e example, and to his teaching, and to his constant,
loving care, that I was able to do the little I did. And I should like
to say that it is to him and to my mother that I owe everything. It is
the thought of his unblemished and exquisite career, of the beautiful
spirit which brightly coloured all his actions, that has supported me in
times of difficulty. And my earnest desire has always been to prove
myself worthy of my father and the name he has handed on to me. You have
cheered me very kindly; now I should like to ask you for three cheers
for my father."

Colonel Parsons looked at his son as he began to speak. When he realised
Jamie's meaning, tears filled his eyes and streamed down his
cheeks--tears of happiness and gratitude. All recollection of the
affront quickly vanished, and he felt an ecstatic joy such as he had
never known before. The idea came to him in his weakness: "Now I can die
happy!" He was too overcome to be ashamed of his emotion, and taking out
his handkerchief, quite unaffectedly wiped his eyes.

The band struck up "Rule, Britannia" and "God Save the Queen"; and in
orderly fashion, as Mr. Dryland had arranged, they all marched off. The
group under the triumphal arch broke up, and the Jacksons and Colonel
and Mrs. Clibborn went their ways.

Mary came into the house. She took Jamie's hands, her eyes wet with
tears.

"Oh, Jamie," she said, "you are good! It was charming of you to speak as
you did of your father. You don't know how happy you've made him."

"I'm very glad you are pleased," he said gravely, and bending forward,
put his arm round her waist and kissed her.

For a moment she leant her head against his shoulder; but with her
emotion was a thing soon vanquished. She wished, above all things, to be
manly, as befitted a soldier's wife. She shook herself, and withdrew
from Jamie's arms.

"But I must be running off, or mamma will be angry with me. Good-bye for
the present."

* * *

James went into the dining-room, where his father, exhausted by the
varied agitations of the day, was seeking composure in the leading
articles of the morning paper. Mrs. Parsons sat on her usual chair,
knitting, and she greeted him with a loving smile. James saw that they
were both pleased with his few awkward words, which still rang in his
own ears as shoddy and sentimental, and he tasted, somewhat ruefully,
the delight of making the kind creatures happy.

"Has Mary gone?" asked Mrs. Parsons.

"Yes. S