Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

———- = JOSEPH WILMOT; his taken place: she shall know you, Calanthe— and you will love each other like sisters! If for- tune should sooner or later be favourable, and enable me to make Annabel my wife,—you, Ca- lanthe, will find a home with us; and it will be our study to soothe your woundec spirit, and by our kindness compensate you as much as possible for the sacrifices you have made !” It was thus that in the wildness of my thoughts I apostrophized Calanthe Dundas, as I walked to and fro with hurried and agitated steps in the lane where we had parted. After a while I retraced my way homeward; and I was glad when night came, that I might retire to the solitude of my own chamber and commune once more with my- self. CHAPTER XXXVI RICHARD FRANKLIN. A MONTH passed without any incident worthy of record. As a matter of course I frequently met Calanthe in the house: there was always the rapid look of recognition, and always the quickly vanish- ing smile: but not a word passed between us— and we were not again thrown in each other’s way for any length of time. But I must observe that during this interval a certain Mr. Franklin became a very frequent visitor at the house,—chiefly how- ever dropping in of an evening between eight and ten. He belonged to a family living in Ryde, and with whom Mrs. Robinson was on very good terms: indeed they were the*most intimate friends she seemed to possess in the neighbourhood. Richard Franklin was certainly a handsome young man—about two-and-twenty years of age—tall and well made—with dark hair and eyes—and an aquiline profile. He was an only son: his parents were very well off; and moreover himself, as well as his three sisters, had all received rich bequests from an uncle who had died some time back. Richard Franklin was therefore a most eligible match for any young lady of his acquaintance: he had the repu@ of being a steady, well-conducted young man—with no false pride,—and was there- fore likely enough to marry where his heart should be engaged, rather than for the mere purpose of increasing his worldly possessions. This gentleman it was who had latterly become a very frequent visitor at Oval Villa; and when I noticed that his calls were chiefly made in the evening, just at those hours which Calanthe was accustomed to pass with Mrs. Robinson in the drawing-room, I experienced a growing despond- ency of spirits, the cause of which I did not dare acknowledge to myself. To a certain extent I began to conceive a dislike for Mr. Richard Frank- lin; and this was all the more unwarrantable, as he invariably treated me with as much kindness as our relative positions in life enabled him to show. I was often vexed and annoyed at myself on account of that increasing sentiment of aversion towards a young gentleman of most amiable cha- racter: but I could not control it—much less subdue it entirely. One evening, as I answered the summons of the drawing-room bell, I perceived—on entering the OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT tt CE CLE LOLL LLL, LLL LLL A 171 apartment—that Richard Franklin and Calanthe were seated together at a table, looking over a portfolio of prints, which he had brought for the purpose. He was making some lively remark at the time; and Calanthe laughed with a degree of merriment which did me harm to hear it. They were seated close to each other; and methought that there was a certain degree of intimacy already established between them—a familiarity which, though without the slightest shade of impropriety, was nevertheless somewhat too great to haye been encouraged by a young lady who had so recently made such immense sacrifices for my sake. Mrs. Robinson was half reclining upon a sofa, according to her wont ; and I would have given the world to be enabled to whisper in her ear, that having so beautiful a governess under her roof, she did wrong to encourage the visits of a young gentle- man. But of course I dared not take such an immense liberty; and I quitted the room with a feeling of vexation and annoyance which I no longer endeavoured to conceal from myself. On descending to the kitchen, I found the ser- vants talking of Richard Franklin. “Tt will be an excellent thing for Miss Palmer, if it should take vlace,” observed the cook. * Depend upon it,” said the lady’s-maid, “ young Mr. Franklin is smitten in that quarter. He comes nearly every evening now—and always at about eight o’clock.” | | “ T wonder whether missus suspects anything ?” exclaimed the cook. “ Supposing she does,” rejoined the lady’s-maid, Mr. Franklin is a very honourable young man —everybody knows that—and he would not trifle with a young girl’s affections. No, no! Rest assured that if he is paying his attentions to Miss Palmer—he means to make her an offer—and I shouldn’t at all wonder that when she is out of mourning, she will become a bride. But what, in heaven’s name, Joseph, is the matter with you P” “{—I it is nothing only a slight head- ache IT have not been well for the last day or two :”—and vainly did I endeavour to throw off the confusion which had seized upon me. “On my word!” cried the lady’s-maid, “I do really think that what I said to you in joke some time ago, is the actual truth. Doesn’t he look just for all the world as if he was in love? Why, you silly young man—you don’t think that Miss Palmer, though only a governess te “ TI beg you will not address me in this manner,” I interrupted her, for the first time displaying anything akin to ill-humour towards a fellow- servant. “Well, Joseph,” said the lady’s-maid, very seri- ously, “ I didn’t mean to offend you: but I cannot help thinking that you really are smitten with Miss Palmer—and that is the truth.” I answered not another word: but snatching up a candlestick, retired to my own chamber. There I sat down, and began to reflect that I had acted very foolishly, and had cut a very ridiculous firure indeed in the presence of my fellow-servants. I had angrily met something which was said ina mere jesting mood; and by my abrupt departure from the kitchen, I had given confirmation to the suspicion which had been thrown out, I felt ex- ceedingly vexed and dissatisfied with myself: but I could not tranquillize my perturbed spirit: Idid OOO) S (CO) im