Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 227: what you’re looking at

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

214: JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE sadness which was nevertheless visible to any one who understood what the heart’s true love was, when cheered not by hope. And I understood- it ! One afternoon, at the expiration of the week, I was summoned to the drawing-room, where Miss Vennachar and the Chief were seated—and where the Dominie was dozing in the recess of an open window. ** Miss Vennachar,” said the Chief, “has occa- sion to visit Methglin; and you will proceed in attendance upon her. There is a parcel of new school-books which came from Perth yesterday : you will take it with you.” I bowed and retired. On inquiry of the in- tendant, I received the parcel of school-books—and waited in the hall till Miss Vennachar descended. I followed her to the ferry: we entered the boat ; and in her wonted affable manner—for she had no undue pride—she spoke of the beauty of the weather and the loveliness of the scenery. As IL answered her, methought she gazed upon me with that same kind of half-inclination to put some question which I had before noticed when I oeca- sionally met her in the grounds: but if so, the question itself died unspoken upon her lips. That she was uneasy and restless—sad almost to down- right unhappiness—I had no difficulty in perceiv- ing; but then I knew her secret—and this afforded a clue to that interpretation of her looks which could not have been so read without that know- ledge. We landed—we passed on towards the yillage, I following at a proper distance with the parcel of books under my arm. I looked back, and beheld another boat crossing from the Inch: I recognised in it the person of the handsome young preceptor. Emmeline also glanced back, and in the same di- rection too; but her countenance was quickly averted again—and her pace was hurried, as if in nervous trepidation. Poor girl! I could well un. | derstand what was passing in her mind. If she | had been alone she could have met her lover: but she was followed by one of whom perhaps she did not think it possible to disembarrass herself, even | if she would condescend to make the attempt. We neared the school-house: one of the girls, who was hurrying thither at the moment, received the books from me, and hastened on in advance, Then, with a proper salutation, and with a voice as | calm as my looks, I said, “If you please, Miss, at | what hour is it your command that I should be at the ferry-house to attend you in the boat P” Emmeline could not conceal her amazement at being thus addressed; and the colour mantled vividly upon her cheeks—for it must have naturally struck her at the moment that I knew she had a reason for wishing to be disembarrassed of me. Then she turned as suddenly pale, and trembled visibly, “Why do you ask me this question, Joseph ?” she inquired, in a voice which quivered as did her frame. “Simply, Miss,” was my response, given with | every appearance of unsuspicious frankness, “ be- | cause I thought that you might possibly have some | visits to pay to sick or poor people; and of course you would in that case dispense with my services for the time being.” She looked at me very hard for a few moments, | the Castle full of guests! MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. eee with her beautiful blue eyes; and then with a visi- ble effort, she said, “ The other day, Joseph—when Mr. Vennachar spoke to you so positively, and three or four times too, about having been bidden to attend upon me on that particular occasion— how was it” then she hesitated and blushed “how was it that you did not say you had not been in attendance on me?” “ Because, Miss,” was my prompt answer, “I saw that Inch Methglin wished it to be as he sup- posed it; and it was not for me to tell him the contrary.” Again she surveyed me attentively for a few moments—again blushed and trembled, perhaps with a half-suspicion that I was not exactly sin- cere, or at least truthful in my replies to her. Then, with the sudden resumption of a becoming maidenly dignity, Emmeline Vennachar said, “ Yes —I can dispense with your attendance for one hour. You can then be at the boat-house.” I bowed, and sauntered away asif with a listless indifferent air; and Miss Vennachar entered the school-house. I was careful to take quite a dif- ferent direction from that of the Jane which I: knew to be the trysting-place of the lovers: for it was by no means my purpose to act as the spy upon their proceedings. I retraced my way through the village, towards the ioch, along the shore of which I rambled for about a mile; and then turning back, bent my steps in the direction of the boat-house. But some one was hurrying rapidly along from that point; and as he drew nearer, I recognised Lennox Vennachar. “Ah, Joseph!” he exclaimed: “where is my cousin P where is Miss Vennachar ?” “At the school-house, sir,” I responded boldly, though I had not the slightest doubt that she was elsewhere with the object of her love. “Then hurry you thither,’ cried Lennox, “ and tell Miss Vennachar that numerous friends have just arrived at the Castle No, never mind! [ can go quicker than you!” Thus speaking, Mr. Lennox sped.onward to the village ; and I stood for a few moments irresolute how to act. To fly to the lane and seek Emmeline there, would be at once to prove to herself and Mr. Stuart that I was aware of their secret meet- ings in that spot; and they might possibly take me to be an impertinent spy. But to leave them there with the chance of being discovered by Lennox, if he should speed in search of his cousin, was equally impossible. I knew not how to act; and therefore thought it best to hurry after Lennox into the village, and thus be better pre- pared for any emergency which should arise, and in which I could make myself useful to the cause of the lovers. By the time I reached the school- house, Lennox was issuing forth; and in a hasty manner—though evidently without the slightest ‘suspicion that anything particular was going on in respect to his cousin—he exclaimed, ‘“ Miss Vennachar is not here, Joseph! She only re- mained a few minutes, and left at least three quarters of an hour ago.” “T know, sir,’ was my answer, “that Miss Vennachar had some poor people to visit; and that is the reason I was waiting about until Miss Vennachar was ready to return home.” “How provoking!” exclaimed Lennox; “and But here she comes!” GDoOaks co im