第19章

Fevershamstoodlistening。"ItisDunbarton"s,"hemurmured。Then,withsomeshowofheat,"Ah,pardieu！"hecried。"Butitwasadirtyt"ingt"isMonmoot"`aveprepare"。Itismurder;itisnott"ewar。

"Andyet,"saidWildingcritically,"itisalittlemorelikewarthantheBridgwateraffairtowhichyourlordshipgaveyoursanction。

Fevershampursedhislipsandconsideredthespeaker。Wentworthreentered,followedbytheEarl"svaletcarryinganarmfulofgarments。

Hislordshipthrewoffhisdressing—gownandstoodforthinshirtandbreeches。

"Maisdpche—toi,donc,Belmont！"saidhe。"Nousnousbattons！Iifautquejem"habille。"Belmont,alittlewizenedfellowwhounderstoodnothingofthistopsy—turveydom,hastenedforward,depositedhisarmfulonthetable,andselectedafinelyembroideredwaistcoat,whichheproceededtoholdforhismaster。Wrigglingintoit,Fevershamrappedouthisorders。

"CaptainWentwort",youwillgotoyourregimenatonce。Butfirst,ah—wait。Taket"osesixmenandMistaireWilding。`Ave`imshotatonce;youonderstan",eh？Good。Allons,Belmont！mycravat。"

CHAPTERXXII

THEEXECUTION

CaptainWentworthclickedhisheelstogetherandsaluted。Blake,inthebackground,drewadeepbreath—unmistakablyofsatisfaction,andhiseyesglittered。AmuffledcrybrokefromRuth,whoroseinstantlyfromherchair,herhandonherbosom。Richardstoodwithfallenjaw,amazed,atrifletroubledeven,whilstMr。Wildingstartedmoreinsurprisethanactualfear,andapproachedthetable。

"Youheard,sir,"saidCaptainWentworth。

"Iheard,"answeredMr。Wildingquietly。"Butsurelynotaright。Onemoment,sir,"andhewavedhishandsocompellinglythat,despitetheorderhehadreceived,thephlegmaticcaptainhesitated。

Feversham,whohadtakenthecravat—ayardofpricelessDutchlace—

fromthehandsofhisvalet,andwasstandingwithhisbacktothecompanyatasmallandveryfaultymirrorthathungbytheovermantel,lookedpeevishlyoverhisshoulder。

"Mylord,"saidWilding,andBlake,forallhishatredofthisman,marvelledatacomposurethatdidnotforsakehimevennow,"youaresurelynotproposingtodealwithmeinthisfashion—notseriously,mylord？"

"Ah,ca！"saidtheFrenchman。"T"inkitajestifyouplease。Whatforyoucome`ere？"

"Assuredlynotforthepurposeofbeingshot,"saidWilding,andactuallysmiled。Then,inthetonesofonediscussingamatterthatisgravebutnotofsurpassinggravity,hecontinued:"ItisnotthatI

failtorecognizethatImayseemtohaveincurredtherigourofthelaw;butthesemattersmustbeformallyprovedagainstme。Ihaveaffairstosetinorderagainstsuchaconsummation。"

"Ta,ta！"snappedFeversham。"T"atnotregardme。Weutwort",you`ave`eardmyorder。"Andhereturnedtohismirrorandtheniceadjustmentofhisneckwear。

"But,mylord,"insistedWilding,"youhavenottheright—youhavenotthepowersotoproceedagainstme。Amanofmyqualityisnottobeshotwithoutatrial。"

"Youcan`angifyouprefer,"saidFevershamindifferently,drawingouttheendsofhiscravatandsmoothingthemdownuponhisbreast。Hefacedaboutbriskly。"Givemet"atcoat,Belmont。HisMajesty`aveempowermeto`angorshootanygentlemensoft"epartieoft"eDuct"eMonmoot"ont"espot。Isayt"atforyoursatisfaction。Andlook,I

amdesolate"tobesoquickwit"you,butpleasetoconsidert"ecircumstance。T"eenemygotoattack。Wentwort"mustgotohisregimen",andmyot"erofficersarealloccupi"。Youcomprehen"I`avenott"etimetospareyou—n"est—ce—pas？"—Wentworth"shandtouchedWildingontheshoulder。Hewasstandingwithheadslightlybowed,hisbrowsknitinthought。Helookedroundatthetouch,sighedandsmiled。

Belmontheldthecoatforhismaster,whoslippedintoit,andflungatWildingwhatwasintendedforaconsolatorysop。"Itisfortunedeguerre,MistaireWilding。Iamdesolate";butitisfortuneoft"ewar。"

"Mayitbelessfortunateforyourlordship,then,"saidWildingdryly,andwasonthepointofturning,whenRuth"svoicecameinaloudcrytostartlehimandtoquickenhispulses。

"Mylord！"Itwasacryofutteranguish。

Feversham,settlinghisgold—lacedcoatcomfortablytohisfigure,lookedather。"Madame？"saidhe。

Butshehadnothingtosay。Shestood,deathlywhite,slightlybentforward,onehandwringingtheother,hereyesalmostwild,herbosomheavingfrantically。

"Hum！"saidFeversham,andheloosenedandremovedthescarffromhishead。HeshruggedslightlyandlookedatWentworth。"Finissons！"

saidhe。

ThewordandthelooksnappedthetrammelsthatboundRuth"sspeech。

"Fiveminutes,mylord！"shecriedimploringly。"Givehimfiveminutes—andme,mylord！"

Wilding,deeplyshaken,tremblednowasheawaitedFeversham"sreply。

TheFrenchmanseemedtowaver。"Bien,"hebegan,spreadinghishands。

Andinthatmomentashotrangoutinthenightandstartledthewholecompany。Fevershamthrewbackhishead;thesignsofyieldinglefthisface。"Ha！"hecried。"T"eyarearrive。Hesnatchedhiswigfromhislacquey"shands,donnedit,andturnedagainaninstanttothemirrortoadjustthegreatcurls。"Quick,Wentwort"！T"ereisnomoretimenow。MakeMistaireWildingbeshotatonce。T"entoyourregimen"。"

Hefacedaboutandtooktheswordhisvaletproffered。"Aurevoir,messieurs！

Serviteur,madame！"And,bucklinghissword—beltashewent,hesweptout,leavingthedoorwideopen,Belmontfollowing,Wentworthsalutingandtheguardspresentingarms。

"Come,sir,"saidthecaptaininasubduedvoice,hiseyesavoidingRuth"sface。

"Iamready,"answeredWildingfirmly,andheturnedtoglanceathiswife。

Shewasbendingtowardshim,herhandsheldout,suchalookonherfaceasalmostdrovehimmadwithdespair,readingitashedid。Hemadeasounddeepinhisthroatbeforehefoundwords。

"Givemeoneminute,sir—oneminute,"hebeggedWentworth。"Iasknomorethanthat。"

Wentworthwasagentlemanandnotill—natured。Buthewasasoldierandhadreceivedhisorders。Hehesitatedbetweentheinstinctsofthetwoconditions。Andwhattimehedidsotherecameaclatterofhoofswithouttoresolvehim。ItwasFevershamdeparting。

"Youshallhaveyourminute,sir,"saidhe。"MoreIdarenotgiveyou,asyoucansee。

"FrommyheartIthankyou,"answeredMr。Wilding,andfromthegratitudeofhistoneyoumighthaveinferredthatitwashislifeWentworthhadaccordedhim。

Thecaptainhadalreadyturnedasidetoaddresshismen。"Twoofyououtside,guardthatwindow,"heordered。"Therestofyou,inthepassage。Bestirthere！"

"Takeyourprecautions,byallmeans,sir,"saidWilding;"butIgiveyoumywordofhonourIshallattemptnoescape。

Wentworthnoddedwithoutreplying。HiseyelightedonBlake—whohadbeenseeminglyforgottenintheconfusion—andonRichard。A

kindlinessforthemanwhomethisendsounflinchingly,arespectforsoworthyanemeny,actuatedthered—facedcaptain。

"Youhadbettertakeyourselfoff,SirRowland,"saidhe。"Andyou,Mr。Westmacott—youcanwaitinthepassagewithmymen。

Theyobeyedhimpromptlyenough,butwhenoutsideSirRowlandmadeboldtoremindthecaptainthathewasfailinginhisduty,andthatheshouldmakeapointofinformingtheGeneralofthisanon。Wentworthbadehimgotothedevil,andsowasridofhim。

Alone,insidethatlow—ceilingedchamber,stoodRuthandWildingfacetoface。Headvancedtowardsher,andwithashudderingsobsheflungherselfintohisarms。Still,hemistrustedtheemotiontowhichshewasaprey—dreadinglestitshouldhaveitsrootinpity。Hepattedhershouldersoothingly。

"Nay,nay,littlechild,"hewhisperedinherear。"Neverweepformethathavenotatearformyself。Whatbetterresolutionofthedifficultiesmyfollyhascreated？"Foronlyanswersheclungcloser,herhandslockedabouthisneck,herslenderbodyshakenbyhersilentweeping。"Don"tpityme,"hebesoughther。"Iamcontentitshouldbeso。ItistheamendIpromisedyou。Wastenopityonme,Ruth。"

Sheraisedherface,hereyeswildandblurredwithtears,lookeduptohis。

"Itisnotpity！"shecried。"Iwantyou,Anthony！Iloveyou,Anthony,Anthony！"

Hisfacegrewashen。"Itistrue,then！"heaskedher。"Andwhatyousaidto—nightwastrue！Ithoughtyousaiditonlytodetainme。"

"Oh,itistrue,itistrue！"shewailed。

Hesighed;hedisengagedahandtostrokeherface。"Iamhappy,"hesaid,andstrovetosmile。"HadIlived,whoknows……？"

"No,no,no,"sheinterruptedhimpassionately,herarmstighteningabouthisneck。Hebenthishead。Theirlipsmetandclung。Aknockfelluponthedoor。Theystarted,andWildingraisedhishandsgentlytodisengageherpinioningarms。

"Imustgo,sweet,"hesaid。

"Godhelpme！"shemoaned,andclungtohimstill。"ItisIwhoamkillingyou—Iandyourloveforme。Foritwastosavemeyourodehitherto—night,neverpausingtoweighyourowndeadlydanger。Oh,Iampunishedforhavinglistenedtoeveryvoicebutthevoiceofmyownheartwhereyouwereconcerned。HadIlovedyouearlier—hadI

owneditearlier……"

"Ithadstillbeentoolate,"hesaid,moretocomfortherthanbecauseheknewittobeso。"Bebraveformysake,Ruth。Youcanbebrave,I

know—sowell。Listen,sweet。Yourwordshavemademehappy。Marnotthishappinessofminebysendingmeoutingriefatyourgrief。"

Herresponsetohisprayerwasbrave,indeed。Throughhertearscameafaintsmiletooverspreadherfacesowhiteandpitiful。

"Weshallmeetsoonagain,"shesaid。

"Aye—thinkonthat,"hebadeher,andpressedhertohim。"Good—bye,sweet！Godkeepyoutillwemeet！"headded,hisvoiceinfinitelytender。

"Mr。Wilding！"Wentworth"svoicecalledhim,andthecaptainthrustthedooropenafootorso。"Mr。Wilding！"

"Iamcoming,"heansweredsteadily。Hekissedheragain,andonthatkissofhisshesankagainsthim,andhefeltherturnalllimp。Heraisedhisvoice。"Richard！"heshoutedwildly。"Richard！"

Atthenoteofalarminhisvoice,Wentworthflungwidethedoorandentered,Richard"sashenfaceshowingoverhisshoulder。Inherbrother"scareWildingdeliveredhismercifullyunconsciouswife。

"Seetoher,Dick,"hesaid,andturnedtogo,mistrustinghimselfnow。

Buthepausedashereachedthedoor,Wentworthwaxingmoreandmoreimpatientathiselbow。Heturnedagain。

"Dick,"hesaid,"wemighthavebeenbetterfriends。Iwouldwehadbeen。Letuspartsoatleast,"andheheldouthishand,smiling。

BeforesomuchgallantryRichardwasconqueredalmosttothepointofworship;aweakmanhimself,therewasnovirtuehecouldmoreadmirethanstrength。HeleftRuthinthehigh—backedchairinwhichWilding"stenderhandshadplacedher,andsprangforward,tearsinhiseyes。HewrungWilding"shandsinwordlesspassion。

"Begoodtoher,Dick,"saidWilding,andwentoutwithWentworth。

HewasmarcheddownthestreetinthecentreofthatsmallpartyofmusketeersofDunbarton"sregiment,histhoughtsallbehindhimratherthanahead,asmileonhislips。Hehadconqueredatthelast。Hethoughtofthatotherpartingoftheirs,nearlyamonthago,ontheroadbyWalford。Now,asthen,circumstancewasthefirethathadmeltedher。Butthecruciblewasnolonger—asthenofpity;itwasthecrucibleoflove。

Andinthatsamecrucible,too,AnthonyWilding"snaturehadundergoneatransmutation;hisloveforRuthhadbeenpurifiedofthatbasealloyofdesirewhichhaddrivenhimintotheunworthinessofmakingherhisownatallcosts;therewasnocarnalgrossnessinhispresentpassion;

itwaspureasareligion—thelovethattakesnoaccountofself,thelovethatmakesforjoyousandgratefulmartyrdom。AndajoyousandgratefulmartyrwouldAnthonyWildinghavebeencouldhehavethoughtthathisdeathwouldbringherhappinessorpeace。Insuchafaithasthathehadmarched—orsohethoughtblithelytohisend,andthesmileonhislipshadbeenlesswistfulthanitwas。Thinkingoftheagonyinwhichhehadlefther,healmostcametowish—sopurewashislovegrown—thathehadnotconquered。Thejoythatatfirstwashiswasnowalldashed。Hisdeathwouldcauseherpain。Hisdeath！0God！

Itisaneasythingtobeamartyr;butthiswasnotmartyrdom;havingdonewhathehaddonehehadnottherighttodie。Thelastvestigeofthesmilethathehadwornfadedfromhistight—pressedlipstight—pressedasthoughtoenduresomephysicalsuffering。Hisfacegreyed,anddeeplinesfurrowedhisbrow。Thushemarchedon,mechanically,amidhismarchingescort,throughthemurky,fog—ladennight,takingnoheedofthestiraboutthem,forallWestonZoylandwasarousedbynow。

Aheadofthem,andovertotheeast,thefiringblazedandcrackled,volleyuponvolley,totellthemthatalreadybattlehadbeenjoinedinearnest。Monmouth"ssurprisehadaborted,anditpassedthroughWilding"smindthattoagreatextenthewastoblameforthis。Butitgavehimlittlecare。

AtleasthisindiscretionhadservedthepurposeofrescuingRuthfromLordFeversham"suncleanclutches。Fortherest,knowingthatMonmouth"sarmybyfaroutnumberedFeversham"s,hehadnodoubtthattheadvantagemuststillliewiththeDuke,inspiteofFeversham"shavingbeenwarnedintheeleventhhour。

Loudergrewthesoundsofbattle。Abovethedinoffiringaswellingchorusroseuponthenight,startlingandweirdinsuchatimeandplace。Monmouth"spiousinfantrywentintoactionsinginghymns,andWentworth,impatienttobeathispost,badehismengofaster。

Thenightwasbynowgrowingfaintlyluminous,andthedeathlygreylightofapproachingdawnhunginthemistsuponthemoor。Objectsgrewvisibleinbulkatleast,ifnotinformandshape,bythetimethelittlecompanyhadreachedtheendofWestonvillageandcomeuponthedeepmuddykewhichhadbeenWentworth"sobjective—aditchthatcommunicatedwiththegreatrhinethatservedtheKing"sforcessowellonthatnightofSedgemoor。

WithinsometwentypacesofthisWentworthcalledahalt,andwouldhavehadWilding"shandspinionedbehindhim,andhiseyesblindfolded,butthatWildingbeggedhimthismightnotbedone。Wentworthwas,asweknow,impatient;andbetweenimpatienceandkindliness,perhaps,heaccededtoWilding"sprayer。

Heevenhesitatedamomentatthelast。Itwasinhismindtospeaksomewordofcomforttothedoomedman。Thenasuddenvolley,moreterrificthananythathadprecededit,followedbyhoarsecheeringawaytoeastward,quickenedhisimpatience。HebadethesergeantleadMr。Wildingforwardandstandhimontheedgeoftheditch。Hisobjectwasthatthustheman"sbodywouldbedisposedofwithoutwasteoftime。ThisWildingrealized,hissoulrebellingagainstthisfatewhichhadcomeuponhimintheveryhourwhenhemostdesiredtolive。

Madthoughtsofescapecrossedhismind—ofaleapacrossthedyke,andawilddashthroughthefog。Butthefutilityofitwastooappalling。Themusketeerswerealreadyblowingtheirmatches。Hewouldsuffertheignominyofbeingshotintheback,likeacoward,ifhemadeanysuchattempt。

Andso,despairingbutnotresigned,hetookhisstandontheveryedgeoftheditch。Inanironyofobligingnesshesethalfofhisheelsovertheyoid,sothathewasnicelybalancedupontheedgeofthecutting,andmustgobackwardsanddownintothemudwhenhit。

Itwasthispositionhehadtakenthatgavehimaninspirationinthatlastmoment。Thesergeanthadmovedawayoutofthelineoffire,andhestoodtherealone,waiting,erectandwithhisheadheldhigh,hiseyesuponthegreymassofmusketeers—blurredalikebymistandsemi—darkness—sometwentypacesdistantalongthelineofwhichglowedeightredfuses。

Wentworth"svoicerangoutwiththewordsofcommand。

"Blowyourmatches！"

Brightergleamedthepointsoflight,andundertheirsteelpotsthefacesofthemusketeers,suffusedbyadullredglow,sprangforamomentoutofthegreymass,tofadeoncemoreintothegeneralgreynessattheword,"Cockyourmatches！"

"Guardyourpans！"cameasecondlaterthecaptain"svoice,andthen:

"Present！"

Therewasastirandrattle,andthedark,indistinctfigurestandingonthelipoftheditchwascoveredbytheeightmuskets。Totheeyesofthefiring—partyhewasnomorethanablurredshadowyform,showingalittledarkerthantheencompassingdarkgrey。

"Givefire！"

OnthewordMr。Wildinglostthedelicate,precariousbalancehehadbeensustainingontheedgeoftheditch,andwentoverbackwards,attheimminentrisk—asheafterwardsrelated—ofbreakinghisneck。

Atthesameinstantajagged,eight—pointedlineofflameslashedthedarkness,andthethunderofthevolleypealedforthtoloseitselfinthegreaterdinofbattleonPenzoyPound,hardby。

CHAPTERXXIII

MR。WILDING"SBOOTS

Inthefilthoftheditch,Mr。Wildingrolledoverandlayprone。Hethrewouthisleftarm,andrestedhisbrowuponittokeephisfaceabovethemud。Hestrovetoholdhisbreath,notthathemightdissembledeath,butthathemightavoidbeingpoisonedbythefoulgasesthat,disturbedbyhisweight,bubbleduptochokehim。Hisbodyhalfsankandsettledinthemud,andseenfromabove,ashewaspresentlyseenbyWentworth—whoranforwardwiththesergeant"slanthorntoassurehimselfthattheworkhadbeenwelldone—hehadalltheairofbeingnotonlydeadbutalreadyhalfburied。

Andnow,forasecond,Mr。Wildingwasinhisgreatestdanger,andthisfromtheveryhumanenessofthesergeant。Thefellowadvancedtothecaptain"sside,apistolinhishand。Wentworthheldthelightaloftandpeereddownintothatsixfeetofblacknessatthejacentfigure。

"ShallIgivehimanounceofleadtomakesure,Captain？"quoththesergeant。ButWentworth,inhisgreathaste,hadalreadyturnedabout,andthelightofhislanthornnolongerrevealedtheformofMr。Wilding。

"Thereisnottheneed。Theditchwilldowhatmayremaintobedone,ifanythingdoes。Comeon,man。Wearewantedyonder。"

Thelightpassed,stepsretreated,thesergeantmuttering,andthenWentworth"svoicewasheardbyWildingsomelittledistanceoff。

"Bringupyourmuskets！"

"Shoulder！"

"Bytheright—turn！March！"Andthetramp,trampoffeetrecededrapidly。

Wildingwasalreadysittingup,endeavouringtogetabreathofpurerair。Herosetohisfeet,sinkingalmosttothetopofhisbootsintheoozyslime。Foulgaseswerebelchedupto。envelophim。Heseizedatirregularitiesinthebank,andgothisheadabovetheleveloftheground。Hethrustforwardhischinandtookgreatgreedybreathsinaverygluttonyofair—andnevercameMuscadinesweetertoadrunkard"slips。Helaughedsoftlytohimself。Hewasaloneandsafe。Wentworthandhismenhaddisappeared。AwayinthedirectionofPenzoyPoundthesoundsofbattleswelledevertoagreatervolume。Cannonswereboomingnow,andallwasuproar—flameandshouting,cheeringandshrieking,thethunderofhasteningmultitudes,theclashofsteel,thepoundingofhorses,allblenttomakeupthehorriddinofcarnage。

Mr。Wildinglistened,andconsideredwhattodo。Hisfirstimpulsewastojointhefray。But,bethinkinghimthattherecouldbelittleplaceforhimintheconfusionthatmustprevailbynow,hereconsideredthematter,andhisthoughtsreturningtoRuth—thewifeforwhomhehadbeenatsuchpainstopreservehimselfontheverybrinkofdeath—heresolvedtoendangerhimselfnofurtherforthatnight。

Hedroppedbackintotheditch,andwaded,ankledeepinslime,totheotherside。Therehecrawledout,andgainingthemoorlaydownawhiletobreathehislungs。Butnotforlong。Thedawnwascreepingpaleandghostlyacrossthesolidearth,andafaintfreshbreezewasstirringanddrivingthemistinwispyshroudsbeforeit。IfhelingeredtherehemightyetbefoundbysomepartyofRoyalistsoldiers,andthatwouldbetoundoallthathehaddone。Herose,andstruckoutacrossthepeatyground。Noneknewthemoorsbetterthandidhe,andhadhebeenwithGrey"shorsethatnight,itispossiblethingshadfareddifferently,forhehadprovedasurerguidethandidGodfrey,thespy。

AtfirsthethoughtofmakingforBridgwaterandLuptonHouse。BynowRichardwouldbeonhiswaythitherwithRuth,andWildingwasinhastethatsheshouldbereassuredthathehadnotfallentothemusketsofWentworth"sfiring—party。ButBridgwaterwasfar,andhebegantorealize,nowthatallexcitementwaspast,thathewasutterlyexhausted。

NexthethoughtofScoresbyHallandhiscousinLordGervase。Buthewasbynomeanssurethathemightcountuponawelcome。GervasehadshownnosympathyforMonmouthorhispartisans,andwhilsthewouldhardlygosofarastorefuseMr。Wildingshelter,stillWildingfeltanaversiontoseekingwhatmightbegrudgedhim。Atlasthebethoughthimofhome。ZoylandChasewasnearathand;buthehadnotbeentheresincehiswedding—day,andinthemeantimeheknewthatithadbeenusedasabarrackforthemilitia,andhadnodoubtthatithadbeenwreckedandplundered。Still,itmusthavewallsandaroof,andthat,forthetime,wasallhecraved,thathemightrestawhileandrecuperatehiswastedforces。

Ahalf—hourlaterhedraggedhimselfwearilyuptheavenuebetweentheelms—lookingwhiteassnowinthepaleJulydawn—totheclearinginfrontofhishouse。

Desertionwasstampeduponthefaceofit。Shatteredwindowsandhangingshutterseverywhere。Howwantonlytheyhadwreckedit！Itmighthavebeenachurch,andthemilitiaaregimentofCromwell"siconoclasticPuritans。Thedoorwaslocked,butgoingroundhefoundawindow—oneofthedoor—windowsofhislibraryhanginglooseuponitshinges。Hepusheditwide,andenteredwithaheavyheart。

Instantlysomethingstirredinacorner;afiercegrowlwasfollowedbyafuriousbark,andalithebrownbodyleaptfromthegreaterintothelessershadowstoattacktheintruder。Butatonewordofhisthehoundcheckedsuddenly,crouchedaninstant,thenwithaqueer,throatysoundboundedforwardinawilddelightthatrobbeditontheinstantofitsvoice。Itfounditanonandleaptabouthim,barkingfuriousjoyinpiteofallhisvainendeavourstocalmit。Hegrewafraidlestthedogshoulddrawattention。Heknewnotwho—ifany—mightbeinpossessionofhishouse。Thelibrary,ashelookedround,showedasceneofwreckagethatexcellentlymatchedtheexterior。Notapictureonthewalls,notanarras,buthadbeenrenttoshreds。Thegreatlustrethathadhungfromthecentreoftheceilingwasgone。Disorderreignedalongthebookshelves,andyetthereandelsewheretherewasacertainorderliness,suggestinganattempttostraightenuptheplaceaftertheravagershaddeparted。Itwasthesesignsmadehimafraidthehousemightbetenantedbysuchasmightprovehisenemies。

"Down,Jack,"hesaidtothedogforthetwentiethtime,pattingitssleekhead。"Down,down！"

Butstillthedogboundedabouthim,barkingwildly。

"Sh！"hehissedsuddenly。Stepssoundedinthehall。Itwasashefeared。Thedoorwassuddenlythrownopen,andthegreymorninglightgleameduponthelongbarrelofamusket。Afterit,bearingit,enteredawhite—hairedoldman。

Hepausedonthethreshold,measuringthetalldisorderedstrangerwhostoodthere,hisfigureablacksilhouetteagainstthewindowbywhichhehadentered。

"Whatseekyouhere,sir,inthishouseofdesolation？"askedthevoiceofMr。Wilding"soldservant。

Heansweredbutoneword。"Walters！"

Themusketdroppedwithaclatterfromtheoldman"shands。Hesankbackagainstthedoorpostandleanedthereaninstant;then,whimperingandlaughing,hecametotteringforward—hisoldlegsfailinghiminthisexcessofunexpectedjoy—andsankonhiskneestokisshismaster"shand。

Wildingpattedtheoldhead,ashehadpattedthedog"salittlewhileago。Hewasoddlymoved;therewasaknotinhisthroat。Nohome—comingcouldwellhavebeenmoredesolate。Andyet,whathome—comingcouldhavebroughthimsuchatorturingjoyaswasnowhis？Oh,itisgoodtobeloved,ifitbebynomorethanadogandanoldservant！

InamomentWalterswashimselfagain。Hewasonhisfeet,scrutinizingWilding"shaggardfaceanddisordered,filthyclothes。Hebrokeintoexclamationsbetweendismayandreproach,buttheseWildinginterruptedtoasktheoldmanhowithappenedthathehadremained。

"MysonJohnwasasergeantinthetroopthatquartereditselfhere,sir,"Waltersexplained,"andsotheyleftmealone。Butevenhaditnotbeenforthat,Iscarcelythinktheywouldhaveharmedanoldman。