Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 314: what you’re looking at

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JOSEPH WILMOT 3; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. some vehicle to be in the neighbourhood,” I said, “in the course of a few days; and it shall be by climbing the fence of the plantation that we will escape. But still there are difficulties in the way. So long as Mrs. Shackleford remains ill, I shall continue in attendance upon you; and therefore I shall cease to pay my periodical visits to Bagshot. It is only there that I can hire a chaise or vehicle of any description ‘ “Can you not devise some pretext, Joseph,” asked Calanthe, “for paying a speedy visit to Bagshot? For instance, suppose that to-morrow, when you come to me in the morning " * Ah! I know what you are going to say,” I exclaimed, anticipating Calanthe’s thoughts. “I will tell Mr. Shackleford that you do not purpose to walk out in the plantation until the cool of the evening, and that you have dispensed with my services until then. I shall thus have several hours at my own disposal; and I will ask leave to repair to Bagshot in order to make some little purchases of which I will pretend to stand in need. Yes—let this be the arrangement, Calanthe.” “Tt is for to-morrow,” she observed, gazing fondly up into my countenance ; “and for the day after you will have a chaise duly bespoken, so that our flight shall be effectually accomplished.” The plan was thus settled; and as we had now been rambling for more than an hour in the plan- tation, I suggested that for prudence sake, and in order to avert the possibility of suspicion, it would be better for us to re-enter the house. We did so; and having embraced my child, and received Calanthe’s fervid caresses, I issued forth from her apartments. I lost no time in restoring the keys to Mr. Shackleford, who inquired after the health of the lady and the little one. I replied that they appeared to be both well—and then withdrew to attend to such duties as I had to perform. In the evening I paid another visit to Calanthe’s apart- ments—but was careful to remain with her only three or four minutes. On the following morning, at about nine o’clock, I revisited her—likewise remaining but just long enough to exchange a few words and fondle the little Joseph. I then re- paired to the parlour, where Mr. Shackleford was seated; and I said to him as I laid the key upon the table, “The lady, sir, does not wish to walk in the plantation until the evening. Her orders are that I shall wait upon her between five and six o’clock.” “Very good, Joseph,” responded Mr. Shackle- ford ; “and in this case, as you will have the greater portion of the day before you, you can go across to Bagshot and make the usual purchases. You will acquit yourself better than old Jacob, who is becoming quite childish.” I was glad that Mr. Shackleford thus antici- pated, by his orders, the very leave and license which I had been about to solicit ; and having re- ceived a list of things which he required, I set off in the chaise-cart. On passing the white cottage, I beheld Mr. Foley walking in the little garden, leaning upon the arm of his handsome wife, who was evidently overjoyed at her husband’s continu- ously satisfactory approach towards convalescence. I stopped for a minute to proffer my congratula- tions,—receiving a kind word and an affable smile from both; and then I continued my way. I speedily reached Bagsho., and executed the various —_ Se 301 commissions entrusted to me. I was now upon the point of making some inquiry as to the hiring of a post-chaise,—when it struck me for the first time that the proceeding would have so singular an air, it might possibly reach the ears of persons acquainted with the Shacklefords, and thence be carried to Heather Place. Between two and three miles farther along the road, and in the close vi- cinage of the Military College, was the little town of Blackwater; and, after a few minutes’ delibe- ration with myself, I resolved to repair thither and carry out the arrangements which I had now in hand. Accordingly, to Blackwater I proceeded, —and soon found a person who had a close chaise to let on hire. “ Are you disposed,” I said, “to do a certain little job with becoming caution and secrecy, if you be well paid ?” : When I am well paid,” was the man’s re- sponse, “I never ask any questions at all: I have no ears and no eyes for anything that I ought not to hear and am not wanted to see.” “Then you are the very person that will suit me,’ I exclaimed. “You will put a couple of good horses to your chaise to-morrow in the forenoon; and at mid-day punctually you will be at the spot that I am going to describe to you.” “Proceed,” said the man. “You know Heather Place ?” I asked. Perfectly well,” he replied. “Do you recollect that at a distance of about half a mile farther along the road on which Heather Place stands, there is a hill crowned with fir-trees ?” “TI know it as well as if I saw it before me at this instant.” “ Good!” I exclaimed: “for it is on the other side of the hill of which we are speaking that you are to be with your chaise punctually at the hour of noon to-morrow—not a minute later, and but a very few minutes before the time!” “Tt shall be attended to,” answered the man. “Here are a couple of guineas as an earnest of the liberality of those who have instructed me to employ you. But one word more!’ I added, asa thought struck me. “If half-an-hour should pass, and no one should come to the place of appoint- ment, you will drive away and return home. I shall, in that case, take another opportunity of seeing you to make a new appointment.” “Good!” observed the man: “all vour direc- tions are easily understood, and shall be punctually attended to.” Having enjoined him to the strictest secrecy, I drove rapidly away from Blackwater, and returned to Heather Place. But scarcely had I reached the house, when Mr. Shackleford came rushing forth, exclaiming, “You must be off to Bagshot again immediately, Joseph - “‘Is mistress worse, then, sir ?”? I asked. “No, no—it is not your mistress—though she herself, poor soul, is exceedingly ill, as you are aware. But it is the lady’s child——” “The child!”’—and I started with a sudden access of wild terror. “ Yes, poor little thing!” continued Mr. Shackle- ford, who did not observe the full extent of the emotion which thus painfully galvanized me: “he was suddenly seized with convulsions e NOC) S (CO) A