der to the
procreation of children; teach us not to dishonour our bodies, for they
are beautiful and pure, and all thy works are sweet. Teach us, again, in
thy merciful goodness, that man is made for woman, his body for her
body, and that the flesh cannot sin.

Teach us also not to rant too much, even in thy service; and though we
do set up for prophets and the like, let us not forget occasionally to
laugh at our very august selves.

* * *

Then, harking back, Jamie's thoughts returned to the dinner of the
previous evening at the Clibborns. He was the only guest, and when he
arrived, found Mary and the Colonel by themselves in the drawing-room.
It was an old habit of Mrs. Clibborn's not to appear till after her
visitors, thinking that so she created a greater effect. The Colonel
wore a very high collar, which made his head look like some queer flower
on a long white stalk; hair and eyebrows were freshly dyed, and
glistened like the oiled locks of a young Jewess. He was the perfect
dandy, even to his bejewelled fingers and his scented handkerchief. His
manner was a happy mixture of cordiality and condescension, by the side
of which Mary's unaffected simplicity contrasted oddly. She seemed less
at home in an evening dress than in the walking costume she vastly
preferred; her free, rather masculine movements were ungainly in the
silk frock, badly made and countrified, while lace and ribbons suited
her most awkwardly. She was out of place, too, in that room, decorated
with all the abominations of pseudo-fashion, with draperies and
tissue-paper, uncomfortable little chairs and rickety tables. In every
available place stood photographs of Mrs. Clibborn--Mrs. Clibborn
sitting, standing, lying; Mrs. Clibborn full face, three-quarter face,
side face; Mrs. Clibborn in this costume or in that costume--grave, gay,
thoughtful, or smiling; Mrs. Clibborn showing her beautiful teeth, her
rounded arms, her vast shoulders; Mrs. Clibborn dressed to the nines,
and Mrs. Clibborn as undressed as she dared.

Finally, the beauty swept in with a great rustle of silk, displaying to
the full her very opulent charms. Her hair was lightly powdered, and
honestly she looked remarkably handsome.

"Don't say I've kept you waiting," she murmured. "I could never forgive
myself."

James made some polite reply, and they went down to dinner. The
conversation was kept at the high level which one naturally expects from
persons fashionable enough to di