n."
Jamie'sparentslookedathimwithrelief,forthesamethoughtfilledtheirmindsbutthinkingittheirdutytosubmitthemselvestothespiritualdirectionoftheVicarandhiswife,theyhadnotthoughtitquiterighttodeclinetheproposal.Mrs.Jacksonglancedatherhusbandwithpainedastonishment,butfurtherargumentwaspreventedbythearrivalofColonelandMrs.Clibborn,andMary.
ColonelClibbornwasatallman,withoilyblackhairandfierceeyebrows,bothdyedaggressivelymilitaryandreminiscentHehadbeeninacavalryregiment,wherehehadcometothephilosophicconclusionthatallmenaredust—exceptcavalry-menandhewasabletolookuponJamie'sprowess—theprowessofaninfantryman—fromsuperiorheights.Hewasagreatauthorityuponwar,andcouldtellanyonewhatwerethemistakesinSouthAfrica,andhowtheymighthavebeenavoidedlikewisehehadknownintheservicehalfthepeersoftherealm,andtalkedofthembytheirChristiannames.HespentthreeweekseveryseasoninLondon,anddinedlate,atseveno'clock,sohehadeveryqualificationforconsideringhimselfamanoffashion.
"Idon'tknowwhatthey'ddoinLittlePrimptonwithoutus,"hesaid."It'sonlyuswhokeepitalive."
ButMrs.Clibbornmissedsociety.
"TheonlypeopleIcanspeaktoaretheParsons,"shetoldherhusband,plaintively."They'reverygoodpeople—butonlyinfantry,Reggie."
"Ofcourse,they'reonlyinfantry,"agreedColonelClibborn.
Mrs.Clibbornwasaregimentalbeauty—offifty,whohadgrownstoutbutnotforthatceasedtousetheweaponswhichNaturehadgivenheragainstthenaturalenemiesofthesex.Inherdealingswithseveralgenerationsofadorers,shehadacquiredsuchahabitoflanguishingglancesthatnowsheusedthemunconsciously.WhetherorderingmeatfromthebutcherordiscussingparochialmatterswithMr.Jackson,Mrs.Clibborn'stoneandmannerweresuchthatshemighthavebeensayingthemosttenderthings.Shehadbeenverypopularintheservice,becauseshewasthetypeofphilanderingwomanwhorequirednobeatingaboutthebushherneighbouratthedinner-table,evenifhehadnotseenherbefore,needneverhavehesi