men of iron(铁人)-第21节
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and there was a savage bull…dog tenacity about Myles that could not but
have had a somewhat demoralizing effect upon him。
A few blows were given and taken； and then Myles's friends gave a
shout。 Blunt drew back； and placed his hand to his shoulder。 When he
drew it away again it was stained with red； and another red stain grew and
spread rapidly down the sleeve of his jacket。 He stared at his hand for a
moment with a half…dazed look； and then glanced quickly to right and left。
〃I will fight no more；〃 said he； sullenly。
〃Then yield thee！〃 cried Myles； exultantly。
The triumphant shouts of the Knights of the Rose stung Blunt like a
lash； and the battle began again。 Perhaps some of the older lads were of a
mind to interfere at this point； certainly some looked very serious； but
before they interposed； the fight was ended。
Blunt； grinding his teeth； struck one undercut at his opponentthe
same undercut that Myles had that time struck at Sir James Lee at the
knight's bidding when he first practised at the Devlen pels。 Myles met the
blow as Sir James had met the blow that he had given； and then struck in
return as Sir James had struckfull and true。 The bascinet that Blunt wore
glanced the blow partly； but not entirely。 Myles felt his sword bite through
the light steel cap； and Blunt dropped his own blade clattering upon the
floor。 It was all over in an instant； but in that instant what he saw was
stamped upon Myles's mind with an indelible imprint。 He saw the young
man stagger backward； he saw the eyes roll upward； and a red streak shoot
out from under the cap and run down across the cheek。
Blunt reeled half around； and then fell prostrate upon his face； and
Myles stood staring at him with the delirious turmoil of his battle
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dissolving rapidly into a dumb fear at that which he had done。
Once again he had won the victorybut what a victory！ 〃Is he dead？〃
he whispered to Gascoyne。
〃I know not；〃 said Gascoyne； with a very pale face。 〃But come away；
Myles。〃 And he led his friend out of the room。
Some little while later one of the bachelors came to the dormitory
where Myles； his wounds smarting and aching and throbbing； lay stretched
upon his cot； and with a very serious face bade him to go presently to Sir
James； who had just come from dinner； and was then in his office。
By this time Myles knew that he had not slain his enemy； and his heart
was light in spite of the coming interview。 There was no one in the office
but Sir James and himself； and Myles； without concealing anything； told；
point by point； the whole trouble。 Sir James sat looking steadily at him for
a while after he had ended。
〃Never；〃 said he； presently； 〃did I know any one of ye squires； in all
the time that I have been here； get himself into so many broils as thou；
Myles Falworth。 Belike thou sought to take this lad's life。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； earnestly； 〃God forbid！〃
〃Ne'theless；〃 said Sir James； 〃thou fetched him a main shrewd blow；
and it is by good hap； and no fault of thine； that he will live to do more
mischief yet。 This is thy second venture at him； the third time； haply； thou
wilt end him for good。〃 Then suddenly assuming his grimmest and sternest
manner： 〃Now； sirrah； do I put a stop to this； and no more shall ye fight
with edged tools。 Get thee to the dormitory； and abide there a full week
without coming forth。 Michael shall bring thee bread and water twice a
day for that time。 That is all the food thou shalt have； and we will see if
that fare will not cool thy hot humors withal。〃
Myles had expected a punishment so much more severe than that
which was thus meted to him； that in the sudden relief he broke into a
convulsive laugh； and then； with a hasty sweep； wiped a brimming
moisture from his eyes。
Sir James looked keenly at him for a moment。 〃Thou art white i' the
face；〃 said he。 〃Art thou wounded very sorely？〃
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〃Nay〃 said Myles； 〃it is not much； but I be sick in my stomach。〃
〃Aye； aye；〃 said Sir James； 〃I know that feeling well。 It is thus that one
always feeleth in coming out from a sore battle when one hath suffered
wounds and lost blood。 An thou wouldst keep thyself hale； keep thyself
from needless fighting。 Now go thou to the dormitory； and； as I said； come
thou not forth again for a week。 Stay； sirrah！〃 he added； 〃I will send
Georgebarber to thee to look to thy sores。 Green wounds are best drawn
and salved ere they grow cold。〃
I wonder what Myles would have thought had he known that so soon
as he had left the office； Sir James had gone straight to the Earl and
recounted the whole matter to him； with a deal of dry gusto； and that the
Earl listened laughing。
〃Aye；〃 said he； when Sir James had done； 〃the boy hath mettle； sure。
Nevertheless； we must transplant this fellow Blunt to the office of
gentleman… in…waiting。 He must be old enough now； and gin he stayeth in
his present place； either he will do the boy a harm； or the boy will do him
a harm。〃
So Blunt never came again to trouble the squires' quarters； and
thereafter the youngsters rendered no more service to the elders。
Myles's first great fight in life was won。
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CHAPTER 17
The summer passed away； and the bleak fall came。 Myles had long
since accepted his position as one set apart from the others of his kind； and
had resigned himself to the evident fact that he was never to serve in the
household in waiting upon the Earl。 I cannot say that it never troubled him；
but in time there came a compensation of which I shall have presently to
speak。
And then he had so much the more time to himself。 The other lads
were sometimes occupied by their household duties when sports were
afoot in which they would liked to have taken part。 Myles was always free
to enter into any matter of the kind after his daily exercise had been
performed at the pels； the butts； or the tilting…court。
But even though he was never called to do service in 〃my Lord's
house；〃 he was not long in gaining a sort of second…hand knowledge of all
the family。 My Lady； a thin； sallow； faded dame； not yet past middle age；
but looking ten years older。 The Lady Anne； the daughter of the house； a
tall； thin； dark…eyed； dark…haired； handsome young dame of twenty or
twenty…one years of age； hawk…nosed like her father； and silent； proud； and
haughty； Myles heard the squires say。 Lady Alice； the Earl of Mackworth's
niece and ward； a great heiress in her own right； a strikingly pretty black…
eyed girl of fourteen or fifteen。
These composed the Earl's personal family； but besides them was Lord
George Beaumont； his Earl's brother； and him Myles soon came to know
better than any of the chief people of the castle excepting Sir James Lee。
For since Myles's great battle in the armory； Lord George had taken a
laughing sort of liking to the lad； encouraging him at times to talk of his
adventures； and of his hopes and aspirations。
Perhaps the Earl's younger brotherwho was himself somewhat a
soldier of fortune； having fought in Spain； France； and Germanyfelt a
certain kinship in spirit with the adventurous youngster who had his
unfriended way to make in the world。 However that might have been； Lord
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George was very kind and friendly to the lad； and the willing service that
Myles rendered him reconciled him not a little to the Earl's obvious
neglect。
Besides these of the more immediate family of the Earl were a number
of knights； ladies； and gentlemen； some of them cadets； some of them
retainers； of the house of Beaumont； for th
