Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat

Name and Surname: Mrs. Bixby says that she feels “a sort of eternal patient, someone who dwelt in the waiting room”. What does this tell us about their married life? After Mrs. Bixby reads the Colonel’s note, she experiences a variety of feelings that the author captures in single words and short sentences. Make a list of her changing emotions. What do you think the relationship between Mr Bixby and Miss Pulteney is?