ding in her heart, growing slowly, strongly,
sweetly, in that earth which she had made for them out of her love,
her desires, her hopes, and her faithful aspirations.

CHAPTER V.

BUT THEY WERE YOUNG.

Brune arrived at Redware Hall while it was still afternoon, and he
found no difficulty in obtaining an interview with its mistress. She
was sitting at a table in a large bay-window, painting the view from
it. For in those days ladies were not familiar with high art and all
its nomenclature and accessories; Lady Redware had never thought of an
easel, or a blouse, or indeed of any of the trappings now considered
necessary to the making of pictures. She was prettily dressed in silk;
and a square of bristol-board, a box of Newman's water-colours, and a
few camel's-hair pencils were neatly arranged before her.

She rose when Brune entered, and met him with a suave courtesy; and
the unsophisticated young man took it for a genuine pleasure. He felt
sorry to trouble such a nice-looking gentlewoman, and he said so with
a sincerity that made her suddenly serious. "Have you brought me bad
news, Mr. Anneys?" she asked.

"I am afraid you will be put about a bit. Sir Ulfar Fenwick met my
sister this morning; and they were seen by ill-natured eyes, and I
came, quiet-like, to let you know that he must leave the dales
to-night."

"Cannot Sir Ulfar meet his own wife?"

"Lady Redware, that is not the question. Put it, 'Cannot Sir Ulfar
meet your sister?' and I will answer you quick enough, 'Not while
there are two honest men in Allerdale to prevent him.'"

"You cannot frighten Sir Ulfar from Allerdale. To threaten him is to
make him stay."

"Dalesmen are not ones to threaten. I tell you that the vicar's maid
saw Sir Ulfar and my sister together; and when William Anneys hears of
it, Sir Ulfar will get such a notice to leave these parts as will
give him no choice. I came to warn him away before he could not help
himself. I say freely, I did so to please Aspatria, and out of no
good-will going his way."

"But if he will not leave Allerdale?"

"But if William Anneys, and the sixty gentlemen who will ride with
William Anneys, say he must go? What then?"

"Of course Sir Ulfar cannot fight a mob."

"Not one of that mob of gentlemen would fight him; but they all carry
stout riding-whips." And Brune looked at the lady with a sombre
intentness which made further speech unnecessary. She had been alarmed
from the first; she no