\"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？\"