And now the laird of Glenfernie was like a form met long ago--long ago! It seemed so long and far away that she could not even think of him as suffering.

As she might leave a fugitive memory, so she turned her mind from him.
Ian thought of Alexander ...

but he looked, by the lightning's lamp, at the woman opposite.
She was not the first that he had desired, but he desired now with unwonted strength.

He did not know why--he did not analyze himself nor the situation--but all the others seemed gathered up in her.

She was fair to him, desirable!...