Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 230: what you’re looking at

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

JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. 217 way UA MM anmitil ET PT —SjQj———_—i i il ft a V7 —— ee = eae rea Ui ‘ wal ‘ Sy oS ‘ ‘ My ° \\ ) | \ w= ———— x) 4 i y ~ -, a oe S44 ———— ——— _—-— amiable niece, unless previously assured that she has become linked to him by indissoluble bonds, as you have expressed it ?”’ “Tt is so,” answered the Judge. ‘“ Not that for an instant Kanaris is capable of insulting my niece by the idea that she is capricious—that she would forget him when absent—or that she is capable of encouraging the advances of any other suitor: but amongst the customs of his own native country these betrothals, or espousals, previous to an unforeseen and suddenly necessitated separa- tion, are, as he informs me, common enough. He therefore pleaded hard that the same ceremony might take place here: he assured me in impas- sioned language that my assent would alone enable him to endure the separation with even an ordi- nary degree of patience; and I yielded to his en- treaties. Methought indeed, that if the bridal were celebrated at once, and Leonora was yet left to me for a few wecks ere the day of complete 80. I le TR dit wit | INN ‘ ~N Ly . . nr me a y~ : TS <a ae me oN ° 1 > ' VAY AA So tae toe i Ne Wit ———— ‘\ Uh iH ( t} A severance should arrive, my own mind would be enabled all the better to tutor itself for that final separation. And perhaps, my dear Mr. Wilmot,” added the Judge, “still more selfish con- siderations influenced me in giving that assent No, not selfish !—but considerations, I should rather say, bearing upon Leonora’s welfare. I do not mind opening my heart to you. Leonora has no fortune of her own; and at my death a very moderate competency would await her. Kanaris is rich—he belongs to an excellent family —his position is eminently respectable: of all this he has given me proofs—the whole tenour of his conduct has been characterized with candour and frankness—and such a suitor for my much-loved niece must not be trifled with, even though there may seem something whimsical if not foolishly superstitious in this aversion on his part to set out on his journey before his hand shall have been united with that of Leonora. ‘To-morrow’s cere- ELN@QO) —_— — =