persistentrumourswhichhadcomefastupontheheelsofthenewsofArgyle\'slandinginScotland;rumourswhichmaintainedthatMonmouthhimselfwascomingoverfromHolland。ThesetalesWildingandhisassociateshadignored。TheDuke,theyknew,wastospendthesummerinretreatinSweden,with（itwasalleged）theLadyHenriettaWentworthtobearhimcompany,andinthemeantimehistrustedagentsweretopavethewayforhiscominginthefollowingspring。OflatethelackofdirectnewsfromtheDukehadbeenasourceofmystificationtohisfriendsintheWest,andnow,suddenly,theinformationwentabroad—itwassomethingmorethanrumourthistime—thataletterofthegreatestimportancehadbeenintercepted。Fromwhomthatletterproceededortowhomitwasaddressed,couldnotyetbediscovered。
ButitseemedclearthatitwasconnectedwiththeMonmouthCause,anditbehovedMr。Wildingtodiscoverwhathecould。WiththisintentherodewithTrenchardthatSundaymorningtoTaunton,hopingthatattheRedLionInn—thatmeeting—placeofdissenters—hemightcullreliableinformation。
ItwasinconsequenceofthisthatthemeetingwithRichardWestmacottwasnottotakeplaceuntiltheevening,andthereforeVallanceycamenottoLuptonHouseasearlyasRichardthoughtheshouldexpecthim。
Blake,however—morenodoubtoutofaselfishfearoflosingavaluedallyinthewinningofRuth\'shandthanoutofanyexcessiveconcernforRichardhimself—hadrisenearlyandhastenedtoLuptonHouse,inthehope,whichherecognizedasallbutforlorn,ofyetbeingabletoavertthedisasterheforesawforRichard。
Peeringovertheorchardwallasherodeby,hecaughtaglimpse,throughanopeningbetweenthetrees,ofRuthherselfandDianaonthelawnbeyond。Therewasawicketgatethatstoodunlatched,andavailinghimselfofthisSirRowlandtetheredhishorseinthelaneandthreadinghiswaybrisklythroughtheorchardcamesuddenlyuponthegirls。Theirlaughterreachedhimasheadvanced,andtoldhimtheycouldknownothingyetofRichard\'sdanger。
Onhisabruptandunexpectedapparition,DianapaledandRuthflushedslightly,whereuponSirRowlandmighthavebethoughthim,hadhebeenbook—learned,oftheaxiom,\"Amourquirougit,fleurette;amourquiplit,drameducoeur。\"
Hedoffedhishatandbowed,hisfairringletstumblingforwardtilltheyhidhisface,whichwasexceedinggrave。
Ruthgavehimgoodmorningpleasantly。\"YouLondonfolkareearlierrisersthanweareledtothink,\"sheadded。
\"`TwillbethechangeofairmakesSirRowlandmatutinal,\"saidDiana,makingagallantrecoveryfromheragitation。
\"Ivow,\"saidhe,\"thatIhadgrownmatutinalearlierhadIknownwhathereawaitedme。\"
\"Awaitedyou？\"quothDiana,andtossedherheadarchlydisdainful。
\"La！SirRowland,yourmodestywillbethedeathofyou。\"Archnessbecamethisladyofthesunnyhair,tip—tiltednose,andcomplexionthatoutviedtheapple—blossoms。Shewasshorterbyahalf—headthanherdarkercousin,andmadeupinsprightlinesswhatshelackedofRuth\'sgentledignity。Thepairwerefoils,eachsettingoffthegracesoftheother。
\"IprotestIamfoolish,\"answeredBlake,ashadediscomfited。\"ButIwantnotforexcuse。Ihaveitinthematterthatbringsmehere。\"
Sosolemnwashisair,sosoberhisvoice,thatbothgirlsfeltapremonitionoftheuntowardmessagethathebore。ItwasRuthwhoaskedhimtoexplainhimself。
\"Willyouwalk,ladies？\"saidBlake,andwavedthehandthatstillheldhishatriverwards,adowntheslopinglawn。Theymovedawaytogether,SirRowlandpacingbetweenhisloveofyesterdayandhisloveofto—day,pressedwithquestionsfromboth。Heshadedhiseyestolookattheriver,dazzlinginthemorningsunlightthatcameoverPoldenHill,and,standingthus,heunburdenedhimselfatlast。
\"MynewsconcernsRichardand—Mr。Wilding。\"Theylookedathim。MissWestmacott\'sfinelevelbrowswereknit。Hepausedtoask,asifsuddenlyobservinghisabsence,\"IsRichardnotyetrisen？\"
\"Notyet,\"saidRuth,andwaitedforhimtoproceed。
\"Itdoescredittohiscouragethatheshouldsleeplateonsuchaday,\"saidBlake,andwaspleasedwiththeadroitnesswherewithhebrokethenews。\"HequarrelledlastnightwithAnthonyWilding。\"
Ruth\'shandwenttoherbosom;fearstaredatBlakefromouthereyes,blueastheheavensoverhead;agreyshadeovercasttheusualwarmpallorofherface。
\"WithMr。Wilding？\"shecried。\"Thatman！\"Andthoughshesaidnomorehereyesimploredhimtogoon,andtellherwhatmoretheremightbe。
Hedidso,andhesparednotWilding。Thetask,indeed,wasonetowhichheappliedhimselfwithacertainzest;whatevermightbetheoutcomeoftheaffair,therewasnodenyingthathewasbywayofreapingprofitfromitbythefinaloverthrowofanacknowledgedrival。
AndwhenhetoldherhowRichardhadflunghiswineinWilding\'sfacewhenWildingstoodtotoasther,afaintflushcrepttohercheeks。
\"Richarddidwell,\"saidshe。\"Iamproudofhim。\"
ThewordspleasedSirRowlandvastly;buthereckonedwithoutDiana。
MissHorton\'smindwasilluminedbyherknowledgeofherself。Inthelightofthatshesawpreciselywhatcapitalthistale—bearersoughttomake。Theoccasionmightnotbewithoutitsopportunitiesforher;
andtobeginwith,itwasnopartofherintentionthatWildingshouldbethusmalignedandfinallydrivenfromthelistsofrivalrywithBlake。UponWilding,indeed,andhisnotoriousmasterfulnessdidshefoundwhathopesshestillentertainedofwinningbackSirRowland。
\"Surely,\"saidshe,\"youarealittlehardonMr。Wilding。Youspeakasifhewerethefirstgallantthatevertoastedlady\'seyes。\"
\"Iamnoladyofhis,Diana,\"Ruthremindedher,withafaintshowofheat。
Dianashruggedhershoulders。\"Youmaynotlovehim,butyoucan\'tordainthatheshallnotloveyou。Youareveryharsh,Ithink。TomeitratherseemsthatRichardactedlikeaboor。\"
\"But,mistress,\"criedSirRowland,halfoutofcountenance,andstiflinghisvexation,\"inthesemattersitalldependsuponthemanner。\"
\"Why,yes,\"sheagreed;\"andwhateverMr。Wilding\'smanner,ifIknowhimatall,itwouldbenothingbutrespectfultothelastdegree。\"
\"Myownconceptionofrespect,\"saidhe,\"isnottobandyalady\'snameaboutacompanyofrevellers。\"
\"Bethinkyou,though,yousaidjustnow,italldependedonthemanner,\"
sherejoined。SirRowlandshruggedandturnedhalffromhertoherlisteningcousin。Whenallissaid,poorDianaappears—despitehercunning—tohavebeenshort—sighted。Aimingatadefinedadvantageinthegamesheplayed,sheeitherignoredorheldtoolightlytheconcomitantdisadvantageofvexingBlake。
\"Itwereperhapsbesttotellustheexactwordsheused,SirRowland,\"
shesuggested,\"thatforourselveswemayjudgehowfarhelackedrespect。\"
\"Whatsignifythewords！\"criedBlake,nowalmostoutoftemper。\"I
don\'trecallthem。ItistheairwithwhichhepledgedMistressWestmacott。\"
\"Ahyes—themanner,\"quothDianairritatingly。\"We\'llletthatbe。
RichardthrewhiswineinMr。Wilding\'sface？Whatfollowedthen？WhatsaidMr。Wilding？\"
SirRowlandrememberedwhatMr。Wildinghadsaid,andbethoughthimthatitwereimpoliticinhimtorepeatit。Atthesametime,nothavinglookedforthiscross—questioning,hewasallunpreparedwithanylikelyanswer。Hehesitated,untilRuthechoedDiana\'squestion。
\"Tellus,SirRowland,\"shebeggedhim,\"whatMr。Wildingsaid。\"
Beingforcedtosaysomething,andbeingbynatureslow—wittedandsluggishofinvention,SirRowlandwascompelled,tohisunspeakablechagrin,tofallbackuponthetruth。
\"Isnotthatproof？\"criedDianaintriumph。\"Mr。WildingwasreluctanttoquarrelwithRichard。Hewasevenreadytoswallowsuchanaffrontasthat,thinkingitmightbeofferedhimunderamisconceptionofhismeaning。HeplainlyprofessedtherespectthatfilledhimforMistressWestmacott,andyet,andyet,SirRowland,youtellusthathelackedrespect！\"
\"Madam,\"criedBlake,turningcrimson,\"thatmattersnothing。Itwasnottheplaceortimetointroduceyourcousinsname。
\"Youthink,SirRowland,\"putinRuth,herairgrave,judicialalmost,\"thatRichardbehavedwell？\"
\"AsIwouldliketobehavemyself,asIwouldhaveasonofminebehaveonthelikeoccasion,\"Blakeprotested。\"Butwewastewords,\"hecried。
\"IdidnotcometodefendRichard,norjusttobearyouthisuntowardnews。Icametoconsultwithyou,inthehopethatwemightfindsomewaytoavertthisperilfromyourbrother。\"
\"Whatwayispossible？\"askedRuth,andsighed。\"Iwouldnot……IwouldnothaveRichardacoward。\"
\"Wouldyoupreferhimdead？\"askedBlake,sadlygrave。
\"Soonerthancraven—yes,\"Ruthansweredhim,verywhite。
\"Thereisnoquestionofthat,\"wasBlake\'srejoinder。\"ThequestionisthatWildingsaidlastnightthathewouldkilltheboy,andwhatWildingsayshedoes。OutoftheaffectionthatIbearRichardisbornmyanxietytosavehimdespitehimself。ItisinthisthatIcometoseekyouraidoroffermine。Alliedwemightaccomplishwhatsinglyneitherofuscould。\"
Hehadatoncetherewardofhiscunningspeech。Ruthheldoutherhands。\"Youareagoodfriend,SirRowland,\"shesaid,withapalesmile;andpaletoowasthesmilewithwhichDianawatchedthem。NomorethanRuthdidshesuspectthesincerityofBlake\'sprotestations。
\"Iamproudyoushouldaccountmethat,\"saidthebaronet,takingRuth\'shandsandholdingthemamoment;\"andIwouldthatIcouldprovemyselfyourfriendinthistosomegoodpurpose。Believeme,ifWildingwouldconsentthatImighttakeyourbrother\'splace,Iwouldgladlydoso。\"
Itwasasafeboast,knowingashedidthatWildingwouldconsenttonosuchthing;butitearnedhimaglanceofgreaterkindlinessfromRuth—whobegantothinkthathithertoperhapsshehaddonehimsomeinjustice—andalookofgreateradmirationfromDiana,whosawinhimherbeau—idealofthegallantlover。
\"Iwouldnothaveyouendangeryourselfso,\"saidRuth。
\"Itmight,\"saidBlake,hisblueeyesveryfierce,\"benogreatdanger,afterall。\"Andthendismissingthatpartofthesubjectasif,likeabraveman,thenotionofbeingthoughtboastfulwereunpleasant,hepassedontothediscussionofwaysandmeansbywhichthecomingduelmightbeaverted。Butwhentheycametogripswithfacts,itseemedthatSirRowlandhadaslittleideaofwhatmightbedoneashadtheladies。True,hebeganbymakingtheobvioussuggestionthatRichardshouldtenderWildingafullapology。That,indeed,wastheonlydoorofescape,andBlakeshrewdlysuspectedthatwhattheboyhadbeenunwillingtodolastnight—partlythroughwine,andpartlythroughthefearoflookingfearfulintheeyesofLordGervaseScoresby\'sguests—hemightbewillingenoughtodoto—day,soberanduponreflection。FortherestBlakewasasfarfromsuspectingMr。Wilding\'speculiarframeofmindashadRichardbeenlastnight。Thishiswordsshowed。
\"Iamsatisfied,\"saidhe,\"thatifRichardweretogoto—daytoWildingandexpresshisregretforathingdoneintheheatofwine,Wildingwouldbeforcedtoacceptitassatisfaction,andnonewouldthinkthatitdidotherthanreflectcredituponRichard。\"
\"Areyouverysureofthat？\"askedRuth,hertonedubious,herglancehopefullyanxious。
\"Whatelseistobethought？\"
\"But,\"putinDianashrewdly,\"itwereanadmissionofRichard\'sthathehaddonewrong。\"
\"Noless,\"heagreed,andRuthcaughtherbreathinfreshdismay。
\"Andyetyouhavesaidthathedidasyouwouldhaveasonofyoursdo,\"Dianaremindedhim。
\"AndImaintainit,\"answeredBlake;hiswitsworkedslowlyever。
ItwasforRuthtorevealtheflawtohim。
\"Doyounotunderstand,then,\"sheaskedhimsadly,\"thatsuchanadmissiononRichard\'spartwouldamounttoalie—alieutteredtosavehimselffromanencounter,theworstformoflie,alieofcowardice？Surely,SirRowland,yourkindlyanxietyforhislifeoutrunsyouranxietyforhishonour。\"
Diana,havingaccomplishedhertask,hungherheadinsilence,pondering。
SirRowlandwasroutedutterly。Heglancedfromonetotheotherofhiscompanions,andgrewafraidthathe—thetowngallant—mightcometolookfoolishintheeyesofthesecountryladies。HeprotestedagainhisloveforRichard,andincreasedRuth\'sterrorbyhismentionofWilding\'sswordsmanship;butwhenallwassaid,hesawthathehadbestretreaterehespoiledthegoodeffectwhichhehopedhissolicitudehadcreated。AndsohespokeofseekingcounselwithLordGervaseScoresby,andtookhisleave,promisingtoreturnbynoon。
CHAPTERIII
DIANASCHEMES
NotwithstandingthebravefaceRuthWestmacotthadkeptduringhispresence,whenhedepartedSirRowlandleftbehindhimadistressamountingalmosttoanguishinhermind。Yetthoughshemightsuffer,therewasnoweaknessinRuth\'snature。Sheknewhowtoendure。Diana,bearingRichardnotatenthoftheaffectionhissisterconsecratedtohim,wasalarmedforhim。Besides,herowninterestsurgedtheavertingofthisencounter。Andsosheheldinaccentsalmosttearfulthatsomethingmustbedonetosavehim。
This,too,appearedtobeRichard\'sownview,whenpresently—withinafewminutesofBlake\'sdeparture—hecametojointhem。Theywatchedhisapproachinsilence,andbothnoted—thoughwithdifferenteyesanddifferentfeelings—thepallorofhisfairface,thedarklinesunderhiscolourlesseyes。Hisconditionwasabject,andhismanners,neverofthebest—fortherewasmuchofthespoiledchildaboutRichard—wereclearlysufferingfromit。
Hestoodbeforehissisterandhiscousin,movinghiseyesshiftilyfromonetotheother,rubbinghishandsnervouslytogether。
\"YourpreciousfriendSirRowlandhasbeenhere,\"saidhe,anditwasnotclearfromhismannerwhichofthemheaddressed。\"Notadoubtbuthewillhavebroughtyouthenews。\"Heseemedtosneer。
Ruthadvancedtowardshim,herfacegrave,hersweeteyesfullofpityingconcern。Sheplacedahanduponhissleeve。\"MypoorRichard……\"shebegan,butheshookoffherkindlytouch,laughingangrily—amerecackleofirritability。
\"Odso！\"heinterruptedher。\"Itisathoughtlateforthismockkindliness！\"
Diana,inthebackground,archedherbrows,thenwithashrugturnedasideandseatedherselfonthestoneseatbywhichtheyhadbeenstanding。Ruthshrankbackasifherbrotherhadstruckher。
\"Richard！\"shecried,andsearchedhislividfacewithhereyes。
\"Richard！\"
Hereadaquestionintheinterjection,andheansweredit。\"Hadyouknownanyrealcare,anytrueconcernforme,youhadnotgivencauseforthisaffair,\"hechidherpeevishly。
\"Whatareyousaying？\"shecried,anditoccurredtoheratlastthatRichardwasafraid。Hewasacoward！Shefeltasshewouldfaint。
\"Iamsaying,\"saidhe,hunchinghisshoulders,andshiveringashespoke,yet,hisglanceunabletomeethers,\"thatitisyourfaultthatIamliketogetmythroatcutbeforesunset。\"
\"Myfault？\"shemurmured。Theslopeoflawnseemedtowaveandswimabouther。\"Myfault？\"
\"Thefaultofyourwantonways,\"heaccusedherharshly。\"YouhavesoplayedfastandloosewiththisfellowWildingthathemakesfreeofyournameinmyverypresence,andputsuponmetheneedtogetmyselfkilledbyhimtosavethefamilyhonour。\"
Hewouldhavesaidmoreinthisstrain,butsomethinginherglancegavehimpause。Therefellasilence。Fromthedistancecamethemelodiouspealingofchurchbells。Highoverheadalarkwaspouringoutitssong;
inthelaneattheorchardendrangthebeatoftrottinghoofs。ItwasDianawhospokepresently。Justindignationstirredher,and,whenstirred,sheknewnopity,setnolimitstoherspeech。
\"Ithink,indeed,\"saidshe,hervoicecrispandmerciless,\"thatthefamilyhonourwillbestbesavedifMr。Wildingkillsyou。Itisindangerwhileyoulive。Youareacoward,Richard。\"
\"Diana！\"hethundered—hecouldbemightybravewithwomen—whilstRuthclutchedherarmtorestrainher。
Butshecontinued,undeterred:\"Youareacoward—apitifulcoward,\"
shetoldhim。\"Consultyourmirror。Itwilltellyouwhatapalsiedthingyouare。ThatyoushoulddaresospeaktoRuth……\"
\"Don\'t！\"Ruthbeggedher,turning。
\"Aye,\"growledRichard,\"shehadbestbesilent。\"
Dianarose,tobattle,hercheekscrimson。\"Itasksabravermanthanyoutocompelmyobedience,\"shetoldhim。\"La！\"shefumed,\"I\'llswearthathadMr。Wildingoverheardwhatyouhavesaidtoyoursister,youwouldhavelittletofearfromhissword。Acanewouldbetheweaponhe\'duseonyou。
Richard\'spaleeyesflamedmalevolently;aviolentragepossessedhimandfloodedouthisfear,fornothingcansogoadamanasanoffensivetruth。Ruthapproachedhimagain;againshetookhimbythearm,seekingtosoothehisover—troubledspirit;butagainheshookheroff。
Andthentosavethesituationcameaservantfromthehouse。SolostinangerwasallRichard\'ssenseofdecencythatthemeresuperventionofthemanwouldnothavebeenenoughtohavesilencedhimcouldhehavefoundadequatewordsinwhichtoanswerMistressHorton。Butevenasherackedhismind,thefootman\'svoicebrokethesilence,andthewordsthefellowuttereddidwhathispresencealonemightnothavesufficedtodo。
\"Mr。VaIlanceyisaskingforyou,sir,\"heannounced。
Richardstarted。Vallancey！Hehadcomeatlast,andhiscomingwasconnectedwiththeimpendingduel。ThethoughtwasparalyzingtoyoungWestmacott。Theflushofangerfadedfromhisface;itsleadenhuereturnedandheshiveredaswithcold。Atlasthemasteredhimselfsufficientlytoask:
\"Whereishe,Jasper？\"
\"Inthelibrary,sir,\"repliedtheservant。\"ShallIbringhimhither？\"
\"Yes—no,\"heanswered。\"Iwillcometohim。\"Heturnedhisbackupontheladies,pausedamoment,stillirresolute。Then,asbyaneffort,hefollowedtheservantacrossthelawnandvanishedthroughtheiviedporch。
AshewentDianaflewtohercousin。Hershallownaturewastouchedwithtransientpity。\"MypoorRuth……\"shemurmuredsoothingly,andsetherarmabouttheother\'swaist。TherewasagleamoftearsintheeyesRuthturneduponher。Togethertheycametothegraniteseatandsanktoitsidebyside,frontingtheplacidriver。ThereRuth,herelbowsonherknees,cradledherchininherhands,andwithasighofmiserystaredstraightbeforeher。
\"Itwasuntrue！\"shesaidatlast。\"WhatRichardsaidofmewasuntrue。\"
\"Why,yes,\"Dianasnapped,contemptuous。\"TheonlytruthisthatRichardisafraid。\"
Ruthshivered。\"Ah,no,\"shepleaded—sheknewhowtruewastheimpeachment。\"Don\'tsayit,Diana。\"
\"ItmatterslittlethatIsayit,\"snortedDianaimpatiently。\"Itisatruthproclaimedbythefirstglanceathim。\"
\"Heisinpoorhealth,perhaps,\"saidRuth,seekingmiserablytoexcusehim。
\"Aye,\"saidDiana。\"He\'ssufferingfromanague—theresultofalackofcourage。Thatheshouldsohavespokentoyou！Givemepatience,Heaven！\"
Ruthcrimsonedagainatthememoryofhiswords;awaveofindignationsweptthroughhergentlesoul,butwasgoneatonce,leavinganineffablesadnessinitsroom。Whatwastobedone？SheturnedtoDianaforcounsel。ButDianawasstillwhippingupherscorn。
\"IfhegoesouttomeetMr。Wilding,he\'llshamehimselfandeverymanandwomanthatbearsthenameofWestmacott,\"saidshe,andstruckanewfearwiththatintotheheartofRuth。
\"Hemustnotgo！\"sheansweredpassionately。\"Hemustnotmeethim！\"
Dianaflashedherasidelongglance。\"Andifhedoesn\'t,willthingsbemended？\"sheinquired。\"WillitsavehishonourtohaveMr。Wildingcomeandcanehim？\"
\"He\'dnotdothat？\"saidRuth。
\"Notifyouaskedhim—no,\"wasDiana\'ssharpretort,andshecaughtherbreathonthelastwordofit,forjustthentheDevildroppedtheseedofasuggestionintothefertilesoilofherlovesicksoul。
\"Diana！\"Ruthexclaimedinreproof,turningtoconfronthercousin。
ButDiana\'smindstarteduponitsschemingjourneywasnowtravellingfast。Outofthatdevil\'sseedtheresprangwithamazingrapidityatree—likegrowth,throwingoutbranches,puttingforthleaves,bearingalready—inherfancy—bloomandfruit。
\"Whynot？\"quothsheafterabreathingspace,andhervoicewasgentle,hertoneinnocentbeyondcompare。\"Whyshouldyounotaskhim？\"Ruthfrowned,perplexedandthoughtful,andnowDianaturnedtoherwiththelivelyeyeofoneintowhosemindhasleaptasuddeninspiration。
\"Ruth！\"sheexclaimed。\"Why,indeed,shouldyounotaskhimtoforgothisduel？\"
\"How……,howcouldI？\"falteredRuth。
\"He\'dnotdenyyou;youknowhe\'dnot。\"
\"Idonotknowit,\"answeredRuth。\"ButifIdid,howcouldIaskit？\"
\"WereIRichard\'ssister,andhadIhislifeandhonouratheartasyouhave,I\'dnotaskhow。IfRichardgoestothatencounterhelosesboth,remember—unlessbetweenthisandthenheundergoessomechange。WereIinyourplace,I\'dstraighttoWilding。\"
\"Tohim？\"musedRuth,sittingup。\"HowcouldIgotohim？\"
\"Gotohim,yes,\"Dianainsisted。\"Gotohimatonce—whilethereisyettime。\"
Ruthroseandmovedawayasteportwotowardsthewater,deepinthought。Dianawatchedherfurtivelyandslyly,therapidriseandfallofhermaidenbreastbetrayingtheagitationthatfilledherasshewaited—likeagamester—fortheturnofthecardthatwouldshowherwhethershehadwonorlost。ForshesawclearlyhowRuthmightbesocompromisedthattherewassomethingmorethanachancethatDianawouldnolongerhavecausetoaccounthercousinabarrierbetweenherselfandBlake。
\"Icouldnotgoalone,\"saidRuth,andhertonewasthatofonestillbattlingwithanotionthatisrepugnant。
\"Why,ifthatisall,\"saidDiana,\"thenI\'llgowithyou。\"
\"Ican\'t！Ican\'t！Considerthehumiliation。\"
\"ConsiderRichardrather,\"thefairtemptressmadeanswereagerly。\"BesurethatMr。Wildingwillsaveyouallhumiliation。He\'llnotdenyyou。Atawordfromyou,Iknowwhatanswerhewillmake。Hewillrefusetopushthematterforward—acknowledgehimselfinthewrong,dowhateveryoumayaskhim。Hecandoit。Nonewillquestionhiscourage。Ithasbeenprovedtoooften。\"SheroseandcametoRuth。
Shesetherarmaboutherwaistagain,andpouredshrewdpersuasionoverhercousinsindecision。\"To—nightyou\'llthankmeforthisthought,\"sheassuredher。\"Whydoyoupause？AreyousoselfishastothinkmoreofthelittlehumiliationthatmayawaityouthanofRichard\'slifeandhonour？\"
\"No,no,\"Ruthprotestedfeebly。
\"What,then？IsRichardtogooutandslayhishonourbyashowoffearbeforeheisslain,himself,bythemanhehasinsulted？\"
\"I\'llgo,\"saidRuth。Nowthattheresolvewastaken,shewasbrisk,impatient。\"Come,Diana。LetJerrysaddleforus。We\'llridetoZoylandChaseatonce。\"
TheywentwithoutawordtoRichardwhowasstillclosetedwithVallancey,andridingforththeycrossedtheriverandtooktheroadthat,skirtingSedgemoor,runssouthtoWestonZoyland。Theyrodewithlittlesaiduntiltheycametothepointwheretheroadbranchesontheleft,throwingoutanarmacrossthemoortowardsChedzoy,amileorsoshortofZoylandChase。HereDianareinedinwithasharpgaspofpain。Ruthchecked,andcriedtoknowwhatailedher。
\"Itisthesun,Ithink,\"mutteredDiana,herhandtoherbrow。\"Iamsickandgiddy。\"Andsheslippedathoughtheavilytotheground。InaninstantRuthhaddismountedandwasbesideher。Dianawaspale,whichlentcolourtohercomplaint,forRuthwasnottoknowthatthepallorsprangfromheragitationinwonderingwhethertherusesheattemptedwouldsucceedornot。