Herargumentsandhisweakness—hisreturningcowardice,whichmadehimlendaneartothosesamearguments—prevailedwithhim;atleasttheyconvincedhimthathewasfartooimportantapersontoriskhislifeinthisquarreluponwhichhehadsorashlyentered。
Hedidnotsaythathewasconvinced;buthesaidthathewouldgivethematterthought,hintingthatperhapssomeotherwaymightpresentitselfofcancellingthebargainshehadmade。Theyhadaweekbeforethem,andinanycasehepromisedreadilyinanswertoherentreaties—forherfaithinhimwasathingunquenchable—thathewoulddonothingwithouttakingcounselwithher。
MeanwhileDianahadescortedSirRowlandtothemaingatesofLuptonHouse,infrontofwhichMissWestmacott\'sgroomwaswalkinghishorse,awaitinghim。
\"SirRowland,\"saidsheatparting,\"yourchivalrymakesyoutakethismattertoodeeplytoheart。Youoverlookthepossibilitythatmycousinmayhavegoodreasonfornotdesiringyourinterference。\"
Helookedkeenlyatthislittleladytowhomamonthagohehadbeenonthepointofofferingmarriage。Hiscoxcombrymightreadilyhavesuggestedtohimthatshewasinlovewithhim,butthathisconscienceandinclinationsurgedhimtoassurehimselfthatthiswasnotthecase。
\"Whatshallthatmean,madam？\"heaskedher。
Dianahesitated。\"WhatIhavesaidisplain,\"sheanswered,anditwasclearthatsheheldsomethingback。
SirRowlandflatteredhimselfupontheshrewdnesswithwhichhereadher,neverdreamingthathehadbutreadjustwhatsheintendedheshould。
Hestoodsquarelybeforeher,shakinghisgreathead。\"Notplainenoughforme,\"hesaid。Thenhistonesoftenedtooneofprayer。\"Tellme,\"
hebesoughther。
\"Ican\'t！Ican\'t！\"shecriedinfeigneddistress。\"Itweretoodisloyal。\"
Hefrowned。Hecaughtherarmandpressedit,hisheartsickwithjealousalarm。\"Whatdoyoumean？Tellme,tellme,MistressHorton。\"
Dianaloweredhereyes。\"You\'llnotbetrayme？\"shestipulated。
\"Why,no。Tellme。\"
Sheflusheddelicately。\"IamdisloyaltoRuth,\"shesaid,\"andyetI
amloathtoseeyoucozened。\"
\"Cozened？\"quothhehoarsely,hisegregiousvanityinarms。\"Cozened？\"
Dianaexplained。\"Ruthwasathishouseto—day,\"saidshe,\"closetedalonewithhimforanhourormore。\"
\"Impossible！\"hecried。
\"Whereelsewasthebargainmade？\"sheasked,andshatteredhislastdoubt。\"YouknowthatMr。Wildinghasnotbeenhere。\"
YetBlakestruggledheroicallyagainstconviction。
\"ShewenttointercedeforRichard,\"heprotested。MissHortonlookedupathim,andunderherglanceSirRowlandfeltthathewasamanofunfathomableignorance。Thensheturnedasidehereyesandshruggedhershoulders`veryeloquently。\"Youareamanoftheworld,SirRowland。Youcannotseriouslysupposethatanymaidwouldsoimperilhergoodnameinanycause？\"
Darkergrewhisfloridcountenance;hisbulgingeyeslookedtroubledandperplexed。
\"Youmeanthatsheloveshim？\"hesaid,betweenquestionandassertion。
Dianapursedherlips。\"Youshalldrawyourowninference,\"quothshe。
Hebreathedheavily,andsquaredhisbroadshoulders,asonewhobraceshimselfforbattleagainstanelementstrongerthanhimself。
\"Buthertalkofsacrifice？\"hecried。
Dianalaughed,andagainhewasstungbyhercontemptofhisperceptions。\"Herbrotherissetagainsthermarryinghim,\"saidshe。
\"Herewasherchance。Isitnotveryplain？\"
Doubtstaredfromhiseyes。\"Whydoyoutellmethis？\"
\"BecauseIesteemyou,SirRowland,\"sheansweredverygently。\"Iwouldnothaveyoumeddleinamatteryoucannotmend。\"
\"WhichIamnotdesiredtomend,sayrather,\"herepliedwithheavysarcasm。\"Shewouldnothavemyinterference！\"Helaughedangrily。
\"Ithinkyouareright,MistressDiana,\"hesaid,\"andIthinkthatmorethaneveristheretheneedtokillthisMr。Wilding。\"
Hetookhisdepartureabruptly,leavingherscaredatthemischiefshehadmadeforhiminseekingtosavehimfromit,andthatverynighthesoughtoutWilding。
ButWildingwasfromhomeagain。UnderitsplacidsurfacetheWestCountrywasinaferment。AndifhithertoMr。WildinghaddisdainedtheinsistentrumoursofMonmouth\'scoming,hisassurancewasshakennowbyproofthattheGovernment,itself,wasstirring;forfourcompaniesoffootandatroopofhorsehadbeenthatdayorderedtoTauntonbytheDeputy—Lieutenant。WildingwasgonewithTrenchardtoWhiteLackingtoninavainhopethattherehemightfindnewstoconfirmhispersistingunbeliefinanysuchrashnessaswasallegedonMonmouth\'spart。
SoBlakewasforcedtowait,buthispurposesufferednothingbydelay。
Returningonthemorrow,hefoundMr。WildingattablewithNickTrenchard,andhecutshortthegreetingsofbothmen。Heflunghishat—ablackcastortrimmedwithablackfeather—rudelyamongthedishesontheboard。
\"Ihavecometoaskyou,Mr。Wilding,\"saidhe,\"tobesogoodastotellmethecolourofthathat。\"
Mr。WildingraisedoneeyebrowandlookedaslantatTrenchard,whoseweather—beatenfacewassuddenlyagrinwithstupefaction。
\"Icouldnot,\"saidMr。Wilding,\"denyananswertoaquestionsetsocourteously。\"HelookedupintoBlake\'sflushedandscowlingfacewiththesweetestandmostinnocentofsmiles。\"You\'llnodoubtdisagreewithme,\"saidhe,\"butIlovetomeetamanhalfway。Yourhat,sir,isaswhiteasvirginsnow。
Blake\'sslowwitsweredisconcertedforamoment。Thenhesmiledviciously。\"Youmistake,Mr。Wilding,\"saidhe。\"Myhatisblack。\"
Mr。Wildinglookedmoreattentivelyattheobjectindispute。Hewasinatriflingmood,andthestupidityofthisrunagatedebtoraffordedhimopportunitiestoindulgeit。\"Why,true,\"saidhe,\"nowthatI
cometolook,Iperceivethatitisindeedblack。\"
AndagainwasSirRowlanddisconcerted。Stillhepursuedthelessonhehadtaughthimself。
\"Youaremistakenagain,\"saidhe,\"thathatisgreen。\"
\"Indeed？\"quothMr。Wilding,likeonesurprisedandheturnedtoTrenchard,whowasenjoyinghimself。\"Whatisyourownopinionofit,Nick？\"
Thusappealedto,Trenchard\'sreplywasprompt。\"Why,sinceyouaskme,\"saidhe,\"myopinionisthatit\'sanoisomethingnotmeetforagentleman\'stable。\"Andhetookitup,andthrewitthroughthewindow。
SirRowlandwasentirelyputoutofcountenance。Herewasadeliberateshiftingofthequarrelhehadcometopick,whichlefthimallatsea。
ItwashisdutytohimselftotakeoffenceatMr。Trenchard\'saction。
Butthatwasnotthebusinessonwhichhehadcome。Hebecameangry。
\"Blisterme！\"hecried。\"MustIsweeptheclothfromthetablebeforeyou\'llunderstandme？\"
\"IfyouweretodoanythingsounmannerlyIshouldhaveyouflungoutofthehouse,\"saidMr。Wilding,\"anditwoulddistressmesototreatapersonofyourstationandquality。Thehatshallserveyourpurpose,althoughMr。Trenchard\'sconcernformytablehasremovedit。Ourmemorieswillsupplyitsabsence。Whatcolourdidyousayitwas？\"
\"Isaiditwasgreen,\"answeredBlake,quitereadytokeeptothepoint。
\"Nay,Iamsureyouwerewrong,\"saidWildingwithagraveair。
\"AlthoughIadmitthatsinceitisyourownhat,youshouldbethebestjudgeofitscolour,Iam,nevertheless,ofopinionthatitisblack。\"
\"AndifIweretosaythatitiswhite？\"askedBlake,feelingmightyridiculous。
\"Why,inthatcaseyouwouldbeconfirmingmyfirstimpressionofit,\"
answeredWilding,andTrenchardletflyaburstoflaughteratsightofthebaronet\"sfuriousandbewilderedcountenance。\"Andsinceweareagreedonthat,\"continuedMr。Wilding,imperturbable,\"Ihopeyou\'lljoinusatsupper。\"
\"I\'llbedamned,\"roaredBlake,\"ifeverIsitattableofyours,sir。\"
\"Ah！\"saidMr。Wildingregretfully。\"Nowyoubecomeoffensive。\"
\"Imeantobe,\"saidBlake。
\"Youastonishme！\"
\"Youlie！Idon\'t,\"SirRowlandansweredhimintriumph。Hehadgotitoutatlast。
Mr。Wildingsatbackinhischair,andlookedathim,hisfaceinexpressiblyshocked。
\"Willyouofyourownaccorddepriveusofyourcompany,SirRowland,\"
hewondered,\"orshallMr。Trenchardthrowyouafteryourhat？\"
\"Doyoumean……\"gaspedtheother,\"thatyou\'llasknosatisfactionofme？\"
\"Notso。Mr。Trenchardshallwaituponyourfriendsto—morrow,andI
hopeyou\'llaffordusthenasfelicitousentertainmentasyoudonow。\"
SirRowlandsnorted,and,turningonhisheel,madeforthedoor。
\"Giveyouagoodnight,SirRowland,\"Mr。Wildingcalledafterhim。
\"Walters,yourascal,lightSirRowlandtothedoor。\"
PoorBlakewenthomedeeplyvexed;butitwasnomorethanthebeginningofhishumiliationatMr。Wilding\'shands—forwhatcanbemorehumiliatingtoaquarrel—seekingmanthantohavehisenemyrefusetotreathimseriously？HeandMr。Wildingmetnextmorning,andbeforenoonthetaleofithadrunthroughBridgwaterthatWildWildingwasathistricksagain。ItmadeaprettystoryhowtwicehehaddisarmedandeachtimesparedtheLondonbeau,whostillinsisted—eachtimemorefuriously—uponrenewingtheencounter,tillMr。Wildinghadbeenforcedtorunhimthroughthesword—armandthusputhimoutofallcaseofcontinuing。ItwasastorythatheapedridiculeuponSirRowlandanddidcredittoMr。Wilding。
Richardheardit,andtrembled,enragedandimpotent。Ruthheardit,andwasstirreddespiteherselftoafeelingofgratitudetowardsWildingforthepatienceandtolerationhehaddisplayed。
Thereforawhilethematterrested,andthedayspassedslowly。ButSirRowland\'snature—meanatbottom—wasspurredtofindhimsomeotherwayofwipingoutthescorethatlay`twixthimandMr。Wilding,ascoremightilyincreasedbytheshamethatMr。Wildinghadputuponhiminthatencounterfromwhich—whatevertheissue—hehadlookedtocullgreatcreditinRuth\'seyes。
HehadbeenthinkingconstantlyoftheincautiouswordsthatRichardhadletfall,thinkingoftheminconjunctionwiththestartlingrumoursthatwerenowthetalkofthewholecountryside。Helaidtwoandtwotogether,andthefourhefoundthemmakeaffordedhimsomehope。Thenherealized—ashemighthaverealizedbeforehadhebeenshrewder—
thatRichard\'smoodwasonethatmadehimripeforanyvillainy。HethoughtthathewasmuchinerrorifatreacheryexistedsoblackthatRichardwouldquailbeforeit,ifitbutaffordedhimthemeansofriddinghimselfandtheworldofMr。Wilding。Hewasconsideringhowbesttoapproachthesubject,whenithappenedthatonenightwhenRichardsatatplaywithhiminhisownlodging,theboygrewtalkativethroughexcessofwine。IthappenednaturallyenoughthatRichardsoughtanallyinBlake,justasBlakesoughtanallyinRichard。
Indeed,theirfortunes—sofarasRuthwasconcerned—werebounduptogether。ThebaronetsawthatRichard,half—fuddled,wasripeforanyconfidencesthatmightaimatthedestructionofhisenemy。Hequestionedhimadroitly,anddrewfromhimthestoryoftherisingthatwasbeingplanned,andofthesharethatMr。Wilding—oneoftheDukeofMonmouth\'schiefmovement—men—boreinthebusinessthatwastoward。
When,towardsmidnight,RichardWestmacottwenthome,heleftinSirRowland\'shandsaninstrumentwhichthelatteraccountedpotentialnotonlyforthedestructionofAnthonyWilding,butperhapsalsoforlayingthefoundationstothebuildingofhisownfortunesanew。
CHAPTERVII
THENUPTIALSOFRUTHWESTMACOTT
HerewasSirRowlandBlakeinhighfettleatknowinghimselfarmedwithaportentousweaponforthedestructionofAnthonyWilding。Uponcloserinspectionofit,however,hecametorealize—asRichardhadrealizedearlier—thatitwasdouble—edged,andthatthewieldingofitmustbefraughtwithasmuchdangerforRichardasfortheircommonenemy。FortobetrayMr。WildingandtheplotwouldscarcebepossiblewithoutbetrayingyoungWestmacott,andthatwasunthinkable,sincetoruinRichard—athinghewouldhavedonewithalightheartsofarasRichardwashimselfconcerned—wouldbetoruinhisownhopesofwinningRuth。
Therefore,duringthedaysthatfollowed,SirRowlandwasforcedtofretinidlenesswhattimehiswoundwashealing;butifhisarmwasinvalided,hiseyesandearsweresound,andheremainedwatchfulforanopportunitytoapplytheknowledgehehadgained。Richardmentionedthesubjectnomore,sothatBlakealmostcametowonderwhethertheboyrememberedwhatinhiscupshehadbetrayed。
MeanwhileMr。Wildingmovedsereneandsmilingonhisway。DailythereweregreatarmfulsofflowersdepositedatLuptonHouse—hislover\'sofferingtohismistress—andnodaywentbybutthatsomerichergiftaccompaniedthem。Nowitwasacollarofbrilliants,anonaropeofpearls,againapricelessringthathadbeenMr。
Wilding\'smother\'s。Ruthreceivedwithreluctancethesepledgesofhisundesiredaffection。Itwereidletorejectthem,consideringthatshewastomarryhim;yetithurthersorelytoretainthem。
Onhersideshemadenodispositionsforthemarriage,butwentaboutherdailytasksasthoughsheweretoremainamaidatLuptonHouseforatimeasyetindefinite。
InDiana,Wildinghad—thoughhewasfarfromguessingit—anentirelyexceptionalally。LadyHorton,too,wasfavourablydisposedtowardshim。Afoolish,worldlywoman,whoneverprobedbeneathlife\'ssurface,norindeeddreamedthatanythingexistedinlifebeyondthattowhichherfivesensestestified,shewascontentplacidlytocontemplatetheadvantagesthatmustaccruetoherniecefromthisalliance。
AndsomotheranddaughterinMr。Wilding\'sabsencepleadedhiscausewithhisrefractorybride—elect。Buttheypleadedittolittlerealpurpose。SomethingperhapstheyachievedinthatRuthgrewmoreorlessresignedtothefatethatawaitedher。ByrepeatingtoherselftheargumentsshehademployedtoRichard—thatshemustwedsomeday,andthatMr。Wildingwouldprovenodoubtasgoodahusbandasanother—shecameinameasuretobelievethem。
Richardmeanwhileappearedtoavoidher。Lackingthecouragetoadopttheheroicmeasureswhichatfirsthehadpromised,yethadhegraceenoughtotakeshameathisinaction。ButifhewasidlesofarasMr。Wildingwasconcerned,therewasnolackofworkforhiminotherconnections。Thecloudsofwarweregatheringinthatsummersky,andabouttoloosethestormgestatinginthemuponthatfaircountryoftheWest,andyoungWestmacott,committedashestoodtotheDukeofMonmouth\'sparty,wasforcedtotakehisshareinthesurreptitiousbustlethatwastoward。Hewasawaytwodaysinthatweek,havingbeensummonedtoameetingoftheleadinggentlemenofthepartyatWhiteLackington,wherehewasforcedintotheunwelcomecompanyofhisfuturebrother—in—law,tomeetwithcourteous,deferentialtreatmentfromthatimperturbablegentleman。
Wilding,indeed,seemedtohaveforgottenthatanyquarrelhadeverexistedbetweenthem。Fortherest,hecameandwent,supremelycalm,asifhewere,andknewhimselftobe,mostwelcomeatLuptonHouse。
ThriceinthecourseofthatweekofwaitingherodeoverfromZoylandChasetopayhisdutytoMistressWestmacott,andRuthwaspersuadedoneachoccasionbyherauntandcousintoreceivehim。Indeed,howcouldshewellrefuse？
Hismannerwaseverallthatcouldbedesired。Gallant,affectionate,deferential。HewasinwordandlookandtoneRuth\'smostobedientservant。Hadshebeenlessprejudicedshemusthaveadmiredtheadmirablerestraintwithwhichhekeptallexultationfromhismanner,for,afterall,itisdifficulttoforceavictoryashehadforcedhis,andnottotriumph。
ItistobefearedthatduringthatweekheneglectedagooddealofhisdutytotheDuke,leavingTrenchardtosupplyhisplaceandundertaketasksofaseditiousnaturethatshouldhavebeenhisown。
Atheart,however,inspiteofthestoriescurrentandthemilitiaatTaunton,Wildingremainedconvinced—asdidmostoftheotherleadingpartisansoftheProtestantCause—thatnosuchmadnessasthisprematurelandingcouldbeincontemplationbytheDuke。Besides,wereitso,theymustunfailinglyhavedefinitewordofit;andtheyhadnone。
Trenchardwaslessassured,butWildinglaughedattheoldrake\'sforebodings,andserenelywentaboutthebusinessofhismarriage。
OntheeveoftheweddinghepaidRuthhislastvisitinthequalityofalover,andwasreceivedbyherinthegarden。Hefoundherlookingpalerthanherwont,andtherewasacloudofsadnessonherbrow,ahauntingsadnessinhereyes。Ittouchedhimtothesoul,andforamomenthewaveredinhispurpose。Hestoodbesideher—sheseatedontheoldlichenedseat—andasilencefellbetweenthem,duringwhichMr。Wilding\'sconsciencewrestledwithhisstrongerpassion。Itwashishabittobeglib,talkingincessantlywhattimehewasinhercompany,andseeingtoitthathistalkwasshallowandtouchedatnothingbelongingtothedeepsofhumanlife。Thuswasit,perhaps,thatthissuddenandenduringsilenceaffectedhermostoddly;itwasasifshehadabsorbedsomenotionofwhatwaspassinginhismind。Shelookedupsuddenlyintohisface,sowhiteandsocomposed。Theireyesmet,andhestoopedtohersuddenly,hislongbrownringletstumblingforward。Shefearedhiskiss,yetnevermoved,staringupwithfixed,dilatedeyesasiffascinatedbyhisdark,broodinggaze。Hepaused,hoveringaboveherupturnedfaceashoversthehawkabovethedove。
\"Child,\"hesaidatlast,andhisvoicewassoftandwinningfromverysadness,\"child,whydoyoufearme？\"
Thetruthofitwenthometoher。Shefearedhim;shefearedthestrengththatlaybehindthatcalm;shefearedthemasterfulnessofhiswildbutinscrutablyhiddennature;shewasafraidtosurrendertosuchamanasthis,afraidthatinthehotcrucibleofhisloveherownnaturewouldbedissolved,transmuted,andrenderedpartofhis。Yet,thoughthetruthwasnowmadeplaintoher,shethrustitfromher。
\"Idonotfearyou,\"saidshe,andhervoiceatleastrangfearlessly。
\"Doyouhateme,then？\"heasked。Herglancegrewtroubledandfellawayfromhis;itsoughtthecalmoftheriver,gleaminggoldeninthesunset。Therewasapause。Wildingsighedheavily,andstraightenedhimselffromhisbendingposture。
\"Youshouldnothavesoughtthustocompelme,shesaidpresently。
\"Iownit,\"heansweredathoughtbitterly。\"Iownit。YetwhathopehadIbutincompulsion？\"Shereturnedhimnoanswer。\"Yousee,\"hesaid,withincreasingbitterness,\"yousee,thathadInotseizedthechancethatwasminetowinyoubycompulsionIhadnotwonyouatall。\"
\"Itmight,\"saidshe,\"havebeenbettersoforbothofus。\"
\"Betterforneither,\"hereplied。\"Ah,thinkitnot！Intime,I
swear,youshallnotthinkit。Foryoushallcometoloveme,Ruth,\"
headdedwithanoteofsuchassurancethatsheturnedtomeetagainhisgaze。Heansweredthewordlessquestionofhereyes。\"Thereis,\"
saidhe,\"noloveofmanforwoman,sothatthemanbenotwhollyunworthy,sothathispassionbesincereandstrong,thatcanfailintimetoarouseresponse。\"Shesmiledalittlepitifulsmileofunbelief。\"WereIaboy,\"herejoined,hisearnestnessvibratingnowinavoicethatwasusuallysocalmandlevel,\"offeringyouprotestationsofacallowworship,youmighthavecausetodoubtme。
ButIamaman,Ruth—atried,andhaplyasinfulman,alas！—amanwhoneedsyou,andwhowillhaveyouatallcosts。\"
\"Atallcosts？\"sheechoed,andherliptookonacurl。\"Andyoucallthisegotismbythenameoflove！Nodoubtyouareright,\"shecontinuedwithanironythatstunghim,\"forloveitis—loveofyourself。\"
\"Andisnotallloveofanotherfoundedupontheloveofself？\"heaskedher,startlingherwithaquestionthatrevealedtoherclear—sightedmindatruthundreamedof。\"Whensomeday—pleaseHeaven—Icometofindfavourinyoureyes,andyoucometoloveme,whatwillitmeanbutthatyouhavecometofindmenecessarytoyourselfandtoyourhappiness？Wouldyoudenymenowyourloveifyoufeltthatyouhadneedofmine？IloveyoubecauseIlovemyself,yousay。Igrantityou。Butyou\'llconfessthatifyoudonotlovemeyet,itisforthesamereason,andthatwhenyoudocometolovemethereasonwillbestillthesame。\"
\"YouareverysurethatIshallcometoloveyou,saidshe,shiftingwoman—likethegroundofargumentnowthatshefoundinsecuretheplaceonwhichatfirstshehadtakenherstand。
\"WereInot,thinkyouIshouldcompelyoutothechurchto—morrow？\"
Shetrembledathiscalmassurance。Itwasasifshealmostfearedthatwhathesaidmightcometopass。
\"Sinceyoubearsuchfaithinyourheart,\"saidshe,\"wereitnotnobler,moregenerous,thatyoushouldsetyourselftowinmefirstandwedmeafterwards？\"
\"ItisthecourseIshould,myself,prefer,\"heansweredquietly。\"Butitisacoursedeniedme。Iwasviewedherewithdisfavour,almostdeniedyourhouse。WhatchancehadIwhilstImightnotcomenearyou,whilstyourmindwaspoisonedagainstmebytheidle,viciousprattlethatgoesroundandroundthecountryside,increasingeverinbulkfromconstantrepetition？\"
\"Doyousaythatthesetalesaregroundless？\"sheasked,withasuddenliftingoftheeyes,asuddenkeeneagernessthatdidnotescapehim。
\"IwouldtoGodIcould,\"hecried,\"sincefromyourmannerIseethatwouldimprovemeinyoursight。Butthereisjustsufficienttruthinthemtoforbidme,asIam,Ihope,agentleman,fromgivingthemafulldenial。YetinwhatamIworsethanmyfellows？Areyouofthosewhothinkahusbandshouldcometothemasonewhoseyouthhasbeentheyouthofcloisterednun？Heavenknows,Iamnotonetodrawparallels`twixtmyselfandanyother,yetyoucompelme。Whilstyoudenyme,youreceivethisfellowBlake—aLondonnight—scourer,abrokengamesterwhohasgivenhiscreditorsleg—bail,andwhowoosyouthatwithyourfortunehemayclosethedoorsofthedebtor\'sgaolthat\'sopentoreceivehim。\"
\"Thisisunworthyinyou,\"sheexclaimed,hertoneindignant—soindignantthatheexperiencedhisfirstpangofjealousy。
\"ItwouldbewereIhisrival,\"heansweredquietly。\"ButIamnot。
Ihavesavedyoufrombecomingthepreyofsuchashebyforcingyoutomarryme。\"
\"ThatImaybecomethepreyofsuchasyou,instead,\"washerretort。
Helookedatheramoment,smilingsadly。Then,withpardonableself—esteemwhenwethinkofwhatmannerofmanitwaswithwhomhenowcomparedhimself,\"Surely,\"saidhe,\"itisbettertobecomethepreyofthelionthanthejackal。\"
\"Tothevictimitcanmatterlittle,\"sheanswered,andhesawthetearsgatheringinhereyes。
Compassionmovedhim。Itroseinarmstobatterdownhiswill,andinaweakermanhadtriumphed。Mr。Wildingbenthiskneeandwentdownbesideher。
\"Iswear,\"hesaidimpassionedly,\"thatasmywifeyoushallnevercountyourselfavictim。Youshallbehonouredbyallmen,butbynonemoredeeplythanbyhimwhowilleverstrivetobeworthyoftheproudtitleofyourhusband。\"Hetookherhandandkisseditreverentially。Heroseandlookedather。\"To—morrow,\"hesaid,andbowinglowbeforeherwenthisway,leavingherwithemotionsthatfoundtheirventintears,butdefiedhermaidenmindtounderstandthem。
Themorrowcameherwedding—day—asunnydayofearlyJune,andRuth。