Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

JOSEPH WILMOT; much sympathy. Mr. Delmar, addressing me in his usual tone of benevolence, desired me to order the footman to serve up luncheon soon; and I hastened to obey these instructions. In the servants’ hall some of the domestics were talking together relative to Mr. and Mrs. Mulgrave. It appeared from what they said, that the Mulgraves did not often make their appear- ance at the Manor, and that there was frequently some little coldness between Mr. Delmar and his son-in-law,—a circumstance which surprised me when I took into consideration the exceeding be- nevolence of my benefactor’s disposition. But from some observations which the servants went on to make, I gathered that it was more than suspected that Mr. Mulgrave lived beyond his means, and that he occasionally had recourse to the purse of his father-in-law, who did not always admire ministering to his extravagances. It also appeared that the Mulgraves maintained great style at their house in Grosvenor Square—gave magnificent parties—and were indeed noted for the mingled sumptuosity and elegance of their entertainments. They had no children, and ap- peared to abandon themselves altogether to the dissipated pleasures of fashionable life. The dis- course of which I thus became a listener, was in- terrupted by the entrance of Mr. Mulgrave’s livery-servant, who was a good-looking, well-made young man, of about four or five-and-twenty, and whose Christian name was George. In the course of the afternoon I was in the garden gathering some fruit for the parlour- dessert, when I heard footsteps approaching along the gravel walk; and looking back, beheld Mr. Mulgrave. .He was walking in a lounging, saun- tering manner; and stopped occasionally to gaze around or to eat some fruit. At length he came close up to the spot where I was occupied: and in a kind voice, observed, “I have been listening to the narrative of your adventures, Joseph; and really they amount to a perfect romance. I sup- pose you are very happy here ?” “ Very, sir,’ I answered enthusiastically. ' “Mo be sure,” he went on to observe. “ But still it must be somewhat duil for a boy of your intelligence and discernment to live cooped up here in the country. The fact is, I want just such a page as you are; and I have been telling my father-in-law that if he has no objection, I will take you off his hands.” Ihave no doubt the expression of my counte- nance showed that I was suddenly grieved and troubled by the announcement just made: for I did not wish to leave Mr. Delmar’s service. *“ Ah! you object to my proposition?” said Mr. Mulgrave, with a glance of vexation: but instan- taneously resuming his wonted affability of man- ner, he continued to remark, “I think you would like to be in my service, Joseph; and you are a youth of that style which is better fitted for a town-mansion than a country-seat. You would have plenty of gaiety, variety, and amusement at my house. Besides, I should give you good wages. Now, my boy, what do you say—supposing Mr. Delmar assents ?” “T am bound, sir,” was sts wer, “to do whatsoever Mr. Delmar wishes: but ” and I stopped short, fearful of giving offence by what I was about to say: for I was on the point of ob- OR, TIE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. serving that I was not so mercenary nor ungrate- ful as to be tempted by any increase of wages to leave the service of one who had so generously snatched me from pauperism, misery, and degra- dation. “ But what ?’ demanded Mr. Mulgrave. “ Speak out, Joseph: tell me where your objection lies.” “ Simply in this, sir,’ I was now emboldened to answer,—* that it was my hope to remain for a long, long time in my present master’s service :”— and the tears came into my eyes at the thought that there was even a possibility of my quitting the Manor. “Well, but you would be as kindly treated with Mrs. Mulgrave and me, as you are here,” he went on to observe: “so you had better make up your mind to come. Shall I tell Mr. Delmar that, hav- ing taken such a fancy to you, I have spoken to you on the subject and you are by no means un- willing ?” “Qh, no sir!” I interrupted him immediately : “pray do not say that—because, you know, it would not be the truth. I should be very, very sorry to leave Mr. Delmar. At the same time,” I almost immediately added, feeling that some such acknowledgment was necessary, “I am deeply grateful to you for the kind interest thus shown on my behalf.” “Well then,” ejaculated Mr. Mulgrave, “we will say no more upon the subject. By the bye,” he added, after a brief pause, “ Mr. Delmar has amused me particularly with his description of those adventures you experienced when living in the companionship of some man what was his name P” “I presume, sir, you mean the person called Taddy,” I answered, at the same time thinking it odd that after having shown so much interest on my account, Mr. Mulgrave should speak of my bitter sufferings at the wretched lodging as umusing. “Ah, Taddy—that’s the name—and rather a queer one it is. But where is it that this strange character lives?” “JT do not know, sir. Perhaps Mr. Delmar omitted to inform you that we were rendered houseless wanderers at the same time.” “To be sure—I recollect,’ said Mr. Mulgrave, carelessly. “But where was it that this man carried on his precious ayocations—or rather at- tempted to do so?” “Jn Ragamuffin Court, Saffron Hill, sir,’ was my answer. “ Good heavens, what a name! what a place! The very nomenclature is fraught with a whole world of description. I suppose the fellow has never sought you out since you have been at the Manor P” “ No, sir,’ I rejoined; “and very sorry indeed should I be if he were to dd so.” “To be sure, to be sure,” observed Mr. Mul- grave: and then he pursued his way saunteringly through the garden. I was very much afraid for the remainder of the day lest Mr. Delmar should yield to his son- in-law’s wishes, and consent to transfer me to his service: but nothing more was said by any one to me upon the subject; and at about nine o’clock in the evening the Muleraves took their departure in the beautiful little curricle. 1b SS (C@) im ElN@QO)