The Soldier's Wife — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE known each other so long! But what time do ou think Davis will return this evening ?” “Not till midnight: he seldom or ever does. I suppose you intend to favor me with your cempany for an hour or two: and 1 will order Sarah”—alluding to the woman servant—‘ to get a nice little supper ready.” “No, never mind the supper: I dine so late. Besides, it’s such an interruption to discourse.— But | will stay here till past eleven. How I should like to hear you give your husband a good scolding! There is nothing I admire so much as a woman of spirit, Ah! Ido love a woman who shows her independence! She looks so fine on those occasions.” “Do you think so?’?—and the frivolous crea ture took all that was said as complimentary to herself “I am resolved to let Davis see this evening, when he comes back, that I have got as good a spirit of my own as ever. He 1s sure to return tipsy. “Then he has taken to drinking lately ?” ob- served Redburn. “Oh, yes—terribly! He was always fond of his spirits-and-water of an evening: but he used to take his glass at home, and never went into extremes. But of late he has frequented the pubilic-house, and drinks deeper every day.” “What a disgusting sight is a drunken hus- band,” remarked Gerald, “I wonder auy wo man of spirit puts up with it!” ‘ “Qh, you should hear how I sometimes go on agatust him,” exclaimed Kitty. “ You would then see that I really do possess a spirit.” “JT should like to hear vou. I told you’just now that there is nothing [ jove so much as to pee a woman vf spirit—particularly when her anger is not directed against my-elf.” “I tell you what,” said Mrs. Davis, as a thought struck her,—“ if you would really like to hear me tell Peter my mind, you could just wait till he comes in.” “ Ah! but Ido not want him to find me here— at least not at such a late hour. But if I did stay, how would you manage it ?” “ You could conceal yourself behind the win- dow-curtains,” replied Mrs, Davis, “ He would not stay long in the room here, when once I be- gan to siorm at him; and as soon as he went up stairs, ) could let you secretly and quietly vut of the house.” “It is a great temptation,” observed Gerald ; “and | am altnost inclined to stay.” : He did so~—and sat conversing with the thoughtless woman until past eleven o’clock.— Suddenly there was a knock at the front door ; avd Kitty exclaimed, “ There he is—a good half- hour earlier than usual!” “ Perhaps he is suber,” hastily suggested Ge- rald, “Not achance of it. By the very way he knocked, I know that he is tipsy.” “But the servant will tell him I am here,” was Redburn’s next remark, “She will say nothing of the kind—she never speaks unless spoken to. Now then, if you teally wish to hear a scene, hide yourself at once ” Captain Redburn immediately passed. behind the curtains, which he drew in such a manner as V_—_—_—_——— a SSS 119 to conceal himself; and scarcely was he en- sconced in the window-recess, when the bailiff entered the parlor. “A pretty state you are in, Peter,” exclaimed the wife. “ How dare you present yourself in this condition before me? J] would have you know that I am not to be outraged or insulted in such a manner, Oh, what a spectacle you are! what a loathsome object !” 5; “ Now then, enough of this,” growled Davis : “and get up to bed with you.” “[ shall not at your command,” retorted Kitty. “Be off yourself. 1 am sure you must be anxious to lie down—for you can scarcely stand.” “Go up, I tell you directly!” exclaimed the bailiff, speaking in a less psy mamer than be fore, and with a resolute sternness. “Go up, | say—I am determined to be cbeyed.” ” “Then [ won't,’ ejaculated his wife. “You shall not tyrannize over me: I will show you that Iam the mistre-s here.” “And { will show that I am the master, Come now, go up to bed directly :’-—and Davis spoke in a sull firmer voice.and in a still more resolute tone of cominand. Kitty was not prepared for this. She had really thought that ber husband, preferring to continue the altercation up stairs, would hasten up to bed, as had previously been his wont, She grew alarmed lest he should diseover Red- burn’s presence in the rom; and she now per- ceived all the imprudence of the step she had taken in allowing him to conceal himself there She therefore thought that the best plan would be to get her husband up-stairs as svon as pos- sible; and adopting a somewhat more concilia- tory tone aud manner, she said, “ [ presume you are coming up at once,” ‘ “Yes, directly :’—then taking up one of the candles, he said, “Sarah will put out the other light, when she has seen that ail is safe. Go u} —and | will follow you.” Mrs. Davis was only too glad to find that there was this easy escape from the dilemma into Which she had got herself; but still think- ing it necessary to show her spirit, she exclaimed, “Come along, then: the sooner you get up to bed the better—and I will give you my mind, | promise you! I will teach you what it is to come home to me every night in such a dis- graceful state, you brute, you!” Davis said not a word, but followed his wife from the parlor. Pausing a moment in the pas- sage, he cried out, “ Now, Sarah, we are going up to bed. See that all’s right.” The servant at once made her appearance and a rapid look of significance was exchanged betweeu Davis and herself—a look which Kitty failed tu observe, as she had already began to ascend the stairs. Davis followed his wife; and they entered the Ned-chamber together. Sarah proceeded to the parlor; and Gerald Redburn, emergiby’ from bebind the curtains, placed his finger to his lip. The woman started—or af- fected to start, as if in dismay at the sudden appearance of the Baronet’s sun; and he, at once slipping a couple of guineas into her band, said in a hurried whisper, “ Let me out as MICOOOLKS c) (GO) (S(O) 5)