The Soldier's Wife — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

° THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. 47 “T would not trouble Miss Davis for the|Fred. Lonsdale—but that it was your servant- world!” exclaimed Gerald, springing from his|girl?” se ehaii and procuring a glass for himself. “The! “I did so—and I informed you correctly, Mr. gentlemen were made to wait upon the ladies, /Redburn,” replied the bailiff; then, never in and not have the ladies to wait upon them,” |want ofaready excuse, he proceeded to observe, Lucy took no notice of this wretchedly stale|‘‘ The fact is, Martha the servant-girl has been compliment, but continued her needle-work;|/with us a long time; and Lucy has taken a and with difficulty did she suppress a sigh as|sort of liking to her. Martha is terribly cut she thought how very different her feelings|up at being separated from her lover, and has would be if Frederick were seated by her side;made Lucy believe that the fellow is a very instead of the insufferable youth who hadjexcellent young man; so Lucy pities her, and planted himself there. would be inclined to take her part in the mat- “ Any news about your commission, Mr. Red-|ter. You know, my dear Mr. Redburn, from burn?” said Davis inquiringly; for he was al-|your own great experience of the world, that ways apprehensive of hearing that the young/young women will stick to each other in ail man’s departure might be precipitated ere his|love-affairs; and therefore I have no doubt Lucy schemes were worked out to complete success. |felt annoyed that you should have expressed -“ No—not yet,” was the welcome response— pone in such strong terms against Martha’s welcome at least to the father, but quite other-|lover.” | wise to the daughter. “From a letter the go-| ‘Ah! I suppose that was it,” observed Ger- vernor received this morning, I dare say it willlald. “Well, | am glad you have told me— be at least a month before I can be gazetted. |because I will not touch upon the topic another But, somehow or another, I am not now at all/time in Miss Davis’s présence.” in a hurry to leave home:” and he looked sig-| “It certainly would be better to avoid it,” replied the bailiff. nificantly at Lucy, who did not, however, ap- ei to notice that she was thus the object of| “I don’t think, by the bye,” observed Gerald, is regards. {affecting a careless and somewhat indifferent “Indeed!” exclaimed Mr. Davis. “I thought |/air, “that this coyness on the part of Miss Lucy that you found a country life very dull after the| wears off at all. She seemed colder to me than pleasures of London and Oxford ?” ever this evening, and more reserved.” “Yes, horribly dull, until recently,” respond-| “As Ihave before explained to you, Mr. Red- ed Gerald: then, thinking that he was going a|jburn, it is all in consequence of the girl’s little too far and committing himself too much, |excellent principles. She is afraid of ap- he turned away from the topic by observing,|pearing too forward. But with all her shy- “So I understand Bates, the hair-dresser, is in|ness she feels the honor you do us in dropping difficulties.” in to seeus. Of course she could not do other- “Yes,” replied the bailiff, “he can’t pay his| wise.” debts in the village, and there’s a terrible out-| “Ah! then she does look upon me as a ery against him. The fact is, from what I have|friend?” observed Gerald, experiencing a glow beard, he goes too regularly to the public-|of rapture at the thought that, perhaps after honse uf an evening.” all, Lucy was in love with him, and adopted “But isn’t it said that there are whisperings|this very coldness of demeanor in order to con- in the village about his having lent himself to|ceal it. that recruiting-sergeant who was here some| “She occasionally speaks of you, Mr. Red- weeks ago, and that he helped him to kidnap|burn,” returned the wily Davis; “and in very some of the young villagers?” friendly terms too—particularly friendly.” “Well, there is a rumor to that effect,” re-| “Iam glad to hear it,” said the young gen- plied Davis, feeling rather uneasy at the topic;|tleman; and then for a few minutes he became for he had observed the color on Lucy’s cheeks|thoughtful. “She’s a very nice girl, Davis,” come and go rapidly at an allusion which so|he added, again breaking silence; “and it’s ne forcibly reminded her of him on whom the fa-|compliment to say that the man is to be envied ther well knew her affections were deeply set. |who will have her for his wife.” “So Bates, then,” resumed Gerald, “has got| “ Yes—though her father, I can’t possibly himself into bad odor with the tradesmen in the|help echoing the sentiment. I shall hope to village? But at all events, he did one good act:|see her married soon. Iam sure that if I was for I understand that he helped somehow or|to take her for a few months to some fashionable another—but I have never learnt the particu-|watering-place, she would have her choice ot lars—in getting Oakleigh rid of that ill-condi-|suitors. Lintend to ask Sir Archibald in a few tioned lout Lonsdale.” days for leave of absence. I never have had “My dear Mr. Redburn, pray suffer me to pass|a holiday yet; and [am sure your father is too you the spirit-stand,” Davis hastened tc observe: |good to refuse me after so many years of faith- for at that moment Lucy had started visibly, |ful service.” while her countenance became crimson: then| “Oh, to be sure!” ejaculated Gerald. “ But she zped—almost rushed—to the door, and|don’t be in a hurry about it—there’s plenty of quitted the room. time.” “Ts arfything the matter?” demanded Gerald,| “Yes—but observe, Mr. Redburn, Lucy is astounded at this abrupt departure of the young |now twenty—in the bloom of her beauty: and maiden. “I thought,” he added, with a look|moreover, t think change of air would do her full of annoyance, “that you had positively|good—for she has been a little indisposed of assured me there was nothing between her and|late—a trifle paler than she was. But really d COnnicoool ks (ClO)