'I only know one thing, Ursula, that for three years--ay, and longer than that--she has been the one woman in the world to me, and that as long as she and I live no other woman shall ever cross the threshold of the vicarage as its mistress.' 'Has it gone so deep as that, my poor Max ?' 'Yes,' he returned briefly.

'But we need not enter into that part of the subject; a man had best keep his own counsel in such matters.

I want to tell you bare facts, Ursula; we may as well leave feelings alone.

If you can help me to understand one or two points that are still misty to my comprehension, you will do me good service.' 'I will try my very best for you both.' 'Thank you, but we cannot both be helped in the same way; our paths do not lie together.

Miss Hamilton has refused to become my wife.' 'Oh, Max! not refused, surely.' This was another blow,--that he should have tried and failed,--that Gladys with her own lips should have refused him; but perhaps he had written to her, and there was some misunderstanding; but when I hinted this to Max he shook his head.
'We cannot misunderstand a person's words.