The Midnight Queen [92]
enabled Leoline to gasp out a faint " I
promise!" As she spoke, it was lifted off altogether, and she
caught one bright fleeting glimpse of the river, sparkling and
silvery in the moonlight; of the bright blue sky, gemmed with
countless stars, and of some one by her side in the dress of a
court-page, whose face was perfectly unknown to her. The next
instant, a bandage was bound tightly over her eyes, excluding
every ray of light, while the strange voice again spoke
apologetically
"Pardon, lady, but it is my orders! I am commanded to treat you
with every respect, but not to let you see where you are borne
to."
"By what right does Count L'Estrange commit this outrage!" began
Leoline, almost as imperiously as Miranda herself, and making use
of her tongue, like a true woman, the very first moment it was at
her disposal. "How dare he carry me off in this atrocious way?
Whoever you are, sir, if you have the spirit of a man, you will
bring me directly back to my own house
"I am very sorry, lady, but I have received orders that must be
obeyed! You must come with me, but you need fear nothing; you
will be an safe and secure as in your own home."
"Secure enough, no doubt!" paid Leoline, bitterly. "I never did
like Count L'Estrange, but I never knew he was a coward and a
villain till now!"
Her companion made no reply to this forcible address, and there
was a moment's indignant silence on Leoline's part, broken only
by the dip of the oars, and the rippling of the water. Then
"Will you not tell me, at least, where you are taking me to?"
haughtily demanded Leoline.
"Lady, I cannot! It was to prevent you knowing, that you have
been blindfolded."
"Oh! your master has a faithful servant, I see! How long am I to
be kept a prisoner?"
"I do not know."
"Where is Count L'Estrange?"
"I cannot tell."
"Where am I to see him?"
"I cannot say."
"Ha!" said Leoline, with infinite contempt, and turning her back
upon him she relapsed into gloomy silence. It had all been so
sudden, and had taken her so much by surprise, that she had not
had time to think of the consequences until now. But now they
came upon her with a rush, and with dismal distinctness; and most
distinct among all was, what would Sir Norman say! Of course,
with all a lover's impatience, he would be at his post by
sunrise, would come to look for his bride, and find himself sold!
By that time she would be far enough away, perhaps a melancholy
corpse (and at this dreary passage in her meditations, Leoline
sighed profoundly), and he would never know what had become of
her, or how much and how long she had loved him. And this
hateful Count L'Estrange, what did he intend to do with her?
Perhaps go so far as to make her marry him, and imprison her with
the rest of his wives; for Leoline was prepared to think the very
worst of the count, and had not the slightest doubt that he
already had a harem full of abducted wives, somewhere. But no -
he never could do that, he might do what he liked with weaker
minds, but she never would be a bride of his while the plague or
poison was to be had in London. And with this invincible
determination rooted fixedly, not to say obstinately, in her
mind, she was nearly pitched overboard by the boat suddenly
landing at some unexpected place. A little natural scream of
terror was repressed on her lips by a hand being placed over
them, and the determined but perfectly respectful tones of the
person beside her speaking.
"Remember your promise, lady, and do not make a noise. We have
arrived at our journey's end, and if you will take my arm, I will
lead you along, instead of carrying you."
Leoline was rather surprised to find the journey so short, but
she arose directly, with silence and dignity - at least with as
much of the latter commodity as could be reasonably expected,
considering
promise!" As she spoke, it was lifted off altogether, and she
caught one bright fleeting glimpse of the river, sparkling and
silvery in the moonlight; of the bright blue sky, gemmed with
countless stars, and of some one by her side in the dress of a
court-page, whose face was perfectly unknown to her. The next
instant, a bandage was bound tightly over her eyes, excluding
every ray of light, while the strange voice again spoke
apologetically
"Pardon, lady, but it is my orders! I am commanded to treat you
with every respect, but not to let you see where you are borne
to."
"By what right does Count L'Estrange commit this outrage!" began
Leoline, almost as imperiously as Miranda herself, and making use
of her tongue, like a true woman, the very first moment it was at
her disposal. "How dare he carry me off in this atrocious way?
Whoever you are, sir, if you have the spirit of a man, you will
bring me directly back to my own house
"I am very sorry, lady, but I have received orders that must be
obeyed! You must come with me, but you need fear nothing; you
will be an safe and secure as in your own home."
"Secure enough, no doubt!" paid Leoline, bitterly. "I never did
like Count L'Estrange, but I never knew he was a coward and a
villain till now!"
Her companion made no reply to this forcible address, and there
was a moment's indignant silence on Leoline's part, broken only
by the dip of the oars, and the rippling of the water. Then
"Will you not tell me, at least, where you are taking me to?"
haughtily demanded Leoline.
"Lady, I cannot! It was to prevent you knowing, that you have
been blindfolded."
"Oh! your master has a faithful servant, I see! How long am I to
be kept a prisoner?"
"I do not know."
"Where is Count L'Estrange?"
"I cannot tell."
"Where am I to see him?"
"I cannot say."
"Ha!" said Leoline, with infinite contempt, and turning her back
upon him she relapsed into gloomy silence. It had all been so
sudden, and had taken her so much by surprise, that she had not
had time to think of the consequences until now. But now they
came upon her with a rush, and with dismal distinctness; and most
distinct among all was, what would Sir Norman say! Of course,
with all a lover's impatience, he would be at his post by
sunrise, would come to look for his bride, and find himself sold!
By that time she would be far enough away, perhaps a melancholy
corpse (and at this dreary passage in her meditations, Leoline
sighed profoundly), and he would never know what had become of
her, or how much and how long she had loved him. And this
hateful Count L'Estrange, what did he intend to do with her?
Perhaps go so far as to make her marry him, and imprison her with
the rest of his wives; for Leoline was prepared to think the very
worst of the count, and had not the slightest doubt that he
already had a harem full of abducted wives, somewhere. But no -
he never could do that, he might do what he liked with weaker
minds, but she never would be a bride of his while the plague or
poison was to be had in London. And with this invincible
determination rooted fixedly, not to say obstinately, in her
mind, she was nearly pitched overboard by the boat suddenly
landing at some unexpected place. A little natural scream of
terror was repressed on her lips by a hand being placed over
them, and the determined but perfectly respectful tones of the
person beside her speaking.
"Remember your promise, lady, and do not make a noise. We have
arrived at our journey's end, and if you will take my arm, I will
lead you along, instead of carrying you."
Leoline was rather surprised to find the journey so short, but
she arose directly, with silence and dignity - at least with as
much of the latter commodity as could be reasonably expected,
considering