The Soldier's Wife — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

86 THE SOLDIER’S WIFK mave the action bronght ayainet him bv a mere] taunts more direct, the bantering more cont:nua working-man—there was so all this something excessively humiliating ts his pride and which filled his soul with chagrin ! He dreaded, on rejoining his regiment, to become the laughing-stock of his brother-oficers when they shouid hear of what they would term the “low connexion” he bad formed on the one hand, and how on the other he had been refused by the beautiful Adela Clive. Indeed, he would not have returned to the regiment at all, were it not that he was heartily glad to escape frozn the family circle at the Manor House, and from his own native neighborhood. For his father had rated him soundly—his mother was continually deploring the brilliant alliance he had lost—Aunt Jane never omitted an opportu- nity of indulging in her sly sneers, goading taunts, and bitter sarcasms—Mr. Arden shook his head gloomily—the domestics appeared to titter as they passed him—and some of the villagers, when he strolled into Oakleigh, could not prevent themselves from laughing outright in his face. Under all these circumstances, Captain Redburn was exceedingly glad when the period of leave expired, and he was enabled to rejoin his regiment. But glad, as the reader miay comprehend, only in one sense—and that was to escape from home: his heart was still full of bitterness towards all mankind. Tl] news travel fast: and thus, on rejoining his regiment, Captain Redburn found that the circumstances which had recently occurred at Oakleigh were known at head-quarters. ous, / One evening he felt so excessively humiliated, and at the same time so bitterly euraged, that on rising from the table, he went forth into the barrack-yard, determined to pour forth the vials of his spite upon the first victim that he might encounter, Now, it happened that Sargeant- Major Langley who was always fond of tip- pling, had been taking an extra glass or two at the canteen ; and this redoubtable individual was wending his way across the barrack-yard in a condition but little consistent with that rigia military discipline for which he hiniself was so great a stickler. In plain te ns Mr, Langley could with difficulty maintain his equilibrium and his progress instead of being direct as a line, was as tortuous and meandering as if he were following the curves of an eccentric river, He moreover swayed from side ‘> side—ever and anon staygering, and catching himself wo as it were when about to fall—the whol while muttering sundry imprecations against his eyes and limbs, and wondering how it was that the entire array of barrack-buildings appeared to be moving round. All on a sudden the cracked weak voice of Captain Redburn fell upon the sergeant’s ears; aud somewhat sobered by the vague consciousness that he was in the presence of an officer, he steadied his pace—gave the wonted salute—and was passing onward, “ Langley—Sergeant-Major Langley 1!” ejacu- lated Redburn : “ ove word, sirrah !” The sergeant stood stock still—drew himself Nay,/ up in the first position—repeated the military more—the tale, in travelling from the midland) salute—and by one of those mechanical efforts eounty to Manchester, had undergone the usual} which only a barrack-made automaton could ~ plastic process of exaggeration and alteration.—/| possibly exert at such a moment and under suck circumstances, assumed a look of perfect so-_ In the first place, rumor had deelared that Cap- tain Redburn was coolly and scornfully jilted by Lady Adela Clive; and in the second place, the bailiff’s wife was reported to be a woman of the lowest and vulgarest character. On the first day after his return to his regiment, Gerald found himself the object of mvch covert sarcasm and ironical bantering at the mess-table. He was no favorite with the generality of his bro- ther officers. Some of them did not mind drink- ing wine at his expense, riding his horses, and borrowing his money : but lis excessive vanity— the flippancy of his discourse—the arrogance of his self-conceit—and his ill-conditioued nature altogether, had proved so insufferable as to counterbalance the advantages to be derived from his friendship. Moreover the officers at a niess-table are seldom or never averse to amus- ing themselves at the expense of one of their body—particularly when they can safely make a butt of him; and Gerald Redburn’s reputa- tion for courage did not stand so high as to ex- empt him from such an ordeal, The conse- quence was, he found himself the object of a great deal of irony and sarcasm,—-~jesting and banter; and the natural malignity of his dispo- gition was goaded to a degree that it craved to wreak its vengeance in some quarter where it might safely do so, Matters went on in _ this way for several weeks ; andas Kedburn did not think of resenting the treatment he received at the mess-table, the sneers became bolder, the [oa lety. ‘ Sap Langley,” exclaimed Gerald, “you have been drinking—you are intoxicated |” “ With all due submission and deference, Cap- tain Redburn,” was the answer, delivered in so collected a manner that it astonished Langley himself, “1 humbly submit that it cannot be the case. I would rather plead guilty, sir, to the charge at once than contradict an officer whom I consider a model——” | “Well, well,” ejaculated Redburn, “T sup- pose I am mistaken ?”—and turning upon his heel, he walked hurriedly away muttering to himself, “1 don’t think I am, though—but afte all, Langley is a very good fellow.” _ ; The truth is, Gerald’s vanity was suddenly flattered by that compliment which the cunning sergeant—cunning even in his cups—had_ so adroitly paid him: indeed his malignity was for the moment disarmed, at least towards him on whom he was about to vent it. Stopping at the cuard-house to light a cigar, Gerald strolled out of the barrack-yard, and commenced lounging through the streets of Manchester. | Meanwhile Mr, Langley, having so astutely and promptly extricated himself from a danger which seemed alike serious and imminent, con- tinued his way to his quarters. The effort which it had cost him to look and speak sober for th swift brief space of a few moments, could ni be sustained: a reaction as promptly took a) % a Eomilcbooks co