leaffection,admiringintenselybothhisheadandhisheart.Hewashertypeoftheuprightman,walkinginthewaysoftheLord.Yousawintheplacid,smoothbrowoftheColonel'swife,inhercalmeyes,evenintheseverearrangementofthehair,partedinthemiddleanddrawnback,thathercharacterwasfrank,simple,andstraightforward.Shewasawomantowhomevilhadneverofferedthesmallestattractionshewasmerelyawareofitsexistencetheoretically.TohertheonlywayoflifehadbeenthatwhichledtoGodtheothershadbeennon-existent.Dutyhadonehandonly,andonlyonefingerandthatfingerhadalwayspointeddefinitelyinonedirection.YetMrs.Parsonshadafirmmouth,andachinsquareenoughtoaddanotherimpression.Asshesatmotionless,handscrossed,watchingherhusbandwithlovingeyes,youmighthavedivinedthat,howeverkind-hearted,shewasnotindulgent,neitherlenienttoherownfaultsnortothoseofothersperfectlyunassuming,butwithasenseofduty,afeelingoftheabsoluterightnessofsomedeedsandoftheabsolutewrongnessofothers,whichwouldbe,eventothoseshelovedbestintheworld,utterlyunsparing.
"Here'satelegraphboy!"saidColonelParsonssuddenly."Jamiecan'thavearrivedyet!"
"Oh,Richmond!"
Mrs.Parsonssprangfromherchair,andacolourbrightenedherpalecheeks.Herheartbeatpainfully,andtearsofeagerexpectationfilledhereyes.
"It'sprobablyonlyfromWilliam,tosaytheshipissignalled,"saidtheColonel,toquietenherbuthisownvoicetrembledwithanxiety.
"Nothingcanhavehappened,Richmond,canit?"saidMrs.Parsons,hercheeksblanchingagainattheidea.
"No,no!Ofcoursenot!Howsillyyouare!"Thetelegramwasbroughtinbytheservant."Ican'tseewithoutalight,"saidtheColonel.
"Oh,giveitmeIcanseequitewell."
Mrs.Parsonstookittothewindow,andwithtremblinghandtoreitopen.
"Arrivingto-night7.25.—Jamie."
Mrs.Parsonlookedforonemomentatherhusband,andthen,unabletorestrainherself,sankonachair,andhidingherfacewithherhands,burstintotears.
"Come,come,Frances,"saidtheColonel,tryingto