Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 373: what you’re looking at

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

360 JOSEPH WILMOT$ OR, THE radiant. A modest blush appeared on Annabel’s face of angelic beauty; and I was bounding towards her to clasp her in my arms, when the thought struck me that the expression of my gratitude was first due to Mrs. Lanover, who by her explanations and representations to her father had proved the means of bringing all this about. I threw myself upon my knees before her—took her hands, and pressing them to my lips, mur- mured forth, “A thousand thanks, dearest madam! a thousand blessings on your head! Oh, you are to me as a dearly beloved mother “And you shall be unto me as a son,” was Mrs. Lanover’s softly uttered response, as she kissed me on the forehead, while tears of happiness trickled down her cheeks. Then I sprang to my feet; and the next instant Annabel was clasped in my arms. * You will be mine, dearest, dearest Annabel !” I exclaimed, in accents that were however broken with the feelings of indescribable rapture and joy which were revelling in my heart. ‘“ Your grand- father has promised it———-Oh, yes! you will be mine!” The blushing countenance of that seraphic being reposed upon my shoulder; and when we looked around, Mrs. Lanover had quitted the room. She had left us to ourselves,—knowing that we must have much to say. We sat down side by side,— Annabel’s small white hand clasped in my own; and I explained to her what had just taken place between her grandfather and myself. A shade of sadness came over her countenance when she heard that we were to be separated for two whole years, during which period we were not to exchange even a single line of correspondence—much less to see each other: but that shade soon passed away—and smiling through her tears, Annabel said in the soft music of her voice, “The time will soon pass, Joseph; and then ra * And then, dearest Annabel,” I exultingly ex- claimed, “ we shall meet to part no more! We must exchange no vows: but even without this prohibition, I would not ask them from you!” Annabel spoke not: but the glance of virginal tenderness which her lovely azure eyes bent upon me—while her cheeks were suffused with a modest blush—-eloquently gave me to understand that she had an equal faith in me. We remained alone together until close upon dinner-time; and this interval of some hours passed away like so many minutes. We separated to repair to our chambers for the evening-toilet; and when we met again, at the dinner-table, neither Sir Matthew nor Mrs. Lanover imposed upon us the least restraint by either look or word, as we treated each other with all those little affectionate endearments which a young couple when formally engaged, are wont to bestow in the presence of approving relatives. The evening passed rapidly away—Oh, far too rapidly ! and at length the parting moment came: for I was not to see Annabel in the morning ere I en- tered the carriage which was to bear me away from Heseltine Hall. “Farewell, dear madam,” I said, first bidding my adieus to Mrs. Lanover: “and may heaven bless you !” “Farewell, dear Joseph,” she answered, em- bracing me with tears in her eyes :* “ farewell, my dear boy! I will not insult nor wrong the natural 1? . ee ee ee eee TO MEMOILS OF A MAN-SERVANT. goodness of your heart by any moral precepts : I know you will prove all that we could wish ! Farewell !” And now I turned to Annabel: the tears were raining down her cheeks, and down my own like- wise. We embraced: but the words we uttered were broken and incoherent ;—and when Mrs, Lanover hurried her daughter from the room, I felt as if the light of happiness had suddenly departed from me—as if the portals of that paradise from which a supernal lustre had been glowing out upon me, were all in a moment closed in my face! * Farewell, my dear Joseph,” said Sir Matthew Heseltine, in a voice tremulous with emotions : “you have no need to despair—you have every- thing to hope. Two years will soon pass away ; and if in the meanwhile it should please God to call me hence, you will nevertheless find this your home on your return—and my daughter Mrs. Lanover will give you a fitting welcome. For that you will act worthily, and that you will come back the same good young man that you go hence, I have no fear. Farewell, my dear boy and and remember, Joseph—I—I—love you as if you were already married to Annabel, and had thereby become one of the family.” Sir Matthew Heseltine embraced me. I sobbed out a few words of gratitude: he waved me away ;- and as I glanced back for a moment from the door, I saw that he was bending over the mantel-piece, shading his countenance with his hand, and evi- dently deeply affected. CHAPTER LXVII. THE FIRE. Ir was still dusk on the cold wintry November morning, when I crossed the threshold of Heseltine Hall, to enter the carriage which was in readiness to receive me. I looked up at the windows of that suite of apartments which was occupied by Mrs, Lanover and Annabel: two countenances were gazing down at.me—two white kerchiefs were being agitated in token of adieu. I waved my own —and precipitated myself into the vehicle. Several of the domestics thronged forth to bid me farewell— for I was a favourite amongst them: and in order that this sudden departure from the Hall on my part should not be attributed to any erroneous cause, Sir Matthew had considerately dropped a few hints as to the real truth to his body-servant, with a ‘view that they should.be repeated amongst the domestics generally. The footman who closed the carriage door, placed a sealed letter in my hand; and the equipage rolled away. I watched the Hall from the window until it was no longer in sight; and several times was my handkerchief waved forth in response to those kerchiefs that were still agitated at the casement whence Mrs. Lanover and Annabel had been ob- serving my departure. The carriage was drawn by post horses; and the postilion, who had eyvi- dently received his instructions, took the road to Manchester, which town was between sixty and seventy miles from Kendal. For the first hour I was so entirely absorbed in melancholy reflections = <S oOo (C@) im