by the agency of a friend , who was upon the spot , and presentpresentat the opening of the will .
I seldom lose my temper ; much more seldom indulge in dangerous indignation at wrongs and outrages ; but I must be permitted to be rash here and declaredeclare, that I consider the sudden and violent abrogationabrogationof the office of Master in Chancery , by the new Constitution , as a -- premature actact; inasmuch as I had counted upon a life-lease of the profits , whereas I only receivedreceivethose of a few short years .
Before reaching her he stoppedstopon the grass and went through the form of feelingfeelfor something , possibly forgotten , in the light overcoat he carriedcarryon his arm ; yet the essence of the actactwas no more than the impulseimpulseto gain time .
The man was small and rather old , so that the brutality of the actactwas thus accentuated .