Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

~ 114 LLL LLL LALLA LALLA AL ta iy a si ee ee JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. this one of these days !”—and yet scarcely a minute had elapsed since her ladyship had expressed her wonderment, and had given vent to murmured ejaculations showing how ineffably she was sur- prised. “ Well, Joseph, I am glad you’ve cleared your- self,’ whispered John Robert, sidling up towards me: then, doubtless under the influence of a sud- den emotion of satisfaction, he seized my hand and pressed it; at the same time giving vent to the in- variable half-erunt half-groan which served as an expression of every possible variety of feeling on his part. 3 , “But I was going to say just now,” resumed Lady Georgiana; “that Joseph really ought to be recompensed for all this trouble he has gone through——” “My lady,” I interrupted her, “ the manifesta- tion of my innocence is sufficient 2 “Don’t answer, Joseph—don’t get into that habit of answering! ‘You must and shall be rée- warded :”—and drawing forth her purse she took out eighteen-pence. “ Come, come,” ejaculated Mr. Tiverton; “leave this business tome. I am really sorry, Joseph, all this should have occurred, and I ean’t forget how well you behaved last night in the business of the burglary. Here’s five shillings for you.” | “T thank you, sir,’ was my response; while I felt that my cheeks became crimson; “but I re: quire no money reward. I repeat that the mani- festation of my innocence is a sufficient source of joy to me:’—then approaching Calanthe Dundas; I said, “ The gratitude of a life-time is your lady- ship’s due for the kind, the generous interest you showed in my behalf. I am but a poor humble domestic : but I have my feelings as well as——” I could say no more: my emotions well nigh overpowered me,—especially as at the instant I perceived that Lady Calanthe was gazing upon me with a look so soft, so gentle, so meltitiz, that I could love her as a sister: No doubt the idea which thus flashed to my mind, was very presumptuous and arrogant on my part: but I could not help it, -—and, as I had just observed to her ladyship, the humblest menial has his feelings as well as any other person. I hurried out of the room, accom- panied by Charlotte; and we proceeded together into the garden: for I was anxious to learn from her lips all that occurred to herself, and how she had escaped from the power of Sir Malcolm Wayenham. —S>=_= CHAPTER XXV. CHARLOTTE’S NARRATIVE. BEFORE she entered upon her narrative, I ex- pressed my fervent gratitude for the interest which she likewise had displayed on my behalf: but, good- naturedly cutting me short, she assured me that she was only too glad to have been furnished with the opportunity to make as much atonement as possible for the injurious suspicions she had enter- tained concerning me. She then proceeded to re- cite her adventures :— “You know, Joseph,” she began, “that I went to Exeter yesterday morning to make some pur- nit ee ee — — chases for the cook. when I set off; and I took very nearly an hour in reaching the city: for, as you are aware, I am not much of a walker. Well, I proceeded straight to the grocer’s—bought all the things which the cook wanted—and told the boy that he must take me back to the Lodge in his cart: 1 thing for myself at the linendraper’s; and as the grocer had the parcels to make up, I availed my- self of the interval to do my own little busitiess— intimating that I would return in about a quarter of an hour. when I was accosted by a young and handsomely- dressed gentleman, about three or four-and-twenty years of age—with a dark complexion, and some- what large features. lent stare; whether I was not Miss Smith ?—but It was about ten o’clock I wanted some- I was proceeding along the street, He asked me, with an inso- suspecting this mode of address to be merely an exeuse for getting into conversation with me, I bridled up—flung upon him an indignant look— and endeavoured to pass without making any reply. But his manner all of a sudden altered, and became so respectful that I fancied I had misjtidged him in the first instance. He begged me a thousand pardons if his somewhat abrupt addfess had offended me; but vowed and pro- tested that he thought I was a certain Miss Smith with whom le had some little acquaintatice. I informed him that he was decidedly wrong; for that was not myname. Then he persisted that he had seen me before,—although perhaps he might have made a mistake as to the name; and he spoke so earnestly, as well as with so much appa- rent sincerity, that I really believed him. I there- fore answered him civilly,—repeating my assurance that he was labouring under an error; and not choosing to be seen walking with a gentleman, I hurried my pace. In a few moments he was by my side again; and apologizing for his rudeness in once more approaching me, begged that he might be permitted to cultivate the acquaintance he had thus accidentally formed. He addressed me as ‘my dear young lady:’ I told him that I was no lady—merely an attendant upon one; that there was evidently a very great distinction be- tween his position in society and my own; and that I begged he would leave me at once. He looked very much chagrined, and said something more: but what I did not exactly catch—for I was getting rather alarmed; and quickening my pace, took refuge in the linendraper’s shop. He did not attempt to follow me: but I was so much flurried, that I remained in that shop for nearly half-an-hour,—buying several things I did not want, and looking at others which I had no inten- tion to purchase. At length I recovered my com- posure; and recollecting that the grocer’s cart would be waiting for me, hastened to leave the establishment. On issuing forth, I was again both annoyed and frightened at seemg that young gen- tleman standing at a little distance on the opposite side of the way, and evidently watching for my res appearance. I was half inclined to go back to the linendraper’s—to state how I was molested—and solicit an escort as far as the grocer’s: but I was ashamed to give so much trouble, and shrank front the idea of being thought one who was making 4 mountain of a mole-hill. For it was scarcely pos- sible to conceive that any outrage could be at- tempted at such an hour of the day, in the midst CoOmicaoolks Cc (0)