第15章
ThistreatmentofhiminspiredMr。Wildingwithmalice。ThemerementionofSunderland"sletterwouldhavechangedtheirtone。Butheelectedbynosuchwordtourgetheimportanceofhisbusiness。ItshouldbeentirelyasMonmouthshouldelectorbeconstrainedbythesegentlemenabouthiscouncil—table。
"Itwouldservetwopurposes,"saidWade,whilstMonmouthstillconsidered。"YourMajestywillbenonetoowellattended,yourofficershavingthisothermattertopreparefor。Mr。Wildingwouldformanothertoswellyourescortofgentlemen。"
"Ithinkyouareright,ColonelWade,"saidMonmouth。"WesupatMr。
Newlington"satnineo"clock,Mr。Wilding。Weshallexpectyoutoattendusthere。LieutenantCragg,"saidHisGracetotheyoungofficerwhohadadmittedWilding,andwhohadremainedatattentionbythedoor,"youmayreconductMr。Wilding。"
Wildingbowed,hislipstighttokeepintheangerthatcravedexpression。Then,withoutanotherwordspoken,heturnedanddeparted。
"Aninsolent,overbearingknave！"wasGrey"scommentuponhimafterhehadlefttheroom。
"Letusattendtothis,yourlordship,"saidSpeke,tappingthemap。
"Timepresses,"andheinvitedWadetocontinuethematterthatWilding"sadventhadinterrupted。
CHAPTERXVIII
BETRAYAL
Stillsmartingunderthecavaliertreatmenthehadreceived,Mr。WildingcameforthfromtheCastletofindTrenchardawaitinghimamongthecrowdofofficersandmenthatthrongedtheyard。
Nicklinkedhisarmthroughhisfriend"sandledhimaway。Theyquittedtheplaceinsilence,andinsilencetooktheirwaysouthtowardstheHighStreet,NickwaitingforMr。Wildingtospeak,Mr。Wilding"smindstillinturmoilatthethingshehadendured。AtlastNickhaltedsuddenlyandlookedkeenlyathisfriendinthefailinglight。
"Whataplagueailsyou,Tony？"saidhesharply。"YouareassilentasIamimpatientforyournews。"
Wildingtoldhiminbrief,disdainfultermsofthereceptiontheyhadgivenhimattheCastle,andofhowtheyhadblamedhimforthecircumstancethatLondonhadfailedtoproclaimitselfforMonmouth。
Trenchardsnarledviciously。"`TisthatmongrelGrey,"saidhe。"Oh,Anthony,towhatanaffairhavewesetourhands？Naughtcanprosperwiththatfellowinit。"HelaidhishandonWilding"sarmandloweredhisvoice。"AsIhavehintedbefore,`twouldnotsurprisemeiftimeprovedhimatraitor。Failureattendshimeverywhere,andsounfailinglythatonewondersisnotfailureinvitedbyhim。AndthatfoolMonmouth！
Pshaw。！Seewhatitistoserveaweakling。Withanotherinhisplaceandthecountrydisaffectedasitis,wehadbeenmastersofEnglandbynow。
Twoladiespassedthematthatmoment,cloakedandhooded,walkingbriskly。OneofthemturnedtolookatTrenchard,who,wavinghisarmsinwildgesticulation,wasaconspicuousobject。Shecheckedinherwalk,arrestinghercompanion。
"Mr。Wilding！"sheexclaimed。ItwasLadyHorton。
"Mr。Wilding！"criedDiana,hercompanion。
Wildingdoffedhishatandbowed,Trenchardfollowinghisexample。
"WehadscarcelookedtoseeyouinBridgwateragain,"saidthemother,hermild,pleasantcountenancereflectingthesatisfactionitgavehertobeholdhimsafeandsound。
"Therehavebeenmoments,"answeredWilding,"whenmyselfIscarceexpectedtoreturn。Yourladyship"sgreetingshowsmewhatIhadlosthadInotdoneso。"
"Youarebutnewlyarrived？"quothDiana,scanninghiminthegloaming。
"FromLondon,anhoursince。"
"Anhour？"sheechoed,andobservedthathewasstillbootedanddust—stained。"YouwillhavebeentoLuptonHouse？"
Ashadowcrossedhisface,hisglanceseemedtogrowclouded,allofwhichwatchfulDianadidnotfailtoobserve。"Notyet,"saidhe。
"Youarealaggard,"shelaughedathim,andhefelttheblooddrivenbackuponhisheart。Whatdidshemean？Wasitpossibleshesuggestedthatheshouldbewelcome,thathiswife"sfeelingstowardshimhadundergoneachange？HislastpartingfromherontheroadnearWalfordhadbeeneverinhismind。
"Ihavehadweightybusinesstotransact,hereplied,andTrenchardsnorted,hismindflyingbacktothecouncil—roomattheCastle,andwhathisfriendhadtoldhim。
"Butnowthatyouhavedisposedofthatyouwillsupwithus,"saidLadyHorton,whowasconvincedthatsinceRuthhadgonetothealtarwithhimhewasRuth"sloverinspiteoftheoddthingsshehadheard。
AppearanceswithLadyHortoncountedforeverything,andallthatglitteredwasgoldtoher。
"Iwould,"heanswered,"butthatIamtosupatMr。Newlington"swithHisMajesty。Myvisitmustwaituntilto—morrow。"
"Letushope,"saidTrenchard,"thatitwaitsnolonger。"HewasalreadyinstructedtouchingthenightattackonFeversham"scamponSedgemoor,andthoughtitlikelyWildingwouldaccompanythem。
"YouaregoingtoMr。Newlington"s？"saidDiana,andTrenchardthoughtshehadturnedsingularlypale。Herhandwasoverherheart,hereyeswide。Sheseemedabouttoaddsomething,butcheckedherself。Shetookhermother"sarm。"WearedetainingMr。Wilding,mother,"saidshe,andhervoicequiveredasifherwholebeingwereshakenbysomegustyagitation。Theyspoketheirfarewellsbriefly,andmovedon。A
secondlaterDianawasbackattheirsideagain。
"Whereareyoulodged,Mr。Wilding？"sheinquired。
"WithmyfriendTrenchard—atthesignofTheShip,bytheCross。"
Shebrieflyacknowledgedtheinformation,rejoinedhermother,andhurriedawaywithher。
Trenchardstoodstaringafterthemamoment。"Odd！"saidhe;"didyoumarkthatgirl"sdiscomposure？"
ButWilding"sthoughtswereelsewhere。"Come,Nick！IfIamtorendermyselffittositattablewithMonmouth,we"llneedtohasten。"
Theywenttheirway,butnotsofastaswentDiana,urgingwithherherprotestingandshort—windedmother。
"Whereisyourmistress？"thegirlaskedexcitedlyofthefirstservantshemetatLuptonHouse。
"Inherroom,madam,"themanreplied,andtoRuth"sroomwentDianabreathlessly,leavingLadyHortongapingafterherandunderstandingnothing。
Ruth,whowasseatedpensivebyherwindow,roseonDiana"simpetuousentrance,andinthedeepeningtwilightshelookedalmostghostlyinhergownofshimmeringwhitesatin,sewnwithpearlsabouttheneckofthelow—cutbodice。
"Diana！"shecried。"Youstartledme。"
"NotsomuchasIamyettodo,"answeredDiana,breathingexcitement。
Shethrewbackthewimplefromherhead,andpullingawayhercloak,tosseditontothebed。"Mr。WildingisinBridgwater,"sheannounced。
TherewasafaintrustlefromthestiffsatinofRuth"sgown。"Then……"
hervoiceshookslightly。"Then……heisnotdead,"shesaid,morebecauseshefeltthatshemustsaysomethingthanbecauseherwordsfittedtheoccasion。
"Notyet,"saidDianagrimly。
"Notyet？"
"Hesupsto—nightatMr。Newlington"s,"MissHortonexclaimedinavoicepregnantwithmeaning。
"Ah！"ItwasacryfromRuth,sharpasifshehadbeenstabbed。Shesankbacktoherseatbythewindow,smittendownbythissuddennews。
Therewasapause,whichfrettedDiana,whonowcravedknowledgeofwhatmightbepassinginhercousin"smind。SheadvancedtowardsRuthandlaidatremblinghandonhershoulder,wherethewhitegownmettheivoryneck。"Hemustbewarned,"shesaid。
"But……,buthow？"stammeredRuth。"TowarnhimweretobetraySirRowland。"
"SirRowland？"criedDianainhighscorn。
"And……andRichard,"Ruthcontinued。
"Yes,andMr。Newlington,andalltheotherknavesthatareengagedinthismurderousbusiness。Well？"shedemanded。"Willyoudoit,ormustI？"
"Doit？"Ruth"seyessoughthercousin"swhite,excitedfaceinthequasi—darkness。"Buthaveyouthoughtofwhatitwillmean？HaveyouthoughtofthepoorpeoplethatwillperishunlesstheDukeistakenandthisrebellionbroughttoanend？"
"Thoughtofit？"repeatedDianawitheringly。"NotI。IhavethoughtthatMr。Wildingishereandliketohavehisthroatcutbeforeanhourispast。"
"Tellme,areyousureofthis？"askedRuth。
"Ihaveitfromyourhusband"sownlips,"Dianaanswered,andtoldherinafewwordsofhermeetingwithMr。Wilding。
Ruthsatwithhandsfoldedinherlap,hereyesonthedimvioletafter—glowinthewest,andhermindwrestlingwiththisproblemthatDianahadbroughther。
"Diana,"shecriedatlast,"whatamItodo？"
"Do？"echoedDiana。"Isitnotplain？WarnMr。Wilding。"
"ButRichard？"
"Mr。WildingsavedRichard"slife……"
"Iknow。Iknow。Mydutyistowarnhim。"
"Thenwhyhesitate？"
"MydutyisalsotokeepfaithwithRichard,tothinkofthosepoormisguidedfolkwhoaretobesavedbythis,"criedRuthinanagony。
"IfMr。Wildiniswarned,theywillallberuined。"
Dianastampedherfootimpatiently。"HadIthoughttofindyouinthismind,Ihadwarnedhimmyself;"saidshe。
"Ah！Whydidyounot？"
"Thatthechanceofdoingsomightbeyours。Thatyoumightthusrepayhimthedebtinwhichyoustand。"
"Diana,Ican"t！"Thewordsbrokefromherinasob。
ButwhateverherinterestinMr。Wildingforherownsake,Diana"sprimeintentwasthethwartingSirRowlandBlake。IfWildingwerewarnedofwhatmanneroffeastwasspreadatNewlington"s,SirRowlandwouldbeindeedundone。
"YouthinkofRichard,"sheexclaimed,"andyouknowthatRichardistohavenoactivepartintheaffair—thathewillrunnorisk。TheyhaveassignedhimbutasentrydutythathemaywarnBlakeandhisfollowersifanydangerthreatensthem。"
"ItisnotofRichard"slifeIamthinking,butofhishonour,ofhistrustinme。TowarnMr。Wildingwere……tocommitanactofbetrayal。"
"AndisMr。Wildingtobeslaughteredwithhisfriends？"Dianaaskedher。
"Resolvemethat。Timepresses。Inhalfanhouritwillbetoolate。"
ThatallusiontotheshortnessofthetimebroughtRuthaninspiration。
Suddenlyshesawaway。Wildingshouldbesaved,andyetshewouldnotbreakfaithwithRichardnorruinthoseothers。Shewoulddetainhim,andwhilstwarninghimatthelastmoment,intimeforhimtosavehimself;notdosountilitmustbetoolateforhimtowarntheothers。
Thusshewoulddoherdutybyhim,andyetkeepfaithwithRichardandSirRowland。Shehadresolved,shethought,theawfuldifficultythathadconfrontedher。Sherosesuddenly,heartenedbythethought。
"Givemeyourcloakandwimple,"shebadeDiana,andDianaflewtodoherbidding。"WhereisMr。Wildinglodged？"sheasked。
"AtthesignofTheShip—overlookingtheCross,withMr。Trenchard。
ShallIcomewithyou？"
"No,"answeredRuthwithouthesitation。"Iwillgoalone。"Shedrewthewimplewelloverherhead,sothatinitsshadowsherfacemightlieconcealed,andhidhershimmeringwhitedressunderDiana"scloak。
Shehastenedthroughtheill—lightedstreets,neverheedingtheroughcobblesthathurtherfeet,shodinlightindoorwear,neverheedingthecrowdsthatthrongedherway。AllBridgwaterwasastirwithMonmouth"spresence;moreover,therehadbeengreatincursionsfromTauntonandthesurroundingcountry,thewomen—folkoftheDuke—King"sfollowershavingcomethatdaytoBridgwatertosayfarewelltofatherandson,husbandandbrother,beforethearmymarched—aswasstillbelieved—toGloucester。
Thehalf—hourwasstrikingfromSaintMary"s—thechurchinwhichshehadbeenmarried—asRuthreachedthedoorofthesignofTheShip。Shewasabouttoknock,whensuddenlyitopened,andMr。Wildinghimself,withTrenchardimmediatelybehindhim,stoodconfrontingher。Atsightofhimamomentaryweaknesstookher。Hehadchangedfromhishard—usedriding—garmentsintoasuitofroughlycordedblacksilk,whichthrewintoreliefthesteelylithenessofhissparefigure。Hisdarkbrownhairwascarefullydressed,diamondsgleamedinthecravatofsnowylaceathisthroat。Hewasuncovered,hishatunderhisarm,andhestoodasidetomakewayforher,imaginingthatshewassomewomanofthehouse。
"Mr。Wilding,"saidshe,herheartflutteringinherthroat。"MayI……mayIspeakwithyou？"
Heleanedforward,seekingtopiercetheshadowsofherwimple;hehadthoughtherecognizedthevoice,ashissuddenstarthadshown;andyethedisbelievedhisears。Shemovedherheadatthatmoment,andthelightstreamingoutfromalampinthepassagebeatuponherwhiteface。
"Ruth！"hecried,andcamequicklyforward。Trenchard,behindhim,lookedonandscowledwithsuddenimpatience。Mr。Wilding"sphilanderingswiththisladyhadneverhadtheoldrake"sapproval。
Toomuchtroublealreadyhadresultedfromthem。
"Imustspeakwithyouatonce。Atonce！"sheurgedhim,hertonefearful。
"Areyouinneedofme？"heaskedconcernedly。
"Inveryurgentneed,"saidshe。
"IthankGod,"heansweredwithoutflippancy。"Youshallfindmeatyourservice。Tellme。"
"Nothere;nothere,"sheansweredhim。
"Whereelse？"saidhe。"Shallwewalk？"
"No,no。"Herrepetitionsmarkedthedeepexcitementthatpossessedher。
"Iwillgoinwithyou。"Andshesignedwithherheadtowardsthedoorfromwhichhewasbarelyemerged。
"`Twerescarcefitting,"saidhe,forbeingconfusedandfullofspeculationonthescoreofherneed,hehadforthemomentalmostoverlookedtherelationsinwhichtheystood。Inspiteoftheceremonythroughwhichtheyhadgonetogether,Mr。Wildingstillmostlythoughtofherasofamistressverydifficulttowoo。
"Fitting？"sheechoed,andthenafterapause,"AmInotyourwife？"
sheaskedhiminalowvoice,hercheekscrimsoning。
"Ha！`Ponhonour,Ihadalmostforgot,"saidhe,andthoughtheburdenofhiswordsseemedmocking,theirtonewassad。
Ofthepassers—bythatjostledthemacouplehadnowpausedtowatchascenethathadanelementoftheunusualinit。Shepulledherwimpleclosertoherface,tookhimbythearm,anddrewhimwithherintothehouse。
"Closethedoor,"shebadehim,andTrenchard,whohadstoodasidethattheymightpassin,forestalledhiminobeyingher。"Nowleadmetoyourroom,saidshe,andWildinginamazeturnedtoTrenchardasifaskinghisconsent,forthelodging,afterall,wasTrenchard"s。
"I"llwaithere,"saidNick,andwavedhishandtowardsanoakbenchthatstoodinthepassage。"Youhadbestmakehaste,"heurgedhisfriend;"youarelatealready。Thatis,unlessyouareofamindtosetthelady"saffairsbeforeKingMonmouth"s。AndwereIinyourplace,Anthony,faithI"dnotscrupletodoit。Forafterall,"headdedunderhisbreath,"there"slittlechoiceinrottenapples。"
RuthwaitedforsomeanswerfromWildingthatmightsuggesthewasindifferentwhetherhewenttoNewlington"sornot;buthespokenowordasheturnedtoleadthewayabove—stairstotheindifferentparlourwhichwiththeadjoiningbedroomconstitutedMr。Trenchard"slodging—andhisown,forthetimebeing。
Havingassuredherselfthatthecurtainswerecloselydrawn,sheputbyhercloakandhood,andstoodrevealedtohiminthelightofthethreecandles,burninginabranchuponthebareoaktable,dazzlinglybeautifulinhergownofivory—white。
Hestoodapart,cogitatingherwithglowingeyes,thefaintestsmilebetweenquestionandpleasurehoveringabouthisthinmouth。Hehadclosedthedoor,andstoodinsilencewaitingforhertomakeknowntohimherpleasure。
"Mr。Wilding……"shebegan,andstraightwayheinterruptedher。
"ButamomentsinceyoudidremindmethatIhavethehonourtobeyourhusband,"hesaidwithgravehumour。"Whyseeknowtoovercloudthatfact？Imindmethatthelasttimewemetyoucalledmebyanothername。
Butitmaybe,"headdedasanafterthought,"youareofopinionthatI
havebrokenfaithwithyou。"
"Brokenfaith？Ashow？"
"So！"hesaid,andsighed。"Mywordswereofsolittleaccountthattheyhavebeen,Isee,forgotten。Yet,sothatIrememberthem,thatiswhatchieflymatters。Ipromisedthen—orseemedtopromise—thatIwouldmakeawidowofyou,whohadmadeawifeofyouagainstyourwill。Ithasnothappenedyet。Donotdespair。ThisMonmouthquarrelisnotyetfoughtout。Hopeon,myRuth。"
Shelookedathimwitheyeswideopen—lustrouseyesofsapphireinafaceofivory。Afaintsmilepartedherlips,thereflectionofthethoughtinhermindthathadshe,indeed,beeneagerforhisdeathshewouldnotbewithhimatthismoment;hadshedesiredit,howeasywouldhercoursehavebeen。
"Youdomewrongtobidmehopeforthat,"sheansweredhim,hertoneslevel。"Idonotwishthedeathofanyman,unless……"Shepaused;hertruthfulnessurgedhertoofar。
"Unless？"saidhe,browsraised,politeinterestonhisface。
"UnlessitbeHisGraceofMonmouth。"
Heconsideredherwithsuddenlynarrowedeyes。"Youhavenotbychancesoughtmetotalkpolitics？"saidhe。"Or……"andhesuddenlycaughthisbreath,hisnostrilsdilatingwithrageatthebarethoughtthatleaptintohismind。HadMonmouth,thenotoriouslibertine,beentoLuptonHouseandpersecutedherwithhisaddresses？"IsitthatyouareacquaintedwithHisGrace？"heasked。
"Ihaveneverspokentohim！"sheanswered,withnosuspicionofwhatwasinhisthoughts。
Inhisreliefhelaughed,rememberingnowthatMonmouth"saffairsweretooabsorbingjustatpresenttoleavehimroomfordalliance。
"Butyouarestanding,"saidhe,andheadvancedachair。"IdeplorethatIhavenobetterhospitalitytoofferyou。IdoubtifIevershallagain。IamtoldthatAlbemarledidmethehonourtostablehisknackersinmyhallatZoyland。"
Shetookthechairheofferedher,sinkingtoitlikeonephysicallyweary,athinghewasquicktonotice。Hewatchedher,hisbodyeager,hissoultrammellingitwithasteelyrestraint。"Tellme,now,"saidhe,"inwhatyouneedme。"
Shewassilentamoment,pondering,hesitationandconfusionseemingtoenvelopher。Apinkflushrosetocolourthebeautifulpillarofneckandoverspreadthedelicatehalf—avertedface。Hewatchedit,wondering。
"Howlong,"sheaskedhim,herwholeintentatpresentbeingtodelayhimandgaintime。"HowlonghaveyoubeeninBridgwater？"
"Twohoursatmost,"saidhe。
"Twohours！Andyetyounevercameto……tome。Iheardofyourpresence,andIfearedyoumightintendtoabstainfromseekingme。"
Healmostheldhisbreathwhileshespoke,caughtinamazement。Hewasstandingclosebesideherchair,hisrighthandresteduponitstallback。
"Didyousointend？"sheaskedhim。
"Itoldyouevennow,"heansweredwithhard—woncalm,"thatIhadmadeyouasortofpromise。"
"I……Iwouldnothaveyoukeepit,"shemurmured。Sheheardhissharplyindrawnbreath,felthimleaningoverher,andwasfilledwithanunaccountablefear。
"Wasittotellmethisyoucame？"heaskedher,hisvoicereducedtoawhisper。
"No……yes,"sheanswered,anagonyinhermind,whichgropedforsomemeanstokeephimbyhersideuntilhisdangershouldbeoverpast。Thatmuchsheowedhiminhonourifinnothingelse。
"No—yes？"heechoed,andhehaddrawnhimselferectagain。"Whatis"tyoumean,Ruth？"
"Imeanthatitwasthat,yetnotquiteonlythat。"
"Ah！"Disappointmentvibratedfaintlyinhisclamation。"Whatelse？"
"IwouldhaveyouabandonMonmouth"sfollowing,"shetoldhim。
Hestaredamoment,movedawayandroundwherehecouldconfronther。
Theflushhadnowfadedfromherface。Thisheobservedandtheheaveofherbosominitslowbodice。Heknithisbrows,perplexed。Herewassurelymorethanatfirstmightseem。
"Whyso？"heasked。
"Foryourownsafety"ssake,"sheansweredhim。
"Youareoddlyconcernedforthat,Ruth。"
"Concerned—notoddly。"Shepausedaninstant,swallowedhard,andthencontinued。"Iamconcernedtooforyourhonour,andthereisnohonourinfollowinghisbanner。HehascrownedhimselfKing,andsoprovedhimselfaself—seekerwhocamedissembledasthechampionofacausethathemightdeludepoorignorantfolkintoflockingtohisstandardandhelpinghimtohisambitiousends。"
"Youarewondrouslywellschooled,"saidhe。"Whoseteachingsdoyoureciteme？SirRowlandBlake"s？"
Atanothertimethesneermighthavecuther。Atthemomentshewastoointentupongainingtime。Themeanstoitmatteredlittle。Themoreshetalkedtonopurpose,themoreatrandomwastheirdiscourse,thebetterwouldherendsbeserved。
"SirRowlandBlake？"shecried。"Whatishetome？"
"Ah,what？Letmesetyouthequestionrather。"
"Lessthannothing,"sheassuredhim,andforsomemomentsafterwardsitwasthisSirRowlandwhoservedthemasatopicfortheiroddinterview。
Ontheovermantelthepulseoftimebeatonfromalittlewoodenclock。
Hiseyesstrayedtoit;itmarkedthethree—quarters。Hebethoughthimsuddenlyofhisengagement。Trenchard,below—stairs,supremelyindifferentwhetherWildingwenttoNewlington"sornot,smokedon,entirelyunconcernedbytheflightoftime。
"Mistress,"saidWildingsuddenly,"youhavenotyettoldmeinwhatyouseekmyservice。Indeed,weseemtohavetalkedtolittlepurpose。Mytimeisveryshort。"
"Whereareyougoing？"sheaskedhim,andfearfullysheshotasidelongglanceatthetimepiece。Itwasstilltoosoon,byatleastfiveminutes。
Hesmiled,buthissmilewassingular。Hebegantosuspectatlastthatheronlypurpose—towhatendhecouldnotguess—wastodetainhim。
"`Tisasingularlysuddeninterestinmydoings,this,"saidhequietly。