hall be held there. You shall count
Will and Brune Anneys as your brothers. You shall take me away, in the
sight of all, to your home. Of all the honour a wife ought to have you
must give me here, among my own people, a double portion. Will you do
this in atonement?"

"You are talking folly, Aspatria. I have married you once."

"You have not married me once. You met me at Aspatria Church to shame
me, to break my heart with love and sorrow, to humble my good
brothers. No, I am not your wife! I will not go with you!"

"I can make you go, Aspatria. You seem to forget the law--"

"Will says the law will protect me. But if it did not, if you took me
by force to your house or yacht, you would not have me. You could not
touch me. Aspatria Anneys is beyond your reach."

"You are Aspatria Fenwick."

"I have never taken your name. Will told me not to do so. Anneys is a
good name. No Anneys ever wronged me."

"You refused my home, you refused my money, and now you refuse my
name. You are treating me as badly as possible. The day before our
marriage I sent to your brother a signed settlement for your support,
the use of Fenwick Castle as a residence, and two thousand pounds a
year. Your brother Will, the day after our marriage, took it to my
agent and tore it to pieces in his presence."

"Will did right. He knew his sister would not have your home and money
without your love."

She spoke calmly, with a dignity that became well her youth and
beauty. Ulfar thought her exceedingly lovely. He attempted to woo her
again with the tender glances and soft tones and caressing touch of
their early acquaintance. Aspatria sorrowfully withdrew herself; she
held only repelling palms toward his bending face. She was not coy, he
could have overcome coyness; she was cold, and calm, and watchful of
him and of herself. Her face and throat paled and blushed, and blushed
and paled; her eyes were dilated with feeling; her pretty bow-shaped
mouth trembled; she radiated a personality sweet, strong, womanly,--a
piquant, woodland, pastoral delicacy, all her own.

But after many useless efforts to influence her, he began to despair.
He perceived that she still loved him, perhaps better than she had
ever done, but that her determination to consider their marriage void
had its source in a oneness of mind having no second thoughts and no
doubt behind it. The only hope she gave him was in another marriage
ceremony which in its splendour and publicity