The Soldier's Wife — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. 51 ser ved,—“1s it possible that she is so much af-!off at once,” observed Aunt Jane, “I suppose fected by this sanewhat sudden announcement) you would give him a pension.” of my immediate departure from the neigh- borhood ?” “It is so,” responded Davis. apparent reserve on her part, she cherishes a|to his presence. fond affection for you. She knows not that her love will be rendered happy; and it therefore rests with you, my dear sir, how soon she shall be made acquainted with the bliss that awaits her.” “JT leave with my father to-morrow for Lon- don, to procure my outfit. The regiment is stationed at Portsmouth——-And, by the bye, it happens to be the very same in which that fellow Lonsdale serves!’ “Ah, indeed!” ejaculated Davis, as if now having the circumstance recalled to his memory for the first time. “VYes—it is so. But never mind him: we have important things to think of. The moment I get quit of the governor in London, I will write to you, as previously agreed. May I not see Lucy again this evening $” “Do you not think it would be much better that you should sutfer her to compose the feel- ings Which have been so suddenly excited? I beseech this forbearance on your part.” “T am entirely in your hands,” responded Gerald: and then, after some farther conversa- tion, he took his departure from the cottage. CHAPTER XIII. THE OAKLEIGH POST-OFFICE, Ar the same time that this scene was passing at the bailiffs abode, Sir Archibald Redburn, her ladyship, and Aunt Jane, were seated in the drawing-room at the Manor House, con- versing upon the appearance of Gerald’s name amongst the notices of the War Office in the Gazette. Or rather, the Baronet and his wife were discussing the same, while Miss Redburn was interjecting her acrid remarks after her wunted fashion. The frivolous mother was immensely delighted at the idea that her son _ was now an officer in his Majesty’s service; and she already pictured him to herself in his sear- Sir Archibald, without taking any notice of this remark, proceeded to another room, where “Beneath thatthe village barber was immediately introduced Mr. Bates was very shabby— or in common parlance, excessively seedy: but he had done his best to brighten up his appear- ance by an extra application of beay’s-grease (his own hog’s-lard compound) to hw hair and whiskers; and therefore about the ead he had a shining oily look. He bowed very low to the great man, and by his deportment testified the most fawning, grovelling servility. “Well, Bates, what is it?” asked the Baronet, throwing himself into a large easy chair and keeping the barber standing in front of him. “I beg ten thousand pardons for the imtru- sion, Sir Archibald,” replied Bates, with another low bow; “but I understand from one of the servants of the Manor, who was down in the village just now, that you are going to London to-morrow, sir: and if I might be so bold, humble an individual as I am, to ask a favour of a great gentleman—baronet—lord of the manor — justice of the peace — and what not——” “Come, Bates, make haste about it,” observed Sir Archibald, smiling; for he was quite vain enough and quite narrow-minded enough to be flattered by the man’s inflated compliments. “JT won't detain you a minute, sir,” returned the barber. ‘The fact is, Sir Archibald, Mrs. Sugden, who had the post-office down in the village ‘ “Of course—I know. She died this morning, And so I suppose you want to have the letter- box left at your shop—eh? Is that it, Bates?” “T always knew that Sir Archibald Redburn was a gentleman of no ordinary stamp; but this is the first time I have received a proof that he can read people’s thoughts. It’s quite astonishing. But no wonder, Sir Archibald, that you have such a keen eye in detecting a tramp, a thief, or a poacher.” “Well, they do say that I am rather sharp in that way,” observed the Baronet, complacently caressing his chin. “ And so you want the post- office,—eh ?” “T do, Sir Archibald. You see, it’s got wind let coat, his sash, his cap and feather, and with|in the village that I assisted the recrulting- his sword by his side. Sir Archibald likewise experienced all the father’s pride: but Aunt Jane threw ix something about “a monkey dressed up and seated on an Italian boy's organ.” In the middle of the discourse a domestic entered the room to announce that Mr. Bates from the village most humbly requested a few minutes’ audience of the Baronet. Sir Archi- bald was first inclined to reply that he could see nobody on business at that hour: but as a thought struck him, he observed, ‘“ Ah, Bates! I understand it was he who persuaded that good-for-nothing fellow Frederick Lonsdale to enlist; and he likewise rid us of some of our surplus laborers by the same means. He de- serves praise; and sc I will grant him an inter- view.” : “If he had killed the surplus laborers right|econtented dogs as you have so properly dene sergeant who was there some weeks back, to get some of the young chaps that went awa with him; and they have written to their friends to say that they are not at all happy or comfortable in their regiment, and that Ser- geant Langley told them many lies himself and got me to tell a many too to entice them over.” “Discontented dogs, I dare say,” remarked the Baronet. ‘“ There’s no satisfying the lower orders: they are always grumbling. Even the prisons and workhouses ain’t good enough for them according to their account. And yet look at the county-rates, how they swell up! Look at them, Mr. Bates, I say!” “Ah, indeed they do, Sir Archibald!” said the barber, turning up his eyes with solemn awe as if he beheld the county-rates upon the ceiling. ‘ Well, sir, as I was saying these die CORIICLOOOKS Cc (CO