In Which Are Depicted The Pleasures Of A Sentimental Attachment
It will not be necessary, for the purpose of this history, to follow out very closely all the
adventures which occurred to Mrs. Catherine from the period when she quitted the
"Bugle" and became the Captain's lady; for although it would be just as easy to show as
not, that the young woman, by following the man of her heart, had only yielded to an
innocent impulse, and by remaining with him for a certain period, had proved the depth
and strength of her affection for him,--although we might make very tender and eloquent
apologies for the error of both parties, the reader might possibly be disgusted at such
descriptions and such arguments: which, besides, are already done to his hand in the
novel of "Ernest Maltravers" before mentioned.
From the gentleman's manner towards Mrs. Catherine, and from his brilliant and
immediate success, the reader will doubtless have concluded, in the first place, that
Gustavus Adolphus had not a very violent affection for Mrs. Cat; in the second place,
that he was a professional lady-killer, and therefore likely at some period to resume his
profession; thirdly, and to conclude, that a connection so begun, must, in the nature of
things, be likely to end speedily.
And so, to do the Count justice, it would, if he had been allowed to follow his own
inclination entirely; for (as many young gentlemen will, and yet no praise to them) in
about a week he began to be indifferent, in a month to be weary, in two months to be
angry, in three to proceed to blows and curses; and, in short, to repent most bitterly the
hour when he had ever been induced to present Mrs. Catherine the toe of his boot, for
the purpose of lifting her on to his horse.
"Egad!" said he to the Corporal one day, when confiding his griefs to Mr. Brock, "I wish
my toe had been cut off before ever it served as a ladder to this little vixen."
"Or perhaps your honour would wish to kick her downstairs with it?" delicately
suggested Mr. Brock.
"Kick her! why, the wench would hold so fast by the banisters that I COULD not kick her
down, Mr. Brock. To tell you a bit of a secret, I HAVE tried as much--not to kick her--no,
no, not kick her, certainly: that's ungentlemanly--but to INDUCE her to go back to that
cursed pot-house where we fell in with her. I have given her many hints--"
"Oh, yes, I saw your honour give her one yesterday--with a mug of beer. By the laws, as
the ale run all down her face, and she clutched a knife to run at you, I don't think I ever
saw such a she-devil! That woman will do for your honour some day, if you provoke
her."
