The Soldier's Wife — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. he would have certainly taken up his pen to|to come across, if it be only tor a single day, write you a few lines and assure you of his/and see Mr. Davis. | desire to bury all the past in oblivion, ‘Thus| “I have put off writing until close upon the was it that your letter proved truly welcoime|post-hour, that I might see how he progresses. bath to him and to myself. And perhaps,|tle has just told me tuat he feels convineed dear Lucy, you will be still more rejoiced to|his end is approaching; and I certainly fear learn that this forgiveness on your father’s partis |that he will tret and grieve himself into a ve intended not to be confined to yourself alone, |serious ilness, which may prove really fatal but to include your husband. The manner in|unless you come, both of you, and appease hin. which you write of Mr. Lonsdale’s invariably |Lsay both of you, because my husband declares kind and affectionate conduct towards you|that he could not die happily unless he grasped could not fail te touch the heart of a father|Mr. Lonsdale’s hand, as well as embraced you, already disposed tu receive his daughter to his}dear Lucy, in his arms. He feels that he has arms. You will therefore have the pleasure|wrongs to atone for towards your husband; of conveying to Mr. Lonsdale the assurance ot jand he would not even be satisfied with a mere Mr. Davis, that when next they meet, it will}verbal assurance, conveyed by the lips of be to exchanye the warmest and the mostjanother, of Mr. Lonsdale’s complete furgive- cordial pressure of the hand. ness. ‘Therefore, under all these circumstances, “You will doubtless be astonished to see!l have no doubt that you will both accede to that I date this letter from Dover: but when|the urgent request which I thus proffer on be I explain the reason, you will accept it as an|half of myself and my husband. additional proof of Mr. Davis’s anxiety to effect) “ Believe me to remain, dearest Luey, a speedy reconciliation with yourself and your, “ Your attectionate mother-in-law, husband. Here, however, by what I am about * CATHERINE Davis.” to state, I find myself compelled to throw a damp upon the joy wiich a former part of my| As the reader may suppose, Lucy was in oave letter will doubtless occasion you. For some|sense overjoyed by this letter. It assured her time past your father’s health has caused greatjof a complete reconciliation with,her father— alarm to myself and his friends. Heis not un-Jand what was equally delightful, it proffered aware that his health 1s impaired, and very|the same towards her husband. She, however, materially so—amongst the evidences of which|could not help fearing, on the other hand, that sa certain morbid state of feeling which causes |her father’s illness was more severe than het she idea of a speedily approaching death to|mother-in-law either chose to believe or admit, aaunt him constantly. Ido not however think| Having read the letter, she placed it in Frede that there is any very serious apprehension. rick’s hands, and watched his countenance ag “Under that impression, notwithstanding, }he read it. His features showed by their ex- our father was determined to undertake a/pression that he fully shared in his beloved journey to Calais that he might embrace you|Lucy'’s joy and delight in respect to the prof- ere he dies. He was well aware that certain|/fered reconciliation; and when he had dGnished reasons would lead you and Mr. Lonsdale to|the perusal, he at once said to her, “ We must rete. that this visit should be paid to you both |go.” In Calais, than that you should be requested to] “You do not apprehend that you are in- vuidertake a Journey to England for the pur-|curring any risk?” asked Lucy, clinging affee pose of a meeting. I need scarcely say, Lucy, |tionately to his arm. ; that I attempted not to dissuade my husband| “So little, I conceive,” was her husband’s re- from a plan so entirely In accordance with my|ply, “that it will cause me no uneasiness: but own good teeling towards you. I moreover/even if 1 thought it great, I should not shrink fancied that change of air and scene, even at|from chancing it under such circumstances this cold winter-season, would benefit your fa-|No, dear Luey—I am not apprehensive on that ther. We accordingly set out three days ago,|score. The regiment t2 which I belonged, is and arvived at Dover last night. But the fa-|still stationed at Mancl.ester, many long miles tigues of travelling—combined perhaps with|away from Dover. Yes, we will go! Fortu- come little degree of excitement at the thought|nately it is the Christmas holidays, and therefore of meeting you and your husband again, and|we can spare a few days without detriment te on such different terms as heretofore,—operated | the school.” . srejudicially to your father’s health; and he} “ And Freddy will go with us?” said Lucy. was during the night taken very ill, Again Ij “Asa matter of course. The dear child will assure you that there 1s no cause for serious|/enjoy the little trip: and moreover, under pre apprehension; and the medical gentleman who|sent circumstances, your father will be de- is in attendance upon hin, is of the same opi-|lighted to acknowledge and welcome his grand- nion. But it is considered most inexpedient for |son.” your father to cross the channel at this season| The preparations they had to make for so of the year; and the medical attendant strongly |short an expedition, were necessarily few and ects his face against if. Mr. Davis, however, is|limited; and they accordingly resolved to an- now more than ever anxious to embrace you,|swer the letter in person by proceeding to dear Lucey, and shake Mr. Lonsdale by the|Dover on the following day. It was a source liand:; more than ever is he imbued with the jof satisfaction that the weather was now very morbid presentiment that he has but a short|beautiful, considering the season of the year— tine to live. Under these circumstances, [healthy and bracing, without being bleakly earnestly conjure both you and your husband ‘old: and the sea was perfectly cal. Frade -_—-_---_———————————— Eomicbooks.co