“Madam:—Had you chosen to remain quietly in the home I provided for you it should have been yours for life, with a sufficient income to keep it up. But as you voluntarily left it, you have forfeited your right to return to it, as well as your claims upon me for support. The place is now dismantled and sold. The messenger who takes this letter has charge of all your personal effects, and will deliver them over to you.
“Alexander Lyon.”
We know the time, not so long since, when the young wife would have screamed, cried or swooned at the reception of such a letter from her husband.
Now, she simply bent forward and laid it on the fire, and when it blazed up and sank to ashes, she said:
“It is gone; and now it shall be forgotten.”
And then she stooped and kissed her babe.
Leo, stealing an anxious glance at her, misunderstood the movement and started forward, exclaiming:
“Oh, mum! don’t go for to faint; please don’t.”
Drusilla looked at him and smiled kindly, saying
“I am not likely to do so, my boy. I am strong and healthy now, thank Heaven! and besides, there is nothing to faint about. I am only a little sorry that the cottage is sold.”