"Here is a letter for you, which I ought to have given you before." The Major went in and received the mysterious epistle which the captain had brought the night before.

When he saw it he whistled.
They sat waiting to know the contents.

He was provokingly long in opening it, and when he did, he said nothing, but read it over twice with a lengthening visage.

Now also it became apparent that there was another letter inside, at the superscription of which the Major having looked, put it in his pocket, and turning round to the mantel-piece, with his back to the others, began drumming against the fender with his foot, musingly.
A more aggravating course of proceeding he could not have resorted to.
Here they were all dying of curiosity, and not a word did he seem inclined to answer.

At last, Mrs.Buckley, not able to hold out any longer, said,-- "From the Governor, was it not, my love ?" "Yes," he said, "from the Governor.