himselfamanoftheworld,hehadnottheleastnotionwhocould.Butforallthat,hehadthestrictestprincipleshewastruebrothertoMrs.Parsons,andthoughheconcealedthefactlikesomethingdisreputable,regularlywenttochurchonSundaymornings.Therewasalsoacertainstraitnessinhisincomewhichconfinedhimtothepathssharedbytheneedyandthepureatheart.
MajorForsythhadfoundnodifficultyinimposinguponhissisterandherhusband.
"Ofcourse,Williamisratherrackety,"theysaid."It'sapityhehasn'tawifetosteadyhimbuthehasagoodheart."
ForthemMajorForsythhadthedoubleadvantageofawilinessgainedintheturmoiloftheworldandanuprightcharacter.Theyscarcelyknewhowinthepresentjuncturehecouldhelp,buthadnodoubtthatfromtheboundlessstoreofhisworldlywisdomhewouldinventasolutiontotheirdifficulty.
Jameshadfoundhisuncleoutwhenhewasquiteaboy,andseeinghisabsurdity,hadtreatedhimeversincewithgood-naturedridicule.
"Iwonderwhattheythinkhecansay?"heaskedhimself.
Jameswasprofoundlygrievedattheunhappinesswhichbowedhisfatherdown.Hisparentshadlookedforwardwithsuchecstaticpleasuretohisarrival,andwhatsorrowhadhenotbroughtthem!
"IwishI'dnevercomeback,"hemuttered.
Hethoughtoftheflowing,undulatingplainsoftheOrangeCountry,andthebluesky,withitssenseofinfinitefreedom.InthattrimKentishlandscapehefelthemmedinwhenthecloudswerelowitseemedscarcelypossibletobreatheandhesufferedfromtheconstraintofhisfatherandmother,whotreatedhimformally,asthoughhehadbecomeastranger.Therewasalwaysbetweenthemandhimthatpainfultopicwhichforthetimewascarefullyshunned.TheydidnotmentionMary'sname,andthecaretheytooktoavoiditwasmorepainfulthanwouldhavebeenanopenreference.Theysatsilentandsad,tryingtoappearnatural,anddismallyfailingtheirembarrassedmannerwassuchastheymighthaveadoptedhadhecommittedsomecrime,thementionofwhichforhissakemustneverbemade,butwhoserecollectionperpetuallyhauntedthem.IneveryactionwasthebeliefthatJamesmustbesufferingfromremo