e could have torn out his tongue, he would have
given anything that the words should remain unspoken. His father, in
pity and in humanity, had committed just such a fatal mistake, and
trying tender-heartedly to save life had brought about death and
disaster. He would take the thoughtless words as a deliberate
condemnation; the wound, barely closed, was torn open by his very son,
and he must feel again the humiliation which had nearly killed him.

Colonel Parsons sat motionless, as though he were stunned, his eyes
fixed on James with horror and pain; he looked like some hunted animal,
terror-stricken, and yet surprised, wondering that man should be so
cruel.

"What can I do?" thought James. "How can I make it good for him?"

The conversation was carried on by the Clibborns and by the Vicar, all
happily unconscious that a tragedy was acting under their noses. James
looked at his father. He wanted to show how bitterly he regretted the
pain he had caused, but knew not what to say; he wanted to give a sign
of his eager love, and tortured himself, knowing the impossibility of
showing in any way his devotion.

Fortunately, the maid came in to announce that the school children were
without, to welcome Captain Parsons; and they all rose from the table.

V

Colonel Parsons and his wife had wished no function to celebrate the
home-coming of James; but gave in to the persuasions of Mary and of Mr.
Dryland, the curate, who said that a public ceremony would be
undoubtedly a stimulus to the moral welfare of Little Primpton. No man
could escape from his obligations, and Captain Parsons owed it to his
fellow-countrymen of Little Primpton to let them show their appreciation
of his great deed.

The Vicar went so far as to assert that a hearty greeting to the hero
would be as salutory to the parishioners as a sermon of his own, while
it would awaken James, a young man and possibly thoughtless, to a proper
sense of his responsibilities. But the sudden arrival of James had
disturbed the arrangements, and Mr. Dryland, in some perplexity, went to
see Mary.

"What are we to do, Miss Clibborn? The school children will be so
disappointed."

The original plan had been to meet the hero as he drove towards
Primpton House from the station, and the curate was unwilling to give it
up.

"D'you think Captain Parsons would go into Tunbridge Wells and drive in
at two o'clock, as if he were just arriving?"

"I'm afraid he wouldn't," r