Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

226 re a SN - ooo JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. “Tt’s just that,” interposed the Dominie ; “ and if Sir Alexander Carrondale does get possession of his rights “ His rights, Mr. Clackmannan ?” exclaimed Inch Methglin indignantly : “ he has no rights, sir !” “Tt’s just that,’ answered the Dominie, with the cool indifference of indolent stupidity: “if he gets his wrongs, it won’t be Joseph’s fault.” “ Young man,” continued the Chief, addressing himself to me, his countenance wearing a residue of that stern indignation which the Dominie’s re- marks had conjured up,—“ you yesterday saved the life of my son Ivor: and at the present moment Inch Methglin is your debtor.” “I can assure you, sir,’ I answered, somewhat hastily—for I recollected how very averse the Chief was to be held in the light of deptor at all: “IT have no such idea. I merely performed a duty * “To be sure!” interjected the Dominie: “ just as my friend and kinsman Baillie Owlhead of the Gallowgate, Aberdeen, performed his duty when he tumbled into the horsepond——-Na, it couldn’t be that—I mean when he sent that rascal Whistlebinkie to the Tolbooth for kicking him into the pond. How it all ended, I forget at the moment; but I shall recollect presently :”—and Mr. Clackmannan took snufffor two minutes with. out ceasing. “Young man,” continued the Chief, “I am your debtor—and I do not choose to remain so, Let me have no more words upon the subject. This purse contains fifty guineas: they are your's. Not another syllable! It is the Chief of Inch Methglin’s way of acquitting himself; and you are bound to submit.” I dared not offer any farther remonstrance— though it really went against my scruples to re- ceive a money-reward for haying sayed a human life. I took the purse—expressed my acknow- ledgments — and was about to retire, when the Chief, recollecting something, called me back. “One word, young man,” he said, “I am not about to scold you; because what my son Mr. Lennox just now mentioned to me, has been al- ready pardoned by him. You received my in- structions to attend upon my niece Miss Vennachar in her frequent visits to the village; but the last time you followed Miss Vennachar, you displayed a certain degree of negligence, which must not occur again. Remember, I am not upbraiding you now: I am merely condescending to remind you that my instructions must be obeyed to the very letter. Another time see that you idle not at shop-windows—but do your cuty, and attend pro- perly on my niece.” The Chief waved his hand imperiously towards the door; and I retired from the library without uttering another word. I had however received, in this last incident, an additional proof of Lennox Vennachar’s jealousy in respect to Donald Stuart: for it was of course evident that he had said enough to his father to induce the latter to give me the positive instructions which I had just re- ceived. The weather had changed since the preceding day: the rain was fallmg im torrents—the family and the guests remained in-doors. The weather continued thus unpropitious for the four or five days following; and when it cleared up, the guests took their departure. There was again a lull at Inch Methglin. I was now anxious to avail myself of the possession of means for the purpose of remitting to the kind-hearted Dutch Captain at Rotterdam the money he had advanced me; and I resolved to have recourse once more to the Chief’s factor in the village. I was about to set off one afternoon, as soon as the weather had cleared up and the guests had taken their de- parture,—when I bethought me that having re- ceived such special instructions from both father and son in respect to Miss Vennachar, I had better inquire of her whether, she needed my services before I absented myself for an hour or two? I accordingly proceeded to the drawing- room—where I found her seated with a book, while the Chief was engaged with a newspaper, and the Dominie was dozing on an ottoman in the corner. Lennox, I knew, had gone out for a ride on horseback. “If you please, Miss,” I said, “do you require my attendance this afternoon ?” “You are a good young man, Joseph,” said the Chief, bending upon me a condescending look of approval. “Emmeline, my dear,” he continued, turning to his niece, “you haye not been out for some days; and a little exeursion will do you good. It is really almost too bad of Lennox not to have asked you to walk or ride with him.” “Lennox asked me to ride, unele,” responded Miss Vennachar: “ but I did not feel well.” “The very reason,” exclaimed the Chief, “ why a little walk will do you good. Besides, when I spoke to you the other day in a certain strain, I did not mean you to renounce altogether your visits to the village-school.” . * Then I will go, uncle,” said the young lady: and addressing me with her wonted air of kind- ness, she observed, “I shall be ready, Joseph, in about ten minutes.” “ Tt’s just that,” said the Dominie. “And now I bethink me, I will do myself the pleasure of accompanying Miss Emmeline as far as the vil- lage: for the last snuff I bought there was not of the usual sort. If my friend Saltcoats were here, I should have a good pinch out of his mull. And that reminds me——” | I heard no more: for I now quitted the room, to wait for Miss Vennachar in the hall. In about ten minutes she descended, followed by the Do- minie, who was endeavouring to recollect some anecdote which he had just commenced. We reached the jetty, and entered the boat. During the transit across the lake, Mr. Clackmannan recollected the proposal which he had made to the Chief relative to a bridge. “You see, Miss Emmeline,” he said, “if your uncle could but be persuaded to build this bridge, it would be a very great convenience. I for one should like it amazingly—and so would my friend Saltcoats, if he came to see me. Ah, by the bye, I wish that it had been my good luck to rescue Lochiel the other day. And that reminds me of a little anecdote——” “But why, Mr. Clackmannan,” inguired Miss Vennachar, “did you express that wish ?” “ It’s just that,” responded the Dominie. “Don’t you see, Miss Emmeline, the Chief pledged him- self to grant whatsoever might in reason be de- manded of him, by the individual who saved 4 CORNIECLO@ Le