The Soldier's Wife — page 200: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. 179 w1 likewise, sir,” turning to the Captain, “ with| with a large shaw]-kerchief which he had evi- the utmost astonishment.” dently brought fer the purpose ; and he assisted He paused for a few moments; while the|me to take a seat in the gig. Placing himself three listeners whom he had specially address-|by my side, he drove rapidly away; but all the ed, were filled with the acutest suspense: but|while our journey lasted he requested me to Mr. Arden still remained with his countenance|keep my hands upon my knees, and with the buried in his hands—though his sobs had now | gloves off, so that he might see them easily and | ceased. thus assure himself that I made no attempt to “The incident of which I am about to|raise the bandage. The drive lasted about speak,” resumed Mr. Colycinth, “ occurred near-|half an-hour; but it occurred to me at the time, ly thirty-one years ago. At that time I had|that it was unnecessarily prolonged, and that a been but a few months established at Oakleigh ;/circuitous route was taken, to mystify me all and I had to contend against another medical|the more completely as to the direction we were gentleman practising there at the time and of | pursuing. This suspicion was excited by the old standing in the neighborhood. I was strug- fet that two or three times the gentleman rein- gling against difficulties,—fearing that I should ed in the horse, and stopped short for a few mo- not be able to surmount them,—with a wife to| ments, as if not quite certain which road to pur: eupport, and the prospect of | family/ The|sue: whereas methought that had he taken a work was far more of an up-hill nature than in/direct one, he must have known it well, seeing my sanguine hopes I had anticipated to find it ; that he could not be unfamiliar with the place and despair was already entering my soul,—|to which he was bearing me, as he was so pro- when something took place which furnished the|minent an actor in the night’s proceedings. means of maintaining my battle against hostile] However, the drive, as I have said, lasted half- circumstances. One night, at about eleven|an hour; and at the expiration thereof we stop» o’cluck—just as I was preparing to retire to bed] ped. My companion made me alight with him, —the surgery-bell rang. My wife, who was illjand keep close by his side with my hands through anxiety for the future, had already re-|down, 1 judged that he was tying the reins tired ; and the servant-girl whom we kept, had|of the horse to something, and that there was likewise sought her chamber. I hastened to|no groom or other servant ready at hand to answer the summons; and a gentleman whom | take charge of the vehicle. Then he satisfied I knew full well, at once entered the surgery.|himself that the bandage was secure; and He was in considerable agitation—I may say |taking my arm, he led me on. It might have in a state uf almost frenzied excitement; and it| been partly curiosity, which you will admit was was only in broken sentences that he could |natural enough under such circumstances,—and make his objects and wishes known. He in-|1it might have been partly with the desire of formed me that a young lady, of good family, | discovering some clue to a secret for the keeping was about to become a mother without being ajof which it was evident that gold would be wife; and my professional assistance was imme-, lavished,—which induced me to seize upon any diately required. As a matter of course, I|circumstauce helping to afford sucha clue. I readily consented to accompany the gentleman,| therefore judged of the nature of the ground and proceed whithersoever he might direct me.|on which we trod: 1 stored in my memory the But on growing more composed, he gave me to gates or dvors through which we passed, as well understand that there were certain conditions to}/as the turning we tock after each successive be observed; and that if I assented to them, a|one; and when we finally entered some habi- hundred guineas should be my reward. This ;tation, I counted the steps of the staircase up sum {0 we was an immense fortune: for my} which I was led. I was conducted by my coms resources were at a very low ebb, and a few|panion into a chamber, where I was told in a minutes previously my position had appeared | hurried whisper that I should find my patient, so desperate that I had shed tears as I thought!The gentleman likewise exchanged a few whis- of it. 1 therefore clutched with avidity at! pered words with some one, who replied to him whatsoever conditions might be imposed; and!in a female voice: but the sense of their ree they were soon explained. I was to accom-/marks | did not catch. Doubtless they were pany the gentleman blindfolded, and to submit | inquiries on the gentleman’s part as to the state to any precaution which he might suggest or of the patient. I heard him quit the room; think fit in order to prevent-me from discover-|and then the door was locked. I did not offer ing the place to which | was about to be taken.|to remove the bandage of my own accord; and I agreedjand the gentleman at once gave me|the same female voice I had heard whispering half the promised reward as an earnest of his) with the gentleman, asked me if it was neces- sincerity. Having hastily run up stairs to|sary todo so. I replied in the affirmative— breathe a few words of joyous hope in the ears) that it was imperiously necessary. She remon- of my wife, I returned to the surgery, andjstrated: but I positively refused to render the speedily put up such medicaments as might| slightest assistance if blindfolded. She request- prove necessary in the case I was about to at-|ed me to sit down, guiding me to a chair: there tend. 1 then accompanied the gentleman from|was a delay of a few moments, and then she the house ; and he led me into the lane running bade me remove the bandage. I did so—and by the side of the church-yard, There a gig) found myself ina handsomely furnished cham- was waiting ; and the man who held the horse,' ber, every feature of which at once settled ite immediately disappeared. It was a dark night |sclf in my memory at the first glance I threw —and the lane was involved in almost com-/around. But the patient whom | had come te plete obscurity, The gentleman blindfolded me! attend had on a thick black veil: the womaa i _— GOMIGDOOKSFEO