child christopher-第10节

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ering　sore；　and　knew　not　what　to　do　to　eat；　till　she　found　a　pouch　made　fast　to　the　saddle…bow；　and　therein　a　little　white　loaf；　that　and　no　more；　which　she　took　and　ate　the　half　of　with　great　joy；　sitting　down　by　a　brook…side；　whence　she　had　her　drink。

Then　again　she　mounted；　and　rode　on　till　dusk　overtook　her　just　as　she　came　to　a　little　river　running　from　the　north　from　pool　to　shallow；　and　shallow　to　pool。　　And　whereas　she　was　now　exceeding　weary；　and　the　good　horse　also　much　spent；　and　that　the　grass　was　very　sweet　and　soft　down　to　the　water's　edge；　and　that　there　was　a　thick　thorn…bush　to　cover　her；　she　made　up　her　mind　that　this　place　should　be　her　bed…chamber。　　So　she　took　saddle　and　bridle　off　the　horse；　as　he　must　needs　bite　the　grass；　and　then　when　she　had　eaten　the　other　half　of　her　bread；　she　laid　her　down　on　the　green　grass；　with　her　head　on　the　saddle；　and　when　she　had　lain　listening　to　the　horse　cropping　the　grass　close　anigh　her　for　a　minute　or　two；　she　fell　fast　asleep；　and　lay　there　long　and　had　no　dreams。



CHAPTER　XVI。

WHAT　GOLDILIND　FOUND　IN　THE　WOOD。


When　she　awoke　it　was　broad　day　and　bright　sun；　and　she　rose　up　to　her　feet　and　looked　about；　and　saw　the　horse　standing　close　by；　and　sharing　the　shade　with　her；　whisking　his　tail　about　lazily。　　Then　she　turned；　and　saw　the　stream　rippling　out　from　the　pool　over　the　clean　gravel；　and　here　and　there　a　fish　darting　through　the　ripple；　or　making　clean　rings　on　the　pool　as　he　quietly　took　a　fly；　the　sky　was　blue　and　clear；　there　was　scarce　a　breath　of　air；　and　the　morning　was　already　hot；　no　worse　than　yesterday　sang　the　birds　in　the　bushes；　but　as　she　looked　across　the　river；　where；　forsooth；　the　alders　grew　thick　about　the　pool's　edge；　a　cock　blackbird；　and　then　another；　flew　out　from　the　close　boughs；　where　they　had　been　singing　to　their　mates；　with　the　sharp　cry　that　they　use　when　they　are　frighted。　　Withal　she　saw　the　bush　move；　though；　as　aforesaid；　the　morning　was　without　wind。　　She　had　just　stooped　to　do　off　her　foot…gear　（for　she　was　minded　to　bathe　again）；　but　now　she　stopped　with　one　shoe　in　her　hand；　and　looked　on　the　bushes　keenly　with　beating　heart；　and　again　she　thought　she　saw　the　boughs　shaken；　and　stood；　not　daring　to　move　a　while；　but　they　moved　no　more　now　when　she　had　looked　steadily　at　them　a　space；　and　again　a　blackbird　began　singing　loud　just　where　they　had　been　shaken。　　So　she　gathered　heart　again；　and　presently　turned　her　hand　once　more　to　stripping　her　raiment　off　her；　for　she　would　not　be　baulked　of　her　bath；　but　when　the　stripping　was　done；　she　loitered　not　naked　on　the　bank　as　she　had　done　the　day　before；　but　walked　swiftly　into　the　shallow；　and　thence　down　into　the　pool；　till　nothing　but　her　head　and　the　whiteness　of　her　shoulders　showed　over　the　dark　water。　　Even　then　she　turned　her　head　about　twice　to　look　into　the　over…side　bushes；　but　when　she　saw　nothing　stir　there　she　began　to　play　in　the　water；　but　not　for　long；　but　came　splashing　through　the　shallow　and　hurried　on　her　raiment。

When　she　was　clad　again　she　went　up　to　the　horse；　and　patted　and　caressed　him；　and　did　bridle　and　saddle　on　him；　and　was　going　to　climb　upon　him；　when；　of　a　sudden；　she　thought　she　would　lead　him　across；　lest　there　should　be　a　hole　near　the　other　bank　and　he　might　stumble　into　it　unwarily；　so　she　bared　her　feet　once　more　and　trussed　up　her　gown　skirts；　and　so　took　the　ford；　leading　the　beast；　the　water　was　nowhere　up　to　mid…leg　of　her；　and　she　stepped　ashore　on　to　short　and　fine　grass；　which　spread　like　a　meadow　before　her；　with　a　big　thorn　or　two　scattered　about　it；　and　a　little　grassy　hill　beset　with　tall　elms　toward　the　top；　coming　down　into　the　flat　of　the　meadow　and　drawing　round　it　nearly　up　to　the　river　on　the　north　side。

But　now　she　stood　staring　in　wonder　and　some　deal　of　fear；　for　there　were　three　milch　kine　feeding　on　the　meadow；　and；　moreover；　under　a　thorn；　scarce　a　hundred　yards　from　where　she　stood；　was　a　tall　man　standing　gazing　on　her。　　So　stricken　was　she　that　she　might　neither　cry　out　nor　turn　aside；　neither　did　she　think　to　pull　her　gown　out　of　her　girdle　to　cover　the　nakedness　of　her　legs。

When　they　had　thus　stood　a　little　while　the　man　began　to　move　toward　her　very　slowly；　nor　did　she　dare　to　flee　any　the　more。　　But　when　he　was　within　half　a　dozen　paces　her　face　flushed　red；　and　she　did　pull　her　gown　out　of　its　trusses　and　let　it　flow　down。　　But　he　spake　to　her　in　a　pleasant　voice；　and　said：　　〃May　I　speak　to　thee；　maiden？〃

Fear　was　yet　in　her　soul；　so　that　she　might　not　speak　for　a　little；　and　then　she　said：　　〃O；　I　beseech　thee；　bring　me　not　back　to　Greenharbour！〃　And　she　paled　sorely　as　she　spake　the　word。

But　he　said：　　〃I　wot　not　of　Greenharbour；　how　to　find　the　way　thereto；　though　we　have　heard　of　it。　　But　comfort　thyself；　I　pray　thee；　there　is　nought　to　fear　in　me。〃

The　sound　of　his　voice　was　full　pleasant　to　her；　and　when　she　hearkened　him；　how　kind　and　frank　it　was；　then　she　knew　how　much　of　terror　was　blent　with　her　joy　in　her　newly…won　freedom　and　the　delight　of　the　kind　and　happy　words。　　Yet　still　she　spoke　not；　and　was　both　shamefast　and　still　not　altogether　unafraid。　　Yet；　sooth　to　say；　though　his　attire　was　but　simple；　he　was　nought　wild　or　fierce　to　look　on。　From　time　to　time　she　looked　on　him；　and　then　dropped　her　eyes　again。　　In　those　glances　she　saw　that　he　was　grey…　eyed；　and　smooth…cheeked；　and　round…chinned；　and　his　hair　curly　and　golden；　and　she　must　needs　think　that　she　had　never　seen　any　face　half　so　fair。　　He　was　clad　but　in　a　green　coat　that　came　not　down　to　his　knees；　and　brogues　were　tied　to　his　feet；　and　no　more　raiment　he　had；　and　for　hat　he　had　made　him　a　garland　of　white　may　blossom；　and　well　it　sat　there：　　and　again　she　looked　on　him；　and　thought　him　no　worse　than　the　running　angel　that　goes　before　the　throne　of　God　in　the　picture　of　the　choir　of　Meadhamstead；　and　she　looked　on　him　and　marvelled。

Now　she　hung　her　head　before　him　and　wished　he　would　speak；　and　even　so　did　he；　and　said：　　〃Maiden；　when　I　first　saw　thee　from　amidst　of　the　bush　by　the　river　yonder；　I　deemed　thou　wert　a　wood…wight；　or　some　one　of　the　she…Gods　of　the　Gentiles　come　back　hither。　　For　this　is　a　lonely　place；　and　some　might　deem　that　the　Devil　hath　might　here　more　than　in　other　places；　and　when　I　saw　thee；　that　thou　wouldst　do　off　thy　raiment　to　bathe　thee；　though　soothly　I　longed　to　lie　hidden　there；　I　feared　thee；　lest　thou　shouldst　be　angry　with　me　if　I　were　to　see　thee　unclad；　so　I　came　away；　yet　I　went　not　far；　for　I　was　above　all　things　yearning　to　see　thee；　and　sooth　it　is；　that　hadst　thou　not　crossed　the　water；　I　should　presently　have　crossed　it　myself　to　seek　thee；　wert　thou　Goddess；　or　wood…wife；　or　whatever　might　have　come　of　it。　　But　now　thou　art　come　to　us；　and　I　have　heard　thy　voice　beseeching　me　not　to　bring　thee　to　Greenharbour；　I　see　that　thou　art　a　woman　of　the　kindred　of　Adam。　　And　yet　so　it　is；　that　even　now　I　fear　thee　somewhat。　Yet　I　will　pray　thee　not　to　be　wroth　if　I　ask　thee　whether　I　may　do　aught　for　thy　need。〃

Now　she　began　somewhat　to　smile；　and　she　looked　him　full　in　the　face；　and　said：　〃Forsooth；　my　need　is　simple；　for　I　am　hungry。〃

He　smote　himself　on　the　breast；　and　said：　　〃See　now；　what　a　great　fool　I　am；　not　to　have　known　it　without　telling；　instead　of　making　long…winded　talk　about　myself。　　Come　quickly；　dear　maiden；　and　leave　thine　horse　to　crop　the　grass。〃

So　he　hurried　on　to　the　thorn…bush　aforesaid；　and　she　went　foot　to　foot　with　him；　but　he　touched　her　not；　and　straightway　she　sat　her　down　on　the　root　of　the　thorn；　and　smiled　frankly　on　him；　and　said：

〃Nay；　sir；　and　now　thou　hast　made　me　go　all　this　way　I　am　out　of　breath　and　weary；　so　I　pray　thee　of　the　victual　at　once。〃

But　he　had　been　busy　with　his　scrip　which　he　had　left　cast　down　there；　and　therewithal　reached　out　to　her　a　mighty　hunch　of　bread　and　a　piece　of　white　cheese；　and　said：

〃Now　shall　I　fetch　thee　milk。〃　　Wherewith　he　took　up　a　bowl　of　aspen　tree　that　had　lain　by　the　scrip；　and　ran　off　to　one　of　the　kine　and　milked　the　bowl　full；　and　came　back　with　it　heedfully；　and　set　it　down　beside　her　and　said：　　〃This　was　the　nighest　thing　to　hand；　but　when　thou　hast　eaten　and　rested　then　shall　we　go　to　our　house；　if　thou　wilt　be　so　kind　to　me；　for　there　have　we　better　meat　and　wine　to　boot。〃

She　looked　up　at　him　smiling；　but　her　pleasure　of　the　meat　and　the　kindness　was　so　exceeding；　that　she　might　not　refrain　from　tears　also；　but　she　spake　not。

As　for　him；　he　knelt　beside　her；　looking　on　her　wistfully；　and　at　last　he　said：　　〃I　shall　tell　thee；　that　I　am　glad　that　thou　wert　hungry　and　that　I　have　seen　thee　eating；　else　might　I　have　deemed　thee　somewhat　other　than　a　woman　of　mankind　even　yet。〃

She　said：　　〃Yea；　and　why　wouldst　thou　not　believe　my　word　thereto？〃

He　said；　reddening：　　〃I　almost　fear　to　tell　thee；　lest　thou　think　me　overbold　and　be　angry　with　me。〃

〃Nay；〃　she　said；　〃tell　me；　for　I　would　know。〃

Said　he：　　〃The　words　are　not　easy　in　my　rude　mouth；　but　this　is　what　I　mean：　　that　though　I　be　young　I　have　seen　fair　women　not　a　few；　but　beside　any　of　them　thou　art　a　wonder；。。。。and　loth　I　were　if　thou　wert　not　really　of　mankind；　if　it　were　but　for　the　glory　of　the　world。〃