Fevershamstoodlistening。\"ItisDunbarton\'s,\"hemurmured。Then,withsomeshowofheat,\"Ah,pardieu！\"hecried。\"Butitwasadirtyt\'ingt\'isMonmoot\'`aveprepare\'。Itismurder;itisnott\'ewar。
\"Andyet,\"saidWildingcritically,\"itisalittlemorelikewarthantheBridgwateraffairtowhichyourlordshipgaveyoursanction。
Fevershampursedhislipsandconsideredthespeaker。Wentworthreentered,followedbytheEarl\'svaletcarryinganarmfulofgarments。
Hislordshipthrewoffhisdressing—gownandstoodforthinshirtandbreeches。
\"Maisdpche—toi,donc,Belmont！\"saidhe。\"Nousnousbattons！Iifautquejem\'habille。\"Belmont,alittlewizenedfellowwhounderstoodnothingofthistopsy—turveydom,hastenedforward,depositedhisarmfulonthetable,andselectedafinelyembroideredwaistcoat,whichheproceededtoholdforhismaster。Wrigglingintoit,Fevershamrappedouthisorders。
\"CaptainWentwort\',youwillgotoyourregimenatonce。Butfirst,ah—wait。Taket\'osesixmenandMistaireWilding。`Ave`imshotatonce;youonderstan\',eh？Good。Allons,Belmont！mycravat。\"
CHAPTERXXII
THEEXECUTION
CaptainWentworthclickedhisheelstogetherandsaluted。Blake,inthebackground,drewadeepbreath—unmistakablyofsatisfaction,andhiseyesglittered。AmuffledcrybrokefromRuth,whoroseinstantlyfromherchair,herhandonherbosom。Richardstoodwithfallenjaw,amazed,atrifletroubledeven,whilstMr。Wildingstartedmoreinsurprisethanactualfear,andapproachedthetable。
\"Youheard,sir,\"saidCaptainWentworth。
\"Iheard,\"answeredMr。Wildingquietly。\"Butsurelynotaright。Onemoment,sir,\"andhewavedhishandsocompellinglythat,despitetheorderhehadreceived,thephlegmaticcaptainhesitated。
Feversham,whohadtakenthecravat—ayardofpricelessDutchlace—
fromthehandsofhisvalet,andwasstandingwithhisbacktothecompanyatasmallandveryfaultymirrorthathungbytheovermantel,lookedpeevishlyoverhisshoulder。
\"Mylord,\"saidWilding,andBlake,forallhishatredofthisman,marvelledatacomposurethatdidnotforsakehimevennow,\"youaresurelynotproposingtodealwithmeinthisfashion—notseriously,mylord？\"
\"Ah,ca！\"saidtheFrenchman。\"T\'inkitajestifyouplease。Whatforyoucome`ere？\"
\"Assuredlynotforthepurposeofbeingshot,\"saidWilding,andactuallysmiled。Then,inthetonesofonediscussingamatterthatisgravebutnotofsurpassinggravity,hecontinued:\"ItisnotthatI
failtorecognizethatImayseemtohaveincurredtherigourofthelaw;butthesemattersmustbeformallyprovedagainstme。Ihaveaffairstosetinorderagainstsuchaconsummation。\"
\"Ta,ta！\"snappedFeversham。\"T\'atnotregardme。Weutwort\',you`ave`eardmyorder。\"Andhereturnedtohismirrorandtheniceadjustmentofhisneckwear。
\"But,mylord,\"insistedWilding,\"youhavenottheright—youhavenotthepowersotoproceedagainstme。Amanofmyqualityisnottobeshotwithoutatrial。\"
\"Youcan`angifyouprefer,\"saidFevershamindifferently,drawingouttheendsofhiscravatandsmoothingthemdownuponhisbreast。Hefacedaboutbriskly。\"Givemet\'atcoat,Belmont。HisMajesty`aveempowermeto`angorshootanygentlemensoft\'epartieoft\'eDuct\'eMonmoot\'ont\'espot。Isayt\'atforyoursatisfaction。Andlook,I
amdesolate\'tobesoquickwit\'you,butpleasetoconsidert\'ecircumstance。T\'eenemygotoattack。Wentwort\'mustgotohisregimen\',andmyot\'erofficersarealloccupi\'。Youcomprehen\'I`avenott\'etimetospareyou—n\'est—ce—pas？\"—Wentworth\'shandtouchedWildingontheshoulder。Hewasstandingwithheadslightlybowed,hisbrowsknitinthought。Helookedroundatthetouch,sighedandsmiled。
Belmontheldthecoatforhismaster,whoslippedintoit,andflungatWildingwhatwasintendedforaconsolatorysop。\"Itisfortunedeguerre,MistaireWilding。Iamdesolate\';butitisfortuneoft\'ewar。\"
\"Mayitbelessfortunateforyourlordship,then,\"saidWildingdryly,andwasonthepointofturning,whenRuth\'svoicecameinaloudcrytostartlehimandtoquickenhispulses。
\"Mylord！\"Itwasacryofutteranguish。
Feversham,settlinghisgold—lacedcoatcomfortablytohisfigure,lookedather。\"Madame？\"saidhe。
Butshehadnothingtosay。Shestood,deathlywhite,slightlybentforward,onehandwringingtheother,hereyesalmostwild,herbosomheavingfrantically。
\"Hum！\"saidFeversham,andheloosenedandremovedthescarffromhishead。HeshruggedslightlyandlookedatWentworth。\"Finissons！\"
saidhe。
ThewordandthelooksnappedthetrammelsthatboundRuth\'sspeech。
\"Fiveminutes,mylord！\"shecriedimploringly。\"Givehimfiveminutes—andme,mylord！\"
Wilding,deeplyshaken,tremblednowasheawaitedFeversham\'sreply。
TheFrenchmanseemedtowaver。\"Bien,\"hebegan,spreadinghishands。
Andinthatmomentashotrangoutinthenightandstartledthewholecompany。Fevershamthrewbackhishead;thesignsofyieldinglefthisface。\"Ha！\"hecried。\"T\'eyarearrive。Hesnatchedhiswigfromhislacquey\'shands,donnedit,andturnedagainaninstanttothemirrortoadjustthegreatcurls。\"Quick,Wentwort\'！T\'ereisnomoretimenow。MakeMistaireWildingbeshotatonce。T\'entoyourregimen\'。\"
Hefacedaboutandtooktheswordhisvaletproffered。\"Aurevoir,messieurs！
Serviteur,madame！\"And,bucklinghissword—beltashewent,hesweptout,leavingthedoorwideopen,Belmontfollowing,Wentworthsalutingandtheguardspresentingarms。
\"Come,sir,\"saidthecaptaininasubduedvoice,hiseyesavoidingRuth\'sface。
\"Iamready,\"answeredWildingfirmly,andheturnedtoglanceathiswife。
Shewasbendingtowardshim,herhandsheldout,suchalookonherfaceasalmostdrovehimmadwithdespair,readingitashedid。Hemadeasounddeepinhisthroatbeforehefoundwords。
\"Givemeoneminute,sir—oneminute,\"hebeggedWentworth。\"Iasknomorethanthat。\"
Wentworthwasagentlemanandnotill—natured。Buthewasasoldierandhadreceivedhisorders。Hehesitatedbetweentheinstinctsofthetwoconditions。Andwhattimehedidsotherecameaclatterofhoofswithouttoresolvehim。ItwasFevershamdeparting。
\"Youshallhaveyourminute,sir,\"saidhe。\"MoreIdarenotgiveyou,asyoucansee。
\"FrommyheartIthankyou,\"answeredMr。Wilding,andfromthegratitudeofhistoneyoumighthaveinferredthatitwashislifeWentworthhadaccordedhim。
Thecaptainhadalreadyturnedasidetoaddresshismen。\"Twoofyououtside,guardthatwindow,\"heordered。\"Therestofyou,inthepassage。Bestirthere！\"
\"Takeyourprecautions,byallmeans,sir,\"saidWilding;\"butIgiveyoumywordofhonourIshallattemptnoescape。
Wentworthnoddedwithoutreplying。HiseyelightedonBlake—whohadbeenseeminglyforgottenintheconfusion—andonRichard。A
kindlinessforthemanwhomethisendsounflinchingly,arespectforsoworthyanemeny,actuatedthered—facedcaptain。
\"Youhadbettertakeyourselfoff,SirRowland,\"saidhe。\"Andyou,Mr。Westmacott—youcanwaitinthepassagewithmymen。
Theyobeyedhimpromptlyenough,butwhenoutsideSirRowlandmadeboldtoremindthecaptainthathewasfailinginhisduty,andthatheshouldmakeapointofinformingtheGeneralofthisanon。Wentworthbadehimgotothedevil,andsowasridofhim。
Alone,insidethatlow—ceilingedchamber,stoodRuthandWildingfacetoface。Headvancedtowardsher,andwithashudderingsobsheflungherselfintohisarms。Still,hemistrustedtheemotiontowhichshewasaprey—dreadinglestitshouldhaveitsrootinpity。Hepattedhershouldersoothingly。
\"Nay,nay,littlechild,\"hewhisperedinherear。\"Neverweepformethathavenotatearformyself。Whatbetterresolutionofthedifficultiesmyfollyhascreated？\"Foronlyanswersheclungcloser,herhandslockedabouthisneck,herslenderbodyshakenbyhersilentweeping。\"Don\'tpityme,\"hebesoughther。\"Iamcontentitshouldbeso。ItistheamendIpromisedyou。Wastenopityonme,Ruth。\"
Sheraisedherface,hereyeswildandblurredwithtears,lookeduptohis。
\"Itisnotpity！\"shecried。\"Iwantyou,Anthony！Iloveyou,Anthony,Anthony！\"
Hisfacegrewashen。\"Itistrue,then！\"heaskedher。\"Andwhatyousaidto—nightwastrue！Ithoughtyousaiditonlytodetainme。\"
\"Oh,itistrue,itistrue！\"shewailed。
Hesighed;hedisengagedahandtostrokeherface。\"Iamhappy,\"hesaid,andstrovetosmile。\"HadIlived,whoknows……？\"
\"No,no,no,\"sheinterruptedhimpassionately,herarmstighteningabouthisneck。Hebenthishead。Theirlipsmetandclung。Aknockfelluponthedoor。Theystarted,andWildingraisedhishandsgentlytodisengageherpinioningarms。
\"Imustgo,sweet,\"hesaid。
\"Godhelpme！\"shemoaned,andclungtohimstill。\"ItisIwhoamkillingyou—Iandyourloveforme。Foritwastosavemeyourodehitherto—night,neverpausingtoweighyourowndeadlydanger。Oh,Iampunishedforhavinglistenedtoeveryvoicebutthevoiceofmyownheartwhereyouwereconcerned。HadIlovedyouearlier—hadI
owneditearlier……\"
\"Ithadstillbeentoolate,\"hesaid,moretocomfortherthanbecauseheknewittobeso。\"Bebraveformysake,Ruth。Youcanbebrave,I
know—sowell。Listen,sweet。Yourwordshavemademehappy。Marnotthishappinessofminebysendingmeoutingriefatyourgrief。\"
Herresponsetohisprayerwasbrave,indeed。Throughhertearscameafaintsmiletooverspreadherfacesowhiteandpitiful。
\"Weshallmeetsoonagain,\"shesaid。
\"Aye—thinkonthat,\"hebadeher,andpressedhertohim。\"Good—bye,sweet！Godkeepyoutillwemeet！\"headded,hisvoiceinfinitelytender。
\"Mr。Wilding！\"Wentworth\'svoicecalledhim,andthecaptainthrustthedooropenafootorso。\"Mr。Wilding！\"
\"Iamcoming,\"heansweredsteadily。Hekissedheragain,andonthatkissofhisshesankagainsthim,andhefeltherturnalllimp。Heraisedhisvoice。\"Richard！\"heshoutedwildly。\"Richard！\"
Atthenoteofalarminhisvoice,Wentworthflungwidethedoorandentered,Richard\'sashenfaceshowingoverhisshoulder。Inherbrother\'scareWildingdeliveredhismercifullyunconsciouswife。
\"Seetoher,Dick,\"hesaid,andturnedtogo,mistrustinghimselfnow。
Buthepausedashereachedthedoor,Wentworthwaxingmoreandmoreimpatientathiselbow。Heturnedagain。
\"Dick,\"hesaid,\"wemighthavebeenbetterfriends。Iwouldwehadbeen。Letuspartsoatleast,\"andheheldouthishand,smiling。
BeforesomuchgallantryRichardwasconqueredalmosttothepointofworship;aweakmanhimself,therewasnovirtuehecouldmoreadmirethanstrength。HeleftRuthinthehigh—backedchairinwhichWilding\'stenderhandshadplacedher,andsprangforward,tearsinhiseyes。HewrungWilding\'shandsinwordlesspassion。
\"Begoodtoher,Dick,\"saidWilding,andwentoutwithWentworth。
HewasmarcheddownthestreetinthecentreofthatsmallpartyofmusketeersofDunbarton\'sregiment,histhoughtsallbehindhimratherthanahead,asmileonhislips。Hehadconqueredatthelast。Hethoughtofthatotherpartingoftheirs,nearlyamonthago,ontheroadbyWalford。Now,asthen,circumstancewasthefirethathadmeltedher。Butthecruciblewasnolonger—asthenofpity;itwasthecrucibleoflove。
Andinthatsamecrucible,too,AnthonyWilding\'snaturehadundergoneatransmutation;hisloveforRuthhadbeenpurifiedofthatbasealloyofdesirewhichhaddrivenhimintotheunworthinessofmakingherhisownatallcosts;therewasnocarnalgrossnessinhispresentpassion;
itwaspureasareligion—thelovethattakesnoaccountofself,thelovethatmakesforjoyousandgratefulmartyrdom。AndajoyousandgratefulmartyrwouldAnthonyWildinghavebeencouldhehavethoughtthathisdeathwouldbringherhappinessorpeace。Insuchafaithasthathehadmarched—orsohethoughtblithelytohisend,andthesmileonhislipshadbeenlesswistfulthanitwas。Thinkingoftheagonyinwhichhehadlefther,healmostcametowish—sopurewashislovegrown—thathehadnotconquered。Thejoythatatfirstwashiswasnowalldashed。Hisdeathwouldcauseherpain。Hisdeath！0God！
Itisaneasythingtobeamartyr;butthiswasnotmartyrdom;havingdonewhathehaddonehehadnottherighttodie。Thelastvestigeofthesmilethathehadwornfadedfromhistight—pressedlipstight—pressedasthoughtoenduresomephysicalsuffering。Hisfacegreyed,anddeeplinesfurrowedhisbrow。Thushemarchedon,mechanically,amidhismarchingescort,throughthemurky,fog—ladennight,takingnoheedofthestiraboutthem,forallWestonZoylandwasarousedbynow。
Aheadofthem,andovertotheeast,thefiringblazedandcrackled,volleyuponvolley,totellthemthatalreadybattlehadbeenjoinedinearnest。Monmouth\'ssurprisehadaborted,anditpassedthroughWilding\'smindthattoagreatextenthewastoblameforthis。Butitgavehimlittlecare。
AtleasthisindiscretionhadservedthepurposeofrescuingRuthfromLordFeversham\'suncleanclutches。Fortherest,knowingthatMonmouth\'sarmybyfaroutnumberedFeversham\'s,hehadnodoubtthattheadvantagemuststillliewiththeDuke,inspiteofFeversham\'shavingbeenwarnedintheeleventhhour。
Loudergrewthesoundsofbattle。Abovethedinoffiringaswellingchorusroseuponthenight,startlingandweirdinsuchatimeandplace。Monmouth\'spiousinfantrywentintoactionsinginghymns,andWentworth,impatienttobeathispost,badehismengofaster。
Thenightwasbynowgrowingfaintlyluminous,andthedeathlygreylightofapproachingdawnhunginthemistsuponthemoor。Objectsgrewvisibleinbulkatleast,ifnotinformandshape,bythetimethelittlecompanyhadreachedtheendofWestonvillageandcomeuponthedeepmuddykewhichhadbeenWentworth\'sobjective—aditchthatcommunicatedwiththegreatrhinethatservedtheKing\'sforcessowellonthatnightofSedgemoor。
WithinsometwentypacesofthisWentworthcalledahalt,andwouldhavehadWilding\'shandspinionedbehindhim,andhiseyesblindfolded,butthatWildingbeggedhimthismightnotbedone。Wentworthwas,asweknow,impatient;andbetweenimpatienceandkindliness,perhaps,heaccededtoWilding\'sprayer。
Heevenhesitatedamomentatthelast。Itwasinhismindtospeaksomewordofcomforttothedoomedman。Thenasuddenvolley,moreterrificthananythathadprecededit,followedbyhoarsecheeringawaytoeastward,quickenedhisimpatience。HebadethesergeantleadMr。Wildingforwardandstandhimontheedgeoftheditch。Hisobjectwasthatthustheman\'sbodywouldbedisposedofwithoutwasteoftime。ThisWildingrealized,hissoulrebellingagainstthisfatewhichhadcomeuponhimintheveryhourwhenhemostdesiredtolive。
Madthoughtsofescapecrossedhismind—ofaleapacrossthedyke,andawilddashthroughthefog。Butthefutilityofitwastooappalling。Themusketeerswerealreadyblowingtheirmatches。Hewouldsuffertheignominyofbeingshotintheback,likeacoward,ifhemadeanysuchattempt。
Andso,despairingbutnotresigned,hetookhisstandontheveryedgeoftheditch。Inanironyofobligingnesshesethalfofhisheelsovertheyoid,sothathewasnicelybalancedupontheedgeofthecutting,andmustgobackwardsanddownintothemudwhenhit。
Itwasthispositionhehadtakenthatgavehimaninspirationinthatlastmoment。Thesergeanthadmovedawayoutofthelineoffire,andhestoodtherealone,waiting,erectandwithhisheadheldhigh,hiseyesuponthegreymassofmusketeers—blurredalikebymistandsemi—darkness—sometwentypacesdistantalongthelineofwhichglowedeightredfuses。
Wentworth\'svoicerangoutwiththewordsofcommand。
\"Blowyourmatches！\"
Brightergleamedthepointsoflight,andundertheirsteelpotsthefacesofthemusketeers,suffusedbyadullredglow,sprangforamomentoutofthegreymass,tofadeoncemoreintothegeneralgreynessattheword,\"Cockyourmatches！\"
\"Guardyourpans！\"cameasecondlaterthecaptain\'svoice,andthen:
\"Present！\"
Therewasastirandrattle,andthedark,indistinctfigurestandingonthelipoftheditchwascoveredbytheeightmuskets。Totheeyesofthefiring—partyhewasnomorethanablurredshadowyform,showingalittledarkerthantheencompassingdarkgrey。
\"Givefire！\"
OnthewordMr。Wildinglostthedelicate,precariousbalancehehadbeensustainingontheedgeoftheditch,andwentoverbackwards,attheimminentrisk—asheafterwardsrelated—ofbreakinghisneck。
Atthesameinstantajagged,eight—pointedlineofflameslashedthedarkness,andthethunderofthevolleypealedforthtoloseitselfinthegreaterdinofbattleonPenzoyPound,hardby。
CHAPTERXXIII
MR。WILDING\'SBOOTS
Inthefilthoftheditch,Mr。Wildingrolledoverandlayprone。Hethrewouthisleftarm,andrestedhisbrowuponittokeephisfaceabovethemud。Hestrovetoholdhisbreath,notthathemightdissembledeath,butthathemightavoidbeingpoisonedbythefoulgasesthat,disturbedbyhisweight,bubbleduptochokehim。Hisbodyhalfsankandsettledinthemud,andseenfromabove,ashewaspresentlyseenbyWentworth—whoranforwardwiththesergeant\'slanthorntoassurehimselfthattheworkhadbeenwelldone—hehadalltheairofbeingnotonlydeadbutalreadyhalfburied。
Andnow,forasecond,Mr。Wildingwasinhisgreatestdanger,andthisfromtheveryhumanenessofthesergeant。Thefellowadvancedtothecaptain\'sside,apistolinhishand。Wentworthheldthelightaloftandpeereddownintothatsixfeetofblacknessatthejacentfigure。
\"ShallIgivehimanounceofleadtomakesure,Captain？\"quoththesergeant。ButWentworth,inhisgreathaste,hadalreadyturnedabout,andthelightofhislanthornnolongerrevealedtheformofMr。Wilding。
\"Thereisnottheneed。Theditchwilldowhatmayremaintobedone,ifanythingdoes。Comeon,man。Wearewantedyonder。\"
Thelightpassed,stepsretreated,thesergeantmuttering,andthenWentworth\'svoicewasheardbyWildingsomelittledistanceoff。
\"Bringupyourmuskets！\"
\"Shoulder！\"
\"Bytheright—turn！March！\"Andthetramp,trampoffeetrecededrapidly。
Wildingwasalreadysittingup,endeavouringtogetabreathofpurerair。Herosetohisfeet,sinkingalmosttothetopofhisbootsintheoozyslime。Foulgaseswerebelchedupto。envelophim。Heseizedatirregularitiesinthebank,andgothisheadabovetheleveloftheground。Hethrustforwardhischinandtookgreatgreedybreathsinaverygluttonyofair—andnevercameMuscadinesweetertoadrunkard\'slips。Helaughedsoftlytohimself。Hewasaloneandsafe。Wentworthandhismenhaddisappeared。AwayinthedirectionofPenzoyPoundthesoundsofbattleswelledevertoagreatervolume。Cannonswereboomingnow,andallwasuproar—flameandshouting,cheeringandshrieking,thethunderofhasteningmultitudes,theclashofsteel,thepoundingofhorses,allblenttomakeupthehorriddinofcarnage。
Mr。Wildinglistened,andconsideredwhattodo。Hisfirstimpulsewastojointhefray。But,bethinkinghimthattherecouldbelittleplaceforhimintheconfusionthatmustprevailbynow,hereconsideredthematter,andhisthoughtsreturningtoRuth—thewifeforwhomhehadbeenatsuchpainstopreservehimselfontheverybrinkofdeath—heresolvedtoendangerhimselfnofurtherforthatnight。
Hedroppedbackintotheditch,andwaded,ankledeepinslime,totheotherside。Therehecrawledout,andgainingthemoorlaydownawhiletobreathehislungs。Butnotforlong。Thedawnwascreepingpaleandghostlyacrossthesolidearth,andafaintfreshbreezewasstirringanddrivingthemistinwispyshroudsbeforeit。IfhelingeredtherehemightyetbefoundbysomepartyofRoyalistsoldiers,andthatwouldbetoundoallthathehaddone。Herose,andstruckoutacrossthepeatyground。Noneknewthemoorsbetterthandidhe,andhadhebeenwithGrey\'shorsethatnight,itispossiblethingshadfareddifferently,forhehadprovedasurerguidethandidGodfrey,thespy。
AtfirsthethoughtofmakingforBridgwaterandLuptonHouse。BynowRichardwouldbeonhiswaythitherwithRuth,andWildingwasinhastethatsheshouldbereassuredthathehadnotfallentothemusketsofWentworth\'sfiring—party。ButBridgwaterwasfar,andhebegantorealize,nowthatallexcitementwaspast,thathewasutterlyexhausted。
NexthethoughtofScoresbyHallandhiscousinLordGervase。Buthewasbynomeanssurethathemightcountuponawelcome。GervasehadshownnosympathyforMonmouthorhispartisans,andwhilsthewouldhardlygosofarastorefuseMr。Wildingshelter,stillWildingfeltanaversiontoseekingwhatmightbegrudgedhim。Atlasthebethoughthimofhome。ZoylandChasewasnearathand;buthehadnotbeentheresincehiswedding—day,andinthemeantimeheknewthatithadbeenusedasabarrackforthemilitia,andhadnodoubtthatithadbeenwreckedandplundered。Still,itmusthavewallsandaroof,andthat,forthetime,wasallhecraved,thathemightrestawhileandrecuperatehiswastedforces。
Ahalf—hourlaterhedraggedhimselfwearilyuptheavenuebetweentheelms—lookingwhiteassnowinthepaleJulydawn—totheclearinginfrontofhishouse。
Desertionwasstampeduponthefaceofit。Shatteredwindowsandhangingshutterseverywhere。Howwantonlytheyhadwreckedit！Itmighthavebeenachurch,andthemilitiaaregimentofCromwell\'siconoclasticPuritans。Thedoorwaslocked,butgoingroundhefoundawindow—oneofthedoor—windowsofhislibraryhanginglooseuponitshinges。Hepusheditwide,andenteredwithaheavyheart。
Instantlysomethingstirredinacorner;afiercegrowlwasfollowedbyafuriousbark,andalithebrownbodyleaptfromthegreaterintothelessershadowstoattacktheintruder。Butatonewordofhisthehoundcheckedsuddenly,crouchedaninstant,thenwithaqueer,throatysoundboundedforwardinawilddelightthatrobbeditontheinstantofitsvoice。Itfounditanonandleaptabouthim,barkingfuriousjoyinpiteofallhisvainendeavourstocalmit。Hegrewafraidlestthedogshoulddrawattention。Heknewnotwho—ifany—mightbeinpossessionofhishouse。Thelibrary,ashelookedround,showedasceneofwreckagethatexcellentlymatchedtheexterior。Notapictureonthewalls,notanarras,buthadbeenrenttoshreds。Thegreatlustrethathadhungfromthecentreoftheceilingwasgone。Disorderreignedalongthebookshelves,andyetthereandelsewheretherewasacertainorderliness,suggestinganattempttostraightenuptheplaceaftertheravagershaddeparted。Itwasthesesignsmadehimafraidthehousemightbetenantedbysuchasmightprovehisenemies。
\"Down,Jack,\"hesaidtothedogforthetwentiethtime,pattingitssleekhead。\"Down,down！\"
Butstillthedogboundedabouthim,barkingwildly。
\"Sh！\"hehissedsuddenly。Stepssoundedinthehall。Itwasashefeared。Thedoorwassuddenlythrownopen,andthegreymorninglightgleameduponthelongbarrelofamusket。Afterit,bearingit,enteredawhite—hairedoldman。
Hepausedonthethreshold,measuringthetalldisorderedstrangerwhostoodthere,hisfigureablacksilhouetteagainstthewindowbywhichhehadentered。
\"Whatseekyouhere,sir,inthishouseofdesolation？\"askedthevoiceofMr。Wilding\'soldservant。
Heansweredbutoneword。\"Walters！\"
Themusketdroppedwithaclatterfromtheoldman\'shands。Hesankbackagainstthedoorpostandleanedthereaninstant;then,whimperingandlaughing,hecametotteringforward—hisoldlegsfailinghiminthisexcessofunexpectedjoy—andsankonhiskneestokisshismaster\'shand。
Wildingpattedtheoldhead,ashehadpattedthedog\'salittlewhileago。Hewasoddlymoved;therewasaknotinhisthroat。Nohome—comingcouldwellhavebeenmoredesolate。Andyet,whathome—comingcouldhavebroughthimsuchatorturingjoyaswasnowhis？Oh,itisgoodtobeloved,ifitbebynomorethanadogandanoldservant！
InamomentWalterswashimselfagain。Hewasonhisfeet,scrutinizingWilding\'shaggardfaceanddisordered,filthyclothes。Hebrokeintoexclamationsbetweendismayandreproach,buttheseWildinginterruptedtoasktheoldmanhowithappenedthathehadremained。
\"MysonJohnwasasergeantinthetroopthatquartereditselfhere,sir,\"Waltersexplained,\"andsotheyleftmealone。Butevenhaditnotbeenforthat,Iscarcelythinktheywouldhaveharmedanoldman。
