Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 27: what you’re looking at

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14 JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERYANT. board and lodging. Therefore, I see nothing better that I can do on your behalf—at least for a year or two—than to keep you beneath this goof. You will have but little work of a really menial nature to do—nothing that is positively degrading, nor by which your feelings will be wounded.” I expressed my warmest gratitude to Mr. Del- mar for his goodness towards me—assuring him that I only sought to eat the bread of industry; and that so far from hesitating to accept the pro- posal so generously made, it was much above my most sanguine expectations. He appeared pleased with my answer; and that same day I accompanied the carriage into London—which was about three miles distant—to be measured for my page’s dress. Tn a few days it was sent home; and I assumed the livery of a domestic servant. But I was by no meaus distressed nor humiliated thereby: I was only too happy at having obtained a comfortable home, and to be afforded an opportunity of earning my own livelihood. About a fortnight after my entrance into Mr. Delmar’s family, a handsome curricle, drawn by two splendid horses, dashed up the carriage-drive one day towards the mansion. A gentleman and lady, with an elegantly apparelled livery-servant, were the occupants of the vehicle. The gentleman himself drove, and took an evident pleasure in the rapid pace and graceful action of the two steeds. He was a man about eight-and-thirty years of age—tall, handsome, and well made. His complexion was somewhat dark : he had an aquiline profile—his eyes were bright and piercing—his hair curled naturally—and he was dressed in the most fashionable style. He had one of those voices which seem to be full of a masculine harmony— deep without being hollow, and full-toned without being loud or sonorous. It was a very pleasing voice, and suited well the handsome person, the elegant appearance, and the polished manners of its possessor. This gentleman was the Hon. Mr. Mulgrave, my benefactor’s son-in-law. The lady who accompanied him, was his wife; and very different was her style of beauty from that of her sister Edith. She was, as already stated, thirty- three years of age; and though not above the medium height, yet appeared talicr on account of the admirable symmetry of her form and the statuesque carriage of her head and bust. She had dark brewn hair and deep blue eyes,—the for- mer of extraordinary luxuriance, and with a rich natural gloss upon it: her complexion was good, but not of the same exquisite purity of white and the same soft blush of the rose which formed that of her sister. It seemed a complexion slightly, but only very slightly touched—I can scarcely say faded—by the gaieties, the festivities, the late hours, and the occupations of fashionable life. Her features were larger than those of Edith—but yet by no means coarse, nor devoid of classical chiselling. She had an air alike commanding and elegant: grace and dignity characterized all her movements; and there was a certain expression of hauteur in her look, as well as in her gait and bearing. As I have spoken at this length of the elder sister, I will here pause to deseribe the younger. It has already been said that Edith had a lovely complexion and blue eyes: the former was charac- terized by all the freshness of youth, unmarred by 4 -_—— -— the heated atmosphere of gilded saloons: the hue ef the latter was of a shade lighter than the blue of Clara’s eyes, and more nearly approaching the azure—while the other deepened towards the violet. Her hair was of a lighter brown, and might almost be termed chesnut: her lips were of a bright ver- milion,—the pearly teeth showing brilliantly when smiles played upon that charming mouth. The form of Clara had the luxuriance of a Hebe blended with the symmetry of a Diana: that of Edith dis- played the lithe slenderness and elasticity of a sylph —yet without thinness, and having the modelled contours of just proportions. The disposition of Clara, as read in her countenance at the first glance, was more serious and settled than that of the younger sister,—which was gay and artlessly blithe, without forwardness or giddiness. The one struck the beholder as being a woman of the world and a star in the circles of fashion: the other as an ingenuous, unsophisticated creature, isnorant of the artificialities and unspoilt by the formal con- ventionalisms of society. To return to my narrative. It was a little past the hour of noon when the curricle dashed up to the front entrance of Delmar Manor; and Edith hastened forth to greet her sister. There was something unfeignedly warm in the embrace which Edith bestowed—while the same gush of heartfelt emotion was wanting on the part of Clara, although there was nothing positively cold nor unkind on her side. . Mr. Delmar received them in the hall, kissing his elder daughter, and shaking hands with Mr. Mulgrave. As Clara swept her eyes around, she observed me standing at a little distance; and she said quite loud enough to be overheard by me, “I see that you have increased your household, dear father. Where did you pick up that elegant-looking page ?” “JT will tell you all about it presently, Clara,” responded Mr. Delmar; and thus speaking, he led the way into the parlour, followed by his daughters, —Mr. Mulgrave, turning back to the threshold for a few moments to survey with evident pride and satisfaction his elegant equipage as the ser- vant drove it round to the stables. He was then about to enter the parlour, when suddenly stop- ping short as if recollecting something, he beckoned me towards him,—saying, “ By the bye, youngster, there is a small parcel under the front seat of the curricle, which my man knows nothing about. Just run and fetch it in.” As I was hastening away to execute this com- mand, I overheard Mr. Mulgrave say to the foot- man, “ Where did the governor get that neat little page?” I did not catch the reply—but hastened after the carriage ; and having found the parcel, sped back into the mansion. But as I re- entered the hall, I found Mr. Mulgrave still con- versing with the footman. On beholding me, he at once advanced to receive the packet, which I presented to him; and he eyed me with consider- able attention,—so that I made sure the footman had been giving him some particulars concerning me, and which methought had excited Mr. Mul- grave’s interest—perhaps his compassion. Soon afterwards, when the parlour bell rang and IL hastened to respond to the summons, I noticed that Mrs. Mulgrave likewise surveyed me in a similar manner; and my heart swelled with in- effable emotions at fmding myself the object of se CORNIIECLOOC Ss) (E (0)