"Because Aspatria called Lottie Patterson to her; and if Lottie Patterson says she saw anything more or worse than ought to be, I will pretty soon call upon Seth Patterson to make his sister's words good. Cush! I will that! And what is more, Will Anneys, if you do not know how to take care of your sister's good name, I will teach you,--you mouse of a man! You go and side with that Frostham set against Aspatria! Chaff on the Frosthams! It is a bad neighbourhood where a girl like Aspatria cannot say a word or two on the king's highway at broad noonday, without having a _sisserara_ about it." "I did not side with the Frosthams against Aspatria." "I'll be bound you did!" "Let me alone, Brune! Go your ways out of here, both of you!" "To be sure, we will both go. Come, Aspatria. When you are tired of ballooning, William Anneys, and can come down to common justice, maybe then I will talk to you,--not till." Now, good honest anger is one of the sinews of the soul; and he that wants it when there is occasion has but a maimed mind. The hot words, the passionate atmosphere, the rebellion of Aspatria, the decision of Brune, had the same effect upon Will's senseless anger as a thunder-storm has upon the hot, heavy, summer air. Will raged his bad temper away, and was cool and clear-minded after it. At the same hour the same kind of mental thunder-storm was prevailing over all common-sense at Redware Hall. Ulfar, after a long and vain watch for another opportunity to speak to Aspatria, returned there in a temper compounded of anger, jealousy, disappointment, and unsatisfied affection. He heard Lady Redware's story of his own danger and of Brune's consideration with scornful indifference. Brune's consideration he laughed at. He knew very well, he answered, that Brune Anneys hated him, and would take the greatest delight in such a hubbub as he pretended was in project. "But he came to please Aspatria," continued Lady Redware. "He said he came only to please Aspatria." "So Aspatria wishes me to leave Allerdale? I will not go." "Sarah, he will not go," cried Lady Redware, as her friend entered the room. "He says he will not go." "That is because you have appealed to Ulfar's feelings instead of to his judgment. When Ulfar considers how savagely primitive these dalesmen are in their passions, he will understand that discretion is the nobler part of valour. In Russia he thought it a very prudent thing to get out of the way when a pack of wolves were in the neighbourhood." "The law will protect me in this house. Human beings have to mind the law." "There are times when human beings are a law unto themselves. How would you like to see a crowd of angry men shouting around this house for you? Think of your sister,--and of me, if I am worth so much consideration." "I am not to be frightened, Sarah."