\"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。
