Jack Sheppard - A Romance by William Harrison Ainsworth
page 12 of 645 (01%)
page 12 of 645 (01%)
|
perhaps, you don't know that little Jack was born, a month before his
time, on the very day his poor father suffered." "Lord bless us!" ejaculated Wood, "how shocking! No, I did _not_ know that." "You may see the marks on the child yourself, if you choose, Sir," urged the widow. "See the devil!--not I," cried Wood impatiently. "I didn't think you'd been so easily fooled, Joan." "Fooled or not," returned Mrs. Sheppard mysteriously, "old Van told me _one_ thing which has come true already." "What's that?" asked Wood with some curiosity. "He said, by way of comfort, I suppose, after the fright he gave me at first, that the child would find a friend within twenty-four hours, who would stand by him through life." "A friend is not so soon gained as lost," replied Wood; "but how has the prediction been fulfilled, Joan, eh?" "I thought you would have guessed, Sir," replied the widow, timidly. "I'm sure little Jack has but one friend beside myself, in the world, and that's more than I would have ventured to say for him yesterday. However, I've not told you all; for old Van _did_ say something about the child saving his new-found friend's life at the time of meeting; but how that's to happen, I'm sure I can't guess." |
|