The Soldier's Wife — page 107: what you’re looking at

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

Bates: 90 ‘ -er that this was the crisis demanding the exer- vise of all her fortitude. The servant-girl whom she kept, opened the front door ; and Lucey is- Buing out of the school-room, bade the maid take care of little Frederick, while she went up- stairs with her husband and the visitor. The glance which Frederick and his wife exchanged, was one expressive of ineffable feelings—feelings that would indeed have been indescribable in words even if they had spoken; but they said nothing. Lucy led the way up to the neatly furnished parlor; and Bates, as he followed next, could not help thinking to him- THI SOLDIERS WIFE too—quite as well as the doctor's at Oak almost as good as Mr. Arden’s. Well, I pose I must set you down as at least two h dred a-year folks; and then reckoning savings, roy can't have less than a year’s income put sy. So hand us over two hundred pounds, and you may consider that you are as safe as if you had got your discharge from the regiment,’ Now this sum was just double as much as What the Lonsdales had really saved up: for they had purchased their furniture and the lease of the house; and thus their resources had been much encroached upon, But even that a self whata sple sndid creature Mrs. Lonsdale had jamount of one hundred pounds Frederick was become. siw her; and then she was a handsome and Six years had elapsed since he Jastjresolved not to part with. “In the first place,” he said, still cold, firm, finely formed dainsel ; ; now she was the superb jand resolute, “I only possess one-half of what Woman. you demand: and in the second place | am re When the three gained the parlor, Bates sat|solved sooner to risk or encounter anything himself down; and putting his old battered hat}than plunder my wife and child to minister to upon the floor, he looked about him as if he|your extortions,” were a broker t taking stock of a place into which he had just put a seizure “T won't bate one farthing of the two hun- dred pounds,” said the barber: “but if you like Frederick availed himself of the opportunity |to give me half now and half in a week, [ don’t while the man was thus engaged, to take Lucy mind waiting in London for it.” aside; and in a quick whispering voice, he said, “The fellow will carry his extortion to the ut-|dale. most limit. But my mind is made up. What wal will do nothing of the sort, “replied Lons- “And now perform your ‘worst. “Then what will you do?” asked Bates, fear- we have earned by our industry, we will not) ful that he had perhaps gone too far. part with to this villainy I will not beggar myself to take away the bread from you and rick, No, Lucy: by heaven I would sooner |my self to be plundered by you? Well, I will my ehild. return to my regiment! they can but iS ve me|do this—— again what [ have had before :”—and these last words were uttered bitterly. “Now then, no whispering! “at isn’t polite, and it looks suspicious.’ “Mr. Bates,” 7? <7 ou ask me what I will do,” replied Frede- “which means, to what extent J will sutfer 9 “Make it liberal, mind!” interjected Bates. “you doliyerad me up to the authorities,” exclaimed continued Frederick, waving his hand impa- ‘itiently at the interruption, “you would obtain said Lonsdale, turning sharply |twenty pounds, which is the reward offered for round towards him, with arms folded across his|my apprehension: but were | to give you two chest and with a mesolure air, “Il may be a de-|hundred, or two thousand pounds this moment, serter—I may be in your power— minutes I may be dragged away hence by the tor the sake of the twenty. But nevert cheless, [am the master here]of private life wil not seruple to clutch the Ree or the present; and if you dare speak in that|silver pieces ot blood-money. kick you out of) you what I will do. impertinent tone again, LT will —and in five}you would to-morrow betray me all the same The Judis Iscariot Now then, I tell I will give you at, once a house, no matter what the consequences |the twenty pounds which you would get by may be.” betraying me; and every year so long as | re “Do not—do not irritate him, my dearest/main undiscovered and unmolested, I will faith husband !” said Lucy, catching Frederick by |fully and punctually remit you twenty pounds, the arm, and speaking in arapid whisper over|so that it will be your interest to guarantee my his shoulder. “It will do no good. ros sake [I counsel you, my own dear, dear usband !” it is for|satety.” “It won't do, Master Lonsdale!” exclaimed the barber. “ Long before the first year ex- Lonsdale threw upon his wife a look of grati-!pired, you would be off somewhere else, and I tude and tenderness, and then placed a cha‘r|might whistle for my second twenty pounds for her to sit down, at the same time taking till accident threw me in vour way agai. one himself. No —J will have the hundred pounds you say yca “You seem inclined to ride it with a high|have got: and then you cau send me the twenty hand, Master Lonsdale,” for a moment had been staggered and confused |'Lhem’s my terms. by the manner in which he was addressed: “but ‘t won't do.” “Now, what do you require of me?” rupted Lonsdale curtly and resolutely. course, it is money. Name your demand.” observed Bates, who pounds of hush- money every year if you like.’ ° “And I do not agree to them,” replied Frede- rick resolutely: for he saw ch ad the barber had inter-|become less arrogant and overbearing than he “Of}was when he first entered the house. “Come, Mrs. Lonsdale, put in a wond to pre- “Well, [ am not exactly prepared to state ajvent your husband from making a fool of him ” said the barber. particular sum, besides kitchen and washus; 1x-room house, and so I suppose about forty pound a-year rent, terrupted Frederick indignantly considering ‘ts situation. It’s well furnished|care of the words that you dttercias I car “This is alselt: ” ie, “" ; “Do not dare to address m wife, sir!” 9d in: : eé ) eae’ anc GOmMic