She knew he had gone to
the office, and would probably remain there until summoned for
breakfast, and now was her time, for there was something further to be
spoken of, and while gentle and civil, Mrs. Dade had not been receptive.
It was evident to the trader's wife that her lord and master had made a
mistake in leaving when he did. He knew the general was on the way. He
knew there was that money business to be cleared up, yet she knew there
were reasons why she _wanted_ him away,--reasons hardest of all to
plausibly explain. There were reasons, indeed, why she was glad Nanette
was gone. All Fort Frayne was devoted to Esther Dade and, however
unjustly, most of Fort Frayne,--men, women and children,--attributed
Field's defection, as they chose to call it, to Nanette--Nanette who had
set at naught her aunt's most ardent wishes, in even noticing Field at
all. Money, education, everything she could give had been lavished on
that girl, and now, instead of casting her net for that well-to-do and
distinguished bachelor, the major, thereby assuring for herself the
proud position of first lady of Fort Frayne, the wife of the commanding
officer, Nanette had been deliberately throwing herself away at a
beardless, moneyless second lieutenant, because he danced and rode well.
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