"
The Commissioner's wife nodded her head in majestic approval. The
Commissioner got up abruptly, breakfast being concluded. He said
nothing, but his mental ejaculation was, "Old hag! knows she
couldn't get any one else, nor half such a handsome allowance!"
The day for Mrs. Hamilton's departure came, and on its morning
Hamilton found a note from her on his office desk. He took it up
and opened it with a feeling of repulsion.
"DEAR FRANK,--I am leaving by the noon boat for England. They
seem to have altered their time of sailing to twelve instead
of seven P.M.
"I am sorry my visit here has caused you trouble. Do not be
too hard on me. I am leaving now, and do not intend to worry
you again. You must lead your own life until, perhaps, some
day you wish to return to me. You will find me ready to
welcome you. Good-bye, and forgive any pain I have caused
you.--Your affectionate wife,
JANE."
Hamilton read this note with amazement, and a sense of its falsity
swept over him, as if a wind had risen from the paper and struck
his face. But as men too often do, he tried to thrust away his
first true instincts, and replace their warning with a lumbering
reason. He sat deep in thought, gazing at the table before him. If
it were true, if she were really going, if she really meant
good-bye, what a relief! But it was impossible, unless, indeed, she
had accomplished her plan, and had heard that he had been, or was
about to be dismissed from his post.
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