Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

would have brought one of less stout frame than Ambrose to the ground.

[ocr errors]

Nay, if you be for that work, have at ye!" exclaimed Ambrose, driven past his patience: and springing upon Mr. Carlton, he would have borne him down with the impetuosity of his attack, but his foot slipped and he fell.

"Villain!" cried Mr. Carlton, as he tore a stake from the hedge-row and brandished it over the prostrate Ambrose-" villain! you are in my power!" Rose screamed loudly; but her lover, springing once more on his feet, flung himself upon Mr. Carlton, wrested the stick from his hand, and hurling it away, cried "There's for ye, coward!" while at the same time raising his arm, with one blow he felled him to the earth.

"Murder! murder! help, help, murder!" cried Mr. Aldget, coming forth from his concealment, and muttering to himself, as he scrambled through the hedge, "here are fine doings: here is assault and battery on one hand-a plea of self-defence on the othera seduced maiden, and a breach of promise of

marriage. Carlton versus Ambrose, Ambrose versus Carlton, and Rose Delvin versus

I say, murder-help-murder! will nobody come to my assistance?"

In the mean time, Rose was borne away, half fainting, by Ambrose; and Mr. Carlton lay extended, speechless, and bleeding, on the ground.

CHAPTER VII.

An hypocrite is the worst kind of player, by so much as he acts the better part. While he makes many beggars, he keeps some. He turneth all gnats into camels, and cares not to undo the world for a circumstance. In brief, he is the stranger's saint, the neighbour's disease, an angel abroad, a devil at home.

BISHOP HALL.

"I WONDER where Mr. Aldget can be," said General Montgomery, when every body at the Hall had assembled at dinner, and that gentleman's place remained vacant: "he is not wont to be so late: I fear, the business of last night has caused him a good deal of trouble."

"Doubtless, General, something connected with the affair of last night has occurred to detain him in the neighbourhood; but Mr.

Aldget is very cautious, and the

steady, and I am under no alarm.

[blocks in formation]

phreys, a little bit of the fat, if you please," whispered Mr. Skinner to the servant, who was carving: "a very fine haunch, indeed, my friend Aldget has missed," he added, turning to the General.

But he was not doomed to miss it, for at that very moment Mr. Aldget entered.

"I hope you will excuse me, General, and all the ladies and gentlemen," (bowing to them,) "I hope you will excuse my being so late, and

66

my dirty boots; but I have been so busyhardly time to turn round, I assure you, so busy."

"Ah! there you are at last, my good Sir; well, what has detained you so many hours? give us an account of your adventures."

"Directly, General-you shall be obeyed directly; only suffer me to take one mouthful, if you please; I have hardly tasted food today."

"You must have some dinner first, to be sure, my good Sir. Humphreys, let Mr. Ald

get have some soup, and the fish; I desired some to be kept ready for you, and,” (a pause,) "you look fatigued; a glass of sherry or Madeira, meanwhile, which do you prefer?—a glass of Madeira, Humphreys, to Mr. Aldget."

"I thank you, General, a glass of wine will be most welcome-but no soup-no fish, I thank you. I'll take a slice of that haunch, Mr. Humphreys, if you please."

In truth, the haunch had filled Abraham's eye from his entering the room; and salutations and offerings of every kind were lost upon him, in the contemplation of this dish of his affec

tions.

"You may give me another slice, Mr. Humphreys, the keen air has made me hungry; I have had hard work, Skinner," as he jogged the elbow of his partner; but his eye was still on the plate, which Humphreys, knowing whom he served, continued loading with choice morsels.

The General, in the interval, addressed his inquiry to Mr. Skinner, asking him if he knew whether his friend had been detained by any discovery obtained of the intruders of

« AnteriorContinuar »