The Soldier's Wife — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. place—and the Sergeant-Major was, if possible, more\inebriated than at first. But the sense of that peril which he had just escaped, lingered in his mind, embittering it at the thought of having been thus taken to task by a superior, and impelling him to avenge himself in his turn upon the first person in the shape of an inferlor that he might happen to meet. Frederick Lons- dale was at this moment returning to the bar- racks from his wife’s lodging. He had come back half-an-hour earlier than the time pre- scribed by the “summer regulations,” inasmuch as he had to be on guard the following day, and he had _ his accoutrements to pipe-clay and po- lish; for beingta marked man, he was compel- led to exercise the utmost circumspection on this point. He began ascending, the stone stair- case of that department of the barrack-building just at the time that Sergeant Major Langley was mountiig his own quarters, All of a sud- den our hero heard a heavy fall on the landing just above—a fall as if a man had tumbled heavily, like an inert helpless mass. Darting up the stairs, Lonsdale immediately recognized the Sergeant-Major, who, though a lyht was burn- ing there, had stumbled over the uppermost step and had fallen flat down upon the landing. Frederick at once assisted him to rise; and as for the first few moments Mr, Langley found it somewhat difficult and inconvenient to stand steadily upon his legs, Lonsdale propped him up against the wall. Here was a humiliation for the Sergeant Major—to be seen insuch a plight by the man whom he detested !—and what was alill more mortifying, to have received succour from him! He could not possibly ex- press thanks for such assistance: and therefore he at once fell into the opposite extreme. —* Lonsdale,” he said, “ you bave been drink- ing, sir ?” “ No—I have not,” responded our hero, curtly and indignantly. “Don’t tell me you have not,” ejaculated the Sergeant-Major: “why, you can hardly stand, sir! J see you bave been drinking—your face is red—your eyes excited—and there is a hor- rid sinell of liquor under my very nose.” “No doubt «f it,” rejoined Frederick, unable to repress this culting remark. “What do you mean, sirrah ?” vociferated _ Langley, now furious with rage “ Do you in- tend to insinuate——why, you are as tipsy as you canbe! You tumbled flat down |” “Mr. Langley,” interrupted our hero, sternly and resolutely, “if you say but another word, | shall call witnesses who will at once pronounce by the state of our clothing, which of the two it is that has just sprawled upon the dusty land- Ing ” ‘With these works Frederick turned upon his heel, and sped up the second flight to his own quarters. In the meantime Captain Redburn had saun- tered forth, as above stated, into the streets. Lucy and little Frederick had accompanied Lonsdale nearly as far as the barrack-gate. It was not often that they did this, inasmuch as ‘Lucy chose not to be out in the streets of an evening; but on the present occasion she had some work to take home, and she had moreover 10 137 some little purchases to make, the neceasity for which she had only discovered just as her hus- band was about to return to the barracks. Cap tain Redburn was strolling along, smoking his cigar—staring impudently at the women who passed, especially the factory-girls that were leaving the mills—and sometimes stopping to look into those shops that were frequented by females, Presently he beheld a fine-looking woman, neatly but plainly dressed, emerge from a linen-draper’s establishment. She was accompanied by a little boy about six years old; and altogether she had a highly respecta- ble as well as modest appearance. Gerald did not immediately catch a glimpse of her counte- nance: but her fine figure instantaneously struck him; and as she walked aloug as if in haste to regain her own dwelling, he hurried his foot. steps. Overtaking her in a few moments, he turned and stared with cool insolence as he was passing: and now, to his mingled surprise and satisfaction, he at once recognized Mrs. Lone dale. He had not seen her since her return to Manchester: indeed he had long ceased to think of her. Years therefore had elapsed since he had last beheld her, which was on that occasion when he so grossly intruded into her lodging at Portsmouth. During this interval she had ex- panded into the glory of a splendid womanhood ; and though her countenance was somewhat pale and wore an expression of sofily settled melan- choly, she was sull eminently beautiful. That pensive look gave an additional interest to her regular and well-sculptured features; and though her apparel was plain and simple, yet it wag neatly fashioned, and set off her fine shape to the fullest advantage. : On perceiving that the officer who stared at her so impudently, and who had immediately recognized her, was none other than Captam Redburn, Lucy could not help starting back with a sort of recoil, and the color at once mounted to her cheeks. A most wicked thought * at the same instant flashed through the mind of Gerald,—but though perfectly consistent with the light and immoral notions he entertained of female virtue generally. Was she not by this time hearuly tired of her soldier-husband ¢ and would she not now prove a comparatively easy conquest? Gerald’s passions were fired; and he was altogether in a mood requiring some novel pursuit in order to distract his thoughts from the various unpleasant circumstances press- ing upon them. “ Ah, Mrs, Lonsdale !” he exclaimed: “it 1s a long time since you and I met:’—and as he thus spoke, he stopped short in the midst of the harrow pavement, in such a manner as to bar her way, without however having the appear- ance of rudeness in the eyes of the passers-by. Lucy was for the moment alike bewildered and indignant at the cool effrontery with whicb Captain Redburn addressed her: but speedily’ recovering her presence of mind, she said in & reserved and dignified manner, “May I re- quest, sir, that you will allow me to proceed “Come, what nonsense is this?” exclaimed Gerald. “Surely you don’t bear animosity ?” Lucy, with little Frederick clinging to hes (C CORVICLOOOKS