The Soldier's Wife — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

“But after all,” he said to himself, “this is very absurd on my part. I can’t” possibly marry the girl—and as for obtaining her on any other tems, it’s evidently out of the ques- tion. I think I had better cut the matter short at once: because it’s no use falling head over ears in love only to make one-self miserable. The governor and my mother would be shock- ed at the idea of my marrying their bailiff’s daughter; and altogether it would not do at all. No: I had better cut it at once, and not make a fool of myself any more.” Having thus communed with himself as he stood still gazing upon the cottage through the deepening gloom of the evening, Gerald turned abruptly round in order to retrace his way to the Manor House: but he had not gone many “ee when an invincible feeling compelled 1im to stop short again, and revert his eyes towards the dwelling of her whose beauty had established its empire, although so unwillingly on her side, over his heart. “Well, this zs strange,” he said to himself. “‘T feel that I must go and see her. »It’s no use fighting against the inclination: it is stronger than one-self. Besides, what if I chose to marry her—who could prevent it¢# Am I not inde- pendent of the governor—or shall be in a few weeks when I come of age? ‘Lhe estates are entailed; and he can’t keep me out of them— so that directly | am twenty-one, I should have no difheulty in raising what money | want. Besides, there’s the romance of the thing: it woald be quite a charming novelty; having a handsome wife with one in one’s regiment. The attraction is sure to collect such pay so- ciety around one—and then the pride too of a beautiful wife to sit at the head of one’s table! lf Lucy was dressed in silks and satins, who would know that she was a bailiff’s daughter $ She has got the manners of a lady; and being so quick and intelligent, would soon fall into the ways of polished society as easy as if she had been all her life accustomed to them. Well, at all events, I must think the matter over; and I will just drop in and pay my usual Visit this evening.” Gerald Redburn accordingly proceeded to the cottage; and the door was opened by Mar- tha, who invariably looked vexed and annuyed when he made his appearance. He was at ence shown into the little parlor, where Mr. Davis was seated with his brandy-and-water, and where Lucy was as usual engaged in nee- dlework, During the fortnight which had elapsed, she had endured the visits of the young man for the simple reason of avoiding any more terrific ecenes with her father. She must either endure those visits, or suffer those scenes: and_ be- tween the alternatives, she chose the former for the sake of maintaining peace in the house- hold. Her affections were so firmly and ina- lienably riveted upon Lonsdale that she could not for an instant feel she was playing any per- fidious part towards her absent lover by thus Sk herself to the flatteries and the ad- miring looks of Gerald Redburn; inasmuch as she gave him not the slightest encourayement ——but, on the contrary, as far as she daved in THE SOLDIER'S WIIE. her sire’s presence, and very pointedly when he quitted the room, studied to make the you man aware that his attentions were distastefu We have, however, seen, that he had set then down to mere shyuess on her part; and, there fore, still pertinaciously obtruded himself upon her presence. Lucy, moreover, endured these scenes be cause she hoped that the departure of Gerald Redburn froin the neighborhood when he ob tained his commission, would effectually relieve her from his visits. er father had not, during the past fortnight, renewed that one topie which Lucy was naturally so anxious to avoid, He was contented by observing that, notwithstand- ing her coldness, Gerald was every day becom- ing more inextricably ensnared in the meshes which her charms so involuntarily on her part spread around him; and he considered that it would be quite time enough to adopt coercive measures to compel his daughter to throw off that chilling reserve, when Gerald should be so entangled in the web of love as to have no power lett to emancipate himself. The bailiff was also shrewd enough to perceive that this very coldiess on his daughter’s part, which he had at first feared would serve to damp the young man’s passion, was producing the very contrary effect, and was actually piquing it se that Davis was not altogether discoutented with Lucy’s demeanor, at least for the present. In short, things seemed to be progressing en- tirely to his satisfaction; and he now only waited tor Geraid to speak out plainly and openly, in order to give Lucy to understand that his resvive was sternly taken, and that she must make up her mind to bend to his will Gerald Redburn entered the parlor, upon the occasion of Which we are now specially speak- ing, with the oft-haud familiarity of one who knew himseit to be a thoroughly welcome guest to the master of the house. He shook hands with Davis; but he had not as yet dared to venture so far as to offer his hand to Lucey, He had on two or three occasions made a sort of movement to indicate thatif he received the slightest encouragement he would give his hand; but her’s had never been extended to- wards him. A eold and distant salutation was the greeting he ever received fro»: her; for it was not merely that Lucy loved another, but likewise because she could never forget the in- dignities which Gerald Redburn had heaped upon Frederick, and that it was €éntirely through him her lover had lost his employment and had been driven to enlistment. “Well, Mr. Davis—enjoying your glass as usual?” said Grerald, as he took a seat between the father and daughter, but nearer to the lat ter. “You will permit me to join you?” “T am really ashamed, Mr. Redburn,” an- swered the bailitl, “that you should always take this Goninon stuff instead of wine. Now vou know | have some wine in the house” ~ “And you know,” rejoined Gerald, with a familiar smile, “that 1 prefer doing as you do, [ am surfeited with wine—gqnite sick of it, I Gan assure you.” aye “Give Mr. Redburn a clean tumbler off the sideboard, Lucy,” said the ba lith Bde GEomiecbooks co