The Soldier's Wife — page 151: what you’re looking at

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1%2 wards himself than she ever yet had been; and she received in glacial silence the little atten- tions he showed her,—acknowledging them only with a slight inciination of the head. The Coun- tess of Burton from time to time darted angry and reproachful looks at her daughter: but the young lady did not observe them—and even if she had, she felt too profoundly wretched to as- sume a cheerfulness of spirits, Presently a footman entered with the morn. ing’s letters and newspapers; and as the Baro- net examined the addresses of the former, he took up one, saying, “This is for you, Gerald. — It bears the Middletun post-mark. I should know this hand writing. It is Fleecewell, the attor- ney’s. What can he possibly want with you ?” And Sir Archibald Redburn retained the letter in his hand as if he was half inclined to open it. “fam sure I can’t think what Fleecewell can want with me,” observed Gerald, carelessly and indifferently : indeed he spoke the truth—as notwithstanding his extravagances, he owed no money, for the simple reason that his father al- lowed him as much as he wanted. “ Hand over the letter, and we'll soon see what it con- tains.” “Should you like me to read it for you?” asked Aunt Jane, as she received the document from her brother in order to pass it to her ne- phew. “T’m sure I don’t mind,” responded the Cap- tain, with an air of disdainful indifference: for he thought to himself that Aunt Jane fancied it was concerning something he would like kept concealed ; and as on this head he experienced the most overweening confidence, he thought he might obtain at a very cheap rate a cha- racter for frankness and open-heartedness in the estimation of the Countess and Lady Adela. “Oh, yes! open it—and read it aloud, by all means!” he exclaimed. “I have no secrets, thank God! and so you are welcome to see what it says.” “Very good,” said Aunt Jane dryly: then without any more ado, she opened the letter ; and as calmly and deliberately as if it were a mere invitation to dinner, read its contents in the following manner :— LL LT ttt CC, en “No. 7, High Street, Middleton, “June 14th, 1885. Davis v. Yourself ‘Sir, “JT am instructed by Mr. Peter Davis to com- mence legal proceedings against you, and enter an action of damages for the seduction of my client’s wife, Catherine Davis. I will therefore thank you to acquaint me by return of post with the name of your solicitor, who will ac- cept the usual process on your behalf. “ Your obedient Servant, “FRANCIS FLEECEWELL. “Captain Redburn.” Not a word was spoken by any of the list- aners while Aunt Jane so calmly and deliber- ately read this letter, Gerald himself was averwhelmed with confusion: the Baronet and Lady Redburn sat aghast. The Countess of Burton's face grew grave and ominous, even to| THE SOLDIER'S WIFE j (/ , Pe ae } a degree of awful solemnity: but as for y Adela, she scarcely paid any attention to the document, and certainly obtained but a ve vague and general notion of its contents, The moment Aunt Jane had concluded the reading of the letter, the Countess of Burton rosem—_ stern, dignified, and implacable—from her seat 5 and taking her daughter’s hand, she said ina freezing voice, “Come, Adela: we will make immediate preparations for our departure,” Sir Archibald) Redburn sprang from his chair—seized the letter from Aunt Jane’s hand —and vociferated in a towering passion, “ It’s all through your cursed malignity !”’ “ He told me to read it,” was her quiet re- sponse : and she went on eating her toast as if nothing were the matter, Lady Redburn, awakening from her stupor of consternation, at first thought of speeding im pursuit of the Countess of Burton and endeay- oring to allay the storm: then she thought of abusing her son: next of tearing Aunt Jane's eyes out: and lastly of upbraiding her husband for handing his sister the letter. But not being able to settle her mind upon any one of these proceedings, she thought it best to go off into hysterics—and did so accordingly. Sir Archi- bald tore at the bell to summon ber ladyship’s malds: for Aunt Jane offered not to render the slightest assistance—and Gerald, availing him- self of the confusion, slipped from the room Throwing on his hat, he hurried forth from the mansion ; and repairing to a knot of trees at a little distance, flung himself on the grass under their shade to reflect upon all that had taken place. In about half an-hour he perceived the Countess of Burton’s own carriage drive round to the front entrance of the Manor: he heheld his father hand her ladyship and Adela into the vehicle: he saw the two lady’s-maids ascend to the rumble; and then the equipage arove rapidly away. “Adela is lost to me,” he said to himself, accompanying the remark with a bitter impre- cation; aud perhaps Captain Redburn never felt more humiliated or more mortified in all his life than he did at that moment. CHAPTER XXIX, THE CANTEEN. We must now return to the Lonsdales, whom we left at Manchester. Lucy was aware that her husband had written that letter which the condemned barber received in the gaol at Mid- dleton—a letter wherein our hero had poured forth all the rancor of an envenomed spirit against his bitterest enemy. Yes: poor Lucy was aware that he had penned and despatched that letter; for he bad made no secret of it to his wife. He had even \read it over to her with a kind of gloating ferocity and savage satisfaction that did her harm to behold. Sh ventured gently to remonstrate against such a manifestation of triumph over a fallen enemy: but Frederick was inexorable—and he cut bis — wife short with more abruptness, ard a manner Omilecbooks.co r :-