Her reception was neither cold nor
cordial.
"I think," she said, "that my visit was untimely. Some recent
occurrence had, probably, disturbed her mind so deeply; that she was
not able to rise above the depression that followed. I noticed a
bitterness of feeling about her that was not apparent on the
occasion of my first call; and a hardness of manner and sentiment,
that indicated a condition of mental suffering having its origin in
a sense of wrong. Mr. Dewey passed through the hall, and went out a
few minutes after I entered the house, and before his wife joined me
in the parlor. It may have been fancy; but I thought, while I sat
there awaiting her appearance, that I heard angry words in the room
above. The heavy tread of a man's foot was there; but the sound
ceased all at once--so did the voices. A little while afterwards Mr.
Dewey came down stairs, and went out, as I have said. Some minutes
passed before I heard the rustle of Mrs. Dewey's garments. There was
the air of one disturbed and ill at ease about her, when she
entered; and though she made an effort to seem pleased, all was
forced work.
Pages:
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263