CHAPTER IV
THE IRON-MERCHANT'S DAUGHTER
A week had elapsed since Auriol Darcy was conveyed to theiron-merchant's dwelling, after the attack made upon him by the ruffiansin the ruined house; and though almost recovered from the seriousinjuries he had received, he still remained the guest of his preserver.
It was a bright spring morning, when a door leading to the yard in frontof the house opened, and a young girl, bright and fresh as the morning'sself, issued from it.
A lovelier creature than Ebba Thorneycroft cannot be imagined. Herfigure was perfection--slight, tall, and ravishingly proportioned, witha slender waist, little limbs, and fairy feet that would have made thefortune of an opera-dancer. Her features were almost angelic inexpression, with an outline of the utmost delicacy and precision--notcold, classical regularity--but that softer and incomparably more lovelymould peculiar to our own clime. Ebba's countenance was a type of Saxonbeauty. Her complexion was pure white, tinged with a slight bloom. Hereyes were of a serene summer blue, arched over by brows some shadesdarker than the radiant tresses that fell on either cheek, and wereparted over a brow smoother than alabaster. Her attire was simple buttasteful, and by its dark colour threw into relief the exceedingfairness of her skin.
Ebba's first care was to feed her favourite linnet, placed in a cageover the door. Having next patted the head of a huge bulldog who cameout of his kennel to greet her, and exchanged a few words with two menemployed at a forge in the inner part of the building on the right, sheadvanced farther into the yard.
This part of the premises, being strewn with ironwork of every possibleshape, presented a very singular appearance, and may merit somedescription. There were heaps of rusty iron chains flung together likefishermen's nets, old iron area-guards, iron kitchen-fenders, oldgrates, safes, piles of old iron bowls, a large assortment of old ironpans and dishes, a ditto of old ovens, kettles without number,sledge-hammers, anvils, braziers, chimney-cowls, and smoke-jacks.
Stout upright posts, supporting cross-beams on the top, were placed atintervals on either side of the yard, and these were decorated, in themost artistic style, with rat-traps, man-traps, iron lanterns, pulleys,padlocks, chains, trivets, triangles, iron rods, disused street lamps,dismounted cannon, and anchors. Attached to hooks in the cross-beamnearest the house hung a row of old horse-shoes, while from the centredepended a large rusty bell. Near the dog's kennel was a tool-box,likewise garnished with horse-shoes, and containing pincers, files,hammers, and other implements proper to the smith. Beyond this was anopen doorway leading to the workshop, where the two men before mentionedwere busy at the forge.
Though it was still early, the road was astir with passengers; and manywaggons and carts, laden with hay, straw, and vegetables, were passing.Ebba, however, had been solely drawn forth by the beauty of the morning,and she stopped for a moment at the street gate, to breathe the balmyair. As she inhaled the gentle breeze, and felt the warm sunshine uponher cheek, her thoughts wandered away into the green meadows in whichshe had strayed as a child, and she longed to ramble amid them again.Perhaps she scarcely desired a solitary stroll; but however this mightbe, she was too much engrossed by the reverie to notice a tall man,wrapped in a long black cloak, who regarded her with the most fixedattention, as he passed on the opposite side of the road.
Proceeding to a short distance, this personage crossed over, andreturned slowly towards the iron-merchant's dwelling. Ebba then, for thefirst time, remarked him, and was startled by his strange, sinisterappearance. His features were handsome, but so malignant and fierce inexpression, that they inspired only aversion. A sardonic grin curled histhin lips, and his short, crisply curled hair, raven-black in hue,contrasted forcibly and disagreeably with his cadaverous complexion. Anattraction like that of the snake seemed to reside in his dark blazingeyes, for Ebba trembled like a bird beneath their influence, and couldnot remove her gaze from them. A vague presentiment of coming ill smoteher, and she dreaded lest the mysterious being before her might beconnected in some inexplicable way with her future destiny.
On his part, the stranger was not insensible to the impression he hadproduced, and suddenly halting, he kept his eyes riveted on those ofthe girl, who, after remaining spell-bound, as it were, for a fewmoments, precipitately retreated towards the house.
Just as she reached the door, and was about to pass through it, Auriolcame forth. He was pale, as if from recent suffering, and bore his leftarm in a sling.
"You look agitated," he said, noticing Ebba's uneasiness. "What hashappened?"
"Not much," she replied, a deep blush mantling her cheeks. "But I havebeen somewhat alarmed by the person near the gate."
"Indeed!" cried Auriol, darting forward. "Where is he? I see no one."
"Not a tall man, wrapped in a long black cloak?" rejoined Ebba,following him cautiously.
"Ha!" cried Auriol. "Has he been here?"
"Then you know the person I allude to?" she rejoined.
"I know some one answering his description," he replied, with a forcedsmile.
"Once beheld, the man I mean is not to be forgotten," said Ebba. "He hasa countenance such as I never saw before. If I could believe in the'evil eye,' I should be sure he possessed it."
"'Tis he, there can be no doubt," rejoined Auriol, in a sombre tone.
"Who and what is he, then?" demanded Ebba.
"He is a messenger of ill," replied Auriol, "and I am thankful he isgone."
The Iron-merchant's Daughter.]
"Are you quite sure of it?" she asked, glancing timorously up and downthe road. But the mysterious individual could no longer be seen.
"And so, after exciting my curiosity in this manner, you will notsatisfy it?" she said.
"I cannot," rejoined Auriol, somewhat sternly.
"Nay, then, since you are so ungracious, I shall go and preparebreakfast," she replied. "My father must be down by this time."
"Stay!" cried Auriol, arresting her, as she was about to pass throughthe door. "I wish to have a word with you."
Ebba stopped, and the bloom suddenly forsook her cheeks.
But Auriol seemed unable to proceed. Neither dared to regard the other;and a profound silence prevailed between them for a few moments.
"Ebba," said Auriol at length, "I am about to leave your father's houseto-day."
"Why so soon?" she exclaimed, looking up into his face. "You are notentirely recovered yet."
"I dare not stay longer," he said.
"Dare not!" cried Ebba. And she again cast down her eyes; but Auriolmade no reply.
Fortunately the silence was broken by the clinking of the smiths'hammers upon the anvil.
"If you must really go," said Ebba, looking up, after a long pause, "Ihope we shall see you again?"
"Most assuredly," replied Auriol. "I owe your worthy father a deep debtof gratitude--a debt which, I fear, I shall never be able to repay."
"My father is more than repaid in saving your life," she replied. "I amsure he will be sorry to learn you are going so soon."
"I have been here a week," said Auriol. "If I remained longer, I mightnot be able to go at all."
There was another pause, during which a stout old fellow in the workshopquitted the anvil for a moment, and, catching a glimpse of the youngcouple, muttered to his helpmate--
"I say, Ned, I'm a-thinkin' our master'll soon have a son-in-law.There's pretty plain signs on it at yonder door."
"So there be, John," replied Ned, peeping round. "He's a good-lookin'young feller that. I wish ve could hear their discoorse."
"No, that ain't fair," replied John, raking some small coal upon thefire, and working away at the bellows.
"I would not for the world ask a disagreeable question," said Ebba,again raising her eyes, "but since you are about to quit us, I mustconfess I should like to know something of your history."
"Forgive me if I decline to comply with your desire," replied Auriol."You would not believe me, were I to relate my history. But this I may
say, that it is stranger and wilder than any you ever heard. Theprisoner in his cell is not restrained by more terrible fetters thanthose which bind me to silence."
Ebba gazed at him as if she feared his reasoning were wandering.
"You think me mad," said Auriol; "would I were so! But I shall neverlose the clear perception of my woes. Hear me, Ebba! Fate has brought meinto this house. I have seen you, and experienced your gentle ministry;and it is impossible, so circumstanced, to be blind to yourattractions. I have only been too sensible to them--but I will not dwellon that theme, nor run the risk of exciting a passion which must destroyyou. I will ask you to hate me--to regard me as a monster whom you oughtto shun rather than as a being for whom you should entertain theslightest sympathy."
"You have some motive in saying this to me," cried the terrified girl.
"My motive is to warn you," said Auriol. "If you love me, you arelost--utterly lost!"
She was so startled, that she could make no reply, but burst into tears.Auriol took her hand, which she unresistingly yielded.
"A terrible fatality attaches to me, in which you must have no share,"he said, in a solemn tone.
"Would you had never come to my father's house!" she exclaimed, in avoice of anguish.
"Is it, then, too late?" cried Auriol despairingly.
"It is--if to love you be fatal," she rejoined.
"Ha!" exclaimed Auriol, striking his forehead with his clenched hand."Recall your words--Ebba--recall them--but no, once uttered--it isimpossible. You are bound to me for ever. I must fulfil my destiny."
At this juncture a low growl broke from the dog, and, guided by thesound, the youthful couple beheld, standing near the gate, the tall darkman in the black cloak. A fiendish smile sat upon his countenance.
"That is the man who frightened me!" cried Ebba.
"It is the person I supposed!" ejaculated Auriol. "I must speak to him.Leave me, Ebba. I will join you presently."
And as the girl, half sinking with apprehension, withdrew, he advancedquickly towards the intruder.
"I have sought you for some days," said the tall man, in a stern,commanding voice. "You have not kept your appointment with me."
"I could not," replied Auriol--"an accident has befallen me."
"I know it," rejoined the other. "I am aware you were assailed byruffians in the ruined house over the way. But you are recovered now,and can go forth. You ought to have communicated with me."
"It was my intention to do so," said Auriol.
"Our meeting cannot be delayed much longer," pursued the stranger. "Iwill give you three more days. On the evening of the last day, at thehour of seven, I shall look for you at the foot of the statue in HydePark."
"I will be there," replied Auriol.
"That girl must be the next victim," said the stranger, with a grimsmile.
"Peace!" thundered Auriol.
"Nay, I need not remind you of the tenure by which you maintain yourpower," rejoined the stranger. "But I will not trouble you further now."
And, wrapping his cloak more closely round him, he disappeared.
"Fate has once more involved me in its net," cried Auriol bitterly. "ButI will save Ebba, whatever it may cost me. I will see her no more."
And instead of returning to the house, he hurried away in the oppositedirection of the stranger.