第2章

persistentrumourswhichhadcomefastupontheheelsofthenewsofArgyle\'slandinginScotland;rumourswhichmaintainedthatMonmouthhimselfwascomingoverfromHolland。ThesetalesWildingandhisassociateshadignored。TheDuke,theyknew,wastospendthesummerinretreatinSweden,with（itwasalleged）theLadyHenriettaWentworthtobearhimcompany,andinthemeantimehistrustedagentsweretopavethewayforhiscominginthefollowingspring。OflatethelackofdirectnewsfromtheDukehadbeenasourceofmystificationtohisfriendsintheWest,andnow,suddenly,theinformationwentabroad—itwassomethingmorethanrumourthistime—thataletterofthegreatestimportancehadbeenintercepted。Fromwhomthatletterproceededortowhomitwasaddressed,couldnotyetbediscovered。

ButitseemedclearthatitwasconnectedwiththeMonmouthCause,anditbehovedMr。Wildingtodiscoverwhathecould。WiththisintentherodewithTrenchardthatSundaymorningtoTaunton,hopingthatattheRedLionInn—thatmeeting—placeofdissenters—hemightcullreliableinformation。

ItwasinconsequenceofthisthatthemeetingwithRichardWestmacottwasnottotakeplaceuntiltheevening,andthereforeVallanceycamenottoLuptonHouseasearlyasRichardthoughtheshouldexpecthim。

Blake,however—morenodoubtoutofaselfishfearoflosingavaluedallyinthewinningofRuth\'shandthanoutofanyexcessiveconcernforRichardhimself—hadrisenearlyandhastenedtoLuptonHouse,inthehope,whichherecognizedasallbutforlorn,ofyetbeingabletoavertthedisasterheforesawforRichard。

Peeringovertheorchardwallasherodeby,hecaughtaglimpse,throughanopeningbetweenthetrees,ofRuthherselfandDianaonthelawnbeyond。Therewasawicketgatethatstoodunlatched,andavailinghimselfofthisSirRowlandtetheredhishorseinthelaneandthreadinghiswaybrisklythroughtheorchardcamesuddenlyuponthegirls。Theirlaughterreachedhimasheadvanced,andtoldhimtheycouldknownothingyetofRichard\'sdanger。

Onhisabruptandunexpectedapparition,DianapaledandRuthflushedslightly,whereuponSirRowlandmighthavebethoughthim,hadhebeenbook—learned,oftheaxiom,"Amourquirougit,fleurette;amourquiplit,drameducoeur。"

Hedoffedhishatandbowed,hisfairringletstumblingforwardtilltheyhidhisface,whichwasexceedinggrave。

Ruthgavehimgoodmorningpleasantly。"YouLondonfolkareearlierrisersthanweareledtothink,"sheadded。

"`TwillbethechangeofairmakesSirRowlandmatutinal,"saidDiana,makingagallantrecoveryfromheragitation。

"Ivow,"saidhe,"thatIhadgrownmatutinalearlierhadIknownwhathereawaitedme。"

"Awaitedyou？"quothDiana,andtossedherheadarchlydisdainful。

"La！SirRowland,yourmodestywillbethedeathofyou。"Archnessbecamethisladyofthesunnyhair,tip—tiltednose,andcomplexionthatoutviedtheapple—blossoms。Shewasshorterbyahalf—headthanherdarkercousin,andmadeupinsprightlinesswhatshelackedofRuth\'sgentledignity。Thepairwerefoils,eachsettingoffthegracesoftheother。

"IprotestIamfoolish,"answeredBlake,ashadediscomfited。"ButIwantnotforexcuse。Ihaveitinthematterthatbringsmehere。"

Sosolemnwashisair,sosoberhisvoice,thatbothgirlsfeltapremonitionoftheuntowardmessagethathebore。ItwasRuthwhoaskedhimtoexplainhimself。

"Willyouwalk,ladies？"saidBlake,andwavedthehandthatstillheldhishatriverwards,adowntheslopinglawn。Theymovedawaytogether,SirRowlandpacingbetweenhisloveofyesterdayandhisloveofto—day,pressedwithquestionsfromboth。Heshadedhiseyestolookattheriver,dazzlinginthemorningsunlightthatcameoverPoldenHill,and,standingthus,heunburdenedhimselfatlast。

"MynewsconcernsRichardand—Mr。Wilding。"Theylookedathim。MissWestmacott\'sfinelevelbrowswereknit。Hepausedtoask,asifsuddenlyobservinghisabsence,"IsRichardnotyetrisen？"

"Notyet,"saidRuth,andwaitedforhimtoproceed。

"Itdoescredittohiscouragethatheshouldsleeplateonsuchaday,"saidBlake,andwaspleasedwiththeadroitnesswherewithhebrokethenews。"HequarrelledlastnightwithAnthonyWilding。"

Ruth\'shandwenttoherbosom;fearstaredatBlakefromouthereyes,blueastheheavensoverhead;agreyshadeovercasttheusualwarmpallorofherface。

"WithMr。Wilding？"shecried。"Thatman！"Andthoughshesaidnomorehereyesimploredhimtogoon,andtellherwhatmoretheremightbe。

Hedidso,andhesparednotWilding。Thetask,indeed,wasonetowhichheappliedhimselfwithacertainzest;whatevermightbetheoutcomeoftheaffair,therewasnodenyingthathewasbywayofreapingprofitfromitbythefinaloverthrowofanacknowledgedrival。

AndwhenhetoldherhowRichardhadflunghiswineinWilding\'sfacewhenWildingstoodtotoasther,afaintflushcrepttohercheeks。

"Richarddidwell,"saidshe。"Iamproudofhim。"

ThewordspleasedSirRowlandvastly;buthereckonedwithoutDiana。

MissHorton\'smindwasilluminedbyherknowledgeofherself。Inthelightofthatshesawpreciselywhatcapitalthistale—bearersoughttomake。Theoccasionmightnotbewithoutitsopportunitiesforher;

andtobeginwith,itwasnopartofherintentionthatWildingshouldbethusmalignedandfinallydrivenfromthelistsofrivalrywithBlake。UponWilding,indeed,andhisnotoriousmasterfulnessdidshefoundwhathopesshestillentertainedofwinningbackSirRowland。

"Surely,"saidshe,"youarealittlehardonMr。Wilding。Youspeakasifhewerethefirstgallantthatevertoastedlady\'seyes。"

"Iamnoladyofhis,Diana,"Ruthremindedher,withafaintshowofheat。

Dianashruggedhershoulders。"Youmaynotlovehim,butyoucan\'tordainthatheshallnotloveyou。Youareveryharsh,Ithink。TomeitratherseemsthatRichardactedlikeaboor。"

"But,mistress,"criedSirRowland,halfoutofcountenance,andstiflinghisvexation,"inthesemattersitalldependsuponthemanner。"

"Why,yes,"sheagreed;"andwhateverMr。Wilding\'smanner,ifIknowhimatall,itwouldbenothingbutrespectfultothelastdegree。"

"Myownconceptionofrespect,"saidhe,"isnottobandyalady\'snameaboutacompanyofrevellers。"

"Bethinkyou,though,yousaidjustnow,italldependedonthemanner,"

sherejoined。SirRowlandshruggedandturnedhalffromhertoherlisteningcousin。Whenallissaid,poorDianaappears—despitehercunning—tohavebeenshort—sighted。Aimingatadefinedadvantageinthegamesheplayed,sheeitherignoredorheldtoolightlytheconcomitantdisadvantageofvexingBlake。

"Itwereperhapsbesttotellustheexactwordsheused,SirRowland,"

shesuggested,"thatforourselveswemayjudgehowfarhelackedrespect。"

"Whatsignifythewords！"criedBlake,nowalmostoutoftemper。"I

don\'trecallthem。ItistheairwithwhichhepledgedMistressWestmacott。"

"Ahyes—themanner,"quothDianairritatingly。"We\'llletthatbe。

RichardthrewhiswineinMr。Wilding\'sface？Whatfollowedthen？WhatsaidMr。Wilding？"

SirRowlandrememberedwhatMr。Wildinghadsaid,andbethoughthimthatitwereimpoliticinhimtorepeatit。Atthesametime,nothavinglookedforthiscross—questioning,hewasallunpreparedwithanylikelyanswer。Hehesitated,untilRuthechoedDiana\'squestion。

"Tellus,SirRowland,"shebeggedhim,"whatMr。Wildingsaid。"

Beingforcedtosaysomething,andbeingbynatureslow—wittedandsluggishofinvention,SirRowlandwascompelled,tohisunspeakablechagrin,tofallbackuponthetruth。

"Isnotthatproof？"criedDianaintriumph。"Mr。WildingwasreluctanttoquarrelwithRichard。Hewasevenreadytoswallowsuchanaffrontasthat,thinkingitmightbeofferedhimunderamisconceptionofhismeaning。HeplainlyprofessedtherespectthatfilledhimforMistressWestmacott,andyet,andyet,SirRowland,youtellusthathelackedrespect！"

"Madam,"criedBlake,turningcrimson,"thatmattersnothing。Itwasnottheplaceortimetointroduceyourcousinsname。

"Youthink,SirRowland,"putinRuth,herairgrave,judicialalmost,"thatRichardbehavedwell？"

"AsIwouldliketobehavemyself,asIwouldhaveasonofminebehaveonthelikeoccasion,"Blakeprotested。"Butwewastewords,"hecried。

"IdidnotcometodefendRichard,norjusttobearyouthisuntowardnews。Icametoconsultwithyou,inthehopethatwemightfindsomewaytoavertthisperilfromyourbrother。"

"Whatwayispossible？"askedRuth,andsighed。"Iwouldnot……IwouldnothaveRichardacoward。"

"Wouldyoupreferhimdead？"askedBlake,sadlygrave。

"Soonerthancraven—yes,"Ruthansweredhim,verywhite。

"Thereisnoquestionofthat,"wasBlake\'srejoinder。"ThequestionisthatWildingsaidlastnightthathewouldkilltheboy,andwhatWildingsayshedoes。OutoftheaffectionthatIbearRichardisbornmyanxietytosavehimdespitehimself。ItisinthisthatIcometoseekyouraidoroffermine。Alliedwemightaccomplishwhatsinglyneitherofuscould。"

Hehadatoncetherewardofhiscunningspeech。Ruthheldoutherhands。"Youareagoodfriend,SirRowland,"shesaid,withapalesmile;andpaletoowasthesmilewithwhichDianawatchedthem。NomorethanRuthdidshesuspectthesincerityofBlake\'sprotestations。

"Iamproudyoushouldaccountmethat,"saidthebaronet,takingRuth\'shandsandholdingthemamoment;"andIwouldthatIcouldprovemyselfyourfriendinthistosomegoodpurpose。Believeme,ifWildingwouldconsentthatImighttakeyourbrother\'splace,Iwouldgladlydoso。"

Itwasasafeboast,knowingashedidthatWildingwouldconsenttonosuchthing;butitearnedhimaglanceofgreaterkindlinessfromRuth—whobegantothinkthathithertoperhapsshehaddonehimsomeinjustice—andalookofgreateradmirationfromDiana,whosawinhimherbeau—idealofthegallantlover。

"Iwouldnothaveyouendangeryourselfso,"saidRuth。

"Itmight,"saidBlake,hisblueeyesveryfierce,"benogreatdanger,afterall。"Andthendismissingthatpartofthesubjectasif,likeabraveman,thenotionofbeingthoughtboastfulwereunpleasant,hepassedontothediscussionofwaysandmeansbywhichthecomingduelmightbeaverted。Butwhentheycametogripswithfacts,itseemedthatSirRowlandhadaslittleideaofwhatmightbedoneashadtheladies。True,hebeganbymakingtheobvioussuggestionthatRichardshouldtenderWildingafullapology。That,indeed,wastheonlydoorofescape,andBlakeshrewdlysuspectedthatwhattheboyhadbeenunwillingtodolastnight—partlythroughwine,andpartlythroughthefearoflookingfearfulintheeyesofLordGervaseScoresby\'sguests—hemightbewillingenoughtodoto—day,soberanduponreflection。FortherestBlakewasasfarfromsuspectingMr。Wilding\'speculiarframeofmindashadRichardbeenlastnight。Thishiswordsshowed。

"Iamsatisfied,"saidhe,"thatifRichardweretogoto—daytoWildingandexpresshisregretforathingdoneintheheatofwine,Wildingwouldbeforcedtoacceptitassatisfaction,andnonewouldthinkthatitdidotherthanreflectcredituponRichard。"

"Areyouverysureofthat？"askedRuth,hertonedubious,herglancehopefullyanxious。

"Whatelseistobethought？"

"But,"putinDianashrewdly,"itwereanadmissionofRichard\'sthathehaddonewrong。"

"Noless,"heagreed,andRuthcaughtherbreathinfreshdismay。

"Andyetyouhavesaidthathedidasyouwouldhaveasonofyoursdo,"Dianaremindedhim。

"AndImaintainit,"answeredBlake;hiswitsworkedslowlyever。

ItwasforRuthtorevealtheflawtohim。

"Doyounotunderstand,then,"sheaskedhimsadly,"thatsuchanadmissiononRichard\'spartwouldamounttoalie—alieutteredtosavehimselffromanencounter,theworstformoflie,alieofcowardice？Surely,SirRowland,yourkindlyanxietyforhislifeoutrunsyouranxietyforhishonour。"

Diana,havingaccomplishedhertask,hungherheadinsilence,pondering。

SirRowlandwasroutedutterly。Heglancedfromonetotheotherofhiscompanions,andgrewafraidthathe—thetowngallant—mightcometolookfoolishintheeyesofthesecountryladies。HeprotestedagainhisloveforRichard,andincreasedRuth\'sterrorbyhismentionofWilding\'sswordsmanship;butwhenallwassaid,hesawthathehadbestretreaterehespoiledthegoodeffectwhichhehopedhissolicitudehadcreated。AndsohespokeofseekingcounselwithLordGervaseScoresby,andtookhisleave,promisingtoreturnbynoon。

CHAPTERIII

DIANASCHEMES

NotwithstandingthebravefaceRuthWestmacotthadkeptduringhispresence,whenhedepartedSirRowlandleftbehindhimadistressamountingalmosttoanguishinhermind。Yetthoughshemightsuffer,therewasnoweaknessinRuth\'snature。Sheknewhowtoendure。Diana,bearingRichardnotatenthoftheaffectionhissisterconsecratedtohim,wasalarmedforhim。Besides,herowninterestsurgedtheavertingofthisencounter。Andsosheheldinaccentsalmosttearfulthatsomethingmustbedonetosavehim。

This,too,appearedtobeRichard\'sownview,whenpresently—withinafewminutesofBlake\'sdeparture—hecametojointhem。Theywatchedhisapproachinsilence,andbothnoted—thoughwithdifferenteyesanddifferentfeelings—thepallorofhisfairface,thedarklinesunderhiscolourlesseyes。Hisconditionwasabject,andhismanners,neverofthebest—fortherewasmuchofthespoiledchildaboutRichard—wereclearlysufferingfromit。

Hestoodbeforehissisterandhiscousin,movinghiseyesshiftilyfromonetotheother,rubbinghishandsnervouslytogether。

"YourpreciousfriendSirRowlandhasbeenhere,"saidhe,anditwasnotclearfromhismannerwhichofthemheaddressed。"Notadoubtbuthewillhavebroughtyouthenews。"Heseemedtosneer。

Ruthadvancedtowardshim,herfacegrave,hersweeteyesfullofpityingconcern。Sheplacedahanduponhissleeve。"MypoorRichard……"shebegan,butheshookoffherkindlytouch,laughingangrily—amerecackleofirritability。

"Odso！"heinterruptedher。"Itisathoughtlateforthismockkindliness！"

Diana,inthebackground,archedherbrows,thenwithashrugturnedasideandseatedherselfonthestoneseatbywhichtheyhadbeenstanding。Ruthshrankbackasifherbrotherhadstruckher。

"Richard！"shecried,andsearchedhislividfacewithhereyes。

"Richard！"

Hereadaquestionintheinterjection,andheansweredit。"Hadyouknownanyrealcare,anytrueconcernforme,youhadnotgivencauseforthisaffair,"hechidherpeevishly。

"Whatareyousaying？"shecried,anditoccurredtoheratlastthatRichardwasafraid。Hewasacoward！Shefeltasshewouldfaint。

"Iamsaying,"saidhe,hunchinghisshoulders,andshiveringashespoke,yet,hisglanceunabletomeethers,"thatitisyourfaultthatIamliketogetmythroatcutbeforesunset。"

"Myfault？"shemurmured。Theslopeoflawnseemedtowaveandswimabouther。"Myfault？"

"Thefaultofyourwantonways,"heaccusedherharshly。"YouhavesoplayedfastandloosewiththisfellowWildingthathemakesfreeofyournameinmyverypresence,andputsuponmetheneedtogetmyselfkilledbyhimtosavethefamilyhonour。"

Hewouldhavesaidmoreinthisstrain,butsomethinginherglancegavehimpause。Therefellasilence。Fromthedistancecamethemelodiouspealingofchurchbells。Highoverheadalarkwaspouringoutitssong;

inthelaneattheorchardendrangthebeatoftrottinghoofs。ItwasDianawhospokepresently。Justindignationstirredher,and,whenstirred,sheknewnopity,setnolimitstoherspeech。

"Ithink,indeed,"saidshe,hervoicecrispandmerciless,"thatthefamilyhonourwillbestbesavedifMr。Wildingkillsyou。Itisindangerwhileyoulive。Youareacoward,Richard。"

"Diana！"hethundered—hecouldbemightybravewithwomen—whilstRuthclutchedherarmtorestrainher。

Butshecontinued,undeterred:"Youareacoward—apitifulcoward,"

shetoldhim。"Consultyourmirror。Itwilltellyouwhatapalsiedthingyouare。ThatyoushoulddaresospeaktoRuth……"

"Don\'t！"Ruthbeggedher,turning。

"Aye,"growledRichard,"shehadbestbesilent。"

Dianarose,tobattle,hercheekscrimson。"Itasksabravermanthanyoutocompelmyobedience,"shetoldhim。"La！"shefumed,"I\'llswearthathadMr。Wildingoverheardwhatyouhavesaidtoyoursister,youwouldhavelittletofearfromhissword。Acanewouldbetheweaponhe\'duseonyou。

Richard\'spaleeyesflamedmalevolently;aviolentragepossessedhimandfloodedouthisfear,fornothingcansogoadamanasanoffensivetruth。Ruthapproachedhimagain;againshetookhimbythearm,seekingtosoothehisover—troubledspirit;butagainheshookheroff。

Andthentosavethesituationcameaservantfromthehouse。SolostinangerwasallRichard\'ssenseofdecencythatthemeresuperventionofthemanwouldnothavebeenenoughtohavesilencedhimcouldhehavefoundadequatewordsinwhichtoanswerMistressHorton。Butevenasherackedhismind,thefootman\'svoicebrokethesilence,andthewordsthefellowuttereddidwhathispresencealonemightnothavesufficedtodo。

"Mr。VaIlanceyisaskingforyou,sir,"heannounced。

Richardstarted。Vallancey！Hehadcomeatlast,andhiscomingwasconnectedwiththeimpendingduel。ThethoughtwasparalyzingtoyoungWestmacott。Theflushofangerfadedfromhisface;itsleadenhuereturnedandheshiveredaswithcold。Atlasthemasteredhimselfsufficientlytoask:

"Whereishe,Jasper？"

"Inthelibrary,sir,"repliedtheservant。"ShallIbringhimhither？"

"Yes—no,"heanswered。"Iwillcometohim。"Heturnedhisbackupontheladies,pausedamoment,stillirresolute。Then,asbyaneffort,hefollowedtheservantacrossthelawnandvanishedthroughtheiviedporch。

AshewentDianaflewtohercousin。Hershallownaturewastouchedwithtransientpity。"MypoorRuth……"shemurmuredsoothingly,andsetherarmabouttheother\'swaist。TherewasagleamoftearsintheeyesRuthturneduponher。Togethertheycametothegraniteseatandsanktoitsidebyside,frontingtheplacidriver。ThereRuth,herelbowsonherknees,cradledherchininherhands,andwithasighofmiserystaredstraightbeforeher。

"Itwasuntrue！"shesaidatlast。"WhatRichardsaidofmewasuntrue。"

"Why,yes,"Dianasnapped,contemptuous。"TheonlytruthisthatRichardisafraid。"

Ruthshivered。"Ah,no,"shepleaded—sheknewhowtruewastheimpeachment。"Don\'tsayit,Diana。"

"ItmatterslittlethatIsayit,"snortedDianaimpatiently。"Itisatruthproclaimedbythefirstglanceathim。"

"Heisinpoorhealth,perhaps,"saidRuth,seekingmiserablytoexcusehim。

"Aye,"saidDiana。"He\'ssufferingfromanague—theresultofalackofcourage。Thatheshouldsohavespokentoyou！Givemepatience,Heaven！"

Ruthcrimsonedagainatthememoryofhiswords;awaveofindignationsweptthroughhergentlesoul,butwasgoneatonce,leavinganineffablesadnessinitsroom。Whatwastobedone？SheturnedtoDianaforcounsel。ButDianawasstillwhippingupherscorn。

"IfhegoesouttomeetMr。Wilding,he\'llshamehimselfandeverymanandwomanthatbearsthenameofWestmacott,"saidshe,andstruckanewfearwiththatintotheheartofRuth。

"Hemustnotgo！"sheansweredpassionately。"Hemustnotmeethim！"

Dianaflashedherasidelongglance。"Andifhedoesn\'t,willthingsbemended？"sheinquired。"WillitsavehishonourtohaveMr。Wildingcomeandcanehim？"

"He\'dnotdothat？"saidRuth。

"Notifyouaskedhim—no,"wasDiana\'ssharpretort,andshecaughtherbreathonthelastwordofit,forjustthentheDevildroppedtheseedofasuggestionintothefertilesoilofherlovesicksoul。

"Diana！"Ruthexclaimedinreproof,turningtoconfronthercousin。

ButDiana\'smindstarteduponitsschemingjourneywasnowtravellingfast。Outofthatdevil\'sseedtheresprangwithamazingrapidityatree—likegrowth,throwingoutbranches,puttingforthleaves,bearingalready—inherfancy—bloomandfruit。

"Whynot？"quothsheafterabreathingspace,andhervoicewasgentle,hertoneinnocentbeyondcompare。"Whyshouldyounotaskhim？"Ruthfrowned,perplexedandthoughtful,andnowDianaturnedtoherwiththelivelyeyeofoneintowhosemindhasleaptasuddeninspiration。

"Ruth！"sheexclaimed。"Why,indeed,shouldyounotaskhimtoforgothisduel？"

"How……,howcouldI？"falteredRuth。

"He\'dnotdenyyou;youknowhe\'dnot。"

"Idonotknowit,"answeredRuth。"ButifIdid,howcouldIaskit？"

"WereIRichard\'ssister,andhadIhislifeandhonouratheartasyouhave,I\'dnotaskhow。IfRichardgoestothatencounterhelosesboth,remember—unlessbetweenthisandthenheundergoessomechange。WereIinyourplace,I\'dstraighttoWilding。"

"Tohim？"musedRuth,sittingup。"HowcouldIgotohim？"

"Gotohim,yes,"Dianainsisted。"Gotohimatonce—whilethereisyettime。"

Ruthroseandmovedawayasteportwotowardsthewater,deepinthought。Dianawatchedherfurtivelyandslyly,therapidriseandfallofhermaidenbreastbetrayingtheagitationthatfilledherasshewaited—likeagamester—fortheturnofthecardthatwouldshowherwhethershehadwonorlost。ForshesawclearlyhowRuthmightbesocompromisedthattherewassomethingmorethanachancethatDianawouldnolongerhavecausetoaccounthercousinabarrierbetweenherselfandBlake。

"Icouldnotgoalone,"saidRuth,andhertonewasthatofonestillbattlingwithanotionthatisrepugnant。

"Why,ifthatisall,"saidDiana,"thenI\'llgowithyou。"

"Ican\'t！Ican\'t！Considerthehumiliation。"

"ConsiderRichardrather,"thefairtemptressmadeanswereagerly。"BesurethatMr。Wildingwillsaveyouallhumiliation。He\'llnotdenyyou。Atawordfromyou,Iknowwhatanswerhewillmake。Hewillrefusetopushthematterforward—acknowledgehimselfinthewrong,dowhateveryoumayaskhim。Hecandoit。Nonewillquestionhiscourage。Ithasbeenprovedtoooften。"SheroseandcametoRuth。

Shesetherarmaboutherwaistagain,andpouredshrewdpersuasionoverhercousinsindecision。"To—nightyou\'llthankmeforthisthought,"sheassuredher。"Whydoyoupause？AreyousoselfishastothinkmoreofthelittlehumiliationthatmayawaityouthanofRichard\'slifeandhonour？"

"No,no,"Ruthprotestedfeebly。

"What,then？IsRichardtogooutandslayhishonourbyashowoffearbeforeheisslain,himself,bythemanhehasinsulted？"

"I\'llgo,"saidRuth。Nowthattheresolvewastaken,shewasbrisk,impatient。"Come,Diana。LetJerrysaddleforus。We\'llridetoZoylandChaseatonce。"

TheywentwithoutawordtoRichardwhowasstillclosetedwithVallancey,andridingforththeycrossedtheriverandtooktheroadthat,skirtingSedgemoor,runssouthtoWestonZoyland。Theyrodewithlittlesaiduntiltheycametothepointwheretheroadbranchesontheleft,throwingoutanarmacrossthemoortowardsChedzoy,amileorsoshortofZoylandChase。HereDianareinedinwithasharpgaspofpain。Ruthchecked,andcriedtoknowwhatailedher。

"Itisthesun,Ithink,"mutteredDiana,herhandtoherbrow。"Iamsickandgiddy。"Andsheslippedathoughtheavilytotheground。InaninstantRuthhaddismountedandwasbesideher。Dianawaspale,whichlentcolourtohercomplaint,forRuthwasnottoknowthatthepallorsprangfromheragitationinwonderingwhethertherusesheattemptedwouldsucceedornot。