ColonelParsonsandhiswifehadwishednofunctiontocelebratethehome-comingofJamesbutgaveintothepersuasionsofMaryandofMr.Dryland,thecurate,whosaidthatapublicceremonywouldbeundoubtedlyastimulustothemoralwelfareofLittlePrimpton.Nomancouldescapefromhisobligations,andCaptainParsonsowedittohisfellow-countrymenofLittlePrimptontoletthemshowtheirappreciationofhisgreatdeed.
TheVicarwentsofarastoassertthataheartygreetingtotheherowouldbeassalutorytotheparishionersasasermonofhisown,whileitwouldawakenJames,ayoungmanandpossiblythoughtless,toapropersenseofhisresponsibilities.ButthesuddenarrivalofJameshaddisturbedthearrangements,andMr.Dryland,insomeperplexity,wenttoseeMary.
"Whatarewetodo,MissClibborn?Theschoolchildrenwillbesodisappointed."
TheoriginalplanhadbeentomeettheheroashedrovetowardsPrimptonHousefromthestation,andthecuratewasunwillingtogiveitup.
"D'youthinkCaptainParsonswouldgointoTunbridgeWellsanddriveinattwoo'clock,asifhewerejustarriving?"
"I'mafraidhewouldn't,"repliedMary,doubtfully,"andIthinkhe'donlylaughifIaskedhim.Heseemedgladwhenhethoughthehadescapedthecelebration."
"Didhe,indeed?Howtrueitisthatrealcourageisalwaysmodest!ButitwouldbeaneternaldisgracetoLittlePrimptonifwedidnotwelcomeourhero,especiallynowthateverythingisprepared.ItmustnotbesaidthatLittlePrimptonneglectstohonourhimwhomtheEmpirehasdistinguished."
Afterturningovermanyplans,theydecidedthattheprocessionshouldcometoPrimptonHouseattheappointedhour,whenCaptainParsonswouldreceiveitfromthetriumphalarchatthegate....Whentheservantannouncedthatthefunctionwasreadytobegin,anannouncementemphasisedbythediscordantnotesofthebrassband,MaryhurriedlyexplainedtoJameswhatwasexpectedofhim,andtheyallmadeforthefrontdoor.
PrimptonHousefacedthegreen,andoppositethelittlevillageshops