the caged lion-第60节

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James　Kennedy　considered；　and　then　added　that　he　could　improve　on　the　plan。　　He　had　long　intended　leaving　Doune　for　his　brother's　castle；　but　only　tarried　in　case　he　could　do　anything　for　Lilias。　　He　would　at　supper　publicly　announce　to　the　Regent　his　departure　for　the　next　day；　and　also　say　that　he　had　detained　his　fellow…scholar　to　go　within　him。　　Then　arranging　for　Malcolm's　exit　in　a　secular　dress　among　his　escort；　as　one　of　the　many　unobserved　loungers；　Lilias　should　go　with　him　in　very　early　morning　in　the　bachelor's　gown；　which　he　would　place　in　a　corner　of　a　dark　passage；　where　she　could　find　it。　　Then　if　Malcolm　and　she　turned　aside　from　his　escort；　as　the　pursuit　as　soon　as　her　evasion　was　discovered　would　be　immediately　directed　on　himself；　they　would　have　the　more　time　for　escape。

It　was　a　complicated　plan；　but　there　was　this　recommendation；　that　Malcolm　need　not　lose　sight　of　his　sister。　　Clerk　as　he　was；　young　Kennedy　could　not　ride　without　an　escort；　and　among　his　followers　he　could　place　Malcolm。　　Accordingly　at　supper　he　announced　his　desire　to　leave　Doune　at　dawn　next　morning；　and　was；　as　a　matter　of　course；　courteously　pressed　to　remain。　　Malcolm　in　the　meantime　eluded　observation　as　much　as　possible　while　watching　his　sister；　who；　in　spite　of　all　her　efforts；　was　pale　and　red　by　turns；　never　durst　glance　towards　him；　and　trembled　whenever　any　one　went　near　him。

The　ladies　at　length　swept　out　of　the　hall；　and　Robert　and　Alexander　called　for　more　wine　for　a　rere…supper　to　drink　to　James's　good　journey；　but　Kennedy　tore　himself　from　their　hospitable　violence；　and　again　he　and　Malcolm　were　alone；　spending　a　night　of　anxiety　and　consultation。

Morning　came；　Malcolm　arrayed　himself　in　a　somewhat　worn　dress　of　Kennedy's；　with　the　belt　and　dirk　he　had　carried　under　his　scholar's　garb　now　without；　and　a　steel　cap　that　his　cousin　had　procured　for　him　on　his　head。　　With　a　parcel　in　his　arms　of　Kennedy's　gear；　he　might　pass　for　a　servant　sent　from　home　to　meet　him；　and　so　soon　as　this　disguise　was　complete；　Kennedy　opened　the　door。　　On　the　turret　stair　stood　a　hooded　black　figure；　that　started　as　the　door　opened。

Malcolm's　heart　might　well　seem　to　leap　to　his　lips；　but　both　brother　and　sister　felt　the　tension　of　nerve　that　caution　required　too　much　to　give　way　for　a　moment。

Kennedy　whispered；　'Your　license；　fair　Cousin；'　and　passed　on　with　the　free　step　of　lordly　birth；　while　a　few　paces　behind　the　seeming　scholar　humbly　followed；　and　Malcolm；　putting　on　his　soldier's　tread　and　the　careless　free…and…easy　bearing　he　had　affected　before　Meaux；　brought　up　the　rear　with　Master　Kennedy's　mails。

As　they　anticipated；　the　household　was　not　troubling　itself　to　rise　to　see　the　priest　off。　　Not　that　this　made　the　coast　clear；　for　the　floor　of　the　hall　was　cumbered　with　snoring　sleepers　in　all　sorts　of　attitudesnay；　at　the　upper　table；　the　flushed；　debauched；　though　young　and　handsome；　faces　of　Robert　and　Alexander　Stewart　might　have　been　detected　among　those　who　lay　snoring　among　the　relics　of　their　last　night's　revel。

The　old　steward　was；　however；　up　and　alert；　ready　to　offer　the　stirrup…cup；　and　the　horses　were　waiting　in　the　court；　but　what　they　had　by　no　means　expected　or　desired　was　that　Duke　Murdoch　himself；　in　his　long　furred　gown；　came　slowly　across　the　hall　to　bid　his　young　kinsman　Kennedy　farewell。

'Speed　you　well；　my　lad；'　he　said　kindly。　　'I　ask　ye　not　to　tarry　in　what　ye　must　deem　a　graceless　household；'　and　he　looked　sadly　across　at　his　two　sons；　boys　in　age；　but　seniors　in　excess。　　'I　would　we　had　mair　lads　like　you。　　I　fear　me　a　heavy　reckoning　is　coming。'

'You　have　ever　been　good　lord　to　all；　Sir；'　said　Kennedy；　affectionately；　for　he　really　loved　and　pitied　the　soft…hearted　Duke。

'Too　good；　maybe；'　said　Murdoch。　　'What！　the　scholar　goes　with　you？'　and　he　fixed　a　look　on　Lily's　face　that　brought　the　colour　deep　into　it　under　her　hood。

'Yes；　Sir；'　answered　Kennedy；　respectfully。　　'Here；　you　Tam；'　indicating　Malcolm；　'take　him　behind　you　on　the　sumpter…horse。'

'Fare　ye　weel；　gentle　scholar；'　said　Murdoch；　taking　the　hand　that　Lily　was　far　from　offering。　　'May　ye　win　to　your　journey's　end　safe　and　sound；　and　remember；'　he　added；　holding　the　fingers　tight；　and　speaking　under　the　hood；　'if　ye　have　been　hardly　served；　'twas　to　make　ye　the　second　lady　in　Scotland。　　Take　care　of　herhim；　young　laddie；'　he　added；　turning　on　Malcolm：　　''tis　best　so；　and　mind'　（he　spoke　in　the　same　wheedling　tone　of　self…excuse）；　'if　ye　tell　the　tale　down　south；　nae　ill　hath　been　dune　till　her；　and　where　could　she　have　been　mair　fitly　than　beneath　her　kinsman's　roof？　　I'd　not　let　her　go；　but　that　young　blude　is　hot　and　ill　to　guide。'

An　answer　would　have　been　hard　to　find；　and　it　was　well　that　he　did　not　look　for　any。　　Indeed；　Malcolm　could　not　have　spoken　without　being　heard　by　the　seneschal；　and　therefore　could　only　bow；　take　his　seat　on　the　baggage…horse；　and　then　feel　his　sister　mounting　behind　him　in　an　attitude　less　unfamiliar　on　occasion　even　to　the　high…born　ladies　of　the　fifteenth　century　than　to　those　of　our　day。　　Four　years　it　was　since　he　had　felt　her　touch；　four　years　since　she　had　sat　behind　him　as　they　followed　the　King　to　Coldingham！　　His　heart　swelled　with　thankfulness　as　he　passed　under　the　gateway；　and　the　arms　that　clung　round　his　waist　clasped　him　fervently；　but　neither　ventured　on　a　word；　amid　Kennedy's　escort；　and　they　rode　on　a　couple　of　miles　in　the　same　silence。　　Then　Kennedy；　pausing；　said；　'There　lies　your　way；　Brother。　　Tam；　you　may　show　the　scholar　the　way　to　the　Gray　Friars'　Grange；　bear　them　greetings　frae　me；　and　halt　till　ye　hear　from　me。　　Fare　ye　well。'

Lilias　trusted　her　voice　to　say；　'Blessings　on　ye；　Sir；　for　all　ye　have　done　for　me；'　but　Malcolm　thought　it　wiser　in　his　character　of　retainer　to　respond　only　by　a　bow。

Of　course　they　understood　that　the　direction　Kennedy　gave　was　the　very　one　they　were　not　to　take；　but　they　followed　it　till　a　tall　bush　of　gorse　hid　them　from　the　escort；　and　then　Malcolm；　grasping　his　sister's　hand；　plunged　down　among　the　rowans；　ferns；　and　hazels；　that　covered　the　steep　bank　of　the　river；　and　so　soon　as　a　footing　was　gained　under　shelter　of　a　tall　rock；　threw　his　arms　round　her；　almost　sobbing　in　an　under…tone；　'My　Lily；　my　tittie！safe　at　last！　　Oh；　God　be　thanked！　　I　knew　her　prayers　would　be　heard！　　Oh；　would　that　Patrick　were　here！'　　Then；　as　her　face　changed　and　quivered　ready　to　weep；　he　cried；　'Eh；　what！　art　still　deeming　him　dead？'

'How！'　she　cried　wildly。　　'He　fell　into　the　hands　of　your　English；　and'

'He　fell　into　the　hands　of　your　King　and　mine；'　said　Malcolm。　　'Yes；　King　James　dragged　him　out　of　the　burning　house；　and　wrung　his　pardon　out　of　King　Harry。　　He　came　with　me　to　St。　Abbs　to　fetch　you；　Lily；　and　only　went　back　because　his　knighthood　would　not　serve　in　this　quest　like　my　clerkship。'

'Patrick　living；　Patrick　safe！　　Oh！'　she　fell　on　her　knees　among　the　ferns；　hid　her　face　in　her　hands；　and　drew　a　long　breath。　　'Malcolm；　this　is　joy　overmuch。　　The　desolation　of　yesterday；　the　joy　to…day！'

Malcolm；　seeing　her　like　one　stifled　by　emotion；　fell　on　his　knees　beside　her；　and　whispered　forth　a　thanksgiving。　　She　rested　with　her　head　on　his　shoulder　in　content　till　he　started　up；　saying　in　a　lively　manner；　'Come；　Lily；　we　must　be　on　our　way。　　A　very　bonnie　young　clerk　you　are；　with　your　berry…brown　locks　cut　so　short　round　your　face。'

Lilias　blushed　up　to　the　short　dark　curls　she　had　left　herself。　　'Had　I　thought　he　lived；　I　could　scarce　have　done　it。'

'What；　not　to　get　to　him；　silly　maid？　　Here；'　as　he　shook　out　and　donned　the　gown　he　had　brought　rolled　up；　'now　am　I　a　scholar　too。　Stay；　you　must　take　off　this　badge　of　the　bachelor；　you　have　only　been　in　a　monastery　school；　you　know；　you　are　my　young　brotherwhat　shall　we　call　you？'

'Davie；'　softly　suggested　Lilias。

'Ay；　Davie　then；　that　I've　come　home　to　fetch　to　share　my　Paris　lear。　You　can　be　very　shy　and　bashful；　you　know；　and　leave　all　the　knapping　of　Latin　and　logic　to　me。'

'If　it　is　such　as　you　did　with　Jamie　Kennedy；'　said　Lilias；　'it　will　indeed　be　well。　　Oh；　Malcolm；　I　sat　and　marvelled　at　yeso　gleg　ye　took　him　up。　　How　could　ye　learn　it？　　And　ye　are　a　brave　warrior　too　in　battles；'　she　added；　looking　him　over　with　a　sister's　fond　pride。

'We　have　had　no　battle；　no　pitched　field；'　said　Malcolm　'but　I　have　seen　war。'

'So　that　ugly　words　can　never　be　flung　in　your　face　again！'　cried　Lilias。　　'Are　you　knighted；　brother？'

'No；　but　they　say　I　have　won　my　spurs。　　I'll　tell　you　all；　Lily；　as　we　walk。　　Only　let　me　bestow　this　iron　cap　where　some　mavis　may　nestle　in　it。　　Ay；　and　the　boots　too；　which　scarce　befit　a　clerk。　There；　your　hand；　Clerk　Davie；　we　must　make　westward　to…day；　lest　poor　Duke　Murdoch　be　forced　to　send　to　chase　us。　　After　that；　for　the　Border　and　Patie。'

So　brother　and　sister　set　forth　on　their　wanderingand　truly　it　was　a　happy　journey。　　The　weather　favoured　them；　and　their　hearts　were　light。　　Lilias；　delivered　from　terrible；　hopeless　captivity；　her　brother　beside　her；　and　now　not　a　brother　to　be　pitied　and　protected；　but　to　protect　her　and　be　exulted　in；　trod　the　heather　with　an　exquisite　sense　of　joy　and　freedom　that　buo