causeofitthatIhavenoprejudices,andknowhowtoenjoymylife."
Jamessmiled,anddidnotanswer.
"Youdon'tbelieveme?"sheasked.
"No!"
"Well,perhapsIshouldliketobequiteEnglish.IshouldfeelmorecomfortableinmyscornoftheseregimentalladiesifIthoughttheycouldfindnoreasontolookdownonme."
"Idon'tthinktheylookdownonyou."
"Oh,don'tthey?Theydespiseandloatheme."
"Whenyouwereill,theydidalltheycouldforyou."
"Foolishcreature!Don'tyouknowthattodogoodtoyourenemyistheverybestwayofshowingyourcontempt."
AndsoJamescouldgoon,questioning,replying,puttinglittlejestsintohermouth,orhalf-cynicalrepartees.Sometimeshespokealoud,andthenMrs.Wallace'svoicesoundedinhisears,clearandrichandpassionate,asthoughshewerereallystandinginthefleshbesidehim.Butalwayshefinishedbytakingherinhisarmsandkissingherlipsandherclosedeyes,thelidstransparentlikethefinestalabaster.Heknewnopleasuregreaterthantoplacehishandsonthatlustroushair.Whatcoulditmatternow?HewasnotboundtoMaryhecoulddonoharmtoMrs.Wallace,tenthousandmilesaway.
ButColonelParsonsbrokeintothecharmingdream.Bentandweary,hecameacrossthelawntofindhisson.Thewan,patheticfigurebroughtbacktoJamesallthepresentbitterness.Hesighed,andadvancedtomeethim.
"You'reveryrecklesstocomeoutwithoutahat,father.I'llfetchyouone,shallI?"
"No,I'mnotgoingtostay."TheColonelcouldsummonupnoansweringsmiletohisboy'skindwords."IonlycametotellyouthatMrs.Jacksonisinthedrawing-room,andwouldliketoseeyou."
"Whatdoesshewant?"
"She'llexplainherself.Shehasaskedtoseeyoualone."
Jamie'sfacedarkened,assomenotionofMrs.Jackson'sobjectdawneduponhim.
"Idon'tknowwhatshecanhavetotalktomeaboutalone."
"Pleaselistentoher,Jamie.She'saverycleverwoman,andyoucan'tfailtobenefitbyheradvice."
TheColonelneverhadanunfriendlywordtosayofanyone,andevenforMrs.Jackson'sunwarrantableinterferencescouldalwaysfindagood-naturedjustification.Hewasoneofthosedepreca