Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 255: what you’re looking at

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t 24.2 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. Henne a a TT aa Tt a ge ep Besides, as I have already said, he was generous and noble-hearted after his own fashion. How was it possible to resist the frank and manly appeal that had emanated from the lips of Sir Alexander Carrondale? The Chief of Inch Meth- glin took the outstretched hand—the piper’s wild, Highland music instantaneously thrilled forth—-| the brass band struck up—and shouts of welcome pealed from numerous tongues in honour of Sir} Alexander Carrondale. Then, while this was being done, I observed that Sir Alexander advanced to take Emmeline’s hand—while the Chief spoke a few hasty words aside to Lennox. Doubtless:it was to bid his son assume a properly courteous demeanour, and not humiliate himself by any display.of mean and paltry jealousy. Standing where: L was, I could not catch. a climpse of Emmeline’s countenance: but 1 had no: difficulty in divining that she felt assured her love: would be crowned with. happiness, with or without the consent of her uncle and her cousin. But now followed a very interesting scene, and one) which exemplified the goodness:of Sir Alexander Carrondale’s. heart. Lochiel, he exclaimed:in’ a fervid tone, “My dear boys, I am delighted to seeryow again! I have thought of you oftem!”—andihe:embraced them one after the others His kindness experienced.its' reward :: for Ivor and Lochiel both exhibited’ amenthusiastic joy at beholding him whom as:theim=tuter they had loved. “Mr. Clackmannan;’ saidithe Baronet, grasping thé .old Dominie’s: hand; “F ‘amm-glad also. to see that you arevin:as good health:as ever.” “It’s just: that, Sir Alexander;?, replied the Dominie.. “ And now I bethink mej you don’t take snuff: but if you did, here’s a pinch out of a 23. dale. . My friend Saltcoats— “Inch Methglin;” said the Baronet, “permit me to introduce: my friend, Mr.» Duncansby, who has indeed been the kindest and the best. friend that a man in his misfortunes ever hadein this. world.” Greetings were exchanged between»the worthy lawyer and Mr. Vennachar ; and when Duncansby was presented to Emmeline, the young lady at once shook him cordially by the hand. Ah! she was thanking him, by that earnest welcome, for all his goodness towards the object of her heart’s love. Meanwhile Lennox stood somewhat aside, and appeared to be in a state of mind very far from comfortable. The Chief made a signal for the procession to be formed; and he. took Sir Alexander’s arm— evidently for the purpose of leaving Emmeline to the care of Lennox. The procession filed along the road towards the mansion,—on reaching which the Chief and his guests passed through the modern portico, while the domestics continued their way round to the servants’ office. I will pass over all the comments and observa- tions which were now made in the servants’ hall with regard to the astounding revelation which this day had brought forth: namely, that under the guise of a poor tutor the ideutity of Sir Alex- ander Carrondale had been concealed. I hasten on to state that beimg appointed to attend upon Mr. Duncansby, I went up, in the course of the afternoon, to the chamber allotted to this gentle. Turning towards Ivor and}: man, for the purpose of unpacking his trunk. I was in the midst of this employment, when he made his appearance. “Ah! Joseph!” he exclaimed; shaking me heartily by the-hand;: “I am» right glad to see you... “ And I,.sir, congratulate you with the utmost sincerity on the success of the lawsuit.” “ God bless you, young man,” cried the lawyer, “it would: have been enough to make us suspect the justice:of heaven itself if Sir Alexander’s rights had: beem so*:cruelly ignored. Ah! you little sus- pected all: along,” he added with a merry laugh, “who Donald.Stuartiwasse. And. when. you told me at Carrondaleithat there.was a tutor at Inch Meth- glin of thatename, I could scarcely: keep my coun- tenance::ifor E could have told you that I not only knew it before’you. did, but that-I hadiknown him from:hisearliest infancy. I knew likewise that he .was inv love with Miss Vennachars he never had any secrets fromime And by the bye, he has not failed to:tell me how you generously assisted his courtship on:three.or four occasions.” “YT hope;) sir’. I observed, “ that) there* will arise no!difficulty now in the consummation‘of his happiness—L-mean. through an alliance with Miss Vennachar2?. ° “You shall see; young man,’ responded Mr. Duncansby:». “ Why, it is ridiculousito suppose that Emmeline: Vennachar will bend. to the stern will of hervuncle:in a matter’so closely regarding her whole life’s: happiness: or that she will consent to sacrifice herself to: her haughty: cousin,—who, between you: and me;..would prove I think a greater tyrant than. his father.” “And yet. Sir Alexander’s positionat the castle,’ ‘1 said,.‘‘is an embarrassing cne? box presented to me by the Laind:.of Tintosquash-.| “Tittle enough, for a gentleman of his good manners and high intelligence. He will not out- rage the Chief’s hospitality by any marked atten- .tion.to! Emmeline during the few days of his visit : ‘but°on the morning of his departure, he will re- -quest-a private.interview with the Chief, and soli- cit’ Emmeline’s: hand in marriage’ “ And if he be refused?” I said inquiringly. “ He will of course take his departure as if no- thing had happened. Miss Emmeline must then decide what course she will adopt. There is no conjecture as to this. By the bye, Joseph, you did not see through the trick I played you FE “Trick, sir?’ I ejaculated in amazement. “Yes: that letter I wrote from Edinburgh.” “A very kind. trick, sir, to send me a handsome present—for which I wrote back and expressed my gratitude.” “Ah! but it was nevertheless a trick—though I. availed myself of the same opportunity,” continued the lawyer, “to forward you that little testimonial of my esteem. Why, you can’t understand it even now! God bless you, young man,—you who were so sharp in discovering love’s secrets s “There was no sharpness, sir,” I observed, with a smile, “ when I one day beheld Mr. Stuart Sir Alexander Carrondale, I mean, and Miss Em- meline walking together.” “Ah! that was the origin, eh?’ said Dun- cansby: “that was the way you found out the secret? Well, you kept it nobly, and sacrificed yourself to Lennox Vennachar’s anger in order to extricate Emmeline from her scrape. But about Giyoo SS (CO) im