ThistreatmentofhiminspiredMr。Wildingwithmalice。ThemerementionofSunderland\'sletterwouldhavechangedtheirtone。Butheelectedbynosuchwordtourgetheimportanceofhisbusiness。ItshouldbeentirelyasMonmouthshouldelectorbeconstrainedbythesegentlemenabouthiscouncil—table。
\"Itwouldservetwopurposes,\"saidWade,whilstMonmouthstillconsidered。\"YourMajestywillbenonetoowellattended,yourofficershavingthisothermattertopreparefor。Mr。Wildingwouldformanothertoswellyourescortofgentlemen。\"
\"Ithinkyouareright,ColonelWade,\"saidMonmouth。\"WesupatMr。
Newlington\'satnineo\'clock,Mr。Wilding。Weshallexpectyoutoattendusthere。LieutenantCragg,\"saidHisGracetotheyoungofficerwhohadadmittedWilding,andwhohadremainedatattentionbythedoor,\"youmayreconductMr。Wilding。\"
Wildingbowed,hislipstighttokeepintheangerthatcravedexpression。Then,withoutanotherwordspoken,heturnedanddeparted。
\"Aninsolent,overbearingknave！\"wasGrey\'scommentuponhimafterhehadlefttheroom。
\"Letusattendtothis,yourlordship,\"saidSpeke,tappingthemap。
\"Timepresses,\"andheinvitedWadetocontinuethematterthatWilding\'sadventhadinterrupted。
CHAPTERXVIII
BETRAYAL
Stillsmartingunderthecavaliertreatmenthehadreceived,Mr。WildingcameforthfromtheCastletofindTrenchardawaitinghimamongthecrowdofofficersandmenthatthrongedtheyard。
Nicklinkedhisarmthroughhisfriend\'sandledhimaway。Theyquittedtheplaceinsilence,andinsilencetooktheirwaysouthtowardstheHighStreet,NickwaitingforMr。Wildingtospeak,Mr。Wilding\'smindstillinturmoilatthethingshehadendured。AtlastNickhaltedsuddenlyandlookedkeenlyathisfriendinthefailinglight。
\"Whataplagueailsyou,Tony？\"saidhesharply。\"YouareassilentasIamimpatientforyournews。\"
Wildingtoldhiminbrief,disdainfultermsofthereceptiontheyhadgivenhimattheCastle,andofhowtheyhadblamedhimforthecircumstancethatLondonhadfailedtoproclaimitselfforMonmouth。
Trenchardsnarledviciously。\"`TisthatmongrelGrey,\"saidhe。\"Oh,Anthony,towhatanaffairhavewesetourhands？Naughtcanprosperwiththatfellowinit。\"HelaidhishandonWilding\'sarmandloweredhisvoice。\"AsIhavehintedbefore,`twouldnotsurprisemeiftimeprovedhimatraitor。Failureattendshimeverywhere,andsounfailinglythatonewondersisnotfailureinvitedbyhim。AndthatfoolMonmouth！
Pshaw。！Seewhatitistoserveaweakling。Withanotherinhisplaceandthecountrydisaffectedasitis,wehadbeenmastersofEnglandbynow。
Twoladiespassedthematthatmoment,cloakedandhooded,walkingbriskly。OneofthemturnedtolookatTrenchard,who,wavinghisarmsinwildgesticulation,wasaconspicuousobject。Shecheckedinherwalk,arrestinghercompanion。
\"Mr。Wilding！\"sheexclaimed。ItwasLadyHorton。
\"Mr。Wilding！\"criedDiana,hercompanion。
Wildingdoffedhishatandbowed,Trenchardfollowinghisexample。
\"WehadscarcelookedtoseeyouinBridgwateragain,\"saidthemother,hermild,pleasantcountenancereflectingthesatisfactionitgavehertobeholdhimsafeandsound。
\"Therehavebeenmoments,\"answeredWilding,\"whenmyselfIscarceexpectedtoreturn。Yourladyship\'sgreetingshowsmewhatIhadlosthadInotdoneso。\"
\"Youarebutnewlyarrived？\"quothDiana,scanninghiminthegloaming。
\"FromLondon,anhoursince。\"
\"Anhour？\"sheechoed,andobservedthathewasstillbootedanddust—stained。\"YouwillhavebeentoLuptonHouse？\"
Ashadowcrossedhisface,hisglanceseemedtogrowclouded,allofwhichwatchfulDianadidnotfailtoobserve。\"Notyet,\"saidhe。
\"Youarealaggard,\"shelaughedathim,andhefelttheblooddrivenbackuponhisheart。Whatdidshemean？Wasitpossibleshesuggestedthatheshouldbewelcome,thathiswife\'sfeelingstowardshimhadundergoneachange？HislastpartingfromherontheroadnearWalfordhadbeeneverinhismind。
\"Ihavehadweightybusinesstotransact,hereplied,andTrenchardsnorted,hismindflyingbacktothecouncil—roomattheCastle,andwhathisfriendhadtoldhim。
\"Butnowthatyouhavedisposedofthatyouwillsupwithus,\"saidLadyHorton,whowasconvincedthatsinceRuthhadgonetothealtarwithhimhewasRuth\'sloverinspiteoftheoddthingsshehadheard。
AppearanceswithLadyHortoncountedforeverything,andallthatglitteredwasgoldtoher。
\"Iwould,\"heanswered,\"butthatIamtosupatMr。Newlington\'swithHisMajesty。Myvisitmustwaituntilto—morrow。\"
\"Letushope,\"saidTrenchard,\"thatitwaitsnolonger。\"HewasalreadyinstructedtouchingthenightattackonFeversham\'scamponSedgemoor,andthoughtitlikelyWildingwouldaccompanythem。
\"YouaregoingtoMr。Newlington\'s？\"saidDiana,andTrenchardthoughtshehadturnedsingularlypale。Herhandwasoverherheart,hereyeswide。Sheseemedabouttoaddsomething,butcheckedherself。Shetookhermother\'sarm。\"WearedetainingMr。Wilding,mother,\"saidshe,andhervoicequiveredasifherwholebeingwereshakenbysomegustyagitation。Theyspoketheirfarewellsbriefly,andmovedon。A
secondlaterDianawasbackattheirsideagain。
\"Whereareyoulodged,Mr。Wilding？\"sheinquired。
\"WithmyfriendTrenchard—atthesignofTheShip,bytheCross。\"
Shebrieflyacknowledgedtheinformation,rejoinedhermother,andhurriedawaywithher。
Trenchardstoodstaringafterthemamoment。\"Odd！\"saidhe;\"didyoumarkthatgirl\'sdiscomposure？\"
ButWilding\'sthoughtswereelsewhere。\"Come,Nick！IfIamtorendermyselffittositattablewithMonmouth,we\'llneedtohasten。\"
Theywenttheirway,butnotsofastaswentDiana,urgingwithherherprotestingandshort—windedmother。
\"Whereisyourmistress？\"thegirlaskedexcitedlyofthefirstservantshemetatLuptonHouse。
\"Inherroom,madam,\"themanreplied,andtoRuth\'sroomwentDianabreathlessly,leavingLadyHortongapingafterherandunderstandingnothing。
Ruth,whowasseatedpensivebyherwindow,roseonDiana\'simpetuousentrance,andinthedeepeningtwilightshelookedalmostghostlyinhergownofshimmeringwhitesatin,sewnwithpearlsabouttheneckofthelow—cutbodice。
\"Diana！\"shecried。\"Youstartledme。\"
\"NotsomuchasIamyettodo,\"answeredDiana,breathingexcitement。
Shethrewbackthewimplefromherhead,andpullingawayhercloak,tosseditontothebed。\"Mr。WildingisinBridgwater,\"sheannounced。
TherewasafaintrustlefromthestiffsatinofRuth\'sgown。\"Then……\"
hervoiceshookslightly。\"Then……heisnotdead,\"shesaid,morebecauseshefeltthatshemustsaysomethingthanbecauseherwordsfittedtheoccasion。
\"Notyet,\"saidDianagrimly。
\"Notyet？\"
\"Hesupsto—nightatMr。Newlington\'s,\"MissHortonexclaimedinavoicepregnantwithmeaning。
\"Ah！\"ItwasacryfromRuth,sharpasifshehadbeenstabbed。Shesankbacktoherseatbythewindow,smittendownbythissuddennews。
Therewasapause,whichfrettedDiana,whonowcravedknowledgeofwhatmightbepassinginhercousin\'smind。SheadvancedtowardsRuthandlaidatremblinghandonhershoulder,wherethewhitegownmettheivoryneck。\"Hemustbewarned,\"shesaid。
\"But……,buthow？\"stammeredRuth。\"TowarnhimweretobetraySirRowland。\"
\"SirRowland？\"criedDianainhighscorn。
\"And……andRichard,\"Ruthcontinued。
\"Yes,andMr。Newlington,andalltheotherknavesthatareengagedinthismurderousbusiness。Well？\"shedemanded。\"Willyoudoit,ormustI？\"
\"Doit？\"Ruth\'seyessoughthercousin\'swhite,excitedfaceinthequasi—darkness。\"Buthaveyouthoughtofwhatitwillmean？HaveyouthoughtofthepoorpeoplethatwillperishunlesstheDukeistakenandthisrebellionbroughttoanend？\"
\"Thoughtofit？\"repeatedDianawitheringly。\"NotI。IhavethoughtthatMr。Wildingishereandliketohavehisthroatcutbeforeanhourispast。\"
\"Tellme,areyousureofthis？\"askedRuth。
\"Ihaveitfromyourhusband\'sownlips,\"Dianaanswered,andtoldherinafewwordsofhermeetingwithMr。Wilding。
Ruthsatwithhandsfoldedinherlap,hereyesonthedimvioletafter—glowinthewest,andhermindwrestlingwiththisproblemthatDianahadbroughther。
\"Diana,\"shecriedatlast,\"whatamItodo？\"
\"Do？\"echoedDiana。\"Isitnotplain？WarnMr。Wilding。\"
\"ButRichard？\"
\"Mr。WildingsavedRichard\'slife……\"
\"Iknow。Iknow。Mydutyistowarnhim。\"
\"Thenwhyhesitate？\"
\"MydutyisalsotokeepfaithwithRichard,tothinkofthosepoormisguidedfolkwhoaretobesavedbythis,\"criedRuthinanagony。
\"IfMr。Wildiniswarned,theywillallberuined。\"
Dianastampedherfootimpatiently。\"HadIthoughttofindyouinthismind,Ihadwarnedhimmyself;\"saidshe。
\"Ah！Whydidyounot？\"
\"Thatthechanceofdoingsomightbeyours。Thatyoumightthusrepayhimthedebtinwhichyoustand。\"
\"Diana,Ican\'t！\"Thewordsbrokefromherinasob。
ButwhateverherinterestinMr。Wildingforherownsake,Diana\'sprimeintentwasthethwartingSirRowlandBlake。IfWildingwerewarnedofwhatmanneroffeastwasspreadatNewlington\'s,SirRowlandwouldbeindeedundone。
\"YouthinkofRichard,\"sheexclaimed,\"andyouknowthatRichardistohavenoactivepartintheaffair—thathewillrunnorisk。TheyhaveassignedhimbutasentrydutythathemaywarnBlakeandhisfollowersifanydangerthreatensthem。\"
\"ItisnotofRichard\'slifeIamthinking,butofhishonour,ofhistrustinme。TowarnMr。Wildingwere……tocommitanactofbetrayal。\"
\"AndisMr。Wildingtobeslaughteredwithhisfriends？\"Dianaaskedher。
\"Resolvemethat。Timepresses。Inhalfanhouritwillbetoolate。\"
ThatallusiontotheshortnessofthetimebroughtRuthaninspiration。
Suddenlyshesawaway。Wildingshouldbesaved,andyetshewouldnotbreakfaithwithRichardnorruinthoseothers。Shewoulddetainhim,andwhilstwarninghimatthelastmoment,intimeforhimtosavehimself;notdosountilitmustbetoolateforhimtowarntheothers。
Thusshewoulddoherdutybyhim,andyetkeepfaithwithRichardandSirRowland。Shehadresolved,shethought,theawfuldifficultythathadconfrontedher。Sherosesuddenly,heartenedbythethought。
\"Givemeyourcloakandwimple,\"shebadeDiana,andDianaflewtodoherbidding。\"WhereisMr。Wildinglodged？\"sheasked。
\"AtthesignofTheShip—overlookingtheCross,withMr。Trenchard。
ShallIcomewithyou？\"
\"No,\"answeredRuthwithouthesitation。\"Iwillgoalone。\"Shedrewthewimplewelloverherhead,sothatinitsshadowsherfacemightlieconcealed,andhidhershimmeringwhitedressunderDiana\'scloak。
Shehastenedthroughtheill—lightedstreets,neverheedingtheroughcobblesthathurtherfeet,shodinlightindoorwear,neverheedingthecrowdsthatthrongedherway。AllBridgwaterwasastirwithMonmouth\'spresence;moreover,therehadbeengreatincursionsfromTauntonandthesurroundingcountry,thewomen—folkoftheDuke—King\'sfollowershavingcomethatdaytoBridgwatertosayfarewelltofatherandson,husbandandbrother,beforethearmymarched—aswasstillbelieved—toGloucester。
Thehalf—hourwasstrikingfromSaintMary\'s—thechurchinwhichshehadbeenmarried—asRuthreachedthedoorofthesignofTheShip。Shewasabouttoknock,whensuddenlyitopened,andMr。Wildinghimself,withTrenchardimmediatelybehindhim,stoodconfrontingher。Atsightofhimamomentaryweaknesstookher。Hehadchangedfromhishard—usedriding—garmentsintoasuitofroughlycordedblacksilk,whichthrewintoreliefthesteelylithenessofhissparefigure。Hisdarkbrownhairwascarefullydressed,diamondsgleamedinthecravatofsnowylaceathisthroat。Hewasuncovered,hishatunderhisarm,andhestoodasidetomakewayforher,imaginingthatshewassomewomanofthehouse。
\"Mr。Wilding,\"saidshe,herheartflutteringinherthroat。\"MayI……mayIspeakwithyou？\"
Heleanedforward,seekingtopiercetheshadowsofherwimple;hehadthoughtherecognizedthevoice,ashissuddenstarthadshown;andyethedisbelievedhisears。Shemovedherheadatthatmoment,andthelightstreamingoutfromalampinthepassagebeatuponherwhiteface。
\"Ruth！\"hecried,andcamequicklyforward。Trenchard,behindhim,lookedonandscowledwithsuddenimpatience。Mr。Wilding\'sphilanderingswiththisladyhadneverhadtheoldrake\'sapproval。
Toomuchtroublealreadyhadresultedfromthem。
\"Imustspeakwithyouatonce。Atonce！\"sheurgedhim,hertonefearful。
\"Areyouinneedofme？\"heaskedconcernedly。
\"Inveryurgentneed,\"saidshe。
\"IthankGod,\"heansweredwithoutflippancy。\"Youshallfindmeatyourservice。Tellme。\"
\"Nothere;nothere,\"sheansweredhim。
\"Whereelse？\"saidhe。\"Shallwewalk？\"
\"No,no。\"Herrepetitionsmarkedthedeepexcitementthatpossessedher。
\"Iwillgoinwithyou。\"Andshesignedwithherheadtowardsthedoorfromwhichhewasbarelyemerged。
\"`Twerescarcefitting,\"saidhe,forbeingconfusedandfullofspeculationonthescoreofherneed,hehadforthemomentalmostoverlookedtherelationsinwhichtheystood。Inspiteoftheceremonythroughwhichtheyhadgonetogether,Mr。Wildingstillmostlythoughtofherasofamistressverydifficulttowoo。
\"Fitting？\"sheechoed,andthenafterapause,\"AmInotyourwife？\"
sheaskedhiminalowvoice,hercheekscrimsoning。
\"Ha！`Ponhonour,Ihadalmostforgot,\"saidhe,andthoughtheburdenofhiswordsseemedmocking,theirtonewassad。
Ofthepassers—bythatjostledthemacouplehadnowpausedtowatchascenethathadanelementoftheunusualinit。Shepulledherwimpleclosertoherface,tookhimbythearm,anddrewhimwithherintothehouse。
\"Closethedoor,\"shebadehim,andTrenchard,whohadstoodasidethattheymightpassin,forestalledhiminobeyingher。\"Nowleadmetoyourroom,saidshe,andWildinginamazeturnedtoTrenchardasifaskinghisconsent,forthelodging,afterall,wasTrenchard\'s。
\"I\'llwaithere,\"saidNick,andwavedhishandtowardsanoakbenchthatstoodinthepassage。\"Youhadbestmakehaste,\"heurgedhisfriend;\"youarelatealready。Thatis,unlessyouareofamindtosetthelady\'saffairsbeforeKingMonmouth\'s。AndwereIinyourplace,Anthony,faithI\'dnotscrupletodoit。Forafterall,\"headdedunderhisbreath,\"there\'slittlechoiceinrottenapples。\"
RuthwaitedforsomeanswerfromWildingthatmightsuggesthewasindifferentwhetherhewenttoNewlington\'sornot;buthespokenowordasheturnedtoleadthewayabove—stairstotheindifferentparlourwhichwiththeadjoiningbedroomconstitutedMr。Trenchard\'slodging—andhisown,forthetimebeing。
Havingassuredherselfthatthecurtainswerecloselydrawn,sheputbyhercloakandhood,andstoodrevealedtohiminthelightofthethreecandles,burninginabranchuponthebareoaktable,dazzlinglybeautifulinhergownofivory—white。
Hestoodapart,cogitatingherwithglowingeyes,thefaintestsmilebetweenquestionandpleasurehoveringabouthisthinmouth。Hehadclosedthedoor,andstoodinsilencewaitingforhertomakeknowntohimherpleasure。
\"Mr。Wilding……\"shebegan,andstraightwayheinterruptedher。
\"ButamomentsinceyoudidremindmethatIhavethehonourtobeyourhusband,\"hesaidwithgravehumour。\"Whyseeknowtoovercloudthatfact？Imindmethatthelasttimewemetyoucalledmebyanothername。
Butitmaybe,\"headdedasanafterthought,\"youareofopinionthatI
havebrokenfaithwithyou。\"
\"Brokenfaith？Ashow？\"
\"So！\"hesaid,andsighed。\"Mywordswereofsolittleaccountthattheyhavebeen,Isee,forgotten。Yet,sothatIrememberthem,thatiswhatchieflymatters。Ipromisedthen—orseemedtopromise—thatIwouldmakeawidowofyou,whohadmadeawifeofyouagainstyourwill。Ithasnothappenedyet。Donotdespair。ThisMonmouthquarrelisnotyetfoughtout。Hopeon,myRuth。\"
Shelookedathimwitheyeswideopen—lustrouseyesofsapphireinafaceofivory。Afaintsmilepartedherlips,thereflectionofthethoughtinhermindthathadshe,indeed,beeneagerforhisdeathshewouldnotbewithhimatthismoment;hadshedesiredit,howeasywouldhercoursehavebeen。
\"Youdomewrongtobidmehopeforthat,\"sheansweredhim,hertoneslevel。\"Idonotwishthedeathofanyman,unless……\"Shepaused;hertruthfulnessurgedhertoofar。
\"Unless？\"saidhe,browsraised,politeinterestonhisface。
\"UnlessitbeHisGraceofMonmouth。\"
Heconsideredherwithsuddenlynarrowedeyes。\"Youhavenotbychancesoughtmetotalkpolitics？\"saidhe。\"Or……\"andhesuddenlycaughthisbreath,hisnostrilsdilatingwithrageatthebarethoughtthatleaptintohismind。HadMonmouth,thenotoriouslibertine,beentoLuptonHouseandpersecutedherwithhisaddresses？\"IsitthatyouareacquaintedwithHisGrace？\"heasked。
\"Ihaveneverspokentohim！\"sheanswered,withnosuspicionofwhatwasinhisthoughts。
Inhisreliefhelaughed,rememberingnowthatMonmouth\'saffairsweretooabsorbingjustatpresenttoleavehimroomfordalliance。
\"Butyouarestanding,\"saidhe,andheadvancedachair。\"IdeplorethatIhavenobetterhospitalitytoofferyou。IdoubtifIevershallagain。IamtoldthatAlbemarledidmethehonourtostablehisknackersinmyhallatZoyland。\"
Shetookthechairheofferedher,sinkingtoitlikeonephysicallyweary,athinghewasquicktonotice。Hewatchedher,hisbodyeager,hissoultrammellingitwithasteelyrestraint。\"Tellme,now,\"saidhe,\"inwhatyouneedme。\"
Shewassilentamoment,pondering,hesitationandconfusionseemingtoenvelopher。Apinkflushrosetocolourthebeautifulpillarofneckandoverspreadthedelicatehalf—avertedface。Hewatchedit,wondering。
\"Howlong,\"sheaskedhim,herwholeintentatpresentbeingtodelayhimandgaintime。\"HowlonghaveyoubeeninBridgwater？\"
\"Twohoursatmost,\"saidhe。
\"Twohours！Andyetyounevercameto……tome。Iheardofyourpresence,andIfearedyoumightintendtoabstainfromseekingme。\"
Healmostheldhisbreathwhileshespoke,caughtinamazement。Hewasstandingclosebesideherchair,hisrighthandresteduponitstallback。
\"Didyousointend？\"sheaskedhim。
\"Itoldyouevennow,\"heansweredwithhard—woncalm,\"thatIhadmadeyouasortofpromise。\"
\"I……Iwouldnothaveyoukeepit,\"shemurmured。Sheheardhissharplyindrawnbreath,felthimleaningoverher,andwasfilledwithanunaccountablefear。
\"Wasittotellmethisyoucame？\"heaskedher,hisvoicereducedtoawhisper。
\"No……yes,\"sheanswered,anagonyinhermind,whichgropedforsomemeanstokeephimbyhersideuntilhisdangershouldbeoverpast。Thatmuchsheowedhiminhonourifinnothingelse。
\"No—yes？\"heechoed,andhehaddrawnhimselferectagain。\"Whatis\'tyoumean,Ruth？\"
\"Imeanthatitwasthat,yetnotquiteonlythat。\"
\"Ah！\"Disappointmentvibratedfaintlyinhisclamation。\"Whatelse？\"
\"IwouldhaveyouabandonMonmouth\'sfollowing,\"shetoldhim。
Hestaredamoment,movedawayandroundwherehecouldconfronther。
Theflushhadnowfadedfromherface。Thisheobservedandtheheaveofherbosominitslowbodice。Heknithisbrows,perplexed。Herewassurelymorethanatfirstmightseem。
\"Whyso？\"heasked。
\"Foryourownsafety\'ssake,\"sheansweredhim。
\"Youareoddlyconcernedforthat,Ruth。\"
\"Concerned—notoddly。\"Shepausedaninstant,swallowedhard,andthencontinued。\"Iamconcernedtooforyourhonour,andthereisnohonourinfollowinghisbanner。HehascrownedhimselfKing,andsoprovedhimselfaself—seekerwhocamedissembledasthechampionofacausethathemightdeludepoorignorantfolkintoflockingtohisstandardandhelpinghimtohisambitiousends。\"
\"Youarewondrouslywellschooled,\"saidhe。\"Whoseteachingsdoyoureciteme？SirRowlandBlake\'s？\"
Atanothertimethesneermighthavecuther。Atthemomentshewastoointentupongainingtime。Themeanstoitmatteredlittle。Themoreshetalkedtonopurpose,themoreatrandomwastheirdiscourse,thebetterwouldherendsbeserved。
\"SirRowlandBlake？\"shecried。\"Whatishetome？\"
\"Ah,what？Letmesetyouthequestionrather。\"
\"Lessthannothing,\"sheassuredhim,andforsomemomentsafterwardsitwasthisSirRowlandwhoservedthemasatopicfortheiroddinterview。
Ontheovermantelthepulseoftimebeatonfromalittlewoodenclock。
Hiseyesstrayedtoit;itmarkedthethree—quarters。Hebethoughthimsuddenlyofhisengagement。Trenchard,below—stairs,supremelyindifferentwhetherWildingwenttoNewlington\'sornot,smokedon,entirelyunconcernedbytheflightoftime。
\"Mistress,\"saidWildingsuddenly,\"youhavenotyettoldmeinwhatyouseekmyservice。Indeed,weseemtohavetalkedtolittlepurpose。Mytimeisveryshort。\"
\"Whereareyougoing？\"sheaskedhim,andfearfullysheshotasidelongglanceatthetimepiece。Itwasstilltoosoon,byatleastfiveminutes。
Hesmiled,buthissmilewassingular。Hebegantosuspectatlastthatheronlypurpose—towhatendhecouldnotguess—wastodetainhim。
\"`Tisasingularlysuddeninterestinmydoings,this,\"saidhequietly。