Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 107: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

)4 ference on the part of her mistress, to serve up a better dinner than usual in the domesties’ apart- ment. Lady Calanthe had never before visited the Lodge ; and therefore it was unknown what sort of a person she was—whether handsome or ugly— amiable or the reverse,—whether she resembled her sister, or afforded a pleasmg contrast. Her very age was likewise a matter of doubt, although it was certain. that she must be many years: younger than Lady Georgiana. Not that my fellow-servants displayed any particular anxiety upon these points: for the conjectures to which I heard them give utterance, were very few and ex- pressed feebly and timidly. I myself however did experience some curiosity; because I felé assured that on the character and disposition of the expected visitress, would in a great measure de- pend the spirit and the duration of those gaieties which, heaven knows! were so much needed to dispel the soul-deadening gloom in which I had now for nearly three months lived at Myrtle Lodge. It was between four and five o’clock in the-after- noon, that a travelling carriage with post-horses dashed up to the front door of the house. John Robert and myself were promptly in attendance : Mr.Tiverton, Lady Georgiana, and Miss Dakin, like- wise came forth to receive the visitress. Then from the carriage descended a handsome, well-dressed, smart-looking maid, whose age might be about five-and-twenty; and next a lady, muffled in furs, placed a hand on the abigail’s shoulder and lightly tripped forth from the vehicle. The first glimpse that I obtained of her countenance by the light of the hall-lamp, showed me that it was exceedingly beautiful; while the figure, even though encum- bered with its piles of winter clothing, was charac- terized by elegance and grace. With a gushing enthusiasm which at once gaye me an insight into her heart, she flew towards: her sister, whom she embraced affectionately: then in the most affable manner she gave her hand to Mr. Tiverton—and when introduced to Miss Dakin, shook hands with her also. Presently, when the dinner was served ~ up and I was in attendance, I had a full oppor- tunity to make further observations in respect to Lady Calanthe Dundas. MHerage did not exceed eighteen ; and, as. before said, she was-exceedingly beautiful. A cloud of the darkest, glossiest hair threw into bright and brilliant contrast the fair countenance which it enframed. She had a purely classic profile,—the straight nose joiming the fore- head with only the slightest indentation. The upper lip was short and curved; and whatsoever haughtiness of expression this feature would have otherwise imparted, was almost entirely mitigated by the sweetness of the smile which sat wpon that coral mouth and which irradiated the entire face. Her eyes were large and dark: she had naturally but little colour on the cheeks—this however was now heightened by the cold frosty air through which she had travelled, and by the gay excite- ment produced by change of scene. In figure she was tall and slender—but admirably formed: while the statuesque carriage of the head and bust—the beauty of this bust—and the fine slope of the shoulders, would have constituted an exquisite model for a sculptor or a painter. There appeared to be no affectation, no aristocratic nonsense about this young lady: affable in manners, frank in JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. speech, ingenuous in looks—with a certain becom- ing modesty spread over all—she was a being as yet unspoilt by the dissipations of London life,— in the same way too that her beauty was as yet undimmed and the bloom of her charms unfaded by the heated atmosphere of gilded saloons, The lady’s-maid, whose Christian name was Charlotte, has already been glanced at as a hand- some smart-looking young woman. I may now add that she was of gay disposition —fond of laughing and talking—but without harm or mis- chief in her manner or disposition. She was ex- ceedingly good-natured; and when she found what sort of persons she had to associate with at Myrile Lodge, she seemed to set herself to work in good earnest to infuse a little more cheerfulness into them. I at once became a favourite with her, because I ventured to converse somewhat more openly and frankly than did my fellow-servants. ~ She jested with John Robert on his rueful looks, though these were now cheerfulness itself in com- parison with what they were wont to be; and he condescended to smile at her remarks, instead of being angry: for indeed, it was scarcely possible for even the most churlish soul to feel offended with the good-natured chattering and bantering of Charlotte the lady’s-maid. * Well,” she exclaimed, before she had been an hour in the place, “ you people seem excessively dull,—buried, as you are, in this out-of-the-way rural nook: but there is no reason’ why you should not make the best of cireumsiances. one candle! Fie! I cannot possibly sit im the dark, Come, cook—let us have another. Oh! your mistress does not allow two candles—eh? Well, we shall see about that. me from a scolding. Now, let me have a nice cup of tea—very strong. Oh, that will not do at all! What? two spoonfuls of tea for half-a-dozen people! Here, let me put it in. One spoonful for each individual, and one for the pot—that makes seyen. Now, my dear creature,” she con- tinued, speaking to the housemaid, “don’t think of cutting bread-and-butter like that: it would strain one’s jaws to open them to such a width. Here, let me cut it thin, with plenty of but- ter.” As she thus went rattling on in her gocd- humoured way,—and without the slightest affec- tation, or what may be termed giving herself “ airs,’ —she suited her actions to her words. She lighted another candle: she almost emptied the tea-caddy into the pot, thus consuming at least three days’ supply for one meal: and she then began cutting the bread-and-butter according to her own liking. I looked on with unconcealed delight. at these daring innovations: my fellow- servants with a sort of blank consternation. It soon became evident that Miss Charlotte under- stood what sort of persons the Tivertons were, aud how the domestics had become modelled, body and soul, to the influences of a rigid discipline and a stern parsimony. WNorless was it apparent that she resolved, to the utmost of her power, to put things upon a better footing. “Now, don’t look so sadly frightened,” she went on to say, sweeping her laughing and roguish blue eyes around: “I tell you to throw all the blame upon me. Depend upon it, Lady Georgiana What ? only You can throw all the blame upon me; and Lady Calanthe will save ES A Se —_—---=—- Se + > ST oF EOOO) KS, (0)