The Soldier's Wife — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

94 THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. forced upon their minds that this was indeed|you tell me what they are saying? what (to a bitter bleakness but too well calculated to enhance the miseries and give a superadded keenness to the privations of the poor and des- titute. At the same time they felt a glowing sense of gratitude in their hearts, that heaven had so well prospered their own industry and thrift as to place them beyond the reach of such ills as these which they were now bent upon relieving, It was with some difficulty they discovered the house in which Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave dwelt --» house situated in one of the meanest and most secluded streets in the town of Calais. At length, however, they were successful ; and an old crone, whose very countenance was suf- ficient corroboration of the tale they had heard to the effect that her lodvers were to be turned adrift, if they could not pay their rent, indi- eated a dark narrow stairease, but did not offer to escort them. Such brutal rudeness on the part of the woman was a singular exception to the general courtesy and civility which are to be found even amongst the lowest grades of the French people. Frederick and his wife groped their way up the staircase; and on reaching the landing, knocked at the door of the chamber to which their attention had been particularly directed by the woman of the house. Their summons was answered by a young female holding a candle in her hand; and it seemed as if she immediately comprehended the object of this visit on the part of the two well-dressed per- sons—for she sank back in mingled shame and grief, and the tears started from her eyes. She was a young creature of not more than seven- teen—exceedingly beautiful, notwithstanding her pale cheeks and her careworn looks. A verfect cloud of the darkest and glossiest raven Sa fell in beavy masses upon her shoulders: her fine eyes matched those ebon tresses ; and it was evident that their lustre, until dimmed by tears, must have been transcendent. She was not above the middle height—of slender feure—but of sylphid symmetry. She wore a silk dress, made in the first style of fashion, but soiled and stained in many places; and Lucy had no difficulty in perceiving at a glance that this was almost the only garment which the poor young creature had on. “Mrs. Seagrave, I believe?” said our heroine, in her sweetest and softest tones. : “Who is that, Anna?” asked a voice from the interior of the chamber: and the tones were those of an invalid gentleman speaking faintly and with difficulty. “Ts Mr. Seagrave ill?’ asked Lucy, taking the young creature’s hand. “ Pray forgive us for this intrusion: but we thought that perhaps we might be of some little service Indeed, as your countrywoman, I am sure you will ac- cept my sympathy and aid in the spirit in which both are offered. This 18 my husband; and with your permission he will introduce himself to Mr. Seagrave.” “Who the devil are they, Anna?” again spoke the invalid in sharp and petulant accents: for he hal evidently failed to catch the words which Lucy had just uttered. “Why don’t they want? are they duns? If go, it’s a pity that this cursed illness of mine prevents me from getting up and kicking them down stairs.” Mrs. Seagrave was so convulsed with grief, that she could not speak. On the one hand the kindness of Lucy’s manner, at a moment when the appearance of friendly suecor was evidently so little expected, had deeply touched the heart of the young creature; while, on the other hand, the sharp and almost cruel tones in which Mr. Seagrave spoke, cut that same gentle heart to the very core. Frederick and Luey understood it all in a moment: it was a ase of woman’s illimitable and devoted love, patience, and resignation—tenderest minister- ings and gentlest soothings—towards one who but little appreciated the extent of that affee- tion. At the same time, too, it occurred to Frederick that the voice of the invalid was not altogether unknown to him: the accents indeed appeared familiar to his ear, although he spoke in too low and faint a tone to enable our } to recognise them completely. Mrs. Seagrave had pressed Luey’s hand with all the eloyuence of silent gratitude between both her own—at the same time bending upon her a look which indicated all the gratitude that filled her heart, but to which she could not find words at the moment to give expres sion. Then, making a sign for Mr. and Mrs. Lousdale to remain where they were for a few minutes, she approached the couch in which the invalid lay, and a portion of which was vi- sible to the charitable visitors through the open - door as they stood on the landing. “Wenry dear,” said the young creature, in a voice of that soft and clouded harmony which showed that it was used to keep down tears and stifie sobs—but a voice full of the most touching pathos,—in its very accents bearing the burden of a devoted but ill requited love “Tenry dear,” the murmuring tones repeated, ‘here are friends come to see us. Shall I ask them to enter? Do not, do not look at me so impatiently!” she added in an imploring man- ner, but in a whisper that was not intended to reach the ears of the visitors, although it did SO. | “Friends do you say?” observed Seagrave bitterly, yet still in the faint and painful aec- cents of the invalid speaking with difficulty: “T have been so long unaceustomed to see the things you call friends, that 1t would be rather novel to look at such curiosities. Yes, let them come In.” Anna tripped away from the couch, evident} rejoiced at the permission thus accorded, al- though given in such a strange, bitter, harsh, unfeeling, and eynical style: for the poor young creature had no doubt anticipated a stern re- fusal to suffer them to enter at all. She made a sign for Lonsdale and his wife to walk in; and crossing the threshold, they found them- selves in a meanly furnished chamber, the chill of which was as great as that on the landing, and therefore too plainly indicated that the shut-up stove in the corner contained not a particle of fud. The invalid had raised him- 1ere self to a haelf-etting posture in the bed: his m comicbooks.cc » § 5 a