Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 259: what you’re looking at

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

— 246 nox had monopolized his cousin’s society through- out the period of Sir Alexander’s visit. “ Of course, it is an. excellent proof,” rejoined Cameron gravely: and here our conversation ceased. So the marriage was resolved upon—and it was to be thus precipitated! I. understood perfectly well why both the Chief and Mr. Lennox were deter- mined to immolate Emmeline to.their own selfish views, while she was yet completely in their power. And this was the. kind way in which the Chief acted as a guardian to his niece!—and this was the strength of his son’s loye, which could not sacrifice itself to the young. lady’s happiness! That they both knew full well Emmeline was: at- tached to Sir Alexander, there could be no doubt: it must have been plain to.them, even apart from previous causes for suspicion of love in that quar- ter, that the Baronet would not have demanded her hand in marriage unless confident that. the proceeding was agreeable to herself. I saw that the young lady was to be rendered the object of a vile piece of family tyranny—and that, surrounded by all the members of the clan, she even. stood a chance of being literally dragged to the altar, despite whatsoever remonstrances.her lips might frame. But I was resolved, so.far as it. depended upon me, to assist the. cause of the lovers; and I rejoiced unfeignedly that I.had remained at Inch Methglin. Jt was too Jate for.that day’s post— and yet time was so precious! But on the fol- lowing day I wrote two letters—one to Sir Alex- ander at Carrondale Castle, the other to Mr. Duneansby at. Edinburgh; for I knew not, when the Baronet left Inch Methglin, whither it was his immediate purpose to proceed. On the day that I sent off my despatches, it became generally known amongst the domestics that the marriage was fixed for the 8th of De- cevaber; and this was the 2nd. There were but five clear days between the present moment and the one fixed for the consummation of the sacrifice. Oh! if by any chance Sir Alexander should not receive timely notice! But then, I said to myself, ‘Emmeline loyes him—and her own energies will JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN*SERVANT. were bent on making her the wife of her cousin Lennox. I did not for an instant suppose that she had yielded her assent and was resigned pas- sively to submit: a secret voice appeared ‘to tell me that she anxiously and ,eagerly sought an op- portunity to deliver a letter to me to be forwarded to Sir Alexander. It was the morning of the 7th—and in the meantime the preparations for the wedding, which was fixed for the ensuing day, had progressed on the grandest scale. I had received no answers to my letters to Mr. Duncansby and Sir Alexan- der. I began to fear that, after all, the sacrifice would .be accomplished—that Emmeline was un- able to act for herself—and that succour from other quarters would come too late. I knew not what to do. I had so identified: myself in the progress of this love-affair, that I deemed it almost. a point. of honour to raise whatsoever obstacle I could to baffle the Chief’s designs. But what power, means, or influence had I at my dis- posal—a humble domestic! The day advanced—hour after hour passed : there was a walking-party in the afternoon—the dusk set in at three o’clock—and there was now no longer a chance of. Emmeline being enabled to come forth into. the: grounds, where I loitered about, in. the hope of seemg her, after the return of the party to the castle. I felt sadly desponding on behalf of the lovers—and indeed had well nigh given up all hope,—when at about six o’clock in the evening, Emmeline’s »principal lady’s-maid, descending. into. the servants’ hall. .after having attended on the young lady’s dinner-toilet, took an opportunity to:make me a:sign of intelligence. Most of the domestics werein the hall at the time ; and therefore it was scarcely possible forme and Grace (which was the lady’s-maid Christian name) to hold any whispering conversation together: but I saw that she had something to communicate— and from ithe bottom of my heart I hoped she had been won over to the cause of her young mistress. At the expiration of a few minutes after I had seen that sign of intelligence, I rose from my seat, and issued forth from the servants’ hall: be worked up to a pitch that must impel her to | but ere closing the door, I darted a rapid glance the adoption of some measure to frustrate the | towards Grace. selfish views of her relatives and to save herself.” CHAPTER XULUVII. A DECISIVE STEP. Tr soon became evident enough to. me that Miss Vennachar was closely watched. A hard frost now set in after the late rain: the soil being therefore admirable for walking, the family and. the guests frequently rambled through the grounds. . Emme- line was with them on these oceasions—for the most part with Lennox by Wer side, or else in the midst of a bevy of the ladies of the clan, who no doubt formed a sort of guard for the safe custody of the intended victim. Thus five whole days passed, during which Emmeline never once came forth alone into; the gardens. This circumstance it was that convinced me she was watched, espied, I lingered in the passage for.some little time until the door of the servants’ hall was ' again opened, and Grace made her appearance. She was a woman of about thirty—by no means good-looking, nor even with an agreeable expres- sion of countenance: on the contrary, her aspect was saturnine and reserved; and this indeed was her character. I had always heard her speak in those same terms of devotion and obedience to the interests of the Chief, as the domestics generally were wont to adopt; and thus, as I had remained deliberating with myself in the passage, I felt somewhat surprised and alarmed at the idea that Miss Vennachar should have made a confidante of Grace: for the first flush of hope being past, 1 became fearful of treachery at the hands of this woman. . However, I was of course resolved to hear what she might have to say to me,—when I should be better enabled to judge as to her sin- cerity or the reverse. She joined me in the passage, as I have said ; and opening the door leading forth into the grounds, she requested. me to follow her. We hemmed in all around as it were, by those who j reached a convenient spot for conversation ; and SS (CO) im ElOOQO)