Run to Earth, Mary Elizabeth Braddon [epub ebook reader .TXT] 📗

ng-girl at a public-house in Shadwell. Never beforehad Valentine Jernam looked on so fair a woman. He had never been astudent or admirer of the weaker sex. He had a vague kind of idea thatthere were women, and mermaids, and other dangerous creatures, lurkingsomewhere in this world, for the destruction of honest men; but beyondthis he had very few ideas on the subject.

Other people were taking very little notice of the singer. The regularpatrons of the 'Jolly Tar' were accustomed to her beauty and hersinging, and thought very little about her. The girl was very quiet,very modest. She came and went under the care of the old blind pianist,whom she called her grandfather, and she seemed to shrink alike fromobservation or admiration.

She began to sing again presently.

She stood by the piano, facing the audience, calm as a statue, with herlarge black eyes looking straight before her. The old man listened toher eagerly, as he played, and nodded fond approval every now and then,as the full, rich