tell
you,--generations of them, centuries of generations. They will see
that you do the right thing, or they will dog your steps till you have
paid the uttermost farthing of the wrong. Mind what you do, then!"

"The dead frighten me no more than the living do."

"You will find out, maybe, what the vengeance of the dead is. I would
be willing to leave you to it, if you shab off, and I am not sure but
you will."

"William Anneys, you are sure I will not. You are saying such things
to provoke me to a fight."

"What reason have I to be sure? All the vows you made to Aspatria you
have counted as a fool's babble."

"I give you my word of honour. Between gentlemen that is enough."

"To be sure, to be sure! Gentlemen can make it enough. But a poor
little lass, what can she do but pine herself into a grave?"

"I will listen to you no longer, Squire Anneys. If your sister's good
name is at stake, it is my first duty to shield it with my own name.
If that does not satisfy your sense of honour, I will give you and
your brother whatever satisfaction you desire. On the fifteenth of
this month, at eleven o'clock, I will meet you at Aspatria Church.
Where shall I find the place?"

"It is not far from Gosforth and Dalton, on the coast. You cannot miss
it, unless you never look for it."

"Sir!"

"Unless you never look for it. I do not feel to trust you. But this is
a promise made to a man, made to William Anneys; and he will see that
you keep it, or else that you pay for the breaking of it."

"Good-morning, Squire. There is no necessity to prolong such an
unpleasant visit."

"Nay, I will not 'good-morning' with you. I have not a good wish of
any kind for you."

With these defiant words he left the castle, and Fenwick threw off his
pilot-coat and sat down to consider. First thoughts generally come
from the selfish, and therefore the worst, side of any nature; and
Fenwick's first thoughts were that his yacht was ready to sail, and
that he could go away, and stay away until Aspatria married, or some
other favourable change took place. He cared little for England. With
good management he could bring home and bury his father's dust without
the knowledge of William Anneys. Then there was the west! America was
before him, north and south. He had always promised himself to see
the whole western continent ere he settled for life in England.

Such thoughts were naturally foremost, but he did not encourage them.
He felt no linger