Fevershamstoodlistening。"ItisDunbarton's,"hemurmured。Then,withsomeshowofheat,"Ah,pardieu！"hecried。"Butitwasadirtyt'ingt'isMonmoot'`aveprepare'。Itismurder;itisnott'ewar。
　　"Andyet,"saidWildingcritically,"itisalittlemorelikewarthantheBridgwateraffairtowhichyourlordshipgaveyoursanction。
　　Fevershampursedhislipsandconsideredthespeaker。Wentworthreentered,followedbytheEarl'svaletcarryinganarmfulofgarments。
　　Hislordshipthrewoffhisdressing—gownandstoodforthinshirtandbreeches。
　　"Maisdpche—toi,donc,Belmont！"saidhe。"Nousnousbattons！Iifautquejem'habille。"Belmont,alittlewizenedfellowwhounderstoodnothingofthistopsy—turveydom,hastenedforward,depositedhisarmfulonthetable,andselectedafinelyembroideredwaistcoat,whichheproceededtoholdforhismaster。Wrigglingintoit,Fevershamrappedouthisorders。
　　"CaptainWentwort',youwillgotoyourregimenatonce。Butfirst,ah—wait。Taket'osesixmenandMistaireWilding。`Ave`imshotatonce;youonderstan',eh？Good。Allons,Belmont！mycravat。"
　　CHAPTERXXII
　　THEEXECUTION
　　CaptainWentworthclickedhisheelstogetherandsaluted。Blake,inthebackground,drewadeepbreath—unmistakablyofsatisfaction,andhiseyesglittered。AmuffledcrybrokefromRuth,whoroseinstantlyfromherchair,herhandonherbosom。Richardstoodwithfallenjaw,amazed,atrifletroubledeven,whilstMr。Wildingstartedmoreinsurprisethanactualfear,andapproachedthetable。
　　"Youheard,sir,"saidCaptainWentworth。
　　"Iheard,"answeredMr。Wildingquietly。"Butsurelynotaright。Onemoment,sir,"andhewavedhishandsocompellinglythat,despitetheorderhehadreceived,thephlegmaticcaptainhesitated。
　　Feversham,whohadtakenthecravat—ayardofpricelessDutchlace—
　　fromthehandsofhisvalet,andwasstandingwithhisbacktothecompanyatasmallandveryfaultymirrorthathungbytheovermantel,lookedpeevishlyoverhisshoulder。
　　"Mylord,"saidWilding,andBlake,forallhishatredofthisman,marvelledatacomposurethatdidnotforsakehimevennow,"youaresurelynotproposingtodealwithmeinthisfashion—notseriously,mylord？"
　　"Ah,ca！"saidtheFrenchman。"T'inkitajestifyouplease。Whatforyoucome`ere？"
　　"Assuredlynotforthepurposeofbeingshot,"saidWilding,andactuallysmiled。Then,inthetonesofonediscussingamatterthatisgravebutnotofsurpassinggravity,hecontinued:"ItisnotthatI
　　failtorecognizethatImayseemtohaveincurredtherigourofthelaw;butthesemattersmustbeformallyprovedagainstme。Ihaveaffairstosetinorderagainstsuchaconsummation。"
　　"Ta,ta！"snappedFeversham。"T'atnotregardme。Weutwort',you`ave`eardmyorder。"Andhereturnedtohismirrorandtheniceadjustmentofhisneckwear。
　　"But,mylord,"insistedWilding,"youhavenottheright—youhavenotthepowersotoproceedagainstme。Amanofmyqualityisnottobeshotwithoutatrial。"
　　"Youcan`angifyouprefer,"saidFevershamindifferently,drawingouttheendsofhiscravatandsmoothingthemdownuponhisbreast。Hefacedaboutbriskly。"Givemet'atcoat,Belmont。HisMajesty`aveempowermeto`angorshootanygentlemensoft'epartieoft'eDuct'eMonmoot'ont'espot。Isayt'atforyoursatisfaction。Andlook,I
　　amdesolate'tobesoquickwit'you,butpleasetoconsidert'ecircumstance。T'eenemygotoattack。Wentwort'mustgotohisregimen',andmyot'erofficersarealloccupi'。Youcomprehen'I`avenott'etimetospareyou—n'est—ce—pas？"—Wentworth'shandtouchedWildingontheshoulder。Hewasstandingwithheadslightlybowed,hisbrowsknitinthought。Helookedroundatthetouch,sighedandsmiled。
　　Belmontheldthecoatforhismaster,whoslippedintoit,andflungatWildingwhatwasintendedforaconsolatorysop。"Itisfortunedeguerre,MistaireWilding。Iamdesolate';butitisfortuneoft'ewar。"
　　"Mayitbelessfortunateforyourlordship,then,"saidWildingdryly,andwasonthepointofturning,whenRuth'svoicecameinaloudcrytostartlehimandtoquickenhispulses。
　　"Mylord！"Itwasacryofutteranguish。
　　Feversham,settlinghisgold—lacedcoatcomfortablytohisfigure,lookedather。"Madame？"saidhe。
　　Butshehadnothingtosay。Shestood,deathlywhite,slightlybentforward,onehandwringingtheother,hereyesalmostwild,herbosomheavingfrantically。
　　"Hum！"saidFeversham,andheloosenedandremovedthescarffromhishead。HeshruggedslightlyandlookedatWentworth。"Finissons！"
　　saidhe。
　　ThewordandthelooksnappedthetrammelsthatboundRuth'sspeech。
　　"Fiveminutes,mylord！"shecriedimploringly。"Givehimfiveminutes—andme,mylord！"
　　Wilding,deeplyshaken,tremblednowasheawaitedFeversham'sreply。
　　TheFrenchmanseemedtowaver。"Bien,"hebegan,spreadinghishands。
　　Andinthatmomentashotrangoutinthenightandstartledthewholecompany。Fevershamthrewbackhishead;thesignsofyieldinglefthisface。"Ha！"hecried。"T'eyarearrive。Hesnatchedhiswigfromhislacquey'shands,donnedit,andturnedagainaninstanttothemirrortoadjustthegreatcurls。"Quick,Wentwort'！T'ereisnomoretimenow。MakeMistaireWildingbeshotatonce。T'entoyourregimen'。"
　　Hefacedaboutandtooktheswordhisvaletproffered。"Aurevoir,messieurs！
　　Serviteur,madame！"And,bucklinghissword—beltashewent,hesweptout,leavingthedoorwideopen,Belmontfollowing,Wentworthsalutingandtheguardspresentingarms。
　　"Come,sir,"saidthecaptaininasubduedvoice,hiseyesavoidingRuth'sface。
　　"Iamready,"answeredWildingfirmly,andheturnedtoglanceathiswife。
　　Shewasbendingtowardshim,herhandsheldout,suchalookonherfaceasalmostdrovehimmadwithdespair,readingitashedid。Hemadeasounddeepinhisthroatbeforehefoundwords。
　　"Givemeoneminute,sir—oneminute,"hebeggedWentworth。"Iasknomorethanthat。"
　　Wentworthwasagentlemanandnotill—natured。Buthewasasoldierandhadreceivedhisorders。Hehesitatedbetweentheinstinctsofthetwoconditions。Andwhattimehedidsotherecameaclatterofhoofswithouttoresolvehim。ItwasFevershamdeparting。
　　"Youshallhaveyourminute,sir,"saidhe。"MoreIdarenotgiveyou,asyoucansee。
　　"FrommyheartIthankyou,"answeredMr。Wilding,andfromthegratitudeofhistoneyoumighthaveinferredthatitwashislifeWentworthhadaccordedhim。
　　Thecaptainhadalreadyturnedasidetoaddresshismen。"Twoofyououtside,guardthatwindow,"heordered。"Therestofyou,inthepassage。Bestirthere！"
　　"Takeyourprecautions,byallmeans,sir,"saidWilding;"butIgiveyoumywordofhonourIshallattemptnoescape。
　　Wentworthnoddedwithoutreplying。HiseyelightedonBlake—whohadbeenseeminglyforgottenintheconfusion—andonRichard。A
　　kindlinessforthemanwhomethisendsounflinchingly,arespectforsoworthyanemeny,actuatedthered—facedcaptain。
　　"Youhadbettertakeyourselfoff,SirRowland,"saidhe。"Andyou,Mr。Westmacott—youcanwaitinthepassagewithmymen。
　　Theyobeyedhimpromptlyenough,butwhenoutsideSirRowlandmadeboldtoremindthecaptainthathewasfailinginhisduty,andthatheshouldmakeapointofinformingtheGeneralofthisanon。Wentworthbadehimgotothedevil,andsowasridofhim。
　　Alone,insidethatlow—ceilingedchamber,stoodRuthandWildingfacetoface。Headvancedtowardsher,andwithashudderingsobsheflungherselfintohisarms。Still,hemistrustedtheemotiontowhichshewasaprey—dreadinglestitshouldhaveitsrootinpity。Hepattedhershouldersoothingly。
　　"Nay,nay,littlechild,"hewhisperedinherear。"Neverweepformethathavenotatearformyself。Whatbetterresolutionofthedifficultiesmyfollyhascreated？"Foronlyanswersheclungcloser,herhandslockedabouthisneck,herslenderbodyshakenbyhersilentweeping。"Don'tpityme,"hebesoughther。"Iamcontentitshouldbeso。ItistheamendIpromisedyou。Wastenopityonme,Ruth。"
　　Sheraisedherface,hereyeswildandblurredwithtears,lookeduptohis。
　　"Itisnotpity！"shecried。"Iwantyou,Anthony！Iloveyou,Anthony,Anthony！"
　　Hisfacegrewashen。"Itistrue,then！"heaskedher。"Andwhatyousaidto—nightwastrue！Ithoughtyousaiditonlytodetainme。"
　　"Oh,itistrue,itistrue！"shewailed。
　　Hesighed;hedisengagedahandtostrokeherface。"Iamhappy,"hesaid,andstrovetosmile。"HadIlived,whoknows……？"
　　"No,no,no,"sheinterruptedhimpassionately,herarmstighteningabouthisneck。Hebenthishead。Theirlipsmetandclung。Aknockfelluponthedoor。Theystarted,andWildingraisedhishandsgentlytodisengageherpinioningarms。
　　"Imustgo,sweet,"hesaid。
　　"Godhelpme！"shemoaned,andclungtohimstill。"ItisIwhoamkillingyou—Iandyourloveforme。Foritwastosavemeyourodehitherto—night,neverpausingtoweighyourowndeadlydanger。Oh,Iampunishedforhavinglistenedtoeveryvoicebutthevoiceofmyownheartwhereyouwereconcerned。HadIlovedyouearlier—hadI
　　owneditearlier……"
　　"Ithadstillbeentoolate,"hesaid,moretocomfortherthanbecauseheknewittobeso。"Bebraveformysake,Ruth。Youcanbebrave,I
　　know—sowell。Listen,sweet。Yourwordshavemademehappy。Marnotthishappinessofminebysendingmeoutingriefatyourgrief。"
　　Herresponsetohisprayerwasbrave,indeed。Throughhertearscameafaintsmiletooverspreadherfacesowhiteandpitiful。
　　"Weshallmeetsoonagain,"shesaid。
　　"Aye—thinkonthat,"hebadeher,andpressedhertohim。"Good—bye,sweet！Godkeepyoutillwemeet！"headded,hisvoiceinfinitelytender。
　　"Mr。Wilding！"Wentworth'svoicecalledhim,andthecaptainthrustthedooropenafootorso。"Mr。Wilding！"
　　"Iamcoming,"heansweredsteadily。Hekissedheragain,andonthatkissofhisshesankagainsthim,andhefeltherturnalllimp。Heraisedhisvoice。"Richard！"heshoutedwildly。"Richard！"
　　Atthenoteofalarminhisvoice,Wentworthflungwidethedoorandentered,Richard'sashenfaceshowingoverhisshoulder。Inherbrother'scareWildingdeliveredhismercifullyunconsciouswife。
　　"Seetoher,Dick,"hesaid,andturnedtogo,mistrustinghimselfnow。
　　Buthepausedashereachedthedoor,Wentworthwaxingmoreandmoreimpatientathiselbow。Heturnedagain。
　　"Dick,"hesaid,"wemighthavebeenbetterfriends。Iwouldwehadbeen。Letuspartsoatleast,"andheheldouthishand,smiling。
　　BeforesomuchgallantryRichardwasconqueredalmosttothepointofworship;aweakmanhimself,therewasnovirtuehecouldmoreadmirethanstrength。HeleftRuthinthehigh—backedchairinwhichWilding'stenderhandshadplacedher,andsprangforward,tearsinhiseyes。HewrungWilding'shandsinwordlesspassion。
　　"Begoodtoher,Dick,"saidWilding,andwentoutwithWentworth。
　　HewasmarcheddownthestreetinthecentreofthatsmallpartyofmusketeersofDunbarton'sregiment,histhoughtsallbehindhimratherthanahead,asmileonhislips。Hehadconqueredatthelast。Hethoughtofthatotherpartingoftheirs,nearlyamonthago,ontheroadbyWalford。Now,asthen,circumstancewasthefirethathadmeltedher。Butthecruciblewasnolonger—asthenofpity;itwasthecrucibleoflove。
　　Andinthatsamecrucible,too,AnthonyWilding'snaturehadundergoneatransmutation;hisloveforRuthhadbeenpurifiedofthatbasealloyofdesirewhichhaddrivenhimintotheunworthinessofmakingherhisownatallcosts;therewasnocarnalgrossnessinhispresentpassion;
　　itwaspureasareligion—thelovethattakesnoaccountofself,thelovethatmakesforjoyousandgratefulmartyrdom。AndajoyousandgratefulmartyrwouldAnthonyWildinghavebeencouldhehavethoughtthathisdeathwouldbringherhappinessorpeace。Insuchafaithasthathehadmarched—orsohethoughtblithelytohisend,andthesmileonhislipshadbeenlesswistfulthanitwas。Thinkingoftheagonyinwhichhehadlefther,healmostcametowish—sopurewashislovegrown—thathehadnotconquered。Thejoythatatfirstwashiswasnowalldashed。Hisdeathwouldcauseherpain。Hisdeath！0God！
　　Itisaneasythingtobeamartyr;butthiswasnotmartyrdom;havingdonewhathehaddonehehadnottherighttodie。Thelastvestigeofthesmilethathehadwornfadedfromhistight—pressedlipstight—pressedasthoughtoenduresomephysicalsuffering。Hisfacegreyed,anddeeplinesfurrowedhisbrow。Thushemarchedon,mechanically,amidhismarchingescort,throughthemurky,fog—ladennight,takingnoheedofthestiraboutthem,forallWestonZoylandwasarousedbynow。
　　Aheadofthem,andovertotheeast,thefiringblazedandcrackled,volleyuponvolley,totellthemthatalreadybattlehadbeenjoinedinearnest。Monmouth'ssurprisehadaborted,anditpassedthroughWilding'smindthattoagreatextenthewastoblameforthis。Butitgavehimlittlecare。
　　AtleasthisindiscretionhadservedthepurposeofrescuingRuthfromLordFeversham'suncleanclutches。Fortherest,knowingthatMonmouth'sarmybyfaroutnumberedFeversham's,hehadnodoubtthattheadvantagemuststillliewiththeDuke,inspiteofFeversham'shavingbeenwarnedintheeleventhhour。
　　Loudergrewthesoundsofbattle。Abovethedinoffiringaswellingchorusroseuponthenight,startlingandweirdinsuchatimeandplace。Monmouth'spiousinfantrywentintoactionsinginghymns,andWentworth,impatienttobeathispost,badehismengofaster。
　　Thenightwasbynowgrowingfaintlyluminous,andthedeathlygreylightofapproachingdawnhunginthemistsuponthemoor。Objectsgrewvisibleinbulkatleast,ifnotinformandshape,bythetimethelittlecompanyhadreachedtheendofWestonvillageandcomeuponthedeepmuddykewhichhadbeenWentworth'sobjective—aditchthatcommunicatedwiththegreatrhinethatservedtheKing'sforcessowellonthatnightofSedgemoor。
　　WithinsometwentypacesofthisWentworthcalledahalt,andwouldhavehadWilding'shandspinionedbehindhim,andhiseyesblindfolded,butthatWildingbeggedhimthismightnotbedone。Wentworthwas,asweknow,impatient;andbetweenimpatienceandkindliness,perhaps,heaccededtoWilding'sprayer。
　　Heevenhesitatedamomentatthelast。Itwasinhismindtospeaksomewordofcomforttothedoomedman。Thenasuddenvolley,moreterrificthananythathadprecededit,followedbyhoarsecheeringawaytoeastward,quickenedhisimpatience。HebadethesergeantleadMr。Wildingforwardandstandhimontheedgeoftheditch。Hisobjectwasthatthustheman'sbodywouldbedisposedofwithoutwasteoftime。ThisWildingrealized,hissoulrebellingagainstthisfatewhichhadcomeuponhimintheveryhourwhenhemostdesiredtolive。
　　Madthoughtsofescapecrossedhismind—ofaleapacrossthedyke,andawilddashthroughthefog。Butthefutilityofitwastooappalling。Themusketeerswerealreadyblowingtheirmatches。Hewouldsuffertheignominyofbeingshotintheback,likeacoward,ifhemadeanysuchattempt。
　　Andso,despairingbutnotresigned,hetookhisstandontheveryedgeoftheditch。Inanironyofobligingnesshesethalfofhisheelsovertheyoid,sothathewasnicelybalancedupontheedgeofthecutting,andmustgobackwardsanddownintothemudwhenhit。
　　Itwasthispositionhehadtakenthatgavehimaninspirationinthatlastmoment。Thesergeanthadmovedawayoutofthelineoffire,andhestoodtherealone,waiting,erectandwithhisheadheldhigh,hiseyesuponthegreymassofmusketeers—blurredalikebymistandsemi—darkness—sometwentypacesdistantalongthelineofwhichglowedeightredfuses。
　　Wentworth'svoicerangoutwiththewordsofcommand。
　　"Blowyourmatches！"
　　Brightergleamedthepointsoflight,andundertheirsteelpotsthefacesofthemusketeers,suffusedbyadullredglow,sprangforamomentoutofthegreymass,tofadeoncemoreintothegeneralgreynessattheword,"Cockyourmatches！"
　　"Guardyourpans！"cameasecondlaterthecaptain'svoice,andthen:
　　"Present！"
　　Therewasastirandrattle,andthedark,indistinctfigurestandingonthelipoftheditchwascoveredbytheeightmuskets。Totheeyesofthefiring—partyhewasnomorethanablurredshadowyform,showingalittledarkerthantheencompassingdarkgrey。
　　"Givefire！"
　　OnthewordMr。Wildinglostthedelicate,precariousbalancehehadbeensustainingontheedgeoftheditch,andwentoverbackwards,attheimminentrisk—asheafterwardsrelated—ofbreakinghisneck。
　　Atthesameinstantajagged,eight—pointedlineofflameslashedthedarkness,andthethunderofthevolleypealedforthtoloseitselfinthegreaterdinofbattleonPenzoyPound,hardby。
　　CHAPTERXXIII
　　MR。WILDING'SBOOTS
　　Inthefilthoftheditch,Mr。Wildingrolledoverandlayprone。Hethrewouthisleftarm,andrestedhisbrowuponittokeephisfaceabovethemud。Hestrovetoholdhisbreath,notthathemightdissembledeath,butthathemightavoidbeingpoisonedbythefoulgasesthat,disturbedbyhisweight,bubbleduptochokehim。Hisbodyhalfsankandsettledinthemud,andseenfromabove,ashewaspresentlyseenbyWentworth—whoranforwardwiththesergeant'slanthorntoassurehimselfthattheworkhadbeenwelldone—hehadalltheairofbeingnotonlydeadbutalreadyhalfburied。
　　Andnow,forasecond,Mr。Wildingwasinhisgreatestdanger,andthisfromtheveryhumanenessofthesergeant。Thefellowadvancedtothecaptain'sside,apistolinhishand。Wentworthheldthelightaloftandpeereddownintothatsixfeetofblacknessatthejacentfigure。
　　"ShallIgivehimanounceofleadtomakesure,Captain？"quoththesergeant。ButWentworth,inhisgreathaste,hadalreadyturnedabout,andthelightofhislanthornnolongerrevealedtheformofMr。Wilding。
　　"Thereisnottheneed。Theditchwilldowhatmayremaintobedone,ifanythingdoes。Comeon,man。Wearewantedyonder。"
　　Thelightpassed,stepsretreated,thesergeantmuttering,andthenWentworth'svoicewasheardbyWildingsomelittledistanceoff。
　　"Bringupyourmuskets！"
　　"Shoulder！"
　　"Bytheright—turn！March！"Andthetramp,trampoffeetrecededrapidly。
　　Wildingwasalreadysittingup,endeavouringtogetabreathofpurerair。Herosetohisfeet,sinkingalmosttothetopofhisbootsintheoozyslime。Foulgaseswerebelchedupto。envelophim。Heseizedatirregularitiesinthebank,andgothisheadabovetheleveloftheground。Hethrustforwardhischinandtookgreatgreedybreathsinaverygluttonyofair—andnevercameMuscadinesweetertoadrunkard'slips。Helaughedsoftlytohimself。Hewasaloneandsafe。Wentworthandhismenhaddisappeared。AwayinthedirectionofPenzoyPoundthesoundsofbattleswelledevertoagreatervolume。Cannonswereboomingnow,andallwasuproar—flameandshouting,cheeringandshrieking,thethunderofhasteningmultitudes,theclashofsteel,thepoundingofhorses,allblenttomakeupthehorriddinofcarnage。
　　Mr。Wildinglistened,andconsideredwhattodo。Hisfirstimpulsewastojointhefray。But,bethinkinghimthattherecouldbelittleplaceforhimintheconfusionthatmustprevailbynow,hereconsideredthematter,andhisthoughtsreturningtoRuth—thewifeforwhomhehadbeenatsuchpainstopreservehimselfontheverybrinkofdeath—heresolvedtoendangerhimselfnofurtherforthatnight。
　　Hedroppedbackintotheditch,andwaded,ankledeepinslime,totheotherside。Therehecrawledout,andgainingthemoorlaydownawhiletobreathehislungs。Butnotforlong。Thedawnwascreepingpaleandghostlyacrossthesolidearth,andafaintfreshbreezewasstirringanddrivingthemistinwispyshroudsbeforeit。IfhelingeredtherehemightyetbefoundbysomepartyofRoyalistsoldiers,andthatwouldbetoundoallthathehaddone。Herose,andstruckoutacrossthepeatyground。Noneknewthemoorsbetterthandidhe,andhadhebeenwithGrey'shorsethatnight,itispossiblethingshadfareddifferently,forhehadprovedasurerguidethandidGodfrey,thespy。
　　AtfirsthethoughtofmakingforBridgwaterandLuptonHouse。BynowRichardwouldbeonhiswaythitherwithRuth,andWildingwasinhastethatsheshouldbereassuredthathehadnotfallentothemusketsofWentworth'sfiring—party。ButBridgwaterwasfar,andhebegantorealize,nowthatallexcitementwaspast,thathewasutterlyexhausted。
　　NexthethoughtofScoresbyHallandhiscousinLordGervase。Buthewasbynomeanssurethathemightcountuponawelcome。GervasehadshownnosympathyforMonmouthorhispartisans,andwhilsthewouldhardlygosofarastorefuseMr。Wildingshelter,stillWildingfeltanaversiontoseekingwhatmightbegrudgedhim。Atlasthebethoughthimofhome。ZoylandChasewasnearathand;buthehadnotbeentheresincehiswedding—day,andinthemeantimeheknewthatithadbeenusedasabarrackforthemilitia,andhadnodoubtthatithadbeenwreckedandplundered。Still,itmusthavewallsandaroof,andthat,forthetime,wasallhecraved,thathemightrestawhileandrecuperatehiswastedforces。
　　Ahalf—hourlaterhedraggedhimselfwearilyuptheavenuebetweentheelms—lookingwhiteassnowinthepaleJulydawn—totheclearinginfrontofhishouse。
　　Desertionwasstampeduponthefaceofit。Shatteredwindowsandhangingshutterseverywhere。Howwantonlytheyhadwreckedit！Itmighthavebeenachurch,andthemilitiaaregimentofCromwell'siconoclasticPuritans。Thedoorwaslocked,butgoingroundhefoundawindow—oneofthedoor—windowsofhislibraryhanginglooseuponitshinges。Hepusheditwide,andenteredwithaheavyheart。
　　Instantlysomethingstirredinacorner;afiercegrowlwasfollowedbyafuriousbark,andalithebrownbodyleaptfromthegreaterintothelessershadowstoattacktheintruder。Butatonewordofhisthehoundcheckedsuddenly,crouchedaninstant,thenwithaqueer,throatysoundboundedforwardinawilddelightthatrobbeditontheinstantofitsvoice。Itfounditanonandleaptabouthim,barkingfuriousjoyinpiteofallhisvainendeavourstocalmit。Hegrewafraidlestthedogshoulddrawattention。Heknewnotwho—ifany—mightbeinpossessionofhishouse。Thelibrary,ashelookedround,showedasceneofwreckagethatexcellentlymatchedtheexterior。Notapictureonthewalls,notanarras,buthadbeenrenttoshreds。Thegreatlustrethathadhungfromthecentreoftheceilingwasgone。Disorderreignedalongthebookshelves,andyetthereandelsewheretherewasacertainorderliness,suggestinganattempttostraightenuptheplaceaftertheravagershaddeparted。Itwasthesesignsmadehimafraidthehousemightbetenantedbysuchasmightprovehisenemies。
　　"Down,Jack,"hesaidtothedogforthetwentiethtime,pattingitssleekhead。"Down,down！"
　　Butstillthedogboundedabouthim,barkingwildly。
　　"Sh！"hehissedsuddenly。Stepssoundedinthehall。Itwasashefeared。Thedoorwassuddenlythrownopen,andthegreymorninglightgleameduponthelongbarrelofamusket。Afterit,bearingit,enteredawhite—hairedoldman。
　　Hepausedonthethreshold,measuringthetalldisorderedstrangerwhostoodthere,hisfigureablacksilhouetteagainstthewindowbywhichhehadentered。
　　"Whatseekyouhere,sir,inthishouseofdesolation？"askedthevoiceofMr。Wilding'soldservant。
　　Heansweredbutoneword。"Walters！"
　　Themusketdroppedwithaclatterfromtheoldman'shands。Hesankbackagainstthedoorpostandleanedthereaninstant;then,whimperingandlaughing,hecametotteringforward—hisoldlegsfailinghiminthisexcessofunexpectedjoy—andsankonhiskneestokisshismaster'shand。
　　Wildingpattedtheoldhead,ashehadpattedthedog'salittlewhileago。Hewasoddlymoved;therewasaknotinhisthroat。Nohome—comingcouldwellhavebeenmoredesolate。Andyet,whathome—comingcouldhavebroughthimsuchatorturingjoyaswasnowhis？Oh,itisgoodtobeloved,ifitbebynomorethanadogandanoldservant！
　　InamomentWalterswashimselfagain。Hewasonhisfeet,scrutinizingWilding'shaggardfaceanddisordered,filthyclothes。Hebrokeintoexclamationsbetweendismayandreproach,buttheseWildinginterruptedtoasktheoldmanhowithappenedthathehadremained。
　　"MysonJohnwasasergeantinthetroopthatquartereditselfhere,sir,"Waltersexplained,"andsotheyleftmealone。Butevenhaditnotbeenforthat,Iscarcelythinktheywouldhaveharmedanoldman。