This eBook was produced by David Widger
EUGENE ARAM
By Edward Bulwer-Lytton
BOOK III.
CHAPTER I.
FRAUD AND VIOLENCE ENTER EVEN GRASSDALE.—PETER'S NEWS. —THE LOVERS' WALK.—THE REAPPEARANCE.
AUF.—"Whence comest thou—what wouldst thou?"
—Coriolanus.
One evening Aram and Madeline were passing through the village in theiraccustomed walk, when Peter Dealtry sallied forth from The Spotted Dog,and hurried up to the lovers with a countenance full of importance, and alittle ruffled by fear.
"Oh, Sir, Sir,—(Miss, your servant!)—have you heard the news? Twohouses at Checkington, (a small town some miles distant from Grassdale,)were forcibly entered last night,—robbed, your honour, robbed. SquireTibson was tied to his bed, his bureau rifled, himself shockinglyconfused on the head; and the maidservant Sally—her sister lived withme, a very good girl she was,—was locked up in the—the—the—I begpardon, Miss—was locked up in the cupboard. As to the other house, theycarried off all the plate. There were no less than four men, all masked,your honour, and armed with pistols. What if they should come here! sucha thing was never heard of before in these parts. But, Sir,—but, Miss,—do not be afraid, do not ye now, for I may say with the Psalmist,
'But wicked men shall drink the dregs
Which they in wrath shall wring,
For I will lift my voice, and make
Them flee while I do sing!'"
"You could not find a more effectual method of putting them to flight,Peter," said Madeline smiling; "but go and talk to my uncle. I know wehave a whole magazine of blunderbusses and guns at home: they may beuseful now. But you are well provided in case of attack. Have you not theCorporal's famous cat Jacobina,—surely a match for fifty robbers?"
"Ay, Miss, on the principle of set a thief to catch a thief, perhaps shemay; but really it is no jesting matter. Them ere robbers flourish like agreen bay tree, for a space at least, and it is 'nation bad sport for uspoor lambs till they be cut down and withered like grass. But your house,Mr. Aram, is very lonesome like; it is out of reach of all yourneighbours. Hadn't you better, Sir, take up your lodgings at the Squire'sfor the present?"
Madeline pressed Aram's arm, and looked up fearfully in his face. "Why,my good friend," said he to Dealtry, "robbers will have little to gain inmy house, unless they are given to learned pursuits. It would besomething new, Peter, to see a gang of housebreakers making off with atelescope, or a pair of globes, or a great folio covered with dust."
"Ay, your honour, but they may be the more savage for beingdisappointed."
"Well, well, Peter, we will see," replied Aram impatiently; "meanwhile wemay meet you again at the hall. Good evening for the present."
"Do, dearest Eugene, do, for Heaven's sake," said Madeline, with tears inher eyes, as they, now turning from Dealtry, directed their steps towardsthe quiet valley, at the end of which the Student's house was situated,and which was now more than ever Madeline's favourite walk, "do, dearestEugene, come up to the Manor-house till these wretches are apprehended.Consider how open your house is to attack; and surely there can be nonecessity to remain in it now."
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