Theywerebravefellowsforallthemischieftheydidhere,andtheyseemedtohavelittleheartintheserviceofthePopishKing。Itwastheofficersdrovethemontoallthisdamage,andoncethey\'dstarted—well,therewereroguesamongstthemsawachanceofplunder,andtheytookit。Ihavesoughttoputtheplacetorights;buttheydidsomewoeful,wantonmischief。\"
Wildingsighed。\"It\'slittlematter,perhaps,astheplaceisnolongermine。
\"No……nolongeryours,sir？\"
\"I\'manattaintedoutlaw,Walters,\"heexplained。\"They\'llbestowitonsomePopishtime—server,unlessKingMonmouthcanfollowupbygreatervictoriesto—night\'s。Haveyouaughtamanmayeatordrink？\"
Meatandwine,freshlinenandfreshgarmentsdidoldWaltersfindhim;
andwhenhehadwashed,eaten,anddrunk,Mr。Wildingwrappedhimselfinadressing—gownandlaidhimselfdowntosleeponasettleinthelibrary,hisservantandhisdogonguard。
Notaboveanhour,however,washedestinedtoenjoyhishard—earnedrest。Thelighthadgrown,meanwhile,andfromgreyithadturnedgolden,theheraldsofthesunbeingalreadyintheeast。Inthedistancethefiringhaddieddowntoamereoccasionalboom。
SuddenlyoldWaltersraisedhisheadtolisten。Thebeatofhoofswasdrawingrapidlynear,sonearthatpresentlyheroseinalarm,forahorsemanwaspoundinguptheavenue,haddrawnreinatthemainentrance。
Waltersknithisbrowsinperplexity,andglancedathismasterwhosleptonutterlywornout。Asilentpausefollowed,lastingsomeminutes。Thenitwasthedogthatrosewithagrowl,hiscoatbristling,andaninstantlatertherecameasharprappingatthehaildoor。
\"Sh！Down,Jack！\"whisperedWalters,afraidofrousingMr。Wilding。Hetiptoedsoftlyacrosstheroom,pickeduphismusket,and,callingthedog,wentout,agreatfearinhisheart,butnotforhimself。
Therappingcontinued,growingeveryinstantmoreurgent,sourgentthatWalterswasalmostreassured。Herewasnoenemy,butsurelysomeoneinneed。Waltersopenedatlast,andMr。Trenchard,grimyoffaceandhands,hishatshornofitsplumes,hisclothestorn,staggeredwithanoathacrossthethreshold。
\"Walters！\"hecried。\"ThankGod！Ithoughtyou\'dbehere,butIwasn\'tcertain。Down,Jack！\"
Thehoundwasbarkingmadlyagain,havingrecognizedanoldfriend。
\"Plagueonthedog！\"growledWalters。\"He\'llwakeMr。Wilding。\"
\"Mr。Wilding？\"saidTrenchard,andcheckedmidwayacrossthehall。\"Mr。
Wilding？\"
\"Hearrivedhereacoupleofhoursago,sir……\"
\"Wildinghere？Oddsheart！Iwasmorethanwelladvisedtocome。Whereishe,man？\"
\"Sh,sir！He\'sasleepinthelibrary。You\'llwakehim,you\'llwakehim！\"
ButTrenchardneverpaused。Hecrossedthehailatabound,andflungwidethelibrarydoor。\"Anthony！\"heshouted。\"Anthony！\"AndinthebackgroundWalterscursedhimforafool。Wildingleapttohisfeet,awakeandstartled。
\"Wha……Nick！\"
\"Oons！\"roaredNick。\"You\'rechoicelyfound。IcametosendtoBridgwaterforyou。Wemustawayatonce,man。\"
\"How—away？Ithoughtyouwereinthefight,Nick。\"
\"Anddon\'tIlookasifIhadbeen？\"
\"Butthen……
\"Thefightisfoughtandlost;there\'sanendtothegarboil。Monmouthisinfullflightwithwhat\'slefthimofhishorse。WhenIquittedthefield,hewasridinghardforPoldenHill。\"Hedroppedintoachair,hisaccentsgrimanddespairing,hiseyeshaggard。
\"Lost？\"gaspedWilding,andhisconscienceprickedhimforamoment,rememberinghowmuchithadbeenhisfault—howeverindirectly—thatFevershamhadbeenforewarned。\"Buthowlost？\"hecriedamomentlater。
\"AskGrey,\"snappedTrenchard。\"Askhiscraven,numskulledlordship。
Hehadasgoodahandinlosingitasany。Oh,itwasallmostinfernallymishandled,ashasbeeneverythinginthisill—starredrising。
GreysentbackGodfrey,theguide,andattemptedinthedarktofindhisownwayacrosstherhine。Hemissedtheford。Whatelsecouldthefoolhavehoped？AndwhenhewasdiscoveredandDunbarton\'sgunsbegantoplayonus—hellandfire！weranasifSedgemoorhadbeenarace—course。
\"Therestwasbutthenaturalsequel。Thefoot,seeingourconfusion,broke。Theywereralliedagain;brokeagain;andagainwererallied;
butalltoolate。Theenemywasup,andwiththatdamnedditchbetweenustherewasnogettingtoclosequarterswiththem。HadGreyriddenround,andsoughttoturntheirflank,thingsmighthavebeen—0God！—
theywouldhavebeenentirelydifferent。Ididsuggestit。ButformypainsGreythreatenedtopistolmeifIpresumedtoinstructhiminhisduty。IwouldtoHeavenIhadpistolledhimwherehestood。\"
Walters,atgazeinthedoorway,listenedtothebittertirade。Wilding,onthesettle,satsilentamoment,hiselbowsonhisknees,hischininhishands,hiseyessetandgrimasTrenchard\'sown。Thenhemasteredhimself,andwavedahandtowardsthetablewherestoodfoodandwine。
\"Eatanddrink,Nick,\"hesaid,`andwe\'lldiscusswhat\'stobedone。\"
\"It\'llneedlittlediscussing,\"wasNick\'ssavageanswerasheroseandwenttopourhimselfacupofwine。\"There\'sbutonecourseopentous—instantflight。IamforMineheadtojoinHewling\'shorse,whichwentthereyesterdayforguns。Wemightseizeashipsomewhereonthecoast,andthusgetoutofthisinfernalcountryofmine。\"
TheydiscussedthematterinspiteofTrenchard\'shavingsaidthattherewasnothingtodiscuss,andintheendWildingagreedtogowithhim。Whatchoicehadhe？ButfirsthemustgotoBridgwatertoreassurehiswife。
\"ToBridgwater？\"blazedTrenchard,inapassionatthefollyofthesuggestion。\"You\'reclearlymad！AlltheKing\'sforceswillbethereinanhourortwo。\"
\"Nomatter,\"saidWilding,\"Imustgo。Iamdeadalready,asithappens。\"AndherelatedhissingularadventureinFeversham\'scamplastnight。
Trenchardheardhiminamazement。Ifanysuspicioncrossedhismindthathisfriend\'sloveaffairshadhadanythingtodowithrousingFevershamprematurely,heshowednosignofit。ButheshookhisheadatWilding\'sinsistencethathemustfirstgotoLuptonHouse。
\"Shaltsendamessage,Anthony。Walterswillfindsomeonetobearit。
Butyoumustnotgoyourself。\"
IntheendMr。Trenchardprevaileduponhimtoadoptthiscourse,howeverreluctanthemightbe。Thereaftertheyproceededtomaketheirpreparations。Therewerestillacoupleofnagsinthestables,inspiteofthevisitationofthemilitia,andWalterswasabletofindfreshclothesforMr。Trenchardabove—stairs。
Ahalf—hourlatertheywerereadytosetoutonthisforlornhopeofescape;thehorseswereatthedoor,andMr。WildingwasintheactofdrawingonthefreshpairofbootswhichWaltershadfetchedhim。
Suddenlyhepaused,hisfootinthelegofhisrightboot,andsatbemusedamoment。
Trenchard,watchinghim,waxedimpatient。\"Whatailsyounow？\"hecroaked。
Withoutansweringhim,WildingturnedtoWalters。\"WherearethebootsIworelastnight？\"heasked,andhisvoicewassharp—oddlysharp,consideringhowtrivialthematterofhisspeech。
\"Inthekitchen,\"answeredWalters。
\"Fetchmethem。\"Andhekickedoffagaintheboothehadhalfdrawnon。
\"Buttheyareallbefouledwithmud,sir。\"
\"Cleanthem,Walters;cleanthemandletmehavethem。\"
StillWaltershesitated,pointingoutthatthebootshehadbroughthismasterwerenewerandsounder。Wildinginterruptedhimimpatiently。
\"DoasIbidyou,Walters。\"Andtheoldman,understandingnothing,wentoffontheerrand。
\"Apoxonyourboots！\"sworeTrenchard。\"Whatdoesthismean？\"
Wildingseemedsuddenlytohaveundergoneatransformation。Hisgloomhadfallenfromhim。Helookedupathisoldfriendand,smiling,answeredhim。\"Itmeans,Nick,thatwhilsttheseexcellentbootsthatWalterswouldhavemewearmightbewellenoughforaridetothecoastsuchasyoupropose,theyarenotatallsuitedtothejourneyIintendtomake。\"
\"Maybe,\"saidNickwithasniff,\"you\'reintendingtojourneytoTowerHill？\"
\"Inthatdirection,\"answeredMr。Wildingsuavely。
\"IamforLondon,Nick。Andyoushallcomewithme。\"
\"Godsaveus！Doyoukeepafool\'seggunderthatnestofhair？\"
Wildingexplained,andbythetimeWaltersreturnedwiththebootsTrenchardwaswalkingupanddowntheroominanoddagitation。\"Oddsmylife,Tony！\"hecriedatlast。\"Ibelieveitisthebestthing。\"
\"Theonlything,Nick。\"
\"Andsinceallislost,why……\"Trenchardblewouthischeeksandsmackedfistintopalm。\"Iamwithyou,\"saidhe。
CHAPTERXXIV
JUSTICE
IthasfallentomylotinthecourseofthisveridicalchronicleofMr。
AnthonyWilding\'sconnectionwiththeRebellionintheWest,andofhisweddingandpost—nuptialwinningofRuthWestmacott,torelatecertainmattersofincidentandpersonalitythatmaybeaccountedstrange。Butthestrangestyetremainstoberelated。ForinspiteofallthathadpassedbetweenSirRowlandBlakeandtheWestmacottsonthatmemorablenightofSundaytoMonday,onwhichthebattleofSedgemoorwaslostandwon,towardstheendofthatsamemonthofJulywefindhimnotonlybackatLuptonHouse,butonceagaintheavowedsuitorofMr。Wilding\'swidow。Foreffronterythisisamatterofwhichitistobedoubtedwhetherhistoryfurnishesaparallel。Indeed,untilthecircumstancesaresifteditseemswildandincredible。Soletusconsiderthese。
OnthemorrowofSedgemoor,thetownofBridgwaterbecameinvested—
infestedwerenowhittoostrongaword—bytheKing\'sforcesunderFevershamandtheodiousKirke,andtherebeganareignofterrorforthetown。Theprisonswerechokedwithattaintedandsuspectedrebels。
>FromBridgwatertoWestonZoylandtheroadwasbecomeanavenueofgallows,eachbearingitsrepulsivegemmace—ladenburden;fortheKing\'scommandswereunequivocal,andhangingwastheorderoftheday。
ItisnotmydesireatthisstagetosurfeityouwiththehorrorsthatwereperpetratedduringthathideousweekofJuly,whennoman\'slifewassafefromtheroyalbutchers。TheawfulcampaignofJeifreysandhisfourassociateswasyettofollow,butitisdoubtfulifitcouldcompareinruthlessnesswiththatofFevershamandKirke。Atleast,whenJeifreyscame,menweregivenatrial—orwhatlookedlikeit—
andthereremainedthemachance,howeverslender,ofacquittal,asmanylivedtoprovethereafter。WithFevershamtherewasnosuchchance。AnditwasofthiscircumstancethatSirRowlandBlaketookthefullestandthecowardliestadvantage。
TherecanbenodoubtthatSirRowlandwasavillain。Itmightbeurgedforhimthathewasacreatureofcircumstance,andthathadcircumstancesbeenotheritispossiblehehadbeenacredittohisname。Buthewasweakincharacter,andoutofthatweaknesshehaddevelopedaHerculeanstrengthinvillainy。Failurehaddoggedhimineverythingheundertook。Brokenatthegaming—tables,houndedoutoftownbycreditors,hewasindesperatestraitstorepairhisfortunesand,aswehaveseen,hewasnotniceinhisendeavourstoachievethatend。
RuthWestmacott\'sfairinheritancehadseemedaneasythingtoconquer,andtoitsconquesthehadappliedhimselftosufferdefeatashehadsuffereditinallthingselse。ButSirRowlanddidnotyetacknowledgehimselfbeaten,andtheBridgwaterreignofterrordealthimafreshhand—ahandoftrumps。Withthishecameboldlytorenewthegame。
Hewasassmoothasoilatfirst,averypenitent,confessinghimselfmadinwhathehaddoneonthatSundaynight—madwithdespairandrageathavingbeendefeatedinthenobletasktowhichhehadturnedhishands。HispenitencemighthavehadlittleeffectupontheWestmacottshadhenotknownhowtoinsinuatethatitmightbebestforthemtolendaneartoit—andaforgivingone。
\"YouwilltellMr。Westmacott,Jasper,\"hehadsaid,whenJaspertoldhimthattheycouldnotreceivehim,\"thathewouldbeunwisenottoseeme,andthesametoMistressWilding。\"
AndoldJasperhadcarriedhismessage,andhadtoldRichardofthewickedsmilethathadbeenonSirRowland\'slipswhenhehadutteredit。
NowRichardwasinmanywaysachangedmansincethatnightatWestonZoyland。Atransformationseemedtohavebeenwroughtinhimasoddasitwassudden,anditdatedfromthemomentwhenwithtearsinhiseyeshehadwrungWilding\'shandinfarewell。Whereprecepthadfailed,Richardfoundhimselfconvertedbyexample。Hecontrastedhimselfinthatstressfulhourwithgreat—souledAnthonyWilding,andsawhimselfashewas,aweakling,strongonlyinviciousways。Repentanceclaimedhim;repentanceandafineambitiontobeworthier,toresembleasnearlyashisnaturewouldallowhimthisAnthonyWildingwhomhetookforpattern。Hechangedhisways,abandoneddrinkandgaming,andgainedtherebyahealthiercountenance。Theninhiszealheovershothismark。HedevelopedatasteforScripture—reading,bethoughthimofprayers,andeventooktosayinggracetohismeat。Indeed—forconversion,whenitcomes,isafuriousthing—theswingofhissoul\'spendulumthreatenednowtocarryhimtoextremesofvirtueandpiety。
\"0Lord！\"hewouldcryascoreoftimesaday,\"Thouhastbroughtupmysoulfromthegrave;ThouhastkeptmealivethatIshouldnotgodowntothepit！\"
Butunderlyingallthisremainedunfortunatelytheinherentweaknessofhisnature—indeed,itwasthatveryweaknessandmalleabilitymadethissuddenandwholesaleconversionpossible。
UponhearingSirRowland\'smessagehisheartfainted,despitehisgoodintentions,andheurgedthatperhapstheyhadbetterhearwhatthebaronetmighthavetosay。
ItwasthreedaysafterSedgemoorFight,andpoorRuthwaswornandexhaustedwithhergrief—believingWildingdead,forhehadsentnomessagetoinformherofhisalmostmiraculouspreservation。ThethinghewenttodoinLondonwasfraughtwithsuchperilthatheforesawbuttheslenderestchanceofescapingwithhislife。Therefore,hehadargued,whyconsolehernowwithnewsthathelived,wheninafewdaystheheadsmanmightprovethathisendhadbeenbutpostponed？
Todosomightbetogivehercausetomournhimtwice。Againhewashauntedbythethoughtthat,inspiteofall,itmayhavebeenpitythathadsogrievouslymovedherattheirlastmeeting。Better,then,towait;betterforboththeirsakes。Ifhecamesafelythroughhisordealitwouldbetimeenoughtobearhernewsofhispreservation。
Indeepestmourning,verywhite,withdarkstainsbeneathhereyestotellthetaleofanguishedvigils,shereceivedSirRowlandinthewithdrawing—room,herbrotheratherside。Tohisexpressionsofdeeppenitencehefoundthemcold;sohepassedontoshowthemwhatdisastrousresultsmightensueuponastubbornmaintainingofthisattitudeoftheirstowardshim。
\"Ihavecome,\"hesaid,hiseyesdowncast,hisfacelong—drawn,forhecouldplaythesorrowfulwithanyhypocriteinEngland,\"todosomethingmorethanspeakofmygriefandregret。Ihavecometoofferproofofitbyservice。
\"Weasknoserviceofyou,sir,\"saidRuth,hervoiceaswordofsharpness。
Hesighed,andturnedtoRichard。\"Thiswerefolly,\"heassuredhiswhilomfriend。\"YouknowtheinfluenceIwield。\"
\"DoI？\"quothRichard,histoneimplyingdoubt。\"YouthinkthatthebungledmatteratNewlington\'smayhaveshakenit？\"quothBlake。\"WithFeversham,perhaps。ButAlbemarle,remember,trustsmeveryfully。
Thereareuglyhappeningsinthetownhere。Menarebeinghunglikelinenonawashing—day。Benottoosurethatyourselfarefreefromalldanger。\"Richardpaledunderthebaronet\'sbaleful,half—sneeringglance。\"Benotintoogreathastetocastmeaside,foryoumayfindmeuseful。\"
\"Doyouthreaten,sir？\"criedRuth。
\"Threaten？\"quothhe。Heturneduphiseyesandshowedthewhitesofthem。\"Isittothreatentopromiseyoumyprotection;toshowyouhowIcanserveyou？—thanwhichIasknosweeterboonofheaven。
Awordfromme,andRichardneedfearnothing。\"
\"Heneedfearnothingwithoutthatword,\"saidRuthdisdainfully。\"SuchserviceashedidLordFevershamtheothernight……\"
\"Issoonforgotten,\"Blakecutinadroitly。\"Indeed,`twillbemostconvenienttohislordshiptoforgetit。Thinkyouhewouldcaretohaveitknownthat`twastosuchachanceheowesthepreservationofhisarmy？\"Helaughed,andaddedinavoiceofmuchslymeaning,\"Thetimesarefullofperil。There\'sKirkeandhislambs。Andthere\'snosayinghowKirkemightactdidhechancetolearnwhatRichardfailedtodothatnightwhenhewaslefttoguardtherearatNewlington\'s！\"
\"Wouldyouinformhimofit？\"criedRichard,betweenangerandalarm。
Blakethrustouthishandsinagestureofhorrifiedrepudiation。
\"Richard！\"hecriedindeepreproofandagain,\"Richard！\"
\"Whatothertonguehashetofear？\"askedRuth。\"AmItheonlyonewhoknowsofit？\"criedBlake。\"Oh,madam,whywillyoueverdomesuchinjustice？Richardhasbeenmyfriend—mydearestfriend。Iwishhimsotocontinue,andIswearthatheshallfindmehis,asyoushallfindmeyours。
\"ItisaboonIcoulddispensewith,\"sheassuredhim,androse。\"Thistalkcanprofitlittle,SirRowland,\"saidshe。\"Youseektobargain。\"
\"Youshallseehowunjustyouare,\"hecriedwithdeepsorrow。\"Itisbutfitting,perhaps,afterwhathaspassed。Itismypunishment。Butyoushallcometoacknowledgethatyouhavedonemewrong。YoushallseehowIshallbefriendandprotecthim。\"
Thatsaid,hetookhisleaveandwent,butheleftbehindhimashrewdseedoffearinRichard\'smind,andofthegrowththatsprangfromitRichardalmostunconsciouslytransplantedsomethinginthedaysthatfollowedintotheheartofRuth。Asaresult,tomakesurethatnoharmshouldcometoherbrother,thelastofhisnameandrace,sheresolvedtoreceiveSirRowland,resolvedinspiteofDiana\'soutspokenscorn,inspiteofRichard\'sprotests—forthoughafraid,yethewouldnothaveitso—inspiteevenofherowndeeprepugnanceoftheman。
Dayspassedandgrewtoweeks。Bridgwaterwassettlingdowntopeaceagain—topeaceandmourning;theRoyalistscourgehadspreadtoTaunton,andBlakelingeredonatLuptonHouse,anunwelcomebutanundeniableguest。
HispresencewasasdetestabletoRichardnowasitwastoRuth,forRichardhadtosubmittothemockerywithwhichthetownrakelashedhisgodlybearingandalteredways。Morethanonceingustsofsuddenvalourtheboyurgedhissistertopermithimtodrivethebaronetfromthehouseandlethimdohisworst。ButRuth,afraidforRichard,badehimwaituntilthetimesweremoresettled。Whentheroyalvengeancehadslakeditslustforblooditmightmatterlittle,perhaps,whattalesSirRowlandmightelecttocarry。
AndsoSirRowlandremainedandwaited。Heassuredhimselfthatheknewhowtobepatient,andcongratulatedhimselfuponthatcircumstance。
Wildingdead,alittletimemustnowsufficetobluntthesharpedgeofhiswidow\'sgrief;lethimbutawaitthattime,andtherestshouldbeeasy,thebattlehis。WithRichardhedidnotsomuchastroublehimselftoreckon。
Thushedetermined,andthusnodoubthewouldhaveactedbutforanunforeseencontingency。Amiserable,paltrycreditorhadsmokedhimoutinhisSomersetretreat,andgotalettertohimfullofdarkhintsofadebtor\'sgaol。Thefellow\'snamewasSwiney,andSirRowlandknewhimforfierceandpertinaciouswhereadefaultingcreditorwasconcerned。
Oneonlycourseremainedhim:toforcematterswithWilding\'swidow。
Fordaysherefrained,fearingthatprecipitancymightlosehimall;itwashiswishtodothethingwithouttoomuchcoercion;some,hewasnotcoxcombenoughtothink—coxcombthoughhewas—mightbedispensedwith。
AtlastoneSundayeveninghedecidedtobedonewithdallying,andtobringRuthbetweenthehammerandtheanvilofhiswill。ItwasthelastSundayinJuly,exactlythreeweeksafterSedgemoor,andtheoddcoincidenceofhishavingchosensuchadayandhouryoushallappreciateanon。
Theywereonthelawntakingthecooloftheeveningafteranoppressivelyhotday。Bythestoneseat,nowoccupiedbyLadyHortonandDiana,Richardlayontheswardattheirfeetintalkwiththem,andtheirtalkwasofSirRowland。Diana—gallinhersoultoseethebaronetbywayofgainingyethisends—chidRichardinstrongtermsforhisweaknessinsubmittingtoBlake\'sconstantpresenceatLuptonHouse。AndRichardmeeklytookherchidingandpromisedthat,ifRuthwouldbutsanctionit,thingsshouldbechangeduponthemorrow。
SirRowland,allunconscious—reckless,indeed—ofthis,saunteredwithRuthsomelittledistancefromthem,havingcontrivedadroitlytodrawheraside。Hebrokeaspellofsilencewithadoloroussigh。
\"Ruth,\"saidhepensively,\"ImindmeofthelasteveningonwhichyouandIwalkedherealone。\"
Sheflashedhimaglanceoffearandaversion,andstoodstill。Underhisbrowhewatchedthequickheaveofherbosom,thesuddenflowandabidingebbofbloodinherface—grownnowsothinandwistful—andherealizedthatbeforehimlaynoeasytask。Hesethisteethforbattle。
\"Willyouneverhaveakindnessforme,Ruth？\"hesighed。
Sheturnedabout,herintenttojointheothers,adullangerinhersoul。Hesatahanduponherarm。\"Wait！\"saidhe,andthetoneinwhichheutteredthatonewordkeptherbesidehim。Hismannerchangedalittle。\"Iamtiredofthis,\"saidhe。
\"Why,soamI,\"sheansweredbitterly。
\"Sinceweareagreedsofar,letusagreetoendit。\"
\"ItisallIask。\"
\"Yes,but—alas！—inadifferentway。Listennow。\"
\"Iwillnotlisten。Letmego。
\"IwereyourenemydidIdoso,foryouwouldknowhereafterasorrowandrepentanceforwhichnothingshortofdeathcouldofferyouescape。
Richardisundersuspicion。\"
\"Doyouharkbacktothat？\"Thescornofhervoicewasdeadly。Haditbeenherselfhedesired,surelythattonehadquenchedallpassioninhim,orelsetransformeditintohatred。ButBlakewasplayingforafortune,forshelterfromadebtor\'sprison。
\"Ithasbecomeknown,\"hecontinued,\"thatRichardwasoneoftheearlyplotterswhopavedthewayforMonmouth\'scoming。Ithinkthatthat,inconjunctionwithhisbetrayalofhistrustthatnightatNewlington\'s,therebycausingthedeathofsometwentygallantfellowsofKingJames\'s,willbeenoughtohanghim。\"
Herhandclutchedatherheart。\"Whatis\'tyouseek？\"shecried。Itwasalmostamoan。\"Whatis\'tyouwantofme？\"
\"Yourself,\"saidhe。\"Iloveyou,Ruth,\"headded,andsteppedcloseuptoher。
\"0God！\"shecriedaloud。\"HadIamanathandtokillyouforthatinsult！\"
Andthen—miracleofmiracles！—avoicefromtheshrubsbywhichtheystoodboretoherearsthestartlingwordsthattoldherherprayerwasansweredthereandthen。
\"Madam,thatmanishere。\"
Shestoodfrozen。NotmoreofastatuewasLot\'swifeinthemomentoflookingbehindherthanshewhodarednotlookbehind。Thatvoice！A
voicefromthedead,avoiceshehadheardforthelasttimeinthecottagethatwasFeversham\'slodgingatWestonZoyland。HerwildeyesfelluponSirRowland\'sface。Itshowedlivid;thenether—lipsuckedinandcaughtinthestrongteeth,asiftopreventanoutcry;theeyeswildwithfright。Whatdiditmean？Byaneffortshewrenchedherselfroundatlast,andascreambrokefromhertorouseheraunt,hercousin,andherbrother,andbringthemhasteningtowardsheracrossthesweepoflawn。
Beforeher,ontheedgeoftheshrubbery,agreyfigurestooderectandgraceful,andtheface,withitsthinlipsfaintlysmiling,itsdarkeyesg1eaming,wasthefaceofAnthonyWilding。Andasshestaredhemovedforward,andsheheardthefallofhisfootupontheturf,theclinkofhisspurs,theswishofhisscabbardagainsttheshrubs,andreasontoldherthatthiswasnoghost。
Sheheldoutherarmstohim。\"Anthony！Anthony！\"Shestaggeredforward,andhewasnomorethanintimetocatchherassheswayed。
Heheldherfastagainsth:mandkissedherbrow。\"Sweet,\"hesaid,\"forgivemethatIfrightenedyou。Icamebytheorchardgate,andmycomingwassotimelythatIcouldnotholdinmyanswertoyourcry。\"
Hereyelidsfluttered,shedrewalongsighingbreath,andnestledclosertohim。\"Anthony！\"shemurmuredagain,andreachedupahandtostrokehisface,tofeelthatitwastrulylivingflesh。
AndSirRowland,realizing,too,bynowthatherewasnoghost,recoveredhislostcourage。Heputahandtohissword,thenwithdrewit,leavingtheweaponsheathed。Herewasahangman\'sjob,notaswordsman\'s,heopined—andwisely,forhehadhadearlierexperienceofMr。Wilding\'splayofsteel。
Headvancedastep。\"0fool！\"hesnarled。\"Thehangmanwaitsforyou。\"
\"Andacreditorforyou,SirRowland,\"camethevoiceofMr。Trenchard,whonowpushedforwardthroughthosesameshrubsthathadmaskedhisfriend\'sapproach。\"AMr。Swiney。`TwasIsenthimfromtown。He\'slodgedattheBull,andbellowslikeonewhenhespeaksofwhatyouowehim。Therearethreemessengerswithhim,andtheytellofadebtor\'sgaolforyou,sweetheart。\"
AspasmoffurycrossedthefaceofBlake。\"Theymayhaveme,andwelcome,whenI\'vetoldmytale,\"saidhe。\"LetmebuttellofAnthonyWilding\'slurkinghere,andnotonlyAnthonyWilding,butalltherestofyouaredoomedforharbouringhim。Youknowthelaw,Ithink,\"hemockedthem,forLadyHorton,Diana,andRichard,whohadcomeup,stoodnowapaceorsoawayindeepestwonder。\"Youshallknowitbetterbeforethenightisout,andbetterstillbeforenextSunday\'scome。\"
\"Tush！\"saidTrenchard,andquoted,\"`There\'snonebutAnthonymayconquerAnthony。\'\"
\"`Tisclear,\"saidWilding,\"youtakemeforarebel。Anoddmistake！
Foritchances,SirRowland,thatyoubeholdinmeanaccreditedservantoftheSecretaryofState。\"
Blakestared,thenfellapreytoironiclaughter。Hewouldhavespoken,butMr。Wildingpluckedapaperfromhispocket,andhandedittoTrenchard。
\"Showithim,\"saidhe,andBlake\'sfacegrewwhiteagainashereadthelinesaboveSunderland\'ssignatureandobservedthesealsofoffice。HelookedfromthepapertothehatedsmilingfaceofMr。Wilding。
\"Youwereaspy？\"hesaid,histonemakingaquestionoftheodiousstatement。\"Adirtyspy？\"
\"Yourincredulityisflattering,atleast,\"saidWildingpleasantlyasherepocketedtheparchment,\"anditleadsyouintherightdirection。
Ineitherwasnoramaspy。\"
\"Thatpaperprovesit！\"criedBlakecontemptuously。Havingbeenaspyhimself,\'hewasagoodjudgeofthevilenessoftheoffice。
\"Seetomywife,Nick,\"saidWildingsharply,andmadeasiftotransferhertothecareofhisfriend。
\"Nay,\"saidTrenchard,\"`tisyourowndutythat。Letmedischargetheotherforyou。\"AndhesteppeduptoBlakeandtappedhimbrisklyontheshoulder。\"SirRowland,\"saidhe,\"you\'reaknave。\"SirRowlandstaredathim。\"You\'reafoulthing—amuckworm—SirRowland,\"addedTrenchardamiably,\"andyou\'vebeendiscourteoustoalady,forwhichmayHeavenforgiveyou—Ican\'t。\"
\"Standaside,\"Blakebadehim,hoarsewithpassion,blindtoallrisks。
\"MyaffairiswithMr。Wilding。\"
\"Aye,\"saidTrenchard,\"butmineiswithyou。Ifyousurviveit,youcansettlewhatotheraffairsyouplease—including,belike,yourbusinesswithMr。Swiney。\"
\"Notso,Nick,\"saidWildingsuddenly,andturnedtoRichard。\"Here,Richard！Takeher,\"hebadehisbrother—in—law。
\"Anthony,youdamnedshirk—duty,seetoyourwife。Leavemetomyowndiversions。SirRowland,\"heremindedthebaronet,\"Ihavecalledyouaknaveandafoulthing,andfaith！ifyouwantitproven,youneedbutstepdowntheorchardwithme。\"
HesawhesitationlingeringinSirRowland\'sface,andheuncurledthelastofthewhiphecarried。\"I\'dgrievetodoaviolentthingbeforetheladies,\"hemurmureddeprecatingly。\"I\'dneverrespectmyselfagainifIhadtodriveagentlemanofyourqualitytothegroundofhonourwithahorsewhip。But,asGod\'smylife,ifyoudon\'tgowillinglythisinstant,`tiswhatwillhappen。\"
Richard\'snewbornrighteousnesspromptedhimtointerfere,toseektoavertthisthreatenedbloodshed;hishumanityurgedhimtoletmattersbe,andhishumanityprevailed。Dianawatchedthisforeshadowingoftragedywithtightlips,palecheeks。Justicewastobedoneatlast,itseemed,andasherfrightenedeyefelluponSirRowlandsheknewnotwhethertoexultorweep。Hermother—understandingnothing—
pliedhermeanwhilewithwhisperedquestions。
AsforSirRowland,helookedintotheoldrake\'seyesagleamwithwickedmirth,andragewelleduptochokehim。Hemustkillthisman。
\"Come,\"saidhe。\"I\'llseetoyourfinefriendWildingafterwards。\"
\"Excellent,\"saidTrenchard,andledthewaythroughtheshrubberytotheorchard。
Ruth,reviving,lookedup。HerglancemetMr。Wilding\'s;itquickenedintounderstanding,andshestirred。\"Isittrue？Isitreallytrue？\"
shecried。\"Iambeingtorturedbythisdreamagain！\"
\"Nay,sweet,itistrue;itistrue。Iamhere。Say,shallIstay？\"
Sheclungtohimforanswer。\"Andyouareinnodanger？\"
\"Innone,sweet。IamMr。WildingofZoylandChase,freetocomeandgoasbestshallseemtome。Hebeggedtheotherstoleavethemalittlewhile,andheledhertothestoneseatbytheriver。Hesetherathissidethereandtoldherthestoryofhisescapefromthefiring—party,andoftheinspirationthathadcometohimonthemorrowtomakeuseoftheletterinhisbootwhichSunderlandhadgivenhimforMonmouthinthehourofpanic。Monmouth\'scavaliertreatmentofhimwhenhehadarrivedinBridgwaterhadprecludedhisdeliveringthatletteratthecouncil。Therewasneveranotheropportunity,nordidheagainthinkofthepackageinthestressfulhoursthatfollowed。Itwasnotuntilthefollowingmorningthathesuddenlyremembereditlayundelivered,andbethoughthimthatitmightproveaweapontowinhimdeliveryfromthedangersthatencompassedhim。
\"Itwasaslenderchance,\"hetoldher,\"butIemployedit。IwaitedinLondon,inhiding,closeuponafortnightereIhadanopportunityofseeingSunderland。Helaughedmetoscornatfirst,andthreatenedmewiththeTower。ButItoldhimtheletterwasinsafehandsandwouldremainthereinearnestofhisgoodbehaviour,andthatdidhehavemearresteditwouldinstantlybelaidbeforetheKingandbringhisownheadtotheblockmoresurelyeventhanmyown。Itfrightenedhim;butithadscarcelydoneso,sweet,hadheknownthatthatpreciousletterwasstillinmyboot,formybootwasonmyleg,andmylegwasintheroomwiththerestofme。
\"Hesurrenderedatlast,andgavemepapersprovingthatTrenchardandI—forIstipulatedforoldNick\'ssafetytoo—wereHisMajesty\'saccreditedagentsintheWest。Iloathedthetitle。But……\"—hespreadhishandsandsmiled—\"itwasthatorwidowingyou。\"
Shetookhisfaceinherhandsandstrokeditfondly,andtheysatthusuntiladrycoughbehindthemrousedthemfromtheirjoyoussilence。Mr。Trenchardwassaunteringtowardsthem,hislefteyetuckedfartherunderhishatthanusual,hishandsbehindhim。
\"`Tisathirstyevening,\"heinformedthem。
\"Go,tellRichardso,\"saidWilding,whoknewnaughtofRichard\'salteredways。
\"I\'vethoughtofit;buthaplyhe\'ssensitiveonthescoreofdrinkingwithmeagain。Hehasdoneittwicetohisundoing。\"
\"He\'lldoitathirdtime,nodoubt,\"saidMr。Wildingcurtly,andTrenchard,takingthehint,turnedwithashrug,andwentupthelawntowardsthehouse。HefoundRichardintheporch,wherehehadlingeredfearfully,waitingfornews。AtsightofMr。Trenchard\'sgrim,weather—beatencountenancehecameforwardsuddenly。
\"Howhasitsped？\"heasked,hislipstwitchingonthewords。
\"Yondertheysit,\"saidTrenchard,pointingdownthelawn。
\"No,no。Imean……SirRowland。\"
\"Oh,SirRowland？\"criedtheoldsinner,asthoughSirRowlandweresomematterlongforgotten。Hesighed。\"Alas,poorSwiney！IfearI\'vecheatedhim。\"
\"Youmean？\"
\"Artslowatinference,Dick。SirRowlandhaspassedawayintheodourofvillainy。\"
Richardclaspednervoushandstogetherandraisedhiscolourlesseyestoheaven。
\"MaytheLordhavemercyonhissoul！\"saidhe。
\"MayHe,indeed！\"saidTrenchard,whenhehadrecoveredfromhissurprise。\"But,\"headdedpessimistically,\"Idoubttherogue\'sinhell。\"
Richard\'seyeskindledsuddenly,andhequotedfromthethirtiethPsalm,\"`Iwillextolthee,0Lord;forThouhastliftedmeup,andhastnotmademyfoestorejoiceoverme。\'\"
Dumbfounded,wondering,indeed,wasWestmacott\'smindunhinged,Trenchardscannedhimnarrowly。Richardcaughttheglanceandmisinterpreteditforoneofreproof。Hebethoughthimthathisjoywasunrighteous。Hestifledit,andforcedhislipstosigh\"PoorBlake！\"
\"Poor,indeed！\"quothTrenchard,andadaptedarememberedlineofhisplay—actingdaystosuitthecase。\"Thetearsliveinanonionthatshallwaterhisgrave。Though,perhaps,IamforgettingSwiney。\"Then,inabriskertone,\"Come,Richard。WhatlikeisthemuscadineyoukeepatLuptonHouse？\"
\"Ihaveabjuredallwine,\"saidRichard。
\"Aplagueyouhave！\"quothTrenchard,understandinglessandless。
\"HaveyouturnedMussuman,perchance？\"
\"No,\"answeredRichardsternly;\"Christian。\"
Trenchardhesitated,rubbinghisnosethoughtfully。\"Hum,\"saidheatlength。\"Peacebewithyou,then。I\'llleaveyouheretobaythemoontoyourheart\'scontent。PerhapsJasperwillknowwheretofindmeabrain—wash。\"Andwithafinalsuspicious,wonderinglookatthewhilombibber,hepassedintothehouse,muchexercisedonthescoreofthesanityofthisfamilyintowhichhisfriendAnthonyhadmarried。
Outside,thetwilightshadowsweredeepening。
\"Shallwehome,sweet？\"whisperedMr。Wilding。Theshadowsbefriendedher,aveilforhersuddenconfusion。Shebreathedsomethingthatseemednomorethanasigh,thoughmoreitseemedtoAnthonyWilding。