第4章

Vallanceyhadhailedhimcheerily。

"Thedayisyours,Dick,"hehadcried,whenRichardenteredthelibrarywhereheawaitedhim。"WildWildinghasriddentoTauntonthismorningandistobebackbynoon。Odsbud,Dick！—twentymilesandmoreinthesaddlebeforecomingontheground。Heardyoueverofthelikemadness？

He"llbestiffasabroom—handle—aneasyvictim。

Richardlistened,stared,and,findingVallancey"seyesfixedsteadilyuponhim,attemptedasmileandachievedahorriblegrimace。

"Whatailsyou,man？"criedhissecond,andcaughthimbythewrist。

Hefeltthequiveroftheother"slimb。"Stabme！"quothhe,"youareinnocasetofight。Whattheplagueailsyou？"

"Iamnonesowellthismorning,"answeredRichardfeebly。"LordGervase"sclaret,"headded,passingahandacrosshisbrow。

"LordGervase"sclaret？"echoedVallanceyinhorror,asatsomeoutrageousblasphemy。"Frontignacattenshillingsthebottle！"heexclaimed。

"Still,claretneverdoeslieeasyonmystomach,"Richardexplained,intentuponblamingLordGervaseswine—sincehecouldthinkofnothingelse—forhiscondition。

Vallanceylookedathimshrewdly。"Mycock,"saidhe,"ifyou"retofightwe"llhavetomendyourtemper。"Hetookituponhimselftoringthebell,andtoorderuptwobottlesofCanaryandoneofbrandy。Ifhewastogethismantothegroundatall—andyoungVallanceyhadaduesenseofhisresponsibilitiesinthatconnection—itwouldbewelltosupplyRichardwithsomethingtoreplacethecouragethathadoozedoutovernight。YoungRichard,neverloathtofortifyhimself,provedamenableenoughtothestifflylacedCanarythathisfriendsetbeforehim。Then,todiverthismind,Vallancey,withthatrashfreedomthathadmadethewholeofSomersetknowhimforarebel,sethimselftotalkoftheProtestantDukeandhisrighttothecrownofEngland。

Hewasstillathistalk,Richardlisteningmoodilywhattimehewasslowlybutsurelybefuddlinghimself,whenSirRowland—returningfromScoresbyHall—cametobringthenewsofhislackofsuccess。Richardhailedhimnoisily,andbadehimringforanotherglass,adding,withaburstofoaths,someappallingthreatsofhowanonheshouldserveAnthonyWilding。HiswitsdrownedinthestiffliquorVallanceyhadpresseduponhim,heseemedofasuddentohavegrownasfierceandbloodthirstyasanyscourerthateverterrorizedthewatch。

Blakelistenedtohimandgrunted。"Bodyo"me！"sworethetowngallant。

"Ifthat"sthehumouryou"regoingouttofightin,I"lltroubleyoufortheeightguineasIwonfromyouatPrimeroyesterdaybeforeyoustart。"

Richardrearedhimself,bythehelpofthetable,andstoodathoughtunsteadily,hisglancelaboriouslystrivingtoengageBlake"s。

"Damnme！"quothhe。"Yourwantoffaithdishgracesme—and`t`shgracesyou。Shaltha"theguineaswhenwe"reback—andnotbefore。"

"Hum！"quothBlake,towhomeightguineaswereaconsiderationinthesebankruptdays。"Andifyoudon"tcomebackatalluponwhomamItodraw？"

ThesuggestionsankthroughDick"shalf—fuddledsenses,andthescareitgavehimwasreflectedonhisface。

"Damnyou,Blake！"sworeVallanceybetweenhisteeth。"Isthatadecentwaytotalktoamanwhoisgoingout？Neverheedhim,Dick！Lethimwaitforhisdirtyguineastillwereturn。"

"Thirtyguineas？"hiccoughedRichard。"Itwasonlyeight。Anyhow—wait"llI"vesli"thegulletof"sMr。Wilding。"Hecheckedonathoughtthatsuddenlyoccurredtohim。HeturnedtoVallanceywithaludicroussolemnity。"`Sbud！"heswore。"`SascurvytrickI"mplayingtheDuke。

`Streasontohim—treasonnoless。"Andhesmotethetablewithhisopenhand。

"What"sthat？"quothBlakesosharply,hiseyessosuddenlyalertthatVallanceymadehastetocoveruphisfellowrebel"sindiscretion。

It"sthebrandy—and—Canarymakeshimdream,"saidhewithalaugh,andrisingashespokeheannouncedthatitwashightimetheyshouldsetout。ThushebroughtaboutabustlethatdrovetheDuke"sbusinessfromRichard"smind,andleftBlakewithoutapretexttopursuehisquestforinformation。Butthemischiefwasdone,andBlake"ssuspicionswereawake。HebethoughthimnowofdarkhintsthatRichardhadletfalltoVallanceyinthepastfewdays,andofhintslessdarkwithwhichVallancey—whowasacarelessfellowatordinarytimes—hadanswered。AndnowthismentionoftheDukeandoftreasontohim—towhatDukecoulditreferbutMonmouth？

Blakewaswellawareofthewildtalesthatweregoinground,andhebegantowondernowwasaughtreallyafoot,andwashisgoodfriendWestmacottinit？

Iftherewas,hebethoughthimthattheknowledgemightbeofvalue,anditmighthelptofloatoncemorehisshipwreckedfortunes。ThehastewithwhichVallanceyhadprofferedafrivolousexplanationofRichard"swords,thebustlewithwhichupontheinstanthesweptRichardandSirRowlandfromthehousetogettohorseandrideouttoBridgwaterwereinthemselvescircumstancesthatwenttoheightenthosesuspicionsofSirRowland"s。Butlackingallopportunityforinvestigationatthemoment,hedeemeditwisesttosaynomorejustthenlestheshouldbetrayhiswatchfulness。

Theywerethefirsttoarriveupontheground—anopenspaceonthebordersofSedgemoor,intheshelterofPoldenHill。ButtheyhadnotlongtowaitbeforeWildingandTrenchardrodeup,attendedbyagroom。

TheirarrivalhadanoddlysoberingeffectuponyoungWestmacott,forwhichMr。Vallanceywasthankful。Forduringtheirridehehadbeguntofearthathehadcarriedtoofarthebusinessofequippinghisprincipalwithartificialvalour。

TrenchardcameforwardtoofferVallanceythecourteoussuggestionthatMr。Wilding"sservantshouldchargehimselfwiththecareofthehorsesofMr。Westmacott"sparty,ifthiswouldbeaconveniencetothem。Vallanceythankedhimandacceptedtheoffer,andthusthegroom—instructedbyTrenchard—ledthefivehorsessomedistancefromthespot。

Itnowbecameamatterofmakingpreparation,andleavingRichardtodivesthimselfofsuchgarmentsashemightdeemcumbrous,VallanceywentforwardtoconsultwithTrencharduponthechoiceofground。AtthatsamemomentMr。Wildingloungedforward,flickingthegrasswithhiswhipinanabsentmanner。

"Mr。Vallancey,"hebegan,whenTrenchardturnedtointerrupthim。

"Youcanleaveitsafelytome,Tony,"hegrowled。"ButthereissomethingIwishtosay,Nick,"answeredMr。Wilding,hismannermild。

"Byyourleave,then。"AndheturnedagaintoValiancey。"WillyoubesogoodastocallMr。Westmacotthither？"

Vallanceystared。"Forwhatpurpose,sir？"heasked。

"Formypurpose,"answeredMr。Wildingsweetly。"ItisnolongermywishtoengagewithMr。Westmacott。

"Anthony！"criedTrenchard,andinhisamazementforgottoswear。

"Ipropose,"addedMr。Wilding,"torelieveMr。Westmacottofthenecessityoffighting。"

Vallanceyinhisheartthoughtthismightbepleasantnewsforhisprincipal。Still,hedidnotquiteseehowtheendwastobeattained,andsaidso。

"YoushallbeenlightenedifyouwilldoasIrequest,"Wildinginsisted,andVallancey,withaliftofthebrows,asnort,andashrug,turnedawaytocomply。

"Doyoumean,"quothTrenchard,burstingwithindignation,"thatyouwillletliveamanwhohasstruckyou？"

Wildingtookhisfriendaffectionatelybythearm。"Itisawhimofmine,"saidhe。"Doyouthink,Nick,thatitismorethanIcanaffordtoindulge？"

"Isaynotso,"wasthereadyanswer;"but……"

"Ithoughtyou"dnot,"saidMr。Wilding,interrupting。"Andifanydoes—why,Ishallbegladtoproveituponhimthathelies。"Helaughed,andTrenchard,vexedthoughhewas,wasforcedtolaughwithhim。ThenNicksethimselftourgethethingthatlastnighthadplaguedhismind:thatthisRichardmightproveadangertotheCause;

thatintheDuke"sinterest,ifnottosafeguardhisownpersonfromsomevindictivebetrayal,Wildingwouldbebetteradvisedinimposingareliablesilenceuponhim。

"Butwhyvindictive？"Mr。Wildingremonstrated。"Rathermusthehavecauseforgratitude。"

Mr。Trenchardlaughedshortandcontemptuously。"Thereis,"saidhe,"norancourmorebitterthanthatofthemeanmanwhohasoffendedyouandwhomyouhavespared。Ibegyou"llponderit。"Heloweredhisvoiceasheendedhisadmonition,forVallanceyandWestmacottwerecomingup,followedbySirRowlandBlake。

Richard,althoughhiscouragehadbeensinkinglowerandlowerinameasureashehadgrownmoreandmoresoberwiththeapproachofthemomentforengaging,cameforwardnowwithafirmstepandanarrogantmien;forVallanceyhadgivenhimmorethanahintofwhatwastoward。

Hishearthadleapt,notonlyatthedeliverancethatwaspromisedhim,butoutofsatisfactionatthereflectionofhowaccuratelylastnighthehadgaugedwhatMr。Wildingwouldendure。Ithaddismayedhimthen,aswehaveseen,thatthismanwho,hethought,muststomachanyaffrontfromhimoutofconsiderationforhissister,shouldhaveendedbycallinghimtoaccount。HeconcludednowthatuponreflectionWildinghadseenhiserror,andwaspreparedtomakeamendsthathemightextricatehimselffromanimpossiblesituation,andRichardblamedhimselfforhavingoverlookedthisinevitablesolutionandgivenwaytoidlepanic。

VallanceyandBlakewatchinghim,andthesuddenmetamorphosisthatwaswroughtinhim,despisedhimheartily,andyetwereglad—forthesakeoftheirassociationwithhim—thatthingswereastheywere。

"Mr。Westmacott,"saidWildingquietly,hiseyessteadilysetuponRichard"sownarrogantgaze,hislipssmilingalittle,"Iamherenottofight,buttoapologize。"

Richard"ssneerwasaudibletoall。Oh,hewasgatheringcouragefastnowthattherenolongerwastheneedforit。Iturgedhimtolengthsofdaringpossibleonlytoafool。

"Ifyoucantakeablow,Mr。Wilding,"saidheoffensively,"thatisyourownaffair。"

Andhisfriendsgaspedathistemerityandtrembledforhim,notknowingwhatgroundshehadforcountinghimselfunassailable。

"Justso,"saidMr。Wilding,asmeekandhumbleasanun,andTrenchard,whohadexpectedsomethingverydifferentfromhim,sworealoudandwithsomecircumstanceofoaths。"Thefactis,"continuedMr。Wilding,"thatwhatIdidlastnight,Ididintheheatofwine,andIamsorryforit。Irecognizethatthisquarrelisofmyprovoking;thatitwasunwarrantableinmetointroducethenameofMistressWestmacott,nomatterhowrespectfully;andthatindoingsoIgaveMr。Westmacottamplegroundsforoffence。ForthatIbeghispardon,andIventuretohopethatthismatterneedgonofurther。"

VallanceyandBlakewerespeechlessinastonishment;Trenchardlividwithfury。Westmacottmovedasteportwoforward,aswaggerunmistakableinhisgait,hisnether—lipthrustoutinasneer。

"Why,"saidhe,hisvoicemightydisdainful,"ifMr。Wildingapologizes,thematterhardlycangofurther。"HeconveyedsuchasuggestionofregretatthisthatTrenchardboundedforward,stungtospeech。

"ButifMr。Westmacott"sdisappointmentthreatenstooverwhelmhim,"

hesnapped,verytartly,"Iamhishumbleservant,andhemaycalluponmetoseethathe"snotrobbedoftheexercisehecametotake。"

Mr。WildingsetarestraininghanduponTrenchard"sarm。

Westmacottturnedtohim,thesneer,however,gonefromhisface。

"Ihavenoquarrelwithyou,sir,"saidhe,withanuneasyassumptionofdignity。

"It"sawantthatmaybesoonsupplied,"answeredTrenchardbriskly,and,asheafterwardsconfessed,hadnotWildingcheckedhimatthatmoment,hehadthrownhishatinRichard"sface。

ItwasVallanceywhosavedthesituation,cursinginhisheartthebearingofhisprincipal。

"Mr。Wilding,"saidhe,"thisisveryhandsomeinyou。Youareofthehappyfewwhomaytendersuchanapologywithoutreflectionuponyourcourage。"

Mr。Wildingmadehimalegveryelegantly。"Youarevastlykind,sir,"

saidhe。

"YouhavegivenMr。Westmacottthefullestsatisfaction,anditiswithanincreasedrespectforyou—ifthatwerepossible—thatI

acknowledgeitonmyfriend"sbehalf。"

"Youare,sir,averymirroroftheelegancies,"saidMr。Wilding,andVallanceywonderedwashebeinglaughedat。Whetherhewasornot,heconceivedthathehaddonetheonlyseemlything。Hehadmadehandsomeacknowledgmentofahandsomeapology,stungtoitbythecurrishnessofRichard。

Andtherethematterended,despiteTrenchard"sburningeagernesstocarryithimselftoadifferentconsummation。Wildingprevaileduponhim,andwithdrewhimfromthefield。ButastheyrodebacktoZoylandChasetheoldrakewasbitterinhisinveighingsagainstWilding"sfollyandweakness。

"IprayHeaven,"hekeptrepeating,"thatitmaynotcometocostyoudear。"

"Havedone,"saidMr。Wilding,atrifleoutofpatience。"CouldIwedthesisterhavingslainthebrother？"

AndTrenchard,understandingatlast,accountedhimselfanumskullthathehadnotunderstoodbefore。ButhenonethelessdeemeditapityRichardhadbeenspared。

CHAPTERVI

THECHAMPION

AsvaingloriouswasRichardWestmacott"sretreatfromthefieldofunstrickenbattleashisadvanceuponithadbeeninglorious。HespokewithconfidencenowofthenarrowescapethatWildinghadhadathishands,ofthethingshewouldhavedonetoWildinghadnotthatgentlemangrownwiseintime。SirRowland,whohadseenlittleofRichard"searlierstrickencondition,wasinameasureimposeduponbyhisblusteringtoneandmanner;notsoVallancey,whorememberedthestepshehadbeenforcedtotaketobolsteruptheyoungman"scouragesufficientlytoadmitofhisbeingbroughttotheencounter。

Richardsodisgustedhimthathefeltifhedidnotquithiscompanysoon,hewouldbequarrellingwithhimhimself。So,congratulatinghim,inacausticmannerthatRicharddidnotrelish,uponthehappyterminationoftheaffair,VallanceytookhisleaveofhimandBlakeatthecross—roads,pleadingbusinesswithLordGervase,andleftthemtoproceedwithouthimtoBridgwater。

Blake,whosesuspicionsofsomesecretmattertowhichVallanceyandRichardwerewedded,hadbeenearlierexcitedbyWestmacott"sindiscretions,wasfullofslyquestionsnowtouchingthebusinesswhichmightbetakingVallanceytoScoresby。ButRichardwastoofullofthesubjectofthefearhehadinstilledintoWildingtoaffordhiscompanionmuchsatisfactiononanyotherscore。ThustheycametoLuptonHouse,andasRichardswaggereddownthelawnintothepresenceoftheladies—Ruthandherauntwereoccupyingthestonebench,Dianathecircularseataboutthegreatoakinthecentreofthelawn—hewasaverydifferentpersonfromthepale,limpcreaturetheyhadbeheldtheresomefewhoursearlier。Loudandoffensivewashenowinself—laudation,andsoindifferenttoallelsethatheleftunobservedthelittlesmile,halfwistful,halfscornful,thatvisitedhissister"slipswhenhesneeringlytoldhowMr。Wildinghadchosenthatbetterpartofvalourwhichdiscretionisallegedtobe。

ItneededDiana,who,blindedbynosisterlyaffection,sawhimexactlyashewas,anddespisedhimaccordingly,toenlightenhim。Itmayalsobethatindoingsoatonceshehadendsofherowntoserve;forSirRowlandwasstillofthecompany。

"Mr。Wildingafraid？"shecried,hervoicesochargedwithderisionthatitinclinedtoshrillness。"La！Richard,Mr。Wildingwasneverafraidofanyman。"

"Faith！"saidRowland,althoughhisacquaintancewithMr。Wildingwasslightandrecent。"ItiswhatIshouldthink。Hedoesnotlooklikeamanfamiliarwithfear。"

Richardstrucksomethingofanattitude,hisfairfaceflushed,hispaleeyesglittering。"Hetookablow,"saidhe,andsneered。

"Theremayhavebeenreasons,"Dianasuggesteddarkly,andSirRowland"seyesnarrowedatthehint。

AgainherecalledthewordsRichardhadletfallthatafternoon。

Wildingandhewerefellowworkersinsomesecretbusiness,andRichardhadsaidthattheencounterwastreasontothatsamebusiness,whateveritmightbe。AndofwhatitmightbeSirRowlandhadgroundsuponwhichtofoundatleastaguess。HadperhapsWildingacteduponsomesimilarfeelingsinavoidingtheduel？Hewondered;andwhenRicharddismissedDiana"schallengewithafatuouslaugh,itwasBlakewhotookitup。

"Youspeak,ma"am,"saidhe,"asifyouknewthattherewerereasons,andknew,too,whatthosereasonsmightbe。"

DianalookedatRuth,asifforguidancebeforereplying。ButRuthsatcalmandseeminglyimpassive,lookingstraightbeforeher。Shewas,indeed,indifferenthowmuchDianasaid,forinanycasethemattercouldnotremainasecretlong。LadyHorton,silenttooandlistening,lookedaquestionatherdaughter。

Andso,afterapause:"Iknowboth,"saidDiana,hereyesstrayingagaintoRuth;andasubtlermanthanBlakewouldhavereadthatglanceandunderstoodthatthissamereasonwhichhesoughtsodiligentlysattherebeforehim。

Richard,indeed,catchingthatslylookofhiscousin"s,checkedhisassurance,andstoodfrowning,cogitating。Then,quitesuddenly,hisvoiceharsh:

"Whatdoyoumean,Diana？"heinquired。

Dianashruggedandturnedhershouldertohim。"YouhadbestaskRuth,"

saidshe,whichwasananswermoreorlessplaintoboththemen。

Theystoodatgaze,Richardlookingathoughtfoolish。Blake,frowning,hisheavylipcaughtinhisstrong,whiteteeth。

Ruthturnedtoherbrotherwithanalmostpiteousattemptatasmile。

Shesoughttosparehimpainbyexcludingfromhermannerallsuggestionthatthingswereotherthanshedesired。

"IambetrothedtoMr。Wilding,"saidshe。

SirRowlandmadeasuddenforwardmovement,drewadeepbreath,andassuddenlystoodstill。Richardlookedathissisterassheweremadandraving。Thenhelaughed,betweenunbeliefandderision。

"Itisajest,"saidhe,buthisaccentslackedconviction。

"Itisthetruth,"Ruthassuredhimquietly。

"Thetruth？"Hisbrowdarkenedominously—stupendouslyforonesofair。"Thetruth,youbaggage……？"Hebeganandstoppedinveryfury。

Shesawthatshemusttellhimall。

"IpromisedtowedMr。Wildingthisdayse"nightsothathesavedyourlifeandhonour,"shetoldhimcalmly,andadded,"Itwasabargainthatwedrove。"Richardcontinuedtostareather。Thethingshetoldhimwastoobigtobeswallowedatamouthful;hewasabsorbingitbyslowdegrees。

"Sonow,"saidDiana,"youknowthesacrificeyoursisterhasmadetosaveyou,andwhenyouspeakoftheapologyMr。Wildingtenderedyou,perhapsyou"llspeakofitinatonelessloud。"

Butthesarcasmwasnolongerneeded。AlreadypoorRichardwasveryhumble,hismake—believespiritallsnuffedout。Heobservedatlasthowpaleandsetwashissister"sface,andherealizedsomethingofthesacrificeshehadmade。NeverinallhislifewasRichardsoneartolapsingfromtheloveofhimself;neversoneartoforgettinghisowninterests,andpreferringthoseofRuth。LadyHortonsatsilent,herheartflutteringwithdismayandperplexity。Heavenhadnotequippedherwithaspiritcapableofdealingwithasituationsuchasthis。Blakestoodinmakebelievestoliditydissemblinghisinfinitechagrinandthestormyemotionswarringwithinhim,forsomesignsofwhichDianawatchedhiscountenanceinvain。

"Youshallnotdoit！"criedRichardsuddenly。Hecameforwardandlaidhishandonhissister"sshoulder。Hisvoicewasalmostgentle。

"Ruth,youshallnotdothisforme。Youmustnot。"

"ByHeaven,no！"snappedBlakebeforeshecouldreply。"Youareright,Richard。MistressWestmacottmustnotbethescapegoat。SheshallnotplaythepartofIphigenia。"

ButRuthsmiledwistfullyassheansweredhimwithaquestion,"Whereisthehelpforit？"

Richardknewwherethehelpforitlay,andforonce—forjustamoment—hecontemplateddangerandevendeathwithequanimity。

"Icantakeupthisquarrelagain,"heannounced。"IcancompelMr。

Wildingtomeetme。

Ruth"seyes,lookingupathim,kindledwithprideandadmiration。

Itwarmedherhearttohearhimspeakthus,tohavethisassurancethathewasanythingbutthecowardshehadbeensodisloyalastodeemhim;nodoubtshehadbeenrightinsayingthatitwashishealthwasthecauseofthepalsyhehaddisplayedthatmorning;hewasalittlewild,sheknew;inclinedtositover—lateatthebottle;withadvancingmanhood,shehadnodoubt,hewouldovercomethisboyishfailing。Meanwhileitwasthisfoolishhabit—nothingmore—thatunderminedtheinherentfirmnessofhisnature。Anditcomfortedhergeneroussoultohavethisproofthathewasfullworthyofthesacrificeshewasmakingforhim。Dianawatchedhiminsomesurprise,andneverdoubtedbutthathisofferwasimpulsive,andthathewouldregretitwhenhisardourhadhadtimetocool。

"Itwereidle,"saidRuthatlast—notthatshequitebelievedit,butthatitwasall—importanttoherthatRichardshouldnotbeimperilled。"Mr。Wildingwillpreferthebargainhehasmade。"

"Nodoubt,"growledBlake,"butheshallbeforcedtounmakeit。"

Headvancedandbowedlowbeforeher。"Madam,"saidhe,"willyougrantmeleavetochampionyourcauseandremovethistroublesomeMr。Wildingfromyourpath？"

Diana"seyesnarrowed;hercheekspaled,partlyfromfearforBlake,partlyfromvexationatthepromptnessofanofferthataffordedafreshandsoeloquentproofofthetrendofhisaffections。

Ruthsmiledathiminaveryfriendlymanner,butgentlyshookherhead。

"Ithankyou,sir,"saidshe。"ButitweremorethanIcouldpermit。

Thishasbecomeafamilyaffair。"

Therewasinhertonesomethingwhich,despiteitsfriendliness,gaveSirRowlandhisdismissal。Hewasnotatbestamanofkeensensibilities;yetevenso,hecouldnotmistaketherequesttowithdrawthatwasimplicitinhertoneandmanner。Hetookhisleave,registering,however,inhisheartavowthathewouldhavehiswaywithWilding。Thusmusthe—throughhergratitude—assuredlycometohavehiswaywithRuth。

Dianaroseandturnedtohermother。Come,"shesaid,"we"llspeedSirRowland。RuthandRichardwouldperhapsprefertoremainalone。"

Ruththankedherwithhereyes。Richard,standingbesidehissisterwithbentheadandmoodygaze,didnotappeartohaveheard。

Thusheremaineduntilheandhishalf—sisterwerealonetogether,thenheflunghimselfwearilyintotheseatbesideher,andtookherhand。

"Ruth,"hefaltered,"Ruth！"

Shestrokedhishand,herhonest,intelligenteyesbentuponhiminalookofpity—andtoindulgethispityforhim,sheforgothowmuchherselfsheneededpity。

"Takeitnotsotoheart,"sheurgedhim,hervoicelowandcrooning—asthatofamothertoherbabe。"Takeitnotsotoheart,Richard。

Ishouldhavemarriedsomeday,and,afterall,itmaywellbethatMr。Wildingwillmakemeasgoodahusbandasanother。Idobelieve,"

sheadded,heronlyintenttocomfortRichard;"thathelovesme;andifhelovesme,surelyhewillprovekind。"

Heflunghimselfbackwithanexclamationofangrypain。Hewaswhitetothelips,hiseyesbloodshot。"Itmustnotbe—itshallnotbe—

I"llnotendureit！"hecriedhoarsely。

"Richard,dear……"shebegan,recapturingthehandhehadsnatchedfromhersinhisgustofemotion。

Heroseabruptly,interruptingher。"I"llgotoWildingnow,"hecried,hisvoiceresolute。"Heshallcancelthisbargainhehadnorighttomake。Heshalltakeuphisquarrelwithmewhereitstoodbeforeyouwenttohim。"

"No,no,Richard,youmustnot！"sheurgedhim,frightened,risingtoo,andclingingtohisarm。

"Iwill,"heanswered。"Attheworsthecanbutkillme。Butatleastyoushallnotbesacrificed。"

"Sithere,Richard,"shebadehim。"Thereissomethingyouhavenotconsidered。Ifyoudie,ifMr。Wildingkillsyou……"shepaused。

Helookedather,andattherepetitionofthefatethatwouldprobablyawaithimifheperseveredinthecoursehethreatened,hispurelyemotionalcourageagainbegantofailhim。Alookoffearcreptgraduallyintohisfacetotaketheroomoftheresolutionthathadbeenstampeduponitbutamomentsince。

Heswallowedhard。"Whatthen？"heasked,hisvoiceharsh,and,obeyinghercommandandthepressureonhishand,heresumedhisseatbesideher。

Shespokenowatlengthandverygravely,dwellinguponthecircumstancethathewastheheadofthefamily,thelastWestmacottofhisline,pointingouttohimtheimportanceofhisexistence,theinsignificanceofherown。Shewasbutagirl,athingofsmallaccountwheretheperpetuationofafamilywasatissue。Afterall,shemustmarrysomebodysomeday,sherepeated,andperhapsshehadbeenfoolishinattachingtoomuchimportancetothetalesshehadheardofMr。Wilding。Probablyhewasnoworsethanothermen,andafterallhewasagentlemanofwealthandposition,suchamanashalfthewomeninSomersetmightbeproudtoownforhusband。