Eugene Aram — CompleteLytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
General
Eugene Aram — Complete
Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
Aram, Eugene, 1704-1759 -- Fiction
“Justice, and blood for blood!” said Walter, sternly; but his heart felt
as if it were broken. His venerable uncle’s tears, Madeline’s look of
horror as she turned from him, Ellinor all lifeless, and he not daring
to approach her,--this was HIS work! He pulled his hat over his eyes,
and hastened into the carriage alone. Lester, Madeline, and Aram
followed in the other vehicle; and the two officers contented themselves
with mounting the box, certain the prisoner would attempt no escape.
CHAPTER III.
THE JUSTICE--THE DEPARTURE--THE EQUANIMITY OF THE CORPORAL IN
BEARING THE MISFORTUNES OF OTHER PEOPLE.--THE EXAMINATION; ITS
RESULT.--ARAM’S CONDUCT IN PRISON.--THE ELASTICITY OF OUR
HUMAN NATURE.--A VISIT FROM THE EARL.--WALTER’S
DETERMINATION.--MADELINE.
Bear me to prison, where I am committed.
--Measure for Measure.
On arriving at Sir--‘s, a disappointment, for which, had they previously
conversed with the officers they might have been prepared, awaited them.
The fact was, that the justice had only endorsed the warrant sent from
Yorkshire; and after a very short colloquy, in which he expressed his
regret at the circumstance, his conviction that the charge would be
disproved, and a few other courteous common-places, he gave Aram to
understand that the matter now did not rest with him, but that it was
to Yorkshire that the officers were bound, and before Mr. Thornton, a
magistrate of that country, that the examination was to take place. “All
I can do,” said the magistrate, “I have already done; but I wished for
an opportunity of informing you of it. I have written to my brother
justice at full length respecting your high character, and treating the
habits and rectitude of your life alone as a sufficient refutation of so
monstrous a charge.”
For the first time a visible embarrassment came over the firm nerves of
the prisoner: he seemed to look with great uneasiness at the prospect
of this long and dreary journey, and for such an end. Perhaps, the very
notion of returning as a suspected criminal to that part of the country
where a portion of his youth had been passed, was sufficient to disquiet
and deject him. All this while his poor Madeline seemed actuated by a
spirit beyond herself; she would not be separated from his side--she
held his hand in hers--she whispered comfort and courage at the very
moment when her own heart most sank. The magistrate wiped his eyes when
he saw a creature so young, so beautiful, in circumstances so fearful,
and bearing up with an energy so little to be expected from her years
and delicate appearance. Aram said but little; he covered his face with
his right hand for a few moments, as if to hide a passing emotion, a
sudden weakness. When he removed it, all vestige of colour had died
away; his face was pale as that of one who has risen from the grave; but
it was settled and composed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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