The Soldier's Wife — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

138 band, endeavored to pass; and as the street was somewhat thronged at the time, Captain Red- burn dared not attempt to molest her, He ac cordingly stood aside; and she continued her way. But he followed close behind, thinking that perhaps it was only because the boy was with her that she was thus guarded in her con- duct: at all events he was determined to ascer- tain where she lived, Mrs, Lonsdale felt certain that she was thus followed: but she dared not Jook round, for fear Gerald, whose inordinate vanity and_ self-conceit she well unders(ood, should fancy it was an encouragement given on her part. Her blood boiled in her veins at the idea of thus being subjected to a renewal of those persecutions and insults which in years ast she had experienced at his hands; and lended with her indignatiou, there was a feel- ing of bitter grief at an occurrence which seemed to forebode fresh evils, In this state of mind she continued her way; and presently little Frederick, after looking round, said, “Mamma, that gentleman in the red coat is following us.” Lucy quickened her pace; and, dragging her son along in an excited manner, turned abruptly round the first corner, in the hope of escaping from this annoying pursuit. As a matter of course, she was most anxious to prevent Cap- tain Redburn from discovering the place of her abode; and this was her object in so suddenly diverging from the direct path thither. It was a narrow, dark, and unfrequented street—or rather, alley—into which she had thus turned off: but she heard footsteps following close be- hind—-and she had no doubt they were those of Redburn. Still she turned not her head. The alley was threaded; she struck into ano ther, darker and more dismal than the first: and as the footsteps still followed, she caught up little Freddy in her arms, and sped along with the hurry of desperation. The boy was, however, too heavy for her to carry him many minutes; and as her ears no longer caught the sounds of pursuing steps, she paused, completely out of breath. “What is the matter, dear mamma?” asked the child, as she set him down again; for he was much frightened, though he could not ex- actly comprehend wherefore his mother had fled thus precipitately. But before she had time to answer him, the footsteps were again heard rapidly approach- ing; and, in a few moments, Mrs, Lonsdale and little Freddy were overtaken by Captain Red- burn. “One word, Lucy—yjust one word,” he said: then, in a hurried whisper, he added, “The boy won't tell; I will give him something to buy a toy with.” “Oaptain Redburn,” answered Luey, for her husband's sake endeavoring to speak rather in a tone of reproachful entreaty than in one of resentful indignation, though this latter was the actual feeling she expenenced——“ it is nol manly of you thus to persecute an unprotected woman, Indeed, I must appeal for assistance, unless—-~” “ Where? and to whom ?” demanded Gerald, scorufully ; for he now saw in a moment that : ‘ 77 THE SOLDIER'S WIFE he had much under-rated her virtue and beg firmness. “ All is dark and silent here: it is a neighborhood where you might seream in vain” “Captain Redburn,” eried Luey, now no longer able to curb her resentment——“ how dare you address me thus in the presence of this child ¢” “Well, well,” observed Gerald, fearful that notwithstanding the quietude of the locality, an alarm might be raised; “I will not eonde- scend to talk to you any further. But recollect, Mrs, Lonsdale, that since you treat me in thig manner, there 1s ove that I can make smart for it.” With this words he turned upon his heel, and sauntered away—while Luey, dragging along the affrighted Freddy, hastened on in the contrary direction. It was in a narrow alley running between two immense factories, where this scene occurred, The lights were all extin- guished in the mills, and but a feeble glimmer- ing of the moonbeams penetrated down into the little thoroughfare. Captain Redburn was con- tinuing his way, wishing in his heart that he could devise some scheme to get Lucey into his power, when he felt his arm suddegly clutehed by a man who emerged from the black shade’ of an archway close by. Redburn, though by courtesy termed a “vallant officer,’ was not en- dowed with any considerable amount of courage 5 and his first thought was that he was being at- tacked by a robber. Indeed, an ejaculation of alarm burst from his lips; and instead of draw- ing his sword, he was about to betake himself to his heels, when the man said, “ Don’t be afraid, Captain Redburn: | have overheard all, and I.ean serve you.” | “Overheard what ?” demanded Gerald, some- what relieved from his apprehensions; but still having stepped back, he kept at as great a dis- tance as the width of the alley would allow, from the object before him. “Overheard all that took place betwixt you and Lucy Lonsdale,” replied this individual. “IT tell you, that 1 can render you assistance in that quarter.” ‘Indeed !” ejaculated Redburn: but still -half- suspicious, as well as half-incredulous, he de- manded, “ Who are yout how came you to know me ¢” “Never mind all that,” responded the stran- ger. ‘* You have a certain purpose to serve— aud I can assist you. You want to achieve a conquest——and I want money. Can a bargain be suck between us ?” Yes—on the condition that I only pay the reward when your portion of the work is done.” “Well, be it so—I can, perhaps, manage to struggle on till then. But we can’t talk the matter over here. My lodging—if a lodging it ean be called--is close by. Will you come to it 2” Gerald hesitated. It might be some snare into which treachery sought to inveigle him, He looked hard at the man, but could only catch an indistinct view of his countenanee, He wore a large-brimmed hat that overshadow- ed his features: he was roughly and coarsely dressed in the fustiar and corduroy of a work: mau, und yet he did not speak altogether like j . micbooks € , (E(0) *» ms .