ThistreatmentofhiminspiredMr。Wildingwithmalice。ThemerementionofSunderland'sletterwouldhavechangedtheirtone。Butheelectedbynosuchwordtourgetheimportanceofhisbusiness。ItshouldbeentirelyasMonmouthshouldelectorbeconstrainedbythesegentlemenabouthiscouncil—table。
　　"Itwouldservetwopurposes,"saidWade,whilstMonmouthstillconsidered。"YourMajestywillbenonetoowellattended,yourofficershavingthisothermattertopreparefor。Mr。Wildingwouldformanothertoswellyourescortofgentlemen。"
　　"Ithinkyouareright,ColonelWade,"saidMonmouth。"WesupatMr。
　　Newlington'satnineo'clock,Mr。Wilding。Weshallexpectyoutoattendusthere。LieutenantCragg,"saidHisGracetotheyoungofficerwhohadadmittedWilding,andwhohadremainedatattentionbythedoor,"youmayreconductMr。Wilding。"
　　Wildingbowed,hislipstighttokeepintheangerthatcravedexpression。Then,withoutanotherwordspoken,heturnedanddeparted。
　　"Aninsolent,overbearingknave！"wasGrey'scommentuponhimafterhehadlefttheroom。
　　"Letusattendtothis,yourlordship,"saidSpeke,tappingthemap。
　　"Timepresses,"andheinvitedWadetocontinuethematterthatWilding'sadventhadinterrupted。
　　CHAPTERXVIII
　　BETRAYAL
　　Stillsmartingunderthecavaliertreatmenthehadreceived,Mr。WildingcameforthfromtheCastletofindTrenchardawaitinghimamongthecrowdofofficersandmenthatthrongedtheyard。
　　Nicklinkedhisarmthroughhisfriend'sandledhimaway。Theyquittedtheplaceinsilence,andinsilencetooktheirwaysouthtowardstheHighStreet,NickwaitingforMr。Wildingtospeak,Mr。Wilding'smindstillinturmoilatthethingshehadendured。AtlastNickhaltedsuddenlyandlookedkeenlyathisfriendinthefailinglight。
　　"Whataplagueailsyou,Tony？"saidhesharply。"YouareassilentasIamimpatientforyournews。"
　　Wildingtoldhiminbrief,disdainfultermsofthereceptiontheyhadgivenhimattheCastle,andofhowtheyhadblamedhimforthecircumstancethatLondonhadfailedtoproclaimitselfforMonmouth。
　　Trenchardsnarledviciously。"`TisthatmongrelGrey,"saidhe。"Oh,Anthony,towhatanaffairhavewesetourhands？Naughtcanprosperwiththatfellowinit。"HelaidhishandonWilding'sarmandloweredhisvoice。"AsIhavehintedbefore,`twouldnotsurprisemeiftimeprovedhimatraitor。Failureattendshimeverywhere,andsounfailinglythatonewondersisnotfailureinvitedbyhim。AndthatfoolMonmouth！
　　Pshaw。！Seewhatitistoserveaweakling。Withanotherinhisplaceandthecountrydisaffectedasitis,wehadbeenmastersofEnglandbynow。
　　Twoladiespassedthematthatmoment,cloakedandhooded,walkingbriskly。OneofthemturnedtolookatTrenchard,who,wavinghisarmsinwildgesticulation,wasaconspicuousobject。Shecheckedinherwalk,arrestinghercompanion。
　　"Mr。Wilding！"sheexclaimed。ItwasLadyHorton。
　　"Mr。Wilding！"criedDiana,hercompanion。
　　Wildingdoffedhishatandbowed,Trenchardfollowinghisexample。
　　"WehadscarcelookedtoseeyouinBridgwateragain,"saidthemother,hermild,pleasantcountenancereflectingthesatisfactionitgavehertobeholdhimsafeandsound。
　　"Therehavebeenmoments,"answeredWilding,"whenmyselfIscarceexpectedtoreturn。Yourladyship'sgreetingshowsmewhatIhadlosthadInotdoneso。"
　　"Youarebutnewlyarrived？"quothDiana,scanninghiminthegloaming。
　　"FromLondon,anhoursince。"
　　"Anhour？"sheechoed,andobservedthathewasstillbootedanddust—stained。"YouwillhavebeentoLuptonHouse？"
　　Ashadowcrossedhisface,hisglanceseemedtogrowclouded,allofwhichwatchfulDianadidnotfailtoobserve。"Notyet,"saidhe。
　　"Youarealaggard,"shelaughedathim,andhefelttheblooddrivenbackuponhisheart。Whatdidshemean？Wasitpossibleshesuggestedthatheshouldbewelcome,thathiswife'sfeelingstowardshimhadundergoneachange？HislastpartingfromherontheroadnearWalfordhadbeeneverinhismind。
　　"Ihavehadweightybusinesstotransact,hereplied,andTrenchardsnorted,hismindflyingbacktothecouncil—roomattheCastle,andwhathisfriendhadtoldhim。
　　"Butnowthatyouhavedisposedofthatyouwillsupwithus,"saidLadyHorton,whowasconvincedthatsinceRuthhadgonetothealtarwithhimhewasRuth'sloverinspiteoftheoddthingsshehadheard。
　　AppearanceswithLadyHortoncountedforeverything,andallthatglitteredwasgoldtoher。
　　"Iwould,"heanswered,"butthatIamtosupatMr。Newlington'swithHisMajesty。Myvisitmustwaituntilto—morrow。"
　　"Letushope,"saidTrenchard,"thatitwaitsnolonger。"HewasalreadyinstructedtouchingthenightattackonFeversham'scamponSedgemoor,andthoughtitlikelyWildingwouldaccompanythem。
　　"YouaregoingtoMr。Newlington's？"saidDiana,andTrenchardthoughtshehadturnedsingularlypale。Herhandwasoverherheart,hereyeswide。Sheseemedabouttoaddsomething,butcheckedherself。Shetookhermother'sarm。"WearedetainingMr。Wilding,mother,"saidshe,andhervoicequiveredasifherwholebeingwereshakenbysomegustyagitation。Theyspoketheirfarewellsbriefly,andmovedon。A
　　secondlaterDianawasbackattheirsideagain。
　　"Whereareyoulodged,Mr。Wilding？"sheinquired。
　　"WithmyfriendTrenchard—atthesignofTheShip,bytheCross。"
　　Shebrieflyacknowledgedtheinformation,rejoinedhermother,andhurriedawaywithher。
　　Trenchardstoodstaringafterthemamoment。"Odd！"saidhe;"didyoumarkthatgirl'sdiscomposure？"
　　ButWilding'sthoughtswereelsewhere。"Come,Nick！IfIamtorendermyselffittositattablewithMonmouth,we'llneedtohasten。"
　　Theywenttheirway,butnotsofastaswentDiana,urgingwithherherprotestingandshort—windedmother。
　　"Whereisyourmistress？"thegirlaskedexcitedlyofthefirstservantshemetatLuptonHouse。
　　"Inherroom,madam,"themanreplied,andtoRuth'sroomwentDianabreathlessly,leavingLadyHortongapingafterherandunderstandingnothing。
　　Ruth,whowasseatedpensivebyherwindow,roseonDiana'simpetuousentrance,andinthedeepeningtwilightshelookedalmostghostlyinhergownofshimmeringwhitesatin,sewnwithpearlsabouttheneckofthelow—cutbodice。
　　"Diana！"shecried。"Youstartledme。"
　　"NotsomuchasIamyettodo,"answeredDiana,breathingexcitement。
　　Shethrewbackthewimplefromherhead,andpullingawayhercloak,tosseditontothebed。"Mr。WildingisinBridgwater,"sheannounced。
　　TherewasafaintrustlefromthestiffsatinofRuth'sgown。"Then……"
　　hervoiceshookslightly。"Then……heisnotdead,"shesaid,morebecauseshefeltthatshemustsaysomethingthanbecauseherwordsfittedtheoccasion。
　　"Notyet,"saidDianagrimly。
　　"Notyet？"
　　"Hesupsto—nightatMr。Newlington's,"MissHortonexclaimedinavoicepregnantwithmeaning。
　　"Ah！"ItwasacryfromRuth,sharpasifshehadbeenstabbed。Shesankbacktoherseatbythewindow,smittendownbythissuddennews。
　　Therewasapause,whichfrettedDiana,whonowcravedknowledgeofwhatmightbepassinginhercousin'smind。SheadvancedtowardsRuthandlaidatremblinghandonhershoulder,wherethewhitegownmettheivoryneck。"Hemustbewarned,"shesaid。
　　"But……,buthow？"stammeredRuth。"TowarnhimweretobetraySirRowland。"
　　"SirRowland？"criedDianainhighscorn。
　　"And……andRichard,"Ruthcontinued。
　　"Yes,andMr。Newlington,andalltheotherknavesthatareengagedinthismurderousbusiness。Well？"shedemanded。"Willyoudoit,ormustI？"
　　"Doit？"Ruth'seyessoughthercousin'swhite,excitedfaceinthequasi—darkness。"Buthaveyouthoughtofwhatitwillmean？HaveyouthoughtofthepoorpeoplethatwillperishunlesstheDukeistakenandthisrebellionbroughttoanend？"
　　"Thoughtofit？"repeatedDianawitheringly。"NotI。IhavethoughtthatMr。Wildingishereandliketohavehisthroatcutbeforeanhourispast。"
　　"Tellme,areyousureofthis？"askedRuth。
　　"Ihaveitfromyourhusband'sownlips,"Dianaanswered,andtoldherinafewwordsofhermeetingwithMr。Wilding。
　　Ruthsatwithhandsfoldedinherlap,hereyesonthedimvioletafter—glowinthewest,andhermindwrestlingwiththisproblemthatDianahadbroughther。
　　"Diana,"shecriedatlast,"whatamItodo？"
　　"Do？"echoedDiana。"Isitnotplain？WarnMr。Wilding。"
　　"ButRichard？"
　　"Mr。WildingsavedRichard'slife……"
　　"Iknow。Iknow。Mydutyistowarnhim。"
　　"Thenwhyhesitate？"
　　"MydutyisalsotokeepfaithwithRichard,tothinkofthosepoormisguidedfolkwhoaretobesavedbythis,"criedRuthinanagony。
　　"IfMr。Wildiniswarned,theywillallberuined。"
　　Dianastampedherfootimpatiently。"HadIthoughttofindyouinthismind,Ihadwarnedhimmyself;"saidshe。
　　"Ah！Whydidyounot？"
　　"Thatthechanceofdoingsomightbeyours。Thatyoumightthusrepayhimthedebtinwhichyoustand。"
　　"Diana,Ican't！"Thewordsbrokefromherinasob。
　　ButwhateverherinterestinMr。Wildingforherownsake,Diana'sprimeintentwasthethwartingSirRowlandBlake。IfWildingwerewarnedofwhatmanneroffeastwasspreadatNewlington's,SirRowlandwouldbeindeedundone。
　　"YouthinkofRichard,"sheexclaimed,"andyouknowthatRichardistohavenoactivepartintheaffair—thathewillrunnorisk。TheyhaveassignedhimbutasentrydutythathemaywarnBlakeandhisfollowersifanydangerthreatensthem。"
　　"ItisnotofRichard'slifeIamthinking,butofhishonour,ofhistrustinme。TowarnMr。Wildingwere……tocommitanactofbetrayal。"
　　"AndisMr。Wildingtobeslaughteredwithhisfriends？"Dianaaskedher。
　　"Resolvemethat。Timepresses。Inhalfanhouritwillbetoolate。"
　　ThatallusiontotheshortnessofthetimebroughtRuthaninspiration。
　　Suddenlyshesawaway。Wildingshouldbesaved,andyetshewouldnotbreakfaithwithRichardnorruinthoseothers。Shewoulddetainhim,andwhilstwarninghimatthelastmoment,intimeforhimtosavehimself;notdosountilitmustbetoolateforhimtowarntheothers。
　　Thusshewoulddoherdutybyhim,andyetkeepfaithwithRichardandSirRowland。Shehadresolved,shethought,theawfuldifficultythathadconfrontedher。Sherosesuddenly,heartenedbythethought。
　　"Givemeyourcloakandwimple,"shebadeDiana,andDianaflewtodoherbidding。"WhereisMr。Wildinglodged？"sheasked。
　　"AtthesignofTheShip—overlookingtheCross,withMr。Trenchard。
　　ShallIcomewithyou？"
　　"No,"answeredRuthwithouthesitation。"Iwillgoalone。"Shedrewthewimplewelloverherhead,sothatinitsshadowsherfacemightlieconcealed,andhidhershimmeringwhitedressunderDiana'scloak。
　　Shehastenedthroughtheill—lightedstreets,neverheedingtheroughcobblesthathurtherfeet,shodinlightindoorwear,neverheedingthecrowdsthatthrongedherway。AllBridgwaterwasastirwithMonmouth'spresence;moreover,therehadbeengreatincursionsfromTauntonandthesurroundingcountry,thewomen—folkoftheDuke—King'sfollowershavingcomethatdaytoBridgwatertosayfarewelltofatherandson,husbandandbrother,beforethearmymarched—aswasstillbelieved—toGloucester。
　　Thehalf—hourwasstrikingfromSaintMary's—thechurchinwhichshehadbeenmarried—asRuthreachedthedoorofthesignofTheShip。Shewasabouttoknock,whensuddenlyitopened,andMr。Wildinghimself,withTrenchardimmediatelybehindhim,stoodconfrontingher。Atsightofhimamomentaryweaknesstookher。Hehadchangedfromhishard—usedriding—garmentsintoasuitofroughlycordedblacksilk,whichthrewintoreliefthesteelylithenessofhissparefigure。Hisdarkbrownhairwascarefullydressed,diamondsgleamedinthecravatofsnowylaceathisthroat。Hewasuncovered,hishatunderhisarm,andhestoodasidetomakewayforher,imaginingthatshewassomewomanofthehouse。
　　"Mr。Wilding,"saidshe,herheartflutteringinherthroat。"MayI……mayIspeakwithyou？"
　　Heleanedforward,seekingtopiercetheshadowsofherwimple;hehadthoughtherecognizedthevoice,ashissuddenstarthadshown;andyethedisbelievedhisears。Shemovedherheadatthatmoment,andthelightstreamingoutfromalampinthepassagebeatuponherwhiteface。
　　"Ruth！"hecried,andcamequicklyforward。Trenchard,behindhim,lookedonandscowledwithsuddenimpatience。Mr。Wilding'sphilanderingswiththisladyhadneverhadtheoldrake'sapproval。
　　Toomuchtroublealreadyhadresultedfromthem。
　　"Imustspeakwithyouatonce。Atonce！"sheurgedhim,hertonefearful。
　　"Areyouinneedofme？"heaskedconcernedly。
　　"Inveryurgentneed,"saidshe。
　　"IthankGod,"heansweredwithoutflippancy。"Youshallfindmeatyourservice。Tellme。"
　　"Nothere;nothere,"sheansweredhim。
　　"Whereelse？"saidhe。"Shallwewalk？"
　　"No,no。"Herrepetitionsmarkedthedeepexcitementthatpossessedher。
　　"Iwillgoinwithyou。"Andshesignedwithherheadtowardsthedoorfromwhichhewasbarelyemerged。
　　"`Twerescarcefitting,"saidhe,forbeingconfusedandfullofspeculationonthescoreofherneed,hehadforthemomentalmostoverlookedtherelationsinwhichtheystood。Inspiteoftheceremonythroughwhichtheyhadgonetogether,Mr。Wildingstillmostlythoughtofherasofamistressverydifficulttowoo。
　　"Fitting？"sheechoed,andthenafterapause,"AmInotyourwife？"
　　sheaskedhiminalowvoice,hercheekscrimsoning。
　　"Ha！`Ponhonour,Ihadalmostforgot,"saidhe,andthoughtheburdenofhiswordsseemedmocking,theirtonewassad。
　　Ofthepassers—bythatjostledthemacouplehadnowpausedtowatchascenethathadanelementoftheunusualinit。Shepulledherwimpleclosertoherface,tookhimbythearm,anddrewhimwithherintothehouse。
　　"Closethedoor,"shebadehim,andTrenchard,whohadstoodasidethattheymightpassin,forestalledhiminobeyingher。"Nowleadmetoyourroom,saidshe,andWildinginamazeturnedtoTrenchardasifaskinghisconsent,forthelodging,afterall,wasTrenchard's。
　　"I'llwaithere,"saidNick,andwavedhishandtowardsanoakbenchthatstoodinthepassage。"Youhadbestmakehaste,"heurgedhisfriend;"youarelatealready。Thatis,unlessyouareofamindtosetthelady'saffairsbeforeKingMonmouth's。AndwereIinyourplace,Anthony,faithI'dnotscrupletodoit。Forafterall,"headdedunderhisbreath,"there'slittlechoiceinrottenapples。"
　　RuthwaitedforsomeanswerfromWildingthatmightsuggesthewasindifferentwhetherhewenttoNewlington'sornot;buthespokenowordasheturnedtoleadthewayabove—stairstotheindifferentparlourwhichwiththeadjoiningbedroomconstitutedMr。Trenchard'slodging—andhisown,forthetimebeing。
　　Havingassuredherselfthatthecurtainswerecloselydrawn,sheputbyhercloakandhood,andstoodrevealedtohiminthelightofthethreecandles,burninginabranchuponthebareoaktable,dazzlinglybeautifulinhergownofivory—white。
　　Hestoodapart,cogitatingherwithglowingeyes,thefaintestsmilebetweenquestionandpleasurehoveringabouthisthinmouth。Hehadclosedthedoor,andstoodinsilencewaitingforhertomakeknowntohimherpleasure。
　　"Mr。Wilding……"shebegan,andstraightwayheinterruptedher。
　　"ButamomentsinceyoudidremindmethatIhavethehonourtobeyourhusband,"hesaidwithgravehumour。"Whyseeknowtoovercloudthatfact？Imindmethatthelasttimewemetyoucalledmebyanothername。
　　Butitmaybe,"headdedasanafterthought,"youareofopinionthatI
　　havebrokenfaithwithyou。"
　　"Brokenfaith？Ashow？"
　　"So！"hesaid,andsighed。"Mywordswereofsolittleaccountthattheyhavebeen,Isee,forgotten。Yet,sothatIrememberthem,thatiswhatchieflymatters。Ipromisedthen—orseemedtopromise—thatIwouldmakeawidowofyou,whohadmadeawifeofyouagainstyourwill。Ithasnothappenedyet。Donotdespair。ThisMonmouthquarrelisnotyetfoughtout。Hopeon,myRuth。"
　　Shelookedathimwitheyeswideopen—lustrouseyesofsapphireinafaceofivory。Afaintsmilepartedherlips,thereflectionofthethoughtinhermindthathadshe,indeed,beeneagerforhisdeathshewouldnotbewithhimatthismoment;hadshedesiredit,howeasywouldhercoursehavebeen。
　　"Youdomewrongtobidmehopeforthat,"sheansweredhim,hertoneslevel。"Idonotwishthedeathofanyman,unless……"Shepaused;hertruthfulnessurgedhertoofar。
　　"Unless？"saidhe,browsraised,politeinterestonhisface。
　　"UnlessitbeHisGraceofMonmouth。"
　　Heconsideredherwithsuddenlynarrowedeyes。"Youhavenotbychancesoughtmetotalkpolitics？"saidhe。"Or……"andhesuddenlycaughthisbreath,hisnostrilsdilatingwithrageatthebarethoughtthatleaptintohismind。HadMonmouth,thenotoriouslibertine,beentoLuptonHouseandpersecutedherwithhisaddresses？"IsitthatyouareacquaintedwithHisGrace？"heasked。
　　"Ihaveneverspokentohim！"sheanswered,withnosuspicionofwhatwasinhisthoughts。
　　Inhisreliefhelaughed,rememberingnowthatMonmouth'saffairsweretooabsorbingjustatpresenttoleavehimroomfordalliance。
　　"Butyouarestanding,"saidhe,andheadvancedachair。"IdeplorethatIhavenobetterhospitalitytoofferyou。IdoubtifIevershallagain。IamtoldthatAlbemarledidmethehonourtostablehisknackersinmyhallatZoyland。"
　　Shetookthechairheofferedher,sinkingtoitlikeonephysicallyweary,athinghewasquicktonotice。Hewatchedher,hisbodyeager,hissoultrammellingitwithasteelyrestraint。"Tellme,now,"saidhe,"inwhatyouneedme。"
　　Shewassilentamoment,pondering,hesitationandconfusionseemingtoenvelopher。Apinkflushrosetocolourthebeautifulpillarofneckandoverspreadthedelicatehalf—avertedface。Hewatchedit,wondering。
　　"Howlong,"sheaskedhim,herwholeintentatpresentbeingtodelayhimandgaintime。"HowlonghaveyoubeeninBridgwater？"
　　"Twohoursatmost,"saidhe。
　　"Twohours！Andyetyounevercameto……tome。Iheardofyourpresence,andIfearedyoumightintendtoabstainfromseekingme。"
　　Healmostheldhisbreathwhileshespoke,caughtinamazement。Hewasstandingclosebesideherchair,hisrighthandresteduponitstallback。
　　"Didyousointend？"sheaskedhim。
　　"Itoldyouevennow,"heansweredwithhard—woncalm,"thatIhadmadeyouasortofpromise。"
　　"I……Iwouldnothaveyoukeepit,"shemurmured。Sheheardhissharplyindrawnbreath,felthimleaningoverher,andwasfilledwithanunaccountablefear。
　　"Wasittotellmethisyoucame？"heaskedher,hisvoicereducedtoawhisper。
　　"No……yes,"sheanswered,anagonyinhermind,whichgropedforsomemeanstokeephimbyhersideuntilhisdangershouldbeoverpast。Thatmuchsheowedhiminhonourifinnothingelse。
　　"No—yes？"heechoed,andhehaddrawnhimselferectagain。"Whatis'tyoumean,Ruth？"
　　"Imeanthatitwasthat,yetnotquiteonlythat。"
　　"Ah！"Disappointmentvibratedfaintlyinhisclamation。"Whatelse？"
　　"IwouldhaveyouabandonMonmouth'sfollowing,"shetoldhim。
　　Hestaredamoment,movedawayandroundwherehecouldconfronther。
　　Theflushhadnowfadedfromherface。Thisheobservedandtheheaveofherbosominitslowbodice。Heknithisbrows,perplexed。Herewassurelymorethanatfirstmightseem。
　　"Whyso？"heasked。
　　"Foryourownsafety'ssake,"sheansweredhim。
　　"Youareoddlyconcernedforthat,Ruth。"
　　"Concerned—notoddly。"Shepausedaninstant,swallowedhard,andthencontinued。"Iamconcernedtooforyourhonour,andthereisnohonourinfollowinghisbanner。HehascrownedhimselfKing,andsoprovedhimselfaself—seekerwhocamedissembledasthechampionofacausethathemightdeludepoorignorantfolkintoflockingtohisstandardandhelpinghimtohisambitiousends。"
　　"Youarewondrouslywellschooled,"saidhe。"Whoseteachingsdoyoureciteme？SirRowlandBlake's？"
　　Atanothertimethesneermighthavecuther。Atthemomentshewastoointentupongainingtime。Themeanstoitmatteredlittle。Themoreshetalkedtonopurpose,themoreatrandomwastheirdiscourse,thebetterwouldherendsbeserved。
　　"SirRowlandBlake？"shecried。"Whatishetome？"
　　"Ah,what？Letmesetyouthequestionrather。"
　　"Lessthannothing,"sheassuredhim,andforsomemomentsafterwardsitwasthisSirRowlandwhoservedthemasatopicfortheiroddinterview。
　　Ontheovermantelthepulseoftimebeatonfromalittlewoodenclock。
　　Hiseyesstrayedtoit;itmarkedthethree—quarters。Hebethoughthimsuddenlyofhisengagement。Trenchard,below—stairs,supremelyindifferentwhetherWildingwenttoNewlington'sornot,smokedon,entirelyunconcernedbytheflightoftime。
　　"Mistress,"saidWildingsuddenly,"youhavenotyettoldmeinwhatyouseekmyservice。Indeed,weseemtohavetalkedtolittlepurpose。Mytimeisveryshort。"
　　"Whereareyougoing？"sheaskedhim,andfearfullysheshotasidelongglanceatthetimepiece。Itwasstilltoosoon,byatleastfiveminutes。
　　Hesmiled,buthissmilewassingular。Hebegantosuspectatlastthatheronlypurpose—towhatendhecouldnotguess—wastodetainhim。
　　"`Tisasingularlysuddeninterestinmydoings,this,"saidhequietly。