The Soldier's Wife — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. 118 Davis, I have been angry with you quite long|clear complexion—cright hazel eyes—a prof enough. : I don’t wish to be too hard—it’s not in my nature. You sought to do the best you could for your girl—and- it was all neht and natural. So we will bury the past in oblivion. I have not forgot that [ used to spend some avreeable evenings ~with you; and I always hiked your conversation—for you are a very Intelligent man, Davis.” “Tam truly glad, Captain Redburn, to hear you speak in this manner,” responded Davis: “is very noble and generous on your part. Perhaps, sir, you would do me the honor to walk in and take a glass of my cider. I remem- ber you hked it once ?’—and this was said with an inward sneering feeling, but which was not outwardly expressed. , | “With all my heart, Davis,” said Gerald, affecting an offhanded frankness: so he and the bailiff advanced towards the cottage to- gether. But while they are proceeding thither, we will pause for a few minutes to explain what was passing in Davis’s mind. Not for an instant had he been deceived by the sudden change in Gerald Redburn’s manner. He understood full well the spiteful nature of the Baronet’s son, and was too shrewd not to penetrate his vindictive motives 10 addressing him afier so many years of cold and haughty reserve. He likewise fathumed Captain Redburn’s intention in speak- Ing in a way which was the same as making ai overture to pay another visit to the cottage. Now, the wily Davis was suddenly struck “by au idea, His wife, though a perfect vixen In temper, wasa very good looking woman: but in consequence of that very temper, as wellas on account of her extravagance, Davis was heartily anxious to get rid of her. What if Gerald Red- burn might take it into his head to make secret overtures to her? what if he were to think to himself that he might just as well divert his time with a passing amour while at the Manor ¢ If so, there would not only be a@ ground for divorce, but also for obtaining heavy pecuniary damages against Gerald Redburn ; aud the sum thus procured, would amply remunerate Davis for the loss of his situation, which must inevitably be expected to follow the commencement of aw proceedings, All these calculations swept through the astute and unprineipled bailiffs mind in a moment while Gerald was delivering himself of that speech of assumed friendliness ; and hence the invitation which Mr. Davis gave him to walk to the cottage and pariake of sume cider. Captain Redburn knew Davis’s wife well,and had often spoke tu her when she was Miss Kitty Colycinth, although the Colyemth family were pot considered good enough to visit at the Manor. But on proceeding to the cottage on the present occasion, Gerald had uot the slightest idea of flirting with Mrs. Davis: his sole object was that already described—namely, to obtain once more a footing at Daviss residence, so that he might secretly gloat ,over the domestic miseries of a man whom he disliked. We may here observe that Mrs. Davis was about twenty- six years of age—of middle stature—slender—| rald. but very we’! formed. She had a remarkably| here ee Pe Saka Rr ee AN | OR oe ee ae i a en ee ee deserved to be, sion of brown Jair, which she wore in long clustering ringlets—r ich red lips and a beautitul set of teeth. She was dressed quite lke a Jady — which indeed she considered herself to be, as a surgeon’s daughter, notwithstanding she had married a bailiff and had never been admitted within the exclusive circle of the Manor House, Although of such vixenish temper towards her husband, she could be amiable enough when she chose towards others; and the moment she beheld Captain Redburn pass the window in company with the bailiff. she put on her most pleasing and fascinating smile. The door was opened by the servant-woman, not the good-natured Martha whom wehave seen In the earlier chapters of this tale: for she had married some three or four years back, and was comfortably settled in life—as indeed she Gerald entered the little parlor where be had been wont to discuss brandy-and- water with Davis and endeavor to force his at- tentions upon Lucy. At the first glance he could not help thinking that the surgeon’s daughter had improved by marriage in the exact proportion that her husband had suffered thereby ; and with a friendliness that was not altogether assumed towards the lady, he ex- tended his hand, saying, “I am very glad to see you, Mrs. Davis.” “Captain Redburn is truly welcome here,” she responded with such affability that it seemed scarcely possible she could storm, and rave, aud enact the fury at times. “ Pray sit down, sir,’ said Davis ; fetch some of that nice cider ——” “Cider, Peter!” remarked the lady, with a deprecating look. “ Order the servant to bring in some wine; and I think | have-a few biscuits here,” she added, turning to the side-board and producing the cakes from a drawer. “Thank you,” said Gerald, “I would much prefer cider: it is more refreshing at this time of the day. But if you will permit me to drop ‘and I will in now and then of an evening, | may perlfaps. be beguiled into something stronger.” “You will always be welcome—most wel- come,” replied Mrs, Davis, perceiving that he? husband had net quitted the room to fetch the cider. “Oh, I have not for gotten that you and I aro old acquaintances !” exclaimed Captain Red- burn: “but I must not call you Kitty any longer, now that you have become a sedate married woman,” “ Oh, very sedate indeed!” she cried with a merry laugh. “I beg that you will not stand on any ceremony with me at least, not when such restraint may be thrown off,’ she added, glancing towards the door, ‘T understand—Davis is jealous, eh?’ ob served Redburn, in a voice of mysterious con- fidence: and then he thought to himself, * What fun it would be to excite the fellow’s jealousy |” “Oh, jealous !” echoea Kitty: “ he is every- thing that is unbearable. 1 am sure he leads me such a life, I wish I had never seen him!” “How you are calumniated!” observed Ge . 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