Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

110 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. “ But who is the other villain of a different class to whom you have alluded?” inquired Lady Calanthe, with nervous haste. “Sir Malcolm Wavenham,”’ was my response, “Sir Malcolm Wavenham!” ejaculated Mr. Tiverton. ‘“ Why he was to have been here this evening at the party; and at the last hour he sent an excuse, saying that sudden and urgent business kept him away. That was the cause, no doubt of it! the scoundrel !” “But what is to be done?’ inquired Lady Calanthe. Scarcely were these words uttered, when there was aloud knock and ring at the front door. We all, as if moved by a common instinct, hastened out of the parlour iato the hall: the housemaid, who was first, opened the front-door,—and in staggered Charlotte Murray, evidently sinking with fatigue. * Oh, my dear lady!” she murmured, as Calanthe Dundas, with a cry of joy, sprang forward to wel- come her: and the poor young woman fainted in the arms of her mistress. Here was a fresh cause for confusion, wonder, and excitement: so that even the startling incident of the burglarious attempt appeared suddenly to sink into the shade. Charlotte was borne in a state of perfect unconsciousness up to a_ bed- chamber,—the ladies and the female servants all accompanying her: and I remained standing in the hall, with Mr. Tiverton and John Robert. “T know not what to say to you at present, Joseph,’ observed my master. ‘“ Your conduct of this night has gone far to atone for the fault of which your were guilty i “IT was innocent, sir,’ was my firm but respect- ful interjection. “1 will make no further comment upon the matter now,’ responded Mr. Tiverton, evidently puzzled what to think. “Go up to your own room and get to bed. You need not rise earlier than you like: for you may feel in the morning the effects of having lain so long on the stones in the coach-house. By the bye, come into the par- lour and take a glass of wine.” “‘ No, sir, I thank you. With your permission I would much sooner get to bed at once.” “Then do so. And—and,” he added, with some desree of hesitation, “you may make your mind comfortable so far as that I shall not proceed to extremes in respect to the occurrences of this morning. What other course I may adopt, shall be communicated to you.” I accordingly ascended to my bed-chamber; and with the least possible delay put off my ap- parel, for I was dreadfully exhausted. Sleep soon visited my eyes; and [ slumbered on until awakened by the sound of a female voice speaking kindly near me. I started up—it was broad dayhght—and I beheld Charlotte Murray carrying a tray contain- ing some breakfast. * Now, Joseph, partake of these refreshments,” she said: “for I am sure you must stand in need of them, after all I have heard. It is eleven o’clock Y “ Kleven in the forenoon ?” I exclaimed. * Yes,’ she answered: “it is no wonder that you have slept thus soundly. Though I myself am terribly exhausted, yet I was resolved to get up to bring you your breakfast.” “ But you, Charlotte P’ I said, moved almost to tears by the kindness of her manner: “ what perils and adventures have you likewise passed through P” : “Never mind me for the present,” she hastened to observe: “you shall know everything in good time. Come, eat your breakfast. Cook was going to send you up some thick bread-and-butter: but I made you this toast myself—I boiled the eggs for you—and I fried this nice rasher of bacon; he- cause I was determined that you should have a comfortable meal, and that I would have the plea- sure of bringing it up. For if I am not very much deceived, I owe you no small atonement for the wrong I did you yesterday morning.” “Ah, Charlotte!’ I said, the tears chasing each other rapidly down my cheeks: “ dreadful things happened after you left the Lodge yesterday morning ve “T know it all, Joseph,” interrupted Charlotte: “Lady Calanthe has told me everything. But before I say another word on that subject, let me ask you a question: and do you reply to it can- didly—frankly—without fear. Is there any one beneath this roof whom you have reason to regard as a secret enemy? There, Joseph! that tell-tale expression of your countenance convinces me at once that you fave such reason, but that in the generosity of your heart you have not hitherto mentioned it.” “It is so, Charlotte,’ I hastened to reply. “There is a certain person who menaced me with the bitterest vengeance i “And that person is Miss Dakin,” she said, looking me very hard in the face. “ Yes—Miss Dakin,” I rejoined. “Ah!” ejaculated Charlotte, “ the odious wretch! the abominable traitress! But do get your break- fast, Joseph.” “No—I cannot eat a mouthful until you tell me wherefore you have been questioning me.” ‘Well then, if you must talk,’ she hastened to reply, ‘‘tell me everything that has at any time passed between you and Miss Dakin, that could possibly have excited her enmity so bitterly.” I thereupon related how Miss Dakin had made certain overtures towards me some months back— how I had indignantly rejected them—and how, on the very night of Lady Calanthe’s and Char- lotte’s recent arrival at the Lodge, she had taken the opportunity, when delivering the message in respect to eyening-prayers, to threaten me with the vengeance of her bitterest hatred. “The odious wretch!’ again ejaculated Char- lotte, with a look of the strongest abhorrence. “Ah! that accounts for the half-supercilious, half- spiteful toss of the head which she gave when I met her upon the stairs and told her that you were to accompany me to Hxeter. I saw at the time that she wanted to say something more; but haying conceived a thorough dislike for her, I passed her by and gaye her no farther opportunity to address me. But now, Joseph, without another instant’s delay let me relieve your mind on one important point,” continued Charlotte, surveying me with the kindest and most compassionate in- terest. ‘You are guiltless of the terrible charge imputed to you—I know you are—your innocence can be proved—and I will prove it!” “O Charlotte!” I exclaimed, almost overcome by Gooks (c@) im