the caged lion-第12节

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　very　astounding　to　commonplace　minds；　sometimes　when　in　dire　distress　even　helping　himself　to　his　unpaid　allowance　from　his　father's　mails；　and　always　with　buoyant　high　spirits　and　unfailing　drollery　that　scandalized　the　grave　seniors　of　the　Court；　there　is　full　proof　that　Prince　Hal　ever　kept　free　from　the　gross　vices　which　a　later　age　has　fancied　inseparably　connected　with　his　frolics；　and　though　always　in　disgrace；　the　vexation　of　the　Court；　and　a　by…word　for　mirth；　he　was　true　to　the　grand　ideal　he　was　waiting　to　accomplish；　and　never　dimmed　the　purity　and　loftiness　of　his　aim。　That　little　band　of　princely　youths；　who　sported；　studied；　laughed；　sang；　and　schemed　in　the　glades　of　Windsor；　were　strangely　brought　togetherthe　captive　exiled　King；　the　disinherited　heir　of　the　realm；　and　the　sons　of　the　monarch　who　held　the　one　in　durance　and　occupied　the　throne　of　the　other；　and　yet　their　affection　had　all　the　frank　delight　of　youthful　friendship。　　The　younger　lads　were　in　more　favour　with　their　father　than　was　the　elder。　　Thomas　was　sometimes　preferred　to　him　in　a　mortifying　manner；　John's　grave；　quiet　nature　prevented　him　from　ever　incurring　displeasure；　and　Humfrey　was　the　spoilt　pet　of　the　family；　but　nothing　could　lessen　Harry's　large…　minded　love　of　his　brothers；　and　he　was　the　idol　and　hero　of　the　whole　young　party；　who　implicitly　believed　in　his　mighty　destinies　as　a　renovator　of　the　world；　the　deliverer　of　Jerusalem；　and　restorer　of　the　unity　and　purity　of　the　Church。

'Harry　the　Fifth　was　crowned；'　and　with　the　full　intention　of　carrying　out　his　great　dream。　　But　his　promise　of　releasing　James　became　matter　of　question。　　The　House　of　Albany；　who　held　the　chief　power　in　Scotland；　had　bound　Henry　IV。　over　not　to　free　their　master；　and　it　was　plain　that　to　send　him　home　before　his　welcome　was　ensured　would　be　but　tossing　him　on　their　spears。　　In　vain　James　pleaded　that　he　was　no　boy；　and　was　able　to　protect　himself；　and　vowed　that　when　the　faithful　should　rally　round　his　standard；　he　would　be　more　than　a　match　for　his　enemies；　or　that　if　not；　he　would　rather　die　free　than　live　in　bondage。　　Henry　would　not　listen；　and　insisted　upon　retaining　him　until　he　should　himself　be　at　leisure　to　bring　him　home　with　a　high　hand；　utterly　disregarding　his　assurance　that　this　would　only　be　rendering　him　in　the　eyes　of　his　subjects　another　despised　and　hated　Balliol。

Deeming　himself　a　divinely…appointed　redresser　of　wrongs；　Henry　was　already　beginning　on　his　great　work　of　purifying　Europe　in　preparation　for　his　mighty　Crusade；　and　having　won　that　splendid　victory　which　laid　distracted　France　at　his　feet；　he　only　waited　to　complete　the　conquest　as　thoroughly　and　rapidly　as　might　be；　and；　lest　his　grand　purpose　should　be　obstructed；　this　great　practical　visionary；　though　full　of　kindness　and　generosity；　kept　in　thraldom　a　whole　troop　of　royal　and　noble　captives。

He　had；　however；　been　so　far　moved　by　James's　entreaties；　as　to　consent　that　when　he　himself　offered　his　devotions　at　the　shrine　of　St。　John　of　Beverley；　the　native　saint　who　shared　with　the　two　cordwainers　his　gratitude　for　the　glories　of　'Crispin　Crispian's　day；'　his　prisoner　should；　unknown　to　any　save　the　few　who　shared　the　pilgrimage；　push　on　to　reconnoitre　his　own　country；　and　judge　for　himself；　having　first　sworn　to　reveal　himself　to　no　one；　and　to　avoid　all　who　could　recognize　him。　　James　had　visited　Glenuskie　within　a　special　view　to　profiting　by　the　wisdom　of　Sir　David　Drummond；　and　had　then　been　at　Stirling；　Edinburgh；　and　Perth。　　On　his　way　back；　falling　in　with　Malcolm　in　his　distress；　he　had　conceived　the　project　of　taking　him　to　England；　and　finding　himself　already　more　than　half　recognized　by　Sir　David；　had　obtained　his　most　grateful　and　joyous　consent。　　In　truth；　James's　heart　had　yearned　to　his　young　cousin；　his　own　situation　had　become　much　more　lonely　of　late；　for　Henry　was　no　longer　the　comrade　he　had　once　been；　since　he　had　become　a　keeper　instead　of　a　fellow…sufferer。　　It　was　true　that　he　did　his　best　to　forget　this　by　lavishing　indulgences　on　his　captive；　and　insisting　on　being　treated　on　terms　of　brotherly　familiarity；　but　though　his　transcendent　qualities　commanded　love；　the　intimacy　could　be　but　a　semblance　of　the　once　equal　friendship。　　Moreover；　that　conspiracy　which　cost　the　life　of　the　Earl　of　Cambridge　had　taught　James　that　cautious　reserve　was　needed　in　dealing　with　even　his　old　friends　the　princes；　so　easily　might　he　be　accused　of　plotting　either　with　Henry's　immediate　heir　or　with　the　Mortimers；　and；　in　this　guarded　life；　he　had　hailed　with　delight　the　opportunity　of　taking　to　himself　the　young　orphan　cousin　of　kindred　blood；　of　congenial　tastes；　and　home…like　speech；　whom　he　might　treat　at　once　as　a　younger　brother　and　friend；　and　mould　by　and　by　into　a　trusty　counsellor　and　assistant。　　That　peculiar　wistfulness　and　gentleness　of　Malcolm's　look　and　manner；　together　with　the　refinement　and　intellect　apparent　to　all　who　conversed　with　him　without　alarming　him；　had　won　the　King's　heart；　and　made　him　long　to　keep　the　boy　with　him。　　As　to　Malcolm's　longing　for　the　cloister；　he　deemed　it　the　result　of　the　weakly　health　and　refined　nature　which　shrank　from　the　barbarism　of　the　outer　world；　and　he　thought　it　would　pass　away　under　shelter　from　the　rude　taunts　of　the　fierce　cousins；　at　a　distance　from　the　well…　meaning　exhortations　of　the　monks；　and　at　the　spectacle　of　brave　and　active　men　who　could　also　be　pious；　conscientious；　and　cultivated。　In　the　renewed　sojourn　at　Windsor　which　James　apprehended；　the　training　of　such　a　youth　as　Malcolm　of　Glenuskie　would　be　no　small　solace。

By　the　time　Malcolm　had　learnt　as　much　of　all　this　as　Sir　Nigel　Baird　knew；　or　chose　to　communicate；　the　King　entered　the　room。　　He　flung　himself　on　his　knees；　exclaiming；　with　warm　gratitude；　as　he　kissed　the　King's　hand；　'My　liege；　I　little　kenned'

'I　meant　thee　to　ken　little；'　said　James；　smiling。　　'Well；　laddie；　wilt　thou　share　the　prisoner's　cell？Ay；　Bairdsbrae；　you　were　a　true　prophet。　　Harry　will　do　all　himself；　and　will　not　hear　of　losing　me　to　deal　with　my　own　people　at　my　own　gate。　　No；　no；　he'll　have　me　back　with　Southron　bows　and　bills；　so　soon　as　this　small　trifle　of　France　lies　quiet　in　his　grasp！　　I　had　nearly　flung　back　my　parole　in　his　face；　and　told　him　that　no　English　sword　should　set　me　on　the　Bruce's　throne；　but　there　is　something　in　Harry　of　Monmouth　that　one　MUST　love；　and　there　are　moments　when　to　see　and　hear　him　one　would　as　soon　doubt　the　commission　of　an　angel　with　a　flaming　sword。'

'A　black　angel！'　growled　Sir　Nigel。

'Scoff　and　chafe；　Baird；　but　look　at　his　work。　　Look　at　Normandy；　freed　from　misrule　and　exaction；　in　peace　and　order。　　Look　at　this　land。　　Was　ever　king　so　loved？　　Or　how　durst　he　act　as　he　did　this　day？'

'Nay；　an　it　were　so　at　home；'　said　Baird；　'I　had　as　lief　stay　here　as　where　a　man　is　not　free　to　fight　out　his　own　feud。　　Even　this　sackless　callant　thought　it　shame　to　see　two　honest　men　baulked。'

'Poor　Scotland！'　sighed　James。　　'Woe　is　the　land　where　such　thoughts　come　readiest　to　gray…haired　men　and　innocent　boys。　　I　tell　you；　cousin；　this　precious　right　is　the　very　cause　that　our　poor　country　is　so　lawless　and　bloody；　that　yon　poor　silly　sparrow　would　fain　be　caged　for　fear　of　the　kites　and　carrion…crows。'

'Alack；　my　Lord；　let　me　but　have　my　way。　　I　cannot　fight！　　Let　Patrick　Drummond　have　my　sister　and　my　lands；　and　your　service　will　be　far　better　done；'　said　Malcolm。

'I　know　all　that；'　said　the　King；　kindly。　　'There　is　time　enough　for　settling　that　question；　and　meantime　you　will　not　be　spoilt　for　monk　or　priest　by　cheering　me　awhile　in　my　captivity。　　I　need　you；　laddie；'　me　added；　laying　his　hand　on　the　boy's　shoulder；　with　all　the　instinctive　fascination　of　a　Stewart。　　'I　lack　a　comrade　of　my　own　blood；　for　I　am　all　alone！'

'Oh；　Sir！'　and　Malcolm；　looking　into　his　face；　saw　it　full　of　tenderness。

'Books　and　masters　you　shall　have；'　continued　James；　'such　as　for　church　or　state；　cathedral；　cloister；　or　camp；　shall　render　you　the　meeter　prince；　and　I　pass　you　my　royal　word；　that　if　at　full　age　the　cowl　be　your　choice；　I　will　not　gainsay　you。　　Meantime；　abide　with　me；　and　be　the　young　brother　I　have　yearned　for。'

The　King　threw　his　arms　round　Malcolm；　who　felt；　and　unconsciously　manifested；　a　strange　bliss　in　that　embrace；　even　while　fixed　in　his　determination　that　nothing　should　make　him　swerve　from　his　chosen　path；　nor　render　him　false　to　his　promise　to　Patrick　and　Lilias。　　It　was　a　strange　change；　from　being　despised　and　down…trodden　by　fierce　cousins；　or　only　fondled；　pitied；　and　treated　with　consideration　by　his　own　nearest　and　dearest　friends；　to　be　the　chosen　companion　of　a　king；　and　SUCH　a　king。　　Nor　could　it　be　a　wile　of　Satan；　thought　Malcolm；　since　James　still　promised　him　liberty　of　choice。　　He　would　ask　counsel　of　a　priest　next　time　he　went　to　confession；　and　in　the　meantime；　in　the　full　tide　of　gratitude；　admiration；　and　affection；　he　gave　himself　up　to　the　enjoyment　of　his　new　situation；　and　of　time　King's　kindness　and　solicitude。　　This　was　indeed　absolutely　that　of　an　elder　brother；　for；　observing　that　Malcolm's　dress　and　equipments；　the　work　of　Glenuskie　looms；　supplemented　by　a　few　Ed