Page:Allan the freebooter, or, The witch of Glenross (2).pdf/13

13 hurt that is the cause of it," "Where is Ambrose?" (interrupted the captain) "At supper in the cavern." replied a domestic. “Go and tell him to bring his lancets hither instantly!" "Willingly," (replied Bridget,) and hastening to Ambrose, she told him that he must go and bleed an angel that was lying dead in the Captain's cell.

Whilst he prepared his lancets, the Captain took off the bonnet of the insensible youths, and his redundant auburn tresses fell lose over his shoulders. Bridget, who could not conceal her admiration, now offered her services, and proceeding to take off his jacket, screamed with surprise, as the bosom of his shirt falling open discovered that Wallace, the heir of Glenross, was a woman, and one of the loveliest of her sex.

The surprize of all present did not prevent Ambrose from preforming his operation with great dexterity: the blood flowed freely and in a few minutes, Wallace (or as we shall in future call her, Helen) gave signs of returning animation. The Captain then made all except Bridget quite the apartment, and in a few minutes she opened her eyes, and gazed wildly around her. The Captain was so much lost in admiration, and Bridget in astonishment, they hesitated to address her, but their earnest gaze drew her attention to her own disordered person, which she no sooner perceived, but guessed the discovery which had been made, she uttered a scream of terror and surprize, and relapsed into a state of insensibility. Ambrose was again summoned, but for some time his skill was excried in vain, as she fell from one fainting fit into another, till nature being exhausted, she became quiet.

It was a late hour of the morning, when the effects of the potion she had taken, ceased; and she awoke weak and feeble, and looked wildly around without comprehending what had befallen her, but the sight of Bridget brought to her memory the events of the preceding evening, the death of Malvina also crossed her mind, and hastily starting from her bed, she exclaimed, "Oh! if you have either pity or humanity, suffer me to