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Updated: June 15, 2025
In spite of herself Alizon's eyes sparkled with pleasure; but she speedily checked the emotion. "I must not indulge the dream," she said, with a sigh. "Why not?" cried Dorothy. "I will have strict inquiries made as to your history." "I cannot consent to it," replied Alizon. "I cannot leave one who, if she be not my parent, has stood to me in that relation.
During all this time, Mistress Nutter kept her eyes steadily fixed on the little girl, who spoke not a word, nor replied even by a gesture to Alizon's affectionate good-night, retaining her dazed look to the moment of quitting the hall. "I never saw her thus before," said Alizon. "What can be the matter with her?"
"If not mine, it was blood spilt by my father," said Alizon, with a shudder. Was it fancy, or did a low groan break upon her ear? It must be imaginary, for Mistress Nutter seemed unconscious of the dismal sound. It was now growing rapidly dark, and the more distant objects in the room were wrapped in obscurity; but Alizon's gaze rested on the two monkish figures supporting the wardrobe.
She now seems as resolute in good as she was heretofore resolute in evil." "If she perishes thus, her self-sacrifice, for thus it becomes, will be Alizon's death-blow," cried Richard. "So I told her," replied Nicholas "but she continued inflexible. 'I am born to be the cause of misery to others, and most to those I love most, she said; 'but I cannot fly from justice. There is no escape for me."
"Deliver me up without more ado, I pray you, Nicholas," said the lady. "You know my resolution on that point, madam," he replied, "and, therefore, it is idle to attempt to shake it. For your daughter's sake, if not for your own, I will save you, in spite of yourself. You would not fix a brand for ever on Alizon's name; you would not destroy her?" "I would not," replied the wretched lady.
"I have reasons for this counsel, which I will afterwards explain to you. And do you keep silence on the subject, Dorothy." "May I not tell Richard?" said the young lady. "Not Richard not any one," returned Mistress Nutter, "or you may seriously affect Alizon's prospects." "You have cautioned me in time," cried Dorothy, "for here comes my brother with our cousin Nicholas."
"Calm yourself, sweet child. Let us think of other things of our newly discovered relationship. Henceforth, to me you are Millicent Nutter; though to others you must still be Alizon Device. My sweet Millicent," she cried, embracing her again and again. "Ah, little little did I think to see you more!" Alizon's fears were speedily chased away.
But other terrors were added to Alizon's natural dread of the elemental warfare. Again she fancied the two monkish figures, which had before excited her alarm, moved, and even shook their arms menacingly at her. At first she attributed this wild idea to her overwrought imagination, and strove to convince herself of its fallacy by keeping her eyes steadily fixed upon them.
And as she spoke a turn in the alley showed Richard and Nicholas Assheton advancing towards them. A strange revolution had been produced in Alizon's feelings by the events of the last half hour. The opinions expressed by Dorothy Assheton, as to her birth, had been singularly confirmed by Mother Chattox; but could reliance be placed on the old woman's assertions?
When the company from the Abbey drew near the troop of revellers, the usher taking Alizon's hand in the tips of his fingers as before, strutted forward with her to Sir Ralph and his lady, and falling upon one knee before them, said, "Most worshipful and honoured knight, and you his lovely dame, and you the tender and cherished olive branches growing round about their tables, I hereby crave your gracious permission to present unto your honours our chosen Queen of May."
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