assistedbyDianaandLadyHorton—madepreparationforhermarriageasspiritedwomenhavemadepreparationforthescaffold,determinedtoshowtheworldabrave,sereneexterior。ThesacrificewasnecessaryforRichard'ssake。Thatwasathinglongsincedetermined。YetitwouldhavebeensomecomforttohertohavehadRichardatherside;
　　itwouldhavelentherstrengthtohavehadhiskissofthanksfortheholocaustwhichforhimshewasmakingofallthatawomanholdsmostdearandsacred。ButRichardwasaway—hehadbeenabsentsinceyesterday,andnonecouldtellherwherehetarried。
　　WithLadyHortonandDianashetookherwaytoSaintMary'sChurchatnoon,andthereshefoundMr。Wilding—veryfineinasuitofsky—bluesatin,lacedwithsilver—awaitingher。AndwithhimwasoldLordGervaseScoresby,hisfriendandcousin,theveryincarnationofbenignityandruddyhealth。
　　ForawonderNickTrenchardwasnotatMr。Wilding'sside。ButNickhaddefinitelyrefusedtobeoftheparty,emphasizinghisrefusalbycertainchoicereflectionswhollyunflatteringtothemarriedstate。
　　Someidlersofthetownweretheonlywitnesses—andlittledidtheyguesstheextentofthetragedytheywerewitnessing。Therewasnomusic,andtheceremonywasbriefandsoonatanend。Theonlytouchofjoy,offestiveness,wasthataffordedbythechoicebloomswithwhichMr。Wildinghadsmotherednaveandchoirandaltar—rails。
　　Theirperfumehungheavyasincenseinthetemple。
　　"Whogiveththiswomantobemarriedtothisman？"dronedtheparson'svoice,andWildingsmileddefiantlyasmilewhichseemedtoanswerhim,"Noman。Ihavetakenherformyself。"
　　LordGervasestoodforwardashersponsor,andasinadreamRuthfeltherhandlyinginMr。Wilding'scool,firmgrasp。
　　Theecclesiastic'svoicedronedon,hisvoicehanginglikethehumofsomegreatInsectuponthescentedair。Itwasaccomplished,andtheywereweldedeachtotheotheruntildeathshouldpartthem。
　　Downthefestoonednaveshecameonhisarm,herstepunfaltering,herfacecalm;blackmiseryinherheart。BehindfollowedherauntandcousinandLordGervase。OnMr。Wilding'saquilinefaceapalesmileglimmered,likeabeamofmoonlightupontranquilwaters,anditabodethereuntiltheyreachedtheporchandweresuddenlyconfrontedbyNickTrenchard,redoffaceforonce,perspiring,excited,anddust—stainedfromheadtofoot。
　　Hehadarrivedthatveryinstant;and,urgedbythefearfulnewsthatbroughthim,hehadcomeresolvedtopluckWildingfromthealtarbetheceremonydoneornot。ButinthathereckonedwithoutMr。Wilding—forheshouldhaveknownhimbetterthantohavehopedtosucceed。
　　Hesteppedforwardnow,andgrippedhimwithhisdustyglovebythesleeveofhisshimmeringbridegroom'scoat。Hisvoicecameharshwithexcitementandsmoulderingrage。
　　"Awordwithyou,Anthony！"
　　Mr。Wildingturnedplacidlytoregardhim。"Whatnow？"heasked,hisbride'shandretainedinthecrookofhiselbow。
　　"Treachery！"snappedTrenchardinawhisper。"Hellanddamnation！
　　Stepaside,man。"
　　Mr。WildingturnedtoLordGervase,andbeggedofhimtotakechargeofMistressWilding。"Ideplorethisinterruption,"hetoldher,nowhitruffledbywhathehadheard。"ButIshallrejoinyousoon。Meanwhile,hislordshipwilldothehonoursforme。ThislasthesaidwithhiseyesmovingtoLadyHortonandherdaughter。
　　LordGervase,insomesurprise,butoverruledbyhiscousin'scalm,tookthebrideonhisarmandledherfromthechurchyardtothewaitingcarriage。Tothishehandedher,andafterherherauntandcousin。
　　Then,mountinghimself,theydroveaway,leavingWildingandTrenchardamongthetombstones,whitherthemessengerofevilhadmeanwhileledhisfriend。Trenchardrappedouthisstorybriefly。
　　"Shenke,"saidhe,"whowasridingfromLymewithlettersforyoufromtheDuke,wasrobbedofhisdispatcheslatelastnightamileorsothissideTaunton。"
　　"Highwaymen？"inquiredMr。Wilding,histonecalm,thoughhisglancehadhardened。
　　"Highwaymen？No！Governmentagentsbelike。Thereweretwoofthem,hesays—forIhavethetalefromhimself—andtheymethimattheHareandHoundsatTaunton,wherehestayedtosuplastnight。Oneofthemgavehimthepassword,andheconceivedhimtobeafriend。
　　Butafterwards,growingsuspicious,herefusedtotellthemtoomuch。
　　Theyfollowedhim,itappears,andontheroadtheyovertookandfelluponhim;theyknockedhimfromhishorse,possessedthemselvesofthecontentsofhiswallet,andlefthimfordead—withhisheadbroken。"
　　Mr。Wildingdrewasharpbreath。Hiswitsworkedquickly。Hewas,herealized,indeadlyperil。OnethoughthegavetoRuth。Iftheworstcametopassherewasonewhowouldrejoiceinherfreedom。
　　Thereflectioncutthroughhimlikeasword。Hewouldbeloathtodieuntilhehadtaughthertoregrethim。ThenhismindreturnedtowhatTrenchardhadtoldhim。
　　"YousaidaGovernmentagent,"hemusedslowly。"HowwouldaGovernmentagentknowthepassword？"
　　Trenchard'smouthfellopen。"Ihadnotthought……"hebegan。Thenendedwithanoath。"`Tisatraitorfrominside。"
　　Wildingnodded。"ItmustbeoneofthosewhometatWhiteLackingtonthreenightsago,"heanswered。
　　Idlers—thewitnessesofthewedding—werewatchingthemwithinterestfromthepath,andothersfromoverthelowwallofthechurchyard,aswelltheymight,forMr。Wilding'sbehaviourwas,forabridegroom,extraordinary。Trencharddidnotrelishtheaudience。
　　"Wehadbestaway,"saidhe。"Indeed,"headded,"wehadbestoutofEnglandaltogetherbeforethehueandcryisraised。Thebubble'spricked。"
　　Wilding'shandfellonhisarm,anditsgraspwassteady。Wilding'seyesmethis,andtheirgazewascalm。
　　"Wherehaveyoubestowedthismessenger？"quothhe。
　　"HeishereinBridgwater,inbed,attheBellInn,whencehesentforyoutoZoylandChase。Suspectingtrouble,Irodetohimatoncemyself。"
　　"Come,then,"saidWilding。"We'llgotalkwithhim。Thismatterneedsprobingerewedecideonflight。Youdonotseemtohavesoughttodiscoverwhowerethethieves,norothermattersthatitmaybeofusetoknow。"
　　"Ratme！"sworeTrenchard。"Iwasinhastetobringyounewsofit。
　　Besides,therewereotherthingstotalkof。ThereisnewsthatAlbemarlehasgonetoExeter,andthatSirEdwardPhelipsandColonelLuttrellhavebeenorderedtoTauntonbytheKing。"
　　Mr。Wildingstaredathimwithsuddendismay。
　　"Odso！"heexclaimed。"IsKingJamestakingfrightatlast？"Thenheshruggedhisshouldersandlaughed;"Pshaw！"hecried。"Theyarestartingatashadow。"
　　"Heavensend,"prayedTrenchard,"thattheshadowdoesnotprovetohaveasubstanceimmediatelybehindit。"
　　"Folly！"saidWilding。"WhenMonmouthcomes,indeed,weshallnotlackforewarning。Come,"headdedbriskly。"We'llseethismessengerandendeavourtodiscoverwhowerethesefellowsthatbesethim。"AndhedrewTrenchardfromamongthetombstonestotheopenpath,andthusfromthechurchyardandtheeyesofthegapingonlookers。
　　CHAPTERVIII
　　BRIDEANDGROOM
　　Andsothebridegroom,inallhisweddingfinery,madehiswaywithTrenchardtotheBellInn,intheHighStreet,whilsthisbride,escortedbyLordGervase,wasbeingdriventoZoylandChase,ofwhichshewasnowthemistress。
　　Butshewasnotdestinedjustyettocrossitsthreshold。Forscarcelyweretheyovertheriverwhenahorsemanbarredtheirway,andcalleduponthedrivertopullup。LadyHorton,inapanic,huddledherselfinthegreatcoachandspokeoftobymen,whilstLordGervasethrusthisheadfromthewindowtodiscoverthattheriderwhostayedtheirprogresswasRichardWestmacott。Hislordshiphailedtheboy,who,thereupon,walkedhishorsetothecarriagedoor。
　　"LordGervase,"saidhe,"willyoubidthecoachmanputaboutanddrivetoLuptonHouse？"
　　LordGervasestaredathiminhopelessbewilderment。"DrivetoLuptonHouse？"heechoed。Themorehesawofthisoddwedding,thelessheunderstoodofit。ItseemedtotheplacidoldgentlemanthathewasfallenamongaparcelofBedlamites。"Surely,sir,itisforMistressWildingtosaywhithershewillbedriven,"andhedrewinhisheadandturnedtoRuthforhercommands。But,bewilderedherself,shehadnonetogivehim。Itwasherturntoleanfromthecarriagewindowtoaskherbrotherwhathemeant。
　　"Imeanyouaretodrivehomeagain,"saidhe。"ThereissomethingImusttellyou。WhenyouhaveheardmeitshallbeyourstodecidewhetheryouwillproceedornottoZoylandChase。"
　　Herstodecide？Howwasthatpossible？Whatcouldhemean？Shepressedhimwithsomesuchquestions。
　　"Itmeans,inshort,"heansweredimpatiently,"thatIholdyoursalvationinmyhands。Fortherest,thisisnotthetimeorplacetotellyoumore。Bidthefellowputabout。"
　　Ruthsatbackandlookedoncemoreathercompanions。Butfromnonedidshereceivetheleasthelpfulsuggestion。LadyHortonmadegreatprattletolittlepurpose;LordGervasefollowedherexample,whilstDiana,whosealertiftrivialmindwastheonethatmighthaveofferedassistance,satsilent。Ruthpondered。ShebethoughtherofTrenchard'ssuddenarrivalatSaintMary's,hisdust—stainedpersonandexcitedmanner,andofhowhehaddrawnMr。Wildingasidewithnewsthatseemedofmoment。Andnowherbrotherspokeofsavingher;
　　itwasalittlelateforthat,shethought。Outsidethecoachhisvoicestillurgedher,anditgrewpeevishandangry,aswasusualwhenhewascrossed。Intheendsheconsentedtodohiswill。Ifsheweretofathomthismysterythatwasthickeningaboutherthereseemedtobenoothercourse。SheturnedtoLordGervase。
　　"WillyoudoasRichardsays？"shebeggedhim。
　　Hislordshipblewouthischubbycheeksinhisastonishment;hehesitatedamoment,thinkingofhiscousinWilding;then,withashrug,heleanedfromthewindowandgavetheordershedesired。Thecarriageturnedabout,andwithRichardfollowinglumberedbackacrossthebridgeandthroughthetowntoLuptonHouse。AtthedoorLordGervasetookhisleaveofthem。HehadactedasRuthhadbiddenhim;
　　buthehadnowishtobefurtherinvolvedinthisaffair,whateveritmightportend。RatherwasithisdutyatoncetogoacquaintMr。
　　Wilding—ifhecouldfindhim—withwhatwastakingplace,andleaveittoMr。Wildingtotakewhatmeasuresmightseembesttohim。Hetoldthemso,andhavingtoldthem,leftthem。
　　Richardbeggedtobealonewithhissister,andalonetheypassedtogetherintothelibrary。Hismannerwasrestless;hetrembledwithexcitement,andhiseyesglitteredalmostfeverishly。
　　"Youmayhavethought,Ruth,thatIwasresignedtoyourmarriagewiththisfellowWilding,"hebegan;"orthatforotherreasonsI
　　thoughtitwisernottointerfere。Ifyouthoughtthatyouwrongedme。I—BlakeandI—havebeenatworkforyouduringtheselastdays,andIrejoicetosayourlabourshavenotbeenidle。"Hismannergrewassertive,boastful,asheproceeded。
　　"Youknow,ofcourse,"saidshe,"thatIammarried。"
　　Hemadeagestureofdisdain。"Nomatter,"saidheexultantly。
　　"Itmatterssomething,Ithink,"sheanswered。"ORichard,Richard,whydidyounotcometomesoonerifyoupossessedthemeansofsparingmethisthing？"
　　Heshruggedimpatiently;herremonstranceseemedtothrowhimoutoftemper。"Oons！"hecried;"Icameassoonaswaseverpossible,and,dependuponit,Iamnotcometoolate。Indeed,IthinkIamcomeintheverynickoftime。"Hedrewasheetofpaperfromaninsidepocketofhiscoatandslappeditdownuponthetable。"Thereisthewherewithaltohangyourfinehusband,"heannouncedintriumph。
　　Sherecoiled。"Tohanghim？"sheechoed。WithallheraversiontoMr。Wildingitwasplainshedidnotwishhimhanged。
　　"Aye,tohanghim,"Richardrepeated,anddrewhimselftothefullheightofhisshortstatureinprideatthethinghehadachieved。
　　"Readit。"
　　Shetookthepaperalmostmechanically,andforsomemomentsshestudiedthecrabbedsignaturebeforerealizingwhoseitwas。Thenshestarted。
　　"FromtheDukeofMonmouth！"sheexclaimed。
　　Helaughed。"Readit,"hebadeheragain,thoughtherewasnoneedfortheinjunction,foralreadyshewasdecipheringthecrabbedhandandtheatrociousspelling—forHisGraceofMonmouth'seducationhadbeennotoriouslyneglected。Theletter,whichwasdatedfromTheHague,wasaddressed"TomygoodfriendW。,atBridgwater。"Itbegan,"Sir,"
　　spokeoftheimminentarrivalofHisGraceintheWest,andgavecertaininstructionsforthecollectionofarmsandtheworkofpreparingmenforenlistmentinhisCause,endingwithprotestationsofHisGrace'sfriendshipandesteem。
　　Ruthreadtheepistletwicebeforeitstreasonablenaturewasmadecleartoher;beforesheunderstoodthethingthatwasforeshadowed。Thensheraisedtroubledeyestoherbrother'sface,andinanswertothequestionofherglancehemadecleartohertheshrewdmeansbywhichtheyhadbecomepossessedofthisweaponthatshoulddestroytheirenemyMr。
　　Wilding。
　　Blakeandhe,forewarned—hesaidnothow—ofthecomingofthismessenger,hadlaininwaitforhimattheHareandHounds,atTaunton。
　　Theyhadsoughtatfirsttobecomepossessedoftheletterwithoutviolence。But,havingfailedinthisthroughhavingarousedthemessenger'ssuspicions,theyhadbeenforcedtofollowandattackhimonalonelystretchofroad,wheretheyhadrobbedhimofthecontentsofhiswallet。Richardaddedthattheletterwas,nodoubt,oneofseveralsentoverbyMonmouthtosomefriendatLymefordistributionamonghisprincipalagentsintheWest。Itwasregrettablethattheyshouldhaveendeavouredtotakegentlemeasureswiththecourier,asthishadforewarnedhim,andhehadapparentlybeenledtoremovetheletter'souterwrapper—which,nodoubt,boreWilding'sfullnameandaddress—againstthechanceofsuchanattackastheyhadmadeuponhim。Nevertheless,asitwas,thatletter"tomygoodfriendW。,"
　　backedbyRichard'sandBlake'sevidenceofthedestinationintendedforit,wouldbemorethanenoughtolayMr。Wildingsafelybytheheels。
　　"IwouldtoHeaven,"herepeatedinconclusion,"Icouldhavecomeintimetosaveyoufrombecominghiswife。Butatleastitisinmypowertomakeyouveryspeedilyhiswidow。"
　　"That,"saidRuth,stillretainingtheletter,"iswhatyouproposetodo？"
　　"Whatelse？"
　　Sheshookherhead。"Itmustnotbe,Richard,"shesaid。"I'llnotconsenttoit。"
　　Takenaback,hestaredather;thenlaughedunpleasantly。"Oddsmylife！Areyouinlovewiththeman？Haveyoubeenfoolingus？"
　　"No,"sheanswered。"ButI'llbenopartytohismurder。"
　　"Murder,quotha！Whotalksofmurder？"Hershrewdeyessearchedhisface。"HowcameyoubyyourknowledgethatthiscourierrodetoMr。
　　Wilding？"sheaskedhimsuddenly,andtheswiftchangethatoverspreadhiscountenanceshowedherthatshehadtouchedhiminatenderspot,assuredherofthethingshehadsuddenlycometosuspect—asuspicionwhichatthesametimestartedfromandexplainedmuchthathadbeenmysteriousinRichard'swaysoflate。"Youhadknowledgeofthisconspiracy,shepursued,answeringherownquestionbeforehehadtimetospeak,"becauseyouwereoneoftheconspirators。"
　　"AtleastIamsonolonger,"heblurtedout。"IthankHeavenforthat,Richard;foryourlifeisverydeartome。Butitwouldillbecomeyoutomakesuchuseasthisoftheknowledgeyoucamebyinthatmanner。
　　ItwereaJudas'sact。"Hewouldhaveinterruptedher,buthermannerdominatedhim。"Youwillleavethisletterwithme,Richard,"shecontinued。
　　"Damnme！no……"hebegan。
　　"Ah,yes,Richard,"sheinsisted。"Youwillgiveittome,andIshallthankyouforthegift。Itshallproveaweaponformysalvation,neverfear。"
　　"Itshall,indeed,"hecried,withanuglylaugh;"whenIhaveriddentoExetertolayitbeforeAlbemarle。"
　　"Notso,"sheansweredhim。"Itshallbeaweaponofdefence—notofoffence。ItshallstandasabucklerbetweenmeandMr。Wilding。Trustme,Ishallknowhowtouseit。"
　　"ButthereisBlaketoconsider,"heexpostulated,growingangry。"Iampledgedtohim。"
　　"Yourfirstdutyistome……"
　　"Tut！"heinterrupted。"BlakefeelsthatheowesittohisloyaltytolaythisletterbeforetheLord—Lieutenant,and,forthatmatter,sodoI。"
　　"SirRowlandwouldnotcrossmywishesinthis,sheansweredhim。
　　"Folly！"hecried,nowthoroughlyaroused。"Givemethatletter。"
　　"Nay,Richard,"sheanswered,andwavedhimback。
　　Butheadvancednevertheless。
　　"Giveitme,"hebadeher,waxingfierce。"Gad！Itwasfollytohavetoldyouofit。IhadnotdonesobutthatIneverthoughtyousuchafoolastoopposeyourselftothethingweintend。"
　　"Listen,Richard……"shebesoughthim。
　　Buthewasgrowninsensibletopleadings。
　　"Givemethatletter,"heinsisted,andcaughtherwrist。Herotherhand,however—theonethatheldthesheet—wasalreadybehindherback。
　　Thedoorwassuddenlythrustopen,andDianaappeared。"Ruth,"sheannounced,"Mr。Wildingishere。"
　　Atthementionofthatname,Richardletherfree。"Wilding！"heejaculated,hisfiercenessallblownoutofhim。HehadimaginedthatalreadyMr。Wildingwouldbeinfullflight。Wasthefellowmad？
　　"Heisfollowingme,"saidDiana,and,indeed,astepcouldbeheardinthepassage。
　　"Theletter！"growledRichardinafrenzy,betweenfearandangernow。
　　"Giveitme！Giveitmedoyouhear？"
　　"Sh！You'llbetrayyourself,"shecried。"Heishere。"
　　AndatthatsamemomentMr。Wilding'stallfigure,stillarrayedinhisbridegroom'sfineryofsky—bluesatin,loomedinthedoorway。Hewassereneandcalmasever。Neitherthediscoveryoftheplotbytheabstractionofthemessenger'sletter,norRuth'sstrangeconduct—ofwhichhehadheardfromLordGervase—hadsufficedtoruffle,outwardlyatleast,theinscrutableserenityofhisairandmanner。Hepausedtomakehisbow,thenadvancedintotheroom,withapassingglanceatRichardstillspurredandbootedandalldust—stained。
　　"Youappeartohaveriddenfar,Dick,"saidhe,smiling,andRichardshiveredinspiteofhimselfatthemockingnotethatseemedtoringfaintlyatthewords。"Isawyourfriend,SirRowland,inthegarden,"headded。"Ithinkhewaitsforyou。
　　ThoughRichardcouldnotfailtoapprehendtheimplieddismissal,hewasmindedatfirsttodisregardit。ButMr。Wilding,turning,heldthedoor,addressingDiana。
　　"MistressHorton,saidhe,"willyougiveusleave？"
　　Dianacurtsiedandpassedout,andMr。Wilding'seyefallinguponthelingeringRichardatthatmoment,Richardthoughtitbesttofollowherexample。Buthewentwithrageinhisheartatbeingforcedtoleavethatpreciousdocumentbehindhim。
　　AsMr。Wilding,hisbacktoheramoment,closedthedoor,Ruthslippedthepaperhurriedlyintothebosomofherlow—neckedgown。Heturnedtoher,calmbutverygrave,andhisdarkeyesseemedtoreproachher。
　　"Thisisilldone,Ruth,"saidhe。
　　"Illdone,orwelldone,"sheansweredhim,"doneitis,andshallsoremain。"
　　Heraisedhisbrows。"Ah,"saidhe,"Iappear,then,tohavemisapprehendedthesituation。FromwhatGervasetoldme,Iunderstooditwasyourbrotherforcedyoutoreturn。"
　　"Notforced,sir,"sheansweredhim。
　　"Induced,then,"saidhe。"ItbutremainsmetoinduceyoutorepairwhatIthinkwasamistake。"
　　Sheshookherhead。"Ihavereturnedhomeforgood,"saidshe。
　　"You'llpardonme,"saidhe,"thatIamsoegotisticalastopreferZoylandChasetoLuptonHouse。Despitethemanifoldattractionsofthelatter,Idonotintendtotakeupmyabodehere。"
　　"Youarenotaskedto。"
　　"What,then？"
　　Shehatedhimforthesmile,forhismasterfulair,whichseemedtoimplythathehumouredherbecausehescornedtouseauthority,butthatwhenhediduseit,hersmustitbetoobeyhim。Againshefeltthateverlastingcalm,arguingsuchlatentforces,wasthethingshehatedmostinhim。
　　"IthinkIhadbestbeplainwithyou,"saidshe。"Ihavefulfilledmypartofthebargainthatwemade。Iintendtodonomore。I
　　promisedthatifyousparedmybrother,Iwouldgotothealtarwithyouto—day。Ihavecarriedoutmycontracttotheletter。Itisatanend。"
　　"Indeed,"saidhe;"Ithinkithasnotyetbegun。"Headvancedtowardsher,andtookherhand。Sheyieldedit,unwillingthoughshewas。
　　"Thisisunworthyofyou,madam,"saidhe,histonegraveanddeferential。
　　"Youthinktoescapefulfillingthespiritofyourbargainbyadheringtotheletterofit。Notso,"heended,andshookhishead,smilinggently。"Thecarriageisstillatyourdoor。YoureturnwithmetoZoylandChasetotakepossessionofyourhome。"
　　"Youmistake,"saidshe,andtoreherhandfromhis。"YousaythatwhatIhavedoneisunworthy。Iadmitit;butitiswithunworthinessthatwemustcombatunworthiness。Wasyourattitudetowardsmelessunworthy？"
　　"I'llmakeamendsforitifyou'llcomehome,"saidhe。
　　"Myhomeishere。Youcannotcompelme。"
　　"Ishouldbeloathto,"headmitted,sighing。
　　"Youcannot,"sheinsisted。
　　"IthinkIcan,"saidhe。"Thereisalaw……"
　　"Alawthatwillhangyouifyouinvokeit,"shecutinquickly。"ThismuchcanIsafelypromiseyou。
　　Shehadneedtosaynomoretotellhimeverything。AtalltimeshalfawordwasasmuchtoMr。Wildingasawholesentencetoanother。
　　Shesawthetighteningofhislips,thehardeningofhiseyes,beyondwhichhegavenoothersignthatshehadhithim。
　　"Isee,"saidhe。"Itisanotherbargainthatyoumake。Idosuspectthereissometrader'sbloodintheWestmacottveins。Letusbeclear。
　　Youholdthewherewithaltoruinme,andyouwilluseitifIinsistuponmyhusband'srights。Isitnotso？"
　　Shenoddedinsilence,surprisedattherapiditywithwhichhehadreadthesituation。
　　"Iadmit,"saidhe,"thatyouhavemebetweenswordandwall。"Helaughedshortly。"Letmeknowmore,"hebeggedher。"AmItounderstandthatsolongasIleaveyouinpeace—solongasIdonotinsistuponyourbecomingmywifeinmorethanname—youwillnotwieldtheweaponthatyouhold？"
　　"Youaretounderstandso,"sheanswered。