Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 243: what you’re looking at

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

230 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. eee een en nn eee a Se eee —eeeee——————_——_—_—_——_—_—_—_—_———_—___—_____—— rimmed, “Tt’s just that,” said the Dominiea “ Of course it’s the duty of the tutor to exhibit all possible at- tentions ; and if it weren’t that Miss Emmeline would rather the thing should not be mentioned, I should consider it incumbent on me to inform the Chief of Mr. Stuart’s readily administered good offices.” | We entered the boat; and during the transit, Miss Vennachar looked pensive as well as grieved. Methought, too, that mingled with that expres- sion, there was a certain sense of humiliation ; and I concluded that it arose even more from the fact of having been compelled to utter a few falsehoods to the Dominie, than from the circumstance that I was acquainted with the secret of her love for the humble tutor. We reached the opposite jetty, and bent our way to the castle—which we reached some time before the return of Lennox Vennachar, as he had to make a long circuit, so as to round the extremity of the loch and enter the Inch by way of the isthmus. On the following day, when I happened to meet Mr. Stuart in the afternoon, as he was leaving the castle at the usual hour, he stopped and spoke to me in the kindest manner. His demeanour to- wards me had always been most affable and con- descending : but now there was a positive friend- liness in it. JI rather wondered at this; for I could not conceive that during the day he had founda any opportunity of speaking alone to Miss Vennachar—so that I did not think it was from her lips he had received the assurance that I was not a spy upon their actions, but a friend secretly serving them according to my humble capacity. But then, perhaps, he gave me credit for this; and inasmuch as he had heard nothing said at the castle of the previous day’s adventure in the lane, it was natural he should conclude that I had kept it secret and that the Dominie had been cajoled over into silence. These were the conjectures with which I ac- counted for his exceeding friendliness. towards me. CHAPTER XLV. THE EXCURSION. Upwakps of two months passed without any in- cident worthy of mention. Lennox Vennachar became far more assiduous towards his fair cousin than he ever was previous to the awakening of his jealousy. He rode out with her—he accom- panied her in her walks—he went with her to the village-school: and during this entire interval, she never once had an opportunity of proceeding alone, or attended by me only, to Methglin. It was generally understood likewise that the marriage was to take place between Lennox and Emmeline in the early part of December; and as it was now the beginning of September, a period of three months alone remained for the evolvement of cir- cumstances that should decide the young lady’s fate. I trembled for her—and I pitied her: I felt deeply likewise for Mr. Stuart,—at the same time wonderime whether they entertained any hopes, and if so, to what intentions they might lead. ee ee ee Methought that Emmeline’s cheeks erew paler, and that a certain degree of pensiveness was deepen- ing in her looks: methought also that Mr. Stuart had at times a desponding air—at other moments that he seemed excited—and he was assuredly often abstracted; for I had frequent opportunities of judging, inasmuch as whenever accident threw me in his way, he invariably stopped to speak. During the period which I have described as thus elapsing since the last occurrences at the village, there had been numerous guests at the castle: but now, at the beginning of September, the spacious mansion was once more compara- tively quiet again. One morning, the weather being supremely beautiful in that autumn season, the Chief decided upon a boating excursion to the extremity of the loch. The state-barge was ordered to be manned with its twelve rowers: the whole family was to proceed on the trip. Mr. Stuart was to go to take charge of Ivor and Lochiel: Cameron and I were to be in attendance to serve the cold collation, which was to be par- taken of in a tent to be erected in some convenient spot. It was about ten o’clock in the morning when we set off. The Chief and the Dominie, Lennox and Emmeline, Mr. Stuart with Ivor and Lochiel, occupied the cushioned seats in the splendid barge: Cameron and I were placed a little nearer to the stern, but so close to the Chief — and his family that we could not avoid overhear- ing all their conversation. This was the first time since I had been at Inch Methglin, that I had ever seen Donald Stuart in company with the whole of the family; and I knew full well that the position of the two lovers must be awkward and embar- rassing enough. They dared not exchange a single ‘glance of tenderness: they must study all their words and looks; and what was more galling still, Emmeline was compelled to receive the attentions of her cousin Lennox, whilst Stuart was equally constrained to sit by and behold what thus passed. “The weather is superb, and the country every- where looks beautiful,” observed the Chief, thus breaking a pause which had ensued in the conver- sation: and as he spoke, he cast his eyes slowly around with the proud satisfaction of one who felt that all he looked upon of hill and dale, grove and forest, mansion, villages, and homesteads, was his own. “A fairer scene than this,” he con- tinued, “the Highlands cannot afford.” “No—it is superb!” remarked Lennox, like- wise gazing around with the prideful aspect of one who knew that all he looked upon was destined to be his inheritance. “The domain is vast: but if circumstances prove favourable, it may yet be larger.” “And larger it shall be,” said the Chief, who penetrated the meaning of his son’s words, “if there be an opportunity of purchasing any of the lands of Carrondale. By the bye, Mr. Stuart,” he added, turning towards the tutor, “ I know you always read the newspapers very carefully: have you seen anything in them of late, respecting the Carrondale lawsuit P” “‘ Nothing of any consequence, Inch Methgln,” replied Donald: and then he added, after. a few moments, “except what you yourself know—that the case will come finally before the law-courts in the month of October.” LANES ATT RS RIE O-PS ec aes > aS RRS eonnicbooks (CO) im