Ernest Maltravers, Book 1

rotest, was very hone

would have suspected

ke

at Ends Well/,

g forges; and even Art, which presses all things into service, had disdained to cull use or beauty from these unpromising demesnes. There was something weird and primeval in the aspect of the place; especially when in the long nights of winter you beheld the distant fires and lights which give to the vicinity of certain manufactories so preternatural an appearance, streaming red and wild over the waste. So abando

muscular but meagre throat; his tattered breeches were also decorated by buckles, one of pinchbeck, and one of steel. His frame was lean, but broad and sinewy, indicative of considerable strength. His countenance was prematurely marked by deep furrows, and his grizzled hair waved over a low, rugged, and forbidding brow, on which there hung an eve

, as if the act could increase the amount. "There must be some mistake here, Alice," he said in a low and muttered tone: "we can

he smouldering and sullen fire; she now looked quietly

er forehead, and its luxuriance was remarkable even in one so young. Her countenance was beautiful, nay, even faultless, in its small and child-like features, but the expression pained you-it was so vacant. In repose it

quiet voice; "but I should like to have taken

o you want

od when I'

ing e

n't k

ile, "why don't you let me go and work with the other girls a

"Child," he said, "you are just fifteen, and a sad fool you are: perhaps if you went to the factory, you would get awa

his allusion: but repeated, vacantly,

man, angrily; "I h

ed by a loud knock at

he muttered. "The hour is late-near ele

light, her earnest look, her varying colour, her tender youth, and a singular grace of a

ips to a chink in the door, and

eeing a light at your window, I have ventured to ask if any one w

Alley," said the

bolt from the door; and a tal

one to mistake him for other than a gentleman; yet his dress was plain and somewhat soiled by dust, and he carried a small knapsack on his shoulder. As he entered, he lifted his hat with somewhat of forei

ressing the man, who surveyed him with a scrutinising eye; "and trust, my g

ay," said the man surlily:

ommon, and there is no path across it that I can see; however, if

eplied the churlish

ome, my good friend, put on your hat, and I

again surveyed his guest, and s

ui

you are kn

s that to you? I am a s

ull four

claimed the young man with impatience. As he s

over his brow. "I am thinking, sir," he said in a more civil tone than he had yet a

e stranger, stamping

roof is at your service, and I would go

the handsome intruder. As she caught his eye, she blushed deeply and turned aside. The view seemed to change the intentions of the stranger. He hesitated a moment, then muttered between his teeth: and sinking his knapsack on the ground, he

the host. "But our best accommodation must seem bad enough to a

tolerably well accustomed to greater hardships than sleeping on a chair in an hone

der would afford. Some crusts of bread, some cold potatoes, and some

she lingered by the table, and faltered out some hesitating words of apology, he seized her hand, and pressing it tenderly-"Prettiest of lasses," said he-and while he spoke he gazed on he

corner of the room, when she continued to look at the stranger wit

ed hard first at on

th a sort of chuckle, "

st, as you sa

tough crusts; "to be sure she is. I did not mean to offend you; but the fact is, that I am half a foreigner; and

as I do," said the host, whose intonation and wor

"What I meant was, that I have been a great deal abroad; in fa

going

es

from

rty miles,

ung, sir, t

his chair again to the fire. He then thought he had sufficiently ministe

factories, I su

sir. Ba

pretty d

the h

no other

feed, and that scarcely. But you would like to res

; "just put a few more coals on the fire,

ffer, but left the room for a supply

atisfying himself that they were alone: "I should sle

er face wit

vex

no,

Alice softly. He drew away her hands from her face, w

r to himself; and then replied aloud, "Why, pr

ve money," she said, in a whisper, "don't say so to father.

mer of the half-dying and single candle threw into strong lights and shades the marked, rugged, and ferocious features of the cottager; and the ey

hat wide and desert moor-might not the host follow-assault him in the dark? He had no weapon save a stick. But within he had at least a rude resource in the large kitchen poker that was beside him. At all eve

to-night," said his

t will be an hour or two before I fall asleep;

ather, "let us leave the

ght," returned the

door in the corner of the room. The guest hear

been for that girl's big blue eyes, I should be safe at --- by this time, if, indeed, the grim father had not murdered me by the road. However, we'll baulk him yet: ano

beat more loudly than its wont. He kept his eyes stationed on the door

ow, Alice, instead of turning to her own

t of his bed muttering to himself,

g on his face, and with her arms

y guineas," said the ho

ather, what the gentl

an st

ly, "you mean to do some injury to

in a loud voice, but suddenly dropped the tone into a dee

fat

N

from this room

that," said the

l alarm the gentlema

ha

ced her lips to his ear, and whispe

s eyes, and gasped painfully for breath. "Alice," said he,

-/you/

next. But go to bed, I say-I mean no harm to the young man. Thi

earnest and almost intelligent, now

t his throat. Don't forget that;-good night;" and

tightly to his forehead, and remaine

as deep as a well; and I might say at daybreak that the boy had bolted. He seems quite a stranger here-nobody'll miss him. He mus

him. He closed the window with an oath; took off his shoes, stole to the threshold, and, by the candle, which

eady. I will steal down. If Jack Walters would bu

cleaver. He caught up the last. "Aha," he muttered; "and there's the sledge-hammer somewhere for Walters." Leaning himself ag