Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 106: what you’re looking at

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JOSEPH WILMOT : OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. “T daresay,” I replied, “that Bessy will sooner or later enlighten you on the subject: but for my part I know nothing. The Captain suddenly made up his mind to return to Florence—and of course I obeyed without questioning him.” “To be sure,” answered the valet: “ but still I thought you might possibly know why he did come back, and that from motives of delicacy you hesi- tated to tell me. His lordship, when I saw him just now, seemed much cut up; and her ladyship is indisposed. That something has happened is evident enough.” At this moment the valet was summoned away ; and soon afterwards Bessy, the lady’s-maid, came and beckoned me aside into aroom where we might be alone together. “Will you promise, Joseph,” she said, and she looked much distressed—“ that you will not breathe to a single soul the words I am about to speak P” “Tt all depends,” I answered. “And yet I do not think I can have much hesitation in giving you such a promise.” “You know I would not ask you to pledge yourself to anything wrong,” she replied. “Well then, I promise,”’ I said. “ Miss Olivia wants to speak to you,” continued the lady’s-maid: “but she is trembling lest you should think her request strange—or that you might happen to mention it to your master.” “ Miss Olivia need not entertain either of those apprehensions,’ I rejoined. “If Miss Olivia re- quire any information to which I can assist her, there is nothing strange in her sending for me; and as for my being a tell-tale, I am not aware that there has ever been anything in my conduct to justify such a suspicion.” “You need not speak so gravely, Joseph,” an. swered the maid: “there was no intention to wound your feelings. Miss Olivia has made a con- fidante of me: she is dreadfully distressed—and if you could tell her anything to relieve her mind, I am sure it would be a perfect charity.” “When and where am I to see Miss Sackville ?” I inquired. “ Now—and in the breakfast parlour,” responded the maid. “There is no fear of interruption. Hasten you there at once!” I accordingly proceeded to the room which she had mentioned; and I found Miss Sackville anxiously and tremblingly awaiting my presence. Her countenance was pale, and bore the traces of recent weeping. I closed the door gently and ad- vanced towards her. “You must think this step that I am taking most extraordinary,” she said, evidently at a loss how to introduce the topic on which she desired to speak. “ But no!—you will make allowances for me 33 . “Tf I can render you any service, Miss Sack- ville,” I answered, “TI shall be only too glad.” She bent upon me a look of heartfelt gratitude ; and then, with a mighty effort to stifle a sob that was convulsing her bosom, she said, “Tell me, Joseph—tell me—is it indeed true—that dreadful tale which I have heard? is it true, I ask, that Signor Volterra fy Here she stopped short: for the convulsing sob burst forth, and she could not complete her sen- tence, 2 ee 93 “ Miss Sackville,” I answered, hastening to re- lieve her from suspense, “ rest assured that Signor Volterra will yet satisfactorily clear up this strange and dreadful mystery.” | A cry of joy burst from Olivia’s lips: she almost started from her seat, as if to rush forward and grasp my hand in token of the ineffable gratitude that she experienced for this announcement: but her feelings overpowered her—and clasping her own fair hands, she burst into tears. But they were not altogether tears of sorrow: no—there was delight in the emotions that were thus gush- ing forth; and her lips murmured a few words of thanksgiving for the hopeful assurance which had just greeted her ears. “Will you be pleased to read this, Miss Sack- ville?” I said. * It was addressed to me :’—and I placed Angelo Volterra’s letter in her hand. Oh, with what avidity did her eyes glance over its contents !—what anxious suspense, what min- gled grief and hope, what strangely blended affliction and joy, were depicted upon her coun- tenance, where the colour went and came in rapid transitions! When she had perused the letter, she hesitatingly, bashfully, and blushingly proffered it to me again. I saw that she yearned to keep it, but did not dare ask my permission to do so; and I said, “ Possibly, Miss Sackville, you might like to read it once more when at your perfect leisure : and you had better retain it.” She thanked me with an expressive glance; and again running her eyes over the contents of the billet, she secured it in the folds of her dress. “Yes,” she said, “opinion must indeed be sus. pended But, no!” she immediately corrected herself: “it were an insult to his unquestionable honour to entertain a single doubt! You believe him honourable—the assurance you ere now gave me, convinces me that you do—and moreover, he has confidence in your good opinion—he regards you as a friend—he would not write to you thus unless he were confident that your judgement is favourable towards him !” “And it is, Miss Sackville,” I solemnly an- swered. There was now a pause of a few minutes,— during which Olivia remained plunged in pro- found thought. She was evidently enjoying the deep silent luxury of that relief which her mind had experienced,—a luxury which was only ims paired by the sense of those injurious suspicions which were harboured by others against the object of her love. “ He speaks in that note,” she at length said, in a low gentle voice, “of a pledge which you exacted from him—a pledge which prevented him from coming personally to seek an interview with— with—me :”—and again was the blush of timid bashfulness upon her cheeks. “T will give you every explanation, Miss Sack. ville,” I answered. “ Captain Raymond,” she observed,—and I saw it was with a species of mournful aversion that she thus alluded to my master,—“ gave my parents to understand that it was in reality Signor Volterra who enabled you to effect my liberation —and that he has moreoverassisted you to achieve a particular object which secretly led you to re- visit the bandit-stronghold some weeks hack—on ’ which occasicu too he saved your life.” CORNICE OOO SS (CO)