The trees were in blossom; birds were filling the air with delicious melody, but not a leaf stirred.
The Chapman family were up before the sun that morning, and the whole house was astir ere Bowling Green had fairly waked up, or the din of Broadway had broken the stillness.

Chapman had spent a restless night, and seemed sad and downcast, as if some trouble he would fain conceal was weighing on his mind.

He breakfasted alone that morning, and went to business an hour earlier than usual, promising to return at one o'clock.
He returned, however, at twelve, and in such a state of distress as to alarm the whole house.

Indeed he entered the house more like a madman than a philosopher, and so alarmed Bowles by the wildness of his manner and appearance, that he proceeded in a state of great excitement to inform his mistress.

When, then, that lady entered the parlor she found her husband stretched on the sofa, with his right hand pressing his forehead, and apparently in a state of great distress.