men of iron(铁人)-第25节
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speech with her。〃
Such was Myles's own quaint way of telling how he accomplished his
aim of visiting the forbidden garden； and no doubt the smack of adventure
and the savor of danger in the undertaking recommended him not a little to
the favor of the young ladies。
After this first acquaintance perhaps a month passed； during which
Myles had climbed the wall some half a dozen times （for the Lady Anne
would not permit of too frequent visits）； and during which the first
acquaintance of the three ripened rapidly to an honest； pleasant friendship。
More than once Myles； when in Lord George's train； caught a covert smile
or half nod from one or both of the girls； not a little delightful in its very
secret friendliness。
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CHAPTER 19
As waS said； perhaps a month passed； then Myles's visits came to an
abrupt termination； and with it ended； in a certain sense； a chapter of his
life。
One Saturday afternoon he climbed the garden wall； and skirting
behind a long row of rosebushes that screened him from the Countess's
terrace； came to a little summer…house where the two young ladies had
appointed to meet him that day。
A pleasant half…hour or so was passed； and then it was time for Myles
to go。 He lingered for a while before he took his final leave； leaning
against the door…post； and laughingly telling how he and some of his
brother squires had made a figure of straw dressed in men's clothes； and
had played a trick with it one night upon a watchman against whom they
bore a grudge。
The young ladies were listening with laughing faces； when suddenly；
as Myles looked； he saw the smile vanish from Lady Alice's eyes and a
wide terror take its place。 She gave a half…articulate cry； and rose abruptly
from the bench upon which she was sitting。
Myles turned sharply； and then his very heart seemed to stand still
within him； for there； standing in the broad sunlight without； and glaring
in upon the party with baleful eyes； was the Earl of Mackworth himself。
How long was the breathless silence that followed； Myles could never
tell。 He knew that the Lady Anne had also risen； and that she and her
cousin were standing as still as statues。 Presently the Earl pointed to the
house with his staff； and Myles noted stupidly how it trembled in his hand。
〃Ye wenches；〃 said he at last； in a hard； harsh voice〃ye wenches；
what meaneth this？ Would ye deceive me so； and hold parlance thus
secretly with this fellow？ I will settle with him anon。 Meantime get ye
straightway to the house and to your rooms； and there abide until I give ye
leave to come forth again。 Go； I say！〃
〃Father；〃 said Lady Anne； in a breathless voice she was as white as
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death； and moistened her lips with her tongue before she spoke〃father；
thou wilt not do harm to this young man。 Spare him； I do beseech thee； for
truly it was I who bade him come hither。 I know that he would not have
come but at our bidding。〃
The Earl stamped his foot upon the gravel。 〃Did ye not hear me？〃 said
he； still pointing towards the house with his trembling staff。 〃I bade ye go
to your rooms。 I will settle with this fellow； I say； as I deem fitting。〃
〃Father；〃 began Lady Anne again； but the Earl made such a savage
gesture that poor Lady Alice uttered a faint shriek； and Lady Anne stopped
abruptly； trembling。 Then she turned and passed out the farther door of the
summerhouse； poor little Lady Alice following； holding her tight by the
skirts； and trembling and shuddering as though with a fit of the ague。
The Earl stood looking grimly after them from under his shaggy
eyebrows； until they passed away behind the yew…trees； appeared again
upon the terrace behind； entered the open doors of the women's house； and
were gone。 Myles heard their footsteps growing fainter and fainter； but he
never raised his eyes。 Upon the ground at his feet were four pebbles； and
he noticed how they almost made a square； and would do so if he pushed
one of them with his toe； and then it seemed strange to him that he should
think of such a little foolish thing at that dreadful time。
He knew that the Earl was looking gloomily at him； and that his face
must be very pale。 Suddenly Lord Mackworth spoke。 〃What hast thou to
say？〃 said he； harshly。
Then Myles raised his eyes； and the Earl smiled grimly as he looked
his victim over。 〃I have naught to say；〃 said the lad； huskily。
〃Didst thou not hear what my daughter spake but now？〃 said the Earl。
〃She said that thou came not of thy own free…will； what sayst thou to that；
sirrahis it true？〃
Myles hesitated for a moment or two； his throat was tight and dry。
〃Nay；〃 said he at last； 〃she belieth herself。 It was I who first came into the
garden。 I fell by chance from the tree yonderI was seeking a ballthen I
asked those two if I might not come hither again； and so have done some
several times in all。 But as for hernay； it was not at her bidding that I
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came； but through mine own asking。〃
The Earl gave a little grunt in his throat。 〃And how often hast thou
been here？〃 said he； presently。
Myles thought a moment or two。 〃This maketh the seventh time；〃 said
he。
Another pause of silence followed； and Myles began to pluck up some
heart that maybe all would yet be well。 The Earl's next speech dashed that
hope into a thousand fragments。 〃Well thou knowest；〃 said he； 〃that it is
forbid for any to come here。 Well thou knowest that twice have men been
punished for this thing that thou hast done； and yet thou camest in spite of
all。 Now dost thou know what thou wilt suffer？〃
Myles picked with nervous fingers at a crack in the oaken post against
which he leaned。 〃Mayhap thou wilt kill me；〃 said he at last； in a dull；
choking voice。
Again the Earl smiled a grim smile。 〃Nay；〃 said he； 〃I would not slay
thee； for thou hast gentle blood。 But what sayest thou should I shear thine
ears from thine head； or perchance have thee scourged in the great court？〃
The sting of the words sent the blood flying back to Myles's face again；
and he looked quickly up。 〃Nay；〃 said he； with a boldness that surprised
himself； 〃thou shalt do no such unlordly thing upon me as that。 I be thy
peer； sir； in blood； and though thou mayst kill me； thou hast no right to
shame me。〃
Lord Mackworth bowed with a mocking courtesy。 〃Marry！〃 said he。
〃Methought it was one of mine own saucy popinjay squires that I caught
sneaking here and talking to those two foolish young lasses； and lo！ it is a
young Lordor mayhap thou art a young Princeand commandeth me that
I shall not do this and I shall not do that。 I crave your Lordship's honorable
pardon； if I have said aught that may have galled you。〃
The fear Myles had felt was now beginning to dissolve in rising wrath。
〃Nay；〃 said he； stoutly； 〃I be no Lord and I be no Prince； but I be as good
as thou。 For am I not the son of thy onetime very true comrade and thy
kinsmanto wit； the Lord Falworth； whom； as thou knowest； is poor and
broken； and blind； and helpless； and outlawed； and banned？ Yet；〃 cried he；
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grinding his teeth； as the thought of it all rushed in upon him； 〃I would
rather be in his place than in yours； for though he be ruined； you〃
He had just sense enough to stop there。
The Earl； gripping his staff behind his back； and with his head a little
bent； was looking keenly at the lad from under his shaggy gray brows。
〃Well；〃 said he； as Myles stopped； 〃thou hast gone too far now to draw
back。 Say thy say to the end。 Why wouldst thou rather be in thy father's
stead than in mine？〃
Myles did not answer。
〃Thou shalt finish thy speech； or else show thyself a coward。 Though
thy father is ruined； thou didst say I amwhat？〃
Myles keyed himself up to t
