The Soldier's Wife — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. 57 search —but could not see him he inquired for|get the coach for the rest of the journey. Be nim, and learnt that he had g»ne out with anjup rather early, as we shall start at eight intimation that he might not be back for two|o’clock.” or three hours! Two or three hours! it was| Lucy was for the first moment stricken with impossible to lose so much time. No—every/a vague suspicion of impending evil, as her fa- moment was now precious as gold: for he had|ther began to speak: but he continued in so a journey of one hundred and sixty-two miles| off-hand a manner, that her misgiving gradu- before him! ally died away—and as she withdrew to her Frederick accordingly tarried no longer.|chamber, she thought to herself that, after all, He sped through the town—traversed Ports-|there was nothing so strange and unusual in mouth and Portsea—and emerged upon the/the proceeding. As a matter of course, Davis Londonroad. Once beyond view of the houses,}had not shown her the letter which Gerald he quickened his pace, and hurried onward with} Redburn had specially addressed to her through the sternest resolution of purpose. Presently he|him, and in which he made her an offer of his was overtaken by a butcher’s cart carrying/hand. The father intended to leave every meat out to some of the gentlemen’s houses in|thing in the shape of explanation until the the suburbs. He made a sign to the boy who drove it to stop, and asked him for a lift as far as he was going. “You're on leave, ’spose?” said the boy, staring very hard at him. “Yes,” was Lonsdale’s unhesitating answer: and this was the first falsehood he had ever told in his life. very last moment, when he calculated that the announcement of what was to take place would come upon her with the violence of a thunder- clap, and so completely overwhelm her with its astounding effects that she would be para- lysed into powerless and helpless submission. But when Lucy was alone in her chamber, she began t» reflect upon what had just taken “Well, get up,” said the lad: “and look| place; and rapidly did her misgivings and sus- sharp :”—then as the vehicle drove rapidly on,| picions return. Was it possible that all those he observed, ‘“ You see, Mr. Soldier, I was ob-| visits which Gerald Redburn had been wont to leeged to ax you tlse question whether you was pays were to resultin nothing? Had her father on leave—furlough, I thinks you call it—cos}debberately encouraged him to force his atten- why, you chaps sometimes deserts, and it might}tions upon her, without a hope as to the ac- get a fellow into trouble for assisting a red-coat|complishment of the ulterior aim which she to cut his stick.” knew he had entertained? And then, was Lonsdale said nothing: he had not hardihood|there not something very much savoring of enough to give utterance to another falsehood|mystery in this journey to Coventry? Where- -so he remained silent, suffering the boy to Imagine whatever he chose. He however speedily forced himself to converse with an ap- parent gaiety of tone, so that if the lad for an instant suspected anything wrong, he soon ceased to entertain the idea. The ca t con- veyed Lonsdale for about four miles; and at that point he alighted as it was going no fur- ther. He offered the boy sixpence: but the youth, who was the butcher’s own son, said, “No, no—keep your money, Mr. Soldier. fore had she not been told of it until almost the last moment? Yes—assuredly there was enough to excite the suspicions and areuse the misgivings of Lucy Davis. The longer she reflected, the greater grew her apprehensions. She conjured up all pos- sible kinds of evils, torturing herself with the wildest alarms. Although educated far above her sphere, and naturally intelligent, she was, nevertheless, so far ignorant of the world and J}inexperienced in the laws of the country, as to know very well that you chaps ain’t over-bur-|be unaware of the amount of power which thened with it—and as you are going holiday-|these laws enabled a father to exercise over making it will be of service.” his children; and in her terror she naturally Frederick thanked the lad with fervor, and|magnified this power into a positive despo- proceeded on his way: but when out of sight o1} tism. Now, therefore,—as her lover at Ports- the cart, he exerted his utmost speed to in-|mouth had done on the preceding day,—she crease the distance between himself and the]asked herself over and over again, what she garrison-town from which he had just deserted.| was to do? CHAPTER XV. COVENTRY. We must now return to Oakleigh. Should she fly from the paternal home? ‘This serious step she hesitated to take. What if, after all, her fears should be ground- less, and there was no ulterior meaning in this journey to Coventry? And moreover, would it not be better at least to wait until she had some more positive proof of treacherous intent, It was in,ere she threw herself upon the wide world? the evening of the 25th, after supper at the| What positive danger could be in store for her, eottage, and just as Lucy was rising from her|that she might not discover at least one chance seat to retire to her chamber, that her father|of avoiding it? Yes—she resolved to avoid said to her, “By the bye, Lucy, I forgot to|anything precipitate in her own conduct, and mention that to-morrow morning we are going|be guided by circumstances; But before she to Coventry. Ihaveseveral purchases to make|retired to rest, she knelt down and implored there; and as you are no doubt wanting some|heaven’s protection, mingling in her prayers new things, you may as well accompany me.|the most fervid vows of love and constancy Ihave got the loan of Bushell’s chaise-cart to|towards him whose name was not forgotten in take us as far as Middleton; and then we shall|her pious intercessions. CORMIE DOO €5) (C(O)