She knew that this was no empty compliment, that he meant it from the depth of his heart, and was sorry that she could not respond to an affection so deep and so sincere.
"You have been very good to me—more good than I deserve," she said, standing by the fire with lowered eyes, "I must thank you now for a splendid and beautiful present, and I really do not know how to find words in which fittingly to acknowledge it."
"You cannot thank and gratify me better than by wearing what I have given you."
"But when? Surely not on an ordinary evening?"
"No—certainly. The Rector has been up this afternoon and desired to see you, he is hot on a scheme for a public ball to be given at Wadebridge for the restoration of his church, and he has asked that you will be a patroness."
"I—oh—I!—after my father's death?"
"That was in the late spring, and now it is the early winter, besides, now you are a married lady and was not the digging out and restoring of the church your father's strong desire?"
"Yes—but he would never have had a ball for such a purpose."
"The money must be raised somehow. So I promised for you. You could not well refuse—he was impatient to be off to Wadebridge and secure the assembly rooms."
"But—Captain Coppinger——"
"Captain Coppinger?"
Judith colored. "I beg your pardon—I forgot. And now—I do not recollect what I was going to say. It matters nothing. If you wish me to go I will go. If you wish me to wear diamond butterflies I will wear them."
"I thank you." He held out his hands to her.
She drew back slightly and folded her palms as though praying. "I will do much to please you, but do not press me too greatly. I am strange in this house, strange in my new situation; give me time to breathe and look round and recover my confidence. Besides, we are only half-married so far."
"How so?"
"I have not signed the register."
