“Look here, sir,” said Kenneth excitedly, “I’ve got a great piece of news! I’m engaged! Engaged! Engaged to be married!”

Another, more violent, sneeze shook the general.

“Engaged be damned!” he choked.

“No—no, not at all! You don’t understand, sir! She’s the most extraordinary girl you’ve ever seen in your life! Absolutely wonderful! When she laughs, her nose is all squiggly. Oh, she’s top-hole! And she’s got the sort of eyes—”

The general raised himself on one elbow.

“Who is this girl?” he snarled.

Kenneth stared at him in surprise.

“Why, didn’t I tell you?”

“No, you did not, sir!”

“It’s Ursula Fenton. You know.”

“I tell you I do not know! Never seen the girl in my life!”

“Haven’t you? I say, this won’t do!” Kenneth sprang up. “I must buzz off and fetch her along. You’ll—”

“Stop!” The general sat up, shivering. “What the devil d’you mean by it, sir? I won’t have her here! I won’t see any girl in bed! Damn it, I say I will not!”

Kenneth came slowly back to the bedside.

“Can’t you get up?” he asked disappointedly.

“No, I can’t! You don’t seem to understand that I’m very unwell! How dare you come bursting into my room like this?”

Kenneth pushed him gently back on to his pillow and tucked him up.

“I’m awfully sorry, sir. Clean forgot you’d a cold. I’ll have to bring Ursula along later.”

The general eyed him malevolently.

“I don’t want to see her! You’re mad—mad!”

That set Kenneth off once more. For ten minutes the general was incapable of stemming the tide of his eloquence. When Kenneth at last paused, he shot forth a number of questions. He discovered that Ursula was a modern girl who worked for her own living. The general was old-fashioned; one of his pet aversions was the self-supporting girl. When he further discovered that Ursula was an artist his rage knew no bounds.

Kenneth must clearly understand that this miserable affair must end at once. If he married this bohemian he would be cut off with a shilling, he should never enter his father’s house again, he— At this point, the general’s old servant who had entered the room, led Kenneth forth, sternly and silently.

Kenneth knew that his father’s bark was a good deal worse than his bite. He fully expected the general to cool down in a few days’ time. But for once the general was adamant. The mere mention of Ursula’s name drove him into a fury. Kenneth waited a month, and still there were no signs of relenting. So Kenneth went to consult Ursula. It was not the first consultation by any means.

“It’s no good,” Kenneth said. “He simply won’t give in. Won’t even see you. We shall have to get married and trust to luck. He’d never disinherit me.”

“I’m not going to do that.” A frown creased Ursula’s pretty brow. “It isn’t fair. After all, you’re all he’s got.”

“Well, he shouldn’t be so pig-headed,” said Kenneth. “If only he’d consent to see you he couldn’t object.”