Max was so agitated, he spoke so angrily, that I hastened to soothe him.  Of course his confidence was sacred; how could he think such things of me?  I was not like Miss—.  But here I pulled myself up.  He might be as blind and foolish as he liked, he might commit suicide and I would not hinder him; he should enjoy his misery in his own way.  And more to that effect.

‘Now I have made you cross, little she-bear,’ he said, laying his hand on mine, ’and you have been so patient and have given my woes such a comfortable hearing.  You frightened me for a moment, for I know how quick and impulsive you can be.  No, no, my dear.  I hold you to your own words:  a third person must not be mixed up in a love affair; it only brings trouble.’

‘You have proved the truth of my words,’ I remarked coolly.  ’Very well, I suppose I must forgive you; only never do it again, on your peril:  you know I am to be trusted.’

‘To be sure; you are as true as steel, Ursula.’

’Very well, then:  in that case you have nothing to fear.  I will be wise and wary for your sake, and guard your honour sacredly as my own; if I can give you a gleam of hope, I will.  Anyhow, I shall watch.’

’Thank you, dear.  And now we will not talk any more about it; now you know why I wanted you to be her friend.  I am glad to think she is so fond of you.’  But I would not let him change the subject just yet.

‘Max,’ I said, detaining him, for he rose to go, ’all this is dreadfully hard for you.  Shall you go away—­if—­if—­this happens?’

‘No,’ he returned quietly; ’it is they who will go away.  Captain Hamilton cannot leave his regiment:  he is far too fond of an active life.  It will be dreary enough, God knows, but it will not be harder than the life I have led these twelve months, trying to win her back to her work and to put myself in the background.  It has worn me out, Ursula.  I could not stand that sort of thing much longer.  It is a relief to me that she is away.’

‘Yes, I can understand this.’

’It makes one think, after all, that the extreme party have something in their argument in favour of the celibacy of the clergy.  Not that I hold with them, for all that; but all this sort of thing takes the heart out of a man, and comes between him and his work.  I should be a better priest if I were a happier man, Ursula.’

‘I doubt that, Max.’  And the tears rose to my eyes, for I knew how good he was, and what a friend to his people.

’My dear, I differ from you.  I believe there is no work like happy work,—­work done by a heart at leisure from itself; but of course we clergy and laity must take what heaven sends us.’  And then he held out his hands to me, and I suppose he saw how unhappy I was for his sake.

‘Don’t fret about me, my dear little Ursula,’ he said kindly.  ’The back gets fitted for the burden, and by this time I have grown accustomed to my pain; it will all be right some day:  I shall not be blamed up there for loving her.’  And he left me with a smile.