child christopher-第18节

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　floor　restlessly）；　Gilbert　spake　and　said：　　〃Brethren；　and　thou；　Queen　Goldilind；　it　may　be　that　the　time　is　drawing　near　for　other　deeds　than　letting　fly　a　few　shafts　at　the　dun　deer；　and　eating　our　meat；　and　singing　old　songs　as　we　lie　at　our　ladies'　feet；　for　though　we　be　at　peace　here　in　the　wild…wood；　forgetting　all　things　save　those　that　are　worthy　to　be　remembered；　yet　in　the　cities　and　the　courts　of　kings　guile　is　not　forgotten；　and　pride　is　alive；　and　tyranny；　and　the　sword　is　whetted　for　innocent　lives；　and　the　feud　is　eked　by　the　destruction　of　those　who　be　sackless　of　its　upheaving。　Wherefore　it　behoveth　to　defend　us　by　the　ready　hand　and　the　bold　heart　and　the　wise　head。　　So；　I　say；　let　us　loiter　here　no　longer；　but　go　our　ways　to…morrow　to　the　Tofts；　and　take　the　rede　of　our　elders。　　How　say　ye；　brethren？〃

Quoth　Christopher：　　〃Time　was；　brother；　when　what　thou　sayest　would　have　been　as　a　riddle　to　me；　and　I　would　have　said：　　Here　are　we　merry；　though　we　be　few；　and　if　ye　lack　more　company；　let　me　ride　to　the　Tofts　and　come　back　with　a　half　score　of　lads　and　lasses；　and　thus　let　us　eke　our　mirth；　and　maybe　they　will　tell　us　whitherward　to　ride。　But　now　there　is　a　change；　since　I　have　gained　a　gift　over…great　for　me；　and　I　know　that　they　shall　be　some　of　the　great　ones　who　would　be　eager　to　take　it　from　me；　and　who　knows　what　guile　may　be　about　the　weaving　even　now；　as　on　the　day　when　thou　first　sawest　this　hall；　beloved。〃

Goldilind　spake　and　sighed　withal：　　〃Whither　my　lord　will　lead　me；　thither　will　I　go；　but　here　is　it　fair　and　sweet　and　peaceful；　neither　do　I　look　for　it　that　men　will　come　hither　to　seek　the　Queen　of　Meadham。〃

David　said：　　〃Bethink　thee；　though；　my　Lady；　that　he　who　wedded　thee　to　the　woodman　may　yet　rue；　and　come　hither　to　undo　his　deed；　by　slaying　the　said　woodman；　and　showing　the　Queen　unto　the　folk。〃

Goldilind　turned　pale；　but　Joanna　spake：　　〃Nay；　brother　David；　why　wilt　thou　prick　her　heart　with　this　fear？　For　my　part；　I　think　that；　chance…hap　apart；　we　might　dwell　here　for　years　in　all　safety；　and　happily　enough；　maybe。　　Yet　also　I　say　that　we　of　the　Tofts　may　well　be　eager　to　show　this　jewel　to　our　kindred；　and　especially　to　our　father　and　mother　of　the　Tofts；　so　to…morrow　we　will　set　about　the　business　of　carrying　her　thither；　will　she；　nill　she。〃　　And　therewith　she　threw　her　arms　about　Goldilind；　and　clipped　her　and　kissed　her；　and　Goldilind　reddened　for　pleasure　and　for　joy　that　she　was　so　sore　prized　by　them　all。



CHAPTER　XXV。

NOW　THEY　ALL　COME　TO　THE　TOFTS。


Next　morning；　while　the　day　was　yet　young；　they　rode　together；　all　of　them；　the　nighest　way　to　the　Tofts；　for　they　knew　the　wood　right　well。　　Again　they　slept　one　night　under　the　bare　heavens；　and；　rising　betimes　on　the　morrow；　came　out　under　the　Tofts　some　four　hours　after　high　noon；　on　as　fair　and　calm　a　day　of　early　summer　as　ever　was　seen。

They　rode　up　straight　to　the　door　of　the　great　hall；　and　found　but　few　folk　about；　and　those　mostly　women　and　children；　Jack　was　ridden　abroad；　they　said；　but　they　looked　to　see　him　back　to　supper；　him　and　his　sons；　for　he　was　no　great　way　gone。

Meantime；　when　they　got　off　their　horses；　the　women　and　children　thronged　round　about　them；　and　the　children　especially　about　Christopher；　whom　they　loved　much。　　The　maidens；　also；　would　not　have　him　pass　into　the　hall　unkissed；　though　presently；　after　their　faces　had　felt　his　lips；　they　fell　a…staring　and　wondering　at　Goldilind；　and　when　Christopher　took　her　by　the　hand　and　gave　her　welcome　to　the　House　of　the　Tofts；　and　they　saw　that　she　was　his；　they　grew　to　be　somewhat　afraid；　or　it　might　be　shy；　both　of　her　and　of　him。

Anyhow；　folk　came　up　to　them　in　the　hall；　and　made　much　of　them；　and　took　them　unto　chambers　and　washed　their　feet；　and　crowned　them　with　flowers；　and　brought　them　into　the　hall　again；　and　up　on　to　the　dais；　and　gave　them　to　eat　and　drink。　　Thither　came　to　them　also　the　Lady　Margaret；　Jack's　wedded　wife；　and　made　them　the　most　cheer　that　she　might；　and　unto　her　did　Christopher　tell　his　story　as　unto　his　very　mother；　and　what　there　was　in　the　house；　both　of　carle　and　of　quean；　gathered　round　about　to　hearken；　and　Christopher　nothing　loth。　　And　Goldilind's　heart　warmed　toward　that　folk；　and　in　sooth　they　were　a　goodly　people　to　look　on；　and　frank　and　happy；　and　of　good　will；　and　could　well　of　courtesy；　though　it　were　not　of　the　courts。

Wore　the　bright　day；　and　it　drew　toward　sunset；　and　now　the　carles　came　straight　into　the　hall　by　twos　and　threes；　till　there　were　a　many　within　its　walls。　　But　to　each　one　of　these　knots　as　they　entered；　someone；　carle　or　quean；　spake　a　word　or　two；　and　straightway　the　new…comers　went　up　to　the　dais　and　greeted　Christopher　pleasantly；　and　made　obeisance　to　Goldilind。

At　last　was　the　hall；　so　quiet　erst；　grown　busy　as　a　beehive；　and　amidst　the　throng　thereof　came　in　the　serving…folk；　women　and　men；　and　set　the　endlong　boards　up　（for　the　high…table　was　a　standing　one　of　oak；　right　thick　and　strong）；　and　then　they　fell　to　bringing　in　the　service；　all　but　what　the　fire　was　dealing　with　in　the　kitchen。　　And　whiles　this　was　a…doing；　the　sun　was　sinking　fast；　and　it　was　dusk　in　the　hall　by　then　it　was　done；　though　without　the　sky　was　fair　and　golden；　and　about　the　edges　of　the　thicket　were　the　nightingales　singing　loud　and　sweet；　but　within　was　the　turmoil　of　many　voices；　whereof　few　heeded　if　their　words　were　loud　or　soft。

Amidst　all　this；　from　close　to　the　hall；　rang　out　the　sound　of　many　horns　winding　a　woodland　tune。　　None　was　afeard　or　astonied；　because　all　knew　it　for　the　horns　of　Jack　of　the　Tofts；　but　they　stilled　their　chattering　talk　somewhat；　and　abided　his　coming；　and　even　therewith　came　the　sound　of　many　feet　and　the　clash　of　weapons；　and　men　poured　in；　and　there　was　the　gleam　of　steel；　as　folk　fell　back　to　the　right　and　left；　and　gave　room　to　the　new…comers。　　Then　a　loud；　clear；　and　cheery　voice　cried　out　from　amidst　of　them：　〃Light　in　the　hall；　men　and　maids！　Candles；　candles！　Let　see　who　is　here　before　us！〃

Straightway　then　was　there　running　hither　and　thither　and　light　sprang　up　over　all　the　hall；　and　there　could　folk　see　Jack　of　the　Tofts；　and　a　score　and　a　half　of　his　best；　every　man　of　them　armed　with　shield　and　helm　and　byrny；　with　green　coats　over　their　armour；　and　wreaths　of　young　oak　about　their　basnets；　there　they　stood　amidst　of　the　hall；　and　every　man　with　his　naked　sword　in　his　fist。　　Jack　stood　before　his　folk　clad　in　like　wise　with　them；　save　that　his　head　was　bare　but　for　an　oak　wreath。　　Men　looked　on　a　while　and　said　nought；　while　Jack　looked　proudly　and　keenly　over　the　hall；　and　at　last　his　eye　caught　Christopher's；　but　he　made　the　youngling　no　semblance　of　greeting。　Christopher's　heart　fell；　and　he　misdoubted　if　something　were　not　wrong；　but　he　spake　softly　to　one　who　stood　by　him；　and　said：　　〃Is　aught　amiss；　Will　Ashcroft？　this　is　not　the　wont　here。〃

Said　the　other：　　〃Not　in　thy　time；　but　for　the　last　seven　days　it　hath　been　the　wont；　and　then　off　weapons　and　to　supper　peaceably。



CHAPTER　XXVI。

OF　THE　KING　OF　OAKENREALM。


Even　therewith；　and　while　the　last　word　had　but　come　to　Christopher's　ears；　rang　out　the　voice　of　Jack　of　the　Tofts　again；　louder　and　clearer　than　before：　　and　he　said：　　〃Men　in　this　hall；　I　bear　you　tidings！　The　King　of　Oakenrealm　is　amongst　us　to…night。〃

Then；　forsooth；　was　the　noise　and　the　turmoil；　and　cries　and　shouts　and　clatter；　and　fists　raised　in　air　and　weapons　caught　down　from　the　wall；　and　the　glitter　of　spear…points　and　gleam　of　fallow　blades。　　For　the　name　of　Rolf；　King　of　Oakenrealm；　was　to　those　woodmen　as　the　name　of　the　Great　Devil　of　Hell；　so　much　was　he　their　unfriend　and　their　dastard。　　But　Jack　raised　up　his　hand；　and　cried：　　〃Silence　ye！　Blow　up；　horns；　The　Hunt's　Up！〃

Blared　out　the　horns　then；　strong　and　fierce；　under　the　hall…roof；　and　when　they　were　done；　there　was　more　silence　in　the　hall　than　in　the　summer　night　without；　only　the　voice　of　the　swords　could　not　be　utterly　still；　but　yet　tinkled　and　rang　as　hard　came　against　hard　here　and　there　in　the　hush。

Again　spake　Jack：　　〃Let　no　man　speak！　Let　no　man　move　from　his　place！　I　SEE　THE　KING！　Ye　shall　see　him！〃

Therewith　he　strode　up　the　hall　and　on　to　the　dais；　and　came　up　to　where　stood　Christopher　holding　Goldilind's　hand；　and　she　all　pale　and　trembling；　but　Jack　took　him　by　the　shoulder；　and　turned　him　about　toward　a　seat　which　stood　before　the　board；　so　that　all　men　in　the　hall　could　see　it；　then　he　set　him　down　in　it；　and　took　his　sword　from　his　girdle；　and　knelt　down　before　the　young　man；　and　took　his　right　hand；　and　said　in　a　loud　voice：　　〃I；　Jack　of　the　Tofts；　a　free　man　and　a　sackless；　wrongfully　beguilted；　am　the　man　of　King　Christopher　of　Oakenrealm；　to　live　and　die　for　him　as　need　may　be。　　Lo；　Lord；　my　father's　blade！　Wilt　thou　be　good　to　me　and　gird　me　therewith；　as　thy　father　girt　him？〃

Now　when　Christopher　heard　him；　at　first　he　deemed　that　all　this　was　some　sport　or　play　done　for　his　pastime　and　the　pleasure　of　the　hall…folk　in　all　kindness　and　honour。　　But　when　he　looked　in　the　eyes　of　him；　and　saw　him　fierce　and　eager　and　true；　he　knew　well　it　was　no　jest；　and　as　the　shouts　of　men　went　up　from　t