The Soldier's Wife — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

THI SOLDIER'S WIFE 127 pelied to yield to the wishes of her parent andj hours passed by, that feeling wore off, and she accompany him to the altar: there would be in} looked forward with a fluttering sensation of the mere act of forcing her thither a revenge for the coldness which she now demonstrated to- wards him. But during this fortnight, what had been assing in the mind of Mrs. Davis? The reader bas seen that though in the first instance she had weleomed Captain Redburn to the cottage in the thoughtless humor of one who was flat- tered at the presence of such a visitor, she had rapidiy conceived a more tender feeling towards him. In her eyes his pale countenance became interesting—bhis emaciated figure appeared a symmetrical slenderness—his flippant discourse an offlhanded frankness. She hated her hus- band, too: Gerald had encouraged the feelmg— and this conduct on his part she had regarded as sympathy with what she called her domestic sorrows, She looked upon herself as an injured wife, never reflecting that her own temper had driven her husband away from bis home to pass the evenings at the public-house. [tis most dan- gerous when a young man shows, or is believed to show, sympathy with a young wife who fancies herself the object of tyranny on the part of an elderly husband. Such was Mrs. Davis's position ; and when alone of an evening, she thought to lierself that it would be a consolation if Captain Redburn were just to drop in and have achat with her. Moreover, that handsome present which he sent her from Middleton had gratified her vanity In more ways than one. She had not sufficient courage to reject the gift, because she loved finery, and also because she considered it as a proof of Redburn’s affection. She gradually reasoned herself into the belief that though he intended to marry Lady Adela from worldly motives, yet that she herself pos- sessed his love. Her head was soon turned with these fancies’ and almost every dav her fingers itched to pen a few lines to Captain Redburn and iss‘ him to pass an evening with her. But throughout the fortnight she had sufficient cour- ‘age, blended with sufficient apprehensions, to wake her throw down the pen every time she took it up; and in her better moments she re- joiced at her fortitude. But at the expiration of this fortnight, when she remembered that in two weeks more Cap- tain Redburn’s leave of absence would expire, she could no longer resist the temptation She accerdingly wrote a few lines inviting him to visit her; and carefully sealing the note, she gave it to Sarah to take up to the Manor, with lastructions to make a pretence cf visiting the servants there and of watching an opportunity to deliver the billet into Captain Redburn’s own hand. She felt certain that Sarah was discreet ; and she knew full well that Gerald would give the woman a golden reward for her,secrecy. Sarah acquitted herself of the commission ac- cording to the order she had received; and when she returned to the cottage with the inti- mation that Captain Redburn would be there between eight and nine o’clock, Mrs. Davis felt a tremor pass through her entire frame as her pleasure to the expected visit. A little before eight o'clock, Mr. Davis went forth as usual; and Kitty ascended to her chamber to perform her toilet. She found herself insensibly gliding Into pleasurable sensations as she arranged her hair and put on the very handsome silk dress which Captain Redburn had sent her from Mid- dleton. She gazed in the glass: the heiyhtened color of her cheeks, and the light that was dan- cing in her eyes, added to her good looks; and the survey was therefore completely satisfae- tory. She then descended to the parlor, where a cheerful fire was blazing in the grate, for tha autuinn evenings were now cold; and she spread with her own hands upon the table, the wine and the dessert provided for the oceasion, At about halftpast eight, Gerald Redburn made his appearance; and the moment he was alone with Mrs, Davis, he pressed her hand, with every evidence of enthusiasm, to bis lips, assu- ring her that ber billet had afforded him the most unfeigned pleasure. He observed at a glance that her toilet had been carefully studied; aud he understood full weil the vanity which had made her seek to render herself as fasci- nating as possible for the occasion, She really did look uncommonly weil—prettier than he had ever seen her before; and he felt av inward glow of triumph at the idea of approaching success, “You must think very ill of me,” she said, when they were seated at the table, “to have written to you fi “Very ill!” he ejaculated. “On the contrary, it gave me infinite pleasure. How can any one think ill of a pretty woman who suffers him to perceive that he is not an object of indifference to her? You Jook perfectly resplendent thig evening, Whata pity it is you are confined in this humble cottage! You ought to be in a splendid drawing-room, Not but that every- thing is quite comfortable here: I am _ only speaking comparatively,” “Do you really mean me to understand,” she asked, with a languishing tenderness, “ that you care anything for me ?” “How can you put sucha question? Why am | here, if I did not? why was I so ready to obey your summons ?” “Yes; [think you like me—a little,” she mur- mured, tremulously ; “because you know how unhappy | am at home—you have sympathized with me—you have shown a friendly feeling; but then, perhaps, you dearly love Adela” “{f mean to marry ber,” rejoined Redburn: “but as for love, it’s quite another thing. I | love you, Kitty; and if you were single, I would marry you.” “No, no—I cannot believe that. was sinzle——” “Ah, but then I did not know you so well as I do now; and you really were not half so pretty. You have improved wonderfully in the last two or three years.” “ Do you really think so ?” she said, flattered When [I heart was smitten with resret at what she had| bv the assurance. done. But it was too late tc setreat; and as the!/do not be coy,” he added, aa she “T think so, or i should not say it. Come ne EiGokexco