The Soldier's Wife — page 202: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. 18] lencss—interrupted by so many sobs and moans, ;ed her: he used the most detestable sophistry as well as floods of tears—and intefmingled too with so many entreaties for pardon and mercy, that it would be impossible to record the narra- tive precisely as it was delivered by the wretch- ed Arden. We will therefore convey it in our ‘own language, and in as condensed a shape as possible. We must however commence by observing that about thirty-two years previous to the date of which we are writing, Jane Redburn, Sir Archibald’s sister, was a beauteous girl of six- teen. A gay, laughing, and joyous creature was she,—- perfectly inexperienced in the world,— but with a very susceptible heart, and passions which, though slumbering then, only needed to be awakened to become full of ardor. The pa- rents of Archibald and Jane Redburn had died early. Jane was educated by a governess,—at first under the supervision of an old aunt, who at that time resided at the Manor. But the aunt died when Jane was fifteen: the gover- ness remained another year,—at the expiration of which it was considered that the young lady’s education was finished; and the tutoress was accordingly dismissed. Archibald and Jane now .yesided alone together at the Manor House—without relatives to be the guides or companions of the young Jady. At that time, Sir Archibald, being only twenty-six, and as yet unmarried, was a gay dashing man,—fond of field sports when in the country, and fond of dissipation when in London, He was much at- tached to his sister: but he neglected her, with- out however wilfully intending to doso. Indeed, this neglect consisted in leaving her too much alune—throwing her too much upon her own re- ssurces—and taking no measures to provide her with the permanent companionship of any ell- gible females. The consequence was that Jane was treated as a woman when she was still only a girl; she was the mistress of the Manor: she presided over the household—she did as she chose. The Rev. Mr. Arden had lately been in- ducted into the Rectory of Oakleigh. At the time we are speaking of, he was about two- and-thirty—of an exceedingly handsome per- gon, fascinating manners, winning address, and brilliant powers of conversation, He was mar- ried, and had already two children, His career at the University had been dissipated and _prof- ligate: and his habits continued irregular evew for some years after he had left College: in- deed, he had lost two or three curacies through his bad conduct; and it was owing to a fortu- nate friendship with Sir Archibald that he set- tled down at length in the living of Oakleigh— Mr. Arden was a thoroughly unprineipled man ; and when in the course of time he perceived that the beautiful, artless, and tmexperienced Jane Redburn had conceived a growing attach- ment for him, he was base and wicked enough to encourage the sentiment. She at first did not comprehend it—she did not know what it was—she mistook it for friendship; and giving way t» its influence, only had her eyes opened to the real state of her heart, when that heart's affections were inextricably entangled. Mr. Arden fanned the fame ‘ill it well uigh devour- to stifle her scruples and overcome her virtue— and he succeeded but too well. Sir Archibald’s frequent absences from home, afforded ample opportunities for his sister and Mr. Arden to pursue their illicit amour—which we should add, was so carefully veiled, that it remained utterly unsuspected by every one, In due time, Jane Redburn found herself ina way to become a mother; and then both she and Mr. Arden grew seriously alarmed, The cricumsiance was, however, concealed until the very last: Miss Redburn managed to hide hee position from even the prying eyes of the female servants of the household. Fortunately for this purpose of concealment, Sir Archiba!d Redburn took it into his head to pay a three monthe’ visit to London at the time when the crisis was approaching, He expected his sister to go with him—-and was somewhat surprised when she begged to be allowed to remain at the Manor. He had, however, become so much accustomed to let her have her own way, and to treat her as a grown-up woman who could be properly left to her own guidance, that he did not insist; and so she remained. This was a great point won in the estimation of Mr. Arden; and he now began to breathe more freely. Ina variety of ways did he counsel her how to act, in order to prepare for the coming event. Following all his suggestions, she gradually dispensed witk the services of her lady’s-maid in respect to the toilet; and, with a great pretence of strictness. she compelled all the servants to retire to their chambers at a particular hour, and to bring her, every evening, the keys of the premises, Ags the time approached, Mr. Arden made a confi- dante of a poor woman of the name of Grant, who resided in the village, and whom he knew to be the very person suited for the purpose, Miss Redburn engaged her, on his recommen- dation, as an occasional charwoman to asist at the Manor House; and thus was she afforded a footing beneath that roof without exciting any suspicion as to the ulterior object. It was more- over privately arranged, that if the expected infant should live, Mrs. Grant was to have the care of it. We must add, that it was all along the Rector’s purpose to employ the professional services of Mr. Colycinth, when the time should come—but not to entrust him with the secret beforehand. He saw that Colycinth was strug- gling and needy, and that difficulties were grow- ing fast around him; and it,was therefore natu- ral to suppose that he would jump at the pro- posal when made, and willingly accede to the conditions accompanying it. Nevertheless, when the crisis did arrive, Mr. Arden was naturally filled with apprehensions of discovery and ex- posure; and hence the excitement he had dis- played when calling upon Colyeinth on the memorable night the incidents of which have already been described. All, however, passed off with the strictest secrecy, and without the slightest misadventure. Mrs. Grant was there, ready at hand--the domestics had retired at the usual hour—Miss Redburn had the keys of the doors and gates, which afforded Mr. Arden and the surgeon the means of ingress and egress aud when the servants arose in the morning CONnnicooolK<s (CO)