"Business？Whatbusiness？"
　　Theytoldhim,andscarcehadtheygotthewordsoutthanhecutinimpatiently。"That'snomatternow。
　　"Notyet,perhaps,"saidMr。Wilding;"butitwillbeifthatlettergetstoWhitehall。"
　　"Odso！"wastheimpatientretort,"there'sothernewstravellingtoWhitehallthatwillmakesmall—beerofthis—andbelikeit'swellonitswaytherealready。"
　　"Whatnewsisthat？"askedTrenchard。Vallanceytoldthem。"TheDukehaslanded—hecameashorethismorningatLyme。"
　　"TheDuke？"quothMr。Wilding,whilstTrenchardmerelystared。"WhatDuke？"
　　"WhatDuke！Lord,youwearyme！Whatdukesbethere？TheDukeofMonmouth,man。"
　　"Monmouth！"Theyutteredthenameinabreath。"Butisthisreallytrue？"askedWilding。"Orisitbutanotherrumour？"
　　"Remembertheletteryourfriendsintercepted,"Trenchardbadehim。
　　"Iamnotforgettingit,"saidWilding。
　　"It'snorumour,"Vallanceyassuredthem。"IwasatWhiteLackingtonthreehoursagowhenthenewscametoGeorgeSpeke,andIwasridingtocarryittoyou,goingbywayofTauntonthatImightdropwordofitforourfriendsattheRedLion。"
　　Trenchardneedednofurtherconvincing;helookedaccordinglydismayed。
　　ButWildingfounditstillalmostimpossible—inspiteofwhatalreadyhehadlearnt—tocreditthisamazingnews。ItwashardtobelievetheDukeofMonmouthmadenoughtospoilallbythissuddenandunheraldedprecipitation。
　　"YouheardthenewsatWhitpLackington？"saidheslowly。"Whocarrieditthither？"
　　"Thereweretwomessengers,"answeredVallancey,withrestrainedimpatience,"andtheywereHeywoodDare—whohasbeenappointedpaymastertotheDuke'sforces—andMr。Chamberlain。"
　　Mr。Wildingwasobservedforoncetochangecolour。HegrippedVallanceybythewrist。"Yousawthem？"hedemanded,andhisvoicehadahusky,unusualsound。"Yousawthem？"
　　"Withthesetwoeyes,"answeredVallancey,"andIspokewiththem。"
　　Itwastrue,then！Therewasnoroomforfurtherdoubt。
　　WildinglookedatTrenchard,whoshruggedhisshouldersandmadeawryface。"Ineverthoughtbutthatwewereworkingintheserviceofahairbrain,"saidhecontemptuously。
　　Vallanceyproceededtodetails。"DareandChamberlain,"heinformedthem,"cameofftheDuke'sownfrigateatdaybreakto—day。TheywereputashoreatSeatown,andtheyrodestraighttoMr。Speke'swiththenews,returningafterwardstoLyme。"
　　"WhatmenhastheDukewithhim,didyoulearn？"askedWilding。
　　"Notmorethanahundredorso,fromwhatDaretoldus。"
　　"Ahundred！Godhelpusall！AndisEnglandtobeconqueredwithahundredmen？Oh,thisismidsummerfrenzy。"
　　"HecountsonalltrueProtestantstoflocktohisbanner,"putinTrenchard,anditwasnotplainwhetherheexpressedafactorsneeredatone。
　　"Doeshebringmoneyandarms,atleast？"askedWilding。
　　"Ididnotask,"answeredVallancey。"ButDaretoldusthatthreevesselshadcomeover,sothatitistobesupposedhebringssomemannerofprovisionwithhim。"
　　"Itistobehopedso,Vallancey;buthardlytobesupposed,"quothTrenchard,andthenhetouchedWildingonthearmandpointedwithhiswhipacrossthefieldstowardsTaunton。Acloudofdustwasrisingfrombetweentallhedgeswhererantheroad。"Ithinkitwerewisetobemoving。Atleast,thissuddenlandingofJamesScottrelievesmymindinthematterofthatletter。"
　　Wilding,havingtakenalookatthefloatingdustthatannouncedtheoncomingoftheirpursuers,wasnowlostinthought。Vallancey,who,beyondexcitementatthenewsofwhichhewasthebearer,seemedtohavenoopinionofhisownastothewisdomorfollyoftheDuke'ssuddenarrival,lookedfromonetotheotherofthesetwomenwhomhehadknownastheprimesecretagentsintheWest,andwaitedTrenchardmovedhishorseafewpacesnearerthehedge,whencehe"Whithernow,Anthony？"heaskedsuddenly。
　　"Youmayask,indeed！"exclaimedWilding,andhisvoicewasasbitteraseverTrenchardhadheardit。"`Sheart！Weareinitnow！WehadbestmakeforLyme—ifonlythatwemayattempttopersuadethiscrack—brainedboytoshipbacktoHollandagain,andshipourselveswithhim。"
　　"There'ssenseinyouatlast,"grumbledTrenchard。"ButImisdoubtmehe'llturnbackafterhavingcomesofar。Haveyouanymoney？"
　　heasked。Hecouldbeverypracticalattimes。
　　"Aguineaortwo。ButIcangetmoneyatIlminster。"
　　"AndhowdoyouproposetoreachIlminsterwiththesegentlemenbywayofcuttingusoff？"
　　"We'lldoublebackasfarasthecross—roads,"saidWildingpromptly,"andstrikesouthoverSwellHillforHatch。Ifweridehardwecandoiteasily,andhavelittlefearofbeingfollowed。They'llnaturallytakeitwehavemadeforBridgwater。"
　　Theyactedonthesuggestionthereandthen,Vallanceygoingwiththem;
　　forhistaskwasnowaccomplished,andhewasalleagertogettoLymetokissthehandoftheProtestantDuke。Theyrodehard,asWildinghadsaidtheymust,andtheyreachedthejunctionoftheroadsbeforetheirpursuershoveinsight。HereWildingsuddenlydetainedthemagain。Theroadaheadofthemranstraightforalmostamile,sothatiftheytookitnowtheywerealmostsuretobeseenpresentlybythemessengers。Ontheirrightathicklygrowncoppicestretchedfromtheroadtothestreamthatbabbledinthehollow。Hegaveitashisadvicethattheyshouldliehiddenthereuntilthosewhohuntedthemshouldhavegoneby。Obviouslythatwastheonlyplan,andhiscompanionsinstantlyadoptedit。Theyfoundawaythroughagateintoanadjacentfield,andfromthistheygainedtheshelterofthetrees。Trenchard,neglectfulofhisfineryandobliviousoftheubiquitousbrambles,lefthishorseinVallancey'scareandcrepttotheedgeofthethicketthathemighttakeapeepatthepursuers。
　　Theycameupverysoon,sixmilitiameninlobstercoatswithyellowfacings,andasergeant,whichwaswhatMr。Trenchardmighthaveexpected。Therewas,however,somethingelsethatMr。Trencharddidnotexpect;somethingthataffordedhimconsiderablesurprise。
　　AttheheadofthepartyrodeSirRowlandBlake—obviouslyleadingit—andwithhimwasRichardWestmacott。Amongstthemwentamaningreyclothes,whomMr。TrenchardrightlyconjecturedtobethemessengerridingforWhitehall。HethoughtwithasmileofwhatahandfulheandWildingwouldhavehadhadtheywaitedtorobthatmessengeroftheincriminatingletterthathebore。ThenhecheckedhissmiletoconsideragainhowSirRowlandBlakecametoheadthatparty。Heabandonedtheproblem,asthelittletroopsweptunhesitatinglyroundtotheleftandwentpoundingalongtheroadthatlednorthwardstoBridgwater,clearlyneverdoubtingwhichwaytheirquarryhadsped。
　　AsforSirRowlandBlake'sconnectionwiththispursuit,thetowngallanthadbyhisearnestnessnotonlyconvincedColonelLuttrellofhisloyaltyanddevotiontoKingJames,buthadactuallygonesofarastobegthathemightbeallowedtoprovethatsameloyaltybyleadingthesoldierstothecaptureofthoseself—confessedtraitors,Mr。WildingandMr。Trenchard。Fromhisknowledgeoftheirhauntshewasconfident,heassuredColonelLuttrell,thathecouldbeofservicetotheKinginthismatter。Thefiercesincerityofhispurposeshonethroughhiswords;LuttrellcaughttheaccentofhateinSirRowland'stensevoice,and,beingashrewdman,hesawthatifMr。Wildingwastobetaken,anenemywouldsurelybethebestpursuertoaccomplishit。Soheprevailed,andgavehimthetrusthesought,inSpiteofAlbemarlesexpressedreluctance。AndneverdidbloodhoundsetoutmorerelentlesslypurposefuluponascentthandidSirRowlandfollownowinwhathebelievedtobethetrackofthismanwhostoodbetweenhimandRuthWestmacott。UntilRuthwaswidowed,SirRowland'shopesofhermustliefallow;andsoitwaswithazestthatheflunghimselfintothetaskofwidowingher。
　　Asthepartypassedoutofviewroundtheangleofthewhiteroad,TrenchardmadehiswaybacktoWildingtotellhimwhathehadseenandtolaybeforehim,forhisenucleation,theproblemofBlake'sbeingtheleaderofit。ButWildingthoughtlittleofBlake,andcaredlittleofwhathemightbetheleader。
　　"We'llstayhere,"saidhe,"untiltheyhavepassedthecrestofthehill。"
　　This,Trenchardtoldhim,washisownpurpose;fortoleavetheirconcealmentearlierwouldbetorevealthemselvestoanyofthetrooperswhomighthappentoglanceoverhisshoulder。
　　Andsotheywaitedsometenminutesorso,andthenwalkedtheirhorsesslowlyandcarefullyforwardthroughthetreestowardstheroad。WildingwasalongsideandslightlyaheadofTrenchard;Vallanceyfollowedcloseupontheirtails。Suddenly,asWildingwasabouttoputhismareatthelowstonewall,Trenchardleanedforwardandcaughthisbridle。
　　"Ss！"hehissed。"Horses！"
　　Andnowthattheyhaltedtheyheardthehoofbeatsclearandcloseathand;thecracklingofundergrowthandtherustleoftheleavesthroughwhichtheyhadthrusttheirpassagehaddeafenedtheirearstoothersoundsuntilthismoment。Theycheckedandwaitedwheretheystood,barelyscreenedbythefewboughsthatstillmightintervenebetweenthemandtheopen,notdaringtoadvance,andnotdaringtoretreatlesttheirmovementsshoulddrawattentiontothemselves。Theyremainedabsolutelystill,scarcelybreathing,theironlyhopebeingthatifthesewhocameshouldchancetobeenemiestheymightrideonwithoutlookingtorightorleft。ItwassoslenderahopethatWildinglookedtotheprimingofhispistols,whilstTrenchard,whohadnone,loosenedhisswordinitsscabbard。Nearercametheriders。
　　"Therearenotmorethanthree,"whisperedTrenchard,whohadbeenlisteningintently,andMr。Wildingnodded,butsaidnothing。
　　Anothermomentandthelittlepartywasabreastofthosewatchers;adarkbrownriding—habitflashedintotheirlineofvision,andablueonelacedwithgold。AtsightofthefirstMr。Wilding'seyelidsflickered;hehadrecognizeditforRuth's,withwhomrodeDiana,whilstsometwentypacesorsobehindcameJerry,thegroom。TheywerereturningtoBridgwater。
　　Theycamealong,lookingneithertorightnortoleft,asthethreemenhadhopedtheywould,andtheywereallbutpast,whensuddenlyWildinggavehisroanatouchofthespurandboundedforward。Diana'shorseswervedsothatitnearlythrewher。Ruth,slightlyahead,reinedinatonce;so,too,didthegroomintherear,andsoviolentlyinhissuddenfearofhighwaymenthathebroughthishorseontoitshindlegsandhaditprancingandrearingmadlyabouttheroad,sothathewashardputtoittokeephisseat。
　　RuthlookedroundasMr。Wilding'svoicegreetedher。
　　"MistressWilding,"hecalledtoher。"Amoment,ifImaydetainyou。"
　　"Youhaveeludedthem！"shecried,entirelyoffherguardinhersurpriseatseeinghim,andthereechoedthroughherwordsanoteofgenuinegladnessthatalmostdisconcertedherhusbandforamoment。Thenextinstantacrimsonflushoverspreadherpaleface,andhereyeswereveiledfromhim,vexationinherheartathavingbetrayedthelivelysatisfactionitaffordedhertoseehimsafewhenshefearedhimcapturedalreadyoratleastuponthepointofcapture。
　　Shehadadmiredhimalmostunconsciouslyorhisdaringatthetownhailthatday,whenhisstrongcalmhadstoodoutinsuchsharpcontrasttotheflusterandexcitementofthemenabouthim;ofthemall,indeed,ithadseemedtoherinthosestressfulmomentsthathewastheonlyman,andshewas—althoughshedidnotrealizeit—indangerofbeingproudofhim。Thenagainthethinghehaddone。Hehadcomedeliberatelytothrusthisheadintothelion'smawthathemightsaveherbrother。Itwaspossiblethathehaddoneitinanswertotheentreatieswhichshehadearlierfearedshehadpouredintodeafears;
　　oritwaspossiblethathehaddoneitspurredbyhissenseofrightandjustice,whichwouldnotpermithimtoallowanothertosufferinhisstead—howevermuchthatothermightbecaughtintheverytoilsthathehadpreparedforMr。Wildinghimself。Heradmiration,then,wasswelledbygratitude,anditwasacompoundofthesethathadurgedhertohinderthetything—menfromwinningpastheruntilheandTrenchardshouldhavegotwellaway。
　　Afterwards,whenwithDianaandhergroom—onahorsewhichSirEdwardPhelipsinsisteduponlendingthem—sherodehomewardfromTaunton,therewasDianatokeepalivethesparkofkindnessthatglowedatlastforWildinginRuth'sbreast。MissHortonextolledhisbravery,hischivalry,hisnobility,andendedbyexpressingherenvyofRuththatsheshouldhavewonsuchamanamongstmenforherhusband,andwonderedwhatitmightbethatkeptRuthfromclaiminghimforherownaswasherright。Ruthhadansweredlittle,butshehadriddenverythoughtful;
　　therewasthatinthepastshefoundithardtoforgiveWilding。Andyetshewouldnowhavewelcomedanopportunityofthankinghimforwhathehaddone,ofexpressingtohimsomethingoftherespecthehadwoninhereyesbyhisactofselfdenunciationtosaveherbrother。Thischance,itseemed,wasgivenher,fortherehestood,withheadbaredbeforeher;andalreadyshethoughtnolongerofseizingthechance,vexedasshewasathavingbeensurprisedintoabetrayaloffeelingswhosewarmthshehaduntilthatmomentscarceestimated。
　　Inanswertohercryof"Youhaveeludedthem！"hewavedahandtowardstherisinggroundandtheroadtoBridgwater。
　　"Theypassedthatwaybutafewmomentssince,"saidhe,"andbytherateatwhichtheyweretravellingtheyshouldbenearingNewtonbynow。
　　Intheirgreathastetocatchmetheycouldnotpausetolookformesocloseathand,"headdedwithasmile,"andforthatIamthankful。"
　　Shesatherhorseandanswerednothing,whichthrewhercousinoutofallpatiencewithher。"Come,Jerry,"Dianacalledtothegroom。"Wewillwalkourhorsesupthehill。"
　　"Youareverygood,madam,"saidMr。Wilding,andhebowedtothewithersofhisroan。
　　Ruthsaidnothing;expressedneitherapprovalnordisapprovalofDiana'swithdrawal,andthelatter,withawordofgreetingtoWilding,wentaheadfollowedbyJerry,whohadregainedcontrolbynowofthebeasthebestrode。Wildingwatchedthemuntiltheyturnedthecorner,thenhewalkedhismareslowlyforwarduntilhewasalongsideRuth。
　　"BeforeIgo,"saidhe,"thereissomethingIshouldliketosay。"
　　Hisdarkeyesweresombre,hismannerbetrayedsomehesitation。
　　Thediffidenceofhistoneprovedstartlingtoherbyvirtueofitsunusualness。Whatmightitportend,shewondered,andsoughtwithgraveeyestoreadhisbafflingcountenance;andthenawildalarmsweptintoherandshookherspiritinitsgrip;therewassomethingofwhichuntilthismomentshehadnotthought—somethingconnectedwiththefatefulmatterofthatletter。Ithadstoodasabarrierbetweenthem,herbuckler,hersoledefenceagainsthim。Ithadbeentoherwhatitsstingistothebee—athingwhichifonceusedinself—defenceisself—destructive。Not,indeed,thatshehaduseditashersting;ithadbeenforcedfromherbythemachinationsofTrenchard;butusedithadbeen,andwasdonewith;shehaditnolongerthatwithitshemightholdhimindefiance,anditdidnotoccurtoherthathewasnolongerincasetoinvokethelaw。
　　Herfacegrewstony,adryglittercametoherblueeyes;shecastaglanceoverhershoulderatDianaandherservant。Wildingobserveditandreadwhatwaspassinginhermind;indeed,itwasnottobemistaken,nomorethanwhatispassinginthemindoftherecruitwholooksbehindhimintheactofcharging。Hislipshalfsmiled。
　　"Ofwhatareyouafraid？"heaskedher。
　　"Iamnotafraid,"sheansweredinhuskyaccentsthatbeliedher。
　　Perhapstoreassureher,perhapsbecausehethoughtofhiscompanionslurkinginthethicketandcarednottohavethemforhisaudience,hesuggestedtheyshouldgoalittlewayinthedirectionhercousinhadtaken。Shewheeledherhorse,and,sidebyside,theyambledupthedustyroad。
　　"ThethingIhavetotellyou,"saidhepresently,concernsmyself。"
　　"Doesitconcernme？"sheaskedhimcoldly,andhercoolnesswasurgedpartlybyhernewbornfears,partlytocounterbalancesuchimpressionasherilljudgedshowofgladnessathissafetymighthavemadeuponhismind。Heflashedherasidelongglance,thelongwhitefingersofhisrighthandtoyingthoughtfullywitharingletofthedarkbrownhairthatfellupontheshouldersofhisscarletcoat。
　　"Surely,madam,"heanswereddryly,"whatconcernsamanmaywellconcernhiswife。"
　　Shebowedherhead,hereyesupontheroadbeforeher。"True,"saidshe,hervoiceexpressionless。"Ihadforgot。"
　　Hereinedinandturnedtolookather;herhorsemovedonapaceortwo,thencametoahalt,apparentlyofitsownaccord。
　　"Idoprotest,"saidhe,"youtreatmelesskindlythanIdeserve。"
　　Heurgedhismareforwarduntilhehadcomeupwithheragain,andthendrewreinoncemore。`IthinkthatImaylaysomeclaimto—atleast—yourgratitudeforwhatIdidto—day。"
　　"Itismyinclinationtobegrateful,"saidshe。Shewasverywaryofhim。"Forgiveme,ifIamstillmistrustful。"
　　"Butofwhat？"hecried,athoughtimpatiently。
　　"Ofyou。Whatendsdidyouseektoserve？WasittosaveRichardthatyoucame？"
　　"UnlessyouthinkthatitwastosaveBlake,"hesaidironically。"WhatotherendsdoyouconceiveIcouldhaveserved？"Shemadehimnoanswer,andsoheresumedafterapause。"IrodetoTauntontoserveyoufortworeasons;becauseyouaskedme,andbecauseIwouldhavenoinnocentmensufferinmystead—noteventhough,asthesemen,theywerebutcaughtintheirowntoils,hoistwiththepetardtheyhadchargedforme。Beyondthesetwomotives,Ihadnootherthoughtinruiningmyself。"
　　"Ruiningyourself？"shecried。Yes,itwastrue;butshehadnotthoughtofituntilthismoment;therehadbeensomuchtothinkof。
　　"Isitnotruintobeoutlawed,tohaveapricesetuponyourhead,aswillnodoubtapricebesetonminewhenAlbemarle'smessengershallhavereachedWhitehall？IsitnotruintohavemylandsandallIownmadeforfeittotheState,tofindmyselfabeggar,huntedandproscribed？ForgivemethatIharassyouwiththiscatalogueofmymisfortunes。You'llsay,nodoubt,thatIhavebroughtthemuponmyselfbycompellingyouagainstyourwilltomarryme。
　　"I'llnotdenythatitisinmymind,"saidshe,andofsetpurposestifledpity。
　　Hesighedandlookedatheragain,butshewouldnotmeethiseye,elseitswhimsicalexpressionmighthaveintriguedher。"Canyoudenymymagnanimity,Iwonder？"saidhe,andspokealmostasoneamused。"AllIhadIsacrificedtodoyourwill,tosaveyourbrotherfromthesnareofhisowncontrivingagainstme。IwonderdoyouyetrealizehowmuchIsacrificedto—dayatTaunton！Iwonder！"Andhepaused,lookingatherandwaitingforsomewordfromher;butshehadnoneforhim。
　　"Clearlyyoudonot,elseIthinkyouwouldshowmeifonlyapretenceofkindness。"Shewaslookingathimatlast,hereyeslesshard。Theyseemedtoaskhimtoexplain。"Whenyoucamethismorningwiththetaleofhowthetableshadbeenturneduponyourbrother,ofhowhewascaughtinhisownspringe,andtheletterfoundinhiskeepingwasbeforetheKing'sfolkatTauntonwitheveryappearanceofhavingbeenaddressedtohim,andnotatittleofevidencetoshowthatithadbeenmeantforme,doyouknowwhatnewsitwasyoubroughtme？"Hepausedasecond,lookingatherfromnarrowingeyes。Thenheansweredhisownquestion。
　　"Youbroughtmethenewsthatyouwereminetotakewhensoe'erI
　　pleased。Whilstthatletterwasinyourhandsitgaveyouthepowertomakemeyourobedientslave。Youmightblowuponmeasyoulistedwhilstyouheldit,andIwasavanethatmustturntoyourblowingformyhonour'ssakeandforthesakeofthecauseinwhichIworked。
　　ThroughnorashnessofminemustthatlettercomeintothehandsoftheKing'sfriends,elsewasIdishonoured。Itwasaneffectivebarrierbetweenus。Solongasyoupossessedthatletteryoumightpipeasyoupleased,andImustdancetothetuneyouset。Andthenthismorningwhatyoucametotellmewasthatthingswerechanged;thatitwasminetocallthetune。HadIhadthestrengthtobeavillain,youhadbeenminenow,andyourbrotherandSirRowlandmighthavehangedontheropeoftheirownweaving。"
　　Shelookedathiminastartled,almostshamefacedmanner。Thiswasanaspectofthecaseshehadnotconsidered。
　　"Yourealizeit,Isee,"hesaid,andsmiledwistfully。"Thenperhapsyourealizewhyyoufoundmesounwillingtodothethingyoucraved。
　　Havingtreatedmeungenerously,youcametocastyourselfuponmygenerosity,askingme—thoughIscarcelythinkyouunderstood—tobeggarmyselfoflifeitselfwithallitheldforme。GodknowsImakenopretencetovirtue,andyetIthinkIhadbeensomethingmorethanhumanhadInotrefusedyouandthebargainyouoffered—abargainthatyouwouldneverbecalledupontofulfilifIdidthethingyouasked。"
　　Atlastsheinterruptedhim;shecouldbearitnolonger。
　　"Ihadnotthoughtofit！"shecried。Itwasapiteouswailthatbrokefromher。"IswearIhadnotthoughtofthat。IwasalldistraughtforpoorRichard'ssake。Oh,Mr。Wilding,"sheturnedtohim,holdingoutahand;hereyesshone,filmedwithmoisture,"Ishallhaveakindnessforyou……,allmydaysforyour……generosityto—day。"Itwaslamentablyweak,farfromthehotexpressionswhichsheforcedittoreplace。
　　"Yes,Iwasgenerous,"headmitted。"Wewillmoveonasfarasthecross—roads。"Againtheyambledgentlyforward。UptheslopefromthefordDianaandJerrywereslowlyclimbing;notanotherhumanbeingwasinsightaheadorbehindthem。"Afteryouleftme,"hecontinued,"yourmemoryandyourentreatieslingeredwithme。Igavethematterofourpositionthought,anditseemedtomethatallwasmonstrouslyill—done。
　　Ilovedyou,Ruth,Ineededyou,andyoudisdainedme。Mylovewasasterofme。But`neathyourdisdainitwastransmutedoddly。"Hecheckedthepassionthatwasvibratinginhisvoiceandresumedafterapause,inthecalm,slowtones,softandmusical,thatwerehisown。"Thereisscarcetheneedforsomuchrecapitulation。WhenthepowerwasmineIbentyouunfairlytomywill;youdidasmuchbymewhenthepowersuddenlybecameyours。Itwasastrangewarbetweenus,andIaccepteditsconditions。To—day,whenthepowerwasmineagain,minetobringyouatlasttosubjection,behold,Ihavecapitulatedatyourbidding,andallthatIheld—includingyourownself—haveI
　　relinquished。Itisperhapsfitting。HaplyIampunishedforhavingwedyoubeforeIhadwooedyou。"Againhistonechanged,itgrewmorecold,morematter—of—fact。"Irodethiswayalittlewhileagoahuntedman,myonlyhopetoreachhomeandcollectwhatmoneysandvaluablesIcouldcarry,andmakeforthecoasttofindavesselboundforHolland。Ihavebeenengaged,asyouknow,instirringuprebelliontochecktheiniquitiesandpersecutionsthataretowardinalandI
　　love。I'llnotwearyyouwithdetails。Timewasneededforthisasforallthings,andbynextspring,perhaps,hadmattersgonewell,thisvineyardthatsocarefullyandsecretlyIhavebeentending,wouldhavebeen,maybe,inconditiontobearfruit。Evennow,inthehourofmyflight,Ilearnthatothershavecometoforcethisdelicategrowthintosuddenmaturity。There！Soonripe,soonrotten。TheDukeofMonmouthhaslandedatLymethismorning。Iamridingtohim。"
　　"Towhatend？"shecried,andhesawinherfaceadismaythatamountedalmosttofear,andhewonderedwasitforhim。
　　"ToplacemyswordathisserviceWereInotencompassedbythisruin,Ishouldnothavestirredafootinthatdirection—sorash,soforedoomedtofailureisthisinvasion。Asitis,"—heshruggedandlaughed—"itistheonlyhope—allforlornthoughitmaybe—forme。"
　　Thetrammelsshehadimposeduponhersoulfellawayatthatlikebondsofcobweb。Shelaidherhanduponhiswrists,tearsstoodinhereyes;
　　herlipsquivered。
　　"Anthony,forgiveme,"shebesoughthim。Hetrembledunderhertouch,underthecaressofhervoice,andatthesoundofhisnameforthefirsttimeuponherlips。
　　"WhathaveItoforgive？"heasked。
　　"ThethingthatIdidintheniatterofthatletter。"
　　"Youpoorchild,"saidhe,smilinggentlyuponher,"youdiditinself—defence。"
　　"Yetsaythatyouforgiveme—sayitbeforeyougo！"shebeggedhim。
　　Heconsideredhergravelyamoment。"Towhatend,"heasked,"doyouimaginethatIhavetalkedsomuch？TotheendthatImightshowyouthathoweverImayhavewrongedyouIhaveatthelastmadesomeamends;
　　andthatforthesakeofthis,thetruestproofofpenitence,ImayhaveyourforgivenessereIgo。"
　　Shewasweepingsoftly。"Itwasanilldayonwhichwemet,"shesighed。
　　"Foryou—aye。"
　　"Nay—foryou。
　　"We'llsayforbothofus,then,"hecompromised。"See,Ruth,yourcousingrowsweary,andIhaveacoupleofcomradeswhoarenodoubtimpatienttobegone。Itmaynotbegoodforustotarryintheseparts。SomeamendsIhavemade;butthereisonecrowningwrongwhichIhavedoneyouforwhichthereisbutoneamendtomake。"Hepaused。
　　Hesteadiedhimselfbeforecontinuing。Inhisattempttorenderhisvoicecoldandcommonplacehewentneartoachievingharshness。"Itmaybethatthiscrackbrainedrebellionofwhichthetorchisalreadyalightwill,ifitdoesnoothergoodinEngland,atleastmakeawidowofyou。Whenthathascometopass,whenIhavethusrepairedthewrongIdidyou,Ihopeyou'llbearmeaskindlyasmaybeinyourthought。