The Soldier's Wife — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

18 stated close upon one-and-twenty years of age He waa a slight, pale, sickly-looking youth— with an enfeebled frame, a weak voice, and an appearauce as if he were falling into a decline, Possessed of the strongest passions, and ever| intent upon gratifying them, he had in his im- moderate pursuit of pleasure sapped the founda- tions of his existence. Up to the age of sixteen he had been a promising youth: but a couple of years’ residence in the metropolis had plunged him into a course of dissipation which he con- tinued to pursue when he repaired thence to one ef the Universities; and a carver of two more years at Oxford had well-nigh sent him into his grave, His parents, when almost too late, awoke from the dream into which they had been lulled concerning him. They had flattered themselves that he was merely sowing his wild oats, and would be all the better after an adequate expe- rience of what is called “life,” and a satiation of its pleasures: but it was not till his physician at Oxford earnestly represented to Sir Archibald and Lady Redburn that their son was killing himsclf with dissipation, that they compelled him to renounce his College life and_ settle quietly down with them at the Manor. THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. | P “ Yes—if you were there to set an exa said Aunt Jane. | “Well, after all, if T was a young man over again, | think I should prefer the Army to any profession,” said the Baronet. “Now don’t go and put these silly notions into Gerald's head, Sir Archy,” exclaimed her ladyship. “Iam sure I don’t want him to go buttoning himself up in a red coat or a blue jacket so as to prevent the natural expansion of his form—or to have one of those nasty heavy caps that wear all the hair off the head, You know there was my brother the Colonel— as handsome a young man when he was two. and-twenty as ever you could wish to see F “ As fine a fellow as our Gerald perhaps,” ob served Aunt Jane, The Baronet started, and threw upon his sis- ter a stern look at this withering sarcasm which was levelled against his son: but Miss Redburn seemed perfectly indifferent to the pain she had inflicted, and her thin lips were compressed more } Here | Mustn’t think yourself a beauty. In faet, when tightly than ever. “T suppose you meant thet in your usual ill- natured way, aunt? said Gerald: “but you they hoped that the fine bracing air of the | the corn in our fields is getting ripe, I mean to country, the absence of the temptations which |ask you to stick yourself up as a scarecrow to abound in cities and towns, and a compulsory regularity of existence would restore his almost | To a certain extent this had| Jane: “ because it requires a mannikin.” wasted energies. been the case ; and there was some improvement in the young man’s appearance. was of the sickly and enervated look which we | have described; and it was difficult indeed for a Btranger to suppose him to be the son of that keep the birds off” “No, you would do better,” retorted Aunt “Oh, you be hanged!” cried Gerald. “ And But still he|now that you have spoke of it, sir,” he added, turning to his father, “I really think I should like to go into tne Army | “Gracious goodness, boy !” exclaimed Lady fine, portiy, florid-looking man, and that andl Redburn frightened out of her wits at this an- : re . as . . | .YV } some healthy lady in the glorious embonpoint of |Mouncement, “ You mustn't think of such a life’s prime. nx. The reader is now sufficiently well introduced to the Redburn family to enable us to pursue the thread It was between ¢2 NU of our narrative. nine and ten o'clock in the evening when we thus look in upon them in the handsome old- fashioned drawing-room where they were seated. The Baronet was reading the Morning Post, to which he was a regular subscriber: her ladyship was expatiating in her usually frivolous manner upon the prosperous condition of the tenants and Jaborers upon the estate—which however was very far from being the case: Gerald was yawning over anew novel which he had received from London a few days previously ;—and Miss Redhurn, or “ Aunt Jane” as she was usually called, was sitting very upright in a high-backed chair, listening with a sort of sneering smile upon her lip to the rhodomontade her sister-in- law was delivering. “T see your College-chum Frank Dashwood, has just been gazetted to a cornetcy,” said the Baronet, lowering the paper upon his knees and looking round towards his son, “What, then—he’s cut the Church, eh?” ob- server) Gerald. “ Well, I never thought he would go into its it wasn’t the kind of thing for him. Lesides, a strapping fellow, six feet six without his boots, would’t look well up in a pul- pit. His head would touch the sounding-board , and what a jolly laugh there would be amongst the cong? gation” thing. What, an only son—the heir of the title and estates—to siand a chance of getting shot 1n battle, if a war took place id “ Not he!” said Aunt Jaue. “ He would al- ways be in the rear.” : “Oh! pray don’t interrupt,” exclaimed her ladyship petulantly. “ Now, you see, sir Archy, what you have gone and put into Gerald’s head——” | “No, the governor didn’t, now!” cried the youth: “ for I put it there myself.” “It was lucky,” interjected Aunt Jane. “ Your head wanted something in it.” . “Its athing [ have been thinking of for a long time past,” continued Gerald. “ But I don't want to go into a cavalry-regiment; because I don’t hike the uniform, I prefer the red coat: and so I fix upon the infantry. Why, you, sir, with your interest at the Horse Guards could vet me a Commission aimost 80 s00n-as you lodged the money at Cox and Greenwood’s; and you might even pick and choose the regi ment, At all events you could get me into a regiment that’s recently come home from foreign cervice, and therefore certain to remain in Kug land for a few years.” “Ah! if all this can be done,” observed Lady Redburn, “it somewhat alters the case :”"-—then like a frivolous, vacillating, fond foolish mamma as she waa, she added, “ Well, after all, I think: [ should like to see Gerald in a red coat, But mind, it must have gold lace, and not silver comicbook 4 «* : nea