his intention to
bid her farewell as soon as she was his wife, and he was not devoid of
imagination. His mind had constantly pictured scenes of humiliation
which he had condemned the woman he had once so tenderly loved to
endure.

And that passing glimpse of her under the whin-bushes had revived
something of his old passion. He answered his sister's and Sarah's
remarks pettishly, because he wanted to be left alone with the new
hope that had come to him. Why not take Aspatria to America? She was
his wife. He had been compelled, by his sense of justice and honour,
to make her Lady Fenwick; why should he deny himself her company,
merely to keep a passionate, impulsive threat?

To the heart the past is eternal, and love survives the pang of
separation. He thought of Aspatria for the next twenty-four hours. To
see her! to speak to her! to hear her voice! to clasp her to his
heart! Why should he deny himself these delights? What pleasure could
pride and temper give him in exchange? Fenwick had always loved to
overcome an obstacle, and such people cannot do without obstacles;
they are a necessary aliment. To see and to speak with Aspatria was
now the one thing in life worthy of his attention.

It was not an easy thing to accomplish. Every day for nearly a week he
rode furiously to Calder Wood, tied his horse there, and then hung
about the brow of Calder Cliff, for it commanded Seat-Ambar, which lay
below it as the street lies below a high tower. With his glass he
could see Will and Brune passing from the house to the barns or the
fields, and once he saw Aspatria go to meet her brother Will; he saw
her lift her face to Will's face, he saw Will put her arm through his
arm and so go with her to the house. How he hated Will Anneys! What a
triumph it would be to carry off his sister unknown to him and without
his say-so!

One morning he determined if he found no opportunity to see Aspatria
that day alone he would risk all, and go boldly to the house. Why
should he not do so? He had scarcely made the decision when he saw
Will and Brune drive away together. He remembered it was Dalton
market-day; and he knew that they had gone there. Almost immediately
Aspatria left the house also. Then he was jealous. Where was she going
as soon as her brothers left her? She was going to the vicar's to
return a book and carry him a cream cheese of her own making.

He knew then how to meet her. She would pass through a meadow on her
way home,