Clara Vaughan, Volume 3 (of 3)

her end, before a chest of black bog-oak, sat the man I sought. The crowning moment of my life was come. All rehearsals went for nothing: the s

before him. Some dark memorials perhaps were there; hastily and he

genius, or fashion, at any rate the latter most, to be at all remunerative. May I show you the way to the drawing-room? I have not often the hon

ence. I am Clara Vaughan, the only child

yes, and fell upon a chair. For one minute there he crouched, and dared not meet my gaze; every fi

ther, as my uncle had described. I neither spoke, nor allowed my gaze to falter. Every nerve and co

ery slowly, and in

me by your English notions

dge and smite you. In cold blood you

oble inheritance, to debauch the purest blood of Corsica by a prostitute wedding; no wrong

leep had never seen or heard of

her like fire-tongs badly join

at you must go to hell for nothing. Yo

ll

e in securing a baby's blow, you crouched among old clothes and bed-ticks, and behind the housem

it

nt to kill. He became the lord of his half-brother's lands, and now is wealthy

a li

ying to lick you. But as for midnight murder, however sound your victims sleep, you have not nerve enough. You qu

ing round him like a knout; so

ce, you never could do that. Too wholesome memory of the English blow between your quailing eyes. I am pleased to

e-fish. Had I taken my eyes from him, he would have stabbed me. He

ella Croce. If you are brave enough to shoot a white-haired man at dinner, surely you have the

could not take his eyes from mine. He was like a rat before a snake.

urage you? Would you like t

m still in view. Calm as I was, I must have been mad to play with my life so con

no relish for you, unless it be in cold blood? But there, I am tired of you: you ha

him just in time, with both hands by my side. Had I raised them, or shown th

t, considering what you are. But waste of time and trouble. However, I have hit the wo

s the momentum given, but his arm fell

a Vau

gh to address

rful reason for wishing to be rid of l

nothing more than contempt of

y myself. You could not understand me. Y

so. Don't come near

ce, I will do my best to make ame

r abject nature and cowardice. We sc

icable revenge. I thought of his brutal cruelty to the poor creatures God has given us; and a rancour like his own began to move in my troubled heart. It had been there all the while, no doubt, but a larger pressure had stilled it. Watching me intently, he saw the change in my counten

said at last, "that you i

ly. By the same blow you destroyed his wife, who lingered for a few years, pining till she died. Both of these were dear to God. He will avenge them in His good time. Only on

refuse,

's death. We have eviden

e of mind, and his scoffing mann

me here all alone, and entertaining so

recautions." A deep gleam shot t

se me, to come here wi

t mean to come, till my

. Lily was not mistaken when she called him

much graceful and highly-becoming scorn. I, in turn, will exhibit some little contempt of you. You were pleased to say, if my memory serves

ceived a cross of metal inlaid; I drew nearer to see it more closely, when something fell over my head. All down me, and round me, and twisted behind in a tight tourniquet, before I could guess what it was. I am not weak, for a girl; but I could no more lift my arms than a swathed mummy can. Neither could I kick, although as a child I had been famous for that accomplishment; if I lifted either foot, I must tumble head-foremost into the box, which was large enough

here is a dress resembling this among the Tartar tribes. Did I hurt your proud, straight nose? If so, accept most humble apologies. I

count his paltry, bantering jeers. Contempt is a tool I am used to grasp by the handle only. Be it enough to say that, without releasing me, he rang the bell for Cora, whose greedy eyes glistened when she saw my gordit loose from my bosom, and tangled in the net. Her master allowed her to disengage, and, for the time at least, appropriate it. In return for this, s