Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 232: what you’re looking at

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

_ tremendous. JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS O7 A MAN-SERVANT. now I bethink me, I really do not recollect your name—eyvyen if I knew it at all at the time.” “ Joseph Wilmot,’ I answered, feeling very cer- tain that Mr. Duncansby could not possibly know that I was a menial in Inch Methglin’s service; and I did not choose to reveal to him that such was the fact, lest he should at once think I was a spy, and that all my sympathy on behalf of the side which he himself advocated, was a mere hypo- critical pretence. I had taken a liking to the worthy gentleman ; and as we were again thrown together, I was naturally desirous not to suffer in his estimation. “Well, Mr. Wilmot,’ he went on to say, “so you purpose to remain here a day or two? Iam to leave to-morrow afternoon; and I hope that if you take Edinburgh in your way on your return to England, you will pay me a visit. I suppose you had plenty of feasting at Inch Methglin; for every one knows that the Chief’s hospitality is His son Lennox, I understand, is a very fine young man—and his niece Emmeline a beautiful creature. There are two young sons 7 “Nice boys,’ I observed,—“hich-spirited and full of generous impulses. And they are not yet spoilt,’ I added, after a pause, “by their father’s pride and pretensions. But then they are at pre- sent almost completely under the control of their tutor—a very worthy young gentleman—a Mr. Stuart.” “Oh, a Mr. Stuart—eh? Dominie too—is there not ?” | “Yes—Mr. Clackmannan of Clackmannanauch- nish,” ‘© Heavens, these Highland gentlemen with their terrific names!” ejaculated Duncansby: “ they are too much of a mouthful for us Lowlanders. But altogether I presume you enjoyed yourself at Inch Methglin’s? And you did not fall in love with the beautiful niece—eh ?” he added, with a laugh. “Of course, however, it would have been useless: for according to all accounts, she is des- tined to espouse her cousin, the Chief’s son. The castle is a splendid place, I understand—though I never saw it. To-morrow you shall accompany me to Carrondale Castle—which I am afraid,’ added Mi. Duncansby, his voice sinking into sad- ness, “ you will not find in quite such good order as the one you have left. The fact is, in respect to my own visit to these parts on the present oe- casion,—those rascals of usurers have been down here giving their orders, and interfering just for all the world as if they were already in fuli posses- sion of the property. They came with surveyors, and laid out their plans to sell it in parcels. The villagers, who are devoted to the name of Carron- dale, mobbed the scoundrels when it was known who they were, and forced thei to leave the place a little sooner than perhaps they would otherwise have done. They had no business here at all. The old couple taking care of the mansion, were appointed by the receiver. But there’s a wheel within a wheel: for between you and me, the re- ceiver is a friend of mine—and he allows me to give on his behalf such directions as I may think needful. That is one reason why I occa- sionally visit the property. And there is another too ie But here Mr. Duncansby stopped short, as if And there’s an old 219 suddenly perceiving that he was about to go a little too far with his communications; though what he was on the point of saying, I could not possibly guess. When he had disposed of three or four glasses of whisky-toddy the time for retir- ing to rest arrived ; and we separated for the night, with the understanding that we should rise betimes to take an early breakfast, and then be off on our visit to Carrondale Castle. Accordingly, by nine o’clock in the morning, we were on our way to the mansion. I have already said that it stood on an eminence at a distance of about a mile from the village: but the railings of the park attached to it, were within two hundred yards of the hamlet. The porter’s lodge, for years unoccupied, was falling to ruins: the sweeping carriage-road leading up to the mansion, was overgrown with weeds; and a few sheep be- longing to the villagers, were browsing upon the long grass of the park-ground itself. We reached a broad sheet of water—once no doubt an orna- mental feature of the scene—but now withits bank overgrown with weeds in their rank luxuriance, and the bosom of the lake itself covered with a green slimy substance. Nevertheless, the trees which dotted the park, and some of which displayed the growth of centuries, were in the full richness of their verdure: and as we ascended towards the eminence, the grove in which the building was more than half embowered, presented the finest and stateliest appearance. At length the entrance was reached—a grand massive portico, with a noble ascent of steps, but all covered with Time’s mildew greenness. I now obtained a view of the complete front of the building, which was of vast dimensions; and I was pleased to discern that more care had been bestowed upon the place than I could have imagined. The casements were entire —the windows were kept clean: but the shutters being all closed, and these dingy for want of fresh paint, gave to the mansion a gloomy and haunted appearance. The immense double portals stood open, doubtless to air the building; and we entered a spacious and lofty hall—finer in its dimensions as well as its architecture, than even that at Inch Methglin, where the trophies of the war and the chase were suspended. Here however there were none of such trophies: the wails were bare, and in many places gave evidence of the ravages of time. An old couple came forth from one of the rooms communicating with the hall, and received Mr. Duneansby with the utmost respect. He informed them, in allusion to myself, that he had brought a visitor to see the place; and the old man, fetching a huge bunch of keys from the room, proceeded to conduct us through the premises. Heaven knows how many apartments of stately dimensions—how many commodious-sized bedechambers—how many corridors and passages—how many outhouses and offices, were on that occasion threaded by my foot- steps. The castle was immense—nearly twice the size of Inch Methglin, which was itself an enor- mous building. But what a contrast between the two, so far as present appearances were concerned! The furniture of Carrondale had all been sold off long years back, by a decree of the court,—the money which the sale produced, being paid into the receiver's hands. It was therefore like con- templating the mere wasted skeleton of the castle’s once substantial form; and echo gloomily returned EL NT ET A ER TT TT A SS TE TTT COMIC © DOO) cS (CO)