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CHAP. IX.
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Ferdinand had a month's leave of absence; he had been promoted to a higher rank than he could have hoped for, his prospects in the army were such as to inspire a hope of being in a short time able to provide for his family. He returned to them enlivened by expectation, and transported to embrace a darling wife, and a generous brother. In the evening, when retired to the apartment of his Claudina, when expressing his raptures at seeing her so well and happy, a deep and hollow groan made