smile,buthalfchokedwithhisownemotion,"don'tcry!Yououghttolaughwhenyouknowtheboy'scominghome."
Hepattedherontheshoulder,andshetookhishand,holdingitforcomfort.Withtheother,theColonelloudlyblewhisnose.AtlastMrsParsonsdriedhereyes.
"Oh,IthankGodthatit'sallover!He'scominghome.Ihopeweshallneverhavetoendureagainthatanxiety.ItmakesmetremblestillwhenIthinkhowweusedtolongforthepapertocome,anddreadithowweusedtolookallthroughthelistofcasualties,fearingtoseetheboy'sname."
"Well,well,it'sallovernow,"saidtheColonelcheerily,blowinghisnoseagain."HowpleasedMarywillbe!"
ItwascharacteristicofhimthatalmosthisfirstthoughtwasofthepleasurethisearlierarrivalwouldcausetoMaryClibborn,thegirltowhom,forfiveyears,hissonhadbeenengaged.
"Yes,"saidMrs.Parson,"butshe'llbedreadfullydisappointednottobehereshe'sgonetothePolsonsinTunbridgeWells,andshewon'tbehometillaftersupper."
"Thatisapity.I'mafraidit'stoolatetogoandmeethimit'snearlysevenalready."
"Oh,yesandit'sdampthisevening.Idon'tthinkyououghttogoout."
ThenMrs.Parsonsrousedherselftohouseholdmatters.
"There'sthesuppertothinkof,Richmond,"shesaid"we'veonlytherestofthecoldmutton,andthere'snottimetocookoneofto-morrow'schickens."
Theyhadinvitedthreeorfourfriendstodinneronthefollowingdaytocelebratethereturnoftheirson,andMrs.Parsonshadlaidinfortheoccasionastoreofsolidthings.
"Well,wemighttryandgetsomechops.IexpectHoweisopenstill."
"Yes,I'llsendBettyout.Andwecanhaveablanc-mangeforasweet."
Mrs.Parsonswenttogivethenecessaryorders,andtheColonelwalkeduptohisson'sroomtosee,forthehundredthtime,thateverythingwasinorder.Theyhaddiscussedfordaysthequestionwhethertheyoungsoldiershouldbegiventhebestsparebedroomorthatwhichhehadusedfromhisboyhood.Itwaswonderfulthethoughttheyexpendedinpreparingeverythingastheyfanciedhewouldlikeitnodetailslippedtheirmemory,andtheyarrangedandrearrangedso