the caged lion-第30节

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　done；　were　it　not　that　the　hope　of　his　wife's　coming　hath　made　him　overflow　with　joy　and　charity　to　all　the　world。'

Malcolm　did　not　make　much　reply；　and　James　regarded　him　with　some　disappointment。　　The　youth　was　certainly　warmly　attached　to　him；　but　these　tokens　of　superiority　to　the　faults　of　his　time　and　country　which　had　caused　the　King　to　seek　him　for　a　companion　seemed　to　have　vanished　with　his　feebleness　and　timidity。　　The　manhood　that　had　been　awakened　was　not　the　chivalrous；　generous；　and　gentle　strength　of　Henry　and　his　brothers；　but　the　punctilious　pride　and　sullenness；　and　almost　something　of　the　license；　of　the　Scot。　　The　camp　had　not　proved　the　school　of　chivalry　that　James；　in　his　inexperience；　had　imagined　it　must　be　under　Henry；　and　the　tedium　and　wretchedness　of　the　siege　had　greatly　added　to　its　necessary　evils　by　promoting　a　reckless　temper　and　willingness　to　snatch　at　any　enjoyment　without　heed　to　consequences。　　Close　attendance　on　the　kings　had　indeed　prevented　either　Malcolm　or　Percy　from　even　having　the　temptation　of　running　into　any　such　lengths　as　those　gentry　who　had　plundered　the　shrine　of　St。　Fiacre　at　Breuil；　or　were　continually　galloping　off　for　an　interval　of　dissipation　at　Paris；　but　they　were　both　on　the　outlook　for　any　snatch　of　stolen　diversion；　for　in　ceasing　from　monastic　habits　Malcolm　seemed　to　have　laid　aside　the　scruples　of　a　religious　or　conscientious　youth；　and　specially　avoided　Dr。　Bennet；　the　King's　almoner。

James　feared　he　had　been　mistaken；　and　looked　to　the　influence　of　Esclairmonde　to　repair　the　evil；　if　perchance　she　should　follow　the　Queen　to　France。　　And　this　it　was　almost　certain　she　must　do；　since　she　was　entirely　dependent　upon　the　Countess　of　Hainault；　and　could　not　obtain　admission　to　a　nunnery　without　recovering　a　portion　of　her　estates。



CHAPTER　IX：　　THE　DANCE　OF　DEATH



The　Queen　was　coming！　　No　sooner　had　the　first　note　of　surrender　been　sounded　from　the　towers　of　Meaux；　than　Henry　had　sent　intelligence　to　England　that　the　way　was　open　for　the　safe　arrival　of　his　much…loved　wife；　and　at　length；　on　a　sunny　day　in　May；　tidings　were　received　that　she　had　landed　in　France；　under　the　escort　of　the　Duke　of　Bedford。

Vincennes；　in　the　midst　of　its　noble　forest；　was　the　place　fixed　for　the　meeting　of　the　royal　pair；　and　never　did　a　happier　or　more　brilliant　cavalcade　traverse　those　woodlands　than　that　with　which　Henry　rode　to　the　appointed　spot。

All　the　winter；　the　King　had　heeded　appearances　as　little　as　of　old　when　roughing　it　with　Hotspur　in　Wales；　but　now　his　dress　was　of　the　most　royal。　　On　his　head　was　a　small　green　velvet　cap；　encircled　by　a　crown　in　embroidery；　his　robe　was　of　scarlet　silk；　and　over　it　was　thrown　a　mantle　of　dark　green　samite；　thickly　powdered　with　tiny　embroidered　white　antelopes；　the　Garter　was　on　his　knee；　the　George　on　his　neck。　　It　was　a　kingly　garb；　and　well　became　the　tall　slight　person　and　fair　noble　features。　　During　these　tedious　months　he　had　looked　wan；　haggard；　and　careworn；　but　the　lines　of　anxiety　were　all　effaced；　his　lustrous　blue　eyes　shone　and　danced　like　Easter　suns；　his　complexion　rivalled　the　fresh　delicate　tints　of　the　blossoms　in　the　orchards；　and　when；　with　a　shyness　for　which　he　laughed　at　himself；　he　halted　to　brush　away　any　trace　of　dust　that　might　offend　the　eye　of　his　'dainty　Kate；'　and　gaily　asked　his　brother　king　if　he　were　sufficiently　pranked　out　for　a　lady's　bower；　James；　thinking　he　had　never　seen　him　so　handsome；　replied：

'Like　a　young　bridegroomnay；　more　like　a　young　suitor。'

'You're　jealous；　Jamieafraid　of　being　outshone。　　'Tis　is　your　own　fault；　man；　none　can　ever　tell　whether　you　be　in　festal　trim　or　not。'

For　King　James's　taste　was　for　sober；　well…blending　hues；　and　as　he　never　lapsed　into　Henry's　carelessness；　his　state　apparel　was　not　very　apparently　dissimilar　from　his　ordinary　dress；　being　generally　of　dark　rich　crimson；　blue；　or　russet；　with　the　St。　Andrew's　cross　in　white　silk　on　his　breast；　or　else　the　ruddy　lion；　but　never　conspicuously；　and　the　sombre　hues　always　seemed　particularly　well　to　suit　his　auburn　colouring。

Malcolm；　in　scarlet　and　gold；　was　a　far　gayer　figure；　and　quite　conscious　of　the　change　in　his　own　appearancehow　much　taller；　ruddier；　and　browner　he　had　become；　how　much　better　he　held　himself　both　in　riding　and　walking；　and　how　much　awkwardness　and　embarrassment　he　had　lost。　　No　wonder　Esclairmonde　had　despised　the　sickly；　timid；　monkish　school…boy；　and　if　she　had　then　shown　him　any　sort　of　grace　or　preference；　what　would　she　think　of　the　princely　young　squire　he　could　new　show　her；　who　had　seen　service；　had　proved　his　valour；　and　was　only　not　a　knight　because　of　King　Henry's　unkindness　and　King　James's　punctilio？at　any　rate；　no　child　to　be　brow…beaten　and　silenced　with　folly　about　cloistral　dedication；　but　a　youth　who　had　taken　his　place　in　the　world；　and　could　allege　that　his　inspiration　had　come　through　her　bright　eyes。

Would　she　be　there？　　That　was　the　chief　anxiety：　　for　it　was　not　certain　that　either　she　or　her　mistress　would　risk　themselves　on　the　Continent；　and　Catherine　had　given　no　intimation　as　to　who　would　be　in　her　suiteso　that；　as　Henry　had　merrily　observed；　he　was　the　only　one　in　the　whole　party　who　was　not　in　suspense；　except　indeed　Salisbury；　who　had　sent　his　commands　to　his　little　daughter　to　come　out　with　the　Queen。

'She　is　come！'　cried　Henry。　　'Beforehand　with　us；　after　all；'　and　he　spurred　his　horse　on　as　he　saw　the　banner　raised；　and　the　escort　around　the　gate；　and　in　a　few　seconds　more　he　and　his　companions　had　hurried　through　the　court；　where　the　ladies　had　scarcely　dismounted；　and　hastened　into　the　hall；　breaking　into　the　seneschal's　solemn　reception　of　the　Queen。

'My　Kate；　my　fairest！　　Mine　eyes　have　been　hungry　for　a　sight　of　thee。'

And　Catherine；　in　her　horned　head…gear　and　flutter　of　spangled　veil；　was　almost　swallowed　up　in　his　hearty　embrace；　and　the　fervency　of　his　great　love　so　far　warmed　her；　that　she　clung　to　him；　and　tenderly　said；　'My　lord；　it　is　long　since　I　saw　you。'

'Thou　wert　before　me！　　Ah！　forgive　thy　tardy　knight；'　he　continued；　gazing　at　her　really　enhanced　beauty　as　if　he　had　eyes　for　no　one　else；　even　while　with　lip　and　hand；　kiss；　grasp；　and　word；　he　greeted　her　companions；　of　whom　Jaqueline　of　Hainault　and　John　of　Bedford　were　the　most　prominent。

'And　the　babe！　where　is　he？'　then　cried　he。　　'Let　me　have　him　to　hold　up　to　my　brave　fellows　in　the　court！'

'The　Prince　of　Wales？'　said　Catherine。　　'You　never　spake　of　my　bringing　him。'

'If　I　spake　not；　it　was　because　I　doubted　not　for　a　moment　that　you　would　keep　him　with　you。　　Nay；　verily　it　is　not　in　sooth　that　you　left　him。　　You　are　merely　sporting　with　use。'

'Truly；　Sir；'　said　Catherine；　'I　never　guessed　that　you　would　clog　yourself　with　a　babe　in　the　cradle；　and　I　deemed　him　more　safely　nursed　at　Windsor。'

'If　it　be　for　his　safety！　　Yet　a　soldier's　boy　should　thrive　among　soldiers；'　said　the　King；　evidently　much　disappointed；　and　proceeding　to　eager　inquiries　as　to　the　appearance　and　progress　of　his　child；　to　which　the　Queen　replied　with　a　certain　languor；　as　though　she　had　no　very　intimate　personal　knowledge　of　her　little　son。

Other　eyes　were　meanwhile　eagerly　scanning　the　bright　confusion　of　veils　and　wimples；　and　Malcolm　had　just　made　out　the　tall　head　and　dark　locks　under　a　long　almost　shrouding　white　veil　far　away　in　the　background　behind　the　Countess　of　Hainault；　when　the　Duke　of　Bedford　came　up　with　a　frown　of　consternation　on　his　always　anxious　face；　and　drawing　King　James　into　a　window；　said；　'What　have　you　been　doing　to　him？'to　which　James；　without　hearing　the　question；　replied；　'Where　is　SHE？'

'Joan？　　At　home。　　It　was　the　Queen's　will。　　Of　that　another　time。　But　what　means　this？'　and　he　signed　towards　his　brother。　　'Never　saw　I　man　so　changed。'

'Had　you　seen　him　at　Christmas　you　might　have　said　so；'　replied　James；　'but　now　I　see　naught　amiss；　I　had　been　thinking　I　had　never　seen　him　so　fair　and　comely。'

'I　tell　you；　James；'　said　Bedford；　contracting　his　brows　till　they　almost　met　ever　his　arched　nose；　'I　tell　you；　his　look　brings　back　to　me　my　mother's；　the　last　time　she　greeted　my　father！'

'To　your　fantasy；　not　your　memory；　John！　　You　were　a　mere　babe　at　her　death。'

'Of　five　years；'　said　Bedford。　　'That　facethat　coughhave　brought　all　backay；　the　yearning　look　when　my　father　was　absent；　and　the　pure　rosy　fairness　that　Harry　and　Tom　cited　so　fiercely　against　one　who　would　have　told　them　how　sick　to　death　she　was。　　I　mind　me　too；　that　when　our　grandame　of　Hereford　made　us　motherless　children　over　to　our　grandsire　of　Lancaster；　it　was　with　a　warning　that　Harry　had　the　tender　lungs　of　the　Bohuns；　and　needed　care。　　One　deadly　sickness　he　had　at　Kenilworth；　when　my　father　was　ridden　for　post…haste。　　My　mind　misgave　me　throughout　this　weary　siege；　but　his　service　held　me　fast　at　home；　and　I　trusted　that　you　would　watch　over　him。'

'A　man　like　him　is　ill　to　guide；'　said　James；　'but　he　is　more　himself　now　than　he　has　been　for　months；　and　a　few　weeks'　quiet　with　his　wife　will　restore　him。　　But　what　is　this？'　he　proceeded　in　his　turn；　'why　is　the　Lady　Joan　not　here？'

'How　can　I　tell？　　It　was　no　fault　of　mine。　　I　e