Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 151: what you’re looking at

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a ee 138 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. were to be cruelly blighted. And yet it has been so!” | Francesco shaded his brow with his hand; and half averting his countenance, remained silent for more than a minute—during which I contem- plated him with a feeling of the deepest and mournfullest compassion. And, Oh! I thought to myself, if my aspirations were doomed to disap- pointment—if my hopes were destined to be blighted—what misery, what ineffable misery would remain in store for me! I shuddered as these reflections swept through my imagination; and it was a relief to my mind—an escape from an almost excruciating apprehension—when Fran- cesco Avellino resumed his narrative in the follow- ing terms :— “Two or three weeks passed after that mutual avowal of love which had infused so ineffable a few days. easy, and visit at the house as usual.’—Thus spoke the Count of Tivoli; and I was completely re- assured in respect to any transient misgiying which I had experienced.” Avellino paused, but only for a few moments; and then he said, “ You may possibly be enabled to conceive, my dear Wilmot, the full amount of that happiness which was mine during the next Antonia’s father had accepted my suit : not a syllable had been uttered in respect to con- sulting the young Viscount; and it appeared that the reference which had to be made to Cardinal Antonio Gravina was a mere matter of form, there being no doubt as to the response that he would give. I passed hours and hours with Antonia: I became as intimately acquainted with her disposition as I know mine own: she was all artlessness, amiability, and unsophisticated good- ness. She loved me deeply—fondly; and I felt that to possess such a being as my wife, would be to render this earth a perfect paradise in my esti- mation, But let me not extend my narrative to an unnecessary length; I now approach the fatal catastrophe. There was to be a grand procession of the clergy to St. Peter’s cathedral, where his Holiness the Pope was to officiate in the pulpit on the occasion. The Count of Tivoli, who in the meanwhile had written to Cardinal Gravina, re- ceived a letter to the effect that his Eminence pur- posed to be at Rome for the procession, and that he would dine at the Tivoli palace in the evening. The Count invited me to dine there likewise, so that I might be introduced to the Cardinal, with whom I was previously unacquainted, The day came: I pass over all mention of the grand cere- mony, except to state that I accompanied the Count and his daughter thither. When it was over, I returned home to change my toilet; and at the appointed hour I proceeded to the Tivoli palace, I knew that this was the evening which would decide my fate; and yet I felt not as if it hung in the balance at all. A certain fluttering bliss into my soul—and eyery day did I pass some hours with Antonia. I had now known her a year: she was seventeen—and I no longer saw any reason to prevent me from speaking to her father upon the subject that was nearest and dearest to my heart. I informed her that it was now my wish to communicate the secret of our love to the Count of Tivoli—if a secret it indeed were to him, With a blush upon the cheeks, and with downeast looks, Antonia breathed a bashful assent; and when she retired to her own chamber, I sought the Count of Tivoli in the drawing-room, I found him alone there; he welcomed me with his accus- tomed kindness indeed, methought there was something more than usually kind in his manner ; and I was therefore encouraged to unbosom myself to Antonia’s father. I stated that I had loved her from the first moment of our acquaintance—that on account of her youthfulness I had suffered a year to elapse before I had ayowed my attachment—that I had only recently given verbal expression to that feeling which had so long occu- pied my heart—that it was reciprocated—and that I had now come to beseech the paternal sanction to that engagement in which the happiness of us both The Count of was. so completely wrapped up. Tivoli listened to me with a benevolent attention ; and when [I had finished, he took me by the hand, saying, ‘ My dear Francesco, I could not wish my daughter’s happiness to be entrusted to better keeping than yourown. But before I can venture to give you a response that is sacredly positive, there is one little formality to be fulfilled. Do not, my dear friend, let your heart suddenly sink within you—as I see by your looks that it has done: it is only a formality—and I will explainit. Perhaps you are aware that Cardinal Antonio Gravina is my daughter’s godfather: he is exceedingly rich— and he has more than once given me to understand that all his wealth will devolve at his death to the possession of Antonia, Under these circumstances the Cardinal has a right to be consulted; and I must therefore ppeak to him. You see it is a mere formality : he will not disapprove where I approve, I haye no doubt that his assent will be readily given when he listens to the representations that I shall make concerning you. His Eminence is at present absent from Rome: but he will return in a few days—and I will take the earliest opportunity to lay the matter before him. Meanwhile, as I am confident what the result will be, make your mind | of the heart I perhaps did experience: but it was rather that of joy at the anticipation of the final assent, than that of suspense as to what the result would be. I was happy eyen beyond the strongest hopefulness—because the term hope itself implies uncertainty and doubt; whereas I entertained the conviction that all would be pros- perous. In this excellent frame of mind, I reached the palatial mansion, and was introduced to the drawing-room, where Cardinal Gravina, who had already arrived, was seated with the Count and Antonia. I had already seen his Eminence at the cathedral—but not sufficiently near to judge of the aspect of his countenance. I now found that if was graye and sedate—somewhat expressive of pride—but not without a tincture of benevolence. He was far advanced in years—probably approach- ing his eightieth; but still in the enjoyment of good health, and of the full vigour of his intellects. When the Count presented me, the Cardinal gave me a kind reception;. and in a few minuteg I began to think that the expression of benevolence transcended that of pride in the contexture of his looks. Dinner was speedily announced as being served up; and we proceeded to the banqueting- room. There were no other guests; and we four sate down to table,—I being placed next to Anto- nia. In my own mind I conceived that all that E ——— a a a ena ana er nnneneneetirmenattiisladssinasliannainnaat GDOOKSEEO COM