She gained the door, applied the key--the door yielded. The traveller threw his knapsack once more over his shoulder, and made but one stride to the threshold. The girl stopped him. "Don"t say anything about it; he is my father, they would hang him."
"No, no. But you?--are safe, I trust?--depend on my grat.i.tude.--I shall be at ------ to-morrow--the best inn--seek me if you can. Which way now?"
"Keep to the left."
The stranger was already several paces distant; through the darkness, and in the midst of the rain, he fled on with the speed of youth.
The girl lingered an instant, sighed, then laughed aloud; closed and re-barred the door, and was creeping back, when from the inner entrance advanced the grim father, and another man, of broad, short, sinewy frame, his arms bare, and wielding a large hammer.
"How?" asked the host; "Alice here, and--h.e.l.l and the devil! have you let him go?"
"I told you that you should not harm him."
With a violent oath the ruffian struck his daughter to the ground, sprang over her body, unbarred the door, and, accompanied by his comrade, set off in vague pursuit of his intended victim.
CHAPTER III.
"You knew--none so well, of my daughter"s flight."
_Merchant of Venice_, Act iii. Sc. 1.
THE day dawned; it was a mild, damp, hazy morning; the sod sank deep beneath the foot, the roads were heavy with mire, and the rain of the past night lay here and there in broad shallow pools. Towards the town, waggons, carts, pedestrian groups were already moving; and, now and then, you caught the sharp horn of some early coach, wheeling its be-cloaked outside and be-nightcapped inside pa.s.sengers along the northern thoroughfare.
A young man bounded over a stile into the road just opposite to the milestone, that declared him to be one mile from ------.
"Thank Heaven!" he said, almost aloud. "After spending the night wandering about mora.s.ses like a will-o"-the-wisp, I approach a town at last. Thank Heaven again, and for all its mercies this night! I breathe freely. I AM SAFE."
He walked on somewhat rapidly; he pa.s.sed a slow waggon---he pa.s.sed a group of mechanics--he pa.s.sed a drove of sheep, and now he saw walking leisurely before him a single figure. It was a girl, in a worn and humble dress, who seemed to seek her weary way with pain and languor.
He was about also to pa.s.s her, when he heard a low cry. He turned, and beheld in the wayfarer his preserver of the previous night.
"Heavens! is it indeed you? Can I believe my eyes?"
"I was coming to seek you, sir," said the girl, faintly. "I too have escaped; I shall never go back to father; I have no roof to cover my head now."
"Poor child! but how is this? Did they ill use you for releasing me?"
"Father knocked me down, and beat me again when he came back; but that is not all," she added, in a very low tone.
"What else?"
The girl grew red and white by turns. She set her teeth rigidly, stopped short, and then walking on quicker than before, replied: "It don"t matter; I will never go back--I"m alone now. What, what shall I do?" and she wrung her hands.
The traveller"s pity was deeply moved. "My good girl," said he, earnestly, "you have saved my life, and I am not ungrateful. Here" (and he placed some gold in her hand), "get yourself a lodging, food and rest; you look as if you wanted them; and see me again this evening when it is dark and we can talk un.o.bserved."
The girl took the money pa.s.sively, and looked up in his face while he spoke; the look was so unsuspecting, and the whole countenance was so beautifully modest and virgin-like, that had any evil pa.s.sion prompted the traveller"s last words, it must have fled scared and abashed as he met the gaze.
"My poor girl," said he, embarra.s.sed, and after a short pause; "you are very young, and very, very pretty. In this town you will be exposed to many temptations: take care where you lodge; you have, no doubt, friends here?"
"Friends?--what are friends?" answered Alice.
"Have you no relations?--no _mother"s kin_?"
"None."
"Do you know where to ask shelter?"
"No, sir; for I can"t go where father goes, lest he should find me out."
"Well, then, seek some quiet inn, and meet me this evening just here, half a mile from the town, at seven. I will try and think of something for you in the meanwhile. But you seem tired, you walk with pain; perhaps it will fatigue you to come--I mean, you had rather perhaps rest another day."
"Oh no, no! it will do me good to see you again, sir."
The young man"s eyes met hers, and hers were not withdrawn; their soft blue was suffused with tears--they penetrated his soul. He turned away hastily, and saw that they were already the subject of curious observation to the various pa.s.sengers that overtook them. "Don"t forget!" he whispered, and strode on with a pace that soon brought him to the town.
He inquired for the princ.i.p.al hotel--entered it with an air that bespoke that nameless consciousness of superiority which belongs to those accustomed to purchase welcome wherever welcome is bought and sold--and before a blazing fire and no unsubstantial breakfast, forgot all the terrors of the past night, or rather felt rejoiced to think he had added a new and strange hazard to the catalogue of adventures already experienced by Ernest Maltravers.
CHAPTER IV.
"Con una Dama tenia Un galan conversacion."*
MORATIN: _El Teatro Espanol_.--Num. 15.
* With a dame he held a gallant conversation.
MALTRAVERS was first at the appointed place. His character was in most respects singularly energetic, decided, and premature in its development; but not so in regard to women: with them he was the creature of the moment; and, driven to and fro by whatever impulse, or whatever pa.s.sion, caught the caprice of a wild, roving, and all-poetical imagination, Maltravers was, half unconsciously, a poet--a poet of action, and woman was his muse.
He had formed no plan of conduct towards the poor girl he was to meet.
He meant no harm to her. If she had been less handsome, he would have been equally grateful; and her dress, and youth, and condition, would equally have compelled him to select the hour of dusk for an interview.
He arrived at the spot. The winter night had already descended; but a sharp frost had set in: the air was clear, the stars were bright, and the long shadows slept, still and calm, along the broad road, and the whitened fields beyond.
He walked briskly to and fro, without much thought of the interview, or its object, half chanting old verses, German and English, to himself, and stopping to gaze every moment at the silent stars.
At length he saw Alice approach: she came up to him timidly and gently.
His heart beat more quickly; he felt that he was young and alone with beauty. "Sweet girl," he said, with involuntary and mechanical compliment, "how well this light becomes you. How shall I thank you for not forgetting me?"
Alice surrendered her hand to his without a struggle.
"What is your name?" said he, bending his face down to hers.
"Alice Darvil."
"And your terrible father,--_is_ he, in truth, your father?"
"Indeed he is my father and mother too!"
"What made you suspect his intention to murder me? Has he ever attempted the like crime?"