Fifteen VISIT TO MAJOR BURNABY

Leading the way up the path to the Major’s front door, Mr. Enderbyrapped upon it in a cheery fashion. The door was flung open almost imme-diately and Major Burnaby, red in the face, appeared on the threshold.
“It’s you, is it?” he observed with no very great fervour in his voice, andwas about to go on in the same strain when he caught sight of Emily andhis expression altered.
“This is Miss Trefusis” said Charles with the air of one producing the aceof trumps¹. “She was very anxious to see you.”
“May I come in?” said Emily with her sweetest smile.
“Oh! yes. Certainly. Of course—Oh, yes, of course.”
Stumbling in his speech the Major backed into the living room of his cot-tage and began pulling forward chairs and pushing aside tables.
Emily, as was her fashion, came straight to the point.
“You see, Major Burnaby, I am engaged to Jim—Jim Pearson, you know.
And naturally I am terribly anxious about him.”
In the act of pushing a table the Major paused with his mouth open.
“Oh dear,” he said, “that’s a bad business. My dear young lady, I ammore sorry about it than I can say.”
“Major Burnaby, tell me honestly. Do you yourself believe he is guilty?
Oh, you needn’t mind saying if you do. I would a hundred times ratherpeople didn’t lie to me.”
“No, I do not think him guilty,” said the Major in a loud assertive² voice.
He hit a cushion once or twice vigorously, and then sat down facing Emily.
“The chap is a nice young chap. Mind you, he might be a bit weak. Don’tbe offended if I say that he’s the kind of young fellow that might easily gowrong if temptation came in his way. But murder—no. And mind you, Iknow what I am talking about—a lot of subalterns have passed throughmy hands in my time. It’s the fashion to poke³ fun at retired⁴ army officersnowadays, but we know a thing or two all the same, Miss Trefusis.”
“I’m sure you do,” said Emily. “I’m awfully⁵ grateful to you for sayingwhat you’ve done.”

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