The Soldier's Wife — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

os 122 THE SOLDIER’S WIFE. rather shy within the last few days: she does|ested in Mr. Bates’s affairs, quitted the room and not walk with me in the grounds any longer.’ |descended to the garden, There he observed “It is mere girlish coyness,” observed Lady |the Countess of Burton and Lady Adela Clive Redburn. walking together,—the Jatter with her eyes “But aunt Jane has been telling me, in her} bent down upon the gravel-path, as if in avery own beautiful style, a long story about a cer-|serious mood, He at first hesitated to accost tain Mr. Reginald Herbert % then; for he thought that perhaps the Countess “ All nonsense, Gerald. Now the truth is,”|might not have finished her leeture to her continued her ladyship, “ that I and the Count-|caughter: but her ladyship beekoned him to ess have within the last hour been having some|approach—and ashe drew near, she said, “ You serious conversation together, Our views are}seemed uncertain, Captain Redburn, whether identical ; and since you are pleased with Lacly | you should join us. I can assure you that if we be pleased with you.” “This 1s at least satisfactory,” exclaimed Cap- tain Redburn. “ But somehow or another, this Reginald Herbert is a name that sticks in my throat. I should not like to marry a girl who loved another, because there is no saying what might happen hereafter.” “Lady Adela, Gerald, is virtue itself,” re- sponded his mother, with more seriousness than she was wont to display. “ But of course you cannct yet propose to Lady Adela. It will be time enough when your leave of absence ex- pires a month hence: and then, in the course of a few months more, you can obtain another leave of absence, or else quit the army alto- gether—which perhaps would be better—and settle down in life.” “ About quitting the army, I don’t know,” re- joined Gerald. “I rather like the red coat.— But about this Reginald Herbert——” “Shall we extend our walk a little, Lady “The report was all false, [can assure you,”| Adela ¢” inquired Gerald. “1 do not think you replied bis mother, “ Aunt Jane was very|have yet been in the direction of Oakleigh, ex- Wrong to put such nonsense in your head. In-} cept in the carriage; and there is some beautk deed I cannot fancy how she came to perceive; ful scenery in the neighborhood of the village.” ou had any thoughts in that quarter.” “Tshall be happy to accompany you,” was “It’s my opinion the old girl is shrewder and| the young lady’s reply, but delivered in a some- keener by a great deal than you fancy. How-| what eold tone, and certainly ina mournful one; ever, I am glad I have spoken to you on the|for she was still the prey of desponding subject: fur 1 have now no doubt it was all} thoughts. Aunt Jane’s malignity and spite. She is a{ Passing round to the front of the mansion, crabbed ould maid herself, and does not like to} Captain Redburn conducted his beautiful com- see other women stand a chance of getting hus-| panion down the genile slope leading towards bands. Besides, she appears to take a pleasure] the grove, in the vicinage of Oakleigh; and in throwing a damp on one’s hopes or spirits ;} while thus strolling onward, he pointed out vari- and she is getting more bitter every day. Where| ous scenes and spots which he considered inter- ws Adela now ?” esting. | “She has gone down to accompany her mo-| “And whose is that picturesque little cot- ther for a few turns in the garden, ‘The Coun-| tage ? inquired Lady Adela, by way of saying tess is going to hint as delicately as she can that} something: for she had been many minutes si- occupation, your company would be most wel- come, ‘The weather is truly beautiful and in viting for a walk.” Gerald offered the ladies each an arm: the Countess took one—Adela the other—and they issued forth into the grounds. The young lady was evidently laboring under a deep depression of spirits, which she however strove to conquer, or at least to conceal, But she only spoke in monosyllables, or in brief sentences; and as for a smile, none gleamed upon ber lips, After @ few turns iu the garden were taken, the Coun- tess complained of fatigue,—saying, “1 must how go in-doors; but it is no reason why I should deprive you two of your walk.” Thus speaking, she quitted Gerald’s arm and entered the mansion, leaving her daughter with hing whom she hoped to behold the young lady's bridegroom, whatsoever attentions you may choose to pay,|lent, and she did not wish to appear absolutely are to be received graciously. I do not think} rude towards her companion, ou will find any more shyness in that quarter.| “Oh! that is the bailiff’s residence—a men in a few minutes you would do well to join the}named Davis. He used to be a very exeellent ladies: the Countess will be sure to leave you| servant of my father’s; but of late he has got with Lady Adela, whom you will no doubt find] dissipated—frequents the public-house—and is obediently submissive to the suggestions thrown] in the habit of getting tipsy. 1 dont think the out by her mother.” | : governor knows all his goings-on; in faet, [ am At this moment Sir Archibald Redburn en-} sure he doesn’t—but [think it is my duty to give ered the room with the local journal in his} hima hint. | mean my father ?’—for Lady Adela band, looked evidently at a loss for a moment to com- “What do you think ?” he exclaimed; “ that} prehend whom Captain Redburn meant by the fellow Bates has made his escape from the ofli-| governor, “This fellow Davis, the bailiff of cers Who were conveying him to Portsmouth.—| whom we are speaking,’ he continued, “ married Here’s a full account of it in the paper. Ah !/a second wife between two and three years ago that i@ one of the most cunning scoundrels I} —a young woman much above himself, though ever knew in all my life.” not of course belonging to our cirele. She is Adela, her mother will take care that she sballjare pot taking you from any more agreeable - (e(e) Gerald pot feeling very jarticularly inter-| the daughter of the village doctor=-§ Solr aaa