The Soldier's Wife — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE 7 wg person enough, but shockingly extravagant, gay, and flirty. The fact is,” proceeded Geraid, souceiving that this was an excellent opportu- nity to pass himself off before Lady Adela as @ right-thinking and well-principled man, as well as a great discriminator in respect to the good or evil qualities of the female sex,—“ I very much dislike those gaily-dressing, flaunting, flirt. ish women, who give themselves airs and stare impudently at all young men That is just what Mrs. Davis is: she is uncommonly forward —and in short, I thiak it is a most uufortunate match for the bailiff.’ “ Perhaps, therefore,” suggested Adela, with a truly generous intention, “ you had better not be too severe upon him in reporting bis conduct to Sir Archibald Redburn; for the poor man may have domestic cares which drive him away from his home.” “T am sure, if your ladyship wishes me to be merciful,” said Gerald, “1 shall cheerfully fol- low your bidding. In all things it will bea pleasure to me to pay every attention to the slightest word that drops from yorr lips.” Adela bent down her eyes and said nothing ; but her heart swelled within her, for she per- ceived that Captain Redburn was indeed serious in paying his addresees towards her—those ad- dresses which, her mother had hinted’ to her ere now in the garden, she was not to repudiate. At this moment, Gerald Redburn ciught sight of a gayly-dressed female approaching up the pathway from the village. She was appareled in all the colors of the rainbow, and therefore in the gaudiest style as well as in the worst ossible taste. He had no trouble in recognizing irs. Davis; and his first impuise was to turn suddenly off with Adela in another direction : but he felt that this would be an insult which Kitty was quite capable of resenting upon the spot—and he naturally dreaded such a scene. Besides, it would appear extraordinary to Lady Adela herself, to drag her out of the beaten pathway over the grass ; and while he was hesi- tating what course to adopt, it became too late to retreat or diverge at all. “How do you do, Captain Redburn ?” said Mrs. Davis, walking straight up to him and ex- tending her hand. Gerald was compelled to stop,—compelled also to take that hand; but instantaneously re- linguishing it, he’ bowed somewhat distantly, and was leading Lady Adela away, when Mis, Davis exclaimed, “ Pray introduce me to her ladyship. I have heard so much of her, and uite long to know her. Do, my dear Captain en introduce me, there’s a good soul !’— and she spoke with an easy off-hand familiarity, as well as with the utmost effrontery. ' ©Tady Adela Clive and the Countess of Bur- ton,” replied Gerald, shaking his head in a de- precating manner af Kitty, “are paying a quiet and friendly visit at the Manor, and do not form auy new acquaintances, Pray do not think me rude Good morning !"—and raising his hat _ to make a polite bow in order to disarm Kitty of any ill-humor, he led Adela onward. y The young lady was naturally surprised that the flaunting, furward, gaudily appareled wo- man whom they had just passed, should have 123 addressed Captain Redburn with so much fami larity. But she said nothing. Gerald cast an anxious look over his shoulder to assure himself that Kitty had continued her way to the cottage; and finding that she had, he breathed somewhat more freely. He felt that some explanation was due to Lady Adela: yet how could he possibly tell her that this was the identical Mrs. Davis of whom he bad spoken so disparagingty but a few minutes before? He inwardiy cursed his folly in having committed such an oversight ag to bring Adela for a walk in that direction : but the evil was done—and something must be said to remedy it. “How very rude and impertinent some of these country people are apt to be,” he began. “They are so forward and encroaching, That's ihe wife of a very substantial farmer—a tenant of my fathers; and so of course I was bound to be decently civil to her. I dare say she has gone to call upon those Davises that we were talking about.” “JT really thought, from the description you had previously given, Captain Redburn, that it was Mrs. Davis herself,” observed Adela, “Oh, dear me, no! that would be rather too much of a good thing! What, the bailiff’s wife tu address me in such a familiar style!” “Itcertally was rather familiar,” observed Lady Adela coldly. “Yes: but as | tell you, they are capital ten- ants, and perhaps on that account have been a little humored ; so that they take advantage of it. But here is Mr. Arden.” The village clergyman drew nigh at the mo- ment, and took off his hat to Lady Adela, with whom he was acquainted. He then shook hands with Redburn; and the usual compli- © mentary observations were exchanged. “Did you see with what scandalous gayety. that female was dressed out?” inquired the Rev. Mr. Arden, looking in the direction of the bai- liff's cottage, and therefore not observing the hasty shake of the head which Gerald gave at the instant. “It isa positive shame to see the wife of a working man,—for her husband is only a working man of a superior grade,—thus wasting the domestic substance in silks, and fine shawls, and flowing veils, and flaunting rib- bons.” “Are you going up to the Manor, Mr. Ar- den ?” interrupted Gerald, who had grown very uneasy at the clergyman’s remarks: “for we intend to proceed a little farther.” “No | merely came forth for a stroll,” was the reverend gentleman’s response; “and with your permission I will join you.” While thus speaking, he placed himself by Lady Adela’s side, so that the deprecating looks which Redburn was still throwing upon him, remained unperceived, “As I was observing,” be continued, “ it is really shameful to see that if “There is a beautiful spot, Lady Adela!” ejaculated Gerald, pointing towards the grove intersecied by the rivulet—that grove made memorable in this varrative as the trysting- place of Frederick and Lucy before their mar- rlage. “1 declare,” continued theoviengy NOOKS! 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