The Soldier's Wife — page 147: what you’re looking at

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528 Juctantly yielded him her hand again: but when he attempted to transfer bis lips from that hand to her cheek, she drew back, and repulsed him trily. “How nonsensical you are, Kitty!” he sald, with an access of ill-humor. “No, no, I do not think so!” she cried, a sud- den revulsion of feeling taking place, and a sense of the impropriety of her conduct becom- Ing paramount again; while a pang of remorse for having committed herself by inviting him back, shot through her heart. “Well, but if you have merely sent for me,” said Captain Redburn, angrily, “to become the object of your whims and capricees—to see you play off your prudery and_ fastidious airs—J wan tell you that Ido not choose to be made auch a fool of.” “No, no!” ejaculated Mrs. Davis, with an hysterical nervousness that was very far from being affected, but was indeed most real: “I would not for the world have you think that I sought to trifle with you; and as for insulting you in the manner to which you allude, 1 ain incapable of it. But surely—surely, if I feel con(rition for what Ihave done—if my eyes are opened, and I see that I have been acting im- prudently and incorrectly 2 “All this is mere stuff and nonsense—child’s talk!” interrupted Gerald; for as the color mounted to the lady’s cheeks in the excitement of her feelings, she looked too handsome at the moment for him to abandon the hope and the intent which he had entertained with regard to her. “Come, dear Kitty,” he continued, once more adopting a coaxing and cajoling tone, “get rid of these silly seruples——” “O Gerald——-Gerald!” she murmured, “you will be the ruin of me! What am I to do? Have mercy upon me! I feel that I am in your power—I have gore too far—vyou have a right to treat me as you will; but still I conjure and implore _ “Kitty, you are truly beautiful !” interrupted Gerald, passing his arm round her waist, and pressing his lips to hers. At that moment the door opened, and Sarah entered the room. A shriek escaped from the lips of Mrs. Davis, as she tore herself away from Captain Redburn’s arms; while he, covered with confusion, was for a few instants utterly at a loss how to act. Sarah, who appeared to have intruded only for the purpose of inquiring whether Mrs. Davis chose to have supper served up, put the question with as much calmness as if she had observed nothing wrong; and Gerald, hastily drawing her aside, slipped four or five guineas into her hand, whispering, “ You are a discreet and faithful woman: we rely upon you. Pray be cautious: for Davis is as jealous as an ogre; and it would not do to create a scene.” While he was thus endeavoring to put a golden seal upon the woman's lips, Mrs, Davis rushed from the room, almost in a frenzied con- dition of mind—and sped up to her own cham: ber. Gerald was half inclined to quit the cot- taye at once: but he thought that perhaps. it Was a mere tranaient ebullition of fe fing on her part, aud that she would descend again pre- sently, when it bad erbsided, He accordingly THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. lingered in the parlor—poured out a glass of wine—drank it—and then paced to and fro, atill uncertain how to act. Meanwhile Sarah, having received the bribe, quitted the room. In a few minutes Gerald heard a door open up-stairs, and he said to himself, “She’s coming back again, I was sure she would—it was only a sudden fright.” But he was disappointed; for Mrs, Davia, instead of descending the stairs, called out for Sarah to come up to her; and she spoke in a voice that was full of a nervous trepidation, “What the deuce can this mean?’ thought Captain Redburn to himself: and he waited to see the result, Sarah, having obeyed her mistress’s surm- mons, almost immediately came down staire again; and entering the parlor, she elused the door in a cautious, deliberate manner, “Well, what is it#’? demanded Gerald jim- pauiently, “Js your mistress coming down again ?” “ No, sir,” responded the woman, whose countenance wore a serious expres-ion. “She requests that you will take your departure at once.” “Oh, that is the end of it—eh?’ exclaimed Gerald, both angry and mortified. “There hever was such folly—and I am a stark staring fool for my pains.” With these words he put on his hat, snatched up his gloves, and abruptly quitted the house. On his way back to the Mauor, he thought to himself, * Kitty loves me—she is deeply enam- ored of me—and she will be sending for me again, But may I be hanged if I'll go! I would not give a farthing to succeed in that quarter now, after so much prudery and non- sense. Why, if it were known, it’s enough to make me the laughing-stock of every-body whe might hear of it. I will have nothing more te do with the -affair, and by my contemptuous neglect, Kitty will be well punished for having trifled with me.” CHAPTER XXAVAEE THE BREAKFAST-TABLE, On the following morning the Redburn family, together with their lady-guests the Countess of Burton and Adela Clive; were seated at the usual hour at the breakfast-table, when a foot- man entered and placed several letters and newspapers by the Baronet’s side. Having just vlanced at the addresses of those letters, und judging by the hand-writing that they were of no particular consequence, Sir Archibald put them aside for perusal after breakfast, and pro- ceeded to open one of the London journals which had arrived. For the first few minutes his looks wandered over the columns in a casual indifferent manner, as if he found nothing very attractive in their contents: bat suddenly he uttered an ejaculation, and at the same moment his interest appeared to be riveted on some thing which had just caught his eye. “ Anything particular inquired Lady Red €o 45 alia Eomicbooks os