and benignant. Her face was luminous with
intellect and feeling, her manner that of a woman high-bred and
familiar with the world. Culture had done all for her that the
lapidary does for the diamond; travel and social advantages had
added to the gem a golden setting. She was so little like the
sorrowful child whom Ulfar had last seen in the vicar's meadow that
Sarah felt instantaneous recognition to be almost impossible.

After some hesitation, Aspatria agreed to accept Sarah's plan and wait
in Richmond the development of events. At first she had been strongly
in favour of a return to Seat-Ambar. "If Ulfar really wants to see
me," she said, "he will be most likely to seek me there."

"But then, Ria, he may think he does not want to see you. Men never
know what they really do want. You have to give them 'leadings.' If
Ulfar can look on you now and have no curiosity about your identity, I
should say the man was not worth a speculation from any point. See if
you have hold sufficient on his memory to pique his curiosity. If you
have, lead him wherever you wish."

"But how? And where?"

"Do I carry a divining-cup, Ria? Can I foresee the probabilities of a
man so impossible as Ulfar Fenwick? I only know that Richmond is a
good place to watch events from."

And of course the Richmond house suited Brune. His love had grown to
the utmost of Sarah's expectations, and he was no longer to be put off
with smiles and pleasant words. Sarah had promised him an answer when
she returned, and he claimed it with a passionate persistence that had
finally something imperative in it. To this mood Sarah succumbed;
though she declared that Brune had chosen the morning of all others
most inconvenient for her. She was just leaving the house. She was
going to London about her jewels. Brune had arrested the coachman by a
peremptory movement, and he looked as if he were quite prepared to
lift Sarah out of the carriage.

So Aspatria went alone. She was glad of the swift movement in the
fresh air, she was glad that she could be quiet and let it blow
passively upon her. The restlessness of watching had made her
feverish. She had the "strait" of a strong mind which longs to meet
her destiny. For her love for her husband had grown steadily with her
efforts to be worthy of that love, and she longed to meet him face to
face and try the power of her personality over him. The trial did not
frighten her; she felt within her the ability to accomplish i