Then our ’prentices made up for the silence of those of the Bridge; and this time the gamester offered not so much as a shoe lace.
For all that, I must clear the bar, if I was to make good my challenge; and I drew a long breath as I stood a moment and glanced round.
Yes. Her eyes of blue were on me, her lips were the least bit parted, and a glow of expectation was in her cheeks.
So I took my run and cleared the bar, with an inch to spare.
Then, as I heard nothing of the shouts which yet deafened me, and durst not so much as raise my eyes, the cheery alderman’s voice cried:
“So Master Dexter hath won the high jump. See if he also win the broad. Clear away there, and stand back, good people, to give our brave lads fair play.”
When I took courage at last to look up, I saw a sight which made the blood in my veins tingle.
She stood still where she was; but next to her had squeezed himself a smirking gallant, bravely bedizened, who looked round impudently into her face, and whispered something in her ear.
To me it seemed as if at first she was heedless of his presence, then, hearing him, she turned upon him a startled gaze, and, flushing angrily, moved a scornful pace away.
This I saw, while the alderman was saying—