"Youwon’twantyourhorseto—night，becauseyoucan’tusehim，"hesaid。"IshallputMissVanderpoel’ssaddleuponhimandridewithherbacktoStornham。Youthinkyouarecuttopieces，butyouarenot，andyou’llgetoverit。I’llaskyoutomark，however，thatifyouopenyourfoulmouthtoinsinuateliesconcerningeitherLadyAnstruthersorhersisterIwilldothisthingagaininpublicsomeday——onthestepsofyourclub——anddoitmorethoroughly。"
　　Hewalkedintothecottagesoonafterwardslooking，toBettyVanderpoel’seyes，paleandexceptionallybig，andalsomoreamanthanitisoftengiveneventothemostvirilemalecreaturetolook——andhewalkedtothesideofherrestingplaceandstoodtherelookingdown。
　　"IthoughtIheardadoghowl，"shesaid。
　　"Youdidhearadoghowl，"heanswered。Hesaidnootherword，andsheaskednofurtherquestion。Sheknewwhathehaddone，andhewaswellawarethatsheknewit。
　　Therewasalong，strangelytensesilence。Thelightofthemoonwasgrowing。Shemadeatfirstnoefforttorise，butlaystillandlookedupathimfromundersplendidliftedlashes，whilehisowngazefellintothedepthofherslikeaplummetintoadeeppool。Thiscontinuedforalmostafullminute，whenheturnedquicklyawayandwalkedtothehearth，indrawingaheavybreath。
　　Hecouldnotendurethatwhichbesethim；itwasunbearable，becausehereyeshadmaddeninglyseemedtoaskhimsomewistfulquestion。Whydidsheletherlovelinesssocalltohim。Shewasnotatriflerwhocouldplaywithmeanings。
　　Perhapsshedidnotknowwhatherpowerwas。Sometimeshecouldbelievethatbeautifulwomendidnot。
　　Inafewmoments，almostbeforehecouldreachher，shewasrising，andwhenshegotupshesupportedherselfagainsttheopendoor，standinginthemoonlight。Ifhewaspale，shewaspalealso，andherlargeeyeswouldnotmovefromhisface，sodrawinghimthathecouldnotkeepawayfromher。
　　"Listen，"hebrokeoutsuddenly。"Penzancetoldme——
　　warnedme——thatsometimeamomentwouldcomewhichwouldbestrongerthanallelseinaman——thanallelseintheworld。Ithascomenow。Letmetakeyouhome。"
　　"Thanwhatelse？"shesaidslowly，andbecameevenpalerthanbefore。
　　Hestrovetoreleasehimselffromthepossessionofthemoment，andinhisstruggleansweredwithasortofsavagery。
　　"Thanscruple——thanpower——eventhanaman’sdeterminationanddecentpride。"
　　"Areyouproud？"shehalfwhisperedquitebrokenly。"I
　　amnot——sinceIwaitedfortheringingofthechurchbell——
　　sinceIheardittoll。Afterthattheworldwasempty——anditwasasemptyofdecentprideasofeverythingelse。Therewasnothingleft。Iwasthehumblestbrokenthingonearth。"
　　"You！"hegasped。"DoyouknowIthinkIshallgomaddirectlyperhapsitishappeningnow。YOUwerehumbleandbroken——yourworldwasempty！Because————？"
　　"Lookatme，LordMountDunstan，"andthesweetestvoiceintheworldwasatender，wildlittlecrytohim。"OhLOOKatme！"
　　Hecaughtherout—thrownhandsandlookeddownintothebeautifulpassionatesoulofher。Themomenthadcome，andthetidalwaverisingtoitsheightsweptallthecommonearthawaywhen，withasavagesob，hecaughtandheldhercloseandhardagainstthatwhichthuddedracinginhisbreast。
　　Andtheystoodandswayedtogether，foldedineachother’sarms，whilethewindfromthemarsheslifteditsvoicelikeanexultinghumanthingasitsweptaboutthem。
　　CHAPTERXLIX
　　ATSTORNHAMANDATBROADMORLANDS
　　Theexultingwindhadsweptthecloudsaway，andthemoonrodeinadarkblueseaofsky，makingthenightlightpurelyclear，whentheydrewalittleapart，thattheymightbetterseethewonderfulnessineachother’sfaces。Itwassomysteriouslygreatathingthattheyfeltneartoawe。
　　"Ifoughttoolong。Iworeoutmybody’sendurance，andnowIamquakinglikeaboy。RedGodwyndidnotbeginhiswooinglikethis。Forgiveme，"MountDunstansaidatlast。
　　"Doyouknow，"withlovelytremblinglipsandvoice，"thatforlong——long——youhavebeenunkindtome？"
　　Itwasmerelyhumanthatheshouldswiftlyenfoldheragain，andanswerwithhislipsagainsthercheek。
　　"Unkind！Unkind！Oh，theheavenlywoman’ssweetnessofyourtellingmeso——theheavenlysweetnessofit！"heexclaimedpassionatelyandlow。"AndIwasoneofthosewhoare`bytheroadsideeverywhere，’anunkempt，ragingbeggar，whomightnotdecentlyaskyouforacrust。"
　　"Itwasallwrong——wrong！"shewhisperedbacktohim，andhepouredforththetenderest，fiercewordsofconfessionandprayer，andshelistened，drinkingthemin，withnowandthenasoftsobpressedagainsttheroughnessoftheenrapturingtweed。Foraspacetheyhadbothforgottenherhurt，becausethereareotherthingsthanterrorwhichhypnotisepain。MountDunstanwastobepraisedforrememberingitfirst。HemusttakeherbacktoStornhamandhersisterwithoutfurtherdelay。
　　"IwillputyoursaddleonAnstruthers’horse，ormine，andliftyoutoyourseat。Thereisafarmhouseabouttwomilesaway，whereIwilltakeyoufirstforfoodandwarmth。Perhapsitwouldbewellforyoutostaytheretorestforanhourorso，andIwillsendamessagetoLadyAnstruthers。"
　　"Iwillgototheplace，andeatanddrinkwhatyouadvise，"sheanswered。"ButIbegyoutotakemebacktoRosaliewithoutdelay。IfeelthatImustseeher。"
　　"IfeelthatImustseeher，too，"hesaid。"Butforher——Godblessher！"headded，afterhissuddenpause。
　　Bettyknewthattheexclamationmeantstrongfeeling，andthatsomehowinthepasthoursRosaliehadawakenedit。Butitwasonlywhen，aftertheirrefreshmentatthefarm，theyhadtakenhorseagainandwereridinghomewardtogether，thatsheheardfromhimwhathadpassedbetweenthem。
　　"Allthathasledtothismayseemthemerestchance，"
　　hesaid。"Butsurelyastrangethinghascomeabout。I
　　knowthatwithoutunderstandingit。"Heleanedoverandtouchedherhand。"You，whoareLife——withoutunderstandingIrideherebesideyou，believingthatyoubroughtmeback。"
　　"Itried——Itried！Withallmystrength，Itried。"
　　"AfterIhadseenyoursisterto—day，Iguessed——Iknew。
　　Butnotatfirst。Iwasnotillofthefever，asexcitedrumourhadit；butIwasill，andthedoctorsandthevicarwerealarmed。Ihadfoughttoolong，andIwasgivingup，asI
　　haveseenthepoorfellowsintheballroomgiveup。Iftheywerenotdraggedbacktheyslippedoutofone’shands。Ifthefeverhaddeveloped，allwouldhavebeenoverquickly。
　　Iknewthedoctorsfearedthat，andIamashamedtosayI
　　wasgladofit。But，yesterday，inthemorning，whenIwaslettingmyselfgowithamorbidpleasureintheluxuriousreliefofit——somethingreachedme——someslowrisingcalltoeffortandlife。"
　　Sheturnedtowardshiminhersaddle，listening，herlipsparted。
　　"Ididnotevenaskmyselfwhatwashappening，butI
　　begantobeconsciousofbeingdrawnback，andtolongintenselytoseeyouagain。Iwasgraduallyfilledwitharestlessfeelingthatyouwerenearme，andthat，thoughIcouldnotphysicallyhearyourvoice，youweresurelyCALLINGtome。Itwasthethingwhichcouldnotbe——butitwas——andbecauseofitIcouldnotletmyselfdrift。"
　　"Ididcallyou！IwasonmykneesinthechurchaskingtobeforgivenifIprayedmadprayers——butprayingthesamethingoverandover。Thevillagerswerekneelingthere，too。
　　Theycrowdedin，leavingeverythingelse。Youaretheirhero，andtheywereindeepearnest。"
　　Hislookwasgravelypondering。Hislifehadnotmadeamysticofhim——itwasPenzancewhowasthemystic——buthefelthimselfperplexedbymysteriouslysuggestivethought。
　　"Iwasbroughtback——Iwasbroughtback，"hesaid。"IntheafternoonIfellasleepandsleptprofoundlyuntilthemorning。WhenIawoke，IrealisedthatIwasaremademan。
　　ThedoctorswerealmostawedwhenIfirstspoketothem。
　　OldDr。Fenwickdiedlater，and，afterIhadheardaboutit，thechurchbellwastolled。ItwasheardatWeaver’sfarm—
　　house，and，aseverybodyhadbeenexcitedlywaitingforthesound，itconveyedbutoneideatothem——andtheboywassentracingacrossthefieldstoStornhamvillage。Dearest！
　　Dearest！"heexclaimed。
　　Shehadbowedherheadandburstintopassionatesobbing。
　　Becauseshewasnotofthewomenwhowept，hermoment’spassionwasstrongandbitter。
　　"Itneednothavebeen！"sheshuddered。"Onecannotbearit——becauseitneednothavebeen！"
　　"Stopyourhorseamoment，"hesaid，reininginhisown，while，withburningeyesandswellingthroat，heheldandsteadiedher。Buthedidnotknowthatneitherhersisternorherfatherhadeverseenherinsuchmood，andthatshehadneversoseenherself。
　　"Youshallnotrememberit，"hesaidtoher。
　　"Iwillnot，"sheanswered，recoveringherself。"Butforonemomentalltheawfulhoursrushedback。Tellmetherest。"
　　"WedidnotknowthattheblunderhadbeenmadeuntilamessengerfromDolerodeovertoinquireandbringmessagesofcondolence。ThenweunderstoodwhathadoccurredandIownasortoffrenzyseizedme。IknewImustseeyou，and，thoughthedoctorswerehorriblynervous，theydarenotholdmeback。ThedaybeforeitwouldnothavebeenbelievedthatIcouldleavemyroom。Youwerecryingouttome，andthoughIdidnotknow，Iwasanswering，bodyandsoul。PenzanceknewImusthavemywaywhenIspoketohim——madasitseemed。WhenIrodethroughStornhamvillage，morethanonewomanscreamedatsightofme。Ishallnotbeabletoblotoutofmymindyoursister’sface。Shewilltellyouwhatwesaidtoeachother。IrodeawayfromtheCourtquitehalfmad————"hisvoicebecameverygentle，"becauseofsomethingshehadtoldmeinthefirstwildmoments。"
　　LadyAnstruthershadspentthenightmovingrestlesslyfromoneroomtoanother，andhadnotbeentobedwhentheyrodesidebysideuptheavenueintheearlymorningsunlight。Anunderkeeper，crossingtheparkafewhundredyardsabovethem，afteroneglance，dashedacrosstheswardtothecourtyardandtheservants’hall。Thenewsflashedelectricallythroughthehouse，andRosalie，likeasmallghost，cameoutuponthestepsastheyreinedin。Thoughherlipsmoved，shecouldnotspeakaloud，asshewatchedMountDunstanlifthersisterfromherhorse。
　　"ChildeHaroldstumbledandIhurtmyfoot，"saidBetty，tryingtobecalm。
　　"Iknewhewouldfindyou！"Rosalieansweredquitefaintly。"Iknewyouwould！"turningtoMountDunstan，adoringhimwithallthemeaningofhersmallpaledface。
　　Shewouldhavebeenafraidofhermemoryofwhatshehadsaidinthestrangescenewhichhadtakenplacebeforethemafewhoursago，butalmostbeforeeitherofthetwospokesheknewthatagreatgulfhadbeencrossedinsomeoneinevitable，thoughunforeseen，leap。Howithadbeentaken，whenorwhere，didnotintheleastmatter，whensheclungtoBettyandBettyclungtoher。
　　Afterafewmomentsofmovedandreverentwaiting，theadmirableJenningssteppedforwardandaddressedherinloweredvoice。
　　"There’sbeenlittlesleepinthevillagethisnight，mylady，"
　　hemurmuredearnestly。"Ipromisedtheyshouldhaveasign，withyourpermission。Iftheflagwasrunup——they’realllookingout，andthey’dknow。"
　　"Runitup，Jennings，"LadyAnstruthersanswered，"atonce。"
　　Whenitranupthestaffonthetowerandflutteredoutingayansweringtothemorningbreeze，childreninthevillagebegantorunaboutshouting，menandwomenappearedatcottagedoors，andmorethanonecapwasthrownupintheair。ButoldDobyandMrs。Welden，whohadbeenwaitingforhours，standingbyMrs。Welden’sgate，caughteachother’sdry，tremblingoldhandsandbegantocry。
　　TheBroadmorlandsdivorcescandal，havingmadeconversationduringaseasonquitefortyyearsbeforeMissVanderpoelappearedatStornhamCourt，hadbeenlaiduponalowershelfandburiedbeneathotherstorieslongenoughtobeforgotten。Onlyoneindividualhadnotforgottenit，andhewastheDukeofBroadmorlandshimself，inwhoseminditremainedhideouslyclear。Hehadbeenayoungman，honestlyandmuchinlovewhenitfirstrevealeditselftohim，andforafewmonthshehadeventhoughtitmightendbybeinghisdeath，notwithstandingthathewasstrongandinfirst—ratephysicalcondition。Hehadbeenafine，heartyyoungmanofcleanandratherdignifiedlife，thoughhewasnotunderstoodtobebrilliantofmind。Privatelyhehadidealsconnectedwithhisrankandnamewhichhewasnotfluentenoughclearlytoexpress。Afterhehadrealisedthatheshouldnotdieofthepublichumiliationanddisgrace，whichseemedtopointhimoutashavingbeenthekindofgulliblefoolitisscarcelypossibletoavoidlaughingat——or，soitseemedtohiminhisheart—searedfrenzy——hethoughtitnotimprobablethatheshouldgomad。HewasharriedsobymemoriesoflovelylittlesoftwaysofEdith’s（hiswife’snamewasEdith），oftheprettysoundofherlaugh，andofherinnocent，girlishhabitofkneelingdownbyherbedsideeverynightandmorningtosayherprayers。Thishadsotouchedhimthathehadsometimeskneltdowntosayhis，too，sayingtoher，withslightawkwardboyishness，thatafellowwhohadasortofangelforhiswifeoughttodohisbesttobelieveinthethingsshebelievedin。
　　"Andallthetime————！"adevilwholaughedusedtosniggerinhisearoverandoveragain，untilitwasalmostlikethetickingofaclockduringtheworstmonths，whenitdidnotseemprobablethatamancouldfeelhisbrainwhirlinglikeaCatherinewheelnightandday，andstillmanagetoholdonandnotreachthepointofhowlingandshriekinganddashinghisskullagainstwailsandfurniture。
　　Butthatpassedintime，andhetoldhimselfthathepassedwithit。SincethenhehadlivedchieflyatBroadmorlandsCastle，andwasspokenofasamanwhohadbecomereligious，whichwasnottrue，but，havingreachedthedecisionthatreligionwasgoodformostpeople，hepaidagooddealofattentiontohischurchandschools，andwasrigorousinthematterofcurates。
　　Hehadpassedseventynow，andwassomewhatdespoticandhaughty，becauseamanwhoisaDukeanddoesnotgooutintotheworldtorubagainstmenofhisownclassandothers，butlivesaltogetheronagreatandsplendidestate，salutedbyeverycreaturehemeets，anduniversallyobeyedandcountedbeforeallelse，isnotunlikelytoforgetthatheisaquiteordinaryhumanbeing，andnotasortofmonarch。
　　HehaddonehisbesttoforgetEdith，whohadsoondiedofbeingashadycurate’swifeinAustralia，buthehadnotbeenabletoencompassit。Heused，occasionally，todreamshewaskneelingbythebedinherchildishnightgownsayingherprayersaloud，andwouldwakencrying——ashehadcriedinthoseawfulyoungdays。Againstsocialimmoralityorvillagelight—mindednesshewasrelentlesslysavage。Heallowedfornopalliatingorexoneratingfacts。Hebegantoseeredwhenheheardoforsawlightnessinamarriedwoman，andtheoutsideworldfrequentlysaidthatthischaracteristicborderedonmonomania。
　　NigelAnstruthers，havingmethimonceortwice，hadatfirstbeenmuchamusedbyhim，andhadeven，bygivinghimanadroitlycarefullead，managedtoguidehimintoanexpressionofopinion。TheDuke，whohadheardmenofhisclassdiscussed，didnotintheleastlikehim，notwithstandinghissympatheticsuavityofmannerandhisairofbeingintelligentlyimpressedbywhatheheard。Notlongafterwards，however，ittranspiredthattheagedrectorofBroadmorlandshavingdied，thelivinghadbeengiventoFfolliott，and，hearingit，SirNigelwasnotslowtoconjecturethatquitedecentlyutilisabletoolswouldliereadytohishandifcircumstancespressed；thispointofview，itwillbeseen，beingnotillogical。Amanwhohadnotbeenasortofhermitwouldhaveheardenoughofhimtobeputonhisguard，andonewhowasamanoftheworld，lookingnormallyonexistence，wouldhavereasonedcoolly，anddeclinedtoconcernhimselfaboutwhatwasnothisaffair。ButaparallelmightbedrawnbetweenBroadmorlandsandsomeoldlionwoundedsorelyinhisyouthandlefttodraghisunhealedtormentthroughtheyearsofage。Ononesubjecthehadnopointofviewbuthisown，andcouldberousedtofuryalmostsenselessbywhollyinadequatelysupportedfacts。Hepresentedexactlythematerialrequired——andthatinmass。
　　AboutthetimetheflagwasrunuponthetoweratStornhamCourtacarter，drivingwhistlingontheroadnearthedesertedcottage，washailedbyamanwhowaswalkingslowlyafewyardsaheadofhim。Thecarterthoughtthathewasatramp，ashisclotheswereplainlyinbadcase，whichseeing，hisanswerwasanunceremoniousgrunt，anditcertainlydidnotoccurtohimtotouchhisforehead。Aminutelater，however，he"gotastart，"asherelatedafterwards。Thetrampwasagentlemanwhoseridingcostumewastornandmuddied，andwholooked"gashly，"thoughhespokewiththemannerandauthoritywhichBinns，thecarter，recognisedasthatofoneofthe"gentry"addressingaday—labourer。
　　"HowfarisitfromheretoMedham？"heinquired。
　　"Medhambeaboutfourmile，sir，"wastheanswer。"I
　　becarryin’these’taterstheretomarket。"
　　"Iwanttogetthere。Ihavemetwithanaccident。Myhorsetookfrightatapheasantstartinguprockettingunderhisnose。Hethrewmeintoahedgeandbolted。I’mbadlyenoughbruisedtowanttoreachatownandseeadoctor。Canyougivemealift？"
　　"ThatIwill，sir，readyenough，"makingroomontheseatbesidehim。"Youbebruisedbad，sir，"hesaidsympathetically，ashispassengerclimbedtohisplace，withatwistedfaceandutteringblasphemiesunderhisbreath。
　　"Damnedbadly，"heanswered。"Nobonesbroken，however。"
　　"Thatcutonyourcheekandneck’llneedplasterin’，sir。"
　　"That’sascratch。Thornbush，"curtly。
　　Sympathywasplainlynotwelcome。InfactBinnswassoonoftheopinionthatherewasanuglycustomer，gentlemanornogentleman。Ajoltingcartwas，however，notthebestplaceforamanwhoseemedsorefromheadtofoot，anddoneforoutandout。Hesatandgroundhisteeth，asheclungtotheroughseatintheattempttosteadyhimself。Hebecamemoreandmore"gashly，"andacertainawfullightinhiseyesalarmedthecarterbyleapingupateveryjolt。BinnswasgladwhenhelefthimatMedhamArms，andfelthehadearnedthehalf—sovereignhandedtohim。
　　FourdaysAnstrutherslayinbedinaroomattheInn。Noonesawhimbutthemanwhobroughthimfood。Hedidnotsendforadoctor，becausehedidnotwishtoseeone。Hesentforsuchremediesaswereneededbyamanwhohadbeenbruisedbyafallfromhishorse。Hemadenoremarkwhichcouldbeconsideredexplanatory，afterhehadsaidirritablythatamanwasafooltogoloiteringalongonanervousbrutewhoneededwatching。Whatsoeverhappenedwashisowndamnedfault。
　　Throughhoursofdayandnighthelaystaringatthewhite—
　　washedbeamsorthebluerosesonthewallpaper。Theywerelonghours，andfilledwiththingsnotpleasantenoughtodwellonindetail。Physicalmiserywhichmadeamanwritheattimeswasnottheworstpartofthem。Therewereathousandthingslessendurable。Morethanoncehefoamedatthemouth，andrecognisedthathegibberedlikeamadman。
　　Therewasbutonememorywhichsavedhimfromfeelingthatthiswastheveryendofthings。ThatwasthememoryofBroadmorlands。Whileamanhadaweaponleft，eventhoughitcouldnotsavehim，hemightpayupwithit——getalmosteven。ThewholeVanderpoellotcouldbeplungedneckdeepinamorasswhichwouldleavemudenoughstickingtothem，eveniftheirmoneyhelpedthemtopreventitsentirelyclosingovertheirheads。Hecouldattendtothat，and，afterhehadsetitwellgoing，hecouldgetout。TherewereIndia，SouthAfrica，Australia——adozenplacesthatwoulddo。AndthenhewouldrememberBettyVanderpoel，andcursehorriblyunderthebedclothes。ItwasthememoryofBettywhichoutdidallothersinitspowertotorment。
　　OnthemorningofthefifthdaytheDukeofBroadmorlandsreceivedanote，whichhereadwithsomewhatannoyedcuriosity。AcertainSirNigelAnstruthers，whomitappearedheoughttobeabletorecall，wasintheneighbourhood，andwishedtoseehimonaparochialmatterofinterest。"Parochialmatter"wasvague，andsowastheDuke’srecollectionofthemanwhoaddressedhim。Ifhismemoryservedhimrightly，hehadmethiminacountryhouseinSomersetshire，andhadheardthathewastheacquaintanceofthedisreputableeldestson。Whatcouldapersonofthatsorthavetosayofparochialmatters？TheDukeconsidered，andthen，inobediencetoarigorousconscience，decidedthatoneought，perhaps，togivehimhalfanhour。
　　Therewasthatintheintruder’saspect，whenhearrivedintheafternoon，whichproducedsomewhattheeffectofshock。Inthefirstplace，amaninhisunconcealablephysicalconditionhadnorighttobeoutofhisbed。Thoughheplainlyrefusedtoadmitthefact，hismannerofbearinghimselferect，andevenwithacertaintouchofcoolswagger，was，itwasevident，achievedonlybydeterminedeffort。Helookedlikeamanwhohadnotyetrecoveredfromsomeevilfever。SincethemeetinginSomersetshirehehadagedmorethantheyearwarranted。Despitehisobstinatefightwithhimselfitwasobviousthathewashorriblyshaky。Adisagreeablescratchorcut，runningfromcheektoneck，didnotimprovehispersonalappearance。
　　Hepleasedhishostnomorethanhehadpleasedhimattheirfirstencounter；he，infact，repelledhimstrongly，bysuggestingadegreeofabnormalityofmoodwhichwassmoothedoverbyanattemptatentirenormalityofmanner。
　　TheDukedidnotpresentanapproachablefrontas，afterAnstruthershadtakenachair，hesatandexaminedhimwithbrightblueoldeyessetdeeponeithersideofadominantnoseandframedoverbywhiteeyebrows。No，NigelAnstrutherssummedhimup，itwouldnotbeeasytoopenthematterwiththeoldfool。Heheldhimselfmagnificentlyaloof，withthatlackofmodernityinhissenseofplacewhich，evenatthislateday，sometimesexpresseditselfhereandthereinthemannerofthefeudalsurvival。
　　"Iamafraidyouhavebeenill，"withrigidcivility。
　　"Amanfeelsratheranoutsiderinconfessinghehaslethishorsethrowhimintoahedge。Itwasmyownfaultentirely。IallowedmyselftoforgetthatIwasridingadangerouslynervousbrute。Iwasthinkingofapainfulandabsorbingsubject。Iwasbadlybruisedandscratched，butthatwasall。"
　　"Whatdidyourdoctorsay？"