the caged lion-第62节

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'Is　he　wedded　then？'

'Ay；　and　you　find　us　all　here　in　full　state；　prepared　to　banquet　him　and　lodge　him　and　his　bride　for　a　night；　and　then　I　fancy　my　brother　is　to　go　through　some　ceremony；　ere　giving　him　up　to　his　own　subjects。　　We　are　watching　for　him　every　day。　　Come　to　my　chamber；　and　I'll　apparel　you。'

'Nay；　but　what　brings　you　here；　Ralf？you；　whom　I　thought　in　France。'

''Twas　a　Scottish　bill　that　brought　me；'　answered　Ralf。　　'What；　are　you　too　lost　in　parchment　at　Oxford　to　hear　of　us　poor　soldiers；　or　knew　you　not　how　we　fought　at　Crevant？'

'I　heard　of　the　battle；　and　that　you　were　hurt；　but　that　was　months　ago；　and　I　deemed　you　long　since　in　the　field　again。　　Was　it　so　sore　a　matter？'

'Chiefly　sore　for　that　it　hindered　me　from　taking　the　old　rogue　Douglas；　and　meriting　my　spurs　as　befitted　a　Percy。　　I　was　knighted　while　the　trumpet　was　sounding；　and　I　did　think　that　I　was　on　the　way　to　prowess；　for　fully　in　the　melee　I　saw　a　fellow　with　the　Douglas　banner。　　I　made　at　it；　thinking　of　my　father's　and　of　Otterburn；　and；　Malcolm；　this　very　hand　was　on　the　staff；　when　what　must　a　big　Scot　do　but　chop　at　me　with　his　bill　like　a　butcher's　axe。　　Had　it　fallen　on　mine　arm　it　would　have　been　lopped　off　like　a　bough　of　a　tree；　but；　by　St。　George's　grace；　it　lit　here；　between　my　neck　and　shoulder；　and　stuck　fast　as　I　went　down；　and　the　fellow　was　swept　away　from　me。　　'Twas　so　fixed　in　the　very　bone；　that　they　had　much　ado　to　wrench　it　out；　when　there　was　time　after　the　fight　to　look　after　us　who　had　come　by　the　worse。　　And　what　d'ye　think　they　found；　Malcolm？　　Why；　those　honest　Yorkshiremen；　Trenton　and　Kitson；　stark　dead；　both　of　them。　　Trenton　must　have　gone　down　first；　with　a　lance…　thrust　in　the　throat；　and　there　was　Kitson　over　him；　his　shield　over　his　head；　and　his　own　cleft　open　with　an　axe！　　They　laid　them　side　by　sideso　I　was　toldin　their　grave；　and　sure　'twas　as　strange　and　as　true　a　brotherhood　as　ever　was　between　two　brave　men。'

'The　good　fellows！'　cried　Malcolm。　　'Nay；　after　what　I　saw　I　can　hardly　grieve。　　I　went　to　Kitson's　home；　where　they　knew　as　little　as　I　did　of　his　death；　and　verily　his　place　had　closed　up　behind　him；　so　that　I　scarce　think　his　mother　even　cared　to　see　him　more；　and　the　whole　of　them　seemed　more　concerned　at　his　amity　with　Trenton　than　proud　of　his　feats　of　arms。　　I　was　marvelling　if　their　friendship　would　be　allowed　to　subsist　at　home；　even　when　they；　poor　fellows；　were　lying　side　by　side　in　their　French　grave。'

'We　warriors　should　never　come　home；'　said　Percy；　'we　are　spoilt　for　aught　but　our　French　camp。　　I　am　wearying　to　get　back　once　more；　but　so　long　as　I　cannot　swing　my　sword…arm　I　must　play　the　idler　here。'

'It　must　have　been　a　fearsome　wound；'　said　Malcolm。　　'The　marvel　is　your　overgetting　it。'

'So　say　they　all；　and　truly　it　has　lasted　no　small　time。　　They　shipped　me　off　home　so　soon　as　I　could　leave　my　bed；　and　bade　me　rest。　　Nay；　and　my　mother　herself　came　even　to　London；　when　my　brother　was　summoned　to　Parliament；she　who　had　never　been　there　since　the　first　year　after　she　was　wedded！'

'You　can　scarce　complain　of　such　kin　as　that；'　said　Malcolm。

''Tis　not　the　kin；　but　this　petty　Border　life；　that　frets　me。　　Here　we　move　from　castle　to　castle；　and　now　and　then　come　tidings　of　a　cattle　lifting；　and　Harry　dons　his　helm　and　rides　forth；　but　nine　times　out　of　ten　'tis　a　false　alarm；　or　if　it　be　true；　the　thieves　have　made　off；　and　being　time　of　peace；　he；　as　Warden；　cannot　make　a　raid　in　return。　　I'm　sick　of　the　life；　after　the　only　warfare　fit　for　a　knight；　with　French　nobles　instead　of　Border　thieves；　and　back　I　will。　　If　my　right　arm　will　not　serve　me；　the　left　shall。　　I　can　use　a　lance　indifferent　well　already。'

As　Sir　Ralf　Percy　spoke；　a　bugle…call　rang　through　the　castle。　　He　started。　　'Hark！　that's　the　warder's　horn；'　and　flying　to　the　door；　he　soon　returned　crying'Your　king　is　in　sight；　Malcolm！'

'How　soon　will　he　be　here？'

'In　less　than　half　an　hour。　　There's　time　to　array　yourself。　　I'll　take　you　to　my　chamber。'

'Thanks；'　said　Malcolm；　'but　this　gown　is　no　disguise　to　me。　　I　had　rather　meet　the　King　thus；　for　it　is　my　fitting　garb。　　Only　I　would　remove　the　soil　of　the　journey；　and　then　take　my　sister　by　the　hand。'

For　this　there　was　ample　time；　and　Malcolm　had　arranged　his　hair；　and　brushed　away　the　dust　from　his　gown；　washed　his　face　and　hands；　and　made　himself　look　more　like　an　Oxford　bachelor；　and　less　like　a　begging　clerk；　than　he　had　of　late　judged　it　prudent　to　appear；　ere　Ralf　took　him　to　the　great　hall；　where　he　found　Lord　Northumberland　and　the　chief　gentlemen　of　his　household；　with　his　mother；　Lady　Percy；　and　his　young　wife；　together　with　their　ladies；　assembling　for　the　reception　of　their　royal　guests。

Malcolm　was　presented　to；　and　kindly　greeted　by；　each　of　the　principal　personages；　and　then　the　Earl；　Sir　Ralf；　and　their　officers　went　forth　to　meet　the　King　at　the　gateway。　　Malcolm；　however；　at　his　sister's　entreaty；　remained　with　her；　for　in　the　doubt　whether　Patrick　were　really　at　hand；　and　a　fond　unreasonable　vexation　that　he　had　had　no　part　in　her　liberation；　her　colour　was　coming　and　going；　and　she　looked　as　if　she　might　almost　faint　in　her　intense　excitement。

But　when；　marshalled　by　the　two　Percies；　King　James　and　Queen　Joan　had　entered　the　hall；　and　the　blare　of　trumpets　without　and　rejoicings　within；　and　had　been　welcomed　with　deep　reverences　by　the　two　ladies；　Ralf　said：　　'Sir；　methinks　you　have　here　what　you　may　be　glad　to　see。'

And　standing　aside；　he　made　way　for　the　two　figures　to　stand　forth；　one　in　the　plain　black　gown　and　hood；　the　other　in　the　rich　robes　of　a　high…born　maiden；　her　dark　eyes　on　the　ground；　her　fair　face　quivering　within　emotion；　as　both　she　and　her　brother　bent　the　knee　before　their　royal　master。

'Ha！'　cried　James；　'this　is　well　indeed。　　Thou　hast　her；　then；　lad？　See；　Patrick！　　Where　is　he？　　Nay；　but；　fair　wife；　I　must　present　thee　the　first　kinswoman　of　mine　thou　hast　seen。　　How　didst　bring　her　off；　Malcolm？'　　And　he　embraced　Malcolm　with　the　ardour　of　a　happy　man；　as　he　added；　'This　is　all　that　was　wanting。'

Truly　James　looked　as　if　nothing　were　wanting　to　his　joy；　as　there　he　stood　after　his　years　of　waiting；　a　bridegroom；　free；　and　on　the　borders　of　his　native　land。　　His　eyes　shone　with　joy；　and　there　was　a　bright　energy　and　alacrity　in　his　bearing　that；　when　Malcolm　bethought　him　of　those　former　grave　movements；　and　the　quiet　demeanour　as　though　only　interested　by　an　effort；　marked　the　change　from　the　captive　to　the　free　man。　　And　beautiful　Joan；　lovelier　than　ever；　took　on　her　her　queenly　dignity　with　all　her　wonted　grace　and　graciousness。

She　warmly　embraced　Lilias；　hailing　her　as　cousin；　and　auguring　joyously　of　the　future　from　the　sight　of　this　first　Stewart　maiden　whom　she　had　seen；　and　the　next　moment　Patrick　Drummond；　hurrying　forward；　fell　on　his　knee　before　his　lady；　grasped；　kissed；　fondled　her　hand；　and　struggled　and　stammered　between　his　rejoicing　over　her　liberation　and　despair　that　he　had　no　part　in　it。

'Yea；'　said　the　King　'it　was　well…nigh　a　madman　whom　you　sent　home　to　me；　Malcolm。　　He　was　neither　to　have　nor　to　hold；　and　what　he　would　have　had　me　do；　or　have　let　him　do；　I'll　not　say；　nor　doth　he　know　either。　　I　must　hear　your　story　ere　I　sleep；　Malcolm。'

The　King　did　not　ask　for　it　then：　　he　would　not　brook　the　exposure　of　the　disunion　and　violence　of　Scotland　to　the　English；　especially　the　Percies；　and　it　was　not　till　he　could　see　Malcolm　alone　that　he　listened　to　his　history。

'Cousin；'　he　said；　'you　have　done　both　bravely　and　discreetly。　Methinks　you　have　redeemed　my　pledge　to　your　good　guardian　that　in　the　south　you　should　be　trained　to　true　manhood；　though　I　am　free　to　own　that　'twas　not　under　my　charge　that　you　had　the　best　training。　How　is　it　to　be；　Malcolm？　　Patrick　tells　me　you　saw　the　Lady　of　Light。'

'Ay；　Sir；　but　neither　her　purpose　nor　mine　is　shaken。　　My　lord；　I　believe　I　see　how　best　to　serve　God　and　yourself。　　If　you　will　consent；　I　will　finish　my　first　course　at　Oxford；　and　then　offer　myself　for　the　priesthood。'

'Not　hide　thyself　in　cloister　or　schoolthat　is　well！'　exclaimed　the　King。

'No；　Sir。　　Methinks　I　could　serve　yonder　rude　people　best　if　I　were　among　them　as　a　priest。'

James　considered；　then　said：　　'I　pledged　myself　not　to　withstand　your　conscience；　Malcolm；　and　though　I　grieve　that　the　lady　should　be　lost；　she　has　never　wavered；　and　cannot　be　balked　of　her　will。　　Godly　and　learned　priests　will　indeed　be　needed；　and　between　you　and　James　Kennedy；　when　both　are　come　to　elder　years；　we　may　perchance　lift　our　poor　Scottish　Church　to　some　clearer　sense　of　what　a　church　should　be。　　Meanwhile'　　The　King　stopped　and　considered。　　'Study　in　England！　　Ay！　　You　see；　Malcolm；　I　must　take　my　seat；　and　have　the　reins　of　my　unruly　steed　firm　in　my　hand；　ere　I　take　cognizance　of　these　offences。　　The　caitiff　Waltermansworn　that　he　ishe　shall　abye　it；　but　that　can　scarce　be　as　yet；　and　methinks　it　were　not　well　that　I　entered　Scotland　with　you　and　your　sister　at　my　side；　for　then　must　I　seem　to　have　overlooked　an　offence　that；　by　this　holy　relic；　I　will　never　pardon。　　So；　Malcolm；　instead　of　entering　Scotland　with　mebonnie　land；　ho