Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 298: what you’re looking at

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

a Y JOSEPH WILMOT; curing me a situation where I was _ perfectly comfertable notwithstanding the extreme loneliness of the dwelling. When I had finished I was preparing for bed—but suddenly recollected that I had not brought up my new liveries, which had arrived that afternoon; and as I should naturally be expected to appear in my undress-suit in the ‘morning, I descended to the kitchen to fetch the parcel. As I was proceeding very gently down the stairs, —for I knew that Mr. and Mrs. Shackleford were exceedingly particular in respect to the servants putting out their lights within a reasonable time after retiring to their rooms,— the kitchen clock struck eleven. I did not think it was so late—but felt all the more assured that the entire household had withdrawn to rest, and that I should not therefore encounter asoul. But on reaching the kitchen, I was surprised to find not only a light shining there, but a strong fire blazing in the grate. I entered—and to my still greater astonishment, perceived that active culinary pre- parations were in progress. A couple of fowls were roasting in front of the fire: a saucepan was boiling upon it; and on a side-table there were jam-tarts and meat-patties, which had just been made, in readiness for the oven. I did not immediately see the cook: but while I was still standing gazing in surprise upon all that was going on, she suddenly emerged from the pantry, carrying some dishes in her hand. “Why, Joseph!” she exclaimed, as if seized with sudden affright: “ what brings you here at this hour ?” “T had forgotten my clothes,’ was my response, “and came down to fetch them.” “A pretty time of night to think of your clothes!” said the cook, somewhat sharply. *‘Hav’n’t you been told that the only thing master and missus are very particular about—and not only very particular, but even strict 5 “IT am aware,’ I interrupted her, “that I ought not to have been running about the house after ten o’clock—and also that my light should have been extinguished at least three quarters of an hour ago. But really I meant no harm—and can have done none now, inasmuch as you your- self are still up.” | “Well, well,” said the cook, now completely softened—for she was naturally a very good- natured woman, “it can’t be helped: but another time, you know, you must keep the rules of the house.” “ Rest assured that I should not wilfully break them: but Mr. and Mrs. Shackleford will expect to see me in my undress-livery to-morrow morn- ing, and therefore I really thought there was no harm in coming down to fetch it. You seem to be busy here to-night. Is there a party to- morrow ?—for as master and mistress retired to their own room an hour back, I know that these preparations are not for their supper to-night. Besides, they had their supper as usual at nine o'clock.” “Now, don’t ask me any questions, there’s a dear lad!” responded the cook, with a sort of coaxing good-humour : “ but go up to bed. Perhaps I forgot to do in the afternoon what I am doing now: or perhaps But however, you may know aiter a time Then she stopped suddenly short, as if she had 33 CR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. ere SS ee 8 - + 285 said a few words more than she had intended; and I recollected how, on the second evening after my arrival, she had been guilty of a similar inadvertence when so abruptly checked by the look of peculiar meaning which the more sedate and reserved housemaid had thrown upon her. It therefore struck me that there was some little mystery which I could not altogether understand : but of what nature it was—if indeed there were any at all—I could not form the slightest con- jecture. “ Don’t say a word,” resumed the cook quickly, “that you came down stairs to-night: or else, if it reached master’s ears, you might get a scolding —and that would be a pity; as I know he thinks well of you, and we all like you. So now good night, Joseph—-and steal up-stairs again as softly as you can.” With these words, the cook hastened to put her patties and tarts into the oven; and I, taking up my parcel of clothes and wishing her good night, left the kitchen. Ascending the stairs, I had reached the second landing, when a door abruptly opened ana Mrs. Shackleford made her appearance with a light in her hand. She instantaneously closed the door behind her—locked it—and took out the key: then advancing straight up to where I had stopped short in mingled alarm and ase tonishment on beholding her, she said, as she fixed upon me a searching look, “ What are you doing up, Joseph, and about the house at this time of night ?”” “The truth is, ma’am,” I frankly answered, as I steadily met her scrutinizing gaze, “that I sat up to write a letter—it was a long one—and when IT had finished, I recollected that I had not brought up my clothes. I accordingly went down stairs to fetch them;’—and I glanced towards the parcel in corroboration of my statement. “Oh, cook is down stairs—I recollect!” said Mrs. Shackleford, in a sort of easy careless manner. ** Another time, Joseph, you must on no account leave your room when once you have retired to it. There is nothing that Iand your master have such a dread of as fire; and if the house once caught, recollect that in this isolated spot it would be burnt to the ground before any succour could arrive. I am not angry with you on the present occasion: but you will know better in future.” She spoke kindly: I thanked her, and hastened up to my chamber. ButI have said that when she first made her appearance so abruptly on the landing, I contemplated her with mingled alarm and astonishment. The reader can of course un- derstand that the alarm was occasioned by being thus caught wandering about the house at a for- bidden hour: but the feeling of astonishment which I experienced has yet to be explained. It will be recollected that on my first arrival at Heather Place, I observed that one half the house was shut up,—the wooden shutters being all closed inside the casements. So they had con- tinued during the short time I had been there, with the exception of three windows in the back of that wing of the premises. I had learnt from the domestics that the part of the house thus shut up, had long remained unused,—not even except- ing the apartments to which belonged the three windows where the shutters were open. Now, the door whence Mrs. Shackleford had so abruptly - (OT ere, ElO@QO) <S) (C(O) AA