Good—bye,myRuth！Iwouldyoumighthavelovedme。Isoughttoforceit。\"Hesmiledeversowanly。\"Perhapsthatwasmymistake。Itisanillthingtoeatone\'shaywhileitisgrass。\"Heraisedtohislipsthelittleglovedhandthatstillrestedonhiswrist。\"Godkeepyou,Ruth！\"hemurmured。
Shesoughttoanswerhim,butsomethingchokedher;asobwasallsheachieved。Hadhecaughthertohiminthatmomentthereislittledoubtbutthatshehadyielded。Perhapsheknewit;andknowingitkeptthetighterreinupondesire。Shewasasmetalmolteninthecrucible,tobemouldedbyhiscraftsman\'shandsintoanypatternthathechose。Butthecruciblewasthecrucibleofpity,notoflove;that,too,heknew,and,knowingit,forbore。
Hedroppedherhand,doffedhishat,and,wheelinghishorseabout,toucheditwiththespurandrodebacktowardsthethicketwherehisfriendsawaitedhim。Ashelefther,shetoowheeledabout,asiftofollowhim。Shestrovetocommandhervoicethatshemightrecallhim;
butatthatsamemomentTrenchard,hearinghisreturninghoofs,thrustoutintotheroadwithVallanceyfollowingathisheels。Theoldplayer\'sharshvoicereachedherwhereshestood,anditwasquerulouswithimpatience。
\"Whataplaguedoyoumean,dallyinghereatsuchatime,Anthony？\"hecried,towhichVallanceyadded:\"InGod\'sname,letuspushon。
Atthatshecheckedherimpulse—itmayevenbethatshemistrustedit。
Shepaused,lingeringundecidedforaninstant;then,turningherhorseoncemore,sheambleduptheslopetorejoinDiana。
CHAPTERXIII
\"PRORELIGIONEETLIBERTATE\"
TheeveningwasfaradvancedwhenMr。WildingandhistwocompanionsdescendedtoUplymeCommonfromtheheightswhenceastheyrodetheyhadcommandedaclearviewofthefairvalleyoftheAxe,lyingnowunderathinopalescentveilofeveningmist。
TheyhadpausedatIlminsterforfreshhorses,andthereWildinghadpaidavisittooneofhisagentsfromwhomhehadprocuredahundredguineas。Thencetheyhadcomesouthatasharppace,andwithlittlesaid。Wildingwasmoodyandthoughtful,filledwithchagrinatthisunconscionablerashnessofthemanuponwhomallhishopeswerecentred。
AstheycanteredbrisklyacrossUplymeCommoninthetwilighttheypassedseveralbodiesofcountrymen,allheadingforthetown,andonegroupsentupashoutof\"GodsavetheProtestantDuke！\"astheyrodepasthim。
\"Amentothat,\"mutteredMr。Wildinggrimly,\"forIamafraidthatnomancan。\"
InthenarrowlanebyHayFarmahorseman,goingintheoppositedirection,passedthematthegallop;buttheyhadmetseveralsuchsinceleavingIlminster,forindeedthenewswasspreadingfast,andthewholecountrysidewasalivewithmessengers,someonfootandsomeonhorseback,butallhurryingasiftheirlivesdependedontheirhaste。
TheymadetheirwaytotheMarket—PlacewhereMonmouth\'sdeclaration—
thatremarkablemanifestofromthepenofFerguson—hadbeenreadsomehoursbefore。Thence,havingascertainedwhereHisGracewaslodged,theymadetheirwaytotheGeorgeInn。
InCoombeStreettheyfoundthecrowdsodensethattheycouldbutwithdifficultyopenoutawayfortheirhorsesthroughthehumanpress。Notawindowbutwasopen,andthrongedwithsight—seers—mostlywomen,indeed,forthemenwereinthepressbelow。Oneveryhandresoundedthecriesof\"AMonmouth！AMonmouth！TheProtestantReligion！ReligionandLiberty,\"whichlatterwerethewordsinscribedonthestandardMonmouthhadsetupthateveningontheChurchCliffs。
Intruth,Wildingwasamazedatwhathesaw,andsaidasmuchtoTrenchard。SopessimistichadbeenhisoutlookthathehadalmostexpectedtofindtherebellionsnuffedoutbythetimetheyreachedLyme—of—the—King。WhathadtheauthoritiesbeenaboutthattheyhadpermittedMonmouthtocomeashore,orhadVallancey\'sinformationbeenwronginthematterofthenumbersthataccompaniedtheProtestantChampion？Wilding\'sredcoatattractedsomeattention。Intheduskitscolourwasalmostallthatcouldbediscernedofit。
\"Here\'samilitiacaptainfortheDuke！\"criedone,andotherstookupthecry,andifitdidnothingelseitopenedawayforthemthroughthatsolidhumanmassandpermittedthemtowinthroughtotheyardoftheGeorgeInn。Theyfoundthespaciousquadranglethrongedwithmen,armedandunarmed,andonthestepsstoodatall,well—knit,soldierlyman,hishatrakishlycocked,aboutwhomacrowdoftownsmenandcountryfellowswerepressingwithinsistence。AtaglanceMr。WildingrecognizedCaptainVenner—raisedtotherankofcolonelbyMonmouthonthewayfromHolland。
Trencharddismounted,andtakingadistractedstable—boybythearm,badehimseetotheirhorses。Thefellowendeavouredtoswinghimselffreeoftheother\'stenaciousgrasp。
\"Letmego,\"hecried。\"IamfortheDuke！\"
\"Andsoarewe,myfinerebel,\"answeredTrenchard,holdingfast。
\"Letmego,\"theloutinsisted。\"Iamgoingtoenlist。\"
\"Andsoyoushallwhenyouhavestabledournags。Seetohim,Vallancey;heisbrainsickwiththefumesofwar。\"
Thefellowprotested,butTrenchard\'swaywasbriskandshort;andso,protestingstill,heledawaytheircattleintheend,Vallanceygoingwithhimtoseethatheperformedthislastdutyasastable—boyerehetoobecameachampionmilitantoftheProtestantCause。TrenchardspedafterWilding,whowaselbowinghiswaythroughtheyokelsaboutthesteps。Theglareofanewlylightedlampfromthedoorwayfellfulluponhislongwhitefaceasheadvanced,andVennerespiedandrecognizedhim。
\"Mr。Wilding！\"hecried,andtherewasagladringinhisvoice,forthoughcobblers,tailors,desertersfromthemilitia,pot—boys,stable—boys,andshufflingyokelshadbeencomingininnumbersduringthepastfewhourssincetheDeclarationhadbeenread,thiswasthefirstgentlemanthatarrivedtowelcomeMonmouth。Thesoldierstretchedoutahandtograspthenewcomer\'s。\"HisGracewillseeyouthisinstant,notadoubtofit。\"Heturnedandcalleddownthepassage。
\"Cragg！\"Ayoungmaninabuffcoatcameforward,andtohimVennerdeliveredWildingandTrenchardthathemightannouncethemtoHisGrace。
Intheroomthathadbeensetapartforhimabovestairs,Monmouthstillsatattable。Hehadjustsupped,withbutanindifferentappetite,sofeveredwashebytheeventsofhislanding。Hewasexcitedwithhope—inspiredbythereadinesswithwhichthemenofLymeanditsneighbourhoodhadflockedtohisbanner—andfrettedbyanxietythatnoneofthegentryofthevicinityshouldyethavefollowedtheexampleofthemeanerfolk,inanswertothemessagesdispatchedatdawnfromSeaton。Theboardatwhichhesatwasstillcumberedwithsomeglassesandplattersandvestigesofhisrepast。BelowhimonhisrightsatFerguson—thatprinceofplotters—verybusywithpenandink,hiskeenfacealmosthiddenbyhisgreatperiwig;oppositewereLordGrey,ofWerke,andAndrewFletcher,ofSaltoun,whilst,standingatthefootofthetablebarelywithinthecircleofcandlelightfromthebranchonhepolishedoak,wasNathanielWade,thelawyer,whohadfledtoHollandonaccountofhisallegedcomplicityintheRyeHouseplotandwasnowreturnedamajorintheDuke\'sservice。Erectandsoldierlyoffigure,girtwithagreatswordandwiththebuttofapistolprotrudingfromhisbelt,hehadlittletheairofamanwhosemethodsofcontentionwereforensic。
\"Youunderstand,then,MajorWade,\"HisGracewassaying,hisvoicepleasantandmusical。\"Itisdecidedthatthegunshadbestbegotashoreforthwithandmounted。\"
Wadebowed。\"Ishallsetaboutitatonce,YourGrace。Ishallnotwantforhelp。HaveIYourGrace\'sleavetogo？\"
Monmouthnodded,andasWadepassedout,EnsignCraggenteredtoannounceMr。WildingandMr。Trenchard。TheDukerosetohisfeet,hisglancesuddenlybrightening。FletcherandGreyrosewithhim;Fergusonpaidnoheed,absorbedinhistask,whichheindustriouslycontinued。
\"Atlast！\"exclaimedtheDuke。\"Admitthem,sir。\"
Whentheyentered,Wildingcomingfirst,hishatunderhisarm,theDukesprangtomeethim,atallyoungfigure,litheandslenderasabladeofsteel,andofasteelystrengthforallhisslimness。Hewasdressedinasuitofpurplethatbecamehimmarvellouslywell,andonhisbreastastarofdiamondsflashedandsmoulderedlikeathingoffire。Hewasofanexceedingbeautyofface,whereinhemainlyfavouredthat\"bold,handsomewoman\"thatwashismother,without,however,anyofhismother\'sinsipidity;fineeyes,agoodnose,straightandslender,andamouthwhich,ifsensualandindicatingalackofstrength,wasbeautifullyshaped。Hischinwasslightlycleft,theshapeofhisfaceadelicateoval,framednowinthewavingmassesofhisbrownwig。SomelikenesstohislateMajestywasalsodiscernible,inspiteofthewart,outofwhichhisuncleJamesmadesomuchcapital。
Therewasaslightflushonhischeeks,anaddedlustreinhiseye,ashetookWilding\'shandandshookitheartilybeforeWildinghadtimetokissHisGrace\'s。
\"Youarelate,\"hesaid,buttherewasnoreproachinhisvoice。\"Wehadlookedtofindyouherewhenwecameashore。Youhadmyletter？\"
\"Ihadnot,YourGrace,\"answeredWilding,verygrave。\"Itwasstolen。\"
\"Stolen？\"criedtheDuke,andbehindhimGreypressedforward,whilstevenFergusonpausedinhiswritingtoraisehispiercingeyesandlisten。
\"Itisnomatter,\"Wildingreassuredhim。\"Althoughstolen,ithasbutgonetoWhitehallto—day,whenitcanaddlittletothenewsthatisalreadyonitswaythere。\"
TheDukelaughedsoftly,withaflashofwhiteteeth,andlookedpastWildingatTrenchard。Someofthelightfadedoutofhiseyes。\"TheytoldmeMr。Trenchard……\"hebegan,whenWilding,halfturningtohisfriend,explained。
\"ThisisMr。NicholasTrenchard—JohnTrenchard\'scousin。
\"Ibidyouwelcome,sir,\"saidtheDuke,veryagreeably,\"andItrustyourcousinfollowsyou。\"
\"Alas,\"saidTrenchard,\"mycousinisinFrance,\"andinafewbriefwordsherelatedthematterofJohnTrenchard\'shome—comingonhisacquittalandthetroubletherehadbeenconnectedwithit。
TheDukereceivedthenewsinsilence。HehadexpectedgoodsupportfromoldSpeke\'sson—in—law。Indeed,therewasapromisethatwhenhecame,JohnTrenchardwouldbringfifteenhundredmenfromTaunton。Hetookaturnintheroomdeepinthought,andtherewasapauseuntilFerguson,rubbinghisgreatRomannose,askedsuddenlyhadMr。WildingseentheDeclaration。Mr。Wildinghadnot,andthereupontheplottingparson,whowasproudofhiscomposition,wouldhavereadittohimthereandthen,butthatGreysourlytoldhimthematterwouldkeep,andthattheyhadotherthingstodiscusswithMr。Wilding。
ThistheDukehimselfconfirmed,statingthatthereweremattersonwhichhewouldbegladtohavetheiropinion。
Heinvitedthenewcomerstodrawchairstothetable;glasseswerecalledfor,andacoupleoffreshbottlesofCanarywentroundtheboard。Thetalkwasdesultoryforafewmoments,whilstWildingandTrenchardwashedthedustfromtheirthroats;thenMonmouthbroketheicebyaskingthembluntlywhattheythoughtofhiscomingthus,earlierthanwasatfirstagreed。
Wildingneverhesitatedinhisreply。\"Frankly,YourGrace,\"saidhe,\"Ilikeitnotatall。\"
Fletcherlookedupsharply,hisclearintelligenteyesfulluponWilding\'scalmface,hiscountenanceexpressingaslittleasdidWilding\'s。Fergusonseemedslightlytakenaback。Grey\'sthicklipsweretwistedinasneeringsmile。
\"Faith,\"saidthelatterwithelaboratesarcasm,\"inthatcaseitonlyremainsforustoshipagain,heaveanchor,andbacktoHolland。\"
\"ItiswhatIshouldadvise,\"saidWildingslowlyandquietly,\"ifI
thoughttherewasachanceofmyadvicebeingtaken。\"Hehadacalm,almostapatheticwayofutteringstartlingthingswhichrenderedthemdoublystartling。ThesneerseemedtofreezeonLordGrey\'slips;
Fletchercontinuedtostare,buthiseyeshadgrownmoreround;Fergusonscowleddarkly。TheDuke\'sboyishface—itwasstillveryyouthfuldespitehissix—and—thirtyyears—expressedawonderingconsternation。
HelookedatWilding,andfromWildingtotheothers,andhisglanceseemedtoentreatthemtosuggestananswertohim。ItwasGreyatlastwhotookthematterup。
\"Youshallexplainyourmeaning,sir,orwemustholdyouatraitor,\"
heexclaimed。
\"KingJamesdoesthatalready,\"answeredWildingwithaquietsmile。
\"D\'yemeantheDukeofYork？\"rumbledFerguson\'sScottishaccentwithstartlingsuddenness,andMonmouthnoddedapprovalofthecorrection。
\"Ifyemeanthatbloodypapistandfratricide,itwerewellsotospeakofhim。HadyereadtheDeclaration……\"
ButFletchercroppedhisspeechinmid—growth。Hewaseverashort—temperedman,intolerantofirrelevancies。
\"Itwerewell,perhaps,\"saidhe,hisaccentabundantlyproclaiminghimafellowcountrymanofFerguson\'s,\"tokeeptothematterbeforeus。
Mr。Wilding,nodoubt,willstatethereasonsthatexist,orthathefanciesmayexist,forgivingadvicewhichishardlyworthyofthecausetowhichhestandscommitted。\"
\"Aye,Fletcher,\"saidMonmouth,\"thereissenseinyou。Telluswhatisinyourmind,Mr。Wilding。\"
\"Itisinmymind,YourGrace,thatthisinvasionisrash,premature,andill—advised。\"
\"Oddslife！\"criedGrey,andheswungangrilyroundfullytofacetheDuke,thenostrilsofhisheavynosedilating。\"Arewetolistentothismilksopprattle？\"
NickTrenchard,whohadhithertobeensilent,clearedhisthroatsonoisilythathedrewalleyestohimself。
\"YourGrace,\"Mr。Wildingpursued,hisaircalmanddignified,andgatheringmoredignityfromthecircumstancethatheproceededasiftherehadbeennointerruption,\"whenIhadthehonourofconferringwithyouatTheHaguetwomonthsago,itwasagreedthatyoushouldspendthesummerinSweden—awayfrompoliticsandscheming,leavingtheworkofpreparationtoyouraccreditedagentshere。ThatworkI
havebeenslowlybutsurelypushingforward。Itwasnottobehurried;
menofpositionarenottobewonoverinaday;menwithanythingtoloseneedsomeguaranteethattheyarenotwantonlycastingtheirpossessionstothewinds。Bynextspring,aswasagreed,allwouldhavebeenready。Delaycouldnothavehurtyou。Indeed,witheverydaybywhichyoudelayedyourcomingyoudidgoodservicetoyourcause,youstrengtheneditsprospectsofsuccess;foreverydaythepeople\'sburdenofoppressionandpersecutiongrowsmoreheavy,andthepeople\'stempermoreshort;everyday,bythemethodsthatheispursuing,KingJamesbringshimselfintodeeperhatred。Thishatredisspreading。Itwasthebusinessofmyselfandthoseotherstohelpiton,untilfromthecottageoftheploughmantheinfectionofangershouldhavespreadtothemansionofthesquire。HadYourGracebutgivenmetime,asI
entreatedyou,andasyoupromisedme,youmighthavemarchedtoWhitehallwithscarcethesheddingofadropofblood;hadYourGracebutwaiteduntilwewereready,Englandwouldhavesotrembledatyourlandingthatyouruncle\'sthronewouldhavetoppledover`neaththeshock。Asitis……\"Heshruggedhisshoulders,sighedandspreadhishands,leavinghissentenceuncompleted。
Monmouthsatsoberedbythesesoberwords;theintoxicationthathadcometohimfromthelittlemeasureofsuccessthathadattendedtheopeningofthelistingonChurchCliffs,desertedhimnow;hesawthethingstarkandinitstrueproportions,andnoteventheshoutingofthefolkinthestreetsbelow,cryinghisnameandacclaiminghimtheirchampion,servedtolightenthegloomthatWilding\'swordscastlikeacloudoverhisvolatileheart。Alas,poorMonmouth！Hewaseveraweathercock,andevenasWilding\'swordsseemedtostrikethecourageoutofhim,sodidGrey\'sshortcontemptuousanswerrestoreit。
\"Asitis,we\'llthrustthatthroneoverwithourhands,\"saidheafteramoment\'spause。
\"Aye,\"criedMonmouth。\"We\'lldoit,Godhelpingus！\"
\"OurdependenceandtrustisintheLordofHosts,inWhoseNamewegoforth,\"boomedthevoiceofFerguson,quotingfromhispreciousDeclaration。\"TheLordwilldothatwhichseemethgooduntoHim。\"
\"Anunanswerableargument,\"saidWilding,smiling。\"ButtheLord,Iamtoldbythegentlemenofyourcloth,worksinHisowngoodtime,andmyfearsarealllest,findingusunpreparedofourselves,theLord\'sgoodtimebenotyet。\"
\"Outonye,sir,\"criedFerguson。\"Yewantforreverence！\"
\"Commonsensewillserveusbetteratthemoment,\"answeredWildingwithatouchofsharpness。HeturnedtothefrowningandperplexedDuke—
whosemindwasbeingtossedthiswayandthat,likeashuttlecockuponthebattledoreofthesemen\'swords。\"YourGrace,\"hesaid,\"forgivemethatIspeakitifhearityouwill,orforbidmetosayitifyourresolveisunalterableinthismatter。\"
\"Itisunalterable,\"answeredGreyfortheDuke。
ButMonmouthgentlyoverruledhimforonce。
\"Nevertheless,speakbyallmeans,Mr。Wilding。Whateveryoumaysay,youneedhavenofearthatanyofuscandoubtyourgoodintentionstoourselves。\"
\"IthankYourGrace。WhatIhavetosayisbutarepetitionofthefirstwordsIutteredatthistable。IwouldurgeYourGraceevennowtoretreat。\"
\"What？Areyoumad？\"ItwasLordGreywhoaskedtheimpatientquestion。
\"Idoubtit\'sover—lateforthat,\"saidFletcherslowly。
\"Iamnotsosure,\"answeredWilding。\"ButIamsurethattoattemptitwerethesafercourse—thesurerintheend。Imyselfmaynotlingertopushforwardthetaskofstirringupthepeople,forIamalreadysomethingmorethanundersuspicion。ButthereareotherswhowillremaintocarryontheworkafterIhavedepartedwithYourGrace,ifYourGracethinkswell。FromtheContinentbycorrespondencewecanmatureourplans。Inatwelvemonththingswillbeverydifferent,andwecanreturnwithconfidence。\"
GreyshruggedandturnedhisshoulderuponWilding,butsaidnoword。
Therewassilenceofsomefewmoments。AndrewFletcherleanedhiselbowonthetableandtookhisbrowinhisgreatbonyhand。Wilding\'swordsseemedanechoofthosehehimselfhadspokenaweekortwoago,onlytobeoverruledbyGrey,whoswayedtheDukemorethandidanyother—andthathedidnotdosooffellpurpose,andseekingdeliberatelytoworkMonmouth\'sruin,nomanwilleverbeabletosaywithcertainty。
Fergusonrose,atall,spare,stoopingfigure,andsmotetheboardwithhisfist。\"Itisagoodcause,\"hecried,\"andGodwillnotleaveusunlessweleaveHim。\"
\"HenrytheSeventhlandedwithfewermenthandidYourGrace,\"saidGrey,\"andhesucceeded。\"
\"True,\"putinFletcher。\"ButHenrytheSeventhwassureofthesupportofnotafewofthenobility,whichdoesnotseemtobeourcase。\"
FergusonandGreystaredathiminhorror;Monmouthsatbitinghislip,morebewilderedthanthoughtful。
\"0manoflittlefaith！\"roaredFergusoninapassion。\"Areyetobeswayedlikeastrawinthewind？\"
\"Iamno\'swayed。Yekenthiswasevermyownview。Ifeel,inmyheart,thatwhatMr。Wildingsaysisright。ItisbutwhatIsaidmyself,andCaptainMatthewswithme,beforeweembarkeduponthisexpedition。Wewereindangerofruiningallbyaneedlessprecipitancy。
Nay,man,neverstareso,\"hesaidtoGrey,\"IaminitnowandIamno\'
themantodrawback,nordoIgosofarasMr。Wildingincounsellingsuchacourse。We\'vesetourhandstotheplough;letusgoforwardinGod\'sname。YetIwouldremindyouthatwhatMr。Wildingsaysistrue。
Hadwewaiteduntilnextyear,wehadfoundtheusurper\'sthronetotteringunderhim,and,onourlanding,itwouldhavetoppledo\'erofitself。\"
\"Ihavesaidalreadythatwe\'lloversetitwithourhands,\"Greyanswered。
\"Howmanyhandshaveyou？\"askedanewvoice,acrisp,discordantvoice,muchsteepedinmockery。ItwasNickTrenchard\'s。
\"HaveweanotherhereofMr。Wilding\'smind？\"criedGrey,staringathim。
\"Iamseldomofanyother,\"answeredTrenchard。\"Weshallno\'wantforhands,\"Fergusonassuredhim。\"Hadyearrivedearlieryemighthaveseenhowreadilymenenlisted。\"Hehadrisenandapproachedthewindowashespoke;hepulleditopen,toletinthefullvolumeofsoundthatrosefromthestreetbelow。
\"AMonmouth！AMonmouth！\"voicesshouted。
Fergusonstruckatheatricalposture,onelong,leanarmstretchedoutwardfromtheshoulder。
\"Yehearthem,sirs,\"hecried,andtherewasagleamoftriumphinhiseye。\"Thatisanswerenoughtothosewhowantforfaith,tothefecklessonesthatthinktheLordwillabandonthosethathavesetouttoserveHim,\"andhisglancecomprehendedFletcher,Trenchard,andWilding。
TheDukestirredinhischair,stretchedahandforthebottleandfilledaglass。Hismercurialspiritswererisingagain。HesmiledatWilding。
\"Ithinkyouareanswered,sir,\"saidhe;\"andIhopethatlikeFletcherthere,whosharedyourdoubts,youwillcometoagreethatsincewehavesetourhandstotheploughwemustgoforward。\"
\"IhavesaidthatwhichIhaditonmyconsciencetosay。YourGracemayhavefoundmeover—readywithmycounsel;atleastyoushallfindmenolessreadywithmysword。\"
\"Odso！Thatisbetter。\"Greyapplauded,andhismannerwasalmostpleasant。
\"Ineverdoubtedit,Mr。Wilding,\"HisGracereplied;\"butIshouldliketohearyousaythatyouareconvinced—atleastinpart,\"andhewavedhishandtowardsthewindow。Itwasalmostasifhepleadedforencouragement。IncommonwithmostmenwhocameincontactwithWilding,hehadfeltthelatentforceofthisman\'snature,thestrengththatwashiddenunderthatcalmsurface,andtheacutenessofthejudgmentthatmustbeweddedtoit。HelongedthavethewordofsuchamanthathisenterprisewasnotasdesperateasWildinghadseemedatfirsttopaintit。ButWildingmadenoconcessiontohopesordesireswhenhedealtwithfacts。
\"Menwillflocktoyou,nodoubt;persecutionhasweariedmanyofthecountry—folk,andtheyarereadyforrevolt。Buttheyarealluntrainedinarms;theyarerustics,notsoldiers。Ifanyofthemenofpositionweretorallyroundyourstandardtheywouldbringthemilitia,andothersintheirtrain;theywouldbringarms,horses,andmoney,allofwhichYourGracemustbesorelyneeding。\"
\"Theywillcome,\"answeredtheDuke。
\"Some,nodoubt,\"Wildingagreed;\"buthaditbeennextyear,Iwouldhaveansweredforitthatitwouldhavebeennohandfulhadriddenintowelcomeyou。ScarceagentlemanofDevonorSomerset,ofDorsetorHampshire,ofWiltshireorCheshirebutwouldhavehastenedtoyourside。\"
\"Theywillcomeasitis,\"theDukerepeatedwithanalmostwomanishinsistence,persistinginbelievingwhathehoped,allevidenceapart。
ThedooropenedandEnsignCraggmadehisappearance。\"MayitpleaseYourGrace,\"heannounced,\"Mr。Battiscombhasjustarrived,andaskswillYourGracereceivehimto—night？\"
Battiscomb！\"criedtheDuke。Againhischeekflushedandhiseyesparkled。\"Aye,inHeaven\'sname,showhimup。\"
\"AndmaytheLordrefreshuswithgoodtidings！\"prayedFergusondevoutly。
MonmouthturnedtoWilding。\"ItistheagentIsentaheadofmefromHollandtostirupthegentryfromheretotheMersey。\"
\"Iknow,\"saidWilding;\"weconferredtogethersomeweekssince。\"
\"Nowyoushallseehowidleareyourfears,\"theDukepromisedhim。
AndWilding,whowasbetterinformedonthatscore,keptsilence。
CHAPTERXIV
HISGRACE\'INCOUNSEL
Mr。ChristopherBattiscomb,thatmild—manneredDorchestergentleman,who,likeWade,wasbyvocationalawyer,wasusheredintotheDuke\'spresence。Hewasdressedinblack,and,likeFerguson,wasalmostsmotheredinagreatperiwig,whichhemayhaveadoptedforpurposesofdisguiseratherthanadornment。Certainlyhehadnoneofthatairofthesoldieroffortunewhichdistinguishedhisbrotheroftherobe。Headvanced,hatinhand,towardsthetable,greetingthecompanyaboutit,andWildingobservedthatheworesilkstockingsandshoes,uponwhichthererestednotaspeckofdust。Mr。Battiscombwasplainlyamanwholovedhisease,sinceonsuchadayhehadtravelledtoLymeinacoach。
ThelawyerbentlowtokisstheDuke\'shand,andscarcewasthatformalhomagepaidthanquestionspoureduponhimfromGrey,fromFletcher,andfromFerguson。
\"Gentlemen,gentlemen,\"theDukeentreatedthem,smiling;andrememberingtheirmannerstheyfellsilent。
AsWildingafterwardstoldTrenchard,theyremindedhimofaparcelofsaucylacqueyswhotakelibertieswithanupstartmasterforwhomtheyarewantinginrespect。
\"Iamgladtoseeyou,Battiscomb,\"saidMonmouth,whenquietwasrestored,\"andItrustIbeholdinyouabearerofgoodtidings。\"
Thelawyer\'sfullfacewasusuallypale;to—nightitwas,inaddition,solemn,andthesmilethathauntedhislipswasacourtesysmilethatexpressedneithermirthnorsatisfaction。Heclearedhisthroat,asifnervous。HeavoidedtheDuke\'squestionastothequalityofthenewshebroughtbyansweringthathehadmadeallhastetocometoLymeuponhearingofHisGrace\'slanding。Hewassurprised,hesaid;aswellhemightbe,forthearrangementwasthathavingdonehisworkhewastoreturntoHollandandreporttoMonmouthuponthefeelingofthegentry。
\"Butyournews,Battiscomb,\"theDukeinsisted。\"Aye,\"putinGrey;\"
inHeaven\'sname,letushearthat。\"