Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

| | | —— sl + Ch 232 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. dinner—-as I often do—and as my friend Salt- coats %. “ Mr. Clackmannan, you are unpardonable with that wretched Saltcoats!” ejaculated Lennox. “The incident to which Mr. Clackmannan alludes,” said Donald Stuart, now interposing in a calmly dignified as well as easy and well-bred manner, ig readily and simply explained. Miss Vennachar tripped and fell: I happened to be near——” “Oh, you happened to be near P”? exclaimed Lennox, with bitter irony. “And where was Joseph ?” “ Tt’s just that,” said the Dominie: “he tum- bled out of a hedge. Of course I did not mention it at the time—because Miss Emmeline said that I had better not: but now that it’s past and gone 2 “ And you stood gazing in amazement, did you, Mr. Clackmannan ?” inquired Lennox. “ What ? amazement at so simple an occurrence! !” he added sneeringly, but his voice sounded hollow. “Ah! but at the first appearance,” replied the stupid old Dominie, continuing to take snuff at intervals, and not for a moment perceiving one atom of the mighty mischief he was creating, “at the first appearance it did of course look “odd to see a young lady in the arms of a paid tutor: but when it was all explained, it was na- tural enough.” “Explained, I presume, by Miss Vennachar herself?” said Lennox, with another malignant sneer. “We will say no more upon the subject,” ob- served the Chief sternly: for he evidently liked this revelation almost as little as did his son. Fortunately the barge reached the end of the lake at this moment; and the landing was effected. The bargemen put up the tent in the course of a few minutes: Cameron and I spread the collation ; and as we were doing so, my companion whispered to me, “ What was it all about, Joseph, that the Dominie was talking of P” “ A very simple and trivial circumstance,” I re- eponded. “T am afraid Mr. Lennox does not exactly view it in that light,’ rejomed Cameron. “But of course it is silly to be jealous: for Miss Emmeline never could have entertained a thought of @ poor miserable tutor, without family or fortune. You can go now and say that the repast is ready.” I went forth from the tent. Mr. Stuart and his two pupils were standing gazing at the water: the Chief and Mr. Clackmannan were sauntering at a little distance: Lennox and Emmeline were walking in another direction—but not arm-in-arm, and I thought by their manner that not a word was passing between them. Having told the Chief first, and Mr. Stuart next, that the repast was served, I approached Lennox and Emmeline, who were farther off than the rest; and as I drew near, I observed that the features of the Chief's son wore a scowling expression, mingled with in- jured pride and jealous wrath: while Emmeline looked deeply desponding and pensive. “The collation is served,” I said. “Very well,” ejaculated Lennox quickly—even savagely. “ Be off with you!—we shall fol- low.” Yet ere I turned aside, I caught the rapid —— glance of sympathy which Miss Vennachar threw upon me on account of this brutal treatment, for which we both full well understood the cause. In a few minutes the whole party was assembled in the tent, where the repast was spread upon a porta- ble table contrived for such purposes, and around which a sufficient number of camp-stools were placed. The seats were taken in silence: a damp had been thrown npun the spirits of all, save and except Dominie Clackmannan and the two boys,— the former being too stolid and the latter too young to comprehend the mischief that had arisen. As for Mr. Clackmannan, he was soon deep into the mysteries of a raised pie; and when he found it to contain veal, ham, and sausage-meat, he gave his usual exclamation of * It’s just that !” “ Mr. Stuart,” suddenly exclaimed Lennox, “you will take your place, sir, at the table when we have finished.” The tutor started up, crimson with indignation ; and for a moment methought that some retort of prideful wrath was about to burst from his lips: but if so, on a second thought he kept it back— and addressing himself to the Chief, simply asked, “Was it your purpose, Inch Methglin, to bring me hither as a sort of lacquey P” “T certainly intended on such an occasion as this, when the ordinary rules of etiquette may be in some way dispensed with, that you should sit down to table with us. But if it be offensive to my son”—and here the Chief glanced towards Len- nox—* as a matter of course——” “Uncle!” ejaculated Emmeline, her generous spirit bursting through all bonds of self-restraint : “it is impossible you can allow such an insult to be put upon one who, if he have no haughty name nor proud fortune, is nevertheless as much a gen- tleman as my cousin!” “Emmeline, sit down! I am surprised at you!” said the Chief wp “Oh, this is a day of revelations,” exclaimed Lennox, in a So tone of mingled rage and irony; “and there is nothing to be astonished at ! 1? “Tf my presence be offensive,” said Mr. Stuart, “JT will immediately withdraw. But I smeerely thank Miss Vennachar for her noble and generous interposition.” “Breathe not the name, sir, of Miss Venna- char!” cried Lennox, springing up in a towering passion. “Such a name is not to be breathed by the lips of one who can only be regarded as a pauper dependant!” “Pauper dependant, Mr. Vennachar?”’ said Donald Stuart, his countenance beaming with indignation, and yet with a dignity incomprehen- sibly noble and striking: “such words would, under other circumstanees, merit chastisement. What I receive from your father, I earn ho- nestly.” = it s just that,” interposed the Dominie, who in his own way was good-natured enough. “I think you had better let Mr. Stuart sit down and have some of this pie. If Saltcoats were here——”" “ Silence, Mr. Clackmannan!” said the Chief sternly. “Mr. Stuart, your services in my family are dispensed with from this moment. What- soever is due to you, will be remitted to your lodging.” “You have only given me, Inch Methglin,” re- ————— | ELN@QO) cS (C) im