Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

nn no tne ee 102 JOSEPH WILMOT ; pressively towards us, “that I apprehend for a moment such a course will result in any discovery prejudicial to yourselves: but under circumstances, it is the best to be pursued ;—and on the part of my own attendant Charlotte, who has gone to Exeter, I readily consent to such examination.” “The very thing that I should like,” said John Robert: “’eos why, I want to acquit myself. As for purlining the plate, ’'d scorn such a haction !” he added, his indignant feelings for 4 moment ren- dering him excited: and then he composed himself with a grunt. We all expressed a similar readiness to have our boxes examined; and Mr. Tiverton, begeing the ladies to remain in the parlour, was about to isstie forth, when Lady Georgiana insisted on accom- panying him,—asserting that she was the head of the domestic department of the household; and in corroboration thereof, she appealed to Miss Dakin. The toady had not however time to give a reply, ere Mr. Tiverton said in a peremptory manner, “ This is an affair too serious to be trifled with: it is my command that you remain here !” Lady Georgiana ejaculated, ** Did you ever ?”— to which Miss Dakin responded, “ No, I never ;?— and Lady Calanthe addressed herself to the task of pacifying them both. Mx. Tiverton thus gained the victory in this last little domestic squabble; and issuing from the room, was followed by us servants. Not a word was spoken as we all ascended to the highest storey; and the cook’s attic being first, was first to be examined. But as Mr. Tiver- ton was about to enter, 1t evidently struck bim that there was something indelicate in his prose- euting this search in the females’ chambers: so he bade the lady’s-maid hasten down stairs and tell Miss Dakin to come up immediately. The errand was speedily accomplished; and the toady made her appearance. Whlnle My. Tiverton and the ser- vants all remained in the passage, Miss Dakin searched the boxes and the drawers in the cook’s room : she evenexamined the bedding and between the mattresses. The result was completely satis- factory. The lady’s-maid’s and the housemaid’s chambers were next s¢rutinized in a similar man- ner, and with a similar result: then came John Robert’s room, which Was searched by Mr. Tiverton —and equally without the discovery of cither lost ring or missing plate. The chamber occupied by Charlotte Murray was then entered by Miss Dakin : the box was found to be open, and the result of the search proved to be as satisfactory as the former ones. My chamber, which was at the end of the passage, was the last to be examined; and it was again Myr. Tiverton’s turn to institute the search. As a matter of course, I felt perfectly easy as to what the issue would be, and I was wondering to myself how the lost objcets could have so mysteriously disappeared,—when an ejagn- lation bursting from My. Tiverton’s lips, made us all rush into the room from the passage, where we had remained grouped together. From be- tween the mattresses he produced the plate, wrapped up in paper, and tied round with a string ! I felt like one annihilated. A dizziness seized upon my brain: the blood turned cold at my very heart’s core; and I staggered back as if about to faint. I remember that such ejaculations as, “ O a PO i le ce ee Ne ee OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. Sr ee a _eooorer eo —— - —- Joseph!” “Wicked boy!” “Who (SOMALI thought it?” fell confusedly upon nry ears: but I cowld not distinguish from whose lips respectively each successive reproach and upbraiding fell. For nearly a minute I was as one dying; it seemed as if all sense of life were ebbing away. But sud- denly a horrible cicearness seized upon my mind : J was startled up to a keen and vivid comprciien- sion of the dreadful circumstances in which I was placed: and the flush of outraged innocence glow- ing upon my face, which, as TL afterwards learnt, had at first turned so ashy pale, I exelanned, “ No, sir! Tam ineapable of such a thing! It is some hideous conspiracy to effect my ruin ! ? While thus speaking, I swept my eyes around upou all those present; and as iny looks settled again on My. Tiverton, I saw that he was stern and decided—that my vehement repudiation was not believed—and that he was determined to go to extremitics. As for my fellow-domesties, thoir countenanees manifested surprise and dismay ; while Miss Dakin also looked pyofoundly aston- ished; and even amidst the whirl of my tortured feelings, I could not help observing at the moment that her features expressed no malignant satisfac- tion nor spiteful triumph at tho sudden ignominy into which I was plunged. “The ring! where is» the ring, manded Mr. Tiverton. ‘Come, will do yourself no good _ “Sir,” I interrupted him, with passionate velie- mence, “I have nothing to confess. <As there is a God above me, I am innocent! I would sooner starve than commit such a deed! Circumstanees may be against me to me they are utterly in- comprehensible * Wnougch, is the most wretched of sophistry.” Thus speaking, he quickly turned towards the bed again, and resumed his search between the mattresses. Another ejaculation escaped Ins lps as he drew forth a tiny paper-packet ; and opening it, displayed the lost ring. “Oh, Joseph!” said John Robert, shaking his head most ruefully. “Into what a sad serape might you have got us all!”’—and ho gave his wonted half-erunt, half-groan. “Down to the parlour with him!” voeiferated Mr. Tiverton: and as he seized me by one arin, John Robert clutched me by the other. “Tam innocent! “God knows that I am inno- eent !” I exclaimed, now bursting into tears: for it was horrible to be thus deemed and treated as a felon, while having within my’own heart the full consciousness of freedom from guilt. de- sa !—you Joseph ?” ecoute 99 CHAPTER XXIII. THE COACH-HOUSE. I was hurried down to the parlour; and the mo- ment the door was thrown open, Lady Goorgiana and her sister Calanthe both uttered ejaculations of astonishment to see me thus thrust forward in a manner which naturally smote them with the conviction that I was the culprit. I saw that Lady Calanthe was perfectly astounded-—incredu- lous even of what she herself beheld: while it was sir!” ejaculated, My. Tiverton: “ this OOO) <5) (Cc (CO) AA