Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 291: what you’re looking at

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

278 something more in what the waiter has told: us than you, Mr. Henley, choose to acknowledge or are inclined to believe. At all events, 1 am not so pressed to arrive at my destination but that I can wait until the morrow.” af “Very well, sir,’ answered the commercial traveller, in a good-humoured manner: “ you would have: been welcome to a seat in my drag, if you had liked to accept it.” I thanked him, but still declined; and soon afterwards I saw him take his departure in his four-wheeled vehicle, which was fitted up to con- tain samples of the particular goods dealt in by the house for which he travelled. I then entered the coffee-room—had my supper—and went to bed early. I rose betimes in the morning—indeed, as soon as it was daylight; and the beauty of the weather —for it was now the end of March—put it into my head that I would set out and walk to my destination, leaving my boxes to be forwarded by the carrier's van. I had no inclination to jog alone for a distance of five miles in a van of that description, and not reach my place till the after- noon—whereas an hour and a half’s pleasant and easy walking would bring me thither shortly after nine o'clock. Besides, as this part of the country was altogether new to me, I had a natural curio- sity to form as early an acquaintance with it as possible. I was fond of walking too; and as the fears of highwaymen very much resemble those inspired by ghosts, inasmuch as they vanish with the daylight,—I did not hesitate to trust myself to the road I had to pursue, however lonely it might be. My mind being thus made up, I at once ordered breakfast; and having partaken of it, settled my bill—gave directions about my lug- gage—and sallied forth. Tt was not yet eight o’clock—and as I have already said, a charming Spring morning. There was a delicious freshness in the air, which ex- hilarated the spirits, invigorated the frame, and gave elasticity to the step. I had previously in- quired my way,—receiving such instructions that if properly followed, could not fail to guide me to my destination. On emerging from the town, I was soon upon the heath, which exhaled a fragrant perfume, and the sameness of which was varied by groves of fir-trees. From an eminence I obtained a view of a large white building, about three miles off, and which the waiter had told me to look out for,—it being the Royal Military College of Sand- hurst. Its situation, even when viewed from that distance, was exceedingly picturesque, having nu-. merous groves about it, and in front a large lake with two wooded islamds in the middle. J con. tinued my way, which ran along a beaten bye-road intersecting the heath, and having neither hedges nor fences. As the distance between me and Bag- shot increased, the scene grew more lonely,—the Military College being now hidden from my view, and only an occasional dwelling appearing here and there at long intervals. In this manner I ded about three miles, when I entered a road which was bordered by fields, and the hedges of which were putting forth the verdure of Spring. I thought to myself that I was now entering upon a more thickly populated part of the country: but a turning in this bye-road soon brought me in the close vicinage of the heath again,—though JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. on one side there were still prospects of pasture- lands. About a quarter of a mile distant I per- eeived a small but picturesquely situated habita- tion,—a white cottage, with the nascent verdure of the clematis and the honeysuckle giving rustic beauty to its portico. It stood in the midst of a well-kept garden, in the rear of which was a small shrubbery of fir-trees. As I drew nearer the spot, it appeared to display additional attractions, of a simple and rural character. A couple of cows and a horse were grazing in an adjacent paddock: there was a small conservatory attached to the house; and through the panes thereof, I could discern a number of plants. Melon and cucumber beds, covered with glass frames, showed that the garden was turned to good account; and the par- terres of flowers appeared to indicate the supers vision of female taste. The blinds and curtains at the windows of the dwelling bespoke the neat- ness and comfort which prevailed within; and in all the window-sills there were rows of plants in green pots. Altogether this little habitation con- veyed the impression of picturesque beauty and simplicity, not unblended with feminine elegance of taste. It stood quite alone; and as my eyes glanced around, I could not distinguish another habitation within at least a distance of a mile. But still more remote than this interval, and farther on ahead, I beheld a large gloomy-looking house, standing on an eminence, and a portion of which was embowcr:d in a grove of fir-trees. I was just wondering within myself whether the neat little white cottage could possibly be my destination, and that it had been dubbed by the dignified mame of Heather Place,—when I sud- denly recollected that the waiter had told me I should have to pass such a cottage, where, he had incidentally observed, dwelt a gentleman by the name of Foley. But inasmuch as my informant at the tavern had not been explicit im respect to the house itself, but had merely said, after other details, “You will next pass the white house where Mr. Foley lives,’—it did not immediately strike me that this sweet little picturesque place ~ was the one alluded to. However, now that my recollections were thoroughly revived, I compre- hended that. the gloomy-loaking habitation I saw about'a mile and a half ahead must be the dwell- ing of the Shacklefords. I had reached the front of the white cottage, and was lingering at the low neatly-kept paling— looking over into the garden—when all of a sudden the front door opened somewhat violently; and out: rushed a female with dishevelled hair, and anguish upon her countenance. She was about eight-and- twenty years of age, and remarkably handsome, despite the bitter affligtion which was evidently convulsing her. Her hair was of raven darkness; and floating as it was in its dishevelled condition, it gave to her appearance a certain look of wild- ness, which, though but little compatible with the simple beauty of that charming spot, was by no means inconsistent With the nature of the suar~ rounding scenery, where tracts of heather and dark green fir-groves were but only partially varied by the few fields and the hedge-rows amidst which I had just: beem pursuing my way. The lady of whom I am speaking, was tall and finely formed. She was of full proportions, though not of an exu- berance to mar the symmetry of her shape; for | | | | | : | EES EE OEE ee ee eee ELOOO SS (Cc) im