NottillluncheonwasnearlyfinisheddidMarybraceherselfforthefurtherordeal,andinasteady,unmovedvoicetellColonelandMrs.Clibbornwhathadhappened.Thefadedbeautymerelysmiled,andliftedhereyestothechandelierwiththeexpressionthathadmeltedtheheartsofathousandandoneimpressionablesubalterns.
"Iknewit,"shemurmured"Iknewit!Youcan'tdeceiveawomanandamother."
ButtheColonelforamomentwasspeechless.Hisfacegrewred,andhisdyedeyebrowsstoodupinafuryofindignation.
"Impossible!"hesplutteredatlast.
"You'dbetterdrinkalittlewater,Reggiedear,"saidhiswife."Youlookasifyouweregoingtohaveafit."
"Iwon'thaveit,"heshouted,bringinghisfistdownonthetablesothatthecheese-platesclatteredandthebiscuitsdancedarapidjig."I'llmakehimmarryyou.Heforgetshehasmetodealwith!Idisapprovedofthematchfromthebeginning,didn'tI,Clara?IsaidIwouldneverallowmydaughtertomarrybeneathher."
"Papa!"
"Don'ttalktome,Mary!DoyoumeantodenythatJamesParsonsisinfantry,orthathisfatherwasinfantrybeforehim?Butheshallmarryyounow.ByGeorge!heshallmarryyouifIhavetoleadhimtothealtarbythescruffofhisneck!"
Neglectinghischeese,theColonelsprangtohisfeetandwalkedtoandfro,vehementlygivinghisopinionofJames,hisfather,andallhisancestorsoftheregimentstowhichtheyhadbelonged,andallelsethatwastheirs.Hetracedtheiroriginfromaporkbutcher'sshop,andprophesiedtheirend,ignominiously,inhell.EverynowandthenheassuredMarythatsheneedhavenofeartherascalshouldmarryher,ordieaviolentdeath.
"Butthere'snothingmoretobesaidnow,papa.We'veagreedquiteamicablytoseparate.AllIwantyoutodoistotreathimasifnothinghadhappened."
"I'llhorsewhiphim,"saidColonelClibborn."He'sinsultedyou,andI'llmakehimbegyourpardononhisbendedknees.Clara,where'smyhorsewhip?"
"Papa,dobereasonable!"
"Iamreasonable,Mary,"roaredthegallantsoldier,becomingarichpurple."Iknowmyduty,thankGod!andI'mgoingtodoit.Whenamaninsultsmydaughter,it'smyduty,asagentlemanandanofficer,togivehimajollygoodthrashing.Whenthattwopennysawbonesofadoctorwasrudetoyou