University of Virginia Library

5. CHAPTER V.

My pupil was a bright little girl, who spoke
French with a perfect accent. Her mother had been
a French ballet-dancer, which probably accounted for
it. Although she was only six years old, it was easy
to perceive that she had been several times in love.
She once said to me:

“Miss Mix, did you ever have the grande passion?
Did you ever feel a fluttering here?” and she placed
her hand upon her small chest, and sighed quaintly,
“a kind of distaste for bonbons and caromels, when
the world seemed as tasteless and hollow as a broken
cordial drop.”

“Then you have felt it, Nina?” I said quietly.

“O dear, yes. There was Buttons—that was our
page, you know—I loved him dearly, but papa sent

him away. Then there was Dick, the groom, but he
laughed at me, and I suffered misery!” and she
struck a tragic French attitude. “There is to be
company here to-morrow,” she added, rattling on
with childish naïveté, “and papa's sweetheart—
Blanche Marabout—is to be here. You know they
say she is to be my mamma.”

What thrill was this shot through me? But I
rose calmly, and administering a slight correction to
the child, left the apartment.

Blunderbore House, for the next week, was the
scene of gaiety and merriment. That portion of the
mansion closed with a grating was walled up, and
the midnight shrieks no longer troubled me.

But I felt more keenly the degradation of my situation.
I was obliged to help Lady Blanche at her
toilette and help her to look beautiful. For what?
To captivate him? Oh—no, no—but why this sudden
thrill and faintness? Did he really love her?
I had seen him pinch and swear at her. But I reflected
that he had thrown a candlestick at my head,
and my foolish heart was reassured.

It was a night of festivity, when a sudden message
obliged Mr. Rawjester to leave his guests for a few
hours. “Make yourselves merry, idiots,” he added,
under his breath, as he passed me. The door closed
and he was gone.

An half hour passed. In the midst of the dancing
a shriek was heard, and out of the swaying
crowd of fainting women and excited men, a wild
figure strode into the room. One glance showed it

to be a highwayman, heavily armed, holding a pistol
in each hand.

“Let no one pass out of this room!” he said, in a
voice of thunder. “The house is surrounded and
you cannot escape. The first one who crosses yonder
threshold will be shot like a dog. Gentlemen,
I'll trouble you to approach in single file, and hand
me your purses and watches.”

Finding resistance useless, the order was ungraciously
obeyed.

“Now, ladies, please to pass up your jewelry and
trinkets.”

This order was still more ungraciously complied
with. As Blanche handed to the bandit captain her
bracelet, she endeavored to conceal a diamond necklace,
the gift of Mr. Rawjester, in her bosom. But,
with a demoniac grin, the powerful brute tore it
from its concealment, and administering a hearty
box on the ear of the young girl, flung her aside.

It was now my turn. With a beating heart, I
made my way to the robber chieftain, and sank at
his feet. “Oh, sir, I am nothing but a poor governess,
pray let me go.”

“Oh, ho! A governess? Give me your last
month's wages, then. Give me what you have stolen
from your master!” and he laughed fiendishly.

I gazed at him quietly, and said, in a low voice,
“I have stolen nothing from you, Mr. Rawjester!”

“Ah, discovered! Hush! listen, girl!” he hissed,
in a fiercer whisper, “utter a syllable to frustrate my
plans and you die—aid me, and—” but he was gone.

In a few moments the party, with the exception of
myself, were gagged and locked in the cellar. The
next moment torches were applied to the rich hangings,
and the house was in flames. I felt a strong
hand seize me, and bear me out in the open air and
place me upon the hillside, where I could overlook
the burning mansion. It was Mr. Rawjester.

“Burn!” he said, as he shook his fist at the flames.
Then sinking on his knees before me, he said hurriedly:

“Mary Jane, I love you; the obstacles to our
union are or will be soon removed. In yonder mansion
were confined my three crazy wives. One of
them, as you know, attempted to kill me! Ha! this
is vengeance! But will you be mine?”

I fell, without a word, upon his neck.