Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 316: what you’re looking at

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

_ JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. 303 “Not for an instant, dearest Joseph,” she said, | Mr. Shackleford: “but I cannot take you in the “would I be so selfish as to consider myself in preference to our child. For that beloved infant I would make any sacrifice. But I am confident that little Joseph can now be removed in safety ; and inasmuch as my own health has within the past month suffered, it is necessary that I should adopt as soon as possible any measure that may improve it. For our beloved babe imbibes its nurture from my bosom; and the state of my own health consequently influences that of our darling. Oh! if once in the enjoyment of freedom and in- dissolubly united to you, I should soon be vigorous with health as well as elate with happiness! Pro- mise me, therefore, that you will take an early opportunity to renew the measures requisite for our flight.” “T will do so, Calanthe, within a few days. To- morrow perhaps—with Mr. Willis’s permission— you had better bring little Joseph down for a walk; and the day after you can keep him out longer still, so as to accustom him once again to the fresh air.” Our plans being thus settled, I began to think of seeking an opportunity to pay another visit to Blackwater, and make fresh arrangements relative to the post-chaise. I could easily understand and pardon poor Calanthe’s impatience to get away from the place of her imprisonment; but I was resolved that at least another week should elapse ere I carried our purpose into execution—so that little Joseph might have ample time to recover at least a portion of his lost strength. I should ob- serve that Mrs. Shackleford still continued very seriously ill, and was unable to leave her chamber ; but on the other hand, Mr. Foley had by this time perfectly recovered. Indeed, slow as his progress towards recovery at first appeared, it had within the last month been proportionately rapid: so that during the latter’ fortnight’ of this month he had been enabled to take exercise not merely on foot beyond the limits of the garden, but also on horseback. Mrs. Foley I should add had frequently visited Heather Place to see Mrs. Shackleford, and also to console Calanthe during the illness of the child; for towards the innocent babe that kind- hearted lady had conceived no ordinary affection. Just at the very time that I was now looking out for an opportunity to pay a visit to Blackwater in respect to the post-chaise, it appeared as if that opportunity was to be denied me, inasmuch as there was now no necessity to send me over to Bagshot. Mr. Shackleford had some little business there at the time, and therefore performed such commissions as the household purposes necessitated. He went nearly every day in the phaeton to Bag- shot,—taking old Jacob with him, and leaving me at the house in case my services should be required there. Calanthe grew more and more impatient of her imprisonment; and as the child was now improving visibly, I determined to make an imme- diate effort for the execution of our plan. Accordingly I one morning said to Mr. Shackle- ford after breakfast, “If you please, sir, can I be spared for a few hours to-day, as I have some little purchases to make on my own account at Bagshot ? The lady has intimated that she does not purpose to walk out in the plantation, as there is a slight driazling rain.” “You may go in welcome, Joseph,” answered | EEN phaeton—neither ean you have the chaise-cart— inasmuch as I haye an appointment with a gentle- man who lives about eight miles off; and by the time the old horse has been thither and back— sixteen miles, you know—he will be too tired to go out again to-day.” “I do not at all mind walking, sir,’ I an- swered, “provided that you give me leave of absence.” _ “Well, Joseph,” rejoined Mr. Shackleford, “ you must remain at the house until my return, in case you happen to be wanted: for old Jacob must ac- company me—and the housemaid is too much occupied, under existing circumstances, to answer the front door. I shall be back at three o’clock; and you may then have all the remainder of the day to yourself.” This proposal fully answered my purposes; and I accordingly accepted it with thanks. It however occurred that Mr. Shackleford was delayed on his visit longer than he expected; and it was nearly five o’clock before he returned. I was unable to leave the house until he came back: but so socn as he made his appearance, I got ready to set off. I had so faithfully promised Calanthe that I would delay no longer in carrying out our views that I dared not disappoint her. Besides, it was now the month of June; and therefore the evenings were light until nearly nine o’clock—and I had four hours at my disposal ere the dusk would set in. I should add that as 1 was fearful of being observed in Blackwater, if my livery should be recognised by any friend of the Shacklefords, I put on my plain clothes—a course that I was free to adopt when going out for a holiday. But just as L was about to start, Mr. Shackleford gave me a little. commission to execute for him at Bagshot. It had not been my intention to visit Bagshot at all: the circumstance just mentioned however compelled me to proceed thither. It was half-past six when I reached Bagshot: Mr. Shackleford’s commission occupied half-an-hour: if was there- fore seven when I set off for Blackwater—a dis- tance of nearly three miles. On arriving there, I had some difficulty in finding the man of whom I purposed to hire the post-chaise ; and, to be brief, it was half-past eight o’clock before I succeeded in disinterring him from the tap-room of a public-house to which I eventually traced him. Then I found that for the following day his chaise was engaged —and he had no other close vehicle. I was ac- cordingly obliged to make an arrangement for the day next ensuing; and this arrangement was pre- cisely the same as that which I had defined on the former occasion. He was to be with the chaise, behind the hill at a short distance from Heather Place, punctually at the hour of noon on the day agreed upon. I gave him his earnest money— promised that his reward should be liberal—en- joined him to secrecy —and issued forth from Blackwater on my way homeward. It was not necessary to take Bagshot in my way: by cutting across the heath the distance to the Shacklefords from Blackwater would be but little more than that from Bagshot—or about six miles. It was now past nine o’clock—the evening had closed in darkly and gloomily—a drizzling rain had been falling during the day—and it came ElO@QO) <5) (CO) im