Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 160: what you’re looking at

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JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE patient,—intimating that he should be liberally rewarded: and thus our colloquy, which was car- ried on through the medium of the intelligent English mechanic, was brought to a conclusion. I however saw that the doctor was inclined to put some questions in order to gratify his curiosity with respect to the unknown young lady: but I exhibited an impatience which he took as a hint that he was at once to enter upon his professional ministrations towards her. I bade Blanchard en- join him presently not to make any mention of me to the young lady when she should regain her con- sciousness: for I hinted that feelings of delicacy would render her uncomfortable if she knew that a young man who was almost a stranger to her was thus making her the object of his charity. I then sent for Mrs. Blanchard ; and placing in her hands my purse—which was well filled—desired her to purchase without delay all things necessary for the comfort of the invalid. I told her even to go to the extent of re-furnishing the room so far as was practicable considering the dangerous state in which the young lady lay. The reader may rest assured that a portion of the contents of that purse was assigned to the care of the honest me- chanic and his wife; and I gave them to under- stand that I should do much more for them. Having repeated my injunction that no allusion was to be made to me, when the invalid should re- cover her consciousness, I took my departure from the house ; and entering a hackney-coach, returned to the hotel. == CHAPTER CVII. AN ENGLISH PLUM-PUDDING.—AN ENCOUNTER. Tne mysterious circumstances which regarded this young lady naturally engrossed my thoughts ; and more than ever did I marvel who she could be—what the nature of the place was whence she had escaped on the night that I brought her to Rome—who were the persecutors against whom she complained so bitterly—and how a young creature, evidently so well bred, of such good edu- ‘eation, and such elegant manners, could be reduced toso painful a strait as this. Had she no friend on the face of the earth ? was her sole reliance in the fimst instance placed upon that old nurse whom she had hoped to find, but who so unfortunately for her was absent elsewhere ? And then, why that feverish anxiety on her part to arrive at Rome ? I reflected that she must no doubt have had some special object in view; and if such were the case, it was by no means difficult to understand how the working-out of her purpose had been suddenly stopped by this severe illness which had overtaken her. On alighting at the door of the hotel, I recol- lected my promise to dine with Dominie Clack- mannan and Mr. Saltcoats: but I was really in no humour for the tedious platitudes of the former or the uproarious hilarity of the latter. I therefore resolved to hasten up to my own apartment—take my dinner by myself—and desire the waiter to deliver on my behalf an apology to those gentle. men, But as I wasrushing up the stairs, I encoun- tered the very personages; and Mr. Saltcoats, MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT, 14 catching me by the arm, roared out, “ You will only just have time to wash your hands: for dinner will be served up in a minute. We were really afraid you were detained by business or pleasure somewhere else ; and we were so sorry, for we had set our minds upon haying you.” “It’s just that,” observed the Dominie : “for my friend Saltcoats here took an hour’s trouble—was it an hour, it might have been a minute But IT will think over it, and let you know presently. And this reminds me of what I one day said to the Widow Gleunbucket a “Nonsense, Dominie!” interrupted Saltcoats. “The fact is, my dear Mr. Wilmot, I have taken some little trouble to induce the people of this hotel to serve us up a regular English plum- pudding. But heaven haye mercy upon them in their deplorable ignorance !—for the cook had no more idea of what the thing meant than the Dominie has of telling an anecdote without inter- rupting himself. However, the cook is a very de- cent fellow in his way, and promised to do his best. I had him up into my presence; and through the medium of our cowrier, explained how a plums pudding is to be made. I told him how he was to take the raisins and the currants, the citron and the orange-peel, the sugar and the flour—and to mix up the whole ingredients %3 “It’s just that,” said the Dominie: “but I smell soup.” “ And here we are wasting our precious time!” exclaimed Mr. Saltcoats. “Run up-stairs, Mr. Wilmot—wash your hands—and be quick! We dine in the coffee-room.” I could not very well refuse the invitation that was so kindly meant; and now—by one of those strange and capricious revulsions of feeling to which we weak mortals are liable—I thought that after all I would rather have society than not. Accordingly, having hastily made some little change in my toilet, I descended to the coffee. room. Dinner was immediately served up; and notwithstanding the copiousness of their luncheon, immense was the justice rendered by Dominie Clackmannan and his friend Mr. Saltcoats to this still more substantial repast. I will not attempt to describe the conversation which progressed simultaneously therewith: suffice it to say that the old Dominie was, if possible, more trouble- some and stupid with his anecdotes than eyer; and that the remarks of Mr. Saltcoats were principally confined to critical comments upon the viands and the drinkables. At length the time came when the plum-pudding. was to make its appearance. Mr. Saltcoats rubbed his hands in gleeful anticipa- tion of the luxury for which he himself had all the honour of catering; and the mention of the good old English edible reminded Dominie Clack- mannan of at least a dozen things he had said to the Widow Glenbucket and others of his delectable acquaintances, but none of which anecdotes was he enabled to carry out to completion. At length, after a somewhat prolonged delay, the waiter en- tered with great solemnity ; and both the Dominie and Mr, Saltcoats turned their eyes upon him. “ Halloa!” exclaimed the latter: “there must be some mistake here!” “It’s just that,” interjected the Dominie: “he is bringing us the soup intended for another table, And that reminds me 4 a ee | Gloo Ss (Cc)