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。
