Good—bye,myRuth！Iwouldyoumighthavelovedme。Isoughttoforceit。\"Hesmiledeversowanly。\"Perhapsthatwasmymistake。Itisanillthingtoeatone\'shaywhileitisgrass。\"Heraisedtohislipsthelittleglovedhandthatstillrestedonhiswrist。\"Godkeepyou,Ruth！\"hemurmured。
Shesoughttoanswerhim,butsomethingchokedher;asobwasallsheachieved。Hadhecaughthertohiminthatmomentthereislittledoubtbutthatshehadyielded。Perhapsheknewit;andknowingitkeptthetighterreinupondesire。Shewasasmetalmolteninthecrucible,tobemouldedbyhiscraftsman\'shandsintoanypatternthathechose。Butthecruciblewasthecrucibleofpity,notoflove;that,too,heknew,and,knowingit,forbore。
Hedroppedherhand,doffedhishat,and,wheelinghishorseabout,toucheditwiththespurandrodebacktowardsthethicketwherehisfriendsawaitedhim。Ashelefther,shetoowheeledabout,asiftofollowhim。Shestrovetocommandhervoicethatshemightrecallhim;
butatthatsamemomentTrenchard,hearinghisreturninghoofs,thrustoutintotheroadwithVallanceyfollowingathisheels。Theoldplayer\'sharshvoicereachedherwhereshestood,anditwasquerulouswithimpatience。
\"Whataplaguedoyoumean,dallyinghereatsuchatime,Anthony？\"hecried,towhichVallanceyadded:\"InGod\'sname,letuspushon。