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. Perhaps she
walked in the glen. It was colder there than here, but yet the trees
would be budding. He saw her face again, and all its ability to show
subtle terror and subtle joy, and the glancing and the running of the
stream between.
Pages:
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193