The Soldier's Wife — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. 91 ou that I am in no mood to be trifled with. |rayther too gay, and certainly a good dea! wo ou think that I am a desperate man, and you|young for old Peter Davis. And between you are right: but I am desperate only in this—jand me, I think he already repents it: for na that if 1 go back to my regiment to be tortured, jlooks uncommon glum. And she is so extrava- naltreated, and tyrannized over, I shall at least|gant—dresses out finer than ever! There's have the consolation of knowing that my wife|scarce a day passes that the carrier doesn't and child are beyond the reach of want; and|bring parcels for Mrs. Davis; and I happen va even if [should die under that self-same torture, | know,” added Bates, “that she doesn’t pay ner they will not be left penniless in the world. |linendrapery and millinery bills at Middleton Now do you understand that I am quite des-)very regular.” perate to dare everything rather than impove-| Mr. Bates had indeed peeuliar facilities for rish them tu satisfy your villanous rapacity?#” |Obtaining this information, Inasmuch as a large Lucy could not help gazing with admiration | portion of the correspondence passing through apon her husband as he thus spoke; and though /his hands in his capacity of postmaster, was she would willingly—Oh! so readily, have|regularly and unserupulously violated by him. resigned every farthing they possessed, and! ‘And so Mr. Davis is married again? said even dismantled the house from top to bottom |Lonsdale, in a musing manmer and not for tne to ensure his safety by pacifying the barber—|purpose of encouraging anything like familiar yet she could not utter a word deprecative of|conversation with the barber. “Hush! my the noble resolution and lofty courage which| wife is coming.” Frederick now displayed. Lucy re-appeared, and presented to her hus- “Well, :f my terms ain’t accepted,” said Bates, |band the money which she had been to fetch. resolved to see what effect a renewed menace|Lonsdale counted it down upon the table; and would produces, “I shall know how to act:’—| Bates, with an air of triumph and satisfaction, and rising from his seat, he approached thej|consigned it to his pocket. door. “T do not ask you,” said our hero, “to keep “For heaven’s sake suffer him not to depart!” | your word—because 1 am wel] aware that you whispered Lucy, with a look of agony at her)jwill only do so if it suits your purpose. But husband. I think that you will be sufficiently mindful of “We will not go, dearest,” replied Frederick, |} your own interest ag to com nicuenid that a in the same low and hurried voice. regularly paid pension of twenty pounds a-year, “One word more,” said Bates. “It does|will be better than the same sum obtained once seem rather hard, perhaps, to take all your|for ali, and as a reward for betraying me.” savings away: and if you’ve only one hundred| “ You keep your agreement, and [| shall keep —why it’s not much. Come, il be reasonable.|mine. And now good bye”—with which words Give me fifty and let the arrangement for;|Bates took his departure. twenty etude a year stand good.” When he was gone the husband and wife “You had better do it,” whispered Lucy.jexperienced considerable relief; and Lucey, “Let us be rid of the dreadful man at once.” |throwing her arms about Frederick’s neck, said “You wish it—and it shall be done,” re-j|to him, ‘Now, my dear husband, what are we joined her husband: then turning his eyes|to do? Have you still a feeling of confidence towards the barber, he said, “Since I have|in your security? will you trust yourself to this succeeded in rendering you thus comparatively |man ?” moderz.-¢ in your terms I[ agree to them.” “No, dearest—ten thousand times no!” re-. Thus speaking he made a sign for Lucy to/turned Lonsdale. “Throughout my negotia- go and fetch the money; and after she had left|tion with him I had a certain object in view.” the room, Bates observed, “Don’t you mean to} “I was convinced of it, Frederick—-I, who ask me to take a littie refreshment—a drop of jcan read your thoughts so rae felt certain wine, or spirits, or what not?” that you were revolving some ulterior plan in “T have none in the house,” rephed Frede-|your mind. Oh! hesitate not to explain it to rick, “You surely can regale yourself to your|me, whatever it may be. Our home must be _heart’s content in a few minutes, when you|broken up again—and we must go elsewhera take your departure with my money in your|is it not so? But for that I am prepared. pocket.” Indeed, I wish it—I desire it.” “Oh, yes—I can wait. Isuppose youhawn’t; “ Yes, dearest Lucy—thateis the course which heard from yonder lately ?”—-aad he jerked his)we must adopt: and it was for this reason L humb over his shoulder. . |was determined not to be plundered of all our “Do you allude to Oakleigh? You can very|resources. I know that man well: I can now well imagine that we have no correspondence follow ail the tortuous ways and crooked chans tLere. Is Mr. Davis still in his former situa-jnels of his thoughts. So long as the money of tion ?’ whieh he has just robbed us lasts, he will leave “What! hav’n’t you heard, then?” ejaculated us unmolested; for he flatters himself that I the barber. “Well, I have got a bit of news/was sincere in offering him the annual pension to tell you! Davis has married again. He|/—lIleaven pardon me the falsehood and du- kes beew married this eighteen months and|plcity that I practised!—but still such dis- © simulation and deceit were not crimes, when more; and a very nice match too—one of Colycinth’s daughters. Miss Kitty-—you re- member her—the sprightliest and larkingest of the whole lot. Not that I mean tc 79v aay harin of her: but I should think that she 1s brought to bear in self-defence against such a Villain!” “No, Frederick—you cannot reproach your- self Lunderstand the object you had in views i 4 CORNICOOOKS.CO