Herargumentsandhisweakness—hisreturningcowardice,whichmadehimlendaneartothosesamearguments—prevailedwithhim;atleasttheyconvincedhimthathewasfartooimportantapersontoriskhislifeinthisquarreluponwhichhehadsorashlyentered。
　　Hedidnotsaythathewasconvinced;buthesaidthathewouldgivethematterthought,hintingthatperhapssomeotherwaymightpresentitselfofcancellingthebargainshehadmade。Theyhadaweekbeforethem,andinanycasehepromisedreadilyinanswertoherentreaties—forherfaithinhimwasathingunquenchable—thathewoulddonothingwithouttakingcounselwithher。
　　MeanwhileDianahadescortedSirRowlandtothemaingatesofLuptonHouse,infrontofwhichMissWestmacott'sgroomwaswalkinghishorse,awaitinghim。
　　"SirRowland,"saidsheatparting,"yourchivalrymakesyoutakethismattertoodeeplytoheart。Youoverlookthepossibilitythatmycousinmayhavegoodreasonfornotdesiringyourinterference。"
　　Helookedkeenlyatthislittleladytowhomamonthagohehadbeenonthepointofofferingmarriage。Hiscoxcombrymightreadilyhavesuggestedtohimthatshewasinlovewithhim,butthathisconscienceandinclinationsurgedhimtoassurehimselfthatthiswasnotthecase。
　　"Whatshallthatmean,madam？"heaskedher。
　　Dianahesitated。"WhatIhavesaidisplain,"sheanswered,anditwasclearthatsheheldsomethingback。
　　SirRowlandflatteredhimselfupontheshrewdnesswithwhichhereadher,neverdreamingthathehadbutreadjustwhatsheintendedheshould。
　　Hestoodsquarelybeforeher,shakinghisgreathead。"Notplainenoughforme,"hesaid。Thenhistonesoftenedtooneofprayer。"Tellme,"
　　hebesoughther。
　　"Ican't！Ican't！"shecriedinfeigneddistress。"Itweretoodisloyal。"
　　Hefrowned。Hecaughtherarmandpressedit,hisheartsickwithjealousalarm。"Whatdoyoumean？Tellme,tellme,MistressHorton。"
　　Dianaloweredhereyes。"You'llnotbetrayme？"shestipulated。
　　"Why,no。Tellme。"
　　Sheflusheddelicately。"IamdisloyaltoRuth,"shesaid,"andyetI
　　amloathtoseeyoucozened。"
　　"Cozened？"quothhehoarsely,hisegregiousvanityinarms。"Cozened？"
　　Dianaexplained。"Ruthwasathishouseto—day,"saidshe,"closetedalonewithhimforanhourormore。"
　　"Impossible！"hecried。
　　"Whereelsewasthebargainmade？"sheasked,andshatteredhislastdoubt。"YouknowthatMr。Wildinghasnotbeenhere。"
　　YetBlakestruggledheroicallyagainstconviction。
　　"ShewenttointercedeforRichard,"heprotested。MissHortonlookedupathim,andunderherglanceSirRowlandfeltthathewasamanofunfathomableignorance。Thensheturnedasidehereyesandshruggedhershoulders`veryeloquently。"Youareamanoftheworld,SirRowland。Youcannotseriouslysupposethatanymaidwouldsoimperilhergoodnameinanycause？"
　　Darkergrewhisfloridcountenance;hisbulgingeyeslookedtroubledandperplexed。
　　"Youmeanthatsheloveshim？"hesaid,betweenquestionandassertion。
　　Dianapursedherlips。"Youshalldrawyourowninference,"quothshe。
　　Hebreathedheavily,andsquaredhisbroadshoulders,asonewhobraceshimselfforbattleagainstanelementstrongerthanhimself。
　　"Buthertalkofsacrifice？"hecried。
　　Dianalaughed,andagainhewasstungbyhercontemptofhisperceptions。"Herbrotherissetagainsthermarryinghim,"saidshe。
　　"Herewasherchance。Isitnotveryplain？"
　　Doubtstaredfromhiseyes。"Whydoyoutellmethis？"
　　"BecauseIesteemyou,SirRowland,"sheansweredverygently。"Iwouldnothaveyoumeddleinamatteryoucannotmend。"
　　"WhichIamnotdesiredtomend,sayrather,"herepliedwithheavysarcasm。"Shewouldnothavemyinterference！"Helaughedangrily。
　　"Ithinkyouareright,MistressDiana,"hesaid,"andIthinkthatmorethaneveristheretheneedtokillthisMr。Wilding。"
　　Hetookhisdepartureabruptly,leavingherscaredatthemischiefshehadmadeforhiminseekingtosavehimfromit,andthatverynighthesoughtoutWilding。
　　ButWildingwasfromhomeagain。UnderitsplacidsurfacetheWestCountrywasinaferment。AndifhithertoMr。WildinghaddisdainedtheinsistentrumoursofMonmouth'scoming,hisassurancewasshakennowbyproofthattheGovernment,itself,wasstirring;forfourcompaniesoffootandatroopofhorsehadbeenthatdayorderedtoTauntonbytheDeputy—Lieutenant。WildingwasgonewithTrenchardtoWhiteLackingtoninavainhopethattherehemightfindnewstoconfirmhispersistingunbeliefinanysuchrashnessaswasallegedonMonmouth'spart。
　　SoBlakewasforcedtowait,buthispurposesufferednothingbydelay。
　　Returningonthemorrow,hefoundMr。WildingattablewithNickTrenchard,andhecutshortthegreetingsofbothmen。Heflunghishat—ablackcastortrimmedwithablackfeather—rudelyamongthedishesontheboard。
　　"Ihavecometoaskyou,Mr。Wilding,"saidhe,"tobesogoodastotellmethecolourofthathat。"
　　Mr。WildingraisedoneeyebrowandlookedaslantatTrenchard,whoseweather—beatenfacewassuddenlyagrinwithstupefaction。
　　"Icouldnot,"saidMr。Wilding,"denyananswertoaquestionsetsocourteously。"HelookedupintoBlake'sflushedandscowlingfacewiththesweetestandmostinnocentofsmiles。"You'llnodoubtdisagreewithme,"saidhe,"butIlovetomeetamanhalfway。Yourhat,sir,isaswhiteasvirginsnow。
　　Blake'sslowwitsweredisconcertedforamoment。Thenhesmiledviciously。"Youmistake,Mr。Wilding,"saidhe。"Myhatisblack。"
　　Mr。Wildinglookedmoreattentivelyattheobjectindispute。Hewasinatriflingmood,andthestupidityofthisrunagatedebtoraffordedhimopportunitiestoindulgeit。"Why,true,"saidhe,"nowthatI
　　cometolook,Iperceivethatitisindeedblack。"
　　AndagainwasSirRowlanddisconcerted。Stillhepursuedthelessonhehadtaughthimself。
　　"Youaremistakenagain,"saidhe,"thathatisgreen。"
　　"Indeed？"quothMr。Wilding,likeonesurprisedandheturnedtoTrenchard,whowasenjoyinghimself。"Whatisyourownopinionofit,Nick？"
　　Thusappealedto,Trenchard'sreplywasprompt。"Why,sinceyouaskme,"saidhe,"myopinionisthatit'sanoisomethingnotmeetforagentleman'stable。"Andhetookitup,andthrewitthroughthewindow。
　　SirRowlandwasentirelyputoutofcountenance。Herewasadeliberateshiftingofthequarrelhehadcometopick,whichlefthimallatsea。
　　ItwashisdutytohimselftotakeoffenceatMr。Trenchard'saction。
　　Butthatwasnotthebusinessonwhichhehadcome。Hebecameangry。
　　"Blisterme！"hecried。"MustIsweeptheclothfromthetablebeforeyou'llunderstandme？"
　　"IfyouweretodoanythingsounmannerlyIshouldhaveyouflungoutofthehouse,"saidMr。Wilding,"anditwoulddistressmesototreatapersonofyourstationandquality。Thehatshallserveyourpurpose,althoughMr。Trenchard'sconcernformytablehasremovedit。Ourmemorieswillsupplyitsabsence。Whatcolourdidyousayitwas？"
　　"Isaiditwasgreen,"answeredBlake,quitereadytokeeptothepoint。
　　"Nay,Iamsureyouwerewrong,"saidWildingwithagraveair。
　　"AlthoughIadmitthatsinceitisyourownhat,youshouldbethebestjudgeofitscolour,Iam,nevertheless,ofopinionthatitisblack。"
　　"AndifIweretosaythatitiswhite？"askedBlake,feelingmightyridiculous。
　　"Why,inthatcaseyouwouldbeconfirmingmyfirstimpressionofit,"
　　answeredWilding,andTrenchardletflyaburstoflaughteratsightofthebaronet"sfuriousandbewilderedcountenance。"Andsinceweareagreedonthat,"continuedMr。Wilding,imperturbable,"Ihopeyou'lljoinusatsupper。"
　　"I'llbedamned,"roaredBlake,"ifeverIsitattableofyours,sir。"
　　"Ah！"saidMr。Wildingregretfully。"Nowyoubecomeoffensive。"
　　"Imeantobe,"saidBlake。
　　"Youastonishme！"
　　"Youlie！Idon't,"SirRowlandansweredhimintriumph。Hehadgotitoutatlast。
　　Mr。Wildingsatbackinhischair,andlookedathim,hisfaceinexpressiblyshocked。
　　"Willyouofyourownaccorddepriveusofyourcompany,SirRowland,"
　　hewondered,"orshallMr。Trenchardthrowyouafteryourhat？"
　　"Doyoumean……"gaspedtheother,"thatyou'llasknosatisfactionofme？"
　　"Notso。Mr。Trenchardshallwaituponyourfriendsto—morrow,andI
　　hopeyou'llaffordusthenasfelicitousentertainmentasyoudonow。"
　　SirRowlandsnorted,and,turningonhisheel,madeforthedoor。
　　"Giveyouagoodnight,SirRowland,"Mr。Wildingcalledafterhim。
　　"Walters,yourascal,lightSirRowlandtothedoor。"
　　PoorBlakewenthomedeeplyvexed;butitwasnomorethanthebeginningofhishumiliationatMr。Wilding'shands—forwhatcanbemorehumiliatingtoaquarrel—seekingmanthantohavehisenemyrefusetotreathimseriously？HeandMr。Wildingmetnextmorning,andbeforenoonthetaleofithadrunthroughBridgwaterthatWildWildingwasathistricksagain。ItmadeaprettystoryhowtwicehehaddisarmedandeachtimesparedtheLondonbeau,whostillinsisted—eachtimemorefuriously—uponrenewingtheencounter,tillMr。Wildinghadbeenforcedtorunhimthroughthesword—armandthusputhimoutofallcaseofcontinuing。ItwasastorythatheapedridiculeuponSirRowlandanddidcredittoMr。Wilding。
　　Richardheardit,andtrembled,enragedandimpotent。Ruthheardit,andwasstirreddespiteherselftoafeelingofgratitudetowardsWildingforthepatienceandtolerationhehaddisplayed。
　　Thereforawhilethematterrested,andthedayspassedslowly。ButSirRowland'snature—meanatbottom—wasspurredtofindhimsomeotherwayofwipingoutthescorethatlay`twixthimandMr。Wilding,ascoremightilyincreasedbytheshamethatMr。Wildinghadputuponhiminthatencounterfromwhich—whatevertheissue—hehadlookedtocullgreatcreditinRuth'seyes。
　　HehadbeenthinkingconstantlyoftheincautiouswordsthatRichardhadletfall,thinkingoftheminconjunctionwiththestartlingrumoursthatwerenowthetalkofthewholecountryside。Helaidtwoandtwotogether,andthefourhefoundthemmakeaffordedhimsomehope。Thenherealized—ashemighthaverealizedbeforehadhebeenshrewder—
　　thatRichard'smoodwasonethatmadehimripeforanyvillainy。HethoughtthathewasmuchinerrorifatreacheryexistedsoblackthatRichardwouldquailbeforeit,ifitbutaffordedhimthemeansofriddinghimselfandtheworldofMr。Wilding。Hewasconsideringhowbesttoapproachthesubject,whenithappenedthatonenightwhenRichardsatatplaywithhiminhisownlodging,theboygrewtalkativethroughexcessofwine。IthappenednaturallyenoughthatRichardsoughtanallyinBlake,justasBlakesoughtanallyinRichard。
　　Indeed,theirfortunes—sofarasRuthwasconcerned—werebounduptogether。ThebaronetsawthatRichard,half—fuddled,wasripeforanyconfidencesthatmightaimatthedestructionofhisenemy。Hequestionedhimadroitly,anddrewfromhimthestoryoftherisingthatwasbeingplanned,andofthesharethatMr。Wilding—oneoftheDukeofMonmouth'schiefmovement—men—boreinthebusinessthatwastoward。
　　When,towardsmidnight,RichardWestmacottwenthome,heleftinSirRowland'shandsaninstrumentwhichthelatteraccountedpotentialnotonlyforthedestructionofAnthonyWilding,butperhapsalsoforlayingthefoundationstothebuildingofhisownfortunesanew。
　　CHAPTERVII
　　THENUPTIALSOFRUTHWESTMACOTT
　　HerewasSirRowlandBlakeinhighfettleatknowinghimselfarmedwithaportentousweaponforthedestructionofAnthonyWilding。Uponcloserinspectionofit,however,hecametorealize—asRichardhadrealizedearlier—thatitwasdouble—edged,andthatthewieldingofitmustbefraughtwithasmuchdangerforRichardasfortheircommonenemy。FortobetrayMr。WildingandtheplotwouldscarcebepossiblewithoutbetrayingyoungWestmacott,andthatwasunthinkable,sincetoruinRichard—athinghewouldhavedonewithalightheartsofarasRichardwashimselfconcerned—wouldbetoruinhisownhopesofwinningRuth。
　　Therefore,duringthedaysthatfollowed,SirRowlandwasforcedtofretinidlenesswhattimehiswoundwashealing;butifhisarmwasinvalided,hiseyesandearsweresound,andheremainedwatchfulforanopportunitytoapplytheknowledgehehadgained。Richardmentionedthesubjectnomore,sothatBlakealmostcametowonderwhethertheboyrememberedwhatinhiscupshehadbetrayed。
　　MeanwhileMr。Wildingmovedsereneandsmilingonhisway。DailythereweregreatarmfulsofflowersdepositedatLuptonHouse—hislover'sofferingtohismistress—andnodaywentbybutthatsomerichergiftaccompaniedthem。Nowitwasacollarofbrilliants,anonaropeofpearls,againapricelessringthathadbeenMr。
　　Wilding'smother's。Ruthreceivedwithreluctancethesepledgesofhisundesiredaffection。Itwereidletorejectthem,consideringthatshewastomarryhim;yetithurthersorelytoretainthem。
　　Onhersideshemadenodispositionsforthemarriage,butwentaboutherdailytasksasthoughsheweretoremainamaidatLuptonHouseforatimeasyetindefinite。
　　InDiana,Wildinghad—thoughhewasfarfromguessingit—anentirelyexceptionalally。LadyHorton,too,wasfavourablydisposedtowardshim。Afoolish,worldlywoman,whoneverprobedbeneathlife'ssurface,norindeeddreamedthatanythingexistedinlifebeyondthattowhichherfivesensestestified,shewascontentplacidlytocontemplatetheadvantagesthatmustaccruetoherniecefromthisalliance。
　　AndsomotheranddaughterinMr。Wilding'sabsencepleadedhiscausewithhisrefractorybride—elect。Buttheypleadedittolittlerealpurpose。SomethingperhapstheyachievedinthatRuthgrewmoreorlessresignedtothefatethatawaitedher。ByrepeatingtoherselftheargumentsshehademployedtoRichard—thatshemustwedsomeday,andthatMr。Wildingwouldprovenodoubtasgoodahusbandasanother—shecameinameasuretobelievethem。
　　Richardmeanwhileappearedtoavoidher。Lackingthecouragetoadopttheheroicmeasureswhichatfirsthehadpromised,yethadhegraceenoughtotakeshameathisinaction。ButifhewasidlesofarasMr。Wildingwasconcerned,therewasnolackofworkforhiminotherconnections。Thecloudsofwarweregatheringinthatsummersky,andabouttoloosethestormgestatinginthemuponthatfaircountryoftheWest,andyoungWestmacott,committedashestoodtotheDukeofMonmouth'sparty,wasforcedtotakehisshareinthesurreptitiousbustlethatwastoward。Hewasawaytwodaysinthatweek,havingbeensummonedtoameetingoftheleadinggentlemenofthepartyatWhiteLackington,wherehewasforcedintotheunwelcomecompanyofhisfuturebrother—in—law,tomeetwithcourteous,deferentialtreatmentfromthatimperturbablegentleman。
　　Wilding,indeed,seemedtohaveforgottenthatanyquarrelhadeverexistedbetweenthem。Fortherest,hecameandwent,supremelycalm,asifhewere,andknewhimselftobe,mostwelcomeatLuptonHouse。
　　ThriceinthecourseofthatweekofwaitingherodeoverfromZoylandChasetopayhisdutytoMistressWestmacott,andRuthwaspersuadedoneachoccasionbyherauntandcousintoreceivehim。Indeed,howcouldshewellrefuse？
　　Hismannerwaseverallthatcouldbedesired。Gallant,affectionate,deferential。HewasinwordandlookandtoneRuth'smostobedientservant。Hadshebeenlessprejudicedshemusthaveadmiredtheadmirablerestraintwithwhichhekeptallexultationfromhismanner,for,afterall,itisdifficulttoforceavictoryashehadforcedhis,andnottotriumph。
　　ItistobefearedthatduringthatweekheneglectedagooddealofhisdutytotheDuke,leavingTrenchardtosupplyhisplaceandundertaketasksofaseditiousnaturethatshouldhavebeenhisown。
　　Atheart,however,inspiteofthestoriescurrentandthemilitiaatTaunton,Wildingremainedconvinced—asdidmostoftheotherleadingpartisansoftheProtestantCause—thatnosuchmadnessasthisprematurelandingcouldbeincontemplationbytheDuke。Besides,wereitso,theymustunfailinglyhavedefinitewordofit;andtheyhadnone。
　　Trenchardwaslessassured,butWildinglaughedattheoldrake'sforebodings,andserenelywentaboutthebusinessofhismarriage。
　　OntheeveoftheweddinghepaidRuthhislastvisitinthequalityofalover,andwasreceivedbyherinthegarden。Hefoundherlookingpalerthanherwont,andtherewasacloudofsadnessonherbrow,ahauntingsadnessinhereyes。Ittouchedhimtothesoul,andforamomenthewaveredinhispurpose。Hestoodbesideher—sheseatedontheoldlichenedseat—andasilencefellbetweenthem,duringwhichMr。Wilding'sconsciencewrestledwithhisstrongerpassion。Itwashishabittobeglib,talkingincessantlywhattimehewasinhercompany,andseeingtoitthathistalkwasshallowandtouchedatnothingbelongingtothedeepsofhumanlife。Thuswasit,perhaps,thatthissuddenandenduringsilenceaffectedhermostoddly;itwasasifshehadabsorbedsomenotionofwhatwaspassinginhismind。Shelookedupsuddenlyintohisface,sowhiteandsocomposed。Theireyesmet,andhestoopedtohersuddenly,hislongbrownringletstumblingforward。Shefearedhiskiss,yetnevermoved,staringupwithfixed,dilatedeyesasiffascinatedbyhisdark,broodinggaze。Hepaused,hoveringaboveherupturnedfaceashoversthehawkabovethedove。
　　"Child,"hesaidatlast,andhisvoicewassoftandwinningfromverysadness,"child,whydoyoufearme？"
　　Thetruthofitwenthometoher。Shefearedhim;shefearedthestrengththatlaybehindthatcalm;shefearedthemasterfulnessofhiswildbutinscrutablyhiddennature;shewasafraidtosurrendertosuchamanasthis,afraidthatinthehotcrucibleofhisloveherownnaturewouldbedissolved,transmuted,andrenderedpartofhis。Yet,thoughthetruthwasnowmadeplaintoher,shethrustitfromher。
　　"Idonotfearyou,"saidshe,andhervoiceatleastrangfearlessly。
　　"Doyouhateme,then？"heasked。Herglancegrewtroubledandfellawayfromhis;itsoughtthecalmoftheriver,gleaminggoldeninthesunset。Therewasapause。Wildingsighedheavily,andstraightenedhimselffromhisbendingposture。
　　"Youshouldnothavesoughtthustocompelme,shesaidpresently。
　　"Iownit,"heansweredathoughtbitterly。"Iownit。YetwhathopehadIbutincompulsion？"Shereturnedhimnoanswer。"Yousee,"hesaid,withincreasingbitterness,"yousee,thathadInotseizedthechancethatwasminetowinyoubycompulsionIhadnotwonyouatall。"
　　"Itmight,"saidshe,"havebeenbettersoforbothofus。"
　　"Betterforneither,"hereplied。"Ah,thinkitnot！Intime,I
　　swear,youshallnotthinkit。Foryoushallcometoloveme,Ruth,"
　　headdedwithanoteofsuchassurancethatsheturnedtomeetagainhisgaze。Heansweredthewordlessquestionofhereyes。"Thereis,"
　　saidhe,"noloveofmanforwoman,sothatthemanbenotwhollyunworthy,sothathispassionbesincereandstrong,thatcanfailintimetoarouseresponse。"Shesmiledalittlepitifulsmileofunbelief。"WereIaboy,"herejoined,hisearnestnessvibratingnowinavoicethatwasusuallysocalmandlevel,"offeringyouprotestationsofacallowworship,youmighthavecausetodoubtme。
　　ButIamaman,Ruth—atried,andhaplyasinfulman,alas！—amanwhoneedsyou,andwhowillhaveyouatallcosts。"
　　"Atallcosts？"sheechoed,andherliptookonacurl。"Andyoucallthisegotismbythenameoflove！Nodoubtyouareright,"shecontinuedwithanironythatstunghim,"forloveitis—loveofyourself。"
　　"Andisnotallloveofanotherfoundedupontheloveofself？"heaskedher,startlingherwithaquestionthatrevealedtoherclear—sightedmindatruthundreamedof。"Whensomeday—pleaseHeaven—Icometofindfavourinyoureyes,andyoucometoloveme,whatwillitmeanbutthatyouhavecometofindmenecessarytoyourselfandtoyourhappiness？Wouldyoudenymenowyourloveifyoufeltthatyouhadneedofmine？IloveyoubecauseIlovemyself,yousay。Igrantityou。Butyou'llconfessthatifyoudonotlovemeyet,itisforthesamereason,andthatwhenyoudocometolovemethereasonwillbestillthesame。"
　　"YouareverysurethatIshallcometoloveyou,saidshe,shiftingwoman—likethegroundofargumentnowthatshefoundinsecuretheplaceonwhichatfirstshehadtakenherstand。
　　"WereInot,thinkyouIshouldcompelyoutothechurchto—morrow？"
　　Shetrembledathiscalmassurance。Itwasasifshealmostfearedthatwhathesaidmightcometopass。
　　"Sinceyoubearsuchfaithinyourheart,"saidshe,"wereitnotnobler,moregenerous,thatyoushouldsetyourselftowinmefirstandwedmeafterwards？"
　　"ItisthecourseIshould,myself,prefer,"heansweredquietly。"Butitisacoursedeniedme。Iwasviewedherewithdisfavour,almostdeniedyourhouse。WhatchancehadIwhilstImightnotcomenearyou,whilstyourmindwaspoisonedagainstmebytheidle,viciousprattlethatgoesroundandroundthecountryside,increasingeverinbulkfromconstantrepetition？"
　　"Doyousaythatthesetalesaregroundless？"sheasked,withasuddenliftingoftheeyes,asuddenkeeneagernessthatdidnotescapehim。
　　"IwouldtoGodIcould,"hecried,"sincefromyourmannerIseethatwouldimprovemeinyoursight。Butthereisjustsufficienttruthinthemtoforbidme,asIam,Ihope,agentleman,fromgivingthemafulldenial。YetinwhatamIworsethanmyfellows？Areyouofthosewhothinkahusbandshouldcometothemasonewhoseyouthhasbeentheyouthofcloisterednun？Heavenknows,Iamnotonetodrawparallels`twixtmyselfandanyother,yetyoucompelme。Whilstyoudenyme,youreceivethisfellowBlake—aLondonnight—scourer,abrokengamesterwhohasgivenhiscreditorsleg—bail,andwhowoosyouthatwithyourfortunehemayclosethedoorsofthedebtor'sgaolthat'sopentoreceivehim。"
　　"Thisisunworthyinyou,"sheexclaimed,hertoneindignant—soindignantthatheexperiencedhisfirstpangofjealousy。
　　"ItwouldbewereIhisrival,"heansweredquietly。"ButIamnot。
　　Ihavesavedyoufrombecomingthepreyofsuchashebyforcingyoutomarryme。"
　　"ThatImaybecomethepreyofsuchasyou,instead,"washerretort。
　　Helookedatheramoment,smilingsadly。Then,withpardonableself—esteemwhenwethinkofwhatmannerofmanitwaswithwhomhenowcomparedhimself,"Surely,"saidhe,"itisbettertobecomethepreyofthelionthanthejackal。"
　　"Tothevictimitcanmatterlittle,"sheanswered,andhesawthetearsgatheringinhereyes。
　　Compassionmovedhim。Itroseinarmstobatterdownhiswill,andinaweakermanhadtriumphed。Mr。Wildingbenthiskneeandwentdownbesideher。
　　"Iswear,"hesaidimpassionedly,"thatasmywifeyoushallnevercountyourselfavictim。Youshallbehonouredbyallmen,butbynonemoredeeplythanbyhimwhowilleverstrivetobeworthyoftheproudtitleofyourhusband。"Hetookherhandandkisseditreverentially。Heroseandlookedather。"To—morrow,"hesaid,andbowinglowbeforeherwenthisway,leavingherwithemotionsthatfoundtheirventintears,butdefiedhermaidenmindtounderstandthem。
　　Themorrowcameherwedding—day—asunnydayofearlyJune,andRuth。