Jamesfeltnorelief.Hehadlookedforwardtoasensationoffreedomsuchasamanmightfeelwhenhehadescapedfromsometyrannousservitude,andwasatlibertyagaintobreathethebuoyantairofheaven.HeimaginedthathisdepressionwouldvanishlikeanevilspiritexorcisedsosoonaseverhegotfromMaryhisreleasebutinsteaditsatmoreheavilyuponhim.Unconvincedevenyetthathehadactedrightly,hewentovertheconversationwordforword.Itseemedsingularlyineffectual.WishingtoshowMarythathedidnotbreakwithherfromcapriceorfrivolousreason,butwithsorrowfulreluctance,andfullknowledgeofhersuffering,hehadsucceededonlyinbeingfutileandcommonplace.
HewalkedslowlytowardsPrimptonHouse.Hehadbeforehimtheannouncementtohismotherandfatherandhetriedtoorderhisthoughts.
Mrs.Parsons,herhouseholdworkfinished,wasknittingtheinevitablesockswhiletheColonelsatatthetable,puttingnewstampsintohisalbum.Hechattereddelightedlyoverhistreasures,gettingupnowandthengravelytoaskhiswifesomequestionortopointoutasurchargeshe,goodwoman,showedinterestbyappropriaterejoinders.
"There'snooneinTunbridgeWellswhohassuchafinecollectionasIhave."
"GeneralNewsmithshowedmehistheotherday,butit'snotnearlysogoodasyours,Richmond."
"I'mgladofthat.IsupposehisMauritiusarefine?"repliedtheColonel,withsomeenvy,forthegeneralhadlivedseveralyearsontheisland.
"They'refair,"saidMrs.Parsons,reassuringly"butnotsogoodasonewouldexpect."
"Ittakesaclevermantogettogetheragoodcollectionofstamps,althoughIshouldn'tsayit."
TheylookedupwhenJamesentered.
"I'vejustbeenputtinginthoseFreeStatesyoubroughtme,Jamie.Theylookverywell."
TheColonelleantbacktoviewthem,withthesatisfiedlookwithwhichhemighthaveexaminedanoldmaster.
"ItwasverythoughtfulofJamietobringthem,"saidMrs.Parsons.
"Ah,Iknewhewouldn'tforgethisoldfather.Don'tyouremember,Frances,Isaidtoyou,'I'llbeboundtheboywillbringsomestampswithhim.'They'llbevaluableinayearortwo.That'swhatIalwayssay