fearedshewouldfaint.
"Howhemustbesuffering!"shemuttered.
TheyallfeltforJamesintenselytheformofMr.Jackson,hoodedandsurpliced,hadacquiredanewauthority,andhissolemninvectivewassulphurouswiththefiresofHell.TheywonderedhowJamescouldbearit.
"Hehasn'tdeservedthis,"thoughtMrs.Parsons.
ButtheColonelbenthisheadstilllower,acceptingforhissonthereproof,takingpartofithimself.Thehumiliationseemedmerited,andtheonlythingtodowastobearitmeekly.Jamesaloneappearedunconcernedtherapidglancesathimsawnochangeinhiscalm,indifferentface.Hiseyeswereclosed,andonemighthavethoughthimasleep.Mr.Jacksonnotedtheattitude,andattributedittoawickedobstinacy.Fortherepentantsinner,acknowledginghisfault,hewouldhavehadentireforgivenessbutJamesshowednocontrition.Stiff-neckedandsin-hardened,herequiredafurtherchastisement.
"Courage,whatiscourage?"askedthepreacher."Thereisnothingmoreeasythantodoabravedeedwhenthebloodishot.Buttoconductone'slifesimply,modestly,withameekspiritandaChrist-likesubmission,thatistentimesmoredifficultCourage,unaccompaniedbymoralworth,isthequalityofabrute-beast."
Heshowedhowmuchmorecreditableweretheartlessvirtuesofhonestyandtruthfulnesshowbetteritwastokeepone'sword,tobekind-heartedanddutiful.Becomingmorepointed,hementionedthecasewhichhadcausedthemsomuchsorrow,warningthedelinquentagainstconceitandself-assurance.
"Pridegoethbeforeafall,"hesaid."Andhethatismightyshallbeabased."
Theywalkedhomesilently,ColonelParsonsandhiswifewithdowncasteyes,feelingthateveryonewaslookingatthem.Theirheartsweretoofullforthemtospeaktooneanother,andtheydaredsaynothingtoJames.ButMajorForsythhadnoscruplesofdelicacyheattackedhisnephewthemomenttheysatdowntodinner.
"Well,James,whatdidyouthinkofthesermon?Feelabitsore?"
"WhyshouldI?"
"Ifancyitwasaddressedprettydirectlytoyou."
"SoIimagine,"repliedJames,good