the caged lion-第50节
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'And；' said Malcolm； 'Ghisbert only meant to serve his lady。 Any vassal of mine would do the like for me or my sister。'
Bedford half smiled； then sighed and said： 'Once we were like to get laws more obeyed than lords； but that is all over now！ Yet you； young Sir； have seen a great pattern； you will have great powers！'
'Sir；' interrupted Malcolm； 'I pray you believe me； great powers I shall not have。 As I told you last night； I do but hold this precious troth in trust！ It must be a secret； or it would not save her； but youoh； Sir！ you will believe that！'
'If it be so；' said Bedford； gravely； 'it is too sacred a trust to be spoken of。 You will deserve greater honour if you keep your word； than ever you will receive from the world。 Farewelland recover fast。'
Malcolm did not meet with much encouragement from the few to whom he thought fit to confide the conditions of his espousal。 The King allowed that he could not have acted otherwise； but was concerned at it； because of the hindrance that might for years be interposed in the way of his welfare； and secretly hoped that Malcolm； in his new capacity； would so gain on Esclairmonde's esteem and gratitude； as to win her affection； and that by mutual consent they would lay aside their loftier promises； and take up their espousal where they had left it。
And what James secretly desired； Sir Patrick Drummond openly recommended。 In his eyes； Malcolm would be no better than a fool if he let his ladye…love； with all her lands； slip through his fingers； when she was lawfully his own。 Patrick held that a monastery was a good place to be nursed in if wounded； and a convenience for disposing of dull or weakly younger sons； and he preferred that there should be some holy men to pray for those who did the hard and bloody work of the world； but he had no desire that any one belonging to himself should plunge into extra sanctity； and the more he saw Malcolm developing into a man among men； the more he opposed the notion of his dedicating himself。
A man！ Yes； Malcolm was rising from his bed notably advanced in manliness。 As the King's keen eye had seen from the first； and as Esclairmonde had felt； there was an elevation； tenderness； and refinement in his cast of character； which if left to his natural destiny would have either worn out his life early in the world； or carried him to the obscure shelter of a convent。 In the novelty of the secular life； and temptations of all kinds； dread of ridicule； and the flood of excitements which came with reviving health； that very sensitiveness led him astray； and the elevated aims fell with a heavier fall when diverted from heavenly palaces to earthly ones。 Self…reproach and dejection drove him further from the right course； and in proportion to the greater amount of conscience he had by nature； his character was the more deteriorating。 His deeds were far less evil in themselves than those of many of his companions； but inasmuch as they were not thoughtless in him； they were injuring him more。 But the sudden shock of Patrick's danger roused him to a new sense of shame。 King Henry's death had lifted his mind out of the earthly atmosphere； and then the treasure of Esclairmonde's pure and perfect trust seemed to be the one thing to be guarded worthily and truly。 It gave him weight； drew him out of himself； lifted him above the boyish atmosphere of random self…indulgence and amusement。 To be the protector who should guard her vows for the heavenly Bridegroom to whom her soul was devoted； was indeed a championship that in his eyes could only have befitted Sir Galahad； and a Galahad would he strive to be； so long as that championship held him to the secular life。 James and Bedford both told him he had won his spurs； and should have them on the next fit occasion； but he had ceased to care for knighthood； save in that half…consecrated aspect which he thought would render his guardianship less unmeet for Esclairmonde。
She had not shunned to send him a kind greeting on hearing of his wound； and by way of token a fresh leaf of vellum with a few more of those meditations from Zwollmeditations that he spelled over from Latin into English； and dwelt upon in great tranquillity and soothing of spirit during the days that he was confined to his bed。
These were not many。 He was on his feet by the time the funeral cavalcade was in readiness to move from Vincennes to convey Henry of Monmouth to his last resting…place in Westminster Abbey。 Bedford could not be spared to return to England； and was only to go as far as Calais； and James of Scotland was therefore to act as chief mourner； attended by his own small personal suite。
Sir Patrick Drummondthough； shrugging his shoulders； he muttered that he should as soon have thought of becoming mourner at the foul fiend's funeral as at the King of England'scould not object to swell the retinue of his sovereign by his knighthood； and though neither he nor Malcolm were in condition for a campaign； both could ride at the slow pace of the mournful procession。
The coffin was laid on a great car； drawn by four black horses； and surmounted by Henry's effigy； made in boiled leather and coloured to the life； robed in purple and ermine； crown on head； sceptre and orb in either hand。 The great knights and nobles rode on each side； carrying the banners of the Saints； and close behind came James and Bedford； each with his immediate attendants； then the household officers of the King； Fitzhugh his chamberlain； Montagu his cup… bearer； Ralf Percy and his other squires； and all the rest。 Four hundred men…at…arms in black armour； with lances pointed downwards； formed the guard behind； and the vanguard was of clergy； robed in white； bearing banners and wax lights； and chanting psalms。 At the border of every parish； all the ecclesiastics thereto appertaining； parochial； chantry； and monastic； turned out to meet the procession with their tapers； escorted it to the principal church； performed Mass there； if it were in the forenoon； and then accompanied the coffin to the other limit of their ground； and consigned it to the clerks of the next parish。 At night； the royal remains always rested in a church； guarded by alternate watches of the English men…at…arms； and sung over by the local clergy； while the escort were quartered in the town； village； or abbey where the halt chanced to be made。 Very slow was this progress； almost like a continual dream was that long column； moving； moving onwhite in front； black behindwhen seen winding over a hill； or； sometimes； the banners peering over the autumn foliage of some thicket； all composed to profound silence and tardy measured tread； while the chants rose and fell with the breeze； like unearthly music。 Many moved on more than half asleep； and others of the younger men felt like Ralf Percy； who； for all his real sorrow for the King； declared that； were it not for rushing out； morning and evening； for a bathe and a gallop； to fly a hawk or chase a hare； he should some day run crazed； blow out all the wax lights； or play some mad prank to break the intolerable oppression。 Malcolm smiled at this； but to him； still in the dreamy inertness of recovery； this tranquil onward movement in the still autumn weather had some thing in it of healing influence； and the sweet chants； the continual offices of devotion； were accordant with his present tone of mind； and deepened the purpose he had formed。
Queen Catherine and her ladies joined the funeral march at Rouen； or rather followed it at a mile's interval； but the two trains kept apart； and only occasional messages were sent from one to the other。 Some of the gentlemen； who had a wife or sister in the Queen's suite； would ride at nightfall to pay her a hasty visit； but Malcolmthough he longed to be sentdurst not intrude upon Esclairmonde； and the Duke of Bedford was not only forced to spend all the evening and half the night in business； but was not loth to put off the day of the meeting with his dear sister Catherineto say nothing of the 'Woman of Hainault。'
Therefore it was not until all had arrived at Calais； where a fleet was waiting to meet them； that any visits were openly made by the one party to the other。
Bedford and James went together to the apartments of the Queen； and while they saw her in private； Malcolm came blushing towards Esclairmonde； and was welcomed by her with a frank smile； outstretched hand； and kind inquiry after his recovery。
She treated him indeed as a brother； as one on whom she depended； and had really wished to see and arrange with。 She told him that Alice Montagu and her husband were returning to England； and that her little friend had so earnestly prayed her to abide with her at Middleham for the present； that she had consented'until such time as the way be open；' said Esclairmonde； with her steady patient smile。
Malcolm bowed his head。 'I am glad you will not be forced to be with your Countess；' he said。
'My poor lady！ Maybe I have spoken too plainly。 But I owe her much。 I must ever pray for her。 And you； my lord？'
'I；' said Malcolm； 'shall go to study at Oxford。 Dr。 Bennet intends returning thither to continue his course of teaching； and my king has consented to my studying
