Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 191: what you’re looking at

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

Lars JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. eyes—a classic profile—slender and symmetri- | cal shape. The father seemed more afflicted than stern—the son more sternly severe than afilicted. No doubt he felt much: but it was evident that a feeling of pride as well as of the liveliest indignation, prevented him from betray- ing his sorrow more than he could help. They both surveyed me with an earnest attention the instant I made my appearance; and I could not help thinking at the moment of the similitude of this scene to that which had taken place some time back at Cheltenham. Theré was however this grand and material difference—that in the mansion of the unknown noblemen at Cheltenham, I was innocently accused; whereas here I was but too guilty ! ' “ And you aré Joseph Wilmot !” said Calanthe’s brother, he being the first to break silence : and he averted his ‘looks with an expression of illimitable scorn, as much as to imply how boundless was his wonder that his sister could have bestowed her affections on a youth in a ménial garb. . “You do not know who wWé are, young man ?” said the old nobleman: “ because we are passing under feigned names heré—and therefore the waiter who fetched you, could have told you nothing.” “True! The waiter has told me nothing,” I said, “beyond that I was wanted here :’—for if I had admitted yy knowledgé of those in whose presence I stood, it might havé léd to thé discovery that Calanthe had sent that secrétly writtén billet. “ But does your constience siggest nothing ?” inquired the old nobleman, his voice quivering with emotions: then suddenly regaining his firm- ness, he added with an accéss of hauteur, “I am the Earl of Mandeville; and this is one of my sons—Lord Hubért Dundas.” IT bowed as if in betoming acknowledgment of these introductions ; and though there was now another interval of silence for a few moments— during which both thé noblemen again surveyed me with an earnest scrutiny—I did not lose my presence of mind, nor fall into confusion. I felt how neces- sary it was to preserve my self-possession, in order to pass through the coming ordeal without the risk of betraying Lady Calanthe. “Now that you know who we are—if you did not really suspect it before,” said Lord Hubert, breaking silence in his turn, “you can probably guess why you have been sent for. By heaven, sirrah ! it would take but little to make me wreak such a vengeance upon you that you should carry the marks thereof to your grave.” “ My lord,” I answered, feeling that this was the best opportunity to say something which should at once ease their minds on a particular point,— and I must confess that I spoke and looked with so matchless an effrontery that I afterwards thought of it in amazement,—* I am unable to reproach myself with anything which should deserve such an outrageous menace on your part.” “If this be really true,” said the old nobleman, quivering with nervous excitement, “we could for- give you much of all that has passed !” “ My lord, it is true!” I rejoined in the same firmness of tone as before, and my looks not quail- ing beneath his own. “ Come hither, Joseph Wilmot—draw near me,” said the Earl of Mandeville. “There!” he added, as he placed me so that the light of the candles should fall full upon my countenance: “now re- peat what you have said—that you have spoken the truth, and that my infatuated daughter can look her parent in the face without blushing!” “If, my lord, Lady Calanthe Dundas has already done so,” I answered firmly and resolutely, “it is that innocence sustained her. Now hear me, my lord!” I went on to exclaim more rapidly, for I feared to be any longer subjected to the ordeal to which my countenance was put beneath the keen searching looks fixed upon me by both father and son. “That I have been the object of your daughter’s love, I do not attempt to deny: that we —perhaps in a strange infatuation—looked forward to a time when our hands might be joined in mar- riage * “ Marriage with such as you!” ejaculated Lord Hubert scornfully. “Silence!” said the Earl of Mandeville: “the youth speaks fairly enough. We have sent for him, and he has a right to be heard. But tell me, Joseph Wilmot—do you really, in your serious moments, expect that such a wild idea can ever be realized ?” “No, my lord!—frankly spéaking, I do not,” was my response, “after the incidents which have now occurred.” The Earl of Mandeville’s countenance brightened up visibly, and he said, “ You appear to be a young man of intelligence. Your own good sense is there- fore sufficient to make you aware of the terrible impropriety of which my daughter has been guilty. I believe you- you assure mé that her honour is untarnished! Good heavens, it were impossible to imagine the contrary! No, no—I believe you! But see what she has done. Her home has been abandoned :— for weeks and weeks her family has’ been plunged into the most dreadful apprehensions on her ac- count ; and it was only because our suspicions were directéd by antecedent circumstances into the right channel, that we were enabled to obtain a clue which has at last brought us to the place where she lived concealed under another name. Indeed it was only yesterday we ascertained that on quit- ting her home, she took a lodging in some street in Camden Town,—where she received letters bearing the Ryde post-mark. Her brother and myself hastened hither—we met her in the street-——” “ What is the use, father, of giving the lad all these details ?” ejaculated Lord Hubert impatiently. “T have my motives,” responded the Earl, gently but firmly. “In a word, young man, nothing as yet is known prejudicial to my daugh- ter’s character. The world believes that she is again on a visit to her sister in Devonshire: the few to whom the mystery of her disappearance is really known, will not make it the subject of scan- dal. Now then, I appeal to you—I implore you as the father of that infatuated girl—I ask you as one who will forgive you all the past—to lend your aid in saving her from a fatal exposure!” _ “ Cheerfully, my lord, shall that aid be given!” I exclaimed; “and as you speak to me in these terms, I should be a wretch and a villain not to second your views to the best of my power.” “The young man has his proper feelings, Hubert,” said the Earl of Mandeville, flinging a look upon his son: then again addressing himself to me, he went on to observe, “You can do God knows I believe you, when- COmicooolks im (CO)