Vallanceyhadhailedhimcheerily。
　　"Thedayisyours,Dick,"hehadcried,whenRichardenteredthelibrarywhereheawaitedhim。"WildWildinghasriddentoTauntonthismorningandistobebackbynoon。Odsbud,Dick！—twentymilesandmoreinthesaddlebeforecomingontheground。Heardyoueverofthelikemadness？
　　He'llbestiffasabroom—handle—aneasyvictim。
　　Richardlistened,stared,and,findingVallancey'seyesfixedsteadilyuponhim,attemptedasmileandachievedahorriblegrimace。
　　"Whatailsyou,man？"criedhissecond,andcaughthimbythewrist。
　　Hefeltthequiveroftheother'slimb。"Stabme！"quothhe,"youareinnocasetofight。Whattheplagueailsyou？"
　　"Iamnonesowellthismorning,"answeredRichardfeebly。"LordGervase'sclaret,"headded,passingahandacrosshisbrow。
　　"LordGervase'sclaret？"echoedVallanceyinhorror,asatsomeoutrageousblasphemy。"Frontignacattenshillingsthebottle！"heexclaimed。
　　"Still,claretneverdoeslieeasyonmystomach,"Richardexplained,intentuponblamingLordGervaseswine—sincehecouldthinkofnothingelse—forhiscondition。
　　Vallanceylookedathimshrewdly。"Mycock,"saidhe,"ifyou'retofightwe'llhavetomendyourtemper。"Hetookituponhimselftoringthebell,andtoorderuptwobottlesofCanaryandoneofbrandy。Ifhewastogethismantothegroundatall—andyoungVallanceyhadaduesenseofhisresponsibilitiesinthatconnection—itwouldbewelltosupplyRichardwithsomethingtoreplacethecouragethathadoozedoutovernight。YoungRichard,neverloathtofortifyhimself,provedamenableenoughtothestifflylacedCanarythathisfriendsetbeforehim。Then,todiverthismind,Vallancey,withthatrashfreedomthathadmadethewholeofSomersetknowhimforarebel,sethimselftotalkoftheProtestantDukeandhisrighttothecrownofEngland。
　　Hewasstillathistalk,Richardlisteningmoodilywhattimehewasslowlybutsurelybefuddlinghimself,whenSirRowland—returningfromScoresbyHall—cametobringthenewsofhislackofsuccess。Richardhailedhimnoisily,andbadehimringforanotherglass,adding,withaburstofoaths,someappallingthreatsofhowanonheshouldserveAnthonyWilding。HiswitsdrownedinthestiffliquorVallanceyhadpresseduponhim,heseemedofasuddentohavegrownasfierceandbloodthirstyasanyscourerthateverterrorizedthewatch。
　　Blakelistenedtohimandgrunted。"Bodyo'me！"sworethetowngallant。
　　"Ifthat'sthehumouryou'regoingouttofightin,I'lltroubleyoufortheeightguineasIwonfromyouatPrimeroyesterdaybeforeyoustart。"
　　Richardrearedhimself,bythehelpofthetable,andstoodathoughtunsteadily,hisglancelaboriouslystrivingtoengageBlake's。
　　"Damnme！"quothhe。"Yourwantoffaithdishgracesme—and`t`shgracesyou。Shaltha'theguineaswhenwe'reback—andnotbefore。"
　　"Hum！"quothBlake,towhomeightguineaswereaconsiderationinthesebankruptdays。"Andifyoudon'tcomebackatalluponwhomamItodraw？"
　　ThesuggestionsankthroughDick'shalf—fuddledsenses,andthescareitgavehimwasreflectedonhisface。
　　"Damnyou,Blake！"sworeVallanceybetweenhisteeth。"Isthatadecentwaytotalktoamanwhoisgoingout？Neverheedhim,Dick！Lethimwaitforhisdirtyguineastillwereturn。"
　　"Thirtyguineas？"hiccoughedRichard。"Itwasonlyeight。Anyhow—wait'llI'vesli'thegulletof'sMr。Wilding。"Hecheckedonathoughtthatsuddenlyoccurredtohim。HeturnedtoVallanceywithaludicroussolemnity。"`Sbud！"heswore。"`SascurvytrickI'mplayingtheDuke。
　　`Streasontohim—treasonnoless。"Andhesmotethetablewithhisopenhand。
　　"What'sthat？"quothBlakesosharply,hiseyessosuddenlyalertthatVallanceymadehastetocoveruphisfellowrebel'sindiscretion。
　　It'sthebrandy—and—Canarymakeshimdream,"saidhewithalaugh,andrisingashespokeheannouncedthatitwashightimetheyshouldsetout。ThushebroughtaboutabustlethatdrovetheDuke'sbusinessfromRichard'smind,andleftBlakewithoutapretexttopursuehisquestforinformation。Butthemischiefwasdone,andBlake'ssuspicionswereawake。HebethoughthimnowofdarkhintsthatRichardhadletfalltoVallanceyinthepastfewdays,andofhintslessdarkwithwhichVallancey—whowasacarelessfellowatordinarytimes—hadanswered。AndnowthismentionoftheDukeandoftreasontohim—towhatDukecoulditreferbutMonmouth？
　　Blakewaswellawareofthewildtalesthatweregoinground,andhebegantowondernowwasaughtreallyafoot,andwashisgoodfriendWestmacottinit？
　　Iftherewas,hebethoughthimthattheknowledgemightbeofvalue,anditmighthelptofloatoncemorehisshipwreckedfortunes。ThehastewithwhichVallanceyhadprofferedafrivolousexplanationofRichard'swords,thebustlewithwhichupontheinstanthesweptRichardandSirRowlandfromthehousetogettohorseandrideouttoBridgwaterwereinthemselvescircumstancesthatwenttoheightenthosesuspicionsofSirRowland's。Butlackingallopportunityforinvestigationatthemoment,hedeemeditwisesttosaynomorejustthenlestheshouldbetrayhiswatchfulness。
　　Theywerethefirsttoarriveupontheground—anopenspaceonthebordersofSedgemoor,intheshelterofPoldenHill。ButtheyhadnotlongtowaitbeforeWildingandTrenchardrodeup,attendedbyagroom。
　　TheirarrivalhadanoddlysoberingeffectuponyoungWestmacott,forwhichMr。Vallanceywasthankful。Forduringtheirridehehadbeguntofearthathehadcarriedtoofarthebusinessofequippinghisprincipalwithartificialvalour。
　　TrenchardcameforwardtoofferVallanceythecourteoussuggestionthatMr。Wilding'sservantshouldchargehimselfwiththecareofthehorsesofMr。Westmacott'sparty,ifthiswouldbeaconveniencetothem。Vallanceythankedhimandacceptedtheoffer,andthusthegroom—instructedbyTrenchard—ledthefivehorsessomedistancefromthespot。
　　Itnowbecameamatterofmakingpreparation,andleavingRichardtodivesthimselfofsuchgarmentsashemightdeemcumbrous,VallanceywentforwardtoconsultwithTrencharduponthechoiceofground。AtthatsamemomentMr。Wildingloungedforward,flickingthegrasswithhiswhipinanabsentmanner。
　　"Mr。Vallancey,"hebegan,whenTrenchardturnedtointerrupthim。
　　"Youcanleaveitsafelytome,Tony,"hegrowled。"ButthereissomethingIwishtosay,Nick,"answeredMr。Wilding,hismannermild。
　　"Byyourleave,then。"AndheturnedagaintoValiancey。"WillyoubesogoodastocallMr。Westmacotthither？"
　　Vallanceystared。"Forwhatpurpose,sir？"heasked。
　　"Formypurpose,"answeredMr。Wildingsweetly。"ItisnolongermywishtoengagewithMr。Westmacott。
　　"Anthony！"criedTrenchard,andinhisamazementforgottoswear。
　　"Ipropose,"addedMr。Wilding,"torelieveMr。Westmacottofthenecessityoffighting。"
　　Vallanceyinhisheartthoughtthismightbepleasantnewsforhisprincipal。Still,hedidnotquiteseehowtheendwastobeattained,andsaidso。
　　"YoushallbeenlightenedifyouwilldoasIrequest,"Wildinginsisted,andVallancey,withaliftofthebrows,asnort,andashrug,turnedawaytocomply。
　　"Doyoumean,"quothTrenchard,burstingwithindignation,"thatyouwillletliveamanwhohasstruckyou？"
　　Wildingtookhisfriendaffectionatelybythearm。"Itisawhimofmine,"saidhe。"Doyouthink,Nick,thatitismorethanIcanaffordtoindulge？"
　　"Isaynotso,"wasthereadyanswer;"but……"
　　"Ithoughtyou'dnot,"saidMr。Wilding,interrupting。"Andifanydoes—why,Ishallbegladtoproveituponhimthathelies。"Helaughed,andTrenchard,vexedthoughhewas,wasforcedtolaughwithhim。ThenNicksethimselftourgethethingthatlastnighthadplaguedhismind:thatthisRichardmightproveadangertotheCause;
　　thatintheDuke'sinterest,ifnottosafeguardhisownpersonfromsomevindictivebetrayal,Wildingwouldbebetteradvisedinimposingareliablesilenceuponhim。
　　"Butwhyvindictive？"Mr。Wildingremonstrated。"Rathermusthehavecauseforgratitude。"
　　Mr。Trenchardlaughedshortandcontemptuously。"Thereis,"saidhe,"norancourmorebitterthanthatofthemeanmanwhohasoffendedyouandwhomyouhavespared。Ibegyou'llponderit。"Heloweredhisvoiceasheendedhisadmonition,forVallanceyandWestmacottwerecomingup,followedbySirRowlandBlake。
　　Richard,althoughhiscouragehadbeensinkinglowerandlowerinameasureashehadgrownmoreandmoresoberwiththeapproachofthemomentforengaging,cameforwardnowwithafirmstepandanarrogantmien;forVallanceyhadgivenhimmorethanahintofwhatwastoward。
　　Hishearthadleapt,notonlyatthedeliverancethatwaspromisedhim,butoutofsatisfactionatthereflectionofhowaccuratelylastnighthehadgaugedwhatMr。Wildingwouldendure。Ithaddismayedhimthen,aswehaveseen,thatthismanwho,hethought,muststomachanyaffrontfromhimoutofconsiderationforhissister,shouldhaveendedbycallinghimtoaccount。HeconcludednowthatuponreflectionWildinghadseenhiserror,andwaspreparedtomakeamendsthathemightextricatehimselffromanimpossiblesituation,andRichardblamedhimselfforhavingoverlookedthisinevitablesolutionandgivenwaytoidlepanic。
　　VallanceyandBlakewatchinghim,andthesuddenmetamorphosisthatwaswroughtinhim,despisedhimheartily,andyetwereglad—forthesakeoftheirassociationwithhim—thatthingswereastheywere。
　　"Mr。Westmacott,"saidWildingquietly,hiseyessteadilysetuponRichard'sownarrogantgaze,hislipssmilingalittle,"Iamherenottofight,buttoapologize。"
　　Richard'ssneerwasaudibletoall。Oh,hewasgatheringcouragefastnowthattherenolongerwastheneedforit。Iturgedhimtolengthsofdaringpossibleonlytoafool。
　　"Ifyoucantakeablow,Mr。Wilding,"saidheoffensively,"thatisyourownaffair。"
　　Andhisfriendsgaspedathistemerityandtrembledforhim,notknowingwhatgroundshehadforcountinghimselfunassailable。
　　"Justso,"saidMr。Wilding,asmeekandhumbleasanun,andTrenchard,whohadexpectedsomethingverydifferentfromhim,sworealoudandwithsomecircumstanceofoaths。"Thefactis,"continuedMr。Wilding,"thatwhatIdidlastnight,Ididintheheatofwine,andIamsorryforit。Irecognizethatthisquarrelisofmyprovoking;thatitwasunwarrantableinmetointroducethenameofMistressWestmacott,nomatterhowrespectfully;andthatindoingsoIgaveMr。Westmacottamplegroundsforoffence。ForthatIbeghispardon,andIventuretohopethatthismatterneedgonofurther。"
　　VallanceyandBlakewerespeechlessinastonishment;Trenchardlividwithfury。Westmacottmovedasteportwoforward,aswaggerunmistakableinhisgait,hisnether—lipthrustoutinasneer。
　　"Why,"saidhe,hisvoicemightydisdainful,"ifMr。Wildingapologizes,thematterhardlycangofurther。"HeconveyedsuchasuggestionofregretatthisthatTrenchardboundedforward,stungtospeech。
　　"ButifMr。Westmacott'sdisappointmentthreatenstooverwhelmhim,"
　　hesnapped,verytartly,"Iamhishumbleservant,andhemaycalluponmetoseethathe'snotrobbedoftheexercisehecametotake。"
　　Mr。WildingsetarestraininghanduponTrenchard'sarm。
　　Westmacottturnedtohim,thesneer,however,gonefromhisface。
　　"Ihavenoquarrelwithyou,sir,"saidhe,withanuneasyassumptionofdignity。
　　"It'sawantthatmaybesoonsupplied,"answeredTrenchardbriskly,and,asheafterwardsconfessed,hadnotWildingcheckedhimatthatmoment,hehadthrownhishatinRichard'sface。
　　ItwasVallanceywhosavedthesituation,cursinginhisheartthebearingofhisprincipal。
　　"Mr。Wilding,"saidhe,"thisisveryhandsomeinyou。Youareofthehappyfewwhomaytendersuchanapologywithoutreflectionuponyourcourage。"
　　Mr。Wildingmadehimalegveryelegantly。"Youarevastlykind,sir,"
　　saidhe。
　　"YouhavegivenMr。Westmacottthefullestsatisfaction,anditiswithanincreasedrespectforyou—ifthatwerepossible—thatI
　　acknowledgeitonmyfriend'sbehalf。"
　　"Youare,sir,averymirroroftheelegancies,"saidMr。Wilding,andVallanceywonderedwashebeinglaughedat。Whetherhewasornot,heconceivedthathehaddonetheonlyseemlything。Hehadmadehandsomeacknowledgmentofahandsomeapology,stungtoitbythecurrishnessofRichard。
　　Andtherethematterended,despiteTrenchard'sburningeagernesstocarryithimselftoadifferentconsummation。Wildingprevaileduponhim,andwithdrewhimfromthefield。ButastheyrodebacktoZoylandChasetheoldrakewasbitterinhisinveighingsagainstWilding'sfollyandweakness。
　　"IprayHeaven,"hekeptrepeating,"thatitmaynotcometocostyoudear。"
　　"Havedone,"saidMr。Wilding,atrifleoutofpatience。"CouldIwedthesisterhavingslainthebrother？"
　　AndTrenchard,understandingatlast,accountedhimselfanumskullthathehadnotunderstoodbefore。ButhenonethelessdeemeditapityRichardhadbeenspared。
　　CHAPTERVI
　　THECHAMPION
　　AsvaingloriouswasRichardWestmacott'sretreatfromthefieldofunstrickenbattleashisadvanceuponithadbeeninglorious。HespokewithconfidencenowofthenarrowescapethatWildinghadhadathishands,ofthethingshewouldhavedonetoWildinghadnotthatgentlemangrownwiseintime。SirRowland,whohadseenlittleofRichard'searlierstrickencondition,wasinameasureimposeduponbyhisblusteringtoneandmanner;notsoVallancey,whorememberedthestepshehadbeenforcedtotaketobolsteruptheyoungman'scouragesufficientlytoadmitofhisbeingbroughttotheencounter。
　　Richardsodisgustedhimthathefeltifhedidnotquithiscompanysoon,hewouldbequarrellingwithhimhimself。So,congratulatinghim,inacausticmannerthatRicharddidnotrelish,uponthehappyterminationoftheaffair,VallanceytookhisleaveofhimandBlakeatthecross—roads,pleadingbusinesswithLordGervase,andleftthemtoproceedwithouthimtoBridgwater。
　　Blake,whosesuspicionsofsomesecretmattertowhichVallanceyandRichardwerewedded,hadbeenearlierexcitedbyWestmacott'sindiscretions,wasfullofslyquestionsnowtouchingthebusinesswhichmightbetakingVallanceytoScoresby。ButRichardwastoofullofthesubjectofthefearhehadinstilledintoWildingtoaffordhiscompanionmuchsatisfactiononanyotherscore。ThustheycametoLuptonHouse,andasRichardswaggereddownthelawnintothepresenceoftheladies—Ruthandherauntwereoccupyingthestonebench,Dianathecircularseataboutthegreatoakinthecentreofthelawn—hewasaverydifferentpersonfromthepale,limpcreaturetheyhadbeheldtheresomefewhoursearlier。Loudandoffensivewashenowinself—laudation,andsoindifferenttoallelsethatheleftunobservedthelittlesmile,halfwistful,halfscornful,thatvisitedhissister'slipswhenhesneeringlytoldhowMr。Wildinghadchosenthatbetterpartofvalourwhichdiscretionisallegedtobe。
　　ItneededDiana,who,blindedbynosisterlyaffection,sawhimexactlyashewas,anddespisedhimaccordingly,toenlightenhim。Itmayalsobethatindoingsoatonceshehadendsofherowntoserve;forSirRowlandwasstillofthecompany。
　　"Mr。Wildingafraid？"shecried,hervoicesochargedwithderisionthatitinclinedtoshrillness。"La！Richard,Mr。Wildingwasneverafraidofanyman。"
　　"Faith！"saidRowland,althoughhisacquaintancewithMr。Wildingwasslightandrecent。"ItiswhatIshouldthink。Hedoesnotlooklikeamanfamiliarwithfear。"
　　Richardstrucksomethingofanattitude,hisfairfaceflushed,hispaleeyesglittering。"Hetookablow,"saidhe,andsneered。
　　"Theremayhavebeenreasons,"Dianasuggesteddarkly,andSirRowland'seyesnarrowedatthehint。
　　AgainherecalledthewordsRichardhadletfallthatafternoon。
　　Wildingandhewerefellowworkersinsomesecretbusiness,andRichardhadsaidthattheencounterwastreasontothatsamebusiness,whateveritmightbe。AndofwhatitmightbeSirRowlandhadgroundsuponwhichtofoundatleastaguess。HadperhapsWildingacteduponsomesimilarfeelingsinavoidingtheduel？Hewondered;andwhenRicharddismissedDiana'schallengewithafatuouslaugh,itwasBlakewhotookitup。
　　"Youspeak,ma'am,"saidhe,"asifyouknewthattherewerereasons,andknew,too,whatthosereasonsmightbe。"
　　DianalookedatRuth,asifforguidancebeforereplying。ButRuthsatcalmandseeminglyimpassive,lookingstraightbeforeher。Shewas,indeed,indifferenthowmuchDianasaid,forinanycasethemattercouldnotremainasecretlong。LadyHorton,silenttooandlistening,lookedaquestionatherdaughter。
　　Andso,afterapause:"Iknowboth,"saidDiana,hereyesstrayingagaintoRuth;andasubtlermanthanBlakewouldhavereadthatglanceandunderstoodthatthissamereasonwhichhesoughtsodiligentlysattherebeforehim。
　　Richard,indeed,catchingthatslylookofhiscousin's,checkedhisassurance,andstoodfrowning,cogitating。Then,quitesuddenly,hisvoiceharsh:
　　"Whatdoyoumean,Diana？"heinquired。
　　Dianashruggedandturnedhershouldertohim。"YouhadbestaskRuth,"
　　saidshe,whichwasananswermoreorlessplaintoboththemen。
　　Theystoodatgaze,Richardlookingathoughtfoolish。Blake,frowning,hisheavylipcaughtinhisstrong,whiteteeth。
　　Ruthturnedtoherbrotherwithanalmostpiteousattemptatasmile。
　　Shesoughttosparehimpainbyexcludingfromhermannerallsuggestionthatthingswereotherthanshedesired。
　　"IambetrothedtoMr。Wilding,"saidshe。
　　SirRowlandmadeasuddenforwardmovement,drewadeepbreath,andassuddenlystoodstill。Richardlookedathissisterassheweremadandraving。Thenhelaughed,betweenunbeliefandderision。
　　"Itisajest,"saidhe,buthisaccentslackedconviction。
　　"Itisthetruth,"Ruthassuredhimquietly。
　　"Thetruth？"Hisbrowdarkenedominously—stupendouslyforonesofair。"Thetruth,youbaggage……？"Hebeganandstoppedinveryfury。
　　Shesawthatshemusttellhimall。
　　"IpromisedtowedMr。Wildingthisdayse'nightsothathesavedyourlifeandhonour,"shetoldhimcalmly,andadded,"Itwasabargainthatwedrove。"Richardcontinuedtostareather。Thethingshetoldhimwastoobigtobeswallowedatamouthful;hewasabsorbingitbyslowdegrees。
　　"Sonow,"saidDiana,"youknowthesacrificeyoursisterhasmadetosaveyou,andwhenyouspeakoftheapologyMr。Wildingtenderedyou,perhapsyou'llspeakofitinatonelessloud。"
　　Butthesarcasmwasnolongerneeded。AlreadypoorRichardwasveryhumble,hismake—believespiritallsnuffedout。Heobservedatlasthowpaleandsetwashissister'sface,andherealizedsomethingofthesacrificeshehadmade。NeverinallhislifewasRichardsoneartolapsingfromtheloveofhimself;neversoneartoforgettinghisowninterests,andpreferringthoseofRuth。LadyHortonsatsilent,herheartflutteringwithdismayandperplexity。Heavenhadnotequippedherwithaspiritcapableofdealingwithasituationsuchasthis。Blakestoodinmakebelievestoliditydissemblinghisinfinitechagrinandthestormyemotionswarringwithinhim,forsomesignsofwhichDianawatchedhiscountenanceinvain。
　　"Youshallnotdoit！"criedRichardsuddenly。Hecameforwardandlaidhishandonhissister'sshoulder。Hisvoicewasalmostgentle。
　　"Ruth,youshallnotdothisforme。Youmustnot。"
　　"ByHeaven,no！"snappedBlakebeforeshecouldreply。"Youareright,Richard。MistressWestmacottmustnotbethescapegoat。SheshallnotplaythepartofIphigenia。"
　　ButRuthsmiledwistfullyassheansweredhimwithaquestion,"Whereisthehelpforit？"
　　Richardknewwherethehelpforitlay,andforonce—forjustamoment—hecontemplateddangerandevendeathwithequanimity。
　　"Icantakeupthisquarrelagain,"heannounced。"IcancompelMr。
　　Wildingtomeetme。
　　Ruth'seyes,lookingupathim,kindledwithprideandadmiration。
　　Itwarmedherhearttohearhimspeakthus,tohavethisassurancethathewasanythingbutthecowardshehadbeensodisloyalastodeemhim;nodoubtshehadbeenrightinsayingthatitwashishealthwasthecauseofthepalsyhehaddisplayedthatmorning;hewasalittlewild,sheknew;inclinedtositover—lateatthebottle;withadvancingmanhood,shehadnodoubt,hewouldovercomethisboyishfailing。Meanwhileitwasthisfoolishhabit—nothingmore—thatunderminedtheinherentfirmnessofhisnature。Anditcomfortedhergeneroussoultohavethisproofthathewasfullworthyofthesacrificeshewasmakingforhim。Dianawatchedhiminsomesurprise,andneverdoubtedbutthathisofferwasimpulsive,andthathewouldregretitwhenhisardourhadhadtimetocool。
　　"Itwereidle,"saidRuthatlast—notthatshequitebelievedit,butthatitwasall—importanttoherthatRichardshouldnotbeimperilled。"Mr。Wildingwillpreferthebargainhehasmade。"
　　"Nodoubt,"growledBlake,"butheshallbeforcedtounmakeit。"
　　Headvancedandbowedlowbeforeher。"Madam,"saidhe,"willyougrantmeleavetochampionyourcauseandremovethistroublesomeMr。Wildingfromyourpath？"
　　Diana'seyesnarrowed;hercheekspaled,partlyfromfearforBlake,partlyfromvexationatthepromptnessofanofferthataffordedafreshandsoeloquentproofofthetrendofhisaffections。
　　Ruthsmiledathiminaveryfriendlymanner,butgentlyshookherhead。
　　"Ithankyou,sir,"saidshe。"ButitweremorethanIcouldpermit。
　　Thishasbecomeafamilyaffair。"
　　Therewasinhertonesomethingwhich,despiteitsfriendliness,gaveSirRowlandhisdismissal。Hewasnotatbestamanofkeensensibilities;yetevenso,hecouldnotmistaketherequesttowithdrawthatwasimplicitinhertoneandmanner。Hetookhisleave,registering,however,inhisheartavowthathewouldhavehiswaywithWilding。Thusmusthe—throughhergratitude—assuredlycometohavehiswaywithRuth。
　　Dianaroseandturnedtohermother。Come,"shesaid,"we'llspeedSirRowland。RuthandRichardwouldperhapsprefertoremainalone。"
　　Ruththankedherwithhereyes。Richard,standingbesidehissisterwithbentheadandmoodygaze,didnotappeartohaveheard。
　　Thusheremaineduntilheandhishalf—sisterwerealonetogether,thenheflunghimselfwearilyintotheseatbesideher,andtookherhand。
　　"Ruth,"hefaltered,"Ruth！"
　　Shestrokedhishand,herhonest,intelligenteyesbentuponhiminalookofpity—andtoindulgethispityforhim,sheforgothowmuchherselfsheneededpity。
　　"Takeitnotsotoheart,"sheurgedhim,hervoicelowandcrooning—asthatofamothertoherbabe。"Takeitnotsotoheart,Richard。
　　Ishouldhavemarriedsomeday,and,afterall,itmaywellbethatMr。Wildingwillmakemeasgoodahusbandasanother。Idobelieve,"
　　sheadded,heronlyintenttocomfortRichard;"thathelovesme;andifhelovesme,surelyhewillprovekind。"
　　Heflunghimselfbackwithanexclamationofangrypain。Hewaswhitetothelips,hiseyesbloodshot。"Itmustnotbe—itshallnotbe—
　　I'llnotendureit！"hecriedhoarsely。
　　"Richard,dear……"shebegan,recapturingthehandhehadsnatchedfromhersinhisgustofemotion。
　　Heroseabruptly,interruptingher。"I'llgotoWildingnow,"hecried,hisvoiceresolute。"Heshallcancelthisbargainhehadnorighttomake。Heshalltakeuphisquarrelwithmewhereitstoodbeforeyouwenttohim。"
　　"No,no,Richard,youmustnot！"sheurgedhim,frightened,risingtoo,andclingingtohisarm。
　　"Iwill,"heanswered。"Attheworsthecanbutkillme。Butatleastyoushallnotbesacrificed。"
　　"Sithere,Richard,"shebadehim。"Thereissomethingyouhavenotconsidered。Ifyoudie,ifMr。Wildingkillsyou……"shepaused。
　　Helookedather,andattherepetitionofthefatethatwouldprobablyawaithimifheperseveredinthecoursehethreatened,hispurelyemotionalcourageagainbegantofailhim。Alookoffearcreptgraduallyintohisfacetotaketheroomoftheresolutionthathadbeenstampeduponitbutamomentsince。
　　Heswallowedhard。"Whatthen？"heasked,hisvoiceharsh,and,obeyinghercommandandthepressureonhishand,heresumedhisseatbesideher。
　　Shespokenowatlengthandverygravely,dwellinguponthecircumstancethathewastheheadofthefamily,thelastWestmacottofhisline,pointingouttohimtheimportanceofhisexistence,theinsignificanceofherown。Shewasbutagirl,athingofsmallaccountwheretheperpetuationofafamilywasatissue。Afterall,shemustmarrysomebodysomeday,sherepeated,andperhapsshehadbeenfoolishinattachingtoomuchimportancetothetalesshehadheardofMr。Wilding。Probablyhewasnoworsethanothermen,andafterallhewasagentlemanofwealthandposition,suchamanashalfthewomeninSomersetmightbeproudtoownforhusband。