Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

JOSEPH WILMOT$ OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. that the enemy had no intention of renewing his attack,—and joyfully perceiving that he had not, but that he was now standing quiet at the farther extremity of the field—I got Lady Calanthe over the stile; and not caring to trouble myself for a single moment about Lady Georgiana, I supported her beautiful sister in my arms,—calling upon her to open her eyes, and speak: for I knew not what other means to adopt in order to recover her. She soon began to revive; and as she did open her eyes, she glanced in wild terror around,—the first idea which returning consciousness brought, being evidently the last one that was in her mind as she fainted. “ Your ladyship is safe,” I said, still holding her in my arms as I sat on the step of the stile. “You are out of danger—there is nothing to fear !” She closed her eyes, as if to enjoy the luxury of _ this sense of life to which she awoke in security ; and as IL gazed down upon her countenance, I perceived the tint of the rose coming back to the cheeks which a few moments before were so pale. A smile, too, began to play upon her lips—but faintly : and yet it was a smile—perceptible, though so faint! Again she opened her eyes—her bosom heaved with a long-drawn sigh—and as she slowly raised herself up, she said in a soft tremulous voice, “ Joseph, how was this? Am I indebted to you for my life P” “T had the satisfaction of saving your ladyship,” was my answer. * But how? and are you yourself altogether un- hurt ?” she asked, taking my hand—pressing it— and gazing upon me with an expression of tender- ness ineffably sweet. * T sustained no injury, I can assure your lady- ship. My hat and my kerchief were my weapons, with which I frightened off the monster. But my mistress !”—and I pointed to Lady Georgiana. “ Heavens! and I had neglected her!’ ejacu- lated Lady Calanthe. “Help me, Joseph, to raise her up.” I did so: and Lady Georgiana speedily began to revive. At this moment a gentleman-farmer, who lived in the neighbourhood, came running up to the spot; and seizing me by the hand, he shook it in the heartiest manner,—exclaiming, “I saw it all! You are the bravest youth that ever was! I would not have done it myself on any account !”— then addressing himself to Lady Calanthe, he said, “You may thank this noble-hearted lad for being alive at this instant. You don’t know all he did for you—the fearful risk he ran! He rushed up to the very points of the bull’s horns, as gallantly as the brute itself was careering along madly. It was a horrible sight—but a glorious one! Yes, he is the bravest lad I ever set eyes upon!” Lady Calanthe bent upon me a look full of the tenderest gratitude: there seemed indeed to be loye in that look. If I had been her equal, and if my heart were disengaged, I should have been jus- tified in regarding it as an avowal. Lady Georgiana was now enabled to regain her feet ; and her sister informed her of what I had done. The good- hearted farmer burst forth into a fresh ebullition of praises, so warm and glowing that they made me blush for very shame at hearing myself thus eulogized. Lady Calanthe expressed her gratitude in a few words—but these were uttered in a low | a a an re eee 119 deep tone, and contrasted greatly with the com- paratively cold expressions which Lady Georgiana condescended to vouchsafe. The gentleman-farmer offered to escort the two ladies back to the Lodge, —intimating that as they must doubtless feel weak and feeble after the fright they had endured and the swoon through which they had passed, they would like to lean upon his arms. Lady Calanthe bade me come with them, that I might have a glass of wine after my own exhausting exertions: but I answered that I had a letter to take for Mr. Tiver- ton, and must proceed on my errand. I was about to climb over the stile, intending to skirt the hedge of the field in which the enemy roamed at large,— when Lady Calanthe, catching me by the arm, ex- claimed, “ No, Joseph! you must not go that way! It is sheer madness! I beseech and implore you not to do so!” *T will not, in that case, my lady,” was my an- swer: and as I descended the steps of the stile, I again noticed that she bent upon me that look of tenderness which was so ineffably sweet and ap- peared to reflect the feelings of the heart. I hastened away to take another path,—while the two ladies, leaning on the gentleman-farmer’s. arms, repaired in the direction of the Lodge. I saw Lady Calanthe look back; and I felt that I was the object of the sincerest gratitude on her part. On I sped towards the house where I had to deliver the letter : no answer was needed—and I retraced my way homeward. On arriving at the Lodge, the first person I met was Charlotte, who came rushing out of the domestics’ room the in- stant she saw me enter the back-yard. “You noble fellow!” she exclaimed, in a tone full of heartfelt enthusiasm; “you have risked your life for my beloved mistress! O Joseph, you are a perfect hero !” “The days of knight-errantry and Quixotism are gone by, Charlotte,” I answered, with a smile: “or else possibly it might be said I had encoun- tered some dreadful enchanter in the form of a bull, and whose magic spells were dissipated by the talisman of a red handkerchief.” “You good-for-nothing boy,” she exclaimed, “how can you afford to laugh after the terrific danger to which you were exposed? Do you know—but of course you do—that there was a moment when your life was not worth so much as a single blade of the grass where the incident oc- curred? The gentleman who came home with the ladies, said so. But Lady Calanthe is in the drawing-room ; and she desired me to tell you that the moment you came in, you were to go up to her: for she feels that she has not yet thanked you sufficiently.” “ And Lady Georgiana—does she feel the effects of her fright ?” “She has gone to bed very ill—and Mr. Tiver- ton has set off himself to Exeter for adoctor. He thought he could run quicker than John Robert. But pray go up to the drawing-room at once: for Lady Calanthe positively ordered that you were not to delay a minute.” * You are coming too, Charlotte P” I said. “IT coming too? No such thing! Go quick, Joseph—and don’t stand chattering here. Lady Calanthe possesses a good heart, and is in haste to acquit herself, as speedily as she can, of the debt of gratitude which she owes you that is to say, Eloo cS (c@) im