If, through some mischance, there had been wider discovery, she would have written! The Black Hill letter, too, would have had somewhat there to say.
Then, behind the challenge, stood old and new relations between Ian Rullock and Alexander Jardine! It was what Glenfernie might choose to term the betrayal of friendship--a deep scarification of Old Steadfast's pride, a severing cut given to his too imperial confidence, poison dropped into the wells of domination, "No!" said to too much happiness, to any surpassing of him, Ian, in happiness, "No!" to so much reigning! Ian shook himself, thrust away the doubtful glimmer of a smile.

That way really did lie hell....
He came back to a larger if a much perplexed self.

He could not meet Glenfernie on that sea beach, fight him there.

He did not desire to kill Old Steadfast, though, as the world went, pleasure was to be had in now and then giving superiority pain.

Face to face upon those sands, some blood shed and honor satisfied, Alexander would be reasonable--being by nature reasonable! Ian shook himself.
"Now he draws me like a lodestone, and now I feel Lucifer to his Michael! What old, past mountain of friendship and enmity has come around, full wheel ?" But it was impossible for him to go to that sea strand in Holland.
Elspeth! He wondered what she was doing this April day.