sir nigel-第7部分

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framed　in　heavy　beams　of　wood；　the　interstices　filled　with　rude
blocks　of　stone。　　An　outside　staircase　led　up　to　several
sleeping…rooms　above。　　Below　there　were　only　two　apartments；　the
smaller　of　which　was　the　bower　of　the　aged　Lady　Ermyntrude。　　The
other　was　the　hall；　a　very　large　room；　which　served　as　the　living
room　of　the　family　and　as　the　common　dining…room　of　themselves　and
of　their　little　group　of　servants　and　retainers。　　The　dwellings　of
these　servants；　the　kitchens；　the　offices　and　the　stables　were　all
represented　by　a　row　of　penthouses　and　sheds　behind　the　main
building。　　Here　lived　Charles　the　page；　Peter　the　old　falconer；
Red　Swire　who　had　followed　Nigel's　grandfather　to　the　Scottish
wars；　Weathercote　the　broken　minstrel；　John　the　cook；　and　other
survivors　of　more　prosperous　days；　who　still　clung　to　the　old
house　as　the　barnacles　to　some　wrecked　and　stranded　vessel。

One　evening　about　a　week　after　the　breaking　of　the　yellow　horse；
Nigel　and　his　grandmother　sat　on　either　side　of　the　large　empty
fireplace　in　this　spacious　apartment。　　The　supper　had　been
removed；　and　so　had　the　trestle　tables　upon　which　it　had　been
served；　so　that　the　room　seemed　bare　and　empty。　　The　stone　floor
was　strewed　with　a　thick　layer　of　green　rushes；　which　was　swept
out　every　Saturday　and　carried　with　it　all　the　dirt　and　debris　of
the　week。　　Several　dogs　were　now　crouched　among　these　rushes；
gnawing　and　cracking　the　bones　which　had　been　thrown　from　the
table。　　A　long　wooden　buffet　loaded　with　plates　and　dishes　filled
one　end　of　the　room；　but　there　was　little　other　furniture　save
some　benches　against　the　walls；　two　dorseret　chairs；　one　small
table　littered　with　chessmen；　and　a　great　iron　coffer。　　In　one
corner　was　a　high　wickerwork　stand；　and　on　it　two　stately　falcons
were　perched；　silent　and　motionless；　save　for　an　occasional
twinkle　of　their　fierce　yellow　eyes。

But　if　the　actual　fittings　of　the　room　would　have　appeared　scanty
to　one　who　had　lived　in　a　more　luxurious　age；　he　would　have　been
surprised　on　looking　up　to　see　the　multitude　of　objects　which　were
suspended　above　his　head。　　Over　the　fireplace　were　the
coats…of…arms　of　a　number　of　houses　allied　by　blood　or　by　marriage
to　the　Lorings。　　The　two　cresset…lights　which　flared　upon　each
side　gleamed　upon　the　blue　lion　of　the　Percies；　the　red　birds　of
de　Valence；　the　black　engrailed　cross　of　de　Mohun；　the　silver　star
of　de　Vere；　and　the　ruddy　bars　of　FitzAlan；　all　grouped　round　the
famous　red　roses　on　the　silver　shield　which　the　Lorings　had　borne
to　glory　upon　many　a　bloody　field。　　Then　from　side　to　side　the
room　was　spanned　by　heavy　oaken　beams　from　which　a　great　number　of
objects　were　hanging。　　There　were　mail…shirts　of　obsolete　pattern；
several　shields；　one　or　two　rusted　and　battered　helmets；
bowstaves；　lances；　otter…spears；　harness；　fishing…rods；　and　other
implements　of　war　or　of　the　chase；　while　higher　still　amid　the
black　shadows　of　the　peaked　roof　could　be　seen　rows　of　hams；
flitches　of　bacon；　salted　geese；　and　those　other　forms　of
preserved　meat　which　played　so　great　a　part　in　the　housekeeping　of
the　Middle　Ages。

Dame　Ermyntrude　Loring；　daughter；　wife；　and　mother　of　warriors；
was　herself　a　formidable　figure。　　Tall　and　gaunt；　with　hard　craggy
features　and　intolerant　dark　eyes；　even　her　snow…white　hair　and
stooping　back　could　not　entirely　remove　the　sense　of　fear　which
she　inspired　in　those　around　her。　　Her　thoughts　and　memories　went
back　to　harsher　times；　and　she　looked　upon　the　England　around　her
as　a　degenerate　and　effeminate　land　which　had　fallen　away　from　the
old　standard　of　knightly　courtesy　and　valor。

The　rising　power　of　the　people；　the　growing　wealth　of　the　Church；
the　increasing　luxury　in　life　and　manners；　and　the　gentler　tone　of
the　age　were　all　equally　abhorrent　to　her；　so　that　the　dread　of
her　fierce　face；　and　even　of　the　heavy　oak　staff　with　which　she
supported　her　failing　limbs；　was　widespread　through　all　the
country　round。

Yet　if　she　was　feared　she　was　also　respected；　for　in　days　when
books　were　few　and　readers　scarce；　a　long　memory　and　a　ready
tongue　were　of　the　more　value；　and　where；　save　from　Dame
Ermyntrude；　could　the　young　unlettered　Squires　of　Surrey　and
Hampshire　hear　of　their　grandfathers　and　their　battles；　or　learn
that　lore　of　heraldry　and　chivalry　which　she　handed　down　from　a
ruder　but　a　more　martial　age？　　Poor　as　she　was；　there　was　no　one
in　Surrey　whose　guidance　would　be　more　readily　sought　upon　a
question　of　precedence　or　of　conduct　than　the　Dame　Ermyntrude
Loring。

She　sat　now　with　bowed　back　by　the　empty　fireplace；　and　looked
across　at　Nigel　with　all　the　harsh　lines　of　her　old　ruddled　face
softening　into　love　and　pride。　　The　young　Squire　was　busy　cutting
bird…bolts　for　his　crossbow；　and　whistling　softly　as　he　worked。
Suddenly　he　looked　up　and　caught　the　dark　eyes　which　were　fixed
upon　him。　　He　leaned　forward　and　patted　the　bony　hand。

〃What　hath　pleased　you；　dear　dame？　　I　read　pleasure　in　your　eyes。〃

〃I　have　heard　to…day；　Nigel；　how　you　came　to　win　that　great
war…horse　which　stamps　in　our　stable。〃

〃Nay；　dame；　I　had　told　you　that　the　monks　had　given　it　to　me。〃

〃You　said　so；　fair　son；　but　never　a　word　more。　　Yet　the　horse
which　you　brought　home　was　a　very　different　horse　I　wot；　to　that
which　was　given　you。　　Why　did　you　not　tell　me？〃

〃I　should　think　it　shame　to　talk　of　such　a　thing。〃

〃So　would　your　father　before　you；　and　his　father　no　less。　　They
would　sit　silent　among　the　knights　when　the　wine　went　round　and
listen　to　every　man's　deeds；　but　if　perchance　there　was　anyone　who
spoke　louder　than　the　rest　and　seemed　to　be　eager　for　honor；　then
afterwards　your　father　would　pluck　him　softly　by　the　sleeve　and
whisper　in　his　ear　to　learn　if　there　was　any　small　vow　of　which　he
could　relieve　him；　or　if　he　would　deign　to　perform　some　noble　deed
of　arms　upon　his　person。　　And　if　the　man　were　a　braggart　and　would
go　no　further；　your　father　would　be　silent　and　none　would　know　it。
But　if　he　bore　himself　well；　your　father　would　spread　his　fame　far
and　wide；　but　never　make　mention　of　himself。〃

Nigel　looked　at　the　old　woman　with　shining　eyes。　　〃I　love　to　hear
you　speak　of　him；〃　said　he。　　〃I　pray　you　to　tell　me　once　more　of
the　manner　of　his　death。〃

〃He　died　as　he　had　lived；　a　very　courtly　gentleman。　　It　was　at　the
great　sea…battle　upon　the　Norman　coast；　and　your　father　was　in
command　of　the　after…guard　in　the　King's　own　ship。　　Now　the　French
had　taken　a　great　English　ship　the　year　before　when　they　came　over
and　held　the　narrow　seas　and　burned　the　town　of　Southampton。

This　ship　was　the　Christopher；　and　they　placed　it　in　the　front　of
their　battle；　but　the　English　closed　upon　it　and　stormed　over　its
side；　and　slew　all　who　were　upon　it。

〃But　your　father　and　Sir　Lorredan　of　Genoa；　who　commanded　the
Christopher；　fought　upon　the　high　poop；　so　that　all　the　fleet
stopped　to　watch　it；　and　the　King　himself　cried　aloud　at　the
sight；　for　Sir　Lorredan　was　a　famous　man…at…arms　and　bore　himself
very　stoutly　that　day；　and　many　a　knight　envied　your　father　that
he　should　have　chanced　upon　so　excellent　a　person。　　But　your
father　bore　him　back　and　struck　him　such　a　blow　with　a　mace　that
he　turned　the　helmet　half　round　on　his　head；　so　that　he　could　no
longer　see　through　the　eye　holes；　and　Sir　Lorredan　threw　down　his
sword　and　gave　himself　to　ransom。　　But　your　father　took　him　by　the
helmet　and　twisted　it　until　he　had　it　straight　upon　his　head。
Then；　when　he　could　see　once　again；　he　handed　him　his　sword；　and
prayed　him　that　he　would　rest　himself　and　then　continue；　for　it
was　great　profit　and　joy　to　see　any　gentleman　carry　himself　so
well。　　So　they　sat　together　and　rested　by　the　rail　of　the　poop；
but　even　as　they　raised　their　hands　again　your　father　was　struck
by　a　stone　from　a　mangonel　and　so　died。〃

〃And　this　Sir　Lorredan；〃　cried　Nigel；　〃he　died　also；　as　I
understand？〃

〃I　fear　that　he　was　slain　by　the　archers；　for　they　loved　your
father；　and　they　do　not　see　these　things　with　our　eyes。〃

〃It　was　a　pity；〃　said　Nigel；　〃for　it　is　clear　that　he　was　a　good
knight　and　bore　himself　very　bravely。〃

〃Time　was；　when　I　was　young；　when　commoners　dared　not　have　laid
their　grimy　hands　upon　such　a　man。　　Men　of　gentle　blood　and
coat…armor　made　war　upon　each　other；　and　the　others；　spearmen　or
archers；　could　scramble　amongst　themselves。　　But　now　all　are　of　a
level；　and　only　here　and　there　one　like　yourself；　fair　son；　who
reminds　me　of　the　men　who　are　gone。〃

Nigel　leaned　forward　and　took　her　hands　in　his。　　〃What　I　am　you
have　made　me；〃　said　he。

〃It　is　true；　Nigel。　　I　have　indeed　watched　over　you　as　the
gardener　watches　his　most　precious　blossom；　for　in　you　alone　are
all　the　hopes　of　our　ancient　house；　and　soon　…　very　soon　…　you
will　be　alone。〃

〃Nay；　dear　lady；　say　not　that。〃

〃I　am　very　old；　Nigel；　and　I　feel　the　shadow　closing　in　upon　me。
My　heart　yearns　to　go；　for　all　whom　I　have　known　and　loved　have
gone　before　me。　　And　you　…　it　will　be　a　blessed　day　for　you；　since
I　have　held　you　back　from　that　world　into　which　your　brave　spirit
longs　to　plunge。〃

〃Nay；　nay；　I　have　been　happy　here　with　you　at　Tilford。〃

〃We　are　very　poor；　Nigel。　　I　do　not　know　where　we　may　find　the
money　to　fit　you　for　the　wars。　　Yet　we　have　good　friends。　　There
is　Sir　John　Chandos；　who　has　won　such　credit　in　the　French　wars
and　who　rides　ever　by　the　King's　bridle…arm。　　He　was　your　father's
friend　and　they　were　Squires　together。　　If　I　sent　you　to　court
with　a　message　to　him　he　would　do　what　he　could。〃

Nigel's　fair　face　flushed。　　〃Nay；　Dame　Ermyntrude；　I　must　find　my
own　gear；　even　as　I　have　found　my　own　horse；　for　I　had　rather　ride
into　battle　in　this　tunic　than　owe　my　suit　to　another。〃

〃I　feared　that　you　would　say　so；　Nigel；　but　indeed　I　know　not　how
else　we　may　get　the　money；〃　said　the　old　woman　sadly。　　〃It　was
different　in　the　days　of　my　father。　　I　can　remember　that　a　suit　of
mail　was　but　a　small　matter　in　those　days；　for　in　every　English
town　such　things　could　be　made。　　But　year　by　year　since　men　have
come　to　take　more　care　of　their　bodies；　there　have　been　added　a
plate　of　proof　here　and　a　cunning　joint　there；　and　all　must　be
from　Toledo　or　Milan；　s