"No," said Dick, taking it from her. "You promised you would give it up when you came down here."
"So I have," she said. "I think you are very cruel."
Dick put the case back into his pocket. "Of course I'm not unprepared for this," he said, "though I hoped it wouldn't come to it. I shall have to give up the service and get some work."
"Oh, Dick!" she said. "You don't want to give up the service."
"No, I don't want to. I should have got my majority next year, and I wanted to go on till I commanded the regiment, though I never told him so. But it's got to be done, and it's no use grizzling about it."
"And you're doing this for me!" she said softly.
"I am doing a great deal more than that for you," he said. "I'm giving up Kencote, at least for a time."
"Do you think I'm worth it?" she asked drily.
He looked down at her, and then took her hand in his. "You must get used to my little ways," he said, with a kind smile. "I must be able to say to you what is in my mind."
"Oh, I know," she said repentantly. "It was horrid of me. But I do know what you're giving up, and I love you for it. I hope it won't be for long—Kencote, I mean. I suppose if you give up the army you won't be able to go back to it. I hate to think of that because it's your career. And what else can you work at, dear Dick? Fancy you in an office!"