Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 244: what you’re looking at

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

JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. 231 «Then a few weeks,” said the Chief, “ will decide the great question. I wonder what has become of Sir Alexander Carrondale.” “Tt’s just that,” said the Dominie: “for no one knows. Some declare that he is serving in the English army abroad, as a subaltern officer and under another name. And that reminds me that the Laird of Tintosquashdale has lately changed his name into Shankspindles, the inheritance of which property he has acquired. I wrote to my friend Saltcoats about it——-And what was it that I said? I forget now: I shall recollect presently.” “Other persons,” resumed the Chief, “insist that so far from Sir Alexander Carrondale being abroad, he is concealed somewhere in Scotland, watching the progress of his lawsuit. When I use the word concealed, I mean that he is veiling his identity under some fictitious name; and doubtless his proud heart swells in bitterness at the obscurity. and poverty in which he must be plunged.” “And it may be,” said Lennox Vennachar, “that he has no family pride left in his heart at all: for whatsoever bringing-up he may have en- joyed, must have been the result of eleemosynary charity.” “ It’s just that,” said the Dominie : “for when a man has got nothing of his own, he must live upon what other people give him. This is as self- evident as the fact that if you tumble into the lake, you are sure to come out wringing wet, Ah! now I bethink me, you young gentlemen,” Cons tinued Mr. Clackmannan, addressing himself to Ivor and Lochiel, “ must not think of taking oars to-day ; for it would be very mconyenient for the boat to be swamped at this distance from land. That was an exciting scene which took place about three months back: I shall never forget how you dashed in, Mr. Stuart, and rescued first Miss Emmeline—then Lochiel . “Pray, Mr. Clackmannan,” exclaimed Lennox angrily, “do not recal such unpleasant recollec- tions :’—and the countenance of the Chief’s son was fiery red at this mention of Donald Stuart’s gallant exploits. | “It’s just because what might have been a tragedy, turned out a comedy,” said the Dominie, “that I allude to it. Indeed, the other day when Thad nothing bettor to do, I sat down for three hours on a bench near the loch, thinking of that -scene. Do you know, Mr. Stuart, you behaved very well? and though I lost my snuff-box on the occasion—which I regretted, as it was the gift of my friend Mucklenose No, it must have been my relative Knockmedownarder 4 “Well, well, Mr. Clackmannan,” ejaculated Lennox angrily, “do turn your conversation on something else. Mr. Stuart does not wish to be complimented to his face.’ “It’s just that,” said the obtuse old Dominie. “ And now I bethink me, Inch Methglin, you have never fulfilled yair pledge to Mr. Stuart 4 “Mr. Stuart knows perfectly well,” interrupted the Chief proudly, “that he has only to name the boon he craves at my hands—and which must be within the limits of ceason—in order to have it granted at once.” _*Tt’s just that,” resumed the Dominie. “And now I bethink me, if I were Mr. Stuart I would j ask you to build a bridge across the loc - “Mr. Clackmannan, I am surprised at you!” interrupted the Chief sternly. “ Tt’s just that,” responded the Dominie. “ Salt- coats was-one day very much surprised when IL told him that I did not like collops. But when I bethink me that Mr. Stuart is yet unrewarded for his services Ah! and this reminds me, too, of his very dutiful attention on another occasion You know what I mean, Miss Emmeline.” The young lady became all in an instant vio- lently agitated and confused: a crimson blush man- tled on her cheeks, leaving them the next moment as pale as marble—so that Lennox Vennachar, with the eagle-eyes of jealous suspicion, gazed upon her with mingled astonishment and distrust. “ Now that the incident is past and gone,” con- tinued the obtuse old Dominie, rolling himself round upon his seat as he took a pinch of snuff,— “and that no eyil consequences ensued from the fall r “Mr. Clackmannan,” said Emmeline hastily— and it must haye cost her an immense effort to re- gain her self-possession,—“ you will have all the snuff in your eyes: for a breeze is springing u 2 “A breeze, Emmeline ?”’ ejaculated Lennox, in a tone of mocking irony blended with a visibly concentrated rage: “there is not the faintest zephyr !”’ “Tt’s just that,” resumed the Dominie. “ But as I was saying, if was indeed very fortunate that while Joseph was gathering wild roses up in a hedge—just for all the world as if he had hidden himself there Ah! and now I bethink me, Mr. Lennox, you rode by the end of the lane at the very instant: but you did not see what was tak- ing place. I wrote to my friend Saltcoats a “Perdition take Saltcoats !” ejaculated Lennox fiercely. “ What is it that you are talking about ?” —and his looks travelled, with a sort of feverish rage and furious jealousy, from the countenance of the Dominie to that of Emmeline—thence to the features of Stuart—and back again to Emme- line’s. Oh! how I longed to knock the contents of the stupid old Dominie’s snuff-box up into his eyes— or roll him over the gunwale into the water, to give him a good ducking for his obtuse and pig- headed perverseness. I saw that a storm was im- minent: it was already on the point of bursting forth on the part of Lennox Vennachar. The Chief himself looked grave and severe: Emmeline was trembling visibly with agitation: Mr. Stuart was pale, and the glitter of uneasiness was in his eyes. , “My dear Mr. Lennox,” observed the Dominie, it’s not just that. If you knew Saltcoats, you would not wish him evil. See him over a dish of collops and a bottle of wine by his side—and you would love that man! But what were we talking of P” “Miss Vennachar’s fall in some lane,” said Lennox, with as much anxious curiosity as jealous spite. “And you say I was riding by . “Tt’s just that,” answered the Dominie. “TI remember I was seized with amazement at what I saw: but I glanced over my shoulder on hearing the sounds of a horse’s hoofs—and I beheld you. You were looking in another direction. Perhaps you were wondering what there would be for AL AI ALL LLL LT CEL ECE AL TE TE A ECC TT er ptt tie DOO! () SS co im