the caged lion-第46节

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　his　attendant　knight；　still　murmuring　in　a　dazed　way；　'Mon　fils　Henri；　mon　bon　fils　Henrimost　loving　of　all　my　children！'

In　truth；　neither　of　his　own　sons　had　been　thus　mourned；　nor　had　any　person　shown　the　poor　crazed　monarch　the　uniform　deferential　consideration　he　had　received　from　Henry。　　He　crept　back　to　his　own　chamber；　and　for　many　days　hardly　spoke；　save　to　moan　for　his　bon　fils　Henri；　scarcely　tasting　food；　and　pining　away　day　by　day。　　Those　who　had　watched　the　likeness　between　the　heroes　of　Monmouth　and　of　Macedon；　saw　the　resemblance　carried　out；　for　as　the　aged　Persian　queen　perished　away　from　grief　for　the　courteous　and　gentle　Alexander；　so　now　the　king　of　the　conquered　realm　was　actually　wasting　to　death　with　mourning　for　his　frank　and　kindly　bon　fils　Henri。

As　part　of　royal　etiquette；　Catherine　betook　herself　to　her　bed；　in　a　chamber　hung　with　black；　the　light　of　day　excluded；　and　ranks　of　wax　tapers　shedding　a　lugubrious　light　upon　rows　of　gentlemen　and　ladies　who　had　to　stand　there　on　duty；　watching　her　as　the　mourners　watched　the　King；　though　her　lying…in…state　was　not　always　as　silent；　for　though；　there　was　much　time　spent　in　slumber；　Catherine　sometimes　would　indulge　in　a　good　deal　of　subdued　prattle　with　her　mother；　or　her　more　confidential　attendants。　　But　at　other　times；　chiefly　when　first　awaking；　or　else　when　anything　had　crossed　her　will；　she　would　fall　into　agonies　of　passionate　griefweeping；　shrieking；　and　rending　her　hair　with　almost　a　frenzy　of　misery；　as　she　called　herself　utterly　desolate；　and　screamed　aloud　for　her　king　to　return　to　her。

She　was　quite　past　the　management　of　her　English　ladies　on　these　occasions；　and　her　mother；　declaring　that　she　was　becoming　crazed　like　her　father；　declined　having　anything　to　do　with　her。　　Even　Sir　Lewis　Robsart　she　used　to　spurn　aside；　and　nothing　ever　seemed　effectual；　but　for　the　Demoiselle　de　Luxemburg；　with　her　full　sweet　voice；　and　force　of　will　in　all　the　tenderness　of　strength；　caressingly　to　hold　her　still；　talk　to　her　almost　as　to　an　infant；　and　sing　away　her　violence　with　some　long　low　dittysometimes　a　mere　Flemish　lullaby；　sometimes　a　Church　hymn。　　As　Lady　Warwick　said；　when　the　ladies　were　all　wearied　out　with　the　endeavour　to　control　their　Queen's　waywardness　and　violence；　and　it　sighed　away　like　a　departing　tempest　before　Esclairmonde；　'It　was　as　great　a　charity　as　ever　ministering　as　a　St。　Katherine's　bedeswoman　could　be。'

To　the　young　Lady　Montagu；　the　blow　was　astounding。　　It　was　the　first　realization　that　a　great　man　could　die；　a　great　support　be　taken　away；　and；　child…like；　she　moved　about；　bewildered　and　stunned；　in　the　great　household　on　which　the　dark　cloud　had　descendedclinging　to　Esclairmonde　as　if　to　protect　her　from　she　knew　not　what；　anything　dreadful　might　happen；　with　the　King　dead；　and　her　father　and　husband　away。

Alas！　poor　Esclairmonde！　　She　was　in　much　more　real　danger　herself；　as　came　to　the　bride's　mind　presently；　when；　in　the　midst　of　her　lamentations；　she　exclaimed；　'And；　ah；　Clairette！　there　ends　his　goodly　promise　about　the　sisterhood　of　good　works　at　Paris。'

Esclairmonde　responded　with　a　gesture　of　sorrow；　and　the　murmur　of　the　'In　principibus　non　confide'　that　is　so　often　the　echo　of　disappointment。

'And　what　will　you　do？'　continued　Alice；　watching　her　anxiously；　as　her　face；　turning　very　pale；　was　nevertheless　uplifted　towards　heaven。

'Strive　to　trust　more　in　God；　less　in　princes；'　she　breathed　forth；　clasping　her　hands；　and　compressing　her　lips。

'Nay；　but　does　it　grieve　you　so　intensely？'　asked　Alice。　　'Mayhap'

'Alas！　sweet　one！　　I　would　that　the　fall　of　this　device　seemed　like　to　be　the　worst　effect　to　me　of　your　good　king's　death。　　Pray　for　me；　Alice；　for　now　no　earthly　power　stands　between　me　and　my　kinsmen's　will。'

Alice　cried　aloud；　'Nay；　nay；　lady；　we　are　English　still。　　There　are　my　father；　my　lord；　the　Duke　of　Bedford；　they　will　not　suffer　any　wrong　to　be　done。'

'Hush；　Alice。　　None　of　them　hath　any　power　to　aid　me。　　Even　good　King　Henry　had　no　legal　power　to　protect　me；　only　he　was　so　great；　so　strong　in　word　or　deed；　that　no　man　durst　do　before　him　what　he　declared　a　shame　and　a　sin。　　Now　it　will　be　expedient　more　than　ever　that　nothing　be　done　by　the　English　to　risk　offending　the　Duke　of　Burgundy。　　None　will　dare　withhold　me；　none　ought　to　dare；　for　they　act　not　for　themselves；　but　for　their　infant　charge；　and　my　countess　is　weary　of　me。　　There　is　nothing　to　prevent　my　uncles　from　taking　me　away　with　them；　or'

'Nothing！'　cried　Alice。　　'It　cannot　be！　　Oh；　that　my　father　were　here！'

'He　could　do　nothing　for　me。'

'A　convent！'

'No　convent　here　could　keep　me　against　the　Bishop　of　Therouenne。'

Alice　wrung　her　hands。　　'Oh；　it　cannotshall　not　be！'

'No；　Alice；　I　do　not　believe　it　will　be。　　I　have　that　confidence　in　Him　to　whom　I　have　given　myself；　that　I　do　not　believe　He　will　permit　me　to　be　snatched　from　Him；　so　long　as　my　will　does　not　consent。'　Esclairmonde　faltered　a　moment；　as　she　remembered　her　wavering；　crossed　her　hands　on　her　breast；　and　ejaculated；　'May　He　deal　mercifully　with　me！　　Yet　it　may　be　at　an　exceeding　costat　that　of　all　my　cherished　schemes；　of　all　that　was　pride　and　self…seeking。　Alice；　look　not　so　terrified。　　Nothing　can　be　done　immediately；　or　with　violence；　in　this　first　mourning　for　the　King；　and　I　trust　to　make　use　of　the　time　to　disguise　me；　and　escape　to　England；　where　I　may　keep　my　vow　as　anchoress；　or　as　lay　sister。　　Let　me　keep　that；　and　my　self…exalting　schemes　shall　be　all　put　by！'

The　question　whether　this　should　be　to　England；　or　to　the　southern　parts　of　France　held　by　the　Armagnacs；　remained　for　decision；　as　opportunity　should　direct：　　Alice　constantly　urging　her　own　scheme　of　carrying　her　friend　with　her　as　her　tire…woman；　if；　as　seemed　likely；　she　were　sent　home；　and　Esclairmonde　refusing　to　consent　to　anything　that　might　bring　the　bride　into　troubles　with　her　father　and　husband；　and　the　debates　being　only　interrupted　when　the　Lady　Montagu　was　required　to　take　her　turn　among　the　weary　ladies…in…waiting　around　Catherine's　state　bed。

Whenever　she　was　not　required　to　control；　console；　or　persuade　the　Queen；　Esclairmonde　spent　most　of　her　time　in　a　chamber　apart　from　the　chatter　of　Jaqueline's　little　court；　where　she　was　weaving；　in　the　delicate　point…lace　work　she　had　learnt　in　her　Flemish　convent；　an　exquisite　robe；　such　as　were　worn　by　priests　at　Mass。　　She　seldom　worked；　save　for　the　poor；　but　she　longed　to　do　some　honour　to　the　one　man　who　would　have　promoted　her　nearly　vanished　scheme；　and　this　work　she　trusted　to　offer　for　a　vestment　to　be　used　at　his　burial　Mass。　　Many　a　cherished　plan　was　resigned；　many　an　act　of　self…　negation　uttered；　as　she　bent　over　the　dainty　web；　many　an　entreaty　breathed；　that　her　moment's　wandering　of　fancy　might　not　be　reckoned　against　her；　but　that　she　might　be　aided　to　keep　the　promise　of　her　infancy；　and　devote　herself　undivided　to　the　direct　service　of　God　and　of　His　poor；　be　it　in　ever　so　humble　a　station。

Here　she　sat　alone；　when　steps　approached；　the　door　opened；　and　of　all　people　he　stood　before　her　whom　she　least　wished　to　see；　the　young　Lord　of　Glenuskie。

Amazed　as　she　was；　she　betrayed　no　confusion；　and　merely　rose；　saying　quietly；　'This　is　an　error。　　I　will　show　you　Madame's　apartment。'

But　Malcolm；　who　had　begun　by　looking　far　more　confused　than　she；　cried　earnestly；　'One　moment；　lady。　　I　came　not　willingly；　the　Countess　sent　for　me　to　her。　　But　since　I　am　herelisten　while　Heaven　gives　me　strength　to　say　itI　will　trouble　you　never　again。　I　am　come　to　a　better　mind。　　Oh；　forgive　me！'

'What　are　you　here　then　for；　Sir？'　said　Esclairmonde；　with　the　same　defensive　dignity。

'My　king　sent　me；　against　my　will；　on　a　mission　to　the　Queen；'　panted　Malcolm。　　'I　am　forced　to　wait　here；　or；　lady；　I　should　have　been　this　day　doing　penance　for　my　pursuit　of　you。　　Verily　I　am　a　penitent。　　Mayhap　Heaven　will　forgive　me；　if　you　will。'

'If　I　understand　you　aright；　it　is　well；'　said　Esclairmonde；　still　gravely　and　doubtfully。

'It　is　so　indeed；'　protested　Malcolm；　with　a　terrible　wrench　to　his　heart；　yet　a　sensation　of　freeing　his　conscience。　　'Fear　me　no　longer　now。　　After　that　which　I　saw　at　Vincennes；　I　know　what　it　is　to　be　on　the　straight　path；　andoh！　what　it　is　to　have　fallen　from　it。　　How　could　I　dream　of　dragging　you　down　to　be　with　one　so　unworthy；　becoming　more　worthless　each　day？　　Lady；　if　I　never　see　you　more；　pardon　me；　pray　for　me；　as　a　saint　for　a　poor　outcast　on　earth！'

'Hush；'　said　Esclairmonde；　'I　am　no　saintonly　a　maiden　pledged。　But；　Sir；　I　thank　you　fervently。　　You　have　lightened　my　heart　of　one　of　my　fears。'

Malcolm　could　not　but　be　cheered　by　being　for　once　spoken　to　by　her　in　so　friendly　a　tone；　and　he　added；　gravely　and　resolutely：　　'My　suit；　then；　I　yield　up；　ladyyield　for　ever。　　Am　I　permitted　once　to　kiss　that　fair　and　holy　hand；　as　I　resign　my　presumptuous　hopes　thereof？'

'Mayhap　it　were　wiser　left　undone；'　said　Esclairmonde。　　'My　mind　misgives　me　that　this　meeting　is　planned　to　bring　us　into　trouble。　Farewell；　my　lord。'

As　she　had　apprehended；　the　door　was　flung　back；　and　Countess　Jaqueline　rushed　in；　clasping　her　hands　in　an　affectation　of　merr