"Yes," answered Diana. "But he had achieved nothing by his visit to
Lord Gervase. His lordship would not intervene; he swore he hoped the
cub would be flayed alive by Wilding. Those were his lordship's words,
as Sir Rowland repeated them. Sir Rowland is in sore distress for
Richard. He has gone with them to the meeting."

"At least, he has no longer cause for his distress," said Miss
Westmacott with her bitter smile, and sank as one exhausted to a chair.
Lady Horton moved to comfort her, her motherliness all aroused for this
motherless girl, usually so wise and strong, and seemingly wiser and
stronger than ever in this thing that Lady Horton had deemed a weakness
and a folly.

Meanwhile, Richard and his two friends were on their way to the moors
across the river to the encounter with Mr. Wilding. But before they
had got him to ride forth, Vallancey had had occasion to regret that
he stood committed to a share in this quarrel, for he came to know
Richard as he really was. He had found him in an abject state, white
and trembling, his coward's fancy anticipating a hundred times a minute
the death he was anon to die.

Vallancey had hailed him cheerily.

"The day is yours, Dick," he had cried, when Richard entered the library
where he awaited him. "Wild Wilding has ridden to Taunton this morning
and is to be back by noon. Odsbud, Dick! - twenty miles and more in the
saddle before coming on the ground. Heard you ever of the like madness?
He'll be stiff as a broom-handle - an easy victim.