Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 32: what you’re looking at

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JOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. 19 father not to see me for the present—I know too that the Duke is taking his part against the Duchess: for the Marquis penned me a last note to tell me all this at the time that he gave his sire the pledge demanded. Shall you tell him that you have seen me?” she asked hesitatingly and bashfully. “ Most certainly,” I replied: for I knew what she wished my response to be. “Tell him to hope—as I also hope!” Mademoiselle Delacour. very young—I fear too young to think of mar- riage; and though it is hard to be separated, yet was this calamity to be foreseen. I fear, Mr. Wilmot, that there is now much trouble, even if not actual strife, within the walls of a mansion where all ought to be harmony and peace ?” “ Alas, it is indeed so!” I responded: for I saw no necessity to deceive the young lady on any single point: indeed her own good sense would have naturally raised true conjectures in juxta- position with any false representation on my part. “T regret to inform you, Mademoiselle, that it is a house divided in itself—a family split into two sections! and if this state of things lasts, the hap- piness of the whole will not be merely wrecked, but scandal will become busy with the name of Paulin.” “ Then let Theobald act with energy!” af once exclaimed Eugenie, her countenance suddenly as- resumed suming an air which showed that she was resolved | to use all her own energies to meet the emergency in a becoming manner* “I know the character of the Duchess, though I am not personally ac- quainted with her: she is inexorable—she will not yield at present—and she is doubtless supported by her father, who carries all the sternness and severity of military discipline into the private af- fairs of life. Let Theobald absent himself from home for a time—let him return to Germany: we are already separated—and if we be forbidden to meet, as well were it to find ourselves hundreds of miles as only a few streets asunder. Tell him, Mr. Wilmot, that his departure from home will be the only means of preventing a complete breach between his parents; and that is a catastrophe to be averted by almost any sacrifice. We must trust to cireumstances—we must put our faith in | heaven. I feel that we were born for each other: “We are both very, | “Would it be too much to ask you to make me acquainted with the result?” inquired Made- moiselle Delacour, again speaking timidly and hesitatingly. “ Most cheerfully will I do whatsoever I can to serve you, Mademoiselle,” was my response. “You may come to me at my uncle’s house,” she rejoined; “I am completely mistress there— and my kind-hearted old relative puts no restraint upon me.” | I promised to fulfil the young lady’s wishes in all things: she bade me farewell, and entered her | farmeets which immediately drove off. But just as I turned away, I caught a glimpse of Adolphe hastening round a corner at a little distance. This individual, be it recollected, was principal valet to the Duchess; and I had the best possible reasons for knowing that he was her spy. The thought of again having a watch set upon my proceedings had long been absent from my mind: but now I felt convinced that I was watched anew —and most probably because the Duchess fancied that after I had been so mixed up in the love- affairs of her son, I should possibly be employed by him in delivering notes and messages to Made- moiselle Delacour. Therefore, on my return to the mansion after extending my ramble as far as I thought fit, I was quite prepared for a summons to the presence of the Duchess. Nor was I mis- taken: for the moment I reached the gate, the porter gave me to understand that I was to proceed | at once to the apartments of my noble mistress. I obeyed the mandate—and found the Duchess |alone. Her countenance was severe; and the in- stant I appeared in her presence, she said to me, | “You are acting as a go-between on the part of my son and Mademoiselle Delacour.” “IT am perfectly well aware, Madame la Duchesse,” I responded, firmly though respect- fully, “ upon what ground this accusation is flung out against me. But I deny it: and were I not in the presence of a lady—and that lady too the mistress of the household—I should add that 1 deny the charge with indignation.” “Tnsolent young man!” cried the Duchess, be- coming crimson with rage. ‘“ But doubtless you are backed in your presumptuous conduct by your master the Duke. What airs are these you dare give yourself? The same person,” she added with ithe same sentiment which inspires us both, must | bitter sarcasm, ‘‘ who bore letters from the Duke make him entertain the same idea; and therein will be his consolation—for he may rest assured ’ that whatsoever Providence has willed, will be wrought out by its own inscrutable means. Yes —for although the experiences of life have hitherto led us to regard it as a tangled web, yet through the woof there runs the golden thread of hope: and why should we despair ?” 1 was deeply touched by the young lady’s lan- guage, as sensible as it was pathetic; and in the counsel which she sought to convey through me to Theobald, I beheld additional evidences of that strength of mind and high intelligence which were united with so many feminine graces. “Rest assured, Mademoiselle,” I said, “that every word to which you have just been giving utterance, shall find its way to the ears of Mon- sieur le Marquis. Indeed, your advice is excel- lent ; and coming from such a source, I have not the slightest doubt it will be followed.” TT ce “ Madame la Duchesse,” I said, recovering my | to his mistress, would scarcely scruple to play a similar part between others.” I felt that the Duchess had some reason for flinging this taunt at me; and I blushed in my turn— but it was not with rage, it was with shame ; and at that instant I experienced a bitter annoyance with myself at having consented on that second occasion to bear the Duke’s missive to Mademoiselle Ligny. self-possession, “ I implore you to believe me when I declare that since that memorable day in the Chamber of Peers, I have never seen Mademoiselle Delacour until this afternoon. that young lady was purely accidental “ And it was accidental, I presume,” added the Duchess, “that you remained in conversation with her for a quarter of an hour ?” “TI see that Adolphe has been very precise in | his information to you, Madame la Duchesse :”’— My meeting with 33 ee ee eg aaematl - SS...°0°r'™,”, i A LL ELT! — ON — — —_ . r A eS EE CO A ES eS Sw ee ee wee — Connicbhoolks (EO) 5}