,Ilickedhimwithinaninchofhislife.Ikickedhimtillhebeggedformercyandifmoremenhadthecouragetotakethelawintotheirownhands,there'dbefewerdamnedblackguardsintheworld."
Asamatteroffact,theColonelhadneitherthrashednorkickedthedoctor,butitpleasedhimtothinkhehad.Moraliststeachusthattheintentionispraiseworthy,ratherthanthebrutalactconsequently,therecouldbenoobjectionifthefearlesscavalrymantookcreditforthingswhichhehadthoughtofdoing,but,fromcircumstancesbeyondhiscontrol,hadnotactuallydone.
Maryfeltnogreatalarmatherfather'shorridthreats,forsheknewhimwell,butstillwasdoubtfulabouthermother.
"YouwilltreatJamesasyoudidbefore,won'tyou,mamma?"
Mrs.Clibbornsmiled,aportlyseraph.
"Mydear,ItrustIamagentlewoman."
"Heshallneverdarkenmydoorsagain!"criedtheColonel."Itellyou,Clara,keephimoutofmyway.IfImeethimIwon'tberesponsibleformyactionsIshallknockhimdown."
"Reggiedear,you'llhavesuchdreadfulindigestionifyoudon'tcalmdown.Youknowitalwaysupsetsyoutogetexcitedimmediatelyaftermeals."
"It'sdisgraceful!Isupposeheforgetsallthosehalf-crownsIgavehimwhenhewasaboy,andthecigars,andtheportwinehe'shadsince.Iopenedaspecialbottleforhimonlythenightbeforelast.I'llneversitdowntodinnerwithhimagain—don'taskmeto,Clara....It'stheconfoundedimpertinenceofitwhichgetsoverme.Butheshallmarryyou,mydearorI'llknowthereasonwhy."
"Youcan'thavehimupforbreachofpromise,Reggie,"cooedMrs.Clibborn.
"Agentlemantakesthelawinhisownhandsinthesematters.Ah,it'sapitythegoodolddayshavegonewhentheysettledsuchthingswithcoldsteel!"
AndtheColonel,toemphasisehiswords,flunghimselfintotheappropriateattitude,throwinghislefthandupbehindhishead,andlungingfiercelywiththeright.
"Goandlookformypince-nez,mydear,"saidMrs.Clibborn,turningtoMary."Ithinkthey'reinmywork-basketorinyourfather'sstudy."
Marywasgladtoleavetheroom,aboutwhichtheColonelstampedinanever-increasingrage,pausingnowandthentotakeamouthfulofbreadandcheese.TherequestfortheglasseswasMrs.Clibborn'su