tatedtotellherwiththesoupthatshewasthehandsomestcreaturehehadeverseen,andwiththeentréethatheadoredher.
Oncomingin,Mrs.ClibbornforamomentlookedatJames,quitespeechless,herheadononesideandhereyesscrewingintothecorneroftheroom.
"Oh,howwonderful!"shesaid,atlast"IsupposeImustn'tcallyouJamienow."Shespokeveryslowly,andeverywordsoundedlikeacaress.ThenshelookedatJamesagaininsilentecstasy."ColonelParsons,howproudyoumustbe!AndwhenIthinkthatsoonhewillbemyson!Howthinyoulook,James!"
"Andhowwellyoulook,dearlady!"
ItwasunderstoodthateveryonemustmakecomplimentstoMrs.Clibbornotherwiseshegrewcross,andwhenshewascrossshewashorrid.
Shesmiledtoshowherreallybeautifulteeth.
"Ishouldliketokissyou,James.MayI,Mrs.Parsons?"
"Certainly,"repliedJamie'smother,whodidn'tapproveofMrs.Clibbornatall.
SheturnedhercheektoJames,andassumedaseraphicexpressionwhilehelightlytoucheditwithhislips.
"I'monlyanoldwoman,"shemurmuredtothecompanyingeneral.
Sheseldommademorethanoneremarkatatime,andattheendofeachassumedanappropriateattitude—coy,Madonna-like,resigned,asthecircumstancesmightrequire.Mr.Jacksoncameforwardtoshakehands,andsheturnedherlanguishingglanceonhim.
"Oh,Mr.Jackson,howbeautifulyoursermonwas!"
Theysatdowntodinner,andatetheirox-tailsoup.ItisterribletothinkofthesubtletywithwhichtheEvilOnecaninsinuatehimselfamongthemostpiousforsoupatmiddle-dayisoneofhismostdangerouswiles,anditispreciselywiththesimple-mindedinhabitantsofthecountryandofthesuburbsthatthisviceismostprevalent.
JameswassittingnexttoMrs.Clibborn,andpresentlyshelookedathimwiththemelancholysmilewhichhadalwaysseemedtohersoeffective.
"WewantyoutotellushowyouwonyourVictoriaCross,Jamie."
Theothers,eagertohearthestoryfromthehero'slips,hadbeen,notwithstanding,tootactfultoaskbuttheywerewillingtotakeadvantageofMrs.Clibborn'slackofthatquality.
"We'veallbeenlookingforwa