The twins a domestic novel Author:Martin Farquhar Tupper Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. The Arrival. The young men were thus situated as regards both the world and one another, and Mrs. Tracy had almost entirely forgotten the fact... more », that she possessed a piece of goods so supererogatory as her husband (a property too which her children had never quite realized), when all on a sudden, one ordinary morning, the postman's knock brought to her breakfast-table at Burleigh- Singleton the following epistle : " British Channel, Thursday, March llth, 1842. " The Sir William Elpiiinston, E.I.M. " Dear Jane, " You will be surprised to find that you are to see me so soon I dare say, especially as it is now some years since you will have heard from me. The reason is, I have been long in an out-of- the-way part of India, where there is little communication with Europe, and so you will excuse my not writing. We hope to find ourselves to-night in Plymouth roads, where I shall get into a pilot-boat, and so shall see you to-morrow. You may, therefore, now expect your affectionate husband, " J. G. J. Tracy, General H.E.I.C.S. "P.S. 1.—Remember me to our boy, or boys,—which is it? " P.S. 2.—I bring with me the daughter of a friend in India, who is come over for a year or two's polish at a first-rate school. Of course you will be glad to receive her as our guest. "J. G. J. T." This loving letter was the most startling event that had ever attempted to unnerve Mrs. Tracy ; and she accordingly managed, for effect and propriety's sake, to grow very faint upon the spot, whether for joy, or sorrow, or fear of lost liberty, or hope of arestored lord, doth not appear; she had so long been satisfied with receiving quarterly pay from the India agents, that she forgot it was an evidence of her husband's existence; and lo, here he was returning a general, dou...« less