child christopher-第15部分

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ss。　But　presently　she　turned　to　him；　and　he　wondered；　for　in　her　face　was　longing　and　kindness　nought　like　to　her　words。　　But　he　durst　not　speak　to　her　lest　he　should　anger　her；　and　she　turned　her　face　from　him　again：　and　she　said：　　〃Wert　thou　given　to　me？　meseems　I　was　given　to　thee；　would　I；　would　I　not；　the　Queen　to　the　Churl；　the　Wood…man；　the　Wolf…head。〃　And　again　she　rode　on；　and　he　followed；　sick　at　heart　and　wondering　sorely。

When　they　were　riding　together　again；　they　spake　not　to　each　other；　though　she　stole　glances　at　him　to　see　how　he　fared；　but　he　rode　on　with　knit　brows　and　a　stern　countenance。　　So　in　a　while　she　began　to　speak　to　him　again；　but　as　if　there　were　nought　but　courtesy　between　them；　and　neither　love　nor　hatred。　　She　fell　to　asking　him　of　woodland　matters；　concerning　bird　and　beast　and　things　creeping；　and　at　first　he　would　scarce　answer　her　at　all；　and　then　were　his　answers　short；　but　at　last；　despite　of　all；　he　began　to　forget　both　grief　and　anger；　so　much　the　sweetness　of　her　speech　wound　about　his　heart；　and；　withal；　she　fell　to　asking　him　of　his　fellows　and　their　life　in　the　woods；　and　of　Jack　of　the　Tofts　and　the　like；　and　now　he　answered　her　questions　fully；　and　whiles　she　laughed　at　his　words；　and　he　laughed　also；　and　all　pleasure　had　there　been　of　this　converse；　if　he　had　not　beheld　her　from　time　to　time　and　longed　for　the　fairness　of　her　body；　and　feared　her　wrath　at　his　longing。

So　wore　the　day；　and　the　sun　was　getting　low；　and　they　were　come　to　another　woodland　pool　which　was　fed　by　a　clear…running　little　brook；　and　up　from　it　went　a　low　bank　of　greensward　exceeding　sweet；　and　beyond　that　oak　trees　wide…branched　and　great；　and　still　fair　greensward　beneath　them　and　hazel…thicket　beyond　them。　　There；　then；　Goldilind　reined　up；　and　looked　about　her；　but　Christopher　looked　on　her　and　nought　else。　　But　she　said：　　〃Let　to…morrow　bring　counsel；　but　now　am　I　weary　to…night；　and　if　we　are　not　to　ride　night…long；　we　shall　belike　find　no　better　place　to　rest　in。　　Wilt　thou　keep　watch　while　I　sleep？〃

〃Yea；〃　he　said；　bowing　his　head　to　her　soberly；　and　therewith　he　got　off　his　horse；　and　would　have　helped　her　down　from　hers；　but　she　slipped　lightly　down　and　stood　before　him　face　to　face；　and　they　were　very　nigh　to　each　other；　she　standing　close　to　her　horse。　Her　face　was　pale　to　his　deeming　and　there　was　a　piteous　look　in　her　eyes；　so　that　he　yearned　towards　her　in　his　bowels；　and　reached　his　hand　toward　her；　but　she　shrank　aback；　leaning　against　her　horse；　and　said　in　a　trembling　voice；　looking　full　at　him；　and　growing　yet　paler：　　〃Forester；　dost　thou　think　it　seemly　that　thou　shouldst　ride　with　us；　thou　such　as　thou　hast　told　thyself　to　be；　in　this　lordly　raiment；　which　they　gave　thee　yonder　as　part　of　the　price　for　thy　leading　us　away　into　the　wild…wood？〃

〃Lady；〃　said　he；　〃whether　it　be　seemly　or　not；　I　see　that　it　is　thy　will　that　I　should　go　clad　as　a　woodland　churl；　abide　a　little；　and　thy　will　shall　be　done。〃

Therewith　he　did　off　the　burden　from　the　sumpter　horse；　and　set　the　chests　on　the　earth；　then　he　took　her　horse　gently；　and　led　him　with　the　other　two　in　under　the　oak　trees；　and　there　he　tethered　them　so　that　they　could　bite　the　grass；　and　came　back　thereafter；　and　took　his　old　raiment　out　of　the　chest；　and　said：　　〃What　thou　wilt　have　me　do；　I　will　do　now；　and　this　all　the　more　as　to…morrow　I　should　have　done　it　unbidden；　and　should　have　prayed　thee　to　do　on　garments　less　glorious　than　now　thou　bearest；　so　that　we　may　look　the　less　strange　in　the　woodland　if　we　chance　to　fall　in　with　any　man。

Nought　she　answered　as　he　turned　toward　the　hazel　copse；　she　had　been　following　him　with　her　eyes　while　he　was　about　that　business；　and　when　his　back　was　turned；　she　stood　a　moment　till　her　bosom　fell　a…heaving；　and　she　wept；　then　she　turned　her　about　to　the　chest　wherein　was　her　raiment；　and　went　hastily　and　did　off　her　glorious　array；　and　did　on　the　green　gown　wherewith　she　had　fled；　and　left　her　feet　bare　withal。　Then　she　looked　up　and　saw　Christopher；　how　he　was　coming　from　out　the　hazel…thicket　new　clad　in　his　old　raiment；　and　she　cried　out　aloud；　and　ran　toward　him。　　But　he　doubted　that　some　evil　had　betid；　and　that　she　was　chased；　so　he　drew　out　his　sword；　but　she　ran　up　to　him　and　cried　out：　〃Put　up　thy　sword；　here　is　none　save　me。〃

But　he　stood　still；　gazing　on　her　in　wonderment；　and　now　she　was　drawn　near　to　him　she　stood　still　before　him；　panting。　Then　he　said：　　〃Nay；　Lady；　for　this　night　there　was　no　need　of　thy　disguising　thee；　to…morrow　it　had　been　soon　enough。〃

She　said：　　〃I　were　fain　if　thou　wouldst　take　my　hand；　and　lead　me　back　to　our　resting…place。〃

Even　so　he　did；　and　as　their　palms　met　he　felt　how　her　hand　loved　him；　and　a　flood　of　sweetness　swept　over　his　heart；　and　made　an　end　of　all　its　soreness。　　But　he　led　her　quietly　back　again　to　their　place。　　Then　she　turned　to　him　and　said：　〃Now　art　thou　the　woodland　god　again；　and　the　courtier　no　more；　so　now　will　I　worship　thee。〃　　And　she　knelt　down　before　him；　and　embraced　his　knees　and　kissed　them；　but　he　drew　her　up　to　him；　and　cast　his　arms　about　her；　and　kissed　her　face　many　times；　and　said：　　〃Now　art　thou　the　poor　captive　again。〃

She　said：　　〃Now　hast　thou　forgiven　me；　but　I　will　tell　thee　that　my　wilfulness　and　folly　was　not　all　utterly　feigned；　though　when　I　was　about　it　I　longed　for　thee　to　break　it　down　with　the　fierceness　of　a　man；　and　bid　me　look　to　it　how　helpless　I　was；　and　thou　how　strong　and　my　only　defence。　Not　utterly　feigned　it　was：　　for　I　will　say　it；　that　I　was　grieved　to　the　heart　when　I　bethought　me　of　Meadhamstead　and　the　seat　of　my　fathers。　What　sayest　thou　then？　Shalt　thou　be　ever　a　woodman　in　these　thickets；　and　a　follower　of　Jack　of　the　Tofts？　If　so　thou　wilt；　it　is　well。〃

He　took　her　by　the　shoulders　and　bent　her　backwards　to　kiss　her；　and　held　her　up　above　the　earth　in　his　arms；　waving　her　this　way　and　that；　till　she　felt　how　little　and　light　she　was　in　his　grasp；　though　she　was　no　puny　woman；　then　he　set　her　on　her　feet　again；　and　laughed　in　her　face；　and　said：　〃Sweetling；　let　to…morrow　bring　counsel。　　But　now　let　it　all　be：　　thou　hast　said　it；　thou　art　weary；　so　now　will　I　dight　thee　a　bed　of　our　mantles；　and　thou　shalt　lie　thee　down；　and　I　shall　watch　thee　as　thou　badest　me。〃

Therewith　he　went　about；　and　plucked　armfuls　of　the　young　bracken；　and　made　a　bed　wide　and　soft；　and　spread　the　mantles　thereover。

But　she　stood　awhile　looking　on　him；　then　she　said：　　〃Dost　thou　think　to　punish　me　for　my　wilful　folly；　and　to　shame　me　by　making　me　speak　to　thee？〃

〃Nay；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　not　so。〃

She　said：　　〃I　am　not　shamed　in　that　I　say　to　thee：　　if　thou　watch　this　night；　I　will　watch　by　thee；　and　if　I　lie　down　to　rest　this　night；　thou　shalt　lie　by　me。　　For　my　foemen　have　given　me　to　thee；　and　now　shalt　thou　give　thyself　to　me。〃

So　he　drew　near　to　her　shyly；　like　unto　one　who　hath　been　forgiven。　　And　there　was　their　bridal　bed；　and　nought　but　the　oak　boughs　betwixt　them　and　the　bare　heavens。



CHAPTER　XXIII。

THEY　FALL　IN　WITH　FRIENDS。


Now　awoke　Goldilind　when　the　morning　was　young　and　fresh；　and　she　drew　the　mantle　up　over　her　shoulders；　and　as　she　did　so；　but　half　awake；　she　deemed　she　heard　other　sounds　than　the　singing　of　the　black…birds　and　throstles　about　the　edge　of　the　thicket；　and　she　turned　her　eyes　toward　the　oak　trees　and　the　hazel…thicket；　and　saw　at　once　three　of　mankind　coming　on　foot　over　the　greensward　toward　her。　　She　was　afraid；　so　that　she　durst　not　put　out　a　hand　to　awaken　Christopher；　but　sat　gazing　on　those　three　as　they　came　toward　her；　she　saw　that　two　were　tall　men；　clad　much　as　Christopher；　but　presently　she　saw　that　there　was　a　woman　with　them；　and　she　took　heart　somewhat　thereat；　and　she　noted　that　one　of　the　men　was　short…haired　and　dark…haired；　and　the　other　had　long　red　hair　falling　about　his　shoulders；　and　as　she　put　out　her　hand　and　laid　it　on　Christopher's　shoulder；　the　red…haired　one　looked　toward　her　a　moment　under　the　sharp　of　his　hand　（for　the　sun　was　on　their　side）；　and　then　set　off　running；　giving　out　a　great　whoop　therewithal。　　Even　therewith　leapt　up　Christopher；　still　half　awake；　and　the　red…haired　man　ran　right　up　to　him；　and　caught　him　by　the　shoulders；　and　kissed　him　on　both　cheeks；　so　that　Goldilind　saw　that　these　were　the　fellows　whereof　Christopher　had　told；　and　she　stood　there　shame…fast　and　smiling。

Presently　came　up　the　others；　to　wit；　Gilbert　and　Joanna；　and　they　also　kissed　and　embraced　Christopher；　and　all　they　were　as　full　of　joy　as　might　be。　　Then　came　Joanna　to　Goldilind；　and　said：　　〃I　wot　not　who　this　may　be；　brother；　yet　meseems　she　will　be　someone　who　is　dear　to　thee；　wherefore　is　she　my　sister。〃　　And　therewith　she　kissed　Goldilind；　and　she　was　kind；　and　sweet　of　flesh；　and　goodly　of　body；　and　Goldilind　rejoiced　in　her。

Joanna　made　much　of　her；　and　said　to　her：　　〃Here　is　to　do；　whereas　two　men　have　broken　into　a　lady's　chamber；　come；　sister；　let　us　to　the　thicket；　and　I　will　be　thy　tiring…　maid；　and　while　these　others　tell　their　tales　we　shall　tell　ours。〃　　And　she　took　her　hand　and　they　went　into　the　hazels；　but　the　two　new…come　men　seemed　to　find　it　hard　to　keep　their　eyes　off　Goldilind；　till　the　hazels　had　hidden　her。

Then　turned　David　to　Christopher；　and　said：　　〃Thy　pardon；　little　King；　that　we　have　waked　thee　so　early；　but　we　wotted　not　that　thou　hadst　been　amongst　the　wood…women；　and；　sooth　to　say；　my　lad；　we　had　little　ease　till　we　found　thee；　after　we　came　home　and　saw　all　those　hoof…marks　yonder。〃

〃Yea；〃　said　Gilbert；　〃if　we　had　lost　thee　we　had　been　finely　holpen　up；　for　we　could　neither　have　gone　back　to　the　Tofts　nor　into　the　kingdom：　　for　I　think　my　father　would　have　hanged　us　if　we　had　come　back　with　a　'By　the　way；　Christopher　is　slain。'　But　tell　us；　lad；　what　hath　befallen　thee　with　yonder　sweetling？〃

〃Yea；　tell　us；〃　said　David；　〃and　sit　down　here　betwixt　us；　with　thy　back　to　the　hazel…thicket；　or　we　shall　get　no　tale　out　of　theetush；　man；　Joanna　will　bring　her　back；　and　that　right　soon；　I　hope。〃

Christopher　laughed；　and　sat　down　between　them；　and　told　all　how　it　had　gone　with　him；　and　of　Goldilind；　who　she　was。　The　others　hearkened　heedfully；　and　Gilbert　said：　〃With　all　thou　hast　to