kenilworth-第32部分

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their　names。　　For　some　time　he　was　only　answered　by　the　echoes
and　the　howling　of　the　hounds；　whose　kennel　lay　at　no　great
distance　from　the　mansion；　and　was　surrounded　by　the　same　moat。
At　length　Will　Badger；　the　old　and　favourite　attendant　of　the
knight；　who　acted　alike　as　squire　of　his　body　and　superintendent
of　his　sports；　made　his　appearance。　　The　stout；　weather…beaten
forester　showed　great　signs　of　joy　when　he　recognized　Tressilian。

〃Lord　love　you；〃　he　said；　〃Master　Edmund；　be　it　thou　in　flesh　and
fell？　　Then　thou　mayest　do　some　good　on　Sir　Hugh；　for　it　passes
the　wit　of　manthat　is；　of　mine　own；　and　the　curate's；　and
Master　Mumblazen'sto　do　aught　wi'un。〃

〃Is　Sir　Hugh　then　worse　since　I　went　away；　Will？〃　　demanded
Tressilian。

〃For　worse　in　bodyno；　he　is　much　better；〃　replied　the　domestic；
〃but　he　is　clean　mazed　as　it　wereeats　and　drinks　as　he　was
wontbut　sleeps　not；　or　rather　wakes　not；　for　he　is　ever　in　a
sort　of　twilight；　that　is　neither　sleeping　nor　waking。　　Dame
Swineford　thought　it　was　like　the　dead　palsy。　　But　no；　no；　dame；
said　I；　it　is　the　heart；　it　is　the　heart。〃

〃Can　ye　not　stir　his　mind　to　any　pastimes？〃　　said　Tressilian。

〃He　is　clean　and　quite　off　his　sports；〃　said　Will　Badger；　〃hath
neither　touched　backgammon　or　shovel…board；　nor　looked　on　the　big
book　of　harrowtry　wi'　Master　Mumblazen。　　I　let　the　clock　run
down；　thinking　the　missing　the　bell　might　somewhat　move　himfor
you　know；　Master　Edmund；　he　was　particular　in　counting　timebut
he　never　said　a　word　on't；　so　I　may　e'en　set　the　old　chime　a…
towling　again。　　I　made　bold　to　tread　on　Bungay's　tail　too；　and
you　know　what　a　round　rating　that　would　ha'　cost　me　once　a…day；
but　he　minded　the　poor　tyke's　whine　no　more　than　a　madge　howlet
whooping　down　the　chimneyso　the　case　is　beyond　me。〃

〃Thou　shalt　tell　me　the　rest　within　doors；　Will。　　Meanwhile；　let
this　person　be　ta'en　to　the　buttery；　and　used　with　respect。　　He
is　a　man　of　art。〃

〃White　art　or　black　art；　I　would；〃　said　Will　Badger；　〃that　he　had
any　art　which　could　help　us。Here；　Tom　Butler；　look　to　the　man
of　art；and　see　that　he　steals　none　of　thy　spoons；　lad；〃　he
added　in　a　whisper　to　the　butler；　who　showed　himself　at　a　low
window；　〃I　have　known　as　honest　a　faced　fellow　have　art　enough　to
do　that。〃

He　then　ushered　Tressilian　into　a　low　parlour；　and　went；　at　his
desire；　to　see　in　what　state　his　master　was；　lest　the　sudden
return　of　his　darling　pupil　and　proposed　son…in…law　should　affect
him　too　strongly。　　He　returned　immediately；　and　said　that　Sir
Hugh　was　dozing　in　his　elbow…chair；　but　that　Master　Mumblazen
would　acquaint　Master　Tressilian　the　instant　he　awaked。

〃But　it　is　chance　if　he　knows　you；〃　said　the　huntsman；　〃for　he
has　forgotten　the　name　of　every　hound　in　the　pack。　　I　thought；
about　a　week　since；　he　had　gotten　a　favourable　turn。　　'Saddle　me
old　Sorrel；'　said　he　suddenly；　after　he　had　taken　his　usual
night…draught　out　of　the　great　silver　grace…cup；　'and　take　the
hounds　to　Mount　Hazelhurst　to…morrow。'　Glad　men　were　we　all；　and
out　we　had　him　in　the　morning；　and　he　rode　to　cover　as　usual；
with　never　a　word　spoken　but　that　the　wind　was　south；　and　the
scent　would　lie。　　But　ere　we　had　uncoupled'the　hounds；　he　began
to　stare　round　him；　like　a　man　that　wakes　suddenly　out　of　a
dreamturns　bridle；　and　walks　back　to　Hall　again；　and　leaves　us
to　hunt　at　leisure　by　ourselves；　if　we　listed。〃

〃You　tell　a　heavy　tale；　Will；〃　replied　Tressilian；　〃but　God　must
help　usthere　is　no　aid　in　man。〃

〃Then　you　bring　us　no　news　of　young　Mistress　Amy？　　But　what　need
I　askyour　brow　tells　the　story。　　Ever　I　hoped　that　if　any　man
could　or　would　track　her；　it　must　be　you。　　All's　over　and　lost
now。　　But　if　ever　I　have　that　Varney　within　reach　of　a　flight…
shot；　I　will　bestow　a　forked　shaft　on　him；　and　that　I　swear　by
salt　and　bread。〃

As　he　spoke；　the　door　opened；　and　Master　Mumblazen　appeareda
withered；　thin；　elderly　gentleman；　with　a　cheek　like　a　winter
apple；　and　his　grey　hair　partly　concealed　by　a　small；　high　hat；
shaped　like　a　cone；　or　rather　like　such　a　strawberry…basket　as
London　fruiterers　exhibit　at　their　windows。　　He　was　too
sententious　a　person　to　waste　words　on　mere　salutation；　so；
having　welcomed　Tressilian　with　a　nod　and　a　shake　of　the　hand；　he
beckoned　him　to　follow　to　Sir　Hugh's　great　chamber；　which　the
good　knight　usually　inhabited。　　Will　Badger　followed；　unasked；
anxious　to　see　whether　his　master　would　be　relieved　from　his
state　of　apathy　by　the　arrival　of　Tressilian。

In　a　long；　low　parlour；　amply　furnished　with　implements　of　the
chase；　and　with　silvan　trophies；　by　a　massive　stone　chimney；　over
which　hung　a　sword　and　suit　of　armour　somewhat　obscured　by
neglect；　sat　Sir　Hugh　Robsart　of　Lidcote；　a　man　of　large　size；
which　had　been　only　kept　within　moderate　compass　by　the　constant
use　of　violent　exercise；　It　seemed　to　Tressilian　that　the
lethargy；　under　which　his　old　friend　appeared　to　labour；　had；
even　during　his　few　weeks'　absence；　added　bulk　to　his　personat
least　it　had　obviously　diminished　the　vivacity　of　his　eye；　which；
as　they　entered；　first　followed　Master　Mumblazen　slowly　to　a
large　oaken　desk；　on　which　a　ponderous　volume　lay　open；　and　then
rested；　as　if　in　uncertainty；　on　the　stranger　who　had　entered
along　with　him。　　The　curate；　a　grey…headed　clergyman；　who　had
been　a　confessor　in　the　days　of　Queen　Mary；　sat　with　a　book　in
his　hand　in　another　recess　in　the　apartment。　　He；　too；　signed　a
mournful　greeting　to　Tressilian；　and　laid　his　book　aside；　to
watch　the　effect　his　appearance　should　produce　on　the　afflicted
old　man。

As　Tressilian；　his　own　eyes　filling　fast　with　tears；　approached
more　and　more　nearly　to　the　father　of　his　betrothed　bride；　Sir
Hugh's　intelligence　seemed　to　revive。　　He　sighed　heavily；　as　one
who　awakens　from　a　state　of　stupor；　a　slight　convulsion　passed
over　his　features；　he　opened　his　arms　without　speaking　a　word；
and；　as　Tressilian　threw　himself　into　them；　he　folded　him　to　his
bosom。

〃There　is　something　left　to　live　for　yet；〃　were　the　first　words
he　uttered；　and　while　he　spoke；　he　gave　vent　to　his　feelings　in　a
paroxysm　of　weeping；　the　tears　chasing　each　other　down　his
sunburnt　cheeks　and　long　white　beard。

〃I　ne'er　thought　to　have　thanked　God　to　see　my　master　weep；〃　said
Will　Badger；　〃but　now　I　do；　though　I　am　like　to　weep　for
company。〃

〃I　will　ask　thee　no　questions；〃　said　the　old　knight；　〃no
questionsnone；　Edmund。　　Thou　hast　not　found　heror　so　found
her；　that　she　were　better　lost。〃

Tressilian　was　unable　to　reply　otherwise　than　by　putting　his
hands　before　his　face。

〃It　is　enoughit　is　enough。　　But　do　not　thou　weep　for　her；
Edmund。　　I　have　cause　to　weep；　for　she　was　my　daughter；　thou　hast
cause　to　rejoice；　that　she　did　not　become　thy　wife。Great　God！
thou　knowest　best　what　is　good　for　us。　　It　was　my　nightly　prayer
that　I　should　see　Amy　and　Edmund　wedded；had　it　been　granted；　it
had　now　been　gall　added　to　bitterness。〃

〃Be　comforted；　my　friend；〃　said　the　curate；　addressing　Sir　Hugh；
〃it　cannot　be　that　the　daughter　of　all　our　hopes　and　affections
is　the　vile　creature　you　would　bespeak　her。〃

〃Oh；　no；〃　replied　Sir　Hugh　impatiently；　〃I　were　wrong　to　name
broadly　the　base　thing　she　is　becomethere　is　some　new　court
name　for　it；　I　warrant　me。　　It　is　honour　enough　for　the　daughter
of　an　old　Devonshire　clown　to　be　the　leman　of　a　gay　courtierof
Varney　tooof　Varney；　whose　grandsire　was　relieved　by　my　father；
when　his　fortune　was　broken；　at　the　battle　ofthe　battle　of
where　Richard　was　slainout　on　my　memory！and　I　warrant　none
of　you　will　help　me〃

〃The　battle　of　Bosworth；〃　said　Master　Mumblazen〃stricken
between　Richard　Crookback　and　Henry　Tudor；　grandsire　of　the　Queen
that　now　is；　PRIMO　HENRICI　SEPTIMI；　and　in　the　year　one　thousand
four　hundred　and　eighty…five；　POST　CHRISTUM　NATUM。〃

〃Ay；　even　so；〃　said　the　old　knight；　〃every　child　knows　it。　　But
my　poor　head　forgets　all　it　should　remember；　and　remembers　only
what　it　would　most　willingly　forget。　　My　brain　has　been　at　fault；
Tressilian；　almost　ever　since　thou　hast　been　away；　and　even　yet
it　hunts　counter。〃

〃Your　worship；〃　said　the　good　clergyman；　〃had　better　retire　to
your　apartment；　and　try　to　sleep　for　a　little　space。　　The
physician　left　a　composing　draught；　and　our　Great　Physician　has
commanded　us　to　use　earthly　means；　that　we　may　be　strengthened　to
sustain　the　trials　He　sends　us。〃

〃True；　true；　old　friend；〃　said　Sir　Hugh；　〃and　we　will　bear　our
trials　manfullywe　have　lost　but　a　woman。See；　Tressilian；〃he
drew　from　his　bosom　a　long　ringlet　of　glossy　hair；〃see　this
lock！　　I　tell　thee；　Edmund；　the　very　night　she　disappeared；　when
she　bid　me　good　even；　as　she　was　wont；　she　hung　about　my　neck；
and　fondled　me　more　than　usual；　and　I；　like　an　old　fool；　held　her
by　this　lock；　until　she　took　her　scissors；　severed　it；　and　left
it　in　my　handas　all　I　was　ever　to　see　more　of　her！〃

Tressilian　was　unable　to　reply；　well　judging　what　a　complication
of　feelings　must　have　crossed　the　bosom　of　the　unhappy　fugitive
at　that　cruel　moment。　　The　clergyman　was　about　to　speak；　but　Sir
Hugh　interrupted　him。

〃I　know　what　you　would　say；　Master　Curate；After　all；　it　is　but
a　lock　of　woman's　tresses；　and　by　woman；　shame；　and　sin；　and
death　came　into　an　innocent　world。And　learned　Master　Mumblazen；
too；　can　say　scholarly　things　of　their　inferiority。〃

〃C'EST　L'HOMME；〃　said　Master　Mumblazen；　〃QUI　SE　BAST；　ET　QUI
CONSEILLE。〃

〃True；〃　said　Sir　Hugh；　〃and　we　will　bear　us；　therefore；　like　men
who　have　both　mettle　and　wisdom　in　us。Tressilian；　thou　art　as
welcome　as　if　thou　hadst　brought　better　news。　　But　we　have　spoken
too　long　dry…lipped。Amy；　fill　a　cup　of　wine　to　Edmund；　and
another　to　me。〃　　Then　instantly　recollecting　that　he　called　upon
her　who　could　not　hear；　he　shook　his　head；　and　said　to　the
clergyman；　〃This　grief　is　to　my　bewildered　mind　what　the　church
of　Lidcote　is　to　our　park：　we　may　lose　ourselves　among　the　briers
and　thickets　for　a　little　space；　but　from　the　end　of　each　avenue
we　see　the　old　grey　steeple　and　the　grave　of　my　forefathers。　　I
would　I　were　to　travel　that　road　tomorrow！〃

Tressilian　and　the　curate　joined　in　urging　the　exhausted　old　man
to　lay　himself　to　rest；　and　at　length　prevai