child christopher-第11部分

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hey　set　up　a　great　roar　of　wonder　and　fear。　　But　he　followed　them；　and　this　time　got　an　axe　in　his　hand；　so　mazed　they　were　by　his　onset；　and　he　hewed　at　them　again　and　drave　them　aback　to　the　threshold　of　the　door：　　but　could　get　them　no　further；　and　they　began　to　handle　long　spears　to　thrust　at　him。

But　then　came　forward　a　knight；　no　mickle　man；　but　clad　in　very　goodly　armour；　with　a　lion　beaten　in　gold　on　his　green　surcoat；　this　man　smote　up　the　spears；　and　made　the　men　go　back　a　little；　while　he　stood　on　the　threshold；　so　Christopher　saw　that　he　would　parley　with　him；　and　forbore　him；　and　the　knight　spake：　　〃Thou　youngling；　art　thou　mad？　What　doest　thou　falling　on　my　folk？〃

〃And　what　do　ye；〃　said　Christopher　fiercely；　〃besetting　the　houses　of　folk　with　weapons？　Now　wilt　thou　take　my　life。　But　I　shall　yet　slay　one　or　two　before　I　die。　　Get　thee　back；　lord；　or　thou　shalt　be　the　first。〃

But　the　knight；　who　had　no　weapon　in　his　hand；　said：　　〃We　come　but　to　seek　our　own；　and　that　is　our　Lady　of　Meadham；　who　dwelleth　at　Greenharbour　by　her　own　will。　　And　if　thou　wilt　stand　aside　thou　mayst　go　free　to　the　devil　for　us。〃

Now　would　Christopher　have　shouted　and　fallen　on；　and　gone　to　his　death　there　and　then；　but　even　therewith　a　voice；　clear　and　sweet；　spake　at　the　back　of　him；　and　said：　〃Thou　kind　host；　do　thou　stand　aside　and　let　us　speak　that　which　is　needful。〃　　And　therewith　stepped　forth　Goldilind　and　stood　beside　Christopher；　and　said：　　〃Sir　Burgreve；　we　rode　forth　to　drink　the　air　yesterday；　and　went　astray　amidst　the　wild…wood；　and　were　belated；　so　that　we　must　needs　lie　down　under　the　bare　heaven；　but　this　morning　we　happened　on　this　kind　forester；　who　gave　us　to　eat；　and　took　us　to　his　house　and　gave　us　meat　and　drink；　for　which　it　were　seemlier　to　reward　him　than　threaten　him。　　Now　it　is　our　pleasure　that　ye　lead　us　back　to　Greenharbour；　but　as　for　this　youth；　that　ye　do　him　no　hurt；　but　let　him　go　free；　according　to　thy　word　spoken　e'en　now；　Sir　Burgreve。〃

She　spake　slowly　and　heavily；　as　one　who　hath　a　lesson　to　say；　and　it　was　to　be　seen　of　her　that　all　grief　was　in　her　heart；　though　her　words　were　queenly。　　Some　of　them　that　heard　laughed；　but　the　Burgreve　spake；　and　said：　　〃Lady；　we　will　do　thy　will　in　part；　for　we　will　lead　thee　to　Greenharbour　in　all　honour；　but　as　to　this　young　man；　if　he　will　not　be　slain　here　and　now；　needs　must　he　with　us。　　For　he　hath　slain　two　of　our　men　outright；　and　hath　hurt　many；　and；　methinks；　the　devil　of　the　woods　is　in　his　body。　　So　do　thou　bid　him　be　quiet；　if　thou　wouldst　not　see　his　blood　flow。〃

She　turned　a　pale　unhappy　face　on　Christopher；　and　said：　〃My　friend；　we　bid　thee　withstand　them　no　more；　but　let　them　do　with　thee　as　they　will。〃

Christopher　stood　aside　therewith；　and　sat　down　on　a　bench　and　laughed；　and　said　in　a　high　voice：　　〃Stout　men…at…arms；　forsooth；　to　take　a　maid's　kirtle　to　their　shield。〃

But　therewith　the　armed　men　poured　into　the　hall；　and　a　half　dozen　of　the　stoutest　came　up　unto　Christopher　where　he　sat；　and　bound　his　hands　with　their　girdles；　and　he　withstood　them　no　whit；　but　sat　laughing　in　their　faces；　and　made　as　if　it　were　all　a　Yule…tide　game。　　But　inwardly　his　heart　burned　with　anger；　and　with　love　of　that　sweet　Lady。

Then　they　made　him　stand　up；　and　led　him　without　the　house；　and　set　him　on　a　horse；　and　linked　his　feet　together　under　the　belly　thereof。　　And　when　that　was　done　he　saw　them　lead　out　the　Lady；　and　they　set　her　in　a　horse　litter；　and　then　the　whole　troop　rode　off　together；　with　two　men　riding　on　either　side　of　the　said　litter。　　In　this　wise　they　left　Littledale。



CHAPTER　XVII。

GOLDILIND　COMES　BACK　TO　GREENHARBOUR。


They　rode　speedily；　and　had　with　them　men　who　knew　the　woodland　ways；　so　that　the　journey　was　nought　so　long　thence　as　Goldilind　had　made　it　thither；　and　they　stayed　not　for　nightfall；　since　the　moon　was　bright；　so　that　they　came　before　the　Castle…gate　before　midnight。　　Now　Goldilind　looked　to　be　cast　into　prison；　whatever　might　befall　her　upon　the　morrow；　but　so　it　went　not；　for　she　was　led　straight　to　her　own　chamber；　and　one　of　her　women；　but　not　Aloyse；　waited　on　her；　and　when　she　tried　to　have　some　tidings　of　her；　the　woman　spake　to　her　no　more　than　if　she　were　dumb。　　So　all　unhappily　she　laid　her　down　in　her　bed；　foreboding　the　worst；　which　she　deemed　might　well　be　death　at　the　hand　of　her　jailers。　　As　for　Christopher；　she　saw　the　last　of　him　as　they　entered　the　Castle…gate；　and　knew　not　what　they　had　done　with　him。　　So　she　lay　in　dismal　thoughts；　but　at　last　fell　asleep　for　mere　weariness。

When　she　awoke　it　was　broad　day；　and　there　was　someone　going　about　in　the　chamber；　she　turned；　and　saw　that　it　was　Aloyse。　　She　felt　sick　at　heart；　and　durst　not　move　or　ask　of　tidings；　but　presently　Aloyse　turned；　and　came　to　the　bed；　and　made　an　obeisance；　but　spake　not。　　Goldilind　raised　her　head；　and　said　wearily：　　〃What　is　to　be　done；　Aloyse；　wilt　thou　tell　me？　For　my　heart　fails　me；　and　meseems；　unless　they　have　some　mercy；　I　shall　die　to…day。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　chambermaid；　〃keep　thine　heart　up；　for　here　is　one　at　hand　who　would　see　thee；　when　it　is　thy　pleasure　to　be　seen。〃

〃Yea；〃　said　Goldilind；　〃Dame　Elinor　to　wit。〃　　And　she　moaned；　and　fear　and　heart…sickness　lay　so　heavy　on　her　that　she　went　nigh　to　swooning

But　Aloyse　lifted　up　her　head；　and　brought　her　wine　and　made　her　drink；　and　when　Goldilind　was　come　to　herself　again　the　maid　said：　　〃I　say；　keep　up　thine　heart；　for　it　is　not　Dame　Elinor　and　the　rods　that　would　see　thee；　but　a　mighty　man；　nay；　the　most　mighty；　to　wit；　Earl　Geoffrey；　who　is　King　of　Meadham　in　all　but　the　name。〃

Goldilind　did　in　sooth　take　heart　at　this　tidings；　and　she　said：　　〃I　wonder　what　he　may　have　to　do　here；　all　this　while　he　hath　not　been　to　Greenharbour；　or；　mayhappen；　it　might　have　been　better　for　me。〃

〃I　wot　not；〃　said　Aloyse；　〃but　even　so　it　is。　　I　shall　tell　thee；　the　messenger；　whose　horse　thou　didst　steal；　brought　no　other　word　in　his　mouth　save　this；　that　my　Lord　Earl　was　coming；　and　come　he　did；　but　that　was　toward　sunset；　long　after　they　had　laid　the　blood…hounds　on　thy　slot；　and　I　had　been　whipped　for　letting　thee　find　the　way　out　a…gates。　Now；　our　Lady；　when　thou　hast　seen　the　Earl；　and　hast　become　our　Lady　and　Mistress　indeed；　wilt　thou　bethink　thee　of　the　morn　before　yesterday　on　my　behalf？〃

〃Yea；〃　said　Goldilind；　〃if　ever　it　shall　befall。〃

〃Befall　it　shall；〃　said　Aloyse；　〃I　dreamed　of　thee　three　nights　ago；　and　thou　sitting　on　thy　throne　commanding　and　forbidding　the　great　men。　　But　at　worst　no　harm　hath　happened　save　to　my　shoulders　and　sides；　by　thy　stealing　thyself；　since　thou　hast　come　back　in　the　nick　of　time；　and　of　thine　own　will；　as　men　say。　　But　tell　me　now　of　thine　holiday；　and　if　it　were　pleasant　to　thee？〃

Goldilind　fell　a…weeping　at　the　word；　bethinking　her　of　yesterday　morning；　and　Aloyse　stood　looking　on　her；　but　saying　nought。　　At　last　spake　Goldilind　softly：　　〃Tell　me；　Aloyse；　didst　thou　hear　any　speaking　of　that　young　man　who　was　brought　in　hither　last　night？　Have　they　slain　him？〃

Said　Aloyse：　　〃Soothly；　my　Lady；　I　deem　they　have　done　him　no　hurt；　though　I　wot　not　for　sure。　　There　hath　been　none　headed　or　hanged　in　the　base…court　to…day。　　I　heard　talk　amongst　the　men…at…arms　of　one　whom　they　took；　they　said　he　was　a　wonder　of　sheer　strength；　and　how　that　he　cast　their　men　about　as　though　he　were　playing　at　ball。　　Sooth　to　say；　they　seemed　to　bear　him　no　grudge　therefor。　　But　now　I　would　counsel　thee　to　arise；　and　I　am　bidden　to　tire　and　array　thee　at　the　best。　　And　now　I　would　say　a　word　in　thine　ear；　to　wit；　that　Dame　Elinor　feareth　thee　somewhat　this　morn。〃

So　Goldilind　arose；　and　was　arrayed　like　a　very　queen；　and　was　served　of　what　she　would　by　Aloyse　and　the　other　women；　and　sat　in　her　chamber　awaiting　the　coming　of　the　mighty　Lord　of　Meadham。



CHAPTER　XVIII。

EARL　GEOFFREY　SPEAKS　WITH　GOLDILIND。


But　a　little　while　had　she　sat　there；　before　footsteps　a　many　came　to　the　door；　which　was　thrown　open；　and　straight　it　was　as　if　the　sun　had　shone　on　a　flower…bed；　for　there　was　come　Earl　Geoffrey　and　his　lords　all　arrayed　most　gloriously。　　Then　came　the　Earl　up　the　chamber　to　Goldilind；　and　bent　the　knee　before　her；　and　said：　　〃Lady　and　Queen；　is　it　thy　pleasure　that　thy　servant　should　kiss　thine　hand？〃

She　made　him　little　cheer；　but　reached　out　to　him　her　lily　hand　in　its　gold　sleeve；　and　said：　　〃Thou　must　do　thy　will。〃

So　he　kissed　the　hand　reverently；　and　said：　　〃And　these　my　lords；　may　they　enter　and　do　obeisance　and　kiss　hands；　my　Lady？〃

Said　Goldilind：　　〃I　will　not　strive　to　gainsay　their　will；　or　thine；　my　Lord。〃

So　they　entered　and　knelt　before　her；　and　kissed　her　hand；　and；　to　say　sooth；　most　of　them　had　been　fain　to　kiss　both　hands　of　her；　yea；　and　her　cheeks　and　her　lips；　though　but　little　cheer　she　made　them；　but　looked　sternly　on　them。

Then　the　Earl　spake　to　her；　and　told　her　of　her　realm；　and　how　folk　thrived；　and　of　the　deep　peace　that　was　upon　the　land；　and　of　the　merry　days　of　Meadham；　and　the　praise　of　the　people。　　And　she　answered　him　nothing；　but　as　he　spake　her　bosom　began　to　heave；　and　the　tears　came　into　her　eyes　and　rolled　down　her　cheeks。　　Then　man　looked　on　man；　and　the　Earl　said：　　〃My　masters；　I　deem　that　my　Lady　hath　will　to　speak　to　me　privily；　as　to　one　who　is　her　chiefest　friend　and　well…willer。　　Is　it　so；　my　Lady？〃

She　might　not　speak　for　the　tears　that　welled　out　from　her　heart；　but　she　bowed　her　head　and　strove　to　smile　on　him。

But　the　Earl　waved　his　hand；　and　those　lords；　and　the　women　also；　voided　the　chamber；　and　left　those　two　alone；　the　Earl　standing　before　her。　　But　ere　he　could　speak；　she　arose　from　her　throne　and　fell　on　her　knees　before　him；　and　joined　hands　palm　to　palm；　and　cried　in　a　broken　voice：　　〃Mercy！　Mercy！　Have　pity　on　my　young　life；　great　Lord！〃

But　he　lifted　her　up；　and　set　her　on　her　throne　again；　and　said：　　〃Nay；　my　Lady；　this　is　unmeet；　but　if　thou　wouldst　talk　and　tell　with　me　I　am　ready　to　hearken。〃

She　strove　with　her　passion　a　while；　and　then　she　said：　〃Great　Lord；　I　pray　thee　to　hearken；　and　to　have　patience　with　a　woman's　weak　heart。　　Prithee；　sit　down　here　beside　me。

〃It　were　unfitting；〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　t