Among others attached to the household of this gentleman was a native domestic, who at first had received the authority of his new mistress with discontent, for until she came he had been paramount. But it was not long before he succumbed, being suspected of a warmer attachment than could be reconciled with the connection of servant and mistress. There were many whispers circulated concerning them, in the dissipated circle in which the lady moved; though so long as open decency was preserved, the manners of the time allowed a considerable latitude; and rather than disturb the _dolce far niente_ of their indolent and luxuriant existence, they were content to give her the benefit of the doubt. It was not long before symptoms of decaying health--“the liver disease,” said the doctor, for every thing was then and there so called--began to appear in the insured man. Whether he declined to apply for leave of absence, or whether some backstairs influence was used to prevent it, is uncertain; at any rate, he still kept at his old quarters, dying gradually away, wasted by slow disease. During this period, the behaviour of his wife was exemplary: his pillow was smoothed, his medicine was administered, his cough was hung over by her: and if she left him for a time, the Hindoo, gliding about like a shadow, was ever by his master’s side, to complete what his mistress began. It was noticed, however, that the patient seemed to suffer, rather than desire so close a connection; and to shrink from, rather than claim such attention. This, however, was thought little of, being attributed to an irritability of temper arising from disease.