushed into the
chamber where they were confined。
It was some check upon their transport to find in this person an
entire stranger； but they appealed to him； nevertheless； and
besought him； in impassioned language； to restore them to their
friends。
‘For what other purpose am I here？’ he answered； closing the
door； and standing with his back against it。 ‘With what object have
I made my way to this place； through difficulty and danger； but to
preserve you？’
With a joy for which it was impossible to find adequate
expression； they embraced each other； and thanked Heaven for
this most timely aid。 Their deliverer stepped forward for a
moment to put the light upon the table； and immediately returning
to his former position against the door； bared his head； and looked
on smilingly。
‘You have news of my uncle； sir？’ said Emma； turning hastily
towards him。
‘And of my father and mother？’ added Dolly。
‘Yes；’ he said。 ‘Good news。’
‘They are alive and unhurt？’ they both cried at once。
‘Yes； and unhurt；’ he rejoined。
‘And close at hand？’
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‘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； happily—I say happily；
because he has succeeded where many of our creed have failed；
and is safe—has 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 moment’s 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
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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 locksmith’s
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 bear—believe me； that I
cannot bear—by 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 doesn’t；’ cried Dolly； pointing at him earnestly； ‘now I
am sure he doesn’t。 Don’t go with him for the world！’
‘Hush； pretty fool—be 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
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