The Soldier's Wife — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

116 “Well, I suppose,” she responded, laughing ao as to display her fine teeth, “a woman wi// endeavor to have her own way—and I am no exception to the general rule. But if I have spoken in a sort of confidential manner to you, Captain Redburn, it is because you yourself re- minded me that we are old acquaintances, And now tell me how long are you going to stay at the Manor ?” “ About six weeks—unless I get so thoroughy tired of a country life before my leave of absence expires, that I find myself obliged to cut it.” “That is being very hard upon us poor Oak- Jeigh people,” observed Mrs. Davis, with an archly reproachful smile, “Oh! but there are of course exceptions,” ex- claimed Gerald: “and first and foremost stands yourself.” “ Military gentlemen are very clever at com- plinvrents — Captain Redburn especially :” and again she laughed slily. “ Will you allow me to prove the sincerity of my words by paying you an occasional visit of an evening ?” “Have I not already assured you of a wel- come? My evenings,’ she continued, “ are sometimes lonely enouxh—for Mr. Davis has taken it into bis head for the last two or three months to go and spend his at the Royal Oak.” “Oh, fie!” ejaculated Gerald: “what a shame !—and to leave you pining by yourself!” “ Yes—pining indeed,” ejaculated Kitty, with a contemptuous toss of the head. “ My mother and sisters come up to supper with me—and sometimes my father, when he is not too busy : and besides them, I have a few friends who drop in. But Mr. Davis grumbles like a bear, saying that [ am too gay—that | see too much company—that it all costs money—and such nonsense as that.” “ Nonsense indeed,” said Redburn. “ But I suppose,” he continued, laughing, “ that you tell him your mind pretty freely ?” “Qh, trust me for that! If he chooses to go and get tipsy at the Oak, I don’t see why I am to sit moping at home.” “You would be very silly if you did,” rejoined Captain Redburn, « “ But what the deuce makes him so long getting that cider? and are you not afraid that he will overhear what you say ? “Not 1!” ejaculated Kitty, talking louder than before, as if in bravado. “I would not hesitate to tell him my thoughts, even in your presence,” “Oh! pray don’t mind me,” replied Gerald, “If it will be any relief to your feelings. Be- gid, | always like to see women assert their rights; they always look handsomer when they are angry. Pray forgive me for saying so.” “Your compliment would almost provoke me to be angry with you,” said Mrs. Davis, laughing. “It would be trouble thrown away,” rejoined Redburn; “ because you could not look and- goer than you do at this moment.” “Really you have a piece of flattery ready at the Up of your longue in answer to every- THE SOLDIER'S WIFE, ’ ing at the door fir the last five minutes, made his appearance with the bottle of cider in his hand, but looking as if he had not overheard a single syllable of what had been taking place. “ Really, Peter,” said Mrs. Davis, availing her- self of a pretext for showing off her spirit before Captain Redburn, “ you have taken your time to fetch that cider,” “T could not find the key of the cupboard, my dear,” responded the bailiff. “Then you should not have lost it,” retortea his wife. “Here is Captain Redburn dying with thirst s; “ Not quite so bad as that,” observed Gerald, laughing. “Oh, yes—but you are—-and Mr. Davis isa very rude to have kept you waiting.” The cider was poured out—Gerald drank two or three glasses—and Davis thought that for the sake of appearances he had better remain present on this occasion. The conversation therefore turned upon indifferent topics; and when Gerald rose to depart, he pressed Mrs, Davis’s hand tenderly in his own. Likewise shaking hands with Davis, he threw upon him a look which was as much as to imply that all animosity was at an end—although he promised himself in his heait that he would do his best to foster the wife’s ill-feeling towards her husband, and call at the cottage now and then, when he knew Davis would be there, to witness the re- sults. On the other hand, the unprincipled bailiff chuckled inwardly: for he had heard enough at the parlor-door to convince him that his wife and Captain Redburn was already on very good terms with each other. Three or four days afterwards, the Countess of Burton and her daughter Lady Adela Clive, having accepted Lady Redburn’s invitation, ar- rived at the Manor House. The Countess was not an old woman: she was but a few years on the shady side of forty. She had never been handsome, and had even something old maidish in her looks: for she was prim and sedate— speaking but a few words, and those measured and deliberate—very particular in her own bearing, and exacting the utmost respect from others. She was a thoroughly worldly-minded wonian, almost to heartlessness, She regarded her daughter with a feeling of pride rather than with the melting tenderness of a true maternal love ; and all her thoughts were concentrated in the hope of enabling Lady Adela to forma good match, She looked upon money as of the first Importance, and a title as a secondary con- sideration ; so that she would much rather her daughter should marry a wealthy commoner than a poor nobleman, Lady Adela Clive was twenty years of age, and certainly one of the most beautiful creatures that ever graced this world with her presence, She was tall and exquisitely formed, her shape blending the fullness of a Hebe with the light ness of a Sylph. Her hair was of raven black- ness, and was generally worn in the Spanish atyle,—yathered up in massive bandeaux, aud with the knot high up on the back of the head, thing I say :”’—and the thoughtless wife laughed | thus setting off its Grecian shape to the utmost gaily again. At wus moment Davis, who had been listen- advantage. Her eyes were blue,—that dee blue which in certain lights, and at a little die Gcomicbooks.co