d.Mrs.Parsonslookedathimandlookedatherhusband.PresentlyshewentuptoJames.
"Jamie,willyouleaveusforalittle?YourfatherandIwouldliketotalkitoveralone."
"Yes,mother."
Jamesgotup,andputtingherhandsonhisshoulders,shekissedhim.
WhenJameshadgone,Mrs.Parsonslookedcompassionatelyatherhusbandheglancedup,andcatchinghereye,triedtosmile.Butitwasapoorattempt,anditfinishedwithasigh.
"What'stobedone,Richmond?"
ColonelParsonsshookhisheadwithoutanswering.
"Ioughttohavewarnedyouthatsomethingmighthappen.IsawtherewasadifferenceinJamie'sfeelings,butIfancieditwouldpassover.Ibelieveditwasonlystrangeness.Maryissofondofhim,Ithoughthewouldsoonloveherasmuchasever."
"Butit'snothonourablewhathe'sdone,Frances,"saidtheoldmanatlast,hisvoicetremblingwithemotion."It'snothonourable."
"Hecan'thelpitifhedoesn'tloveher."
"It'shisdutytomarryher.She'swaitedfiveyearsshe'sgivenhimthebestofheryouth—andhejiltsher.Hecan't,Franceshemustbehavelikeagentleman."
ThetearsfelldownMrs.Parsons'careworncheeks—theslow,sparsetearsofthewomanwhohasenduredmuchsorrow.
"Don'tletusjudgehim,Richmond.We'resoignorantoftheworld.YouandIareold-fashioned."
"Therearenofashionsinhonesty."
"LetussendforWilliam.Perhapshe'llbeabletoadviseus."
WilliamwasMajorForsyth,thebrotherofMrs.Parsons.Hewasabachelor,livinginLondon,andconsideredbyhisrelativesatypicalmanoftheworld.
"He'llbeabletotalktotheboybetterthanwecan."
"Verywell,letussendforhim."
Theywerebothovercomebythecatastrophe,butasyethardlygraspedthefullextentofit.Alltheirhopeshadbeencentredonthismarriagealltheirplansforthefuturehadbeeninitsointricatelywoventhattheycouldnotrealisethetotalover-throw.Theyfeltasamanmightfeelwhowascrippledbyasuddenaccident,andyetstillpicturedhislifeasthoughhehadfreeuseofhislimbs....Mrs.Parsonswroteatelegram,andgaveittothemaid.Theservantwentoutoftheroom,butasshedidso,steppedbackan