I told him so very gently, but Giles was not quite like himself that day.  Lady Betty’s secrecy was still rankling in his mind, and he certainly used his power over me to make me very unhappy, for he accused me of coldness and over-prudence, and reproached me with my want of confidence in his judgment.  My pride took fire at last, and rose in arms against his tyranny.  ‘You must listen to me, Giles,’ I returned, trying to keep down a choking feeling.  ’You are not quite just to me to-day, but you do not mean what you say.  You will be sorry afterwards for your words.  If I do not accede to your wishes, it is not because I do not love you well enough to marry you to-morrow, if it were expedient to do so; but under the circumstances it will be wiser to wait.  I will marry you at Easter, If Uncle Max comes back by that time, for neither you nor I would like any one else to perform the ceremony.  Will you not be content with this?’

‘No,’ he returned gloomily.  ’You are keeping me waiting for a mere scruple:  neither Gladys nor Lady Betty would say a dissenting word if I brought you to Gladwyn at once.  You are disappointing me very much, Ursula.  I could not have believed that my wishes were so little to you.’  But he was not able to finish this cutting speech, for I could bear no more, and suddenly burst into such an agony of tears that Giles was quite frightened.

I found out then the goodness of his heart and his deep unselfish affection for me.  He reproached himself bitterly for causing me such pain, begged my pardon a dozen times for his ill temper, and so coaxed and petted me that I could not refuse to be comforted.

He laughed and kissed me when I implored him to take back his words about my coldness.

‘My darling!—­as though I meant it!’ he said; but he had the grace to look very much ashamed of himself.  ’Of course you were right,—­you always are, Ursula:  we will wait until Easter if you think it best.  Miss Prudence shall have her own way in the matter; but I will not wait a day longer for all the Uncle Maxes in the world.’  And so we settled it.

I remember how I tried to make up to Giles for his disappointment, and to show him how much I cared for him.  We were dining at the vicarage that evening with Gladys and Eric, and as he walked home with me in the moonlight he took me to task very gently for being too good to him.

’You have been like a little angel this evening, Ursula, and I have not deserved it.  I believe I love you far more for not giving me my own way.  It was pure selfishness:  I see it now.’

‘I hope it is the last time that your will will not be mine,’ I answered, rather sadly.  ‘If you knew what it cost me to refuse you, Giles!’ But one of his rare smiles answered me.