sualwayofgettingridofMary,atypicalsubterfugeofawomanwhonever,exceptbychance,putanythingstraightforwardly....Whenthedoorwasclosed,thebuxomladyclaspedherhands,andcried:
"Reginald!Reginald!Ihaveaconfessiontomake."
"What'sthematterwithyou?"saidtheColonel,stoppingshort.
"Iamtoblameforthis,Reginald."Mrs.Clibbornthrewherheadononeside,andlookedattheceilingastheonlysubstituteforheaven."JamesParsonshasjiltedMary—onmyaccount."
"Whatthedevilhaveyoubeendoingnow?"
"Oh,forgiveme,Reginald!"shecried,slidingoffthechairandfallingheavilyonherknees."It'snotmyfault:helovesme."
"Fiddlesticks!"saidherhusbandangrily,walkingonagain.
"Itisn't,Reginald.Howunjustyouaretome!"
ThefaciletearsbegantoflowdownMrs.Clibborn'swell-powderedcheeks.
"Iknowhelovesme.Youcan'tdeceiveawomanandamother."
"You'redoublehisage!"
"TheseboysalwaysfallinlovewithwomenolderthanthemselvesI'venoticeditsooften.Andhe'salmosttoldmeinsomanywords,thoughI'msureI'vegivenhimnoencouragement."
"Fiddlesticks,Clara!"
"Youwouldn'tbelievemewhenItoldyouthatpoorAlgyTurnerlovedme,andhekilledhimself."
"Nothingofthekindhediedofcholera."
"Reginald,"retortedMrs.Clibborn,withasperity,"hisdeathwasmostmysterious.Noneofthedoctorsunderstoodit.Ifhedidn'tpoisonhimself,hediedofabrokenheart.AndIthinkyou'reveryunkindtome."
Withsomedifficulty,beingaheavywoman,sheliftedherselffromthefloorandbythetimeshewassafelyonherfeet,Mrs.Clibbornwasblowingandpuffinglikeagrampus.
TheColonel,whosemindhadwanderedtootherthings,suddenlybethoughthimselfthathehadadutytoperform.
"Where'smyhorsewhip,Clara?Icommandyoutogiveitme."
"Reginald,ifyouhavethesmallestremnantofaffectionforme,youwillnothurtthisunfortunateyoungman.RememberthatAlgyTurnerkilledhimself.Youcan'tblamehimfornotwantingtomarrypoorMary.Mydear,shehasabsolutelynofigure.Andmenaresosusceptibletothosethings."
TheColonelstalkedoutoftheroom,andMrs.Clibbornsatdowntomeditate.
"Ithoughtmydayforsuchthingswaspast,