Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 233: what you’re looking at

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220 the sounds of our footsteps. Mr. Duncansby’s countenance wore an air of sadness as we paced along; and my spirits caught the same. infection. I was glad when the survey was over: for it was mournful to a degree to have to call upon the imagination to furnish those vast State-rooms, when the bare walls and the blackened floors dis- played the chilling reality of utter nakedness. I sighed audibly; and Mr. Duncansby bent upon me a look which was as much as to imply that he understood my feelings and gave me credit for them: then, with a sudden impulse of his good- natured disposition, he seized my hand—pressed it hard—and muttered in an under-tone, “I would freely renounce all my own costs, if you and I could but drink a bumper together within these walls, to celebrate the return of Sir Alexander Carrondale in triumph to his home!” My own countenance expressed how sincerely I wished that such indeed might be the case; and this little incident, displaying so much true feeling on the worthy lawyer’s part, increased my admi- ration for his honest and generous character. He was one of Nature’s rough diamonds that must not be judged by the coarseness of the exterior : the value was all within. . We made our way across a spacious court-yard, encumbered with weeds, back to the great hall of the building ; and there Mr. Duncansby requested me to amuse myself by walking about in the neighbourhood of the premises for half-an-hour, as he had some little business to transact with the old guardian of the place. I did as he desired ; and at the expiration of that interval, he rejoined me. As we retraced our way to the village, I said, “‘ Was there, not an account in a Perth news- paper of the visit of the mortgagees to this place, —that visit of which you spoke to me last evening P and was it not coupled with a declaration that they were confident in the success of the lawsuit ?” “God bless you, young gentleman!” exclaimed Duncansby, “they have no more certitude on the subject than I have. Of course every one having a lawsuit, gives out that he is confident of success : but the issue is at the same time beyond the reach of human foresight.” “T am truly rejoiced to hear you say this,” was my next observation. “I wanted to ask you the question last night; but I feared that you would think me impertinent or inquisitive.” “TImpertinent and inquisitive?’ ejaculated the lawyer. ‘“ No—that is impossible! I know that you entertain the most generous sympathies in this matter. Think you, Mr. Wilmot, that I did not ere now observe a tear standing on your eye- lash, as we threaded those vast empty rooms, the very atmosphere of which went cold to the heart even while the sun was glowing in summer-heat out of doors? I have every confidence in you, little though we are acquainted with each other: nor have I forgotten what you said yesterday, that even while the guest of Inch Methglin, you never suffered yourself to be swayed by the bias of his animosity in respect to your own hopes and sym- pathies.” “Solemnly I assure you, my dear sir,’ I an- swered, with much emotion, “ that though an utter stranger to Sir Alexander Carrondale, and never having seen him in all my life—at least to my knowledge 1. JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. “It’s just that,” said the lawyer drily. “ Always qualify your expressions in that manner: it’s safer and more prudent. But go on.” “T was about to observe,” I continued, “ that from all you have told me it would afford me infinite satisfaction to hear of Sir Alexander’s success.” “I am sure of it,” exclaimed Mr. Duncansby warmly. “Ah, I recollect!” he added as a thought evidently flashed to his mind: “ you might have imagined last evening that there was a certain want of confidence on my part, because, as I re- member now, I stopped suddenly short when on the point of saying something. I will tell you what it was. You will call to mind that I was explaining my motive for visiting Carrondale from time to time? One was to give instructions to the old couple up yonder; and the other,” added Duncansby, with a mysterious look and measured utterance, “to meet Sir Alexander Carrondale himself !”” “What ?”? I exclaimed: “he is in the neigh- bourhood !” “He is not a hundred miles hence,” rejoined Duncansby; “and now and then, according to previously-made appointments on my part, by means of letters, he meets me at the village- inn.” “ And yet methought,” I observed, “that when we travelled together * | “TI told you,” interrupted Duncansby, “that I was the only man in the universe who knew where Sir Alexander Carrondale was. And that is true. Did I not also tell you that he was in the world under a feigned name—and that never will he resume his proper one, unless it be at the same time to enter upon the enjoyment of his rights? God bless you, Mr. Wilmot, he was but a child when his father died, and when the property was thrown into the law-courts. He was too young to deplore the loss of the home from which stranger hands bore him away. No: not stranger hands— the hands of friends; but still not the hands of relatives—for all those deserted the poor orphan when it was believed that the family estate was passing away from him for ever. Years and years elapsed ere he revisited this part of the country: he had then grown up to manhood. Think you, therefore, that there is a single soul here who could recognise in the individual bearing a humble name, the possessor of the Baronetcy of Carron- dale—and, I hope, soon to be the possessor of the princely domain likewise? He comes as a stranger to the village-inn: he goes away as a stranger; and the inmates of the house know not who has been beneath their roof. This secret I have told you, Mr. Wilmot, as a humble tribute of my con- fidence, in return for the noble sympathies which you have displayed on behalf of Sir Alexander Carrondale.” I thanked the worthy lawyer for his kindness; and the conversation ceased—for the village-inn was now reached. Some hours had been passed in the visit to the Castle; and an early dinner had been ordered, as Mr. Duncansby was to take his departure in the afternoon. Nothing more of any consequence ensued between us. I have already said that he was too fond of talking himself, to think of putting inquisitive questions to me; and he therefore did not ask whether 1 had come = eee eee —_—_—_— OOO ebooks (©)