But she was not like the mesa, to be mastered by sheer will and incessant labour.

Character is intangible, and he found himself balked.

One cannot lay hands on the desires in a heart and pluck them out, or on the spirit and twist it straight.
His bitterness became acute when some time later Charlie Menocal came driving with Ruth along the rutted trail by the canal to where he stood inspecting a new drop.
"You wait, Charlie; I'll not be long," she said, as she alighted.
"Come with me out of earshot, will you, Lee ?" They moved to a spot that satisfied her.
"I heard you were doing this and I asked Charlie to bring me here," she began.

"I wanted to see for myself.

And it's true.