rds."
"Excellent," said Trenchard, and led the way through the shrubbery to
the orchard.
Ruth, reviving, looked up. Her glance met Mr. Wilding's; it quickened
into understanding, and she stirred. "Is it true? Is it really true?"
she cried. "I am being tortured by this dream again!"
"Nay, sweet, it is true; it is true. I am here. Say, shall I stay?"
She clung to him for answer. "And you are in no danger?"
"In none, sweet. I am Mr. Wilding of Zoyland Chase, free to come and go
as best shall seem to me. He begged the others to leave them a little
while, and he led her to the stone seat by the river. He set her at his
side there and told her the story of his escape from the firing-party,
and of the inspiration that had come to him on the morrow to make use
of the letter in his boot which Sunderland had given him for Monmouth
in the hour of panic. Monmouth's cavalier treatment of him when he had
arrived in Bridgwater had precluded his delivering that letter at the
council. There was never another opportunity, nor did he again think of
the package in the stressful hours that followed. It was not until the
following morning that he suddenly remembered it lay undelivered, and
bethought him that it might prove a weapon to win him delivery from the
dangers that encompassed him.
"It was a slender chance," he told her, "but I employed it. I waited in
London, in hiding, close upon a fortnight ere I had an opportunity of
seeing Sunderland. He laughed me to scorn at first, and threatened me
with the Tower. But I told him the letter was in safe hands and would
remain there in earnest of his good behaviour, and that did he have me
arrested it would instantly be laid before the King and bring his own
head to the block more surely even than my own. It frightened him; but
it had scarcely done so, sweet, had he known that that precious letter
was still in my boot, for my boot was on my leg, and my leg was in the
room with the rest of me.
"He surrendered at last, and gave me papers proving that Trenchard
and I--for I stipulated for old Nick's safety too--were His Majesty's
accredited agents in the West. I loathed the title. But.."--he spread
his hands and smiled--"it was that or widowing you."
She took his face in her hands and stroked it fondly, and they sat thus
until a dry cough behind them roused them from their joyous silence. Mr.
Trenchard was sauntering towards them, his left eye tucked farther under
his hat than usua
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