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。