sir nigel-第13部分

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the　meal　had　been　eaten　and　cleared　before　she　had　done　tracing
the　network　of　intermarriages　and　connections；　with　quarterings；
impalements；　lozenges　and　augmentations　by　which　the　blazonry　of
the　two　families　might　be　made　to　show　a　common　origin。　　Back　to
the　Conquest　and　before　it　there　was　not　a　noble　family…tree　every
twig　and　bud　of　which　was　not　familiar　to　the　Dame　Ermyntrude。

And　now　when　the　trestles　were　cleared　and　the　three　were　left
alone　in　the　hall；　Chandos　broke　his　message　to　the　lady。　　〃King
Edward　hath　ever　borne　in　mind　that　noble　knight　your　son　Sir
Eustace；〃　said　he。　　〃He　will　journey　to　Southampton　next　week；　and
I　am　his　harbinger。　　He　bade　me　say；　noble　and　honored　lady；　that
he　would　come　from　Guildford　in　any　easy　stage　so　that　he　might
spend　one　night　under　your　roof。〃

The　old　dame　flushed　with　pleasure；　and　then　turned　white　with
vexation　at　the　words。　　〃It　is　in　truth　great　honor　to　the　house
of　Loring；〃　said　she；　〃yet　our　roof　is　now　humble　and；　as　you　have
seen；　our　fare　is　plain。　　The　King　knows　not　that　we　are　so　poor。
I　fear　lest　we　seem　churlish　and　niggard　in　his　eyes。〃

But　Chandos　reasoned　away　her　fears。　　The　King's　retinue　would
journey　on　to　Farnham　Castle。　　There　were　no　ladies　in　his　party。
Though　he　was　King；　still　he　was　a　hardy　soldier；　and　cared　little
for　his　ease。　　In　any　case；　since　he　had　declared　his　coming；　they
must　make　the　best　of　it。　　Finally；　with　all　delicacy；　Chandos
offered　his　own　purse　if　it　would　help　in　the　matter。　　But　already
the　Lady　Ermyntrude　had　recovered　her　composure。

〃Nay；　fair　kinsman；　that　may　not　be；〃　said　she。　　〃I　will　make　such
preparation　as　I　may　for　the　King。　　He　will　bear　in　mind　that　if
the　house　of　Loring　can　give　nothing　else；　they　have　always　held
their　blood　and　their　lives　at　his　disposal。〃

Chandos　was　to　ride　on　to　Farnham　Castle　and　beyond；　but　he
expressed　his　desire　to　have　a　warm　bath　ere　he　left　Tilford；　for
like　most　of　his　fellow…knights；　he　was　much　addicted　to　simmering
in　the　hottest　water　that　he　could　possibly　endure。　　The　bath
therefore；　a　high　hooped　arrangement　like　a　broader　but　shorter
churn；　was　carried　into　the　privacy　of　the　guest…chamber；　and
thither　it　was　that　Nigel　was　summoned　to　hold　him　company　while
he　stewed　and　sweltered　in　his　tub。

Nigel　perched　himself　upon　the　side　of　the　high　bed；　swinging　his
legs　over　the　edge　and　gazing　with　wonder　and　amusement　at　the
quaint　face；　the　ruffled　yellow　hair；　and　the　sinewy　shoulders　of
the　famous　warrior；　dimly　seen　amid　a　pillar　of　steam。　　He　was　in
a　mood　for　talk；　so　Nigel　with　eager　lips　plied　him　with　a
thousand　questions　about　the　wars；　hanging　upon　every　word　which
came　back　to　him；　like　those　of　the　ancient　oracles；　out　of　the
mist　and　the　cloud。　　To　Chandos　himself；　the　old　soldier　for　whom
war　had　lost　its　freshness；　it　was　a　renewal　of　his　own　ardent
youth　to　listen　to　Nigel's　rapid　questions　and　to　mark　the　rapt
attention　with　which　he　listened。

〃Tell　me　of　the　Welsh；　honored　sir；〃　asked　the　Squire。　　〃What
manner　of　soldiers　are　the　Welsh？〃

〃They　are　very　valiant　men　of　war；〃　said　Chandos；　splashing　about
in　his　tub。　　〃There　is　good　skirmishing　to　be　had　in　their　valleys
if　you　ride　with　a　small　following。　　They　flare　up　like　a
furzebush　in　the　flames；　but　if　for　a　short　space　you　may　abide
the　heat　of　it；　then　there　is　a　chance　that　it　may　be　cooler。〃

〃And　the　Scotch？〃　asked　Nigel。　　〃You　have　made　war　upon　them　also；
as　I　understand。〃

〃The　Scotch　knights　have　no　masters　in　the　world；　and　he　who　can
hold　his　own　with　the　best　of　them；　be　it　a　Douglas；　a　Murray　or　a
Seaton；　has　nothing　more　to　learn。　　Though　you　be　a　hard　man；　you
will　always　meet　as　hard　a　one　if　you　ride　northward。　　If　the
Welsh　be　like　the　furze　fire；　then；　padieu！　the　Scotch　are　the
peat；　for　they　will　smolder　and　you　will　never　come　to　the　end　of
them。　　I　have　had　many　happy　hours　on　the　marches　of　Scotland；　for
even　if　there　be　no　war　the　Percies　of　Alnwick　or　the　Governor　of
Carlisle　can　still　raise　a　little　bickering　with　the　border
clans。〃

〃I　bear　in　mind　that　my　father　was　wont　to　say　that　they　were　very
stout　spearmen。〃

〃No　better　in　the　world；　for　the　spears　are　twelve　foot　long　and
they　hold　them　in　very　thick　array；　but　their　archers　are　weak；
save　only　the　men　of　Ettrick　and　Selkirk　who　come　from　the　forest。
I　pray　you　to　open　the　lattice；　Nigel；　for　the　steam　is　overthick。
Now　in　Wales　it　is　the　spearmen　who　are　weak；　and　there　are　no
archers　in　these　islands　like　the　men　of　Gwent　with　their　bows　of
elm；　which　shoot　with　such　power　that　I　have　known　a　cavalier　to
have　his　horse　killed　when　the　shaft　had　passed　through　his　mail
breeches；　his　thigh　and　his　saddle。　　And　yet；　what　is　the　most
strongly　shot　arrow　to　these　new　balls　of　iron　driven　by　the　fire…
powder　which　will　crush　a　man's　armor　as　an　egg　is　crushed　by　a
stone？　　Our　fathers　knew　them　not。〃

〃Then　the　better　for　us；〃　cried　Nigel；　〃since　there　is　at　least
one　honorable　venture　which　is　all　our　own。〃

Chandos　chuckled　and　turned　upon　the　flushed　youth　a　twinkling　and
sympathetic　eye。　　〃You　have　a　fashion　of　speech　which　carries　me
back　to　the　old　men　whom　I　met　in　my　boyhood；〃　said　he。　　〃There
were　some　of　the　real　old　knight…errants　left　in　those　days；　and
they　spoke　as　you　do。　　Young　as　you　are；　you　belong　to　another
age。　　Where　got　you　that　trick　of　thought　and　word？〃

〃I　have　had　only　one　to　teach　me；　the　Lady　Ermyntrude。〃

〃Pardieu！　　she　has　trained　a　proper　young　hawk　ready　to　stoop　at　a
lordly　quarry；〃　said　Chandos。　　〃I　would　that　I　had　the　first
unhooding　of　you。　　Will　you　not　ride　with　me　to　the　wars？〃

The　tears　brimmed　over　from　Nigel's　eyes；　and　he　wrung　the　gaunt
hand　extended　from　the　bath。　　〃By　Saint　Paul！　what　could　I　ask
better　in　the　world？　　I　fear　to　leave　her；　for　she　has　none　other
to　care　for　her。　　But　if　it　can　in　any　way　be　arranged　…　〃

〃The　King's　hand　may　smooth　it　out。　　Say　no　more　until　he　is　here。
But　if　you　wish　to　ride　with　me　…　〃

〃What　could　man　wish　for　more？　　Is　there　a　Squire　in　England　who
would　not　serve　under　the　banner　of　Chandos！　　Whither　do　you　go；
fair　sir？　　And　when　do　you　go？　　Is　it　to　Scotland？　　Is　it　to
Ireland？　　Is　it　to　France？　　But　alas；　alas！〃

The　eager　face　had　clouded。　　For　the　instant　he　had　forgotten　that
a　suit　of　armor　was　as　much　beyond　his　means　as　a　service　of　gold
plate。　　Down　in　a　twinkling　came　all　his　high　hopes　to　the　ground。
Oh；　these　sordid　material　things；　which　come　between　our　dreams
and　their　fulfilment！　　The　Squire　of　such　a　knight　must　dress　with
the　best。　　Yet　all　the　fee　simple　of　Tilford　would　scarce　suffice
for　one　suit　of　plate。

Chandos；　with　his　quick　wit　and　knowledge　of　the　world；　had
guessed　the　cause　of　this　sudden　change。　　〃　If　you　fight　under　my
banner　it　is　for　me　to　find　the　weapons；〃　said　he。　　〃Nay；　I　will
not　be　denied。〃

But　Nigel　shook　his　head　sadly。　　〃　It　may　not　be。　　The　Lady
Ermyntrude　would　sell　this　old　house　and　every　acre　round　it；　ere
she　would　permit　me　to　accept　this　gracious　bounty　which　you
offer。　　Yet　I　do　not　despair；　for　only　last　week　I　won　for　myself
a　noble　war…horse　for　which　I　paid　not　a　penny；　so　perchance　a
suit　of　armor　may　also　come　my　way。〃

〃And　how　won　you　the　horse？〃

〃It　was　given　me　by　the　monks　of　Waverley。〃

〃This　is　wonderful。　　Pardieu！　　I　should　have　expected；　from　what　I
had　seen；　that　they　would　have　given　you　little　save　their
malediction。〃

〃They　had　no　use　for　the　horse；　and　they　gave　it　to　me。〃

〃Then　we　have　only　to　find　some　one　who　has　no　use　for　a　suit　of
armor　and　will　give　it　to　you。　　Yet　I　trust　that　you　will　think
better　of　it　and　let　me；　since　that　good　lady　proves　that　I　am
your　kinsman；　fit　you　for　the　wars。〃

〃I　thank　you；　noble　sir；　and　if　I　should　turn　to　anyone　it　would
indeed　be　to　you；　but　there　are　other　ways　which　I　would　try
first。　　But　I　pray　you；　goon　Sir　John；　to　tell　me　of　some　of　your
noble　spear…runnings　against　the　French；　for　the　whole　land　rings
with　the　tale　of　your　deeds　and　I　have　heard　that　in　one　morning
three　champions　have　fallen　before　your　lance。　　Was　it　not　so？〃

〃That　it　was　indeed　so　these　scars　upon　my　body　will　prove；　but
these　were　the　follies　of　my　youth。〃

〃How　can　you　call　them　follies？　　Are　they　not　the　means　by　which
honorable　advancement　may　be　gained　and　one's　lady　exalted？〃

〃It　is　right　that　you　should　think　so；　Nigel。　　At　your　age　a　man
should　have　a　hot　head　and　a　high　heart。　　I　also　had　both　and
fought　for　my　lady's　glove　or　for　my　vow　or　for　the　love　of
fighting。　　But　as　one　grows　older　and　commands　men　one　has　other
things　to　think　of。　　One　thinks　less　of　one's　own　honor　and　more
of　the　safety　of　the　army。　　It　is　not　your　own　spear；　your　own
sword；　your　own　arm；　which　will　turn　the　tide　of　fight；　but　a　cool
head　may　save　a　stricken　field。　　He　who　knows　when　his　horsemen
should　charge　and　when　they　should　fight　on　foot；　he　who　can　mix
his　archers　with　his　men…at…arms　in　such　a　fashion　that　each　can
support　the　other；　he　who　can　hold　up　his　reserve　and　pour　it　into
the　battle　when　it　may　turn　the　tide；　he　who　has　a　quick　eye　for
boggy　land　and　broken　ground　…　that　is　the　man　who　is　of　more
worth　to　an　army　than　Roland；　Oliver　and　all　the　paladins。〃

〃Yet　if　his　knights　fail　him；　honored　sir；　all　his　head…work　will
not　prevail。〃

〃True　enough；　Nigel；　so　may　every　Squire　ride　to　the　wars　with　his
soul　on　fire；　as　yours　is　now。　　But　I　must　linger　no　longer；　for
the　King's　service　must　be　done。　　I　will　dress；　and　when　I　have
bid　farewell　to　the　noble　Dame　Ermyntrude　I　will　on　to　Farnham；
but　you　will　see　me　here　again　on　the　day　that　the　King　comes。〃

So　Chandos　went　his　way　that　evening；　walking　his　horse　through
the　peaceful　lanes　and　twanging　his　citole　as　he　went；　for　he
loved　music　and　was　famous　for　his　merry　songs。　　The　cottagers
came　from　their　huts　and　laughed　and　clapped　as　the　rich　full
voice　swelled　and　sank　to　the　cheery　tinkling　of　the　strings。
There　were　few　who　saw　him　pass　that　would　have　guessed　that　the
quaint　one…eyed　man　with　the　yellow　hair　was　the　toughest　fighter
and　craftiest　man　of　war　in　Europe。　　Once　only；　as　h