Is he so mad?'

'No, he shams.'

'Leave fooling, and speak straight in a matter of life and death.'

'Oh! more--more than life and death. For the love of God, make an end,
and take a final answer. I will tell no more; nor would the most I know
further you to Philip.'

The comment of a vigorous curse checked him there.

'Hear me out. If you need but to know how a venture went, I can tell you:
well. If you have other need of him that does not brook delay, I can but
offer to serve you to my best, for following and bringing him again;
whatever be the risk, I owe that to him and you. Only this day I must
have to myself. I must, though I pay for it with the rest of my life.'

That preposterous offer took away breath. Then an oath yelping high with
derision above anger brought Christian to entreat for his mother's quiet.

'Let us in here, then,' said one, and reached to the latch behind him.

Christian struck up his arm. 'No!' he said, and barred the way.

Instantly, moved by a prompt suspicion, the four sprang out ready steel
and swung one way, ringing him in. At that, Christian realised his
desperate case. He blanched, and sweat started. 'For life and death!' he
said hoarsely. 'O my God, my God!'

Rhoda shot in between, and, voiceless from fear and speed, clung to
Christian, presuming her weakness to turn offence.

'Cowards!' she panted, 'four against one, and he empty-handed. What--why?
Christian?'

'You would do well to counsel your madman to give way and let us pass, if
he care greatly for the quiet of any there within.'

Christian yielded. He lifted the latch and thrust the door open, standing
aside that they might pass him by; but two linked arm with him, walked
him in, and held him a prisoner. He did not offer to resist. Rhoda
pressed after him close; the last to enter closed and bolted the door.

Puzzled silence fell. Not a corner of the bare place could harbour
suspicion. Some tools were ranged against the walls; twine and canvas and
common oddments lay there, a small enough show of garden store, and of
fuel a pile pitifully low. A stool overthrown told of Christian's last
hasty rising; on a bench lay his cap, half filled with scarlet berries,
and strung berries were spread beside. Four blank countenances were
turned upon him, whose looks were sullen and guilty like a criminal's
taken in the act. Rhoda, bewildered, owned to her sinking heart that here
showed such vagary of his wits as passed her reckon