The Soldier's Wife — page 199: what you’re looking at

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

178 into a pathway leading to a gate opening through the palings into the grounds, He now seemed completely satisfied with the result of his exami- nation of the premises; and a smile of malig- nant triumph appeared upon his countenance, At this moment the sounds of footsteps reach- ed his ears: he looked round, and beheld Cap- tain Redburn passing along an adjacent gravel- walk, and smoking a cigar. “ Good !” was the curt observation which Mr. Colycinth muttered to himself; and he proceed- ed forthwith to confront Gerald, who, not having previously noticed him, was both surprised and startled at his abrupt appearance. “Captain Redburn,’ said the village-surgeon, in a firm and decisive voice, as if he felt that he was endowed with an authority to intimate his will with the certainty of its being obeyed ; “this meeting is most opportune. You will do me the favor, sir, to accompany me to the drawing-room, where I have something to say.” Gerald was so astounded at this peremptory mode of address, that he was for some instants at a loss what to reply: but at length recover- ing himself, he exclaimed, insolently, “ And pricy who the deuce are you, Mr, Colycinth, that you take it upon yourself to order me about just as if I was an inferior ?” “JT tell you, sir,’ responded the surgeon, who was half-surprised at himself in being enabled to adopt such a tone towards the great man’s son—“I tell you, sir, that you would do well to accompany me to the drawing-room; for | have statements to make which closely concern the honor of your famiiy.” Captain Redburn was at once smitten with the conviction that this must be true: other- wise Mr. Colycinth, hitherto so eringingly civil and fawningly polite to all who were in a better social position than himself, could not dare to speak in so peremptory a manner. But not choosing to humble his own pride, Gerald said in his wonted self-sufficient style, ‘“‘ Well, come along then, since you wish it:’—and without exchanging another word, they proceeded to the drawing-room together CHAPTER XXXIX. DISCLOSURES AND CONFESSIONS,’ Sin ArcuipaLp and Lady Redburn were still conversing In indignant terms upon Mr Coly- ciuth’s strange behavior; and the Rev. Mr. Arden was still gazing forth in a vacant manner, but with great inward trouble, from the win- dow,—when Captain Redburn entered the apartment, closely followed by the village-sur- geon. ‘he Baronet and his wife at once as- sumed very haughty and wrathful looks on the appearance of Mr. OColyeinth: but Mr, Arden, —iurning suddenly round as the door opened, and al ouce observing that the surgeon’s counte- pance wore a look of mingled decision aud triutphavt salistuction,—sank down, in a sort sort ys. speechless dismay, upon ab otto nan 1D THE SOLDIER’S WIFE. “Mr. Colycinth,” began Sir Archibald, im a pompously inflated style, “I cannot find words to express the astonishment—I may even say the disgust—with which I learnt of your rude- ness to Lady Redburn " “Sir Archibald,” interrupted the surgeon, “T have no time to waste in a mere bandying of words. I have a certain task to perform— and [ intend to accouiplish it.” The Baronet and his wife were perfectly con- founded at what they conceived to be the tre- mendous arrogance of the villaye apothecary ; while Gerald looked on with unfeigned curiosity But Mr. Arden, suddenly springing up from big seat, rushed towards Colycinth ; and seizing him by the arm, clutched it with spasmodie violence, as he said in a low hollow voice, “ For God's sake, have mercy !” This singular appeal was not heard by the Baronet, his wife, or Gerald—though they of course saw the sudden excitement of the rector’s manner: but Mr. Colycinth replied in a tone loud enough for a/d to hear, “ Mr. Arden, I have resolved how to act—you cannot turn me from my purpose—but it will be the fault of those present if what Lam about to state, tran- spires beyond these four walls.” ‘The clergyman staggered back as if struck with a mortal blow: a hollow groan came slowly forth from his throat—and he looked the icture of wretchedness itself. No criminal about to be led forth to the place of execution, ever could have appeared more ghastly in aspect—imore dismayed, more woe-begoue, or more terror-stricken, than the Rey. Mr. Arden at that moment. But, as if all on a sudden goaded by despair to a particular cuurse, he suatched up his hat, and was rushing precipi tately towards the door,—when Mr. Colycinth caught him forcibly by the arm, crying ina voice of firmest resolve, “ No—you shall remain to corroborate the tale Iam about to tell, and which you will not dare deny !” The clergyman was suddenly reduced to the passive obedience of a child in the hands of a tyrant father; and incapable of another effort to quit the room, he sutfered the village sure geon to conduct him to a seat. Drawing the chair close towards the table, Mr. Arden buried his face in his hands and sobbed audibly. These incidents struck the beholders with an astonishment almost amounting to a consterna- tion,—confirming Gerald Redburn’s previously entertained suspicion that the surgeon must In- deed be conscious of sume suddenly and mys- teriously acquired authority,—and striking the ~ Baronet and his wife with a similar conviction, Sir Archibald no longer attempted to overawe and intimidate Mr, Colycinth with big words and blustering manner; but seating himself at the table, he waited with anxious suspense for whatsoever was to ensue, Lady Redburn, quitting the sofa where she had been reclining, also approached the table; and Gerald did the sulle, “ It is not my purpose,” began Mr. Colycinth, “to use any unnuecessary ciicumlocution in what - Tam about to say, Mine is a plain story, though involving details which will strike you, — sa that window-recess, Sir Archibald—y ou also, eins Redburn- att comicbooks Icom » Mil als ” Q pe Pe A ha ’ a). a as ° é¥ om aS i ar. o's 4