Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 370: 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. soul was sinking into the abyss of despondency— thou, beauteous creature, an angel in loveliness as well as in disposition—it was thou, Annabel, to whom I was now speeding!—thou whose hand I was soon to claim as that of my bride! It was about five o’clock in the evening that I arrived at Manchester ; and I proceeded to the very hotel where Sir Matthew Heseltine had put up on the occasion when I accompanied him in his journey from Reading to the home of his an- cestors. Ah! the last time that I had crossed the threshold of this hotel, upwards of two years back, it was as a dependant and a menial: but now how altered were my circumstances! By a strange accident I was shown to the very sitting-room which Sir Matthew had occupied during our brief sojourn at that hotel on the occasion to which I have just referred. It almost seemed to me as if I could select the very chair in which ho sate in that room, when I stood in his presence and he bade me take whatsoever advantage I chose of a few hours’ leisure in that city. As I thought of the difference between my position then and what it gow was, my feelings overpowered me and the tears trickled down my cheeks. Was it alla dream? could it possibly be a reality? Oh yesit wasa reality !—and I was there, in that hotel—in that very room—enabled to say unto myself that the circumstances of the world and the mysterious dispensations of providence had indeed worked marvels for me! ) - I dined at the hotel: that is to say, I ordered dinner for form’s sake—and I sate down to it: but my heart was too full of a variety of emotions to allow me the enjoyment of appetite. The repast was therefore soon disposed of ; and I then pro- ceeded to call upon my friends the Rowlands. It was upwards of two years since I had seen them; and then they had received me most kindly. I felt it to be my duty to pay them this visit now, although I would have rather deferred it to a future occasion when I might give them all those expla- nations which at present I could not give, inas- much as I was resolved that first of all the intelli- gence which so intimately concerned myself should be communicated to the inmates of Heseltine Hall. I reached the Rowlands’ house: the door was opened by the tall footman, who was delighted to sec me. I remembered his kindness of a former day, when a wretched, houseless, and starving wanderer, I had sunk down exhausted on that very door-step where I now stood; and I was re- joiced that I at length possessed the means of ex- hibiting my gratitude. ® Are your master and mistress well, Thomas ?” I inquired. “ Perfectly, sir,” he responded: “ and they will be very glad to see you. Walk this way ao “One moment, Thomas!’ I said, detaining him in the hall. “ Do you remember how we first met? Do you recollect that when you found me lying upon your door-steps, you spoke kindly of me to your master and mistress ?—and you said that I was no common mendieant. Never have I forgotten those words !” “ But why speak of them, Mr. Wilmot ?” asked the good-natured footman, his lips quivering with emotion. “Did you not turn out everything that | was excellent and good?—and was I not rejoiced 357 when about a couple of years back, you called here and I learnt that your position had greatly changed and you had become a young gentleman ? And you know very well, sir, that I was not jealous when I saw you sitting down with master and mistress at that very table a ‘Where I had once waited as a menial, Thomas,” I added, with much emotion. ‘No! you were not jealous—you took an opportunity to congra- tulate me a “And you forced a bank nute into my hand, Mr. Wilmot, when you went away,” added Thomas; “and I was sorry you did it, because it seemed as if you wished to pay me in money for any little act of Christian kindness I had on a former occa- sion been able to render you.” “Tt was a kindness, Thomas,” I said, “ which I never could forget. Circumstances have improved with me: I am still better off than I even was on that day to which we have just referred. Now be not offended at what Lam going todo! It is not that I seek to acquit myself of my obligation to you—because that is impossible. I am merely testifying my gratitude. You must accept this as a proof thereof. Not another word, ‘Thomas! You will pain me if you refuse.” - I thrust into his hand a banknote for a hundred pounds; and then I hastened on to the parlour,— that well-known parlour in which Mr. and Mrs. Rowland were accustomed to sit when I was in their service. And there they now were, at the tea-table—the blaze of a cheerful fire playing upon their benevolent countenances. They both gave utterance to ejaculations of joy on recognising me ; and then a shade came over their features as they simultaneously perceived that I was in deep mourning. ** Ask me no questions, my kind friends,” I said, “relative to this :” and I g'anced down at my black dress. “Ican give no explanations now. In a short time I shall see you again—and then you shall know everything. I have but a few hours to spare in Manchester; and it was alike a pleasure and a duty to come and visit you.” With what cordial warmth were both my hands wrung by Mr. and Mrs. Rowland!—how kindly they spoke to me!—how they welcomed me to their house!—and how annoyed they were that I had not made it my quarters instead of sojourn- ing ata hotel! I sate down to tea with them; and it appeared as if. this worthy couple could not make too much of me. I suffered them to under- stand that since I had last seen them, another and most important change had taken place in my condition, and that I was now ‘totally independent of the world. But more than thisI said not; and they did not press me for those explanations which they concluded I had very excellent reasons for postponing. Yet it was with the most unfeigned sincerity they congratulated me upon this new im- provement in my condition; and they gazed upon me with compassionate interest—for they naturally associated the improvement to which I referred with the mourning garb which I wore. I inquired concerning their nephew Stephen and his bride, the patrician Gertrude: I learnt that they were both well, and that their union was one of com- pletest happiness in every respect. It appeared that the old Marquis of Chiliam had died some time back; but as his end approached, he had re- Giook (CO)