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。
第2章