按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
85
… Page 86…
CONDENSED NOVELS
relapsing into his old manner； he threw his boots at my head； and bade me
begone。 I withdrew calmly。
86
… Page 87…
CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER V。
My pupil was a bright little girl； who spoke French with a perfect
accent。 Her mother had been a French ballet…dancer； which probably
accounted for it。 Although she was only six years old； it was easy to
perceive that she had been several times in love。 She once said to me：
〃Miss Mix； did you ever have the grande passion？ Did you ever feel a
fluttering here？〃 and she placed her hand upon her small chest； and sighed
quaintly； 〃a kind of distaste for bonbons and caromels； when the world
seemed as tasteless and hollow as a broken cordial drop。〃
〃Then you have felt it； Nina？〃 I said quietly。 〃O dear； yes。 There was
Buttons；that was our page； you know；I loved him dearly； but papa sent
him away。 Then there was Dick； the groom； but he laughed at me； and I
suffered misery！〃 and she struck a tragic French attitude。 〃There is to be
company here to…morrow；〃 she added； rattling on with childish naivete；
〃and papa's sweetheartBlanche Maraboutis to be here。 You know they
say she is to be my mamma。〃
What thrill was this shot through me？ But I rose calmly； and；
administering a slight correction to the child； left the apartment。
Blunderbore House； for the next week； was the scene of gayety and
merriment。 That portion of the mansion closed with a grating was walled
up； and the midnight shrieks no longer troubled me。
But I felt more keenly the degradation of my situation。 I was obliged
to help Lady Blanche at her toilet and help her to look beautiful。 For what？
To captivate him？ Ono； no；but why this sudden thrill and faintness？
Did he really love her？ I had seen him pinch and swear at her。 But I
reflected that he had thrown a candlestick at my head； and my foolish
heart was reassured。
It was a night of festivity； when a sudden message obliged Mr。
Rawjester to leave his guests for a few hours。 〃Make yourselves merry；
idiots；〃 he added； under his breath； as he passed me。 The door closed and
he was gone。
An half…hour passed。 In the midst of the dancing a shriek was heard；
and out of the swaying crowd of fainting women and excited men a wild
87
… Page 88…
CONDENSED NOVELS
figure strode into the room。 One glance showed it to be a highwayman；
heavily armed； holding a pistol in each hand。
〃Let no one pass out of this room！〃 he said； in a voice of thunder。 〃The
house is surrounded and you cannot escape。 The first one who crosses
yonder threshold will be shot like a dog。 Gentlemen； I'll trouble you to
approach in single file； and hand me your purses and watches。〃
Finding resistance useless； the order was ungraciously obeyed。
〃Now； ladies； please to pass up your jewelry and trinkets。〃
This order was still more ungraciously complied with。 As Blanche
handed to the bandit captain her bracelet； she endeavored to conceal a
diamond necklace； the gift of Mr。 Rawjester； in her bosom。 But； with a
demoniac grin； the powerful brute tore it from its concealment； and；
administering a hearty box on the ear of the young girl； flung her aside。
It was now my turn。 With a beating heart I made my way to the robber
chieftain； and sank at his feet。 〃O sir； I am nothing but a poor governess；
pray let me go。〃
〃O ho！ A governess？ Give me your last month's wages； then。 Give me
what you have stolen from your master！〃 and he laughed fiendishly。
I gazed at him quietly； and said； in a low voice： 〃I have stolen nothing
from you； Mr。 Rawjester！〃
〃Ah； discovered！ Hush！ listen； girl！〃 he hissed； in a fiercer whisper；
〃utter a syllable to frustrate my plans and you die； aid me； and〃 But he
was gone。
In a few moments the party； with the exception of myself； were gagged
and locked in the cellar。 The next moment torches were applied to the rich
hangings； and the house was in flames。 I felt a strong hand seize me； and
bear me out in the open air and place me upon the hillside； where I could
overlook the burning mansion。 It was Mr。 Rawjester。
〃Burn！〃 he said； as he shook his fist at the flames。 Then sinking on his
knees before me； he said hurriedly：
〃Mary Jane； I love you； the obstacles to our union are or will be soon
removed。 In yonder mansion were confined my three crazy wives。 One of
them； as you know； attempted to kill me！ Ha！ this is vengeance！ But will
you be mine？〃
88
… Page 89…
CONDENSED NOVELS
I fell； without a word； upon his neck。
89
… Page 90…
CONDENSED NOVELS
GUY
HEAVYSTONE；OR；〃ENTIRE。〃A
90
… Page 91…
CONDENSED NOVELS
MUSCULAR NOVEL。
BY THE AUTHOR or 〃SWORD AND GUN。〃
91
… Page 92…
CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER I。
〃Nerei repandirostrum incurvicervicum pecus。〃
A dingy； swashy； splashy afternoon in October； a school…yard filled
with a mob of riotous boys。 A lot of us standing outside。
Suddenly came a dull； crashing sound from the school…room。 At the
ominous interruption I shuddered involuntarily； and called to Smithsye：
〃What's up； Smithums？〃
〃Guy's cleaning out the fourth form；〃 he replied。
At the same moment George de Coverly passed me； holding his nose；
from whence the bright Norman blood streamed redly。 To him the plebeian
Smithsye laughingly：
〃Cully！ how's his nibs？〃
I pushed the door of the school…room open。 There are some spectacles
which a man never forgets。 The burning of Troy probably seemed a large…
sized conflagration to the pious Aeneas； and made an impression on him
which he carried away with the feeble Anchises。
In the centr