Herargumentsandhisweakness—hisreturningcowardice,whichmadehimlendaneartothosesamearguments—prevailedwithhim;atleasttheyconvincedhimthathewasfartooimportantapersontoriskhislifeinthisquarreluponwhichhehadsorashlyentered。
Hedidnotsaythathewasconvinced;buthesaidthathewouldgivethematterthought,hintingthatperhapssomeotherwaymightpresentitselfofcancellingthebargainshehadmade。Theyhadaweekbeforethem,andinanycasehepromisedreadilyinanswertoherentreaties—forherfaithinhimwasathingunquenchable—thathewoulddonothingwithouttakingcounselwithher。
MeanwhileDianahadescortedSirRowlandtothemaingatesofLuptonHouse,infrontofwhichMissWestmacott\'sgroomwaswalkinghishorse,awaitinghim。
\"SirRowland,\"saidsheatparting,\"yourchivalrymakesyoutakethismattertoodeeplytoheart。Youoverlookthepossibilitythatmycousinmayhavegoodreasonfornotdesiringyourinterference。\"
Helookedkeenlyatthislittleladytowhomamonthagohehadbeenonthepointofofferingmarriage。Hiscoxcombrymightreadilyhavesuggestedtohimthatshewasinlovewithhim,butthathisconscienceandinclinationsurgedhimtoassurehimselfthatthiswasnotthecase。