\"Notonlysafe,YourMajesty,butthetwentymenofSlape\'sandyourownlife—guardsarewaitingtoescortyou。
\"TheninGod\'snameletusbegoing,\"saidMonmouth,sheathinghisswordandmovingtowardsthedoor。Notasecondtimedidheoffertoconferthehonourofknighthooduponhissaviour。
Mr。Wildingturnedandwentouttomarshalhismen。TheDukeandhisofficersfollowedmoreleisurely。Astheyreachedthedoor,awoman\'scrybrokethesilencebehindthem。Monmouthturned。Mr。Newlington,purpleoffaceandhiseyesprotrudinghorridly,wasbeatingtheairwithhishands。Suddenlyhecollapsed,andcrashedforwardwitharmsflungoutamidtheglassandsilverofthetableallspreadwiththeraitor\'sbanquettowhichhehadbiddenhisunsuspectingvictim。
Hiswifeanddaughterrantohimandcalledhimbyname,Monmouthpausingamomenttowatchthemfromthedoorwaywitheyesunmoved。
ButMr。Newlingtonanswered,nottheircall,forhewasdead。
CHAPTERXX
THERECKONING
Ruthhadspedhomethroughthestreetsunattended,asshehadcome,heedlessoftherudejostlingsandrudergreetingsshemetwithfromthoseshepassed;heedless,too,ofthesmartingofherinjuredhand,fortheagonyofhersoulwassuchthatitwhelmedallminorsufferingsoftheflesh。
Inthedining—roomatLuptonHouseshecameuponDianaandLadyHortonatsupper,andherappearance—herwhiteanddistraughtfaceandblood—smearedgown—broughtbothwomentotheirfeetinalarmedinquiry,nolessthanitbroughtJasper,thebutler,tohersidewithreadysolicitude。Ruthansweredhimthattherewasnocauseforfear,thatshewasquitewell—hadscratchedherhand,nomore;andwiththatdismissedhim。Whenshewasalonewithherauntandcousin,shesankintoachairandtoldthemwhathadpassed`twixtherhusbandandherselfandmostofwhatshesaidwasGreektoLadyHorton。
\"Mr。WildinghasgonetowarntheDuke,\"sheended,andthedespairofhertonewastragical。\"Isoughttodetainhimuntilitshouldbetoolate—IthoughtIhaddoneso,but……,but……Oh,Iamafraid,Diana！\"
\"Afraidofwhat？\"askedDiana。\"Afraidofwhat？\"
AndshecametoRuthandsetanarmincomfortabouthershoulders。
\"AfraidthatMr。WildingmightreachtheDukeintimetobedestroyedwithhim,\"hercousinanswered。\"Suchawarningcouldbuthastenontheblow。\"
LadyHortonbeggedtobeenlightened,andwasfilledwithhorrorwhen—fromDiana—enlightenmentwashers。HersympathieswereallwiththehandsomeMonmouth,forhewasbeautifulandshouldthereforebetriumphant;poorLadyHortonnevergotbeyondexternals。ThathernephewandSirRowland,whomshehadesteemed,shouldbeleaguedinthisdastardlyundertakingagainstthatlovelypersonhorrifiedherbeyondwords。Shewithdrewsoonafterwards,havingwarmlypraisedRuth\'sactioninwarningMr。Wilding—unabletounderstandthatitshouldbenopartofRuth\'sdesigntosavetheDuke—andwenttoherroomtoprayforthepreservationofthelateKing\'shandsomeson。
Leftalonewithhercousin,RuthgaveexpressiontothefearsforRichardbywhichshewasbeingtortured。Dianapouredwineforherandurgedhertodrink;shesoughttocomfortandreassureher。ButasmomentspassedandgrewtohoursandstillRicharddidnotappear,Ruth\'sfearsthathehadcometoharmwerechangedtocertainty。Therewasamomentwhen,butforDiana\'sremonstrances,shehadgoneforthinquestofnews。Badnewswerebetterthanthishorrorofsuspense。WhatifWilding\'swarningshouldhaveprocuredhelp,andRichardwereslaininconsequence？Oh,itwasunthinkable！Diana,whiteofface,listenedtoandsharedherfears。EvenhershallownaturewasstirredbythetragedyofRuth\'sposition,bydreadlestRichardshouldindeedhavemethisendthatnight。Inthesemomentsofdistress,sheforgotherhopesoftriumphingoverBlake,ofpunishinghimforhisindifferencetoherself。
Atlast,atsomethingaftermidnight,therecameafeveredrappingattheouterdoor。Bothwomenstartedup,andwitharmsabouteachother,intheirsuddenpanic,stoodtherewaitingforthenewsthatmustbehereatlast。
Thedoorofthedining—roomwasflungopen;thewomenrecoiledintheirdreadofwhatmightcome;thenRichardentered,Jasper\'sstartledcountenanceshowingbehindhim。
Heclosedthedoor,shuttingoutthewonderingservant,andtheysawthat,thoughhisfacewasashenandhislimbsalla—tremble,heshowednosignofanyhurtoreffort。Hisdresswasasmeticulousaswhenlasttheyhadseenhim。Ruthflewtohim,flungherarmsabouthisneck,andpressedhimtoher。
\"Oh,Richard,Richard！\"shesobbedintheimmensityofherrelief。
\"ThankGod！ThankGod！\"
Hewriggledpeevishlyinherembrace,disengagedherarms,andputherfromhimalmostroughly。\"Havedone！\"hegrowled,and,lurchingpasther,hereachedthetable,tookupabottle,andbrimmedhimselfameasure。Hegulpedthewineavidly,setdownthecup,andshivered。
\"WhereisBlake？\"heasked。
\"Blake？\"echoedRuth,herlipswhite。Dianasankintoachair,watchful,fearfulandsilent,takingnownogloryinthethingshehadencompassed。
Richardbeathishandstogetherinapassionofdismay。\"Ishenothere？\"heasked,andgroaned,\"0God！\"Heflunghimselfalllimpintoachair。\"Youhaveheardthenews,Isee,\"hesaid。
\"Notallofit,\"saidDianahoarsely,leaningforward。\"Telluswhatpassed。\"
Hemoistenedhislipswithhistongue。\"Wewerebetrayed,\"hesaidinaquiveringvoice。\"Betrayed！DidIbutknowbywhom……\"Hebrokeoffwithabitterlaughandshrugged,rubbinghishandstogetherandshiveringtillhisshouldersshook。\"Blake\'spartywassetuponbyhalfacompanyofmusketeers。TheircorpsesarestrewnaboutoldNewlington`sorchard。Notoneofthemescaped。TheysaythatNewlingtonhimselfisdead。\"Hepouredhimselfmorewine。
Ruthlistened,hereyesburning,therestofherascoldasice。
\"But……but……,oh,thankGodthatyouatleastaresafe,Dick！\"
\"Howdidyouescape？\"quothDiana。
\"How？\"Hestartedasifhehadbeenstung。Helaughedinahigh,crackedvoice,hiseyeswildandbloodshot。\"How？PerhapsitisjustaswellthatBlakehasgonetohisaccount。Perhaps……\"Hecheckedontheword,andstartedtohisfeet;Dianascreamedinsheeraifright。
Behindherthewindowshadbeenthrustopensoviolentlythatoneofthepaneswasshivered。Blakestoodunderthelintel,scarcerecognizable,sosmearedwashisfacewiththebloodescapingfromthewoundhischeekhadtaken。Hisclothesweremuddied,soiled,torn,anddisordered。
Framedthereagainsttheblackbackgroundofthenight,hestoodandsurveyedthemforamoment,hisaspectterrific。Thenheleaptforward,baringhisswordashecame。AnincoherentroarburstfromhislipsasheborestraightdownuponRichard。
\"Youdamned,infernaltraitor！\"hecried。\"Draw,draw！Ordielikethemuckwormthatyouare。\"
Intrepid,herterrorallvanishednowthattherewastheneedforcourage,Ruthconfrontedhim,barringhispassage,abucklertoherpalsiedbrother。
\"Outofmyway,mistress,orI\'llbedoingyouamischief。\"
\"Youaremad,SirRowland,\"shetoldhiminavoicethatdidsomethingtowardsrestoringhimtohissenses。
Hisfierceeyesconsideredheramoment,andhecontrolledhimselftoofferanexplanation。\"ThetwentythatwerewithmeliestarkunderthestarsinNewlington\'sgarden,\"hetoldher,asRichardhadtoldheralready。\"Iescapedbyamiracle,noless,butforwhat？
Fevershamwilldemandofmeasternaccountofthoselives,whilstifIamfoundinBridgwatertherewillbeashortshriftformeattherebelhands—formyshareinthisaffairisknown,mynameoneverylipinthetown。Andwhy？\"heaskedwithasuddenincreaseoffierceness。\"Why？Becausethatcravenvillaintherebetrayedme。\"
\"Hedidnot,\"sheansweredinsoassuredavoicethatnotonlydiditgivehimpause,butcausedRichard,coweringbehindher,toraisehisheadinwonder。
SirRowlandsmiledhisdisbelief,andthatsmile,twistinghisblood—smearedcountenance,wasgrotesqueandhorrible。\"Ilefthimtoguardourbacksandgivemewarningifanyapproached,\"heinformedher。
\"Iknewhimfortoogreatacowardtobetrustedinthefight;soIgavehimasafetask,andyetinthathefailedme—failedmebecausehehadbetrayedandsoldme。\"
\"Hehadnot。Itellyouhehadnot,\"sheinsisted。\"Iswearit。\"
Hestaredather。\"Therewasnooneelseforit,\"hemadeanswer,andbadeherharshlystandaside。
Diana,huddledtogether,watchedandwaitedinhorrorfortheendoftheseconsequencesofherwork。
BlakemadeasuddenmovementtowinpastRuth。Richardstaggeredtohisfeetintentondefendinghimself;buthewasswordless;retreattothedoorsuggesteditself,andhehadhalfturnedtoattempttogainit,whenRuth\'snextwordsarrestedhim,petrifiedhim。
\"Therewassomeoneelseforit,SirRowland,\"shecried。\"ItwasnotRichardwhobetrayedyou。It……itwasI。\"
\"You？\"Thefiercenessseemedalltodropawayfromhim,whelmedintheimmensityofhisastonishment。\"You？\"Thenhelaughedloudinscornfuldisbelief。\"Youthinktosavehim,\"hesaid。
\"ShouldIlie？\"sheaskedhim,calmandbrave。
Hestaredatherstupidly;hepassedahandacrosshisbrow,andlookedatDiana。\"Oh,itisimpossible！\"hesaidatlast。
\"Youshallhear,\"sheanswered,andtoldhimhowatthelastmomentshehadlearntnotonlythatherhusbandwasinBridgwater,butthathewastosupatNewlington\'swiththeDuke\'sparty。
\"IhadnothoughtofbetrayingyouorofsavingtheDuke,\"shesaid。
\"Iknewhowjustifiablewaswhatyouintended。ButIcouldnotletMr。
Wildinggotohisdeath。Isoughttodetainhim,warninghimonlywhenIthoughtitwouldbetoolateforhimtowarnothers。Butyoudelayedoverlong,and……\"
Ahoarseinarticulatecryfromhimcametointerruptheratthatpoint。
Oneglimpseofhisfaceshehadandofthehandhalfraisedwithswordpointingtowardsher,andsheclosedhereyes,thinkingthathersandswererun。And,indeed,Blake\'sintentionwasjustthentokillher。
Thatheshouldowehisbetrayaltoherwasinitselfcauseenoughtoenragehim,butthathermotiveshouldhavebeenherdesiretosaveWilding—Wildingofallmen！—thatwasthelaststraw。
HadhebeenforewarnedthatWildingwastobeoneofMonmouth\'spartyatMr。Newlington\'s,hispulseswouldhavethrobbedwithjoy,andhewouldhaveflunghimselfintohismurderoustaskwithtwicethezesthehadcarriedtoit。AndnowhelearntthatnotonlyhadshethwartedhisschemesagainstMonmouth,buthaddeprivedhimoftheardentlysoughtfelicityofwidowingher。Hedrewbackhisarmforthethrust;
Dianahuddledintoherchairtoohorror—strickentospeakormove:
Richard—immediatelybehindhissister—sawnothingofwhatwaspassing,andthoughtofnothingbuthisownsafety。
ThenBlakepaused,steppedback,returnedhisswordtoitsscabbard,andbendinghimself—butwhethertobowornotwasnotquiteplain—hetooksomepacesbackwards,thenturnedandwentoutbythewindowashehadcome。Buttherewasasuddenpurposefulnessinthewayhediditthatmighthavewarnedthemthiswithdrawalwasnotquitetheretreatitseemed。
Theywatchedhimwithmanyemotions,predominantamongwhichwasrelief,andwhenhewasgoneDianaroseandcametoRuth。
\"Come,\"shesaid,andsoughttoleadherfromtheroom。
ButtherewasRichardnowtobereckonedwith,Richardfromwhomthepalsywasofasuddenfallen,nowthatthecauseofithadwithdrawn。
Hehadhisbacktothedoor,andhisweakmouthwaspursedupintoasemblanceofresolution,hispaleeyeslookedstern,hiswhiteeyebrowsbenttogetherinafrown。
\"Wait,\"hesaid。Theylookedathim,andtheshadowofasmilealmostflittedacrossDiana\'sface。Hesteppedtothedoor,and,openingit,helditwide。\"Go,Diana,\"hesaid。\"RuthandImustunderstandeachother。\"
Dianahesitated。\"Youhadbettergo,Diana,\"saidhercousin,whereuponMistressHortonwent。
HotandfiercecametherecriminationsfromRichard\'slipswhenheandhissisterwerealone,andRuthweatheredthestormbravelyuntilitwasstemmedagainbyfreshfearinRichard。ForBlakehadsuddenlyreappeared。Hecameforwardfromhiswindow;hismannercomposedandfullofresolution。YoungWestmacottrecoiled,theheatallfrozenoutofhim。ButBlakescarcelookedathim,hissmoulderingglancewasallforRuth,whowatchedhimwithincipientfear,despiteherself。
\"Madam,\"hesaid,\"`tisnottobesupposedamindholdingsomuchthoughtforahusband\'ssafetycouldfindroomforanyconcernastoanother\'s。Iwillaskyou,natheless,toconsiderwhattaleIamtobearLordFeversham。\"
\"Whattale？\"saidshe。
\"Aye—thatwillaccountforwhathaschanced;formyfailuretodischargethetaskentrustedme,andfortheslaughterofanofficerofhisandtwentymen。
\"Whyaskmethis？\"shedemandedhalfangrily;thensuddenlybethinkingherofhowshehadruinedhisenterprise,andofthepositioninwhichshehadplacedhim,shesoftened。Herclearmindheldjusticeverydear。Sheapproached。\"Oh,Iamsorry—sorry,SirRowland,\"shecried。
Hesneered。Hehadwipedsomeofthebloodfromhisface,butstilllookedterribleenough。
\"Sorry！\"saidhe,andlaughedunpleasantly。\"You\'llcomewithmetoFevershamandtellhimwhatyoudid,\"saidhe。
\"I？\"Sherecoiledinfear。
\"Atonce\"heinformedher。
\"Wha……what\'sthat？\"falteredRichard,callinguphismanhood,andcomingforward。\"Whatareyousaying,Blake？\"
SirRowlanddisdainedtoheedhim。\"Come,mistress,\"hesaid,andputtingforwardhishandhecaughtherwristandpulledherroughlytowardshim。Shestruggledtofreeherself,butheleeredevillyuponher,nowhitdiscomposedbyherendeavours。Thoughshortofstature,hewasamanofconsiderablebodilystrength,andshe,thoughtall,wasslightofframe。Hereleasedherwrist,andbeforesherealizedwhathewasabouthehadstooped,passedanarmbehindherknees,anotherroundherwaist,and,swingingherfromherfeet,tookherupbodilyinhisarms。Heturnedabout,andascreambrokefromher。
\"Hold！\"criedRichard。\"Hold,youmadman！\"
\"Keepoff,orI\'llmakeanendofyoubeforeIgo,\"roaredBlakeoverhisshoulder,foralreadyhehadturnedaboutandwasmakingforthewindow,apparentlynomorehinderedbyhisburdenthanhadshebeenadoll。
Richardsprangtothedoor。\"Jasper！\"hebawled。\"Jasper！\"Hehadnoweapons,aswehaveseen,elseitmaybethathehadmadeanattempttousethem。
RuthgotahandfreeandcaughtatthewindowframeasBlakewasleapingthrough。Itcheckedtheirprogress,butdidnotsensiblydelayit。Itwasunfortunatelyherwoundedhandwithwhichshehadsoughttocling,andwithanangry,brutalwrenchSirRowlandcompelledhertounclosehergrasp。Hespeddownthelawntowardstheorchard,wherehishorsewastethered。Andnowsheknewinasubconscioussortofwaywhyhehadearlierwithdrawn。Hehadgonetosaddleforthispurpose。
Shestrugglednow,thinkingthathewouldbetoohamperedtocompelhertohiswill。Hebecameangry,andsetherdownbesidehishorse,onearmstillholdingher。
\"Lookyou,mistress,\"hetoldherfiercely,\"livingordead,youcomewithmetoFeversham。Choosenow。\"
Histonewassuchthatsheneverdoubtedhewouldcarryouthisthreat。
Andsoindulldespairshesubmitted,hopingthatFevershammightbeagentlemanandwouldrecognizeandrespectalady。Halffainting,sheallowedhimtoswinghertothewithersofhishorse。Thustheythreadedtheirwayinthedimstarlitnightthroughthetreestowardsthegate。
Itstoodopen,andtheypassedoutintothelane。ThereSirRowlandputhishorsetothetrot,whichheincreasedtoagallopwhenhewasoverthebridgeandclearofthetown。
CHAPTERXXI
THESENTENCE
Mr。Wilding,asweknow,wastoremainatBridgwaterforthepurposeofcollectingfromMr。Newlingtonthefinewhichhadbeenimposeduponhim。
ItisbynomeansclearwhetherMonmouthrealizedthefullnessofthetragedyatthemerchant\'shouse,andwhetherheunderstoodthat,strickenwithapoplexyatthethoughtofpartingwithsoconsiderableaportionofhisfortune,Mr。Newlingtonhadnotmerelyfainted,buthadexpiredunderHisGrace\'seyes。Ifhedidrealizeithewascynicallyindifferent,andlestweshouldbedoinghimaninjusticebyassumingthiswehadbettergivehimthebenefitofthedoubt,andtakeitthatinthesubsequentbustleofdeparture,hismindfilledwiththeprospectofthenightattacktobedelivereduponhisuncle\'sarmyat—Sedgemoor,hethoughtnomoreeitherofMr。NewlingtonorofMr。Wilding。Thelatter,asweknow,hadnoplaceintherebelarmy;althoughamanofhishands,hewasnotatrainedsoldier,andnotwithstandingthathemayfullyhaveintendedtodrawhisswordforMonmouthwhenthetimecame,yetcircumstanceshadledtohiscontinuingafterMonmouth\'slandingthemorediplomaticworkofmovement—man,inwhichhehadbeenengagedforthemonthsthathadprecededit。
SoitbefellthatwhenMonmouth\'sarmymarchedoutofBridgwaterateleveno\'clockonthatSundaynight,nottomakeforGloucesterandCheshire,aswasgenerallybelieved,buttofallupontheencampedFevershamatSedgemoorandslaughtertheroyalarmyintheirbeds,Mr。
Wildingwasleftbehind。Trenchardwasgone,incommandofhistroopofhorse,andMr。Wildinghadforonlycompanyhisthoughtstouchingthesingularhappeningsofthatbusynight。
HewentbacktothesignofTheShipoverlookingtheCross,and,kickingoffhissoddenshoes,hesuppedquietlyintheroomofwhichshattereddoorandbrokenwindowremindedhimofhisoddinterviewwithRuth,andofthecomedyofloveshehadenactedtodetainhimthere。
Thethoughtofitembitteredhim;thepartshehadplayedseemedtohisretrospectivemindalmostawanton\'spart—forallthatinnameshewashiswife。Andyet,underlyingacertainirrepressiblenausea,camethereflectionthat,afterall,herpurposehadbeentosavehislife。Itwouldhavebeenasweetthought,sweetenoughtohaveoverlaidthatotherbitterness,hadhenotinsisteduponsettingitdownentirelytohergratitudeandhersenseofjustice。Sheintendedtorepaythedebtinwhichshehadstoodtohimsince,attheriskofhisownlifeandfortune,hehadrescuedherbrotherfromtheclutchesoftheLord—LieutenantatTaunton。
Hesighedheavilyashethoughtoftheresultsthathadattendedhiscompulsoryweddingofher。Intheintensityofhispassion,intheblindnessofhisvanity,whichmadehimconfident—gloriouslyconfident—thatdidhemakehimselfherhusband,sheherselfwouldmakeofhimherloverbeforelong,hehadcommittedanunworthinessofwhichitseemedhemightnevercleansehimselfinlife。Therewasbutoneamend,ashehadtoldher。Lethimmakeit,andperhapsshewould—outofgratitude,ifoutofnootherfeeling—cometothinkmorekindlyofhim;andthatnightitseemedtohimashesataloneinthatmeanchamber,thatitwereabetterandasweeterthingtoearnsomemeasureofheresteembydeaththantocontinueinalifethatinspiredherhatredandresentment。Fromwhichitwillbeseenhowutterlyhedisbelievedtheprotestationsshehadutteredinseekingtodetainhim。
Theywere—hewasassured—apartofascheme,atrick,tolullhimwhileMonmouthandhisofficerswerebeingbutchered。Andshehadgonethelengthofsayingshelovedhim！Heregrettedthat,beingashewasconvincedofitsuntruth。Whatcausehadshetolovehim？Shehatedhim,andbecauseshehatedhimshedidnotscrupletolietohim—oncewithsuggestionsandthistimewithactualexpressionofaffection—thatshemightgainherends:endsthatconcernedherbrotherandSirRowlandBlake。SirRowlandBlake！Thenamewasaverygoadtohispassionanddespair。
Herosefromthetableandtookaturnintheroom,movingnoiselesslyinhisstockingedfeet。Hefelttheneedofairandaction;thewearinessofhisfleshincurredinhislongridefromLondonwascastofforforgotten。Hemustgoforth。HepickeduphisfineshoesofSpanishleather,butasluckwouldhaveit—littlethoughheguessedtheextentjustthen—hefoundthemhardening,thoughstilldampfromthedewsofMr。Newlington\'sgarden。Hecastthemaside,and,takingakeyfromhispocket,unlockedanoakcupboardandwithdrewtheheavymuddybootsinwhichhehadriddenfromtown。Hedrewthemonand,takinguphishatandsword,wentdownthecreakingstairsandoutintothestreet。
Bridgwaterhadfallenquietbynow;thearmywasgoneandtownsfolkwereintheirbeds。Moodily,unconsciously,yetasifguidedbyasortofinstinct,hewentdowntheHighStreet,andthenturnedoffintothenarrowerlanethatledinthedirectionofLuptonHouse。Bythegatesofthishepaused,recalledoutofhisabstractionandrenderedawareofwhitherhisstepshadledhimbythesightofthehalldoorstandingopen,ablackfiguresilhouettedagainstthelightbehindit。
Whatwashappeninghere？Whyweretheynotabedlikealldecentfolk？
Thefigurecalledtohiminaquaveringvoice。\"Mr。Wilding！Mr。
Wilding！\"forthelightbeatinguponhisfaceandfigurefromtheopendoorhadrevealedhim。Theformcameswiftlyforward,itsstepspatteringdownthewalk,anotherslendererfiguresurgedinitsplaceuponthethreshold,hoveredthereaninstant,thenplungeddownintothedarknesstocomeafterit。ButthefirstwasbynowuponMr。
Wilding。
\"Whatisit,Jasper？\"heasked,recognizingtheoldservant。
\"MistressRuth！\"wailedthefellow,wringinghishands。\"She……,shehasbeen……carriedoff。\"Hegotitoutingasps,windedbyhisshortrunandbytheexcitementthatpossessedhim。
NowordsaidWilding。Hejuststoodandstared,scarcelyunderstanding,andinthatmomenttheywerejoinedbyRichard。HeseizedWildingbythearm。\"Blakehascarriedheroff,\"hecried。
\"Blake？\"saidMr。Wilding,andwonderedwithasensationofnauseawasitanordinaryrunningaway。ButRichard\'snextwordsmadeitplaintohimthatitwasnoamorouselopement,norevenamorousabduction。
\"HehascarriedhertoFeversham……forherbetrayalofhisto—night\'splantoseizetheDuke。\"
ThatstirredMr。Wilding。Hewastednotimeinidlequestionsoridlercomplainings。\"Howlongsince？\"heasked,anditwashewhoclutchedRichardnow,bytheshoulderandwithahandthathurt。
\"Nottenminutesago,\"wasthequaveringanswer。
\"Andyouwereathandwhenitbefell？\"criedWilding,thescorninhisvoicerisingsuperiortohisagitationandfearsforRuth。\"Youwereathand,andcouldneitherpreventnorfollowhim？\"
\"I\'llgowithyounow,ifyou\'llgivechase,\"whimperedRichard,feelinghimselfforoncethecraventhathewas。
\"If？\"echoedWildingscornfully,anddraggedhimpastthegateanduptowardsthehouseevenashespoke。\"Isthereroomforadoubtofit？
Haveyouhorses,atleast？\"
\"Tospare,\"saidRichardastheyhurriedon。TheyskirtedthehouseandfoundthestabledooropenasBlakehadleftit。OldJasperfollowedwithalampwhichburnedsteadily,socalmwastheairofthatJulynight。Inthreeminutestheyhadsaddledacoupleofnags;infivetheywereridingforthebridgeandtheroadtoWestonZoyland。
\"ItisamiracleyouremainedinBridgwater,\"saidRichardastheyrode。
\"Howcameyoutobeleftbehind？\"
\"IhadataskassignedmeinthetownagainsttheDuke\'sreturnto—morrow,\"Wildingexplained,andhespokealmostmechanically,hismindfullof—anguishedby—thoughtsofRuth。
\"AgainsttheDuke\'sreturn？\"criedRichard,firstsurprisedandthenthinkingthatWildingspokeatrandom。\"AgainsttheDuke\'sreturn？\"herepeated。
\"ThatiswhatIsaid？\"
\"ButtheDukeismarchingtoGloucester。\"
\"TheDukeismarchingbycircuitouswaystoSedgemoor,\"answeredWilding,neverdreamingthatatthistimeofdaytherecouldbetheslightestimprudenceinsayingsomuch,indeed,takinglittleheedofwhathesaid,hismindobsessedbytheother,tohim,farweightiermatter。
\"ToSedgemoor？\"gaspedWestmacott。
\"Aye—totakeFevershambysurprise—todestroyKingJames\'ssoldiersintheirbeds。Heshouldbenearupontheattackbynow。Butthere！
SpuronandsaveyourbreathifwearetoovertakeSirRowland。\"
