第5章

Herargumentsandhisweakness—hisreturningcowardice,whichmadehimlendaneartothosesamearguments—prevailedwithhim;atleasttheyconvincedhimthathewasfartooimportantapersontoriskhislifeinthisquarreluponwhichhehadsorashlyentered。

Hedidnotsaythathewasconvinced;buthesaidthathewouldgivethematterthought,hintingthatperhapssomeotherwaymightpresentitselfofcancellingthebargainshehadmade。Theyhadaweekbeforethem,andinanycasehepromisedreadilyinanswertoherentreaties—forherfaithinhimwasathingunquenchable—thathewoulddonothingwithouttakingcounselwithher。

MeanwhileDianahadescortedSirRowlandtothemaingatesofLuptonHouse,infrontofwhichMissWestmacott"sgroomwaswalkinghishorse,awaitinghim。

"SirRowland,"saidsheatparting,"yourchivalrymakesyoutakethismattertoodeeplytoheart。Youoverlookthepossibilitythatmycousinmayhavegoodreasonfornotdesiringyourinterference。"

Helookedkeenlyatthislittleladytowhomamonthagohehadbeenonthepointofofferingmarriage。Hiscoxcombrymightreadilyhavesuggestedtohimthatshewasinlovewithhim,butthathisconscienceandinclinationsurgedhimtoassurehimselfthatthiswasnotthecase。

"Whatshallthatmean,madam？"heaskedher。

Dianahesitated。"WhatIhavesaidisplain,"sheanswered,anditwasclearthatsheheldsomethingback。

SirRowlandflatteredhimselfupontheshrewdnesswithwhichhereadher,neverdreamingthathehadbutreadjustwhatsheintendedheshould。

Hestoodsquarelybeforeher,shakinghisgreathead。"Notplainenoughforme,"hesaid。Thenhistonesoftenedtooneofprayer。"Tellme,"

hebesoughther。

"Ican"t！Ican"t！"shecriedinfeigneddistress。"Itweretoodisloyal。"

Hefrowned。Hecaughtherarmandpressedit,hisheartsickwithjealousalarm。"Whatdoyoumean？Tellme,tellme,MistressHorton。"

Dianaloweredhereyes。"You"llnotbetrayme？"shestipulated。

"Why,no。Tellme。"

Sheflusheddelicately。"IamdisloyaltoRuth,"shesaid,"andyetI

amloathtoseeyoucozened。"

"Cozened？"quothhehoarsely,hisegregiousvanityinarms。"Cozened？"

Dianaexplained。"Ruthwasathishouseto—day,"saidshe,"closetedalonewithhimforanhourormore。"

"Impossible！"hecried。

"Whereelsewasthebargainmade？"sheasked,andshatteredhislastdoubt。"YouknowthatMr。Wildinghasnotbeenhere。"

YetBlakestruggledheroicallyagainstconviction。

"ShewenttointercedeforRichard,"heprotested。MissHortonlookedupathim,andunderherglanceSirRowlandfeltthathewasamanofunfathomableignorance。Thensheturnedasidehereyesandshruggedhershoulders`veryeloquently。"Youareamanoftheworld,SirRowland。Youcannotseriouslysupposethatanymaidwouldsoimperilhergoodnameinanycause？"

Darkergrewhisfloridcountenance;hisbulgingeyeslookedtroubledandperplexed。

"Youmeanthatsheloveshim？"hesaid,betweenquestionandassertion。

Dianapursedherlips。"Youshalldrawyourowninference,"quothshe。

Hebreathedheavily,andsquaredhisbroadshoulders,asonewhobraceshimselfforbattleagainstanelementstrongerthanhimself。

"Buthertalkofsacrifice？"hecried。

Dianalaughed,andagainhewasstungbyhercontemptofhisperceptions。"Herbrotherissetagainsthermarryinghim,"saidshe。

"Herewasherchance。Isitnotveryplain？"

Doubtstaredfromhiseyes。"Whydoyoutellmethis？"

"BecauseIesteemyou,SirRowland,"sheansweredverygently。"Iwouldnothaveyoumeddleinamatteryoucannotmend。"

"WhichIamnotdesiredtomend,sayrather,"herepliedwithheavysarcasm。"Shewouldnothavemyinterference！"Helaughedangrily。

"Ithinkyouareright,MistressDiana,"hesaid,"andIthinkthatmorethaneveristheretheneedtokillthisMr。Wilding。"

Hetookhisdepartureabruptly,leavingherscaredatthemischiefshehadmadeforhiminseekingtosavehimfromit,andthatverynighthesoughtoutWilding。

ButWildingwasfromhomeagain。UnderitsplacidsurfacetheWestCountrywasinaferment。AndifhithertoMr。WildinghaddisdainedtheinsistentrumoursofMonmouth"scoming,hisassurancewasshakennowbyproofthattheGovernment,itself,wasstirring;forfourcompaniesoffootandatroopofhorsehadbeenthatdayorderedtoTauntonbytheDeputy—Lieutenant。WildingwasgonewithTrenchardtoWhiteLackingtoninavainhopethattherehemightfindnewstoconfirmhispersistingunbeliefinanysuchrashnessaswasallegedonMonmouth"spart。

SoBlakewasforcedtowait,buthispurposesufferednothingbydelay。

Returningonthemorrow,hefoundMr。WildingattablewithNickTrenchard,andhecutshortthegreetingsofbothmen。Heflunghishat—ablackcastortrimmedwithablackfeather—rudelyamongthedishesontheboard。

"Ihavecometoaskyou,Mr。Wilding,"saidhe,"tobesogoodastotellmethecolourofthathat。"

Mr。WildingraisedoneeyebrowandlookedaslantatTrenchard,whoseweather—beatenfacewassuddenlyagrinwithstupefaction。

"Icouldnot,"saidMr。Wilding,"denyananswertoaquestionsetsocourteously。"HelookedupintoBlake"sflushedandscowlingfacewiththesweetestandmostinnocentofsmiles。"You"llnodoubtdisagreewithme,"saidhe,"butIlovetomeetamanhalfway。Yourhat,sir,isaswhiteasvirginsnow。

Blake"sslowwitsweredisconcertedforamoment。Thenhesmiledviciously。"Youmistake,Mr。Wilding,"saidhe。"Myhatisblack。"

Mr。Wildinglookedmoreattentivelyattheobjectindispute。Hewasinatriflingmood,andthestupidityofthisrunagatedebtoraffordedhimopportunitiestoindulgeit。"Why,true,"saidhe,"nowthatI

cometolook,Iperceivethatitisindeedblack。"

AndagainwasSirRowlanddisconcerted。Stillhepursuedthelessonhehadtaughthimself。

"Youaremistakenagain,"saidhe,"thathatisgreen。"

"Indeed？"quothMr。Wilding,likeonesurprisedandheturnedtoTrenchard,whowasenjoyinghimself。"Whatisyourownopinionofit,Nick？"

Thusappealedto,Trenchard"sreplywasprompt。"Why,sinceyouaskme,"saidhe,"myopinionisthatit"sanoisomethingnotmeetforagentleman"stable。"Andhetookitup,andthrewitthroughthewindow。

SirRowlandwasentirelyputoutofcountenance。Herewasadeliberateshiftingofthequarrelhehadcometopick,whichlefthimallatsea。

ItwashisdutytohimselftotakeoffenceatMr。Trenchard"saction。

Butthatwasnotthebusinessonwhichhehadcome。Hebecameangry。

"Blisterme！"hecried。"MustIsweeptheclothfromthetablebeforeyou"llunderstandme？"

"IfyouweretodoanythingsounmannerlyIshouldhaveyouflungoutofthehouse,"saidMr。Wilding,"anditwoulddistressmesototreatapersonofyourstationandquality。Thehatshallserveyourpurpose,althoughMr。Trenchard"sconcernformytablehasremovedit。Ourmemorieswillsupplyitsabsence。Whatcolourdidyousayitwas？"

"Isaiditwasgreen,"answeredBlake,quitereadytokeeptothepoint。

"Nay,Iamsureyouwerewrong,"saidWildingwithagraveair。

"AlthoughIadmitthatsinceitisyourownhat,youshouldbethebestjudgeofitscolour,Iam,nevertheless,ofopinionthatitisblack。"

"AndifIweretosaythatitiswhite？"askedBlake,feelingmightyridiculous。

"Why,inthatcaseyouwouldbeconfirmingmyfirstimpressionofit,"

answeredWilding,andTrenchardletflyaburstoflaughteratsightofthebaronet"sfuriousandbewilderedcountenance。"Andsinceweareagreedonthat,"continuedMr。Wilding,imperturbable,"Ihopeyou"lljoinusatsupper。"

"I"llbedamned,"roaredBlake,"ifeverIsitattableofyours,sir。"

"Ah！"saidMr。Wildingregretfully。"Nowyoubecomeoffensive。"

"Imeantobe,"saidBlake。

"Youastonishme！"

"Youlie！Idon"t,"SirRowlandansweredhimintriumph。Hehadgotitoutatlast。

Mr。Wildingsatbackinhischair,andlookedathim,hisfaceinexpressiblyshocked。

"Willyouofyourownaccorddepriveusofyourcompany,SirRowland,"

hewondered,"orshallMr。Trenchardthrowyouafteryourhat？"

"Doyoumean……"gaspedtheother,"thatyou"llasknosatisfactionofme？"

"Notso。Mr。Trenchardshallwaituponyourfriendsto—morrow,andI

hopeyou"llaffordusthenasfelicitousentertainmentasyoudonow。"

SirRowlandsnorted,and,turningonhisheel,madeforthedoor。

"Giveyouagoodnight,SirRowland,"Mr。Wildingcalledafterhim。

"Walters,yourascal,lightSirRowlandtothedoor。"

PoorBlakewenthomedeeplyvexed;butitwasnomorethanthebeginningofhishumiliationatMr。Wilding"shands—forwhatcanbemorehumiliatingtoaquarrel—seekingmanthantohavehisenemyrefusetotreathimseriously？HeandMr。Wildingmetnextmorning,andbeforenoonthetaleofithadrunthroughBridgwaterthatWildWildingwasathistricksagain。ItmadeaprettystoryhowtwicehehaddisarmedandeachtimesparedtheLondonbeau,whostillinsisted—eachtimemorefuriously—uponrenewingtheencounter,tillMr。Wildinghadbeenforcedtorunhimthroughthesword—armandthusputhimoutofallcaseofcontinuing。ItwasastorythatheapedridiculeuponSirRowlandanddidcredittoMr。Wilding。

Richardheardit,andtrembled,enragedandimpotent。Ruthheardit,andwasstirreddespiteherselftoafeelingofgratitudetowardsWildingforthepatienceandtolerationhehaddisplayed。

Thereforawhilethematterrested,andthedayspassedslowly。ButSirRowland"snature—meanatbottom—wasspurredtofindhimsomeotherwayofwipingoutthescorethatlay`twixthimandMr。Wilding,ascoremightilyincreasedbytheshamethatMr。Wildinghadputuponhiminthatencounterfromwhich—whatevertheissue—hehadlookedtocullgreatcreditinRuth"seyes。

HehadbeenthinkingconstantlyoftheincautiouswordsthatRichardhadletfall,thinkingoftheminconjunctionwiththestartlingrumoursthatwerenowthetalkofthewholecountryside。Helaidtwoandtwotogether,andthefourhefoundthemmakeaffordedhimsomehope。Thenherealized—ashemighthaverealizedbeforehadhebeenshrewder—

thatRichard"smoodwasonethatmadehimripeforanyvillainy。HethoughtthathewasmuchinerrorifatreacheryexistedsoblackthatRichardwouldquailbeforeit,ifitbutaffordedhimthemeansofriddinghimselfandtheworldofMr。Wilding。Hewasconsideringhowbesttoapproachthesubject,whenithappenedthatonenightwhenRichardsatatplaywithhiminhisownlodging,theboygrewtalkativethroughexcessofwine。IthappenednaturallyenoughthatRichardsoughtanallyinBlake,justasBlakesoughtanallyinRichard。

Indeed,theirfortunes—sofarasRuthwasconcerned—werebounduptogether。ThebaronetsawthatRichard,half—fuddled,wasripeforanyconfidencesthatmightaimatthedestructionofhisenemy。Hequestionedhimadroitly,anddrewfromhimthestoryoftherisingthatwasbeingplanned,andofthesharethatMr。Wilding—oneoftheDukeofMonmouth"schiefmovement—men—boreinthebusinessthatwastoward。

When,towardsmidnight,RichardWestmacottwenthome,heleftinSirRowland"shandsaninstrumentwhichthelatteraccountedpotentialnotonlyforthedestructionofAnthonyWilding,butperhapsalsoforlayingthefoundationstothebuildingofhisownfortunesanew。

CHAPTERVII

THENUPTIALSOFRUTHWESTMACOTT

HerewasSirRowlandBlakeinhighfettleatknowinghimselfarmedwithaportentousweaponforthedestructionofAnthonyWilding。Uponcloserinspectionofit,however,hecametorealize—asRichardhadrealizedearlier—thatitwasdouble—edged,andthatthewieldingofitmustbefraughtwithasmuchdangerforRichardasfortheircommonenemy。FortobetrayMr。WildingandtheplotwouldscarcebepossiblewithoutbetrayingyoungWestmacott,andthatwasunthinkable,sincetoruinRichard—athinghewouldhavedonewithalightheartsofarasRichardwashimselfconcerned—wouldbetoruinhisownhopesofwinningRuth。

Therefore,duringthedaysthatfollowed,SirRowlandwasforcedtofretinidlenesswhattimehiswoundwashealing;butifhisarmwasinvalided,hiseyesandearsweresound,andheremainedwatchfulforanopportunitytoapplytheknowledgehehadgained。Richardmentionedthesubjectnomore,sothatBlakealmostcametowonderwhethertheboyrememberedwhatinhiscupshehadbetrayed。

MeanwhileMr。Wildingmovedsereneandsmilingonhisway。DailythereweregreatarmfulsofflowersdepositedatLuptonHouse—hislover"sofferingtohismistress—andnodaywentbybutthatsomerichergiftaccompaniedthem。Nowitwasacollarofbrilliants,anonaropeofpearls,againapricelessringthathadbeenMr。

Wilding"smother"s。Ruthreceivedwithreluctancethesepledgesofhisundesiredaffection。Itwereidletorejectthem,consideringthatshewastomarryhim;yetithurthersorelytoretainthem。

Onhersideshemadenodispositionsforthemarriage,butwentaboutherdailytasksasthoughsheweretoremainamaidatLuptonHouseforatimeasyetindefinite。

InDiana,Wildinghad—thoughhewasfarfromguessingit—anentirelyexceptionalally。LadyHorton,too,wasfavourablydisposedtowardshim。Afoolish,worldlywoman,whoneverprobedbeneathlife"ssurface,norindeeddreamedthatanythingexistedinlifebeyondthattowhichherfivesensestestified,shewascontentplacidlytocontemplatetheadvantagesthatmustaccruetoherniecefromthisalliance。

AndsomotheranddaughterinMr。Wilding"sabsencepleadedhiscausewithhisrefractorybride—elect。Buttheypleadedittolittlerealpurpose。SomethingperhapstheyachievedinthatRuthgrewmoreorlessresignedtothefatethatawaitedher。ByrepeatingtoherselftheargumentsshehademployedtoRichard—thatshemustwedsomeday,andthatMr。Wildingwouldprovenodoubtasgoodahusbandasanother—shecameinameasuretobelievethem。

Richardmeanwhileappearedtoavoidher。Lackingthecouragetoadopttheheroicmeasureswhichatfirsthehadpromised,yethadhegraceenoughtotakeshameathisinaction。ButifhewasidlesofarasMr。Wildingwasconcerned,therewasnolackofworkforhiminotherconnections。Thecloudsofwarweregatheringinthatsummersky,andabouttoloosethestormgestatinginthemuponthatfaircountryoftheWest,andyoungWestmacott,committedashestoodtotheDukeofMonmouth"sparty,wasforcedtotakehisshareinthesurreptitiousbustlethatwastoward。Hewasawaytwodaysinthatweek,havingbeensummonedtoameetingoftheleadinggentlemenofthepartyatWhiteLackington,wherehewasforcedintotheunwelcomecompanyofhisfuturebrother—in—law,tomeetwithcourteous,deferentialtreatmentfromthatimperturbablegentleman。

Wilding,indeed,seemedtohaveforgottenthatanyquarrelhadeverexistedbetweenthem。Fortherest,hecameandwent,supremelycalm,asifhewere,andknewhimselftobe,mostwelcomeatLuptonHouse。

ThriceinthecourseofthatweekofwaitingherodeoverfromZoylandChasetopayhisdutytoMistressWestmacott,andRuthwaspersuadedoneachoccasionbyherauntandcousintoreceivehim。Indeed,howcouldshewellrefuse？

Hismannerwaseverallthatcouldbedesired。Gallant,affectionate,deferential。HewasinwordandlookandtoneRuth"smostobedientservant。Hadshebeenlessprejudicedshemusthaveadmiredtheadmirablerestraintwithwhichhekeptallexultationfromhismanner,for,afterall,itisdifficulttoforceavictoryashehadforcedhis,andnottotriumph。

ItistobefearedthatduringthatweekheneglectedagooddealofhisdutytotheDuke,leavingTrenchardtosupplyhisplaceandundertaketasksofaseditiousnaturethatshouldhavebeenhisown。

Atheart,however,inspiteofthestoriescurrentandthemilitiaatTaunton,Wildingremainedconvinced—asdidmostoftheotherleadingpartisansoftheProtestantCause—thatnosuchmadnessasthisprematurelandingcouldbeincontemplationbytheDuke。Besides,wereitso,theymustunfailinglyhavedefinitewordofit;andtheyhadnone。

Trenchardwaslessassured,butWildinglaughedattheoldrake"sforebodings,andserenelywentaboutthebusinessofhismarriage。

OntheeveoftheweddinghepaidRuthhislastvisitinthequalityofalover,andwasreceivedbyherinthegarden。Hefoundherlookingpalerthanherwont,andtherewasacloudofsadnessonherbrow,ahauntingsadnessinhereyes。Ittouchedhimtothesoul,andforamomenthewaveredinhispurpose。Hestoodbesideher—sheseatedontheoldlichenedseat—andasilencefellbetweenthem,duringwhichMr。Wilding"sconsciencewrestledwithhisstrongerpassion。Itwashishabittobeglib,talkingincessantlywhattimehewasinhercompany,andseeingtoitthathistalkwasshallowandtouchedatnothingbelongingtothedeepsofhumanlife。Thuswasit,perhaps,thatthissuddenandenduringsilenceaffectedhermostoddly;itwasasifshehadabsorbedsomenotionofwhatwaspassinginhismind。Shelookedupsuddenlyintohisface,sowhiteandsocomposed。Theireyesmet,andhestoopedtohersuddenly,hislongbrownringletstumblingforward。Shefearedhiskiss,yetnevermoved,staringupwithfixed,dilatedeyesasiffascinatedbyhisdark,broodinggaze。Hepaused,hoveringaboveherupturnedfaceashoversthehawkabovethedove。

"Child,"hesaidatlast,andhisvoicewassoftandwinningfromverysadness,"child,whydoyoufearme？"

Thetruthofitwenthometoher。Shefearedhim;shefearedthestrengththatlaybehindthatcalm;shefearedthemasterfulnessofhiswildbutinscrutablyhiddennature;shewasafraidtosurrendertosuchamanasthis,afraidthatinthehotcrucibleofhisloveherownnaturewouldbedissolved,transmuted,andrenderedpartofhis。Yet,thoughthetruthwasnowmadeplaintoher,shethrustitfromher。

"Idonotfearyou,"saidshe,andhervoiceatleastrangfearlessly。

"Doyouhateme,then？"heasked。Herglancegrewtroubledandfellawayfromhis;itsoughtthecalmoftheriver,gleaminggoldeninthesunset。Therewasapause。Wildingsighedheavily,andstraightenedhimselffromhisbendingposture。

"Youshouldnothavesoughtthustocompelme,shesaidpresently。

"Iownit,"heansweredathoughtbitterly。"Iownit。YetwhathopehadIbutincompulsion？"Shereturnedhimnoanswer。"Yousee,"hesaid,withincreasingbitterness,"yousee,thathadInotseizedthechancethatwasminetowinyoubycompulsionIhadnotwonyouatall。"

"Itmight,"saidshe,"havebeenbettersoforbothofus。"

"Betterforneither,"hereplied。"Ah,thinkitnot！Intime,I

swear,youshallnotthinkit。Foryoushallcometoloveme,Ruth,"

headdedwithanoteofsuchassurancethatsheturnedtomeetagainhisgaze。Heansweredthewordlessquestionofhereyes。"Thereis,"

saidhe,"noloveofmanforwoman,sothatthemanbenotwhollyunworthy,sothathispassionbesincereandstrong,thatcanfailintimetoarouseresponse。"Shesmiledalittlepitifulsmileofunbelief。"WereIaboy,"herejoined,hisearnestnessvibratingnowinavoicethatwasusuallysocalmandlevel,"offeringyouprotestationsofacallowworship,youmighthavecausetodoubtme。

ButIamaman,Ruth—atried,andhaplyasinfulman,alas！—amanwhoneedsyou,andwhowillhaveyouatallcosts。"

"Atallcosts？"sheechoed,andherliptookonacurl。"Andyoucallthisegotismbythenameoflove！Nodoubtyouareright,"shecontinuedwithanironythatstunghim,"forloveitis—loveofyourself。"

"Andisnotallloveofanotherfoundedupontheloveofself？"heaskedher,startlingherwithaquestionthatrevealedtoherclear—sightedmindatruthundreamedof。"Whensomeday—pleaseHeaven—Icometofindfavourinyoureyes,andyoucometoloveme,whatwillitmeanbutthatyouhavecometofindmenecessarytoyourselfandtoyourhappiness？Wouldyoudenymenowyourloveifyoufeltthatyouhadneedofmine？IloveyoubecauseIlovemyself,yousay。Igrantityou。Butyou"llconfessthatifyoudonotlovemeyet,itisforthesamereason,andthatwhenyoudocometolovemethereasonwillbestillthesame。"

"YouareverysurethatIshallcometoloveyou,saidshe,shiftingwoman—likethegroundofargumentnowthatshefoundinsecuretheplaceonwhichatfirstshehadtakenherstand。

"WereInot,thinkyouIshouldcompelyoutothechurchto—morrow？"

Shetrembledathiscalmassurance。Itwasasifshealmostfearedthatwhathesaidmightcometopass。

"Sinceyoubearsuchfaithinyourheart,"saidshe,"wereitnotnobler,moregenerous,thatyoushouldsetyourselftowinmefirstandwedmeafterwards？"

"ItisthecourseIshould,myself,prefer,"heansweredquietly。"Butitisacoursedeniedme。Iwasviewedherewithdisfavour,almostdeniedyourhouse。WhatchancehadIwhilstImightnotcomenearyou,whilstyourmindwaspoisonedagainstmebytheidle,viciousprattlethatgoesroundandroundthecountryside,increasingeverinbulkfromconstantrepetition？"

"Doyousaythatthesetalesaregroundless？"sheasked,withasuddenliftingoftheeyes,asuddenkeeneagernessthatdidnotescapehim。

"IwouldtoGodIcould,"hecried,"sincefromyourmannerIseethatwouldimprovemeinyoursight。Butthereisjustsufficienttruthinthemtoforbidme,asIam,Ihope,agentleman,fromgivingthemafulldenial。YetinwhatamIworsethanmyfellows？Areyouofthosewhothinkahusbandshouldcometothemasonewhoseyouthhasbeentheyouthofcloisterednun？Heavenknows,Iamnotonetodrawparallels`twixtmyselfandanyother,yetyoucompelme。Whilstyoudenyme,youreceivethisfellowBlake—aLondonnight—scourer,abrokengamesterwhohasgivenhiscreditorsleg—bail,andwhowoosyouthatwithyourfortunehemayclosethedoorsofthedebtor"sgaolthat"sopentoreceivehim。"

"Thisisunworthyinyou,"sheexclaimed,hertoneindignant—soindignantthatheexperiencedhisfirstpangofjealousy。

"ItwouldbewereIhisrival,"heansweredquietly。"ButIamnot。

Ihavesavedyoufrombecomingthepreyofsuchashebyforcingyoutomarryme。"

"ThatImaybecomethepreyofsuchasyou,instead,"washerretort。

Helookedatheramoment,smilingsadly。Then,withpardonableself—esteemwhenwethinkofwhatmannerofmanitwaswithwhomhenowcomparedhimself,"Surely,"saidhe,"itisbettertobecomethepreyofthelionthanthejackal。"

"Tothevictimitcanmatterlittle,"sheanswered,andhesawthetearsgatheringinhereyes。

Compassionmovedhim。Itroseinarmstobatterdownhiswill,andinaweakermanhadtriumphed。Mr。Wildingbenthiskneeandwentdownbesideher。

"Iswear,"hesaidimpassionedly,"thatasmywifeyoushallnevercountyourselfavictim。Youshallbehonouredbyallmen,butbynonemoredeeplythanbyhimwhowilleverstrivetobeworthyoftheproudtitleofyourhusband。"Hetookherhandandkisseditreverentially。Heroseandlookedather。"To—morrow,"hesaid,andbowinglowbeforeherwenthisway,leavingherwithemotionsthatfoundtheirventintears,butdefiedhermaidenmindtounderstandthem。

Themorrowcameherwedding—day—asunnydayofearlyJune,andRuth。