Ashortstone's—throwfromwheretheyhadhaltedstoodacottagebackfromtheroadinalittleplotofground,thepropertyofakindlyoldwomanknowntoboth。ThereDianaexpressedthewishtorestawhile,andthithertheytooktheirway,Ruthleadingbothhorsesandsupportingherfalteringcousin。Thedamewasallsolicitude。Dianawasledintoherparlour,andwhatcouldbedonewasdone。Hercorsagewasloosened,waterdrawnfromthewellandbroughthertodrinkandbatheherbrow。
　　Shesatbacklanguidly,herheadlollingsidewaysagainstoneofthewingsofthegreatchair,andlanguidlyassuredthemshewouldbebettersoonifshewerebutallowedtorestawhile。Ruthdrewupastooltositbesideher,forallthathersoulfrettedatthisdelay。WhatifinconsequencesheshouldreachZoylandChasetoolate—tofindthaMr。Wildinghadgoneforthalready？Butevenasshewasabouttosit,itseemedthatthesamethoughthadofasuddencometoDiana。Thegirlleanedforward,thrusting—asifbyaneffort—someofherfaintnessfromher。
　　"Donotwaitforme,Ruth,"shebegged。
　　"Imust,child。"
　　"Youmustnot;"theotherinsisted。"Thinkwhatitmaymean—Richard'slife,perhaps。No,no,Ruth,dear。Goon;goontoZoyland。I'llfollowyouinafewminutes。"
　　"I'llwaitforyou,"saidRuthwithfirmness。
　　AtthatDianarose,andinrisingstaggered。"Thenwe'llpushonatonce,"shegasped,asifspeechitselfwereanexcruciatingeffort。
　　"Butyouareinnocasetostand！"saidRuth。"Sit,Diana,sit。"
　　"EitheryougoonaloneorIgowithyou,butgoatonceyoumust。AtanymomentMr。Wildingmaygoforth,andyourchanceislost。I'llnothaveRichard'sblooduponmyhead。"
　　Ruthwrungherhandsinherdismay,confrontedbyaparlouschoice。
　　ConsenttoDiana'saccompanyingherinthisconditionshecouldnot;
　　rideonalonetoMr。Wilding'shousewashardlytobethoughtof,andyetifshedelayedshewasendangeringRichard'slife。BytheverystrengthofhernatureshewascaughtinthemeshofDiana'sscheme。
　　Shesawthatherhesitationwasunworthy。Thiswasnoordinarycause,noordinaryoccasion。Itwasatimeforheroicmeasures。Shemustrideon,norcouldsheconsenttotakeDiana。
　　Andsointheendshewent,havingseenhercousinsettledagaininthehighchair,andtookwithherDiana'sfeebleassurancesthatshewouldfollowherinafewmoments,assoonasherfaintnesspassed。
　　CHAPTERIV
　　TERMSOFSURRENDER
　　MR。WILDINGrodeatdawnwithMr。Trenchard,madam,"announcedoldWalters,thebutleratZoylandChase。Oldandfamiliarservantthoughhewas,hekeptfromhiscountenanceallmanifestationofthedeepsurpriseoccasionedhimbytheadventofMistressWestmacott,unescorted。
　　"Herode……atdawn？"falteredRuth,andforamomentshestoodirresolute,afraidandponderingintheshadeofthegreatpillaredporch。Thenshetookheartagain。Ifherodeatdawn,itwasnotinquestofRichardthathewent,sinceithadbeenneareleveno'clockwhenshehadleftBridgwater。Hemusthavegoneonotherbusinessfirst,and,doubtless,beforehewenttotheencounterhewouldbereturninghome。"Saidheatwhathourhewouldreturn？"sheasked。
　　"Hebadeusexpecthimbynoon,madam。"
　　Thisgaveconfirmationtoherthoughts。Itwantedmorethanhalfanhourtonoonalready。"Thenhemayreturnatanymoment？"saidshe。
　　"Atanymoment,madam,"wasthegravereply。
　　Shetookherresolve。"Iwillwait,"sheannounced,totheman'sincreasingifundisplayedastonishment。"Letmyhorsebeseento。"
　　Hebowedhisobedience,andshefollowedhim—aslender,gracefulfigureinherdove—colouredriding—habitlacedwithsilver—acrossthestone—flaggedvestibule,throughthecoolgloomofthegreathall,intothespaciouslibraryofwhichheheldthedoor。
　　"MistressHortonisfollowingme,"sheinformedthebutler。"Willyoubringhertomewhenshecomes？"
　　Bowingagaininsilentacquiescence,thewhite—hairedservantclosedthedoorandlefther。Shestoodinthecentreofthegreatroom,drawingoffherriding—gloves,perturbedandfrightenedbeyondallreasonatfindingherselfforthefirsttimeunderMr。Wilding'sroof。
　　Hewasmosthandsomelyhoused。Hisgrandfather,whohadtravelledinItaly,hadbuilttheChaseuponthesevereandnoblelineswhichtherehehadlearnttoadmire,andhehadembellisheditsinterior,too,withmanytreasuresofartwhichwiththatintenthehadtherecollected。
　　Shedroppedherwhipandglovesontoatable,andsankintoachairtowait,herheartflutteringinherthroat。Timepassed,andinthesilenceofthegreathouseheranxietywasgraduallyquieted,untilatlastthroughthelongwindowthatstoodopencamefaintlywaftedtoheronthesoftbreezeofthatJunemorningthesoundofachurchclockatWestonZoylandchimingtwelve。Sherosewithastart,bethinkinghersuddenlyofDiana,andwonderingwhyshehadnotyetarrived。Wasthechild'sindispositiongraverthanshehadledRuthtosuppose？Shecrossedtothewindowsandstoodtheredrummingimpatientlyuponthepane,hereyesstrayingidlyoverthesweepofelm—fringedlawnstowardstherivergleamingsilveryhereandtherebetweenthetreesinthedistance。
　　Suddenlyshecaughtasoundofhoofs。WasthisDiana？Shespedtotheotherwindow,theonethatstoodopen,andnowsheheardthecrunchofgravelandthechampofbitsandthesoundofmorethantwopairsofhoofs。ShecaughtaglimpseofMr。WildingandMr。Trenchard。
　　Shefeltthecolourflyingfromhercheeks;againherheartflutteredinherthroat,anditwasinvainthatwithherhandshesoughttorepresstheheavingofherbreast。Shewasafraid;hereveryinstinctbadeherslipthroughthewindowatwhichshestoodandrunfromZoylandChase。AndthenshethoughtofRichardandhisdanger,andsheseemedtogathercouragefromthereflectionofherpurposeinthishouse。
　　Men'svoicesreachedher—alaugh,theharshcawingofNickTrenchard。
　　"Alady！"sheheardhimcry。"`Od'sheart,Tony！Isthisatimefortraffickingwithdoxies？"Shecrimsonedaninstantatthecoarsewordandsetherteeth,onlytopaleagainthenext。Thevoiceswereloweredsothatsheheardnotwhatwassaid;onesharpexclamationsherecognizedtobeinWilding'svoice,butcaughtnotthewordheuttered。
　　Therefollowedapause,andshestirreduneasily,waiting。Thencameswiftstepsandjanglingspursacrossthehall,thedooropenedsuddenly,andMr。Wilding,inascarletriding—coat,hisbootswhitewithdust,stoodbowingtoherfromthethreshold。
　　"Yourservant,MistressWestmacott,"sheheardhimmurmur。"Myhouseisdeeplyhonoured。"
　　Shedroppedhimahalf—curtsy,paleandtongue—tied。HeturnedtodeliverhatandwhipandglovestoWalters,whohadfollowedhim,thenclosedthedoorandcameforwardintotheroom。
　　YouwillforgivethatIpresentmyselfthusbeforeyou,"hesaid,inapologyforhisdustyraiment。"ButIbethoughtmeyoumightbeinhaste,andWalterstellsmethatalreadyhaveyouwaitednighuponanhour。Willyounotsit,madam？"Andheadvancedachair。Hislongwhitefacewassetlikeamask;buthisdark,slantingeyesdevouredher。Heguessedthereasonofhervisit。Shewhohadhumbledhim,whohaddrivenhimtotheverybordersofdespair,wasnowtobehumbledandtodespairbeforehim。Undertheimpassivefacehissoulexultedfiercely。
　　Shedisregardedthechairheproffered。"Myvisit……hasnodoubtsurprisedyou,"shebegan,tremulousandhesitating。
　　"I'faith,no,"heansweredquietly。"Thecause,afterall,isnotveryfartoseek。YouarecomeonRichard'sbehalf。"
　　"NotonRichard's,"sheanswered。"Onmyown。"Andnowthattheicewasbroken,thesuspenseofwaitingover,shefoundthetideofhercourageflowingfast。"Thisencountermustnottakeplace,Mr。
　　Wilding,"sheinformedhim。
　　Heraisedhiseyebrows—fineandlevelasherown—histhinlipssmiledneversofaintly。"Itis,Ithink,"saidhe,"forRichardtopreventitThechancewashislastnight。Itshallbehisagainwhenwemeet。Ifhewillexpressregret……"Helefthissentencethere。
　　Intruthhemockedher,thoughsheguesseditnot。
　　"Youmean,"saidshe,"thatifhemakesapology……？"
　　"Whatelse？Whatotherwayremains？"
　　Sheshookherhead,and,ifpale,herfacewasresolute,herglancesteady。
　　"Thatisimpossible,"shetoldhim。"Lastnight—asIhavethestory—hemighthavedoneitwithoutshame。To—dayitistoolate。
　　Totenderhisapologyonthegroundwouldbetoproclaimhimselfacoward。"
　　Mr。Wildingpursedhislipsandshiftedhisposition。"Itisdifficult,perhaps,"saidhe,"butnotimpossible。"
　　"Itisimpossible,"sheinsistedfirmly。
　　"I'llnotquarrelwithyouforaword,"heanswered,mightyagreeable。
　　"Callitimpossible,ifyouwill。Admit,however,thatitisallIcansuggest。Youwilldomethejustice,Iamsure,toseethatinexpressingmywillingnesstoacceptyourbrother'sexpressionsofregretIamprovingmyselfoncemoreyourveryobedientservant。Butthatitisyouwhoaskit—andwhosedesiresaremycommands—Ishouldletnomangounpunishedforaninsultsuchasyourbrotherputuponme。
　　Shewincedathiswords,atthebowwithwhichhehadprofessedhimselfoncemoreherservant。
　　"Itisnoclemencythatyouofferhim,"shesaid。"Youleavehimachoicebetweendeathanddishonour。"
　　"Hehas,"Wildingremindedher,"thechanceofcombat。"
　　Sheflungbackherheadimpatiently。"Ithinkyoumockme,"saidshe。
　　Helookedatherkeenly。"Willyoutellmeplainly,madam,"hebegged,"whatyouwouldhavemedo？"
　　Sheflushedunderhisgaze,andtheflushtoldhimwhathesoughttolearn。Therewas,ofcourse,anotherway,andshehadthoughtofit;
　　butshelacked—aswellshemight,allthingsconsidered—thecouragetoproposeit。ShehadcometoMr。Wildinginthevaguehopethathehimselfwouldchoosetheheroicpart。Andhe,topunishforherscornofhimthiswomanwhomhelovedtohating—point,wasresolvedthatsheherselfmustbegitofhim。Whether,havingsofarcompelledher,hewouldgrantherprayerornotwassomethinghecouldnotjustthenhimselfhavetoldyou。Shebowedherheadinsilence,andWilding,thatfaintsmile,halffriendliness,halfmockery,hoveringeveronhislips,turnedasideandmovedsoftlytowardsthewindow。Hereyes,veiledbehindthelonglashesoftheirdroopinglids,followedhimfurtively。Shefeltthatshehatedhiminverytruth。Shemarkedtheuprighteleganceofhisfigure,theeasygraceofhismovements,thefinearistocraticmouldoftheaquilineface,whichshebeheldinprofile;andshehatedhimthemorefortheseoutwardfavoursthatmustcommendhimtonolackofwomen。Hewastoomasterful。HemadeherrealizetookeenlyherownweaknessandthatofRichard。Shefeltthatjustnowhecontrolledthevicethatheldherfast—heraffectionforherbrother。Andbecauseofthatshehatedhimthemore。"Yousee,MistressWestmacott,"saidhe,hisshouldertoher,histonesweettothepointofsadness,"thatthereisnothingelse。"Shestood,hereyesfollowingthepatternoftheparquetry,herfootunconsciouslytracingit;hercourageebbed,andshehadnoanswerforhim。Afterapausehespokeagain,stillwithoutturning。"Ifthatwasnotenoughtosuityourends"—andthoughhespokeinatoneofever—increasingsadness,thereglintedthroughitthefaintestrayofmockery—"ImarvelyoushouldhavecometoZoyland—tocompromiseyourselftosolittlepurpose。
　　Sheraisedastartledface。"Com……compromisemyself？"sheechoed。
　　"Oh！"Itwasacryofindignation。
　　"Whatelse？"quothhe,andturnedabruptlytoconfronther。
　　"MistressHortonwas……,waswithme,"shepanted,hervoicequiveringasonthebrinkoftears。
　　"`Tisunfortunateyoushouldhaveseparated,"hecondoled。
　　"But……,but,Mr。Wilding,I……Itrustedtoyourhonour。Iaccountedyouagentleman。Surely……surely,sir,youwillnotletitbeknownthat……Icametoyou？Youwillkeepmysecret？"
　　"Secret！"saidhe,hiseyebrowsraised。"`Tisalreadythetalkoftheservants'hall。Byto—morrow`twillbethegossipofBridgwater。"
　　AirfailedherHerblueeyesfixedhiminhorroroutofherstrickenface。Notawordhadshewherewithtoanswerhim。
　　Thesightofher,thus,affectedhimoddly。Hispassionforhersurgedup,arousedbypityforherplight,andawakenedinhimasenseofhisbrutality。Afaintflushstirredinhischeeks。Hesteppedquicklytoher,andcaughtherhand。Sheletitlie,coldandinert,withinhisnervousgrasp。
　　"Ruth,Ruth！"hecried,andhisvoicewasforonceunsteady。"Giveitnothought！Iloveyou,Ruth。Ifyou'llbutheedthat,nobreathofscandalcanhurtyou。
　　Sheswallowedhard。"Ashow？"sheaskedmechanically。
　　Hebowedlowoverherhand—solowthathisfacewashiddenfromher。
　　"Ifyouwilldomethehonourtobecomemywife……"hebegan,butgotnofurther,forshesnatchedawayherhand,hercheekscrimsoning,hereyesaflamewithindignation。Hesteppedback,crimsoningtoo。Shehaddashedthegentlenessfromhismood。Hewasangerednowandtigerish。
　　"Oh！"shepanted。"Itistoaffrontme！Isthisthetimeorplace……"
　　Hecroppedherflowofindignantspeechereitwaswellbegun。Hecaughtherinhisarms,andheldhertight,andsosuddenwastheact,sofirmhisgripthatshehadnotthethoughtorforcetostruggle。
　　"Alltimeislove'stime,allplacesarelove'splace,"hetoldher,hisfaceclosetoherown。"Andofalltimeandplacesthepresenteverpreferabletothewise—forlifeisuncertainandshortatbest。
　　Ibringyouworship,andyouanswermewithscorn。ButIshallprevail,andyoushallcometolovemeinveryspiteofyourownself。"
　　Shethrewbackherhead,awayfromhisasfarasthebondshehadcastaboutherwouldallow。"Air！Air！"shepantedfeebly。
　　"Oh,youshallhaveairenoughanon,"heansweredwithahalf—strangledlaugh,hispassionmountingever。"Harkyou,now—harkyou,forRichard'ssake,sinceyou'llnotlistenformyownnoryours。ThereisanothercoursebywhichIcansavebothRichard'slifeandhonour。Youknowit,andyoucounteduponmygenerositytosuggestit。Butyouoverlookedthethingonwhichyoushouldhavecounted。Youoverlookedmylove。Countuponthat,myRuth,andRichardshallhavenaughttofear。Countuponthat,andwhenwemeetthisevening,RichardandI,itisIwhowilltendertheapology,IwhowilladmitthatIwaswrongtointroduceyournameintothatcompanylastnight,andthatwhatRicharddidwasajustandwell—deservedpunishmentuponme。ThiswillIdoifyou'llbutcountuponmylove。"
　　Shelookedupathimfearfully,yetwithflutteringsofhope。"Whatis'tyoumean？"sheaskedhimfaintly。
　　"Thatifyou'llpromisetobemywife……"
　　"Yourwife！"sheinterruptedhim。Shestruggledtofreeherself,releasedonearmandstruckhimintheface。"Letmego,youcoward！"
　　Hewasanswered。Hisarmsmeltedfromher。Hefellbackapace,verywhiteandeventrembling,thefireallgonefromhiseye,whichwasnowturneddullanddeadly。
　　"Sobeit,"hesaid,andstrodetothebell—rope。"I'llnotoffendagain。
　　Ihadnotoffendednow"—hecontinued,inthevoiceofoneofferinganexplanationcoldandformal—"butthatwhenfirstIcameintoyourlifeyouseemedtobidmewelcome。"Hisfingerscloseduponthecrimsonbell—cord。Sheguessedhispurpose。
　　"Wait！"shegasped,andputforthherhand。Hepaused,theropeinhis,hiseyekindlinganew。"You……youmeantokillRichardnow？"sheaskedhim。
　　Aswiftliftingofhisbrowswashisonlyanswer。Hetuggedthecord。
　　>Fromthedistancethepealofthebellreachedthemfaintly。
　　"Oh,wait,wait！"shebegged,herhandspressedagainsthercheeks。Hestoodimpassible—hatefullyimpassible……ifIweretoconsentto……this……how……howsoon……？"Heunderstoodtheunfinishedquestion。Interestwarmedhisfaceagain。Hetookasteptowardsher,butbyagesturesheseemedtobeghimcomenonearer。
　　"Ifyouwillpromisetomarrymewithintheweek,Richardshallhavenocausetofeareitherforhislifeorhishonouratmyhands。"
　　Sheseemednowtoberecoveringhercalm。"Verywell,"shesaid,hervoicesingularlysteady。"Letthatbeabargainbetweenus。SpareRichard'slifeandhonour—both,remember！—andonSundaynext……"
　　Forallhercouragehervoicequaveredandfaltered。Shedaredaddnomore,lestitshouldbreakaltogether。
　　Mr。Wildingdrewadeepbreath。Againhewouldhaveadvanced。"Ruth！"
　　hecried,andsomerepentancesmotehim,someshameshookhiminhispurpose。Atthatmomentitwasinhismindtocapitulateunconditionally;totellherthatRichardshouldhavenaughttofearfromhim,andyetthatsheshouldgofreeasthewinds。Hergesturecheckedhim。Itwassoeloquentofaversion。Hepausedinhisadvance,stifledhisbetterfeelings,andturnedoncemore,relentless。ThedooropenedandoldWaltersstoodawaitinghiscommands。
　　"MistressWestmacottisleaving,"heinformedhisservant,andbowedlowandformallyinfarewellbeforeher。Shepassedoutwithoutanotherword,theoldbutlerfollowing,andpresentlythroughthedoorthatemainedopencameTrenchard,inquestofMr。Wildingwhostoodbemused。
　　Nicksaunteredin,hislefteyealmosthiddenbytherakishcockofhishat,onehandtuckedawayundertheskirtsofhisplum—colouredcoat,theothersupportingthestemofalongclaypipe,atwhichhewaspullingthoughtfully。Thepipeandhewereallbutinseparable;indeed,theyearbeforeinLondonhehadgivenappallingscandalbyappearingwithitintheMall,andhadthereremainedhimanycharactertolose,hemustassuredlyhavelostitthen。
　　Heobservedhisfriendthroughnarrowingeyes—hehadsmalleyes,veryblueandverybright,inwhichthereusuallyabodearoguishgleam。
　　"Mysight,Anthony,"saidhe,"remindsmethatIamgrowingold。I
　　wonderdiditmisleadmeonthescoreofyourvisitor？"
　　"Theladywholeft,"saidWildingwithatouchofseverity,"willbeMistressWildingbythisdayse'night。"
　　Trenchardtookthepipefromhislips,audiblyblewoutacloudofsmokeandstaredathisfriend。"Bodyo'me！"quothhe。"Isthisatimeformarrying？—withtheserumoursofMonmouth'scomingover。"
　　Wildingmadeanimpatientgesture。"Ithoughttohaveconvincedyoutheyareidle,"saidhe,andflunghimselfintoachairathiswriting—table。
　　Nickcameoverandperchedhimselfuponthetable'sedge,onelegswingingintheair。"AndwhatofthismatteroftheinterceptedletterfromLondontoourTauntonfriends？"
　　"Ican'ttellyou。ButofthisIamsure,HisGraceisincapableofanythingsorash。Certainisitthathe'llnotstiruntilBattiscombreturnstoHolland,andBattiscombisstillinCheshiresoundingtheDuke'sfriends。"
　　"YetwereIyou,Ishouldnotmarryjustatpresent。"
　　Wildingsmiled。"Ifyouwereme,you'dnevermarryatall。"
　　"Faith,no！"saidTrenchard。"I'dassoonplayat`hot—cockles,'
　　or`Parson—has—lost—his—cloak。'`Tisamortmoreamusingandthesoonerdonewith。"
　　CHAPTERV
　　THEENCOUNTER
　　RuthWesmacottrodebacklikeoneinadream,withvagueandhazynotionsofwhatshesawordid。Sooverwroughtwasshebytheinterviewfromwhichshecame,hermindsoobsessedbyit,thatneverathoughthadsheforDianaandherindispositionuntilshearrivedhometofindhercousintherebeforeher。Dianawasintears,calledupbythereproachesofhermother,LadyHorton—therelictofthatfinesoldierSirCholmondeleyHorton,ofTaunton。
　　ThegirlhadarrivedatLuptonHouseahalf—houraheadofMissWestmacott,anduponherarrivalshehadexpressedsurprise,eitherfeignedorreal,atfindingRuthstillabsent。DetectingthealarmthatDianawascarefultothrowintohervoiceandmanner,hermotherquestionedher,andelicitedthestoryofherfaintnessandofRuth'shavingriddenonalonetoMr。Wilding's。SooutragedwasLadyHortonthatforonceinawaythiswoman,usuallysomeekandease—loving,wasrousedtoanenergyandangerwithherdaughterandherniecethatthreatenedtoremoveDianaatoncefromtheperniciousatmosphereofLuptonHouseandcarryherhometoTaunton。Ruthfoundherstillatherremonstrances,arrived,indeed,intimeforhershareofthem。
　　"Ihavebeensoremistakeninyou,Ruth！"thedamereproachedher。"I
　　canscarcebelieveitofyou。IhaveheldyouupasanexampletoDiana,forthediscretionandwisdomofyourconduct,andyoudothis！
　　YougoalonetoMr。Wilding'shouse—toMr。Wilding's,ofallmen！"
　　"Itwasnotimeforordinarymeasures,"saidRuth,butshespokewithoutanyoftheheatofonewhodefendsherconduct。Shewas,theslylywatchfulDianaobserved,verywhiteandtired。"Itwasnotimetothinkofniceconduct。TherewasRichardtobesaved。"
　　"Andwasitworthruiningyourselftodothat？"quothLadyHorton,hercolourhigh。
　　"Ruiningmyself？"echoedRuth,andshesmiledneversowearyasmile。
　　"Ihave,indeed,donethat,thoughnotinthewayyou。mean。"
　　Motheranddaughtereyedher,mystified。"Yourgoodnameisblasted,"
　　saidheraunt,"unlesssobethatMr。Wildingisproposingtomakeyouhiswife。"Itwasasneerthegoodwomancouldnot,inherindignation,repress。
　　"ThatiswhatMr。Wildinghasdonemethehonourtopropose,"Ruthansweredbitterly,andleftthemgaping。"Wearetobemarriedthisdayse'night。"
　　Adeadsilencefollowedthecalmannouncement。ThenDianarose。Atthemisery,theanguishthatcouldimpresssostrangeandwhitealookonRuth'swinsomeface,shewassmittenwithremorse,herincipientsatisfactiondashed。Thiswasherwork;thefruitofherscheming。Butithadgonefurtherthanshehadforeseen;andforallthatnoresultcouldbetterharmonizewithherownambitionsanddesires,forthemoment—underthefirstshockofthatannouncement—shefeltguiltyandgrewafraid。
　　"Ruth！"shecried,hervoiceawhisperofstupefaction。"Oh,IwishI
　　hadcomewithyou！"
　　"Butyoucouldn't;youwerefaint。"Andthen—recallingwhathadpassed—hermindwasfilledwithsuddenconcernforDiana,evenamidherownsoretroubles。"Areyouquiteyourselfagain,Diana？"sheinquired。
　　Dianaansweredalmostfiercely,"Iamquitewell。"Andthen,withachangetowistfulness,sheadded,"Oh,IwouldIhadcomewithyou！"
　　"Mattershadbeennodifferent,"Ruthassuredher。"ItwasabargainMr。Wildingdrove。ItwasthepriceIhadtopayforRichard'slifeandhonour。"Sheswallowedhard,andletherhandsfalllimplytohersides。"WhereisRichard？"sheinquired。
　　Itwasherauntwhoansweredher。"HewentforthhalfanhouragonewithMr。VallanceyandSirRowland。"
　　"SirRowlandhadreturned,then？"Shelookedupquickly。
　　"Yes,"answeredDiana。"ButhehadachievednothingbyhisvisittoLordGervase。Hislordshipwouldnotintervene;hesworehehopedthecubwouldbeflayedalivebyWilding。Thosewerehislordship'swords,asSirRowlandrepeatedthem。SirRowlandisinsoredistressforRichard。Hehasgonewiththemtothemeeting。"
　　"Atleast,hehasnolongercauseforhisdistress,"saidMissWestmacottwithherbittersmile,andsankasoneexhaustedtoachair。
　　LadyHortonmovedtocomforther,hermotherlinessallarousedforthismotherlessgirl,usuallysowiseandstrong,andseeminglywiserandstrongerthaneverinthisthingthatLadyHortonhaddeemedaweaknessandafolly。
　　Meanwhile,RichardandhistwofriendswereontheirwaytothemoorsacrosstherivertotheencounterwithMr。Wilding。Butbeforetheyhadgothimtorideforth,Vallanceyhadhadoccasiontoregretthathestoodcommittedtoashareinthisquarrel,forhecametoknowRichardashereallywas。Hehadfoundhiminanabjectstate,whiteandtrembling,hiscoward'sfancyanticipatingahundredtimesaminutethedeathhewasanontodie。