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。
