CHAPTERI
POT—VALIANCE
Thendrinkitthus,criedtherashyoungfool,andsplashedthecontentsofhiscupfullintothefaceofMr。Wildingevenasthatgentleman,onhisfeet,wasproposingtodrinktotheeyesoftheyoungfool\'ssister。
Themomentsthatfollowedwerefullofinterest。Astillness,abrooding,expectantstillness,felluponthecompany—anditnumberedarounddozen—aboutLordGervase\'srichlyappointedboard。Inthesoftcandlelighttheovaltableshonelikeadeepbrownpool,inwhichwerereflectedthegleamingsilverandsparklingcrystalthatseemedtofloatuponit。
Blakesuckedinhisnether—lip,hisfloridfaceathoughtlessfloridthanitswont,hisprominentblueeyesathoughtmoreprominent。UnderitsgoldenperiwigoldNickTrenchard\'swizenedcountenancewasdarkenedbyascowl,andhisfingers,long,swarthy,andgnarled,drummedfretfullyuponthetable。PortlyLordGervaseScoresby—theirhost,abenignandplacidmanofpeace,detestingturbulence—turnedcrimsonnowinwordlessrage。Theothersgapedandstared—someatyoungWestmacott,someatthemanhehadsogrosslyaffronted—whilstintheshadowsofthehallacoupleoflacqueyslookedonamazed,allteethandeyes。
Mr。Wildingstood,verystillandoutwardlyimpasive,thewinetricklingfromhislongface,which,ifpale,wasnopalerthanitshabit,avestigeofthesmilewithwhichhehadproposedthetoaststilllingeringonhisthinlips,thoughdepartedfromhiseyes。AnelegantgentlemanwasMr。Wilding,tall,andseemingeventallerbyvirtueofhisexceedingslenderness。Hehadthecouragetowearhisownhair,whichwasofadarkbrownandveryluxuriant;darkbrowntoowerehissombreeyes,low—liddedandsetatadownwardslant。Fromthoseoddeyesofhis,hiscountenancegatheredanairofsuperciliousnesstemperedbyagentlemelancholy。Fortherest,itwasscoredbylinesthatstampeditwiththeappearanceofanageinexcessofhisthirtyyears。
Thirtyguineas\'worthofMechlinathisthroatwasdrenched,empurpledandruinedbeyondredemption,andonthebreastofhisbluesatincoatadarkpatchwasspreadinglikeastainofblood。
RichardWestmacott,short,sturdy,andfair—complexionedtothepointofinsipidity,watchedhimsullenlyoutofpaleeyes,andwaited。ItwasLordGervasewhobrokeatlastthesilence—brokeitwithanoath,athingunusualinonewhosenaturewasalmostwoman—mild。
\"AsGod\'smylife！\"hesplutteredwrathfully,gloweringatRichard。
\"Tohavethishappeninmyhouse！Theyoungfoolshallmakeapology！\"
\"Withhisdyingbreath,\"sneeredTrenchard,andtheoldrake\'swords,histone,andthemalevolentlookhebentupontheboyincreasedthecompany\'smalaise。
\"Ithink,\"saidMr。Wilding,withamostsingularandexcessivesweetness,\"thatwhatMr。Westmacotthasdonehehasdonebecauseheapprehendedmeamiss。\"
\"Nodoubthe\'llsayso,\"opinedTrenchardwithashrug,andhadcautiondugintohisribsbyBlake\'selbow,whilstRichardmadehastetoprovehimwrongbysayingthecontrary。
\"Iapprehendedyouexactly,sir,\"heanswered,defianceinhisvoiceandwine—flushedface。
\"Ha！\"cluckedTrenchard,irrepressible。\"He\'sbentonself—destruction。
Lethimhavehisway,inGod\'sname。\"
ButWildingseemedintentuponshowinghowlong—sufferinghecouldbe。
Hegentlyshookhishead。\"Nay,now,\"saidhe。\"Youthought,Mr。
Westmacott,thatinmentioningyoursister,Ididsolightly。Isitnotso？\"
\"Youmentionedher,andthatisallthatmatters,\"criedWestmacott。
\"I\'llnothavehernameonyourlipsatanytimeorinanyplace—no,norinanymanner。\"Hisspeechwasthickfromtoomuchwine。
\"Youaredrunk,\"criedindignantLordGervasewithfinality。
\"Pot—valiant,\"Trenchardelaborated。
Mr。Wildingsetdownatlasttheglasswhichhehadcontinuedtoholduntilthatmoment。Herestedhishandsuponthetable,knucklesdownward,andleaningforwardhespokeimpressively,hisfaceverygrave;andthosepresent—knowinghimastheydid—wereoneandalllostinwonderathisunusualpatience。
\"Mr。Westmacott,\"saidhe,\"Idothinkyouarewrongtopersistinaffrontingme。Youhavedoneathingthatisbeyondforgiveness,andyet,whenIofferyouthisopportunityofhonourablyretrieving……\"
Heshruggedhisshoulders,leavingthesentenceincomplete。
Thecompanymighthavespareditsdeepsurpriseatsomuchmildness。
Therewasbutthesemblanceofit。Wildingproceededthusofpurposeset,andunderthecalmmaskofhislongwhitefacehismindworkedwickedlyanddeliberately。ThetemerityofWestmacott,whosenaturewasnotoriouslytimid,hadsurprisedhimforamoment。Butanon,readingtheboy\'smindasreadilyasthoughithadbeenascrollunfoldedforhisinstruction,hesawthatWestmacott,onthestrengthofhispositionashissister\'sbrother,conceivedhimselfimmune。
Mr。Wilding\'savowedcourtshipofthelady,thehopeshestillentertainedofwinningher,despitetheaversionshewasatpainstoshowhim,gaveWestmacottassurancethatMr。Wildingwouldneverelecttoshatterhisalltooslenderchancesbyembroilinghimselfinaquarrelwithherbrother。And—readinghim,thus,aright—Mr。
Wildingputonthatmaskofpatience,luringtheboyintogreaterconvictionofthesecurityofhisposition。AndRichard,conceivinghimselfsafeinhisentrenchmentbehindthebulwarksofhisbrothershiptoRuthWestmacott,andheartenedfurtherbytheexcessofwinehehadconsumed,persistedininsultshewouldneverotherwisehavedaredtooffer。
\"Whoseekstoretrieve？\"hecrowedoffensively,boldlylookingupintotheother\'sface。\"Itseemsyouareyourselfreluctant。\"Andhelaughedatriflestridently,andlookedabouthimforapplause,butfoundnone。
\"Youareoverrash,\"LordGervasedisapprovedhimharshly。
\"NotthefirstcowardI\'veseengrowvaliantatatable,\"putinTrenchardbywayofexplanation,andmighthavecometowordswithBlakeonthatsamescore,butthatinthatmomentWildingspokeagain。
\"Reluctanttodowhat？\"hequestionedamiably,lookingWestmacottsostraightlybetweentheeyesthattheboyshifteduneasilyonhishigh—backedchair。
Nevertheless,stillfullofconfidenceintheunassailabilityofhisposition,themadyouthanswered,\"TocleanseyourselfofwhatIthrewatyou。\"
\"Fanme,yewinds！\"gaspedNickTrenchard,andlookedwithexpectancyathisfriendWilding。
Nowtherewasonefactorwithwhich,inbasingwithsuchcravenshrewdnesshiscalculationsuponMr。Wilding\'sfeelingsforhissister,youngRichardhadnotreckoned。HewasnottoknowthatWilding,bruisedandwoundedbyMissWestmacott\'sscornofhim,hadreachedthatborderlandwhereloveandhatearesomergedthattheyarescarcetobedistinguished。Embitteredbytheslightsshehadputuponhim—slightswhichhissensitive,lover\'sfancyhadmagnifiedahundredfold—AnthonyWilding\'sframeofmindwasgrownpeculiar。
Ofhisloveshewouldhavenone;hiskindnesssheseeminglydespised。
Sobeit;sheshouldtastehiscruelty。Ifshescornedhiswooingandforbadehimtopursueit,atleastitwasnotherstodenyhimthepowertohurt;andinhurtingherthatwouldnotbelovedbyhimsomemeasureoffierceandbitterconsolationseemedtoawaithim。
Herealized,perhaps,notquiteallthis—andtotheunworthinessofitallhegavenothought。Butherealizedenoughashetoyed,ascatwithmouse,withRichardWestmacott,toknowthatinstrikingatherthroughtheworthlesspersonofthisbrotherwhomshecherished—andwhopersistedinaffordinghimthisopportunity—awickedvengeancewouldbehis。
Peace—lovingLordGervasehadheavedhimselfsuddenlytohisfeetatWestmacott\'slastwords,stillintentuponsavingthesituation。
\"InHeaven\'sname……\"hebegan,whenMr。Wilding,evercalmandsmiling,thoughnowatriflesinister,wavedhimgentlyintosilence。ButthatpersistingcalmofMr。Wilding\'swastoomuchforoldNickTrenchard。
Heroseabruptly,drawingalleyesuponhimself。Itwastime,hethought,hetookahandinthis。
InadditiontohisaffectionforWildingandhiscontemptforWestmacott,hewasfilledwithafearthatthelattermightbecomedangerousifnotcrushedatonce。Giftedwithashrewdknowledgeofmen,acquiredduringachequeredlifeofmuchsourexperience,oldNickinstinctivelymistrustedRichard。Hehadknownhimforafool,aweakling,ababbler,andabibberofwine。Outofsuchelementsavillainissooncompounded,andTrenchardhadcausetofeartheformofvillainythatlayreadytoRichard\'shand。ForitchancedthatMr。TrenchardwassecondcousintothatfamousJohnTrenchard,solatelytriedfortreasonandacquittedtothegreatjoyofthesectariesoftheWest,andstillmorelately—butyesterday,infact—fledthecountrytoescapetherearrestorderedinconsequenceofthatexcessivejoy。Likehismorefamouscousin,NickTrenchardwasoneoftheDukeofMonmouth\'smostactiveagents;andWestmacott,likeWilding,Vallancey,andoneortwoothersatthatboard,stood,too,committedtothecauseoftheProtestantChampion。
OutofhisknowledgeoftheboyTrenchardwasledtofearthatifhewerelenientlydealtwithnow,tomorrow,when,sober,hecametorealizethegrossnessofthethinghehaddoneandtheunlikelihoodofitsbeingforgivenhim,therewasnosayingbutthattoprotecthimselfhemightbetrayWilding\'sshareintheplotthatwasbeinghatched。Thatinitselfwouldbebadenough;buttheremightbeworse,forhecouldscarcelybetrayWildingwithoutbetrayingothersand—whatmatteredmost—theCauseitself。Hemustbedealtwithoutofhand,Trenchardopined,anddealtwithruthlessly。
\"Ithink,Anthony,\"saidhe,\"thatwehavehadwordsenough。ShallyoubedisposingofMr。Westmacottto—morrow,ormustIbedoingitforyou？\"
WithagaspofdismayyoungRichardtwistedinhischairtoconfrontthisfreshandunsuspectedantagonist。Whatdangerwasthisthathehadoverlooked？Then,evenasheturned,Wilding\'svoicefellonhisear,andeachwordofthefewhespokewaslikeadropoficywateronWestmacott\'soverheatedbrain。
\"Iprotestyouarevastlykind,Nick。ButIintend,myself,tohavethepleasureofkillingMr。Westmacott。\"Andhissmilefellnowinmockeryuponthedisillusionedlad。
Crushedbythatboltfromtheblue,Richardsatasifstunned,theflushrecedingfromhisfaceuntilhisverylipswerelivid。Theshockhadsoberedhim,and,sobered,herealizedinterrorwhathehaddone。
Andyetevensoberhewasamazedtofindthatthestaffuponwhichwithsuchsecurityhehadleanedshouldhaveprovedrotten。Truehehadputmuchstrainuponit;butthenhehadcountedthatitwouldstandmuchstrain。
Hewouldhavespoken,buthelackedwords,sostrickenwashe。Andevenhadhedonesoitisoddsnonewouldhaveheardhim,forthelatecalmwasofasuddenturnedtogarboil。Everymanofthatcompany—withthesoleexceptionofRichardhimself—wasonhisfeet,andallwerespeakingatonce,inclamouring,excitedchorus。
Wildingalone—thebuttoftheirexpostulations—stoodquietlysmiling,andwipedhisfaceatlastwithakerchiefoffinestlawn。
DominatingtheothersintheBabelrosethevoiceofSirRowlandBlake—impecuniousBlake;BlakelatelyoftheGuards,whohadsoldhiscommissionastheonlythingremaininghimuponwhichhecouldraisemoney;Blake,thatothersuitorforMissWestmacott\'shand,thesuitorfavouredbyherbrother。
\"Youshallnotdoit,Mr。Wilding,\"heshouted,hisfacecrimson。\"No,byGod！Youwereshamedforever。Heisbutalad,anddrunk。\"
Trenchardeyedtheshort,powerfullybuiltmanbesidehim,andlaughedunpleasantly。\"Youshouldgetyourselfbledoneofthesedays,SirRowland,\"headvised。\"Theremaybenogreatdangeryet;butamancan\'tbetoocarefulwhenhewearsanarrowneckcloth。\"
Blake—ashort,powerfullybuiltman—tooknoheedofhim,butlookedstraightatMr。Wilding,who,smilingever,calmlyreturnedthegazeofthoseprominentblueeyes。
\"Youwillsufferme,SirRowland,\"saidhesweetly,\"tobethejudgeofwhomIwillandwhomIwillnotmeet。\"
SirRowlandflushedunderthatmockingglanceandcaustictone。\"Butheisdrunk,\"herepeatedfeebly。
\"Ithink,\"\"saidTrenchard,\"thatheishearingsomethingthatwillmakehimsober。\"
LordGervasetooktheladbytheshoulder,andshookhimimpatiently。
\"Well？\"quothhe。\"Haveyounothingtosay？Youdidadealofpratingjustnow。Imakenodoubtbutthatevenatthislatehourifyouweretomakeapology……\"
\"Itwouldbeidle,\"cameWilding\'sicyvoicetoquenchthegleamofhopekindlinganewinRichard\'sbreast。Theladsawthathewaslost,andheisapoorthing,indeed,whocannotfacetheworstoncethatworstisshowntobeirrevocable。Herosewithsomesemblanceofdignity。
\"ItisasIwouldwish,\"saidhe,buthislividfaceandstaringeyesbeliedthevalourofhiswords。Heclearedhishuskinessfromhisthroat。\"SirRowland,\"saidhe,\"willyouactforme？\"
\"NotI！\"criedBlakewithanoath。\"I\'llbenopartytothebutcheryofaboyunfledged。\"
\"Unfledged？\"echoedTrenchard。\"Bodyo\'me！\'TisamatterWildingwillamendto—morrow。He\'llfledgehim,neverfear。He\'llwinghimonhisflighttoheaven。\"
OfsetpurposedidTrenchardaddthisfueltotheblazingfire。Itwasnopartofhisviewsthatthisencountershouldbeavoided。IfRichardWestmacottwereallowedtoliveafterwhathadpassed,thereweretoomanytallfellowsmightgoinperiloftheirlives。
Richard,meanwhile,hadturnedtothemanonhisleft—youngVallancey,anotoriouspartisanoftheDukeofMonmouth\'s,ahair—brainedgentlemanwhowashisownworstenemy。
\"MayIcountonyou,Ned？\"heasked。
\"Aye—tothedeath,\"saidVallanceymagniloquently。
\"Mr。Vallancey,\"saidTrenchardwithawrytwistofhissharpfeatures,\"yougrowprophetic。\"
CHAPTERII
SIRROWLANDTOTHERESCUE
>FromScoresbyHall,nearWestonZoyland,youngWestmacottrodehomethatSaturdaynighttohissister\'shouseinBridgwater,asoberedmanandananguished。Hehadcommittedafollywhichwasliketocosthimhislifeto—morrow。Otherfollieshadhecommittedinhistwenty—fiveyears—forhewasnotquitethebabethatBlakehadrepresentedhim,althoughhecertainlylookednothinglikehisage。
Butto—nighthehadcontrivedtosetthecrowntoall。HehadgoodcausetoblamehimselfandtocursethemiscalculationthathademboldenedhimtolaunchhimselfuponacourseofinsultagainstthisWilding,whomhehatedwithallthecurrishandresentfulhatredoftheworthlessforthemanofparts。
Buttherewasmorethanhateintheaffrontthathehadoffered;therewascalculation—toanevengreaterextentthanwehaveseen。IthappenedthatthroughhisownfaultyoungRichardwasallbutpenniless。Thepious,nonconformistsoulofSirGeoffreyLupton—thewealthyunclefromwhomhehadhadgreatexpectations—hadbeensostirredtoangerbyRichard\'sviciousandbesottedwaysthathehadlefteveryguineathatwashis,everyperchofland,andeverybrickofedificetoRichard\'shalf—sisterRuth。Atpresentthingswerenotsobadfortheworthlessboy。Ruthworshippedhim。Hewasasacredchargetoherfromtheirdeadfather,who,knowingthestoutnessofhersoulandthefeeblenessofRichard\'s,hadindyingimposedonherthecareandguidanceofhergracelessbrother。ButRuth,inallthingsstrong,wasweakwithRichardoutofherveryfondnessforhim。Towhatshehadhemighthelphimself,andthusitwasthatthingswerenotsobadwithhimatpresent。ButwhenRichard\'scalculatingmindcametogivethoughttothefuturehefoundthatthisoccasionedhimsomecare。
Richladies,evenwhentheydonothappentobeequippedinadditionwithRuth\'swinsomebeautyandendearingnature,arenotwonttogounmarried。ItwouldhavepleasedRichardbesttohavehadherremainaspinster。Buthewellknewthatthiswasamatterinwhichshemighthaveavoiceofherown,anditbehovedhimbetimestotakewisemeasureswherepossiblehusbandswereconcerned。
Thefirstthatcameinasuitor\'sobviouspanoplywasAnthonyWilding,ofZoylandChase,andRichardwatchedhisadventwithforeboding。
Wilding\'swasapersonalitytodazzleanywoman,despite—perhapsevenbecauseof—thereputationforwildnessthatclungtohim。ThathewasknownasWildWildingtothecountrysideistrue;butitwereunfair—asRichardknew—toattachtothistoomuchimportance;
fortheadoptionofsoobviousanalliterationtherudecountrymindsneededbutaslightencouragement。
FromthefirstitlookedasifRuthmightfavourhim,andRichard\'sfearsassumedmoredefiniteshape。IfWildingmarriedher—andhewasabold,masterfulfellowwhousuallyaccomplishedwhatheaimedat—herfortuneandestatemustceasetobeapleasantpasturelandforbovineRichard。TheboythoughtatfirstofmakingtermswithWilding;theideawasold;ithadcometohimwhenfirsthehadcountedthechancesofhissister\'smarrying。ButhefoundhimselfhesitatingtolayhisproposalbeforeMr。Wilding。AndwhilsthehesitatedMr。Wildingmadeobviousheadway。StillRicharddarednotdoit。TherewasasomethinginWilding\'seyethatcriedhimdanger。Thus,intheend,sincehecouldnotattemptacompromisewiththisfinefellow,theonlycourseremainingwasthatofdirectantagonism—thatistosay,directasRichardunderstooddirectness。
Slanderwastheweaponheusedinthatsecretduel;thecountrysidewaswellstockedwithstoriesofMr。Wilding\'smanyindiscretions。
Idonotwishtosuggestthatthesewereunfounded。Still,thecountryside,cajoledbyitsprimitivesenseofhumourintothatalliterationIhavementioned,foundthathavinggiventhisdogitsbadname,itwasundertheobligationofkeepinguphisreputation。Soitexaggerated。Richard,exaggeratingthoseexaggerationsinhisturn,hadsomedetails,asinterestingandunsavouryastheywereinthemainuntrue,tolaybeforehissister。
Nowestablishedlove,itiswellknown,thriveswondrouslyonslander。
Therobustgrowthofamaid\'sfeelingsforheracceptedsuitorisbutfurtherstrengthenedbymalignrepresentationsofhischaracter。Sheseizeswithjoythechanceofaffordingproofofhergreatloyalty,anddefiestheworldanditseviltoconvinceherthatthemantowhomshehasgivenhertrustisnotmostworthyofit。Notso,however,withthefirsttimidbudofincipientinterest。Slandernipsitlikeafrost;
indeadlinessitissecondonlytoridicule。
RuthWestmacottlentaneartoherbrother\'sstories,incredulousonlyuntilsherememberedvaguehintsshehadcaughtfromthispersonandfromthat,whosemeaningwasnowmadeclearbywhatRichardtoldher,which,incidentally,theyservedtocorroborate。Corroboration,too,didthetaleofinfamyreceivefromthefriendshipthatprevailedbetweenMr。WildingandNickTrenchard,theoldne\'er—dowell,whoinhistime—aseverybodyknew—hadcomesolow,despitehisgentlebirth,astohavebeenoneofacompanyofstrollingplayers。HadMr。Wildingbeenotherthanshenowlearnthewas,hewouldsurelynotcherishanattachmentforapersonsoutterlyunworthy。Clearly,theywerebirdsofaplumage。
Andso,hermaidenpurityoutragedatthethoughtthatshehadbeenindangeroflendingawillingeartothewooingofsuchaman,shehadcrushedthislovewhichsheblushedtothinkwasonthepointofthrowingoutrootstofastenonhersoul,andwassedulousthereafterinmanifestingtheaversionwhichsheaccounteditherdutytofosterforMr。Wilding。
Richardhadwatchedandsmiledinsecret,takingprideinthecunningwayhehadwroughtthischange—thatcunningwhichsooftenisgiventothestupidbywayofcompensationfortheintelligencethathasbeenwithheldthem。
Andnowwhattimediscountenanced,Wildingfumedandfrettedallinvain,SirRowlandBlake,freshfromLondonandinfullflightfromhiscreditors,flashedlikeacometintotheBridgwaterheavens。HedazzledtheeyesandmighthavehadfortheaskingtheheartandhandofDianaHorton—Ruth\'scousin。Herheart,indeed,hehadwithouttheasking,forDianafellstraightwayinlovewithhimandshowedit,justasheshowedthathewasnotwithoutresponsetoheraffection。
Thereweresometenderpassagesbetweenthem;butBlake,forallhisfineexterior,wasabeggar,andDianafarfromrich,andsoherodehisfeelingswithahardgripuponthereins。Andthen,inanevilhourforpoorDiana,youngWestmacotthadtakenhimtoLuptonHouse,andSirRowlandhadhisfirstglimpseofRuth,hisfirstknowledgeofherfortune。HewentdownbeforeRuth\'seyeslikeamanofheart;
hewentdownmorelowlystillbeforeherpossessionslikeamanofgreed;andpoorDianamightconsoleherselfwithwhomshecould。
Herbrotherwatchedhim,appraisedhim,andthoughtthatinthisbrokengamesterhehadamanafterhisownheart;amanwhowouldbereadyenoughforsuchabargainasRichardhadinmind;readyenoughtosellwhatragsmightbelefthimofhishonoursothathecamebythewherewithaltomendhisbrokenfortunes。
Thetwainmadeterms。TheyhaggledlikeanypairoftradersoutofJewry,butintheenditwassettled—byabonddulyengrossedandsealed—thatonthedaythatSirRowlandmarriedRuthheshouldmakeovertoherbrothercertainvaluesthatamountedtoperhapsaquarterofherpossessions。TherewasnocausetothinkthatRuthwouldbegreatlyopposedtothis—notthatthatconsiderationwouldhaveweighedwithRichard。
ButnowthatallessentialsweresosatisfactorilydeterminedavexationwasofferedWestmacottbythecircumstancethathissisterseemednowisetakenwithSirRowland。Shesufferedhimbecausehewasherbrother\'sfriend;onthataccountsheevenhonouredhimwithsomemeasureofherownfriendship;buttonogreaterintimacydidhermannerpromisetoadmithim。Andmeanwhile,Mr。Wildingpersistedinthefaceofallrebuffs。Underhissmilingmaskhehidthesmartofthewoundsshedealthim,untilitalmostseemedtohimthatfromlovingherhehadcometohateher。
IthadbeenwellforRichardhadheleftthingsastheywereandwaited。
WhetherBlakeprosperedornot,leastwaysitwasclearthatWildingwouldnotprosper,andthat,fortheseason,wasallthatneedhavematteredtoyoungRichard。
ButinhiscupsthatnighthehadthoughtinsomedimwaytoprecipitatemattersbyaffrontingMr。Wilding,secure,asIhaveshown,inhisbeliefthatWildingwouldperishsoonerthanraiseafingeragainstRuth\'sbrother。Andhisdrunkenastuteness,itseemed,hadbeentohismindasapieceofbottleglasstothesight,distortingtheimageviewedthroughit。
Withsomesuchbitterreflectionrodehehometohissleeplesscouch。
SomepartofthosedarkhourshespentinbitterrevilingofWilding,ofhimself,andevenofhissister,whomheblamedforthisawfulsituationintowhichhehadtumbled;atothertimesheweptfromself—pityandsheerfright。
Once,indeed,heimaginedthathesawlight,thathesawawayoutoftheperilthathemmedhimin。HismindturnedforamomentinthedirectionthatTrenchardhadfeareditmight。HebethoughthimofhisassociationwiththeMonmouthCause—intowhichhehadbeenbeguiledbythesordidhopeofgain—andofWilding\'simportantshareinthatsamebusiness。HewasevenmovedtoriseandridethatverynightforExetertobetraytoAlbemarletheCauseitself,sothathemighthaveWildinglaidbytheheels。ButifTrenchardhadbeenrightinhavinglittlefaithinRichard\'sloyalty,hehad,itseems,infearingtreacherymadethemistakeofgivingRichardcreditformorecouragethanwashisendowment。Forwhen,sittingupinbed,firedbyhisinspiration,youngWestmacottcametoconsiderthequestionstheLord—LieutenantofDevonwouldbelikelytoaskhim,hereflectedthattheanswershemustreturnwouldsoincriminatehimselfthathewouldberiskinghisownneckinthebetrayal。Heflunghimselfdownagainwithacurseandagroan,andthoughtnomoreofthesalvationthatmightlieforhimthatway。
ThemorningofthatlastdayofMayfoundhimpaleandlimpandalla—tremble。Herosebetimesanddressed,butstirrednotfromhischambertillinthegardenunderhiswindowheheardhissister\'svoice,andthatofDianaHorton,joinedanonbyaman\'sdeepertones,whichherecognizedwithastartasBlake\'s。Whatdidthebaronetheresoearly？Assuredlyitmustconcerntheimpendingduel。Richardknewnomawkishnessonthescoreofeavesdropping。Hestoletohiswindowandlentanear,hutthevoiceswerereceding,andtohisvexationhecaughtnothingofwhatwassaid。HewonderedhowsoonVallanceywouldcome,andforwhathourtheencounterhadbeenappointed。
VallanceyhadremainedbehindatScoresbyHalllastnighttomakethenecessaryarrangementswithTrenchard,whowastoactforMr。Wilding。
NowitchancedthatTrenchardandWildinghadbusiness—businessofMonmouth\'s—totransactinTauntonthatmorning;businesswhichmightnotbedelayed。TherewereoddrumoursafloatintheWest;