Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

4 JOSEPH WILMOT; that such as if was sho placed it at his disposal; and shé hinted at the hope that her parents might ultimately be led to accord their forgiveness. It was this note, Joseph, which you bore for her to the hands of Mr. Ravenshill. J should add that it gave the address of an hotel at Exeter, where she awaited his response. You now can imagine the rest. He fied at an early hour in the mornme,— not merely to avoid the hated marriage to which, in sheer desperation, he had a second time been in- duced, by urgent letters received on the Continent from his father, to give his assent,—but likewise to accompany a fairer and more amiable bride to the altar. He left a note for his lordship to this effect ; and on the very same day that we proceeded to Exeter, Mr. Ravenshill and Miss Jenkinson were married by special license.” _ And her parents?” I asked: “ have they par- doned her ?” *Yes—at length,” responded Charles. “The honeymoon was passed in Cornwall; and there have we been residing until within the last few days. We are now on our way to London, that Mr. and Mrs. Jenkinson may receive their daughter with open arms, and likewise weleome hey husband. We have halted here for a few hours, as Mrs. Ravens- hill is somewhat fatigued with travelling. I came out for a stroll—and am rejoiced to have fallen in with you.” “And his lordship—her ladyship also?” I said, inquiringly. “They are upon the Continent,’ answered Charles. “They went straight off thither, it ap. pears, on leaving Charlton Hall. One letter—and one letter only—has Mr. Ravensiill received from them ; and that, I should observe, was penned by his mother. Her ladyship said that he had broken his father’s heart; and as she felt persuaded there was no chance of Mr. and Mrs. Jenkinson forgiving their daughter, it was the most shocking match he could possibly have made, Her ladyship added that even if it should prove otherwise and the old people should relent, it was too late to rescve the property from the hands of others, or save the honour of the Ravenshill family. Thus, you may see that altogether her ladyship wrote in a very desponding way—while his lordship wrote not at all.’’ “But was there not,” I asked, “some little bitterness as well as despondency in that letter ? It would seem so, from all that you have told me.” “Yes—you are right, Joseph: for her ladyship, you know, is not endowed with the very best of tempers.. Perhaps you may pe surprised that I am enabled to give you so many minute details with regard to all these particulars: but you will understand how it is, when I inform you that Mr. Walter I suppose we shall always call him Mr. Walter now treats me quite as a con- fidential person.” “Tam rejoiced to receive such good tidings of Mr. Walter’s circumstances; and I concratulate you, Charles, upon having continued in a place which at last has proved so good a one.” At this moment Charlotte issued from the linen- draper’s shop; and I introduced Charles Linton. The latter had only half-an-hour to spare before he was compelled to return to the hotel where his master and mistress had siopped: but this OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. —<—————— half-hour he spent in walking with us,—giving OO TT LL 99 Charlotte his arm and treating her with much attention. At length he took leave of us; and when he was gone, Charlotte declared to me that he was the nicest young man she had ever met in her life. We proceeded to the tavern whence the carriers Van started ; and taking our places in the vehicle, got back to Myrtle Lodge at about five o'clock. CHAPTER XXII. MYSTERY AND TROUBLE. On the following day there was to be a dinner- party at the Lodge; and the bell rang to call the servants halt-an-hour earlier than usual. IT was down first of all that morning: but the reader may however rest assured that Miss Charlette 3turray, Lady Calanthe’s maid, did not so speedily obey that summons; for she considered herselt to be perfectly independent of the rules and regulations of the house. She did not descend till breakfast- time ; and when she thus made her appearance, I was surprised to notice the marked coldness with which she treated me. As if she studiously endea- voured to make this bearing on her part all the more pointed, she bade the other servants “‘ Good morning’ in the kindest and blithest manner ;— while towards me she was glacial, reserved, and distant. My fellow-domestics did not pereeive it— or if they did, suffered it to pass without a com- ment; while I conceived that if must be mere fancy on my side. In order to arrive at a certainty on the subject, I addressed Charlotte in a marked manner: but my suspicion was confirmed—she only responded with a monosyllable—and by her tone and look gave me to understand that she would rather not discourse with me any longer. My pride was wounded: for as I knew that I had done nothing to provoke this ill-fecline, I was im- patient at the thought of being rendered the victim of Charlotte Murray’s eaprices. On the previous day, at Exeter, we were the best of friends; she had shaken hands with me kindly, jocularly calling me “her elerant little becw,” when we had separated for the ni¢ht: and now she had come down stairs the very next morning in this humour of frigid reserve towards me. I rose from the breakfast-table and went about my work, Numerous guests were expected to dinner; and the parsimonious habits of Myr. Tiver- ton and Lady Georgiana appeared to have been to a certain degree laid aside for the nonce. Never- theless, the store-rocom was so badly provided with the commenest necessaries for such a household, that the cook found she required all kinds of things for her culinary preparations —even to spices, isin- alass, vermicelli, and so forth. It was indispen- sable that some one should go to Excter for them; and as there were so few domestics to do so much work, Charlotte volunteered the service. As she ascended the kitchen stairs, I was coming down; and we thus met face to face. “T did not think that you were such a wicked, deceitful, depraved youth,” she immediately said, in a low whisper, but with a severe look. I was perfectly astounded—and was so com- ee en ee DOO) ( c CS (Cc)