Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 283: what you’re looking at

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270 sumed until a later hour than it was commenced on the preceding one,—time and distance being computed so that we might arrive at our destina- tion at about nine o’clock in the evening. But scarcely was the last stage commenced, when, the wind having gone down, the rain began to pour in torrents: it descended like a deluge—and even before I could get up an umbrella I was half drenched. Mr. Stephen looked out of the carriage- window, ordered the postilions to stop, and in- sisted that I should come inside. I was forced to obey, even at the risk of inconveniencing those who were already there: but the carriage being a somewhat old-fashioned one, was more roomy than modern vehicles—and as Mr. Stephen, Helen, and myself were all three of slender figures and occupied the same seat, no want of accommoda- tion was experienced. The windows were of course closed; and the evening was dark as pitch. It was a darkness which seemed to hang like sable cloth or a funeral pall against the panes of glass; so that not a single object could be discerned on either side of the road. At length the equipage stopped: we heard the sounds of gates opening—the carriage turned into some enclosure, and finally drew up at the main entrance. Lamps were burning there— but so dimly in the deluging torrents of rain, that they only glimmered as if seen througi a mist. I leapt out, and hastened to get up an umbrella— ‘while a couple of tall footmen in splendid liveries, who came forth from the entrance-hall, put up others. In a few moments Mr. and Mrs. Row- land, Stephen, and Helen, were safely landed and under shelter. There was no one besides the domestics to receive the bridegroom and his re- latives; and I observed for a moment that Mr. Stephen bit his lip, while his countenance was flushed with indignation: but a glance from his uncle, and a smiling look from his aunt, quickly tranquillized the incensed and wounded feelings which were so naturally excited and so easily fathomed. One of the lacqueys conducted them into an apartment opening from the hall; and I heard him say, “Iwill at once inform my lord and lady of your arrival.” The other lacquey who was in attendance, con- ducted Helen and myself to the servants’ hall, where we at least experienced a hospitable wel- come. ‘The table was spread for supper, to which we were fully prepared to do justice; and when the repast was over, a female servant volunteered to show Helen where was situate the chamber that was allotted for her use. A page was directed by a superior domestic to perform the same office towards me; and I accordingly followed him out of the servants’ hall. This hall, I should observe, was on the ground floor, completely at the back of the premises; and from these premises a pas- sage led into the entrance-hall where we had landed on our arrival. At the very point where the passage joined the entrance-hall, there was a di- verging corridor at right angles, and whence several apartments opened. It was into one of these rooms that the page led me; and I found it to be an ante-chamber belonging to a much larger sleeping-apartment. Both were well furnished; and a heavy curtain covered the door of commu- nication between the two. “This is the chamber,” said the page, indi- JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. cating the larger room, “where your master Mr. Stephen Rowland is to sleep to-night; and you are of course to occupy the ante-chamber. The mansion, though a spacious one, is not extensive enough for my lord’s family and household; and therefore, as you perceive, some of the ground- floor rooms have been converted into bed-chambers. But in the daytime, and when the weather is fine, this room which your master is to oceupy, ig the pleasantest in the entire dwelling: for the casemenis open upor the garden at the side of the house ; and in the summer, when the flowers are blooming, the view is perfectly delightful. But perhaps you had-better begin unpacking your master’s portmanteau, which I see has been already brought in here.” I at once addressed myself to the task suggested, the page good-naturedly assisting me. In a few minutes the trunk was unpacked: we then returned to the ante-chamber; and opening my own box, I put out such necessaries as I required. “This is to be a curious wedding, isn’t it ?” said the page, in a low voice and with a mysterious manner. “None of us servants ever Eeard a syl- lable about it till a few days back: we never even knew that Lady Lester had a suitor at all. We can’t understand it. It seems as if it was all arranged and settled by a sort of magic. Not one of us ever recollects having seen your young mas- ter Mr. Stephen before to-night, and at all events we are very certain that he never visited his lordship’s family either at Cheltenham or in Lon- don.” I could have thrown some little light upon the matter—but did not consider it to be one on which I ought to volunteer explanations, nor to gratify a mere feeling of curiosity. I therefore affected as much ignorance on the point as the page him- self evidently experienced. “ Now come,” he said, when I had finished un- packing, “let us go back to the servants’ hall for half-an-hour or so; as I know that the butler has ordered some punch to be made, and has given out some wine, that we may celebrate to-morrow’s wedding. For I tell you what—if they don’t choose to enjoy themselves in the parlour, it’s no reason why we should not do so amongst our- selves.” T followed the page out of the ante-room; and we reached the end of the corridor where it joined the entrance-hall. At that moment two young ladies, having evidently emerged from one of the ground-floor rooms opening from the hall, were just beginning the ascent of the great marble staircase ; and the page, clutching me by the arm, hastily whispered, “The one farthest off is Lady. Lester: the one nearest is her sister Lady Wil- helmina.” I could not obtain more than a swiftly transient glimpse of their countenances: but still that glimpse was sufficient to make me fancy that I had seen Lady Lester before. The next instant however the idea became extinct in my mind, as f could not possibly recollect where or under what circumstances I had ever previously set eyes upon her. The two young ladies were both exquisitely formed,—their rich dresses of dark velvet setting off the sylphid symmetry of their shapes; and they had light hair, showering in myriads of ring- lets upon their bare shoulders. The page hurried | | | | | ELOOO cS (c@) im