rld's gear and
position! To be Barrow is as good as to be Jardine. Elspeth is
Elspeth."

"Oh, I know why I made exclamation! Just the old, dull earthy
surprise! Wait for me a moment, Alexander." She put her hands before
her eyes, then, dropping them, sat with her gaze upon the great tree
shot through with light from the clearing sky. "I see her now. At
first I could not disentangle her and Gilian, for they were always
together. I have not seen them often--just three or four times to
remember, perhaps. But in April I chanced for some reason to go to
White Farm.... I see her now! Yes, she has beauty, though it would not
strike many with the edge of the sword.... Yes, I see--about the mouth
and the eyes and the set of the head. It's subtle--it's like some
pictures I remember in Italy. And intelligence is there. Enchantment
... the more real, perhaps, for not being the most obvious.... So you
are enchained, witched, held by the great sorceress!... Elspeth is
only one of her little names--her great name is just love--love
between man and woman.... Oh yes, the whole of the sweetness is
distilled into one honey-drop--the whole giant thing is shortened into
one image--the whole heaven and earth slip silkenly into one banner,
and you would die for it! You see, my dear," said Mrs. Alison, who had
never married, "I loved one who died. I know."

Glenfernie took her hand and kissed it. "Nothing is loss to
you--nothing! For me, I am more darkly made. So I hope to God I'll
not lose Elspeth!"

Her tears, that were hardly of grief, dropped upon his bent head. "Eh,
my laddie! the old love is there in the midst of the wide love. But
the larger controls.... Well, enough of that! And do you mean that you
have asked Elspeth to marry you--and that she does not know her own
heart?"

They talked, sitting before the fragrant garden, in the little room
that was tranquil, blissful, and recluse. At last he rose.

"I must go."

They went out through the garden to the wicket that parted her demesne
from the formal, wide pleasure-sweeps. He stopped for a moment under
the great tree.

"In a fortnight or so I must go to Edinburgh to see Renwick about that
land. And it is in my mind to travel from there to London for a few
weeks. There are two or three persons whom I know who could put a
stout shoulder to the wheel of Jamie's prospects. Word of mouth is
better with them than would be letters. Jamie is at Windsor. I could
take him with me here