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XIII

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    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
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