Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 218: what you’re looking at

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JOSEPH WILMOT: OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. 205 I should otherwise have been if merely taken into his service in the ordinary way. “T expected you some days sooner, young man,” said Mr. Vennachar, breaking silence when his survey of me was ended. “T regret, sir,”’ was my response, “ that I could not reach Inch Methglin before: but I can assure you, sir, that I made my way hither as speedily as circumstances would permit.” “Very good: I accept the explanation,” said the Chief. “You are to act as body-servant to- wards Mr. Lennox :”—and he glanced in the direc- tion where his son was seated. “Ido not usually condescend to represent to my servants that if they conduct themselves well they will find themselves happy here—but that if on the other hand they give me cause of offence, they must put up with the consequences. In your case, however, I make an exception on account of the special recommen- dation I have received. I do not therefore mind telling you,” added Inch Methglin, with a look which seemed to bid me comprehend and appre- ciate the immensity of his kind condescension, “that by your behaviour may you be your own best friend or worst enemy. Those who once enter this house, need never fear to leave it, save and except through their own conduct.” “Tt’s just that,’ observed Dominie Clackman- nan, as he slowly sat up in his chair to take a pinch of snuff. “TI hope and trust, sir,” I ventured to observe, “that you will find me grateful for the kind assur- ances you are now giving me. I have excellent testimonials ” but then I stopped short; for I suddenly recollected that they, together with my other papers and letters, were all in the box which had not as yet arrived from London. “I do not want to see your testimonials,” said the Chief, waving his hand in a lofty manner. “One of my oldest and best friends has spoken a good word in your favour; and that is suffi- cient.” “Tt’s just that,’ remarked the Dominie: and again rolling himself heavily round in the chair, he drew forth his snuff-box. “I remember a little anecdote és “Tt now only remains for you, Joseph,” con- tinued the Chief, “to show yourself worthy of the recommendation you have received, and of the confidence which I place in you.” “I think, father,” observed Lennox, “that the lad will answer the purpose well enough; and as he is to be specially attached to my service, I have no doubt I shall be pleased with him—if his looks afford any criterion of his disposition.” “It’s just that,” interjected the Dominie: and there was another pinch of snuff. “The mind is swayed by personal appearance: which makes me bethink myself of an anecdote 3 The Chief here waved his hand for me to retire; and I accompanied the footman, who was waiting on the landing outside, back to the servants’ hall. It was now a little past six in the evening; and dinner was being served up in the dining-room. On my way back to the domestics’ offices, I met half-a-dozen footmen, each bearing a tray covered with dishes; and I thought to myself that a nu- merous company must be expected : but I presently found that it was nothing of the sort—that only the family circle were to partake of this dinner ; and therefore the next conclusion to which I came, was that the Chief of Inch Methglin’s table must indeed be sumptuously sustained. That the domes- tics fared proportionately well, I speedily had an opportunity of discovering: for at about nine o’clock the table in the servants’ hall was spread for supper—places for nearly thirty were laid—and such a profusion of cold joints, game-pies, and all kinds of dainties, appeared upon the board, that even the good living which I had seen and partaken of in Lord. Ravenshill’s service, was absolute fru- gality in comparison with the present entertain- ment. The servants were sixteen in number, in- cluding myself; and in addition to these were the Chief’s twelve barge-men, who all wore an uniform sailor-like dress, and were a dozen of as fine- looking men as the Highlands could possibly pro- duce. The housekeeper sat at the head of the table: the butler at the foot. There was no sepa- rate table fo® the scullions and lower degree of servants; but all sat down to the same board—and the utmost good fellowship prevailed. In short, I retired to rest that night with very favourable im- pressions of my new place. My bedchamber was in the close vicinage of Mr. Lennox Vennachar’s own apartment; and there was a bell hung in mine, so that I could be summoned thither at any moment he required my services. My watch having been plundered from me by | Mr. Lanover or his accomplices, I was afraid, on retiring to rest, that I might not know at what hour to rise in the morning: but I had not been long in my room, when I heard—what I had not noticed before—a clock on the outside of some part of the building, proclaiming the time; and I was thus relieved from my apprehension on the point mentioned. I rose at six o’clock; and from my window, which was at the back of the edifice, I enjoyed a most splendid view. From the emi- nence on which the castellated mansion stood, the eye might embrace a good half of the entire Inch ; and I saw that the grounds were laid out in the most beautiful manner. The isthmus, con- necting the peninsula with the main land, was not much wider than just sufficient to form a good carriage-road, which was continued through the grounds up to the back wall of the court-yard, whence it swept completely round the entire edifice—so that though equipages had to approach the mansion from the rear, they nevertheless could set down at the front entrance. The country on the mainland afforded evidences of a well-cultured estate; and even from that distance, the glimpses that were caught of villages and homesteads in- terspersed about, conveyed an impression of com- fort and prosperity which made me sigh when I thought of the cheerless, wretched contrast af- forded by the neglected, half-ruined estate of Car- rondale. Jar as the eye could reach, all around— and much farther too—did the estate of Inch Methglin extend; and I really could not be sur- prised if the proprietor of these vast tracts con- sidered himself, and was considered, a person of no ordinary consequence, though only a plain W/., without the title of Lord or Baronet, or even Knight, appended to his name. But then he was a Chief—a Highland Chief—the head of a clan; and that doubtless in his estimation, as well as in that of all his relatives, retainers, and dependants, was one of the grandest distinctions on the face COmicooolks (CO in