第3章

Ashortstone"s—throwfromwheretheyhadhaltedstoodacottagebackfromtheroadinalittleplotofground,thepropertyofakindlyoldwomanknowntoboth。ThereDianaexpressedthewishtorestawhile,andthithertheytooktheirway,Ruthleadingbothhorsesandsupportingherfalteringcousin。Thedamewasallsolicitude。Dianawasledintoherparlour,andwhatcouldbedonewasdone。Hercorsagewasloosened,waterdrawnfromthewellandbroughthertodrinkandbatheherbrow。

Shesatbacklanguidly,herheadlollingsidewaysagainstoneofthewingsofthegreatchair,andlanguidlyassuredthemshewouldbebettersoonifshewerebutallowedtorestawhile。Ruthdrewupastooltositbesideher,forallthathersoulfrettedatthisdelay。WhatifinconsequencesheshouldreachZoylandChasetoolate—tofindthaMr。Wildinghadgoneforthalready？Butevenasshewasabouttosit,itseemedthatthesamethoughthadofasuddencometoDiana。Thegirlleanedforward,thrusting—asifbyaneffort—someofherfaintnessfromher。

"Donotwaitforme,Ruth,"shebegged。

"Imust,child。"

"Youmustnot;"theotherinsisted。"Thinkwhatitmaymean—Richard"slife,perhaps。No,no,Ruth,dear。Goon;goontoZoyland。I"llfollowyouinafewminutes。"

"I"llwaitforyou,"saidRuthwithfirmness。

AtthatDianarose,andinrisingstaggered。"Thenwe"llpushonatonce,"shegasped,asifspeechitselfwereanexcruciatingeffort。

"Butyouareinnocasetostand！"saidRuth。"Sit,Diana,sit。"

"EitheryougoonaloneorIgowithyou,butgoatonceyoumust。AtanymomentMr。Wildingmaygoforth,andyourchanceislost。I"llnothaveRichard"sblooduponmyhead。"

Ruthwrungherhandsinherdismay,confrontedbyaparlouschoice。

ConsenttoDiana"saccompanyingherinthisconditionshecouldnot;

rideonalonetoMr。Wilding"shousewashardlytobethoughtof,andyetifshedelayedshewasendangeringRichard"slife。BytheverystrengthofhernatureshewascaughtinthemeshofDiana"sscheme。

Shesawthatherhesitationwasunworthy。Thiswasnoordinarycause,noordinaryoccasion。Itwasatimeforheroicmeasures。Shemustrideon,norcouldsheconsenttotakeDiana。

Andsointheendshewent,havingseenhercousinsettledagaininthehighchair,andtookwithherDiana"sfeebleassurancesthatshewouldfollowherinafewmoments,assoonasherfaintnesspassed。

CHAPTERIV

TERMSOFSURRENDER

MR。WILDINGrodeatdawnwithMr。Trenchard,madam,"announcedoldWalters,thebutleratZoylandChase。Oldandfamiliarservantthoughhewas,hekeptfromhiscountenanceallmanifestationofthedeepsurpriseoccasionedhimbytheadventofMistressWestmacott,unescorted。

"Herode……atdawn？"falteredRuth,andforamomentshestoodirresolute,afraidandponderingintheshadeofthegreatpillaredporch。Thenshetookheartagain。Ifherodeatdawn,itwasnotinquestofRichardthathewent,sinceithadbeenneareleveno"clockwhenshehadleftBridgwater。Hemusthavegoneonotherbusinessfirst,and,doubtless,beforehewenttotheencounterhewouldbereturninghome。"Saidheatwhathourhewouldreturn？"sheasked。

"Hebadeusexpecthimbynoon,madam。"

Thisgaveconfirmationtoherthoughts。Itwantedmorethanhalfanhourtonoonalready。"Thenhemayreturnatanymoment？"saidshe。

"Atanymoment,madam,"wasthegravereply。

Shetookherresolve。"Iwillwait,"sheannounced,totheman"sincreasingifundisplayedastonishment。"Letmyhorsebeseento。"

Hebowedhisobedience,andshefollowedhim—aslender,gracefulfigureinherdove—colouredriding—habitlacedwithsilver—acrossthestone—flaggedvestibule,throughthecoolgloomofthegreathall,intothespaciouslibraryofwhichheheldthedoor。

"MistressHortonisfollowingme,"sheinformedthebutler。"Willyoubringhertomewhenshecomes？"

Bowingagaininsilentacquiescence,thewhite—hairedservantclosedthedoorandlefther。Shestoodinthecentreofthegreatroom,drawingoffherriding—gloves,perturbedandfrightenedbeyondallreasonatfindingherselfforthefirsttimeunderMr。Wilding"sroof。

Hewasmosthandsomelyhoused。Hisgrandfather,whohadtravelledinItaly,hadbuilttheChaseuponthesevereandnoblelineswhichtherehehadlearnttoadmire,andhehadembellisheditsinterior,too,withmanytreasuresofartwhichwiththatintenthehadtherecollected。

Shedroppedherwhipandglovesontoatable,andsankintoachairtowait,herheartflutteringinherthroat。Timepassed,andinthesilenceofthegreathouseheranxietywasgraduallyquieted,untilatlastthroughthelongwindowthatstoodopencamefaintlywaftedtoheronthesoftbreezeofthatJunemorningthesoundofachurchclockatWestonZoylandchimingtwelve。Sherosewithastart,bethinkinghersuddenlyofDiana,andwonderingwhyshehadnotyetarrived。Wasthechild"sindispositiongraverthanshehadledRuthtosuppose？Shecrossedtothewindowsandstoodtheredrummingimpatientlyuponthepane,hereyesstrayingidlyoverthesweepofelm—fringedlawnstowardstherivergleamingsilveryhereandtherebetweenthetreesinthedistance。

Suddenlyshecaughtasoundofhoofs。WasthisDiana？Shespedtotheotherwindow,theonethatstoodopen,andnowsheheardthecrunchofgravelandthechampofbitsandthesoundofmorethantwopairsofhoofs。ShecaughtaglimpseofMr。WildingandMr。Trenchard。

Shefeltthecolourflyingfromhercheeks;againherheartflutteredinherthroat,anditwasinvainthatwithherhandshesoughttorepresstheheavingofherbreast。Shewasafraid;hereveryinstinctbadeherslipthroughthewindowatwhichshestoodandrunfromZoylandChase。AndthenshethoughtofRichardandhisdanger,andsheseemedtogathercouragefromthereflectionofherpurposeinthishouse。

Men"svoicesreachedher—alaugh,theharshcawingofNickTrenchard。

"Alady！"sheheardhimcry。"`Od"sheart,Tony！Isthisatimefortraffickingwithdoxies？"Shecrimsonedaninstantatthecoarsewordandsetherteeth,onlytopaleagainthenext。Thevoiceswereloweredsothatsheheardnotwhatwassaid;onesharpexclamationsherecognizedtobeinWilding"svoice,butcaughtnotthewordheuttered。

Therefollowedapause,andshestirreduneasily,waiting。Thencameswiftstepsandjanglingspursacrossthehall,thedooropenedsuddenly,andMr。Wilding,inascarletriding—coat,hisbootswhitewithdust,stoodbowingtoherfromthethreshold。

"Yourservant,MistressWestmacott,"sheheardhimmurmur。"Myhouseisdeeplyhonoured。"

Shedroppedhimahalf—curtsy,paleandtongue—tied。HeturnedtodeliverhatandwhipandglovestoWalters,whohadfollowedhim,thenclosedthedoorandcameforwardintotheroom。

YouwillforgivethatIpresentmyselfthusbeforeyou,"hesaid,inapologyforhisdustyraiment。"ButIbethoughtmeyoumightbeinhaste,andWalterstellsmethatalreadyhaveyouwaitednighuponanhour。Willyounotsit,madam？"Andheadvancedachair。Hislongwhitefacewassetlikeamask;buthisdark,slantingeyesdevouredher。Heguessedthereasonofhervisit。Shewhohadhumbledhim,whohaddrivenhimtotheverybordersofdespair,wasnowtobehumbledandtodespairbeforehim。Undertheimpassivefacehissoulexultedfiercely。

Shedisregardedthechairheproffered。"Myvisit……hasnodoubtsurprisedyou,"shebegan,tremulousandhesitating。

"I"faith,no,"heansweredquietly。"Thecause,afterall,isnotveryfartoseek。YouarecomeonRichard"sbehalf。"

"NotonRichard"s,"sheanswered。"Onmyown。"Andnowthattheicewasbroken,thesuspenseofwaitingover,shefoundthetideofhercourageflowingfast。"Thisencountermustnottakeplace,Mr。

Wilding,"sheinformedhim。

Heraisedhiseyebrows—fineandlevelasherown—histhinlipssmiledneversofaintly。"Itis,Ithink,"saidhe,"forRichardtopreventitThechancewashislastnight。Itshallbehisagainwhenwemeet。Ifhewillexpressregret……"Helefthissentencethere。

Intruthhemockedher,thoughsheguesseditnot。

"Youmean,"saidshe,"thatifhemakesapology……？"

"Whatelse？Whatotherwayremains？"

Sheshookherhead,and,ifpale,herfacewasresolute,herglancesteady。

"Thatisimpossible,"shetoldhim。"Lastnight—asIhavethestory—hemighthavedoneitwithoutshame。To—dayitistoolate。

Totenderhisapologyonthegroundwouldbetoproclaimhimselfacoward。"

Mr。Wildingpursedhislipsandshiftedhisposition。"Itisdifficult,perhaps,"saidhe,"butnotimpossible。"

"Itisimpossible,"sheinsistedfirmly。

"I"llnotquarrelwithyouforaword,"heanswered,mightyagreeable。

"Callitimpossible,ifyouwill。Admit,however,thatitisallIcansuggest。Youwilldomethejustice,Iamsure,toseethatinexpressingmywillingnesstoacceptyourbrother"sexpressionsofregretIamprovingmyselfoncemoreyourveryobedientservant。Butthatitisyouwhoaskit—andwhosedesiresaremycommands—Ishouldletnomangounpunishedforaninsultsuchasyourbrotherputuponme。

Shewincedathiswords,atthebowwithwhichhehadprofessedhimselfoncemoreherservant。

"Itisnoclemencythatyouofferhim,"shesaid。"Youleavehimachoicebetweendeathanddishonour。"

"Hehas,"Wildingremindedher,"thechanceofcombat。"

Sheflungbackherheadimpatiently。"Ithinkyoumockme,"saidshe。

Helookedatherkeenly。"Willyoutellmeplainly,madam,"hebegged,"whatyouwouldhavemedo？"

Sheflushedunderhisgaze,andtheflushtoldhimwhathesoughttolearn。Therewas,ofcourse,anotherway,andshehadthoughtofit;

butshelacked—aswellshemight,allthingsconsidered—thecouragetoproposeit。ShehadcometoMr。Wildinginthevaguehopethathehimselfwouldchoosetheheroicpart。Andhe,topunishforherscornofhimthiswomanwhomhelovedtohating—point,wasresolvedthatsheherselfmustbegitofhim。Whether,havingsofarcompelledher,hewouldgrantherprayerornotwassomethinghecouldnotjustthenhimselfhavetoldyou。Shebowedherheadinsilence,andWilding,thatfaintsmile,halffriendliness,halfmockery,hoveringeveronhislips,turnedasideandmovedsoftlytowardsthewindow。Hereyes,veiledbehindthelonglashesoftheirdroopinglids,followedhimfurtively。Shefeltthatshehatedhiminverytruth。Shemarkedtheuprighteleganceofhisfigure,theeasygraceofhismovements,thefinearistocraticmouldoftheaquilineface,whichshebeheldinprofile;andshehatedhimthemorefortheseoutwardfavoursthatmustcommendhimtonolackofwomen。Hewastoomasterful。HemadeherrealizetookeenlyherownweaknessandthatofRichard。Shefeltthatjustnowhecontrolledthevicethatheldherfast—heraffectionforherbrother。Andbecauseofthatshehatedhimthemore。"Yousee,MistressWestmacott,"saidhe,hisshouldertoher,histonesweettothepointofsadness,"thatthereisnothingelse。"Shestood,hereyesfollowingthepatternoftheparquetry,herfootunconsciouslytracingit;hercourageebbed,andshehadnoanswerforhim。Afterapausehespokeagain,stillwithoutturning。"Ifthatwasnotenoughtosuityourends"—andthoughhespokeinatoneofever—increasingsadness,thereglintedthroughitthefaintestrayofmockery—"ImarvelyoushouldhavecometoZoyland—tocompromiseyourselftosolittlepurpose。

Sheraisedastartledface。"Com……compromisemyself？"sheechoed。

"Oh！"Itwasacryofindignation。

"Whatelse？"quothhe,andturnedabruptlytoconfronther。

"MistressHortonwas……,waswithme,"shepanted,hervoicequiveringasonthebrinkoftears。

"`Tisunfortunateyoushouldhaveseparated,"hecondoled。

"But……,but,Mr。Wilding,I……Itrustedtoyourhonour。Iaccountedyouagentleman。Surely……surely,sir,youwillnotletitbeknownthat……Icametoyou？Youwillkeepmysecret？"

"Secret！"saidhe,hiseyebrowsraised。"`Tisalreadythetalkoftheservants"hall。Byto—morrow`twillbethegossipofBridgwater。"

AirfailedherHerblueeyesfixedhiminhorroroutofherstrickenface。Notawordhadshewherewithtoanswerhim。

Thesightofher,thus,affectedhimoddly。Hispassionforhersurgedup,arousedbypityforherplight,andawakenedinhimasenseofhisbrutality。Afaintflushstirredinhischeeks。Hesteppedquicklytoher,andcaughtherhand。Sheletitlie,coldandinert,withinhisnervousgrasp。

"Ruth,Ruth！"hecried,andhisvoicewasforonceunsteady。"Giveitnothought！Iloveyou,Ruth。Ifyou"llbutheedthat,nobreathofscandalcanhurtyou。

Sheswallowedhard。"Ashow？"sheaskedmechanically。

Hebowedlowoverherhand—solowthathisfacewashiddenfromher。

"Ifyouwilldomethehonourtobecomemywife……"hebegan,butgotnofurther,forshesnatchedawayherhand,hercheekscrimsoning,hereyesaflamewithindignation。Hesteppedback,crimsoningtoo。Shehaddashedthegentlenessfromhismood。Hewasangerednowandtigerish。

"Oh！"shepanted。"Itistoaffrontme！Isthisthetimeorplace……"

Hecroppedherflowofindignantspeechereitwaswellbegun。Hecaughtherinhisarms,andheldhertight,andsosuddenwastheact,sofirmhisgripthatshehadnotthethoughtorforcetostruggle。

"Alltimeislove"stime,allplacesarelove"splace,"hetoldher,hisfaceclosetoherown。"Andofalltimeandplacesthepresenteverpreferabletothewise—forlifeisuncertainandshortatbest。

Ibringyouworship,andyouanswermewithscorn。ButIshallprevail,andyoushallcometolovemeinveryspiteofyourownself。"

Shethrewbackherhead,awayfromhisasfarasthebondshehadcastaboutherwouldallow。"Air！Air！"shepantedfeebly。

"Oh,youshallhaveairenoughanon,"heansweredwithahalf—strangledlaugh,hispassionmountingever。"Harkyou,now—harkyou,forRichard"ssake,sinceyou"llnotlistenformyownnoryours。ThereisanothercoursebywhichIcansavebothRichard"slifeandhonour。Youknowit,andyoucounteduponmygenerositytosuggestit。Butyouoverlookedthethingonwhichyoushouldhavecounted。Youoverlookedmylove。Countuponthat,myRuth,andRichardshallhavenaughttofear。Countuponthat,andwhenwemeetthisevening,RichardandI,itisIwhowilltendertheapology,IwhowilladmitthatIwaswrongtointroduceyournameintothatcompanylastnight,andthatwhatRicharddidwasajustandwell—deservedpunishmentuponme。ThiswillIdoifyou"llbutcountuponmylove。"

Shelookedupathimfearfully,yetwithflutteringsofhope。"Whatis"tyoumean？"sheaskedhimfaintly。

"Thatifyou"llpromisetobemywife……"

"Yourwife！"sheinterruptedhim。Shestruggledtofreeherself,releasedonearmandstruckhimintheface。"Letmego,youcoward！"

Hewasanswered。Hisarmsmeltedfromher。Hefellbackapace,verywhiteandeventrembling,thefireallgonefromhiseye,whichwasnowturneddullanddeadly。

"Sobeit,"hesaid,andstrodetothebell—rope。"I"llnotoffendagain。

Ihadnotoffendednow"—hecontinued,inthevoiceofoneofferinganexplanationcoldandformal—"butthatwhenfirstIcameintoyourlifeyouseemedtobidmewelcome。"Hisfingerscloseduponthecrimsonbell—cord。Sheguessedhispurpose。

"Wait！"shegasped,andputforthherhand。Hepaused,theropeinhis,hiseyekindlinganew。"You……youmeantokillRichardnow？"sheaskedhim。

Aswiftliftingofhisbrowswashisonlyanswer。Hetuggedthecord。

>Fromthedistancethepealofthebellreachedthemfaintly。

"Oh,wait,wait！"shebegged,herhandspressedagainsthercheeks。Hestoodimpassible—hatefullyimpassible……ifIweretoconsentto……this……how……howsoon……？"Heunderstoodtheunfinishedquestion。Interestwarmedhisfaceagain。Hetookasteptowardsher,butbyagesturesheseemedtobeghimcomenonearer。

"Ifyouwillpromisetomarrymewithintheweek,Richardshallhavenocausetofeareitherforhislifeorhishonouratmyhands。"

Sheseemednowtoberecoveringhercalm。"Verywell,"shesaid,hervoicesingularlysteady。"Letthatbeabargainbetweenus。SpareRichard"slifeandhonour—both,remember！—andonSundaynext……"

Forallhercouragehervoicequaveredandfaltered。Shedaredaddnomore,lestitshouldbreakaltogether。

Mr。Wildingdrewadeepbreath。Againhewouldhaveadvanced。"Ruth！"

hecried,andsomerepentancesmotehim,someshameshookhiminhispurpose。Atthatmomentitwasinhismindtocapitulateunconditionally;totellherthatRichardshouldhavenaughttofearfromhim,andyetthatsheshouldgofreeasthewinds。Hergesturecheckedhim。Itwassoeloquentofaversion。Hepausedinhisadvance,stifledhisbetterfeelings,andturnedoncemore,relentless。ThedooropenedandoldWaltersstoodawaitinghiscommands。

"MistressWestmacottisleaving,"heinformedhisservant,andbowedlowandformallyinfarewellbeforeher。Shepassedoutwithoutanotherword,theoldbutlerfollowing,andpresentlythroughthedoorthatemainedopencameTrenchard,inquestofMr。Wildingwhostoodbemused。

Nicksaunteredin,hislefteyealmosthiddenbytherakishcockofhishat,onehandtuckedawayundertheskirtsofhisplum—colouredcoat,theothersupportingthestemofalongclaypipe,atwhichhewaspullingthoughtfully。Thepipeandhewereallbutinseparable;indeed,theyearbeforeinLondonhehadgivenappallingscandalbyappearingwithitintheMall,andhadthereremainedhimanycharactertolose,hemustassuredlyhavelostitthen。

Heobservedhisfriendthroughnarrowingeyes—hehadsmalleyes,veryblueandverybright,inwhichthereusuallyabodearoguishgleam。

"Mysight,Anthony,"saidhe,"remindsmethatIamgrowingold。I

wonderdiditmisleadmeonthescoreofyourvisitor？"

"Theladywholeft,"saidWildingwithatouchofseverity,"willbeMistressWildingbythisdayse"night。"

Trenchardtookthepipefromhislips,audiblyblewoutacloudofsmokeandstaredathisfriend。"Bodyo"me！"quothhe。"Isthisatimeformarrying？—withtheserumoursofMonmouth"scomingover。"

Wildingmadeanimpatientgesture。"Ithoughttohaveconvincedyoutheyareidle,"saidhe,andflunghimselfintoachairathiswriting—table。

Nickcameoverandperchedhimselfuponthetable"sedge,onelegswingingintheair。"AndwhatofthismatteroftheinterceptedletterfromLondontoourTauntonfriends？"

"Ican"ttellyou。ButofthisIamsure,HisGraceisincapableofanythingsorash。Certainisitthathe"llnotstiruntilBattiscombreturnstoHolland,andBattiscombisstillinCheshiresoundingtheDuke"sfriends。"

"YetwereIyou,Ishouldnotmarryjustatpresent。"

Wildingsmiled。"Ifyouwereme,you"dnevermarryatall。"

"Faith,no！"saidTrenchard。"I"dassoonplayat`hot—cockles,"

or`Parson—has—lost—his—cloak。"`Tisamortmoreamusingandthesoonerdonewith。"

CHAPTERV

THEENCOUNTER

RuthWesmacottrodebacklikeoneinadream,withvagueandhazynotionsofwhatshesawordid。Sooverwroughtwasshebytheinterviewfromwhichshecame,hermindsoobsessedbyit,thatneverathoughthadsheforDianaandherindispositionuntilshearrivedhometofindhercousintherebeforeher。Dianawasintears,calledupbythereproachesofhermother,LadyHorton—therelictofthatfinesoldierSirCholmondeleyHorton,ofTaunton。

ThegirlhadarrivedatLuptonHouseahalf—houraheadofMissWestmacott,anduponherarrivalshehadexpressedsurprise,eitherfeignedorreal,atfindingRuthstillabsent。DetectingthealarmthatDianawascarefultothrowintohervoiceandmanner,hermotherquestionedher,andelicitedthestoryofherfaintnessandofRuth"shavingriddenonalonetoMr。Wilding"s。SooutragedwasLadyHortonthatforonceinawaythiswoman,usuallysomeekandease—loving,wasrousedtoanenergyandangerwithherdaughterandherniecethatthreatenedtoremoveDianaatoncefromtheperniciousatmosphereofLuptonHouseandcarryherhometoTaunton。Ruthfoundherstillatherremonstrances,arrived,indeed,intimeforhershareofthem。

"Ihavebeensoremistakeninyou,Ruth！"thedamereproachedher。"I

canscarcebelieveitofyou。IhaveheldyouupasanexampletoDiana,forthediscretionandwisdomofyourconduct,andyoudothis！

YougoalonetoMr。Wilding"shouse—toMr。Wilding"s,ofallmen！"

"Itwasnotimeforordinarymeasures,"saidRuth,butshespokewithoutanyoftheheatofonewhodefendsherconduct。Shewas,theslylywatchfulDianaobserved,verywhiteandtired。"Itwasnotimetothinkofniceconduct。TherewasRichardtobesaved。"

"Andwasitworthruiningyourselftodothat？"quothLadyHorton,hercolourhigh。

"Ruiningmyself？"echoedRuth,andshesmiledneversowearyasmile。

"Ihave,indeed,donethat,thoughnotinthewayyou。mean。"

Motheranddaughtereyedher,mystified。"Yourgoodnameisblasted,"

saidheraunt,"unlesssobethatMr。Wildingisproposingtomakeyouhiswife。"Itwasasneerthegoodwomancouldnot,inherindignation,repress。

"ThatiswhatMr。Wildinghasdonemethehonourtopropose,"Ruthansweredbitterly,andleftthemgaping。"Wearetobemarriedthisdayse"night。"

Adeadsilencefollowedthecalmannouncement。ThenDianarose。Atthemisery,theanguishthatcouldimpresssostrangeandwhitealookonRuth"swinsomeface,shewassmittenwithremorse,herincipientsatisfactiondashed。Thiswasherwork;thefruitofherscheming。Butithadgonefurtherthanshehadforeseen;andforallthatnoresultcouldbetterharmonizewithherownambitionsanddesires,forthemoment—underthefirstshockofthatannouncement—shefeltguiltyandgrewafraid。

"Ruth！"shecried,hervoiceawhisperofstupefaction。"Oh,IwishI

hadcomewithyou！"

"Butyoucouldn"t;youwerefaint。"Andthen—recallingwhathadpassed—hermindwasfilledwithsuddenconcernforDiana,evenamidherownsoretroubles。"Areyouquiteyourselfagain,Diana？"sheinquired。

Dianaansweredalmostfiercely,"Iamquitewell。"Andthen,withachangetowistfulness,sheadded,"Oh,IwouldIhadcomewithyou！"

"Mattershadbeennodifferent,"Ruthassuredher。"ItwasabargainMr。Wildingdrove。ItwasthepriceIhadtopayforRichard"slifeandhonour。"Sheswallowedhard,andletherhandsfalllimplytohersides。"WhereisRichard？"sheinquired。

Itwasherauntwhoansweredher。"HewentforthhalfanhouragonewithMr。VallanceyandSirRowland。"

"SirRowlandhadreturned,then？"Shelookedupquickly。

"Yes,"answeredDiana。"ButhehadachievednothingbyhisvisittoLordGervase。Hislordshipwouldnotintervene;hesworehehopedthecubwouldbeflayedalivebyWilding。Thosewerehislordship"swords,asSirRowlandrepeatedthem。SirRowlandisinsoredistressforRichard。Hehasgonewiththemtothemeeting。"

"Atleast,hehasnolongercauseforhisdistress,"saidMissWestmacottwithherbittersmile,andsankasoneexhaustedtoachair。

LadyHortonmovedtocomforther,hermotherlinessallarousedforthismotherlessgirl,usuallysowiseandstrong,andseeminglywiserandstrongerthaneverinthisthingthatLadyHortonhaddeemedaweaknessandafolly。

Meanwhile,RichardandhistwofriendswereontheirwaytothemoorsacrosstherivertotheencounterwithMr。Wilding。Butbeforetheyhadgothimtorideforth,Vallanceyhadhadoccasiontoregretthathestoodcommittedtoashareinthisquarrel,forhecametoknowRichardashereallywas。Hehadfoundhiminanabjectstate,whiteandtrembling,hiscoward"sfancyanticipatingahundredtimesaminutethedeathhewasanontodie。