Not, they said, that they believed he
actually did entertain that impression; but still the
excuse was too plausible, and had been too well studied
by my cunning rival, to be openly refuted. As for the
mere fact of his supplanting me, they thought it an
excellent thing,--a ruse d'amour for which they never
would have given him credit; and although they admitted
it was provoking enough to be ousted out of one's mistress
in that cool sort of way, still I should not so far have
forgotten myself as to have struck him while he was
unarmed, when it was so easy to have otherwise fastened
an insult on him. Such," bitterly pursued Wacousta, "was
the consolation I received from men, who, a few short
weeks before, had been sedulous to gain and cultivate my
friendship,--but even this was only vouchsafed antecedent
to my trial. When the sentence was promulgated, announcing
my dismissal from the service, every back was turned upon
me, as though I had been found guilty of some dishonourable
action or some disgraceful crime; and, on the evening of
the same day, when I threw from me for ever an uniform
that I now loathed from my inmost soul, there was not
one among those who had often banqueted at my expense,
who had the humanity to come to me and say, 'Sir Reginald
Morton, farewell.
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