backgammon which invariably filled the interval between supper and
prayers. The rattle of dice came to James indistinctly, as in a dream,
and he imagined fantastically that unseen powers were playing for his
life. He sat with his head between his hands, staring at the flames as
though to find in them a solution to his difficulty; but mockingly they
spoke only of Mrs. Wallace and the caress of her limpid eyes. He turned
away with a gesture of impatience. The game was just finished, and Mrs.
Parsons, catching the expression on his face, asked:

"What are you thinking of, Jamie?"

"I?" he answered, looking up quickly, as though afraid that his secret
had been divined. "Nothing!"

Mrs. Parsons put the backgammon board away, making up her mind to speak,
for she too suffered from a shyness which made the subjects she had
nearest at heart precisely those that she could least bear to talk
about.

"When do you think of getting married, Jamie?"

James started.

"Why, you asked me that yesterday," He tried to make a joke of it. "Upon
my word, you're very anxious to get rid of me."

"I wonder if it's occurred to you that you're making Mary a little
unhappy?"

James stood up and leaned against the mantelpiece, his face upon his
hand.

"I should be sorry to do that, mother."

"You've been home four days, and you've not said a word to show you love
her."

"I'm afraid I'm not very demonstrative."

"That's what I said!" cried the Colonel, triumphantly.

"Can't you try to say a word or two to prove you care for her, Jamie?
She _is_ so fond of you," continued his mother. "I don't want to
interfere with your private concerns, but I think it's only
thoughtlessness on your part; and I'm sure you don't wish to make Mary
miserable. Poor thing, she's so unhappy at home; she yearns for a little
affection.... Won't you say something to her about your marriage?"

"Has she asked you to speak to me?" inquired James.

"No, dear. You know that she would never do anything of the kind. She
would hate to think that I had said anything."

James paused a moment.

"I will speak to her to-morrow, mother."

"That's right!" said the Colonel, cheerfully. "I know she's going to be
in all the morning. Colonel and Mrs. Clibborn are going into Tunbridge
Wells."

"It will be a good opportunity."

IX

In the morning Mrs. Parsons was in the hall, arranging flowers, when
James passed through to get his hat.

"Are you going to see