Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

80 fit in the breakfast-room: her ladyship was instan- taneously made acquainted with the circumstance ; —and she, on reading the letter which was dis- covered lying open on the carpet as it had dropped from her husband’s hand, had likewise fainted away. They had however both been’ recovered without the necessity of sending for medical assist- ance; and from the broken sentences to which they had given utterance on coming back to con- sciousness, enough was gleaned to make those who attended upon them, acquainted with what had happened. Mr. Walter had indeed stealthily taken his departure, in order to avoid a match that was hateful to him, and to form another alliance where his heart was already engaged. In the course of an hour his lordship was suffi- ciently recovered to write a letter, which was immediately sent off to its destination. This was to Mr. Boustead; and it was by no means difficult to conjecture that 1t was for the purpose of an- nouncing the definitive breaking off of the match between Mr. Ravenshill and his daughter. A JOSEPH WILMOT; couple of hours later, a postchaise-and-four arrived. from the town: for Lord Ravenshill and his wife were now about to leave their stately mansion— perhaps for ever. Although it was difficult to experience much sympathy for this thoroughly selfish and worldly- minded couple, it was nevertheless painful to reflect that after having all their lives been accus- tomed to ride in splendid equipages of their own, they were now reduced to the necessity of travel- ling in a hired one—and this too on the occasion of bidding farewell to the home where they had been wont to entertain such brilliant assemblages, and where they had revelled in the enjoyment of every luxury. By his lordship’s express command, the domestics all remained in the servants’ hall, at the moment of departure,—with the exception of one valet and one lady’s-maid, who were to accom- pany them. Their pride was dominant until the very last: they could not endure the thought of passing out of that mansion, ruined and undone, in the presence of those who had been the wit- nesses of their splendour. Not even the old hall- porter was suffered to remain at his post, as Lord and Lady MRavenshill thus issued forth. But doubtless conjecture was busy in the servants’ hall, at the time, as to the spectacle which the noble- man and his wife presented to the two domestics whom they had chosen to follow them in this phase of their broken fortunes. Terrible must have been their feelings, as they descended the superb staircase—as they passed through the spacious hall—as they crossed the marble threshold —and as they entered a vehicle the appearance of which was sordid and wretched to a degree, in comparison with their own travelling-barouche with its emblazoned panels and its luxurious cushions. Doubtless that old lord exerted all his energy to conquer his emotions: and doubtless the severe pride of her ladyship made her keep back her tears as she clung to her husband’s arm. At length the post-chaise was rolling along the shady avenue towards the park-gate: but every feature of the scenery—every tree which was thus passed— every glimpe of a browsing deer or frisking fawn, must have conjured up bitter, bitter asso- ciations of the past in the minds of that ruined nobleman and his unhappy lady. mee wr eee i ee eae ~ ee eee OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. Shortly after the post-chaise had departed, the steward summoned the domestics one by one into his own room, and informed us that by agreement between his lordship and the mortgagees who had seized upon the estate, we were all to be paid in full—for which purpose the funds would be forth- coming on the following day. A computation was made of the arrears due to each; and it was un- derstood that, as we were all to leave on the morrow, a month’s wages would be given us in addition. On the following day the sale of the furniture and personal property commenced. From an early hour, vehicles of all kinds began arriving in rapid succession: and persons on foot, likewise, made their appearance in considerable numbers from the adjacent town. Noblemen, gentlemen, and ladies, dwelling in the neighbourhood, came in their car- riages for the purpose of selecting such articles as they might fancy to purchase,—some remaining to bid for them in person, others empowering agents to conduct the business on their behalf. Furni- ture-brokers, dealers in objects of vertu and curi- osity, goldsmiths and jewellers, and a” tolerable sprinkling of the Jewish fraternity, some from the town, some from Exeter, others from remoter places, and others even from London—congregated at Charlton Hall. The place was like a fair: gaiety, business, and bustle pervaded the scene :— of sympathy for the ruined and self-exiled family, there was none! Several solicitors and Sheriff’s-officers were like- wise in attendance: the men in possession ap- peared full of importance, and gave themselves extraordinary airs,—with the exception of Tom Austin, who was excessively drunk as early as eight o’clock on this memorable morning; and who, having been missed for some three or four hours, was at length discovered sitting in the beer- cellar with his back propped up against the ale- barrel,—a slice of bread, a piece of cold meat, and his clasp-knife lying beside him,—he being actually too far gone even to cut his food or convey it to his lips. But it was about ten o’clock when the sale commenced,—the auctioneer removing from room to room as he successively disposed of their contents in detail. The spectacle for one who could sympathize with the ruined family, was of an exceeding mournful interest. Articles which had evidently cost large sums when originally purchased, were now knocked down at compara- tively trifling amounts: furniture, plate, china, time-pieces, mantle ornaments, lustres, candelabra, pictures, curiosities, and valuables of all sorts, were thus rapidly disposed of ;—and though the auc- tioneer did his business quickly, yet was it evident that the sale must last for three or four days. Thus was it that all the accumulations which had been made to gratify refined taste, to constitute the means of luxury, and become accessories to the splendour and magnificence of the Ravenshill family,—were being scattered hither and thither— falling into fresh hands—finding new owners. It was a scene from which the most touching as well as the sternest morals might be deduced,—this breaking up of an almost princely establishment— this severing and dispersing of the countless evi- dences of lordly luxury and patrician splendour ! A little before noon, the carriage of the Bou- steads arrived at the mansion; and I must confess eee eee oe Ghoo cS (Cc) Lf