He entered one of the upstair rooms. This was a prodigiously large apartment. In it were a number of beds, which were occupied by Miss Chickleberry’s scholars.
Peace was quite enraptured with the galaxy of sleeping beauties which suddenly met his view.
Young ladies, ranging from the ages of twelve to sixteen, were peacefully slumbering in the grand old bedchamber. Some of them were of a rare order of beauty, but all looked so calm, so gentle, and so innocent, that even the callous heart of the burglar was touched.
Here lay a girl whose glossy, raven tresses fell over a polished shoulder as if in sport—the sleeper was a brunette; in the next bed to her was a blonde, with light brown hair and an alabaster skin; beyond these were fair young creatures of different types, some with thin regular features, which were almost statuesque in their outline, others with full, round faces, in which sat the rosy hue of health.
Our hero was an admirer of beauty, especially when it referred to the opposite sex to his own; but it would not do to fall into a reverie over the display of fascinating creatures before him.
He observed several gold watches on the little tables beside the beds, and to gather these up was the first consideration.
He went to the first table, took the watch from its stand, and slid it into his pocket.
Then he crept on to the next and possessed himself of that, and so on till he had ten or a dozen watches in his pocket.
Having effected this he turned round and made for the door. Just as he was about reaching this he was astounded at beholding the large round eyes of a young girl, of about eleven or twelve, gazing full into his own.
She did not utter a word or even attempt to move. As he passed her bed she murmured “oh,” in almost a whisper.