Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 197: what you’re looking at

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

Oa ee oe ee ee. a 184 ——— oo JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. vapour: all is one wide expanse of unbroken blue. But will that smiling aspect of the heaven last for ever ?—may not the winds arise and the storm- clouds gather, coming from heaven alone knows where!—and in how short a space may all be gloom over-head, with nature speaking in the mighty voices of the thunder or darting forth her angry looks in the lightning flashes! May not that sky which is at present so cloudless, so sunlit and serene, be taken as the type of human exist- ence in this world? Think you therefore, Mr. Wilmot, that I can remain insensible of these facts ?—or that knowing them, I can be utterly without apprehension as to their application to my own destiny ?” . Ireally knew not how to answer Constantine Kanaris: indeed for the moment there appeared .to be so much truth in what he had just said, that it came home unto my own heart, and gave me a shock as if some sinister sibylline tongue had whispered in my ear words presentient of evil. And when the recollection struck me, too, that a deep plot was evidently in progress on the part of the infamous Lanover against the peace and security of my well-beloved Annabel—a plot which, in spite of all my efforts, I might be unable to defeat—it was no wonder if Constantine’s lan- guage should thus produce a sudden and startling effect upon me. “ Come,” he said, smiling slightly, as if satisfied that he had at length thus touched me,—“ we will dwell no longer upon mournful topics—we are close at our destination—and we must put on our best looks and our brightest smiles, wherewith to acknowledge the cordial welcome that we are cer- tain to experience.” The habitation which Constantine thus alluded to, was situated upon a gentle eminence just out- side the town. The house itself was not large, but of pleasing aspect ; and the gardens were crowded with evergreens. A low wall, surmounted by an iron railing, enclosed the grounds, which were beautifully laid out; and the site of the dwelling was all the more agreeable, inasmuch as from the drawing-room balcony a complete view was ob- tained of the harbour, with the numerous vessels moored therein; and beyond the mole the blue expanse of the Mediterranean was seen stretching far as the eye could reach. Although the year was no older than the month of February, yet the Italian clime appeared to be rejoicing in an early spring: for the heaven, as already intimated, was of cloudless azure—and the earth seemed to be basking happily in the sunny smiles that played with kisses upon it from above. As we entered the grounds of Portici Villa, Constantine Kanaris directed my attention to the conservatories, through the glass sides of which might be seen the choicest flowers, the finest fruits, and the rarest plants,—some of which were ‘indigenous to Italy itself, and others evidently be- longing to the tropics: so that I observed to my companion, “Either Signor Portici or his niece— but perbaps both—must have an exquisite taste for the floral beauties and the natural products whereof we thus catch a glimpse.” “ The judge himself,” responded Kanaris, “has such a taste as you describe: but it is the Signora Leonora who is most attached to the rare and varied contents of those conservatories.” ua 800095909 <I Our summons at the front door was answered by a footman in a neat, tasteful, but by no means rich, much less flaunting livery ; and he bowed not merely with respect on beholding Kanaris, but likewise with the air of one who was glad to wel- come again at the dwelling a young gentleman who was evidently a general favorite there. We were shown into a drawing-room, which, if not sumptuously furnished, nevertheless had all its appointments characterised by an elegant taste. A piano and harp, and the choicest specimens of Italian music lying in an open portfolio, indicated the taste and proficiency of the young lady in that fascinating art. There was another portfolio upon a side table, and which Kanaris opened in order to show me the exquisitely executed drawings in pencil, in chalk, and in water-colours which it con- tained. I could not help admiring the fervid yet manly pride which Kanaris displayed in thus af- fording me such varied proofs of Leonora’s elegant — accomplishments: indeed every word and action on the part of my new friend, when bearing the slightest reference to the J udge’ 8 niece, convinced me more and more of the profound unfathomable depth of that love which he experienced for her. As the reader may have gathered from all I have been saying, we at first found ourselves alone in the drawing-room to which we were thus intro- duced: but not many minutes elapsed before a young lady made her appearance. She had eyi- dently been told that Constantine Kanaris was not alone; for instead of bounding into the room with that joyous fervour which her own ardent dispo- sition would have otherwise led her to display, she entered with the more subdued demeanour of one who knew that she was about to meet a stranger. Nevertheless Constantine sprang forward to greet her: their hands were clasped in that warm close pressure which did indeed convince me how truly reciprocal was the love of which the handsome Greek had spoken; and I had no difficulty in dis- cerning that in the impassioned ardour of disposi- tion and character—in the depth of affection and in the warmth of feeling which Constantine had already displayed in my presence, he was well matched by the object of his adoration. Yes—and not only in sentiment was there this remarkable fitness in the contemplated alliance of the pair, but also in their personal beauty. Leo- nora was a brunette, but with a clear transparency of skin, and not with that opaque olive which in Italian complexions often serves as a veil to pre- vent the warm blood from being seen mantling through; and that delicate duskiness of the com- plexion was relieved or embellished, according as the reader may choose to consider it, by the rich redness of the full lips, the jetty pencilling of the well-arched brows, the corresponding darkness of the eyes, and the length of the thick but silken ebon fringes. And yet it must be understood that the lips, though full, were very far from coarse ; the mouth was small, and in a statue would be pronounced faultlessly chiselled: but they were slightly pouting lips. And then the eyes too,—if so dark in colour, they were full of a soft lustre—a lustre not so brilliant as that which irradiated the orbs of the handsome Greek himself, but a light more subdued by feminine reserve, chastity, and innocence. Leonora was tall: her figure was of sylphid slenderness, with that graceful though DOOKS (©)