NextdayMarywentintoPrimptonHouse.ColonelParsonsnoddedtoherasshewalkedupthedrive,andtookoffhisspectacles.Thefrontdoorwasneitherlockednorboltedinthatconfidingneighbourhood,andMarywalkedstraightin.
"Well,mydear?"saidtheColonel,smilingwithpleasure,forhewasasfondofherasofhisownson.
"IthoughtI'dcomeandseeyoualone.Jamie'sstillout,isn'the?Isawhimpassourhouse.Iwasstandingatthewindow,buthedidn'tlookup."
"Idaresayhewasthinking.He'sgrownverythoughtfulnow."
Mrs.Parsonscamein,andherquietfacelitup,too,asshegreetedMary.Shekissedhertenderly.
"Jamie'sout,youknow."
"Maryhascometoseeus,"saidtheColonel."Shedoesn'twantustofeelneglectednowthatshehastheboy."
"Weshallneverdreamthatyoucandoanythingunkind,dearMary,"repliedMrs.Parsons,strokingthegirl'shair."It'snaturalthatyoushouldthinkmoreofhimthanofus."
Maryhesitatedamoment.
"Don'tyouthinkJamiehaschanged?"
Mrs.Parsonslookedatherquickly.
"Ithinkhehasgrownmoresilent.Buthe'sbeenthroughsomuch.Andthenhe'samannowhewasonlyaboywhenwesawhimlast."
"D'youthinkhecaresformeanymore?"askedMary,witharapidtremorinhervoice.
"Mary!"
"Ofcoursehedoes!Hetalksofyoucontinually,"saidColonelParsons,"andalwaysasifheweredevoted.Doesn'the,Frances?"
Theoldman'sdeeploveforMaryhadpreventedhimfromseeinginJamie'sbehaviouranythingincongruouswiththatofatruelover.
"Whatmakesyouaskthatquestion,Mary?"saidMrs.Parsons.
HerfemininetacthadledhertonoticeadifferenceinJamie'sfeelingtowardshisbetrothedbutshehadbeenunwillingtothinkthatitamountedeventocoldness.Suchachangecouldbeexplainedinahundrednaturalways,andmight,indeed,existmerelyinherownimagination.
"Oh,he'snotthesameashewas!"criedMary,"Idon'tknowwhatitis,butIfeelitinhiswholemanner.Yesterdayeveninghebarelysaidaword."
JameshaddinedwiththeClibbornsinsolemnstate.
"Idaresayhe'snotverywellyet.Hiswoundtroubleshimstill."
"Itrytoputitdowntothat,"saidMary,"butheseemstoforcehimselftospeaktome.He'snotnatural.I'vegotanawfulfearthatheh