Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

| | | 162 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOTRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. “ Decide quickly—for I am impatient !” said the young nobleman: and the pistol was levelled at my head. “One word, Eugene!” interrupted the old nobleman: “one word! Let your sister come hither. We will then see whether in her presence, this young man will refuse to do her justice P” *“Yes—he shall have this last chance,” cried the son, whose Christian name I had now heard men- tioned for the first time. “But do you go and | seemed to understand what I meant = fetch her, father—while I remain here to guard * Recollect, my lord,’ I at once replied, “that “Who are you? and why were you at against his escape.” you merely bade me accompany you x that spot at that time?’ demanded the young nobleman, now fiercely and impatiently turning once more towards me. “My name is Joseph Wilmot,” I answered; “and it was accident which led me to the place where I met you.” * Accident ?” he echoed, eyeing me with the keenness of suspicion. “ But how was that? You The old nobleman accordingly quitted the room ; “No! I adjured you by her, and in the name of and he was absent about three minutes. During | that fatal love which she bore you this interval not a syllable was spoken by either! “Ah, I recollect!” I exclaimed. “But frankly Eugene or myself. He stood ata little distance, } speaking, there was some little coincidence—of eyeing me narrowly, so as to anticipate any move- | which however I shall not breathe another word: ment on my part which might tend to flight, or to | for it is my secret, and you have no right to pene- an attack upon himself; and his weapon, though | trate it. I know not even who you are—I know now pointed downward, was evidently in readiness | not your father’s name: never in my life had I to be raised in the twinkling of an eye. I leant | seen your sister until within the last few minutes !” against the wall, by the side of the immense picture | Eugene looked perfectly bewildered: still he which reached to within two feet of the ceiling and | eyed me suspiciously ; and then he paced to and to an equal distance from the carpet,—while a/| froin a very agitated manner. The door opened thousand distracting thoughts swept wilderingly | again: and his father re-appeared. At the same through my brain. How was all this to end? was | instant there was a gentle tapping at the class- I to be forced into a marriage with Lady Calanthe, | door; and Eugene hurried thither. He went and thus see my hope of some day or another | forth: he was scarcely a minute absent; and then espousing Annabel, annihilated in an instant? | he re-entered the room. I had no difficulty in But would Calanthe herself consent to such an; guessing that it was the clergyman who had aliiance—an alliance forced at the pistol’s muzzle? | knocked, and whom Eugene doubtless informed Oh, no! I knew the generosity of her heart—lI | that his services were not required—at least on knew the pride of her spirit—and as I reflected | the present occasion. in a more tranquil manner upon the decision to | “What is the meaning of all this ?” demanded which she was certain to eome, my fortitude rose ‘the old nobleman: “what signifies the mystery ? again. | Who is this youth? how originated the mistake ?” The door opened—the old nobleman re-appeared, | “He says that his name is Wilmot,” Eugene leading in a young lady whose looks were bent | hastened to answer. “He declares that it was by downward, and even of whose figure I could not | accident he was at the spot where I expected to immediately catch an accurate or precise view, | meet another——” inasmuch as she entered from the fartherextremity| “Ah!” I suddenly exclaimed, as a reminiscence of the spacious apartment, which at that end was | struck me: “that individual who appeared for a involved in deep gloom. She advanced half- | moment at the same place and then disappeared so clinging to her father’s arm: slowly they came | abruptly on observing us.” forward; but as she thus gradually approached “True!” cried Eugene: “it must have been he! within the sphere of the candle-light, the amazing, | Father, it is indeed but too evident that a fearful, overwhelming, astounding idea arose in my mind $a terrible mistake has occurred.” that it was not Calanthe whom I beheld before me!| “And if your lordships had permitted me to An ejaculation of wonderment burst from my lips: | explain,” I hastened to interject, “ you would have the young lady raised her eyes with asudden start: been spared this exposure—you of a daughter, and her countenance was now fully revealed to me—it | you of a sister:”’—and I glanced from the one to was a lovely one, but saddened and care-worn, as the other as I spoke. “But you were violent— well as very pale; and instead of the raven hair’ you were imperious—you were peremptory 54 and the dark eyes of Lord Mandeville’s daughter, “ Ah, young man!” cried the old nobleman, “if glossy auburn bands enframed the marble fore- | you were acquainted with all the circumstances, you head, and her startled surprise and horror were ex- | would not wonder at our conduct !” pressed from large blue orbs. A shriek rang forth | « Acquainted with the circumstances?’ echoed from her lips; and she would have fallen, had not | Eugene bitterly: “has he not obtained a far too her father sustained her in his arms. profound insight into them? What is to be “ What mean you, Gertrude ?” he exclaimed in done?” | astonishment. | “Tell us who you are,” said the father, trembling “And what mean you?’ demanded Eugene, | with excitement, humiliation, and annoyance, as he addressing the query with equal wonderment to | spoke: ‘“ where do you live? to what family do you me. belong? what is your station in life? Tell us “Tt is not he! itis not he! It isa stranger!” | everything!” responded the young lady, in an agonizing yoice,| ‘ Were the circumstances, my lord, other than to her father’s question. “Oh, the shame! the| what they are,” I answered, “I should perhaps exposure !” decline to be thus minutely catechized after the “Bear her away, father!’ ejaculated Eugene: | treatment I have received. But I make every and the old man hurried his daughter from the | allowance; and deeply, deeply do I regret that a Coommiclooolks