o."

"I'll go and speak to her myself. I think she ought to accept you.
You've behaved like a knight-errant, Mr. Dryland. You're a true
Christian saint."

"Oh, Mrs. Jackson, you embarrass me!"

The news spread like wild-fire, and with it the opinion that the curate
had vastly distinguished himself. Neither pagan hero nor Christian
martyr could have acted more becomingly. The consideration which had
once been Jamie's was bodily transferred to Mr. Dryland. He was the man
of the hour, and the contemplation of his gallant deed made everyone
feel nobler, purer. The curate accepted with quiet satisfaction the
homage that was laid at his feet, modestly denying that he had done
anything out of the way. With James, all unconscious of what had
happened, he was mildly patronising; with Mary, tender, respectful,
subdued. If he had been an archbishop, he could not have behaved with
greater delicacy, manliness, and decorum.

"I don't care what anyone says," cried Mrs. Jackson, "I think he's worth
ten Captain Parsons! He's so modest and gentlemanly. Why, Captain
Parsons simply used to look bored when one told him he was brave."

"He's a conceited creature!"

But in Primpton House the proposal was met with consternation.

"Suppose she accepted him?" said Colonel Parsons, anxiously.

"She'd never do that."

Major Forsyth suggested that James should be told, in the belief that
his jealousy would be excited.

"I'll tell him," said Mrs. Parsons.

She waited till she was alone with her son, and then, without stopping
her needlework, said suddenly:

"James, have you heard that Mr. Dryland has proposed to Mary?"

He looked up nonchalantly. "Has she accepted him?"

"James!" cried his mother, indignantly, "how can you ask such a
question? Have you no respect for her? You must know that for nothing in
the world would she be faithless to you."

"I should like her to marry the curate. I think it would be a very
suitable match."

"You need not insult her, James."

XVI

The tension between James and his parents became not less, but greater.
That barrier which, almost from the beginning, they had watched with
pain rise up between them now seemed indestructible, and all their
efforts only made it more obvious and more stable. It was like some
tropical plant which, for being cut down, grew ever with greater
luxuriance. And there was a mischievous devil present at all their
conversations that made them misunderstand one a