iety, that a
lounging attitude was incompatible with the performance of a duty. She
held her hands on her lap, gently clasped; and her tight lips expressed
as plainly as possible her conviction that though the way of
righteousness was hard, she, thank God! had strength to walk it.

"How d'you do, Mrs. Jackson?"

"Good morning," she replied, with a stiff bow.

James, though there was no fire, went over to the mantelpiece and leant
against it, waiting for the lady to speak.

"Captain Parsons, I have a very painful duty to perform."

Those were her words, but it must have been a dense person who failed to
perceive that Mrs. Jackson found her duty anything but painful. There
was just that hard resonance in her voice that an inquisitor might have
in condemning to the stake a Jew to whom he owed much money.

"I suppose you will call me a busybody?"

"Oh, I'm sure you would never interfere with what does not concern you,"
replied James, slowly.

"Certainly not!" said Mrs. Jackson. "I come here because my conscience
tells me to. What I wish to talk to you about concerns us all."

"Shall I call my people? I'm sure they'd be interested."

"I asked to see you alone, Captain Parsons," answered Mrs. Jackson,
frigidly. "And it was for your sake. When one has to tell a person
home-truths, he generally prefers that there should be no audience."

"So you're going to tell me some home-truths, Mrs. Jackson?" said James,
with a laugh. "You must think me very good-natured. How long have I had
the pleasure of your acquaintance?"

Mrs. Jackson's grimness did not relax.

"One learns a good deal about people in a week."

"D'you think so? I have an idea that ten years is a short time to get to
know them. You must be very quick."

"Actions often speak."

"Actions are the most lying things in the world. They are due mostly to
adventitious circumstances which have nothing to do with the character
of the agent. I would never judge a man by his actions."

"I didn't come here to discuss abstract things with you, Captain
Parsons."

"Why not? The abstract is so much more entertaining than the concrete.
It affords opportunities for generalisation, which is the salt of
conversation."

"I'm a very busy woman," retorted Mrs. Jackson sharply, thinking that
James was not treating her with proper seriousness. He was not so easy
to tackle as she had imagined.

"It's very good of you, then, to spare time to come and have a little
chat w