Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 72: what you’re looking at

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JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. o9 using, was very marked and striking,—it being evident that he in his turn was now calling cajolery to his aid in order to obtain his ends. I heard Lord Rayenshill give his assent to all the details of the scheme suggested by Walter; and then they walked away together, still farther discussing the proposed arrangements as they leisurely re- traced their steps to the house. I then emerged from my place of concealment ; and hurrying up to my own chamber, retired to rest. But it was long ere sleep visited my eyes: my mind was tossed upon the agitated sea of varied thoughts,—in which the image of Annabel, the disgraceful conduct of Mrs. Boustead, and the discreditable machinations of Lord Ravenshill and his son were blended and jumbled together. CHAPTER XIV. A DEVONSHIRE SUPERSTITION. On the second morning after that discourse which I had overheard, the Hon. Mr. Walter Ravenshill took his departure for London, attended by his valet Charles Linton; and it was rumoured at the Hall and in the neighbourhood, that avery dis- tant relative of the Ravenshill family—from whom the family itself entertained some pecuniary ex- pectations—had just died in the metropolis. But his lordship hinted to one of his valets, and her ladyship to her maids, that this deceased relation _ was of too remote a kinship to render it necessary for the family to go into mourning: and thus the falsehood being told, an equally deceptive pretext was rendered necessary for the avoidance of what would have been a most impious mockery. Little did Lord and Lady Ravenshill think that there was one beneath their roof who could have un- masked their hypocrisy if he had chosen: but it was not my business to say a word,—the more especially as I had only become possessed of the secret by an accident, which, if I opened my lips, might be construed into a wilful and impertinent eaves-dropping. - I must now remark that the seat of Sir Malcolm Wavenham was about three miles distant from the Hall, and only one mile beyond the little vil- lage of Charlton itself. In the course of a few days after the incidents just related, I overheard some of the servants talking about Sir Malcolm ; and I thus discovered that he was for the present staying in Exeter with her who was denominated Violet Mortimer. Exeter, as already stated, was about twenty miles from the Hall; and thus, even if I still entertained the idea of making another attempt to see the Baronet’s victim, and persuade her to abandon the path of frailty,—the distance would have precluded the execution of the design. I did not however harbour the pro- ject: I said to myself that if Annabel was weak and criminal enough thus to yield to temptation, no words which I might utter would endow her with strength or re-imbue her with the virtue sufficient to emancipate herself from the ways of transgression. Moreoyer, I should have dreaded to meet, under such circumstances, the being whom I had known in her purity, and whom my boyish heart had learnt to love so fondly. I therefore resigned myself, as well as I was able, to the weight of my sorrow; and endeavoured to the best of my ability, to banish Annabel’s image from my thoughts——but, alas! this was not so easy. Weeks went by—they grew into months—the trees began putting forth their verdure again, the singing of birds joyously proclaiming the presence of Spring. The primrose grew upon the banks— the violet veiled its more modest beauties under the green hedges. All this while the Hon. Mr. Walter Ravenshill remained absent: the Bousteads continued to visit at the Hall: not a whisper circulated as to the possibility or probability of the match being broken off; and the creditors continued patient as well as obliging. Often and often did I think of visiting Charlton again, in order to pay my respects to Miss Delmar: but feeling how much she must be afflicted, I dreaded to show myself in her presence. As for the amount of success which Mr. Ravenshill was ex- periencing in the metropolis with regard to his matrimonial researches, I had no means of ob- taining any information, even if I were curious on the point,—my friend Charles Linton being absent with his master. Thus time wore on—and the month of June arrived. One forenoon, I was rambling by myself during a leisure hour or two along the bank of the stream, when I suddenly heard the sound of voices speak- ing loudly and in avery excited manner. They evidently came from some little distance a-head of where I was walking at the time; end a group of trees, growing on the bank—thet: overhanging boughs dipping in the crystal waters — concealed from view the persons whose voices thus reached myears. Judging however by the excited accents that something unusual was taking place—and even fearing, as the voices swelled into cries, that it was an accident of a serious character—I sped alohe, scrambling through the trees and the un- derwood. The instant that I emerged on the other side, I beheld a scene which I shall not readily for- get. Five or six labouring men were dragging forth a corpse from the stream, which was exceed- ingly deep and ran very rapid in that part of the estate. The corpse was that of a young labourer whom I knew well by sight, and had often seen passing through the grounds. His name was Ben- jamin Cowper; and he lived with his parents in the village of Charlton. His father—an old man of past sixty—was amongst those whom I thus descried upon the bank; and when the corpse was drawn forth, the bereaved parent flung himself upon it with such heart-rending lamentations that the tears, bursting from my eyes, blinded me for a few moments. The unfortunate young man was dressed in all his clothes; and therefore I at once concluded that he must have fallen in by accident, and being unable to swim, was drowned less, indeed, it were an act of suicide: but, as I subsequently ascertained, for this belief there was not the slightest ground. It was within half a mile of the village that the dreadful discovery was made; and I learnt the few following facts from one of those who had just dragged forth the corpse. It appeared that on the preceding evening, Ben- jamin Cowper did not return home at his usual hour from labour; and this was considered the ElO@QO) <S Cc (9)