Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 264: what you’re looking at

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

JOSEPH WILMOT ; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. Vennachar, earnestly, “so long as it will save me from the chance of being conveyed back to the castle!” The five miles to Carrondale were speedily ac- complished; and we rode up to the front of the inn. The village was entombed in silence: not a light was visible in any one of the dwellings: the inhabitants were no doubt locked in the arms of slumber. Leaping from the horse, I thundered away at the door of the Carrondale Arms—and then hastened to assist Miss Vennachar and Grace to alight. The limbs of both were so stiff, that they sank down in exhaustion upon a bench placed in front of the little hostelry for the accommodation of wayfarers. I held the three steeds; and ina few moments an upper window was opened, and the landlord inquired who we were. But before had leisure to utter a syllable of response, the sounds of horses’ hoofs galloping along the road, reached our ears. “We must away!” I exclaimed, now all alive with a feverish excitement, but not for an in- stant losing my presence of mind. ‘Mount! mount !” Emmeiine and Grace, galvanized into sudden activity again, sprang forward. The sounds came nearer; and it was easy to distinguish that they approached from the direction of Perth, and noé from that of Inch Methglin. But then at the same time it struck me that they were nevertheless our pursuers, who having already passed through the village, had turned back and were retracing their way. Emmeline was in her saddle in a moment: I hastened forward to assist Grace—but scarcely was she mounted, when two horsemen galloped up to the spot. A low half-stifled shriek of terror burst from the lips of Emmeline: but an ejaculation of joy escaped mine, as I at once recognised Sir Alex- ander Carrondale. Emmeline, suddenly reassured by that cry on my part, glanced towards the foremost horseman ; and beholding her lover, gave vent to an ejacu- lation of joy likewise. “Good heayens! Emmeline ?”’ exclaimed the Ba- ronet: and he sprang from his steed. That same instant I stretched out my hand for ‘Miss Vennachar to alight; and the next moment the lovers were in each other’s arms. Oh, the bliss of that meeting for them!—Oh, the relief that it was for the faithful Grace and for my- self! My heart swelled with exultation: I knew that all peril was now over; for that if need were, the inhabitants of the whole village would rise to protect Emmeline from being torn away from the arms of her well-beloved Alexander. A few hasty words afforded mutual explana- tions. The Baronet was first informed of the par- ticulars of our flight ; and on his side he proceeded to state how it was that my letters had failed to reach him at once. It appeared that after leaving Inch Methglin, he and Mr. Duncansby had got as far as Perth on their way to Edinburgh,—when the worthy lawyer was seized with a sudden illness that assumed a most dangerous complexion. Sir Alexander would not think of leaving the best and kindest friend he had on the face of the earth— the man who had reared him from his infancy, paid for his education, expended thousands on the 251 successful issue. For several days Mr, Duncansby remained in a state of unconsciousness: but when the crisis was past, and he recovered his reasoning faculties, his first solicitude was relative to any letters which might have arrived at his house in Edinburgh during his absence. One of Sir Alex- ander’s valets was at once despatched for them; and when they came to the hotel at Perth, mine was found amongst them. Sir Alexander at once took horse, accompanied by one of his body- servants; and being now able to leaye the lawyer without fear of relapse, he at once set off—though in the dead of night, or rather at an early hour in the morning—with the determination of proceeding to Inch Methglin, to insist that Miss Vennachar should be left to her own choice. Happily however he was saved all this troublous uncertainty, by encountering Emmeline at Car- rondale in the manner described. While these hurried explanations were being given, the landlord and landlady of the inn—on discovering that Sir Alexander was amongst the arrivals—had hastily dressed themselves, aroused their servant, and opened. the door. The land- lord, who acted as his own hostler, came forth to take the steeds:, the landlady was lighting a fire in the parlour. Thither we proceeded: for Sir Alexander would not suffer me and Grace to re- main where there was no fire. Refreshments— which were really most necessary—were speedily brought in; and I must candidly confess that the cold night air had so sharpened my appetite, I ate till I was almost ashamed. I need hardly observe that from Sir Alexander Carrondale both Grace and myself received the warmest thanks for the part we had performed. Emmeline and her maid retired together to a bed-chamber: another was provided for me ;—but before I withdrew, I asked Sir Alexander whether he would take any precaution in case of the pur- suers from the castle coming to the village ? “ They have no doubt long ago reached Perth,” replied the Baronet, with a smile. “Three or four persons on horseback passed me on the road midway between this village and Perth: but they were riding too rapidly—and so indeed were I and my servant—to allow the possibility of mutual re- cognition. I thought little of the incident at the time: I was too much engaged in my own reflec- tions. But now you speak of pursuers, there can be no doubt those horsemen whom I thus passed were they. As for precaution,” he added, “I defy them——-aye, and the whole Inch Metheglin clan —to harm a single hair of whomsoever I may choose to protect in the midst of my own people. Go you up to bed, Joseph: you must stand in need of rest. You haye acted most generously—most gallantly—and likewise most prudently: for Miss Vennachar has told me of your encounter with Cameron, and of your policy in diverging from the route so as to baffle the pursuers.” Sir flexander Carrondale shook me by the hand; and I ascended to the chamber prepared for me. I slept soundly until nine o’clock ; and on descending, found Sir Alexander and Emmeline, attended by the valet and Grace, about. to issue forth, Miss Vemmachar was still clad in her riding-dyess—for she had no change of raiment; and it was the same with her maid. There was a speculation of his lawsuit, and conducted it to a| blushing confusion in the young lady’s looks—a v——————— ElO@QO) cS (CO) iim