"Could it be possible," he asked himself, "that his wife really purposed a separation ?" The fact loomed up before his imagination with all of its appalling consequences.
A full half hour passed, without a word more from the lips of either.

Then Mr.Dexter quietly retired from the room.

He had no sooner done this, than Mrs.Dexter arose from the bed, and commenced making changes in her dress.

Her face was very white, and her movements unsteady, like the movements of a person just arisen from an exhausting sickness.

There was some appearance of hurry and agitation in her manner.
About an hour later, and just as twilight had given place to darkness, Mrs.Loring who was sitting with her daughters, lifted her eyes from the work in her hands, and leaned her head in a listening attitude.