as invincible as it was sudden, insisted upon mounting and
getting back as far as Falls-Park, to continue the journey to
King's-Hintock on the following day. At five they started, and took the
southern road toward the Mendip Hills. The evening was dry and windy,
and, excepting that the sun did not shine, strongly reminded Tupcombe of
the evening of that March month, nearly five years earlier, when news had
been brought to King's-Hintock Court of the child Betty's marriage in
London--news which had produced upon Dornell such a marked effect for the
worse ever since, and indirectly upon the household of which he was the
head. Before that time the winters were lively at Falls-Park, as well as
at King's-Hintock, although the Squire had ceased to make it his regular
residence. Hunting-guests and shooting-guests came and went, and open
house was kept. Tupcombe disliked the clever courtier who had put a stop
to this by taking away from the Squire the only treasure he valued.

It grew darker with their progress along the lanes, and Tupcombe
discovered from Mr. Dornell's manner of riding that his strength was
giving way; and spurring his own horse close alongside, he asked him how
he felt.

'Oh, bad; damn bad, Tupcombe! I can hardly keep my seat. I shall never
be any better, I fear! Have we passed Three-Man-Gibbet yet?'

'Not yet by a long ways, sir.'

'I wish we had. I can hardly hold on.' The Squire could not repress a
groan now and then, and Tupcombe knew he was in great pain. 'I wish I
was underground--that's the place for such fools as I! I'd gladly be
there if it were not for Mistress Betty. He's coming on to
King's-Hintock to-morrow--he won't put it off any longer; he'll set out
and reach there to-morrow night, without stopping at Falls; and he'll
take her unawares, and I want to be there before him.'

'I hope you may be well enough to do it, sir. But really--'

'I _must_, Tupcombe! You don't know what my trouble is; it is not so
much that she is married to this man without my agreeing--for, after all,
there's nothing to say against him, so far as I know; but that she don't
take to him at all, seems to fear him--in fact, cares nothing about him;
and if he comes forcing himself into the house upon her, why, 'twill be
rank cruelty. Would to the Lord something would happen to prevent him!'

How they reached home that night Tupcombe hardly knew. The Squire was in
such pain that he was obliged to recline