The Soldier's Wife — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. He haa two objects in making this call so soon after the occurrence of the forenoon. Ia the first place, he was anxious to disarm Kitty of any animosity she might experience on account of the somewhat cold way he had treated her— for he was just sufficiently smitten with her to make her the object of a passing amour; and in the natural malignity of his soul, he sought to acconiplish this as the best revenge he could take upon the bailiff. In the second place, he wished to impress upon Kitty’s mind the neces- sity of observing something like a decent for- bearance the next time she might happen to meet him in company with Lady Adela. On arriving at the cottage, Captain Redburn learnt from Sarah, the woman-servant, that Mr. Davis was out, as usual, but that Mrs. Davis was alone in the parlor. Kitty had expected this visit, and was prepared with sullen looks and pouting lips to give the Captam a cold re- ception. Her pride had been bitterly annoyed —her vanity wounded in its most sensitive point; while she had not sufficient good sense and discretion to make her aware that her own conduct had been most indelicately forward, and that Gerald had treated her with even more consideration than she deserved, or than he in his own ill-conditioned nature might have been expected to display. “Ah! this is just as [ thought,” said Cap- taiu Redburn,. “ What’s the use of being bad- tempered ¢” “It is like your impudence, asking me such a question,” returned Mrs. Davis, shaking her head and her curls:—and we may pareutheti- cally observe that she had arranged her hair most artistically, and put on her best apparel, together with al! the ornaments she possessed, in anticipation of this visit. “So you would have cut me to-day if you could, when you were walking with that proud-looking girl.” “Come, Kitty, don’t give yourself these airs,” said Redburn, coaxingly. “ Upon my word you look quite charming this evening. Are you expecting company ¢” | “1 expected no one—I thought I should have been all by myself—I didn’t want any one to drop in;’—and she pouted like a spoilt child. “Not even me? Well, at all events I am happy in having surprised you in one of your prettiest moments. You really do look quite fascinating. What beautiful hair!’—and_ he ventured to touch her perfumed ringlets. “ Be quiet, Captain Redburn! How dare you —particularly after your couduct to-day i “This dress becomes your complexion adimi- rably.” “Well, it is fortunate that you are pleased With something.” “ Pleased: | am always pleased with you— or else why should | come to see you? But do let me look at that ring,” he said, as a pretext for taking her hand, which she abandoned to him with only a slight show of resistance. “ It is really very pretty —the hand | mean, and not the ring :’--and as he spuke, he pressed that. hand to his lips. = hair, humming a tune, ing: she looked diseretion itself, and it was im-. a25 “Are you not ashamed of yourself, after your conduct of to-day ¢” “Pray do not return to the subject. This costume sets off your figure to the greatest ad- vantage: you are really very weli made—a sweet pretty shape: a milliner must take pride in dressing you.” “How you do talk!” cried the thoughtless woman, suffering herself to be gradually wheed- led into a good humor. “T am only telling you the truth. Now, Kitty, pray don't be augry with me any longer, I could not help acting as I did; and you are a woman Of such fine intelligence aud admirable good sense, you must see it in that lght.” “ All flattery !” she exclaimed, with an areb look: for she was now completely softened. “ You are so bewitchingly beautiful this eve- ning that I must receive a practical assurance of your forgiveness :’—and he pressed his lips to hers, without experiencing a repulse on tLe present occasion. But that very same instant the door opened; and Sarah made her appearance, bearig the snuffer-tray in her hana. Mrs. Davis flew toa seat—and Redburn ran his fingers through his The servant said noth- possible to tell by her aspect whether she had seen that caress or not. She deposited the snufier-tray upon the table, and quitted the room. “ How provoking!” ejaculated Mrs, Davis, who was in reality much annoyed. “Oh! she will not say a word,” observed Redburn. * Besides, she must have thought there was something singular the other might, when I was concealed behind the curtains “ Nevertheless, 1 wish she had not seen this,” answered Kitty; and she inwardly resolved that it should not take place again. “Where is Davis this evening?’ asked Red- burn. “At the public-house, as usual, I sup- ose,” “ Most likely. I wish he would not leave me like this—I wish he was a better husband—I wish I had a husband that I could love and respect, and who would stay at home. I wish, in short I don’t know what I wish.” “How queer you are talking,” exclaimed Redburn, gazing upon her in the most unfeigned surprise, “T fear,” she immediately answered, “ that I am acting very thoughtlessly and very fool- ishly. 1 am already compromised before the servant,” she continued in a tone of vexation, “ What must she think? Oh, I have been very imprudent! Now, Captain Redburn, [ entreat you to do me a service.” “ What is it ?” he asked, still astonished at the seriousness which she had suddenly put on, and which was evidently real and unaffected. “To wish you would leave me,” she replied, rising from her chair, but remuining at a little distance ; “and | beseech that if you come here again, it may be in the broad day-light whep people are about.” * This is most ridiculous, Kitty !” ejaculated “Fie, Captain Redburn!” exclaimed Kitty, }the Baronet’s son. affecting t. turn awuy her head in cunfusiun «all of a sudden ?” “ What has come over you GONG soo “S (E(O)