The Soldier's Wife — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

156 past five. So you must really excuse mo. Good bye, dear Luey—good bye, Fred. I shall see you both againin a few days at Middleton. You can leave a note at the barracks to tell me where I shall find you.” Lonsdale kissed his wife and son with a transiently reviving tenderness of feeling; and for the moment he experienced a pang of re- morse at hurrying them away from Manchester gs) suddenly, and at least three or four days before there was any real necessity for their departure. But as he recollected the motive which thus influenced him, be did not bid them stuy—the sentiment of compunction was stifled within him—and he issued forth from their presence. The reader has doubtless understood full well that the alleged preparations for de- parture were mereiy an excuse to enable Fre- derick to join his comrades at the canteen; and the reason why he was anxious to hurry Lucy and Hreddy off to Middleton, was that for the next two or three days he might enjoy a com- plete holiday, as he considered it to be—that is to say, ample leisure to spend his money in drink and tobacco, without the necessity of passing even a single minute with his wife and child. But what thought was it that had so sudden- ly struck Lucey when she acquiesced in her husband’s desire that she and their son should leave Manchester on the morrow? She had seen the low state to which their funds were rediicezd—she had heard Frederick remark that the jewelry would soon have to go—he had likewise charged her to be economical—he had Maniiested anger at their great expenditure— aud she looked forward with a shuddering terror to the day when there should be no reserve fand in their possession, and when her toil would remain the sole source not merely of maintenance for herself and the boy, but like- wise to furnish her husband with pocket-money, which she saw but too plainly had become in- dispensable. The necessity of eking out their little remaining means In the most parsimonious manner, had therefore presented itself to her; and the thought that had so suddenly struck her, was that instead of herself and little Freddy proceeding to Middleton by the coach, they might go by the waggon. To such an alternative poor Lucy could readily make up her mind; and she would have adopted it with cheerfulness, if her husband were but the same now that he was wont to be. But, alas! he was not. This was the first time he had spok- en so angrily to her-—the first time that she was smitten with a sense of undeserved cru- elty at his hands; and it cut the unfortunate wite to the very quick. She knew also that he could not possibly have to make preparations tliee days before the removal of the regiment ; guch preparations would occupy but an hour, even if so much ;—and bitter as was the pang that it cost her to say to herself, *‘ Frederick is deceiving me,” she could not prevent those words being whispered by her soul's secret voice. And then the money he had taken—a sovereigu—a large sum from their little reserve, —what could it be for? knew fwl well how it would be expended, ! compelled to return into the sowety THE SOLDIER’S WIFE. althoveh at the time she had neither murmured nor looked aught in the shape of reproach or remonstrance, ‘l'hat uoble-hearted woman—so loving, so tender, so devoted, and at the same time so magnanimous—was prepared to make any sacrifice for the husband of her soul's best and purest affections; but still—but stil—e Oh! she was only‘a woman alter all, and she craved and yearned to be loved, and cherished, and treated tenderly in return] CHAPTER XXXIV, MIDDLETON. SHORTLY after Frederick left’ the lodging, Lucy went forth, accompanied by her little son, to take back the work she had in hand to tha warehouse which had furnished her with em- ployment; and she received the deposit, as well as the amount that was due to her. She rext proceeded to make inquiries respecting the wagon, and found that one would leave for the Midland Counties at six o’clock on the en- suing morning, She then returned to the lodg- ing: but she could not help noticing that there were several soldiers of Frecerick’s regiment still walking avout the streets, although it wag now past seven ¢’clock and he had assured her that the Colonel had given orders for them all to be in their quavters by six. This was a confirmation, if any were needed, that he haa deceived her; and yet she loved him as fondly and as tenderly as ever—although her confi- dence in his truthfulness had for some time past received so many shocks, and his very affection itself had undergone a visible diminution. Atter little Frederick was in bed and had fallen asleep, Mrs. Lonsdale commeneed hex preparations for departure. These she perform: ed with a heavv heart; for the circumstance o1 a removal to another place was the same as bid- ding her look into the future and wonder what her destiny might be at the next abode. Ah|I but she trembled and shuddered thus to fling her mental vision forward: for the gloomiest images of evil—the direst forebodings, present ed themselves to ker view. And this removal too—whither was it to take her? Into the neighbourhood of these scenes which were as- sociated with so many reminiscences that musi inevitably excite emotions of a painful charae ter. She lay down to rest that night with ar aching heart and a throbbing brain; and as she pressed her son to her bosom, she wept ovef his sleeping countenance—wept tears of bitter est grief as she thought of the future! It was a cold and misty morning at the end of March, when Lucy and little Freddy toob. their places in the wagon. Four or five dirty, ill-looking, coarse-mannered men and womek were huddled together in the same receptacle ; and their conversation, though not absolutely disgusting, was of a nature which Lucy but little liked to hear, As the day advanced, she go ut and walked—but not too far, ror fear Alas, alas! Lucy | of fatiguing the boy; and thus again wad she of ho eom (E 900KS.CcO