James sat with his face in his hands, utterly wretched, beginning already to see the great circle of confusion that he had caused. Mrs. Parsons looked at him and looked at her husband. Presently she went up to James.
'Jamie, will you leave us for a little? Your father and I would like to talk it over alone.'
'Yes, mother.'
James got up, and putting her hands on his shoulders, she kissed him.
When James had gone, Mrs. Parsons looked compassionately at her husband; he glanced up, and catching her eye, tried to smile. But it was a poor attempt, and it finished with a sigh.
'What's to be done, Richmond?'
Colonel Parsons shook his head without answering.
'I ought to have warned you that something might happen. I saw there was a difference in Jamie's feelings, but I fancied it would pass over. I believed it was only strangeness. Mary is so fond of him, I thought he would soon love her as much as ever.'
'But it's not honourable what he's done, Frances,' said the old man at last, his voice trembling with emotion. 'It's not honourable.'
'He can't help it if he doesn't love her.'
'It's his duty to marry her. She's waited five years; she's given him the best of her youth--and he jilts her. He can't, Frances; he must behave like a gentleman.'
The tears fell down Mrs. Parsons' careworn cheeks--the slow, sparse tears of the woman who has endured much sorrow.
'Don't let us judge him, Richmond. We're so ignorant of the world. You and I are old-fashioned.'
'There are no fashions in honesty.'
'Let us send for William. Perhaps he'll be able to advise us.'
William was Major Forsyth, the brother of Mrs. Parsons. He was a bachelor, living in London, and considered by his relatives a typical man of the world.
'He'll be able to talk to the boy better than we can.'
'Very well, let us send for him.'
They were both overcome by the catastrophe, but as yet hardly grasped the full extent of it. All their hopes had been centred on this marriage; all their plans for the future had been in it so intricately woven that they could not realise the total over-throw. They felt as a man might feel who was crippled by a sudden accident, and yet still pictured his life as though he had free use of his limbs.... Mrs. Parsons wrote a telegram, and gave it to the maid. The servant went out of the room, but as she did so, stepped back and announced:
'Miss Clibborn, ma'am.'
'Mary!'
The girl came in, and lifted the veil which she had put on to hide her pallor and her eyes, red and heavy with weeping.
'I thought I'd better come round and see you quietly,' she said. 'I suppose you've heard?'
'Mary, Mary!'
Mrs. Parsons took her in her arms, kissing her tenderly. Mary pretended to laugh, and hastily dried the tears which came to her eyes.
'You've been crying, Mrs. Parsons. You mustn't do that.... Let us sit down and talk sensibly.'
She took the Colonel's hand, and gently pressed it.
'Is it true, Mary?' he asked. 'I can't believe it.'
'Yes, it's quite true. We've decided that we don't wish to marry one another. I want to ask you not to think badly of Jamie. He's very--cut up about it. He's not to blame.'
'We're thinking of you, my dear.'
'Oh, I shall be all right. I can bear it.'
'It's not honourable what he's done, Mary,' said the Colonel.
'Oh, don't say that, please! That is why I came round to you quickly. I want you to think that Jamie did what he considered right. For my sake, don't think ill of him. He can't help it if he doesn't love me. I'm not very attractive; he must have known in India girls far nicer than I. How could I hope to keep him all these years? I was a fool to expect it.'
'I am so sorry, Mary!' cried Mrs. Parsons. 'We've looked forward to your marriage with all our hearts. You know Jamie's been a good son to us; he's never given us any worry. We did want him to marry you. We're so fond of you, and we know how really good you are. We felt that whatever happened after that--if we died--Jamie would be safe and happy.'
'It can't be helped. Things never turn out in this world as one wants them. Don't be too distressed about it, and, above all things, don't let Jamie see that you think he hasn't acted--as he might have done.'
'How can you think of him now, when your heart must be almost breaking?'
'You see, I've thought of him for years,' answered Mary, smiling sadly. 'I can't help it now. Oh, I don't want him to suffer! His worrying can do no good, I should like him to be completely happy.'
Colonel Parsons sighed.
