the caged lion-第8节

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ent　one　Brother　William　Drake；　or　Drax；　by　his　own　nomination；　instead　of　the　canonical　appointment　emanating　from　Durham；　and　as　national　feeling　went　with　the　Regent's　nominee；　it　was　by　no　means　certain　that　the　present　Prior　would　be　able　to　maintain　his　position。

'Oh；　go！　yes；　go；　dear　brother；'　entreated　Lilias。　　'I　should　be　far　happier　to　know　you　in　safety。　　They　cannot　hurt　me　while　you　are　safe。'

'But　you；　Lily！　　What　if　this　villain　Drax　have　his　way？'

'He　could　not　harm　her　in　St。　Ebba's　fold；'　returned　the　Prior。　　'The　Abbess　herself　could　not　yield　her；　and；　as　you　have　so　often　been　told；　my　young　Lord；　your　absence　is　a　far　greater　protection　to　your　sister　than　your　presence。　　Moreover；　were　the　Tutor's　mind　at　rest；　there　would　be　far　better　hope　of　his　recovery。'

There　was　no　alternative；　and　Malcolm　could　not　but　submit。　　Lilias　was　to　be　conducted　before　daybreak　to　the　monastery　of　St。　Abbs；　about　six　miles　off；　whence　she　could　be　summoned　at　any　time　to　be　with　her　uncle　in　Coldingham；　and　Malcolm　was　to　set　off　at　daybreak　with　the　captive　knight；　whose　return　to　England　could　no　longer　be　delayed。

Poor　children！　while　Sir　James　Stewart　was　in　the　Prior's　chamber；　they　sat　silent　and　mournful　by　the　bedside　where　their　guardian　lay　dozing；　even　till　the　bell　for　Matins　summoned　them　in　common　with　all　the　other　inmates　of　the　convent；　they　knelt　on　the　floor　of　the　candle…lit　church；　and　held　each　other's　hands　as　they　prayed；　Lilias　still　the　stronger　and　more　hopeful；　while　Malcolm；　as　he　looked　up　at　those　dear　familiar　vaultings；　felt　as　if　he　were　a　bird　driven　from　its　calm　peaceful　nest　to　battle　with　the　tossing　winds　and　storms　of　ocean；　without　one　near　him　whom　he　had　learnt　to　love。

It　was　still　dark　when　the　service　had　ended；　and　Prior　Akecliff　came　towards　them。　　'Daughter；'　he　said　to　Lilias；　'we　deem　it　safer　that　you　should　ride　to　St。　Abbs　ere　daylight。　　Your　palfrey　is　ready；　the　Mother　Abbess　is　warned；　and　I　will　myself　conduct　you　thither。'

Priors　were　not　people　to　be　kept　waiting；　and　as　it　was　reported　that　the　Tutor　of　Glenuskie　was　still　asleep；　Lilias　had　to　depart　without　taking　leave　of　him。　　With　Malcolm　the　last　words　were　spoken　while　crossing　the　court。　　'Fear　not；　Lily；　my　heart　will　only　weary　till　the　Church　owns　me；　and　Patie　has　you。'

'Nay；　my　Malcolm；　mayhap；　as　the　Prior　tells　me；　your　strength　and　manhood　will　come　in　the　south　country。'

'Let　them；'　said　Malcolm；　'I　will　neither　cheat　the　Church　nor　Patie。'

'It　were　no　cheat。　　There　never　was　any　compact。　　Patie　is　winning　his　fortune　by　his　own　sword；　he　would　scorn'

'Hush；　Lily！　　When　the　King　sees　what　a　weakling　Sir　James　has　brought　him；　he　will　be　but　too　glad　to　exchange　Patie　for　me；　and　leave　me　safe　in　these　blessed　walls。'

But　here　they　were　under　the　archway；　and　the　convoy　of　armed　men；　whom　the　exigencies　of　the　time　forced　the　convent　to　maintain；　were　already　mounted。　　Sir　James　stood　ready　to　assist　the　lady　to　her　saddle；　and　with　one　long　earnest　embrace　the　brother　and　sister　were　parted；　and　Lilias　rode　away　with　the　Prior　by　her　side；　letting　the　tears　flow　quietly　down　her　cheeks　in　the　darkness；　and　but　half　hearing　the　long　arguments　by　which　good　Father　Akecliff　was　proving　to　her　that　the　decision　was　the　best　for　both　Malcolm　and　herself。

By　and　by　the　dawn　began　to　appear；　the　air　of　the　March　night　became　sharper；　and　in　the　distance　the　murmur　and　plash　of　the　tide　was　heard。　　Then；　standing　heavy　and　dark　against　the　clear　pale　eastern　sky；　there　arose　the　dark　mass　of　St。　Ebba's　monastery；　the　parent　of　Coldingham；　standing　on　the　very　verge　of　the　cliff　to　which　it　has　left　the　name　of　St。　Abb's　Head；　upon　ground　which　has　since　been　undermined　by　the　waves；　and　has　been　devoured　by　them。　　The　sea；　far　below；　calmly　brightened　with　the　brightening　sky；　and　reflected　the　morning　stars　in　a　lucid　track　of　light；　strong　enough　to　make　the　lights　glisten　red　in　the　convent　windows。　　Lilias　was　expected；　was　a　frequent　guest；　and　had　many　friends　there；　and　as　the　sweet　sound　of　the　Lauds　came　from　the　chapel；　and　while　she　dismounted　in　the　court　the　concluding　'Amen'　swelled　and　died　away；　she；　though　no　convent　bird；　felt　herself　in　a　safe　home　and　shelter　under　the　wing　of　kind　Abbess　Annabel　Drummond；　and　only　mourned　that　Malcolm；　so　much　tenderer　and　more　shrinking　than　herself；　should　be　driven　into　the　unknown　world　that　he　dreaded　so　much　more　than　she　did。



CHAPTER　III：　　HAL



The　sun　had　not　long　been　shining　on　the　dark　walls　of　St。　Ebba's　monastery；　before　the　low…browed　gate　of　Coldingham　Priory　opened　to　let　pass　the　guests　of　the　previous　night。　　Malcolm　had　been　kissed　and　blessed　by　his　guardian；　and　bidden　to　transfer　his　dutiful　obedience　to　his　new　protector；　and　somewhat　comforted　by　believing　Sir　David　to　be　mending　since　last　night；　he　had　rent　himself　away；　and　was　riding　in　the　frosty　morning　air　beside　the　kinsman　who　had　so　strangely　taken　charge　of　him；　and　accompanied　by　Sir　James's　tall　old　Scottish　squire；　by　the　English　groom；　and　by　Malcolm's　own　servant；　Halbert。

For　a　long　space　there　was　perfect　silence：　　and　as　Malcolm　began　to　detach　his　thoughts　from　all　that　he　had　left　behind；　he　could　not　help　being　struck　with　the　expressions　that　flitted　over　his　companion's　countenance。　　For　a　time　he　would　seem　lost　in　some　deep　mournful　reverie；　and　his　head　drooped　as　if　in　sadness　or　perplexity；　then　a　sudden　gleam　would　light　up　his　face；　as　if　a　brilliant　project　had　occurred　to　him；　his　lips　would　part；　his　eyes　flash；　he　would　impel　his　horse　forward　as　though　leading　a　charge；　or　lift　up　his　head　with　kindling　looks；　like　one　rehearsing　a　speech；　but　ever　a　check　would　come　on　him　in　the　midst；　his　mouth　closed　in　dejection；　his　brow　drew　together　in　an　anguish　of　impatience；　his　eyelids　drooped　in　weariness；　and　he　would　ride　on　in　deep　reflection；　till　roused　perhaps　by　the　flight　of　a　moor…fowl；　or　the　rush　of　a　startled　roe；　he　would　hum　some　gay　French　hunting…song　or　plaintive　Scottish　ballad。

Scarcely　a　word　had　been　uttered；　until　towards　noon；　on　the　borders　of　a　little　narrow　valley；　the　merry　sound　of　bells　clashed　up　to　their　ears；　and　therewith　sounds　of　music。　　''Tis　the　toon　of　Christ's　Kirk　on　the　Green；'　said　the　squire；　as　Sir　James　looked　at　him　for　information；　'where　we　were　to　bait。　　Methought　in　Lent　we　had　been　spared　this　gallimawfrey。'

''Tis　Midlent　week；　you　pagan；'　replied　Sir　James。　　'These　good　folk　have　come　a…mothering；　and　a　share　of　their　simnels　we'll　have。'

'Sir；'　entreated　the　squire；　'were　it　not　more　prudent　of　you　to　tarry　without；　and　let　me　fetch　provisions？'

'Hoot；　man；　a　throng　is　our　best　friend！　　Besides；　the　horses　must　rest。'

So　saying；　Sir　James　rode　eagerly　forward；　Malcolm　following；　not　without　wonder　at　not　having　been　consulted；　for　though　kept　in　strict　discipline　by　his　uncle；　it　had　always　been　with　every　courtesy　due　to　his　rank　as　a　king's　grandson；　and　the　cousins；　from　whom　he　had　suffered；　were　of　the　same　rank　with　himself。　　Did　this　wandering　landless　knight；　now　he　had　him　in　his　power；　mean　to　disregard　all　that　was　his　due？　　But　when　Sir　James　turned　round　his　face　sparkling　with　good…humour　and　amusement；　and　laughed　as　he　said；　'Now　then　for　the　humours　of　a　Scottish　fair！'　all　his　offended　dignity　was　forgotten。

The　greensward　was　surrounded　by　small　huts　and　hovels；　a　little　old　stone　church　on　one　side；　and　a　hostel　near　it；　shadowed　by　a　single　tall　elm；　beneath　which　was　the　very　centre　of　the　village　wake。　　Not　only　was　it　Midlent；　but　the　day　was　the　feast　of　a　local　saint；　in　whose　honour　Lenten　requirements　were　relaxed。　　Monks　and　priests　were　there　in　plenty；　and　so　were　jugglers　and　maskers；　Robin　Hood　and　Marion；　glee…men　and　harpers；　merchants　and　hucksters；　masterful　beggars　and　sorners；　shepherds　in　gray　mauds　with　wise　collies　at　their　feet；　shrewd　old　carlines　with　their　winter's　spinning　of　yarn；　lean　wolf…like　borderers　peaceable　for　the　nonce；　merry　lasses　with　tow…like　locks　floating　from　their　snoods；　all　seen　by　the　intensely　glittering　sun　of　a　clear　March　day；　dry　and　not　too　cold　for　these　hardy　northern　folk。

Nigel；　the　squire；　sighed　in　despondency；　and　Malcolm；　who　hated　crowds；　and　knew　himself　a　mark　for　the　rude　observations　of　a　free…　spoken　populace；　shrank　up　to　him；　when　Sir　James；　nodding　in　time　to　the　tones　of　a　bagpipe　that　was　playing　at　the　hostel　door；　flung　his　bridle　to　Brewster　the　groom；　laughed　at　his　glum　and　contemptuous　looks；　merrily　hailed　the　gudewife　with　her　brown　face　and　big　silver　ear…rings；　seated　himself　on　the　bench　at　the　long　wooden　table　under　the　great　garland　of　fir…boughs；　willow　catkins；　and　primroses；　hung　over　the　boughs　of　the　tree；　crossed　himself；　murmured　his　Benedictus　benedicat；　drew　his　dagger；　carved　a　slice　of　the　haunch　of　ox　on　the　table；　offered　it　to　the　reluctant　Malcolm；　then　helping　himself；　entered　into　conversation　with　the　lean　friar　on　one　side　of　him；　and　the　stalwart　man…at…arms　opposite；　apparently　as　indifferent　as　the　rest　of　the　company　to　the　fact　that　the　uncovered　boards　of　the　table　were　the　only　trenchers；　and　th