The Soldier's Wife — page 145: what you’re looking at

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72h “A feeling like a remorse for the thought lessness of my conduct,” she at once rejoined. with a firmness of look and tone of which he THE SOLDIER'S WIFE her mistress, As he retraced nis way towarda the Manor House, he eould scarcely bring him- self to believe that the seene which had just ‘had not fancied her capable. “I see that all this) taken place was a reality and not a dream, A has gone too far;--not too far, heaven be thanked, to retract—but still too far for my re- putation, which is now in the bands of a ser- vant. Do—I beseech you—leave me !” * What! and you have any compunction on account Of that brutal drunken husband of ‘ours #” eried Gerald contemptuously, «Ah! but he still 2s my husband,” responded Kitty ; “and, and do, L beseech you, leave me. I have stood upon a precipice—I see it all now. Foolish, and giddy, and thoughtless though I may be, lam not wicked. No, no!” —and she seemed to shudder as she spoke. “But are you serious? or is this a part you are playing ?’—and still Redburn gazed upon her with mingled surprise and ineredulity. “Tam serious—pertectly so,” she answered, “But I can forgive you for asking me if Tam playing a part: the levity of my conduct has been sufficient to warrant you in thinking any- thing. Do leave me, Captam Redburn.” “You wish us to part thus?” he said, affect- ing a reproachful Jook and air, so that she really thought he bad conceived an affection for her of a deeper and more genuine character than the mere sensual passion which he in reality entertained. “We must part thus,” she responded, in a voice mournful but firm: for she on ber side had conceived a real attachment towards him. “Do not be afraid I shall be guilty of such im- propriety as to accost you again when you are walking with Lady Adela Clive. You are paving your addresses to her: that I well know. She is a very beautiful girl, and you will love her yes, you will love her, if you do not already. In every way, therefore, it would be most wicked—most unpardonable, of me to encourage your Visits here.” “Tf we must part, then,” said Gerald, “ will you grant me one favor? Permit me to send you some little present to-morrow as a token of my esteem and friendship. Let Sarah go down to the Oak when the van comes in from Middleton, and inquire for a parcel directed to you. Now, do not refuse me: it is the only cond.tion upon which I will go away at once.” “ Well, well, have it your own way,” mur- mured Kitty, who felt that her fortitude was yeaving her and that she was becoming every mistant more and more enamored of Gerald Redburn. “ Now, pray leave me alone.” “One more kiss on that fair hand, and I take my departure,” “ Now go,” she said, having for a moment yielded him her hand. ‘“ Go, I beseech you :” —and she spoke with an hysterical kind of nervousness, as if battling against the yielding weakness that was coming over her, “Good bye,” said Gerald, “ But remember, if you wish to see me again, a note delivered at the Manor will bring me immediately hither.” With these words he issued forth from the cottage, slipping a guinea into Sarah’s hand as caress Which she had seen him bestow upon ‘him pleasure to think that she would be man of his disposition was naturally astonished that a woman whoni he had regarded as being so vain, thoughtless, and frivolous—soe accessi- ble to flattery, so easily eajoled by complimente —should have had the courage to stop short when she appeared to be hurrying along the road to ruin, But still he felt persuaded that if was only a transient apprehension—a tem. porary feeling of remorse, whieh had made her hesitate: and hence that sudden proposal he had made that she would accept some present he was to send her on the morrow. He had fancied that success in this amour was a matter of certainty, and likewise of comparative ease, He found it difficult, though he still felt eonfi- dent of ultimate triumph, The repulse he had experienced strengthened his desire to achieve that triumph; and aceording to his libertine notions he considered that his very credit as a snecessful lady’s-man was at stake,—so that to him it appeared necessary for his own pride’s satisfaction that he should accomplish a victory. At breakfast-time on the following morning he intimated that he intended to ride over to Middleton, to make some purchases which he required, Aecordingly, mounting his horse, he proceeded to that town, where he bought a very handsome silk dress, and a box of kid gloves. These he ordered to be made up into a parcel and addressed to Mrs. Davis, with a written memorandum that it was “to be Jeft at the Royal Oak, Oakleigh, till called for.” He then gave instructions to the mercer of whom he pur- chased the articles, to forward the parcel by the yan, leaving the money to pay the carriage, All (his being done, he rode back to the Manor House, which he reached by lunch time. When this repast was over, he invited Lady Adela Clive to take a walk through the grounds. She was about to refuse; but a look from her mo- ther made her murmur forth an affirmative answer. But throughout the ramble she was cold and distant, though entirely courteous and well-bred even in her very reserve. Her de- meanor was invested with a certain maidenly dignity, which displayed the high-minded char- acter of the young lady in one of its noblest phases. A fortmght passed: the Countess of Burton and Adela had now been a month at the Manor House ; and all things appeared to be progress- Ing in accordance with the views and wishes of the young lady’s mother, the Baronet, and his wife. Kvery day Adela walked out with Cap- tain Redburn: but her deportment towards him was still that of dignified coldness, He was far from being so inexperienced as not to observe it: indeed he understovud it but too well. He saw that Lady Adela disliked hin , and that she merely tolerated his addresses in obedience to the commands of her mother. Fle himself became more and more enamored of the young lady—that is to say, of her personal beauty : for as to dove in its purest and holiest meaning, he — a bribe to ensure her silence in respect to the) was incapable of the sentiment. It even gave cone Gomilcboo <=) €o