MajorForsytharrivedintimefortea,red-faced,dapper,andimmaculate.Heworeachecksuit,verynewandverypronounced,withabeautifullinedowneachtrouser-legandhiscollarandhistiewereofthelatestmode.Hisscantyhairwascarefullypartedinthemiddle,andhismoustachebristledwithamartialardour.Hehadlatelyboughtafinesetofartificialteeth,which,withpardonablepride,heconstantlyexhibitedtotheadmirationofallandsundry.MajorForsyth'sconsumingdesirewastoappearjuvenileheaffectedslang,andcarriedhimselfwithayouthfuljauntiness.Hevowedhefeltamereboy,andflatteredhimselfthatonhisgooddays,withthelightbehindhim,hemightpassforfive-and-thirty.
"Awoman,"herepeated—"awomanisasoldasshelooksbutamanisasoldashefeels!"
Thedandinesswhichinacrammer'spup—mostoverdressedofallthehumanrace—wouldmerelyhavearousedasmile,lookedoddlywiththeMajor'swrinkledskinandhisoldeyes.Therewassomethingalmostuncannyintheexaggeratedboyishnessheremindedoneofsomefigureinadanceofdeath,ofalivingskeleton,hollow-eyed,struttinggailybythesideofagallantyouth.
ItwasnotdifficulttoimposeupontheParsons,andMajorForsythhadgainedoverthemacompleteascendancy.Theytookhisopiniononeverypossiblematter,acceptingwhateverhesaidwithgratifiedrespect.Hewasamanoftheworld,andwellacquaintedwiththegoings-onofsociety.TheyhadanideathathedisappointedduchessestocomedowntoLittlePrimpton,andalwaysfeltthatitwasacondescensiononhisparttoputupwiththeirsimplemanners.Theyalteredtheirhoursluncheonwasservedatthemiddleoftheday,anddinnerintheevening.
Mrs.ParsonsputonaSabbathgarmentofblacksilktoreceiveherbrother,androundherneckalacefichu.WhenhearrivedwithColonelParsonsfromthestation,shewentintothehalltomeethim.
"Well,William,haveyouhadapleasantjourney?"
"Oh,yes,yes!IcamedownwiththeprettiestwomanI'veseenformanyalongday.Imadeeyesatheralltheway,butshewouldn'tlookatme."
"William,William!"expostulatedMr.Parsons,smiling.
"Youseehehasn'timprovedsincewesawhimlast,Frances,"laughedtheColonel,leadingthewayintothedrawing-room.
"Noharminlookin