the path of the king-第17节

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ury　that　she　craved；　but　the　sense　of　mastery；　of　being　a　rare　thing　set　apart。　The　spirit　of　the　women　of　Beaumanoir　burned　fiercely　in　her。　。　　。　She　longed　to　set　her　lover　in　the　forefront　of　the　world。　Let　him　crusade　if　he　chose；　but　not　in　a　beggars'　quarrel。　And　now　the　palace　of　glass　was　shivered；　and　she　was　forsaken　for　a　peasant　beguine。　The　thought　set　her　pacing　to　the　window。

There　seemed　to　be　a　great　to…do　without。　A　dozen　lanterns　lit　up　the　forecourt；　and　there　was　a　tramping　of　many　horses。　A　shouting；　too；　as　if　a　king　were　on　the　move。　She　hurriedly　dried　her　eyes　and　arranged　her　dress；　tossing　the　reliquary　and　its　broken　chain　on　the　table。　Some　new　guests；　and　the　inn　was　none　too　large。　She　would　have　the　landlord　flayed　if　he　dared　to　intrude　on　the　privacy　which　she　had　commanded。　Nay；　she　would　summon　her　people　that　instant　and　set　off　for　home；　for　her　company　was　strong　enough　to　give　security　in　the　midnight　forests。

She　was　about　to　blow　a　little　silver　whistle　to　call　her　steward　when　a　step　at　the　door　halted　her。　A　figure　entered；　a　stranger。　It　was　a　tall　stripling；　half　armed　like　one　who　is　not　for　battle　but　expects　a　brush　at　any　corner　of　the　road。　A　long　surcoat　of　dark　green　and　crimson　fell　stiffy　as　if　it　covered　metal；　and　the　boots　were　spurred　and　defended　in　front　with　thin　plates　of　steel。　The　light　helm　was　open　and　showed　a　young　face。　The　stranger　moved　wearily　as　if　from　a　long　journey。

〃Good　even　to　you；　sister；〃　said　the　voice；　a　musical　voice　with　the　broad　accent　of　Lorraine。　〃Help　me　to　get　rid　of　this　weariful　harness。〃

Catherine's　annoyance　was　forgotten　in　amazement。　Before　she　knew　what　she　did　her　fingers　were　helping　the　bold　youth　to　disarm。　The　helm　was　removed；　the　surcoat　was　stripped；　and　the　steel　corslet　beneath　it。　With　a　merry　laugh　the　stranger　kicked　off　the　great　boots　which　were　too　wide　for　his　slim　legs。

He　stretched　himself；　yawning；　and　then　laughed　again。　〃By　my　staff；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　am　the　weary　one。〃　He　stood　now　in　the　full　glow　of　the　lantern；　and　Catherine　saw　that　he　wore　close…fitting　breeches　of　fine　linen；　a　dark　pourrpoint；　and　a　tunic　of　blue。　The　black　hair　was　cut　short　like　a　soldier's；　and　the　small　secret　face　had　the　clear　tan　of　one　much　abroad　in　wind　and　sun。　The　eyes　were　tired　and　yet　merry；　great　grey　eyes　as　clear　and　deep　as　a　moorland　lake。　。　。　。　Suddenly　she　understood。　It　may　have　been　the　sight　of　the　full　laughing　lips；　or　the　small　maidenly　breasts　outlined　by　the　close…fitting　linen。　At　any　rate　she　did　not　draw　back　when　the　stranger　kissed　her　cheek。

〃Ah；　now　I　am　woman　again；〃　said　the　crooning　voice。　The　unbuckled　sword　in　its　leather　sheath　was　laid　on　the　table　beside　the　broken　reliquary。　〃Let　us　rest　side　by　side；　sister；　for　I　long　for　maids'　talk。〃

But　now　Catherine　started　and　recoiled。　For　on　the　blue　tunic　she　had　caught　sight　of　an　embroidered　white　dove　bearing　in　its　beak　the　scroll　De　par　le　Roy　du　ciel。　It　was　a　blazon　the　tale　of　which　had　gone　through　France。

〃You　are　she！〃　she　stammered。　〃The　witch　of　Lorraine！〃

The　other　looked　wonderingly　at　her。　〃I　am　Jeanne　of　Arc；〃　she　said　simply。　〃She　whom　they　call　the　Pucelle。　Do　you　shrink　from　me；　sister？〃

Catherine's　face　was　aflame。　She　remembered　her　lost　lover；　and　the　tears　scarcely　dry。　〃Out　upon　you！〃　she　cried。　〃You　are　that　false　woman　that　corrupt　men's　hearts。〃　And　again　her　fingers　sought　the　silver　whistle。

Jeanne　looked　sadly　upon　her。　Her　merry　eyes　had　grown　grave。

〃I　pray　you　forbear。　I　do　not　heed　the　abuse　of　men；　but　a　woman's　taunts　hurt　me。　They　have　spoken　falsely　of　me；　dear　sister。　I　am　no　witch；　but　a　poor　girl　who　would　fain　do　the　commands　of　God。〃

She　sank　on　the　settle　with　the　relaxed　limbs　of　utter　fatigue。　〃I　was　happy　when　they　told　me　there　was　a　lady　here。　I　bade　Louis　and　Raymond　and　the　Sieur　d'Aulon　leave　me　undisturbed　till　morning；　for　I　would　fain　rest。　Oh；　but　I　am　weary　of　councils！　They　are　all　blind。　They　will　not　hear　the　plain　wishes　of　God。。。。　And　I　have　so　short　a　time！　　Only　a　year；　and　now　half　is　gone！〃

The　figure　had　lost　all　its　buoyancy；　and　become　that　of　a　sad；　overwrought　girl。　Catherine　found　her　anger　ebbing　and　pity　stealing　into　her　heart。　Could　this　tired　child　be　the　virago　against　whom　she　had　sworn　vengeance？　It　had　none　of　a　woman's　allure'　no　arts　of　the　light…of…love。　Its　eyes　were　as　simple　as　a　boy's。。。。　She　looked　almost　kindly　at　the　drooping　Maid。

But　in　a　moment　the　languor　seemed　to　pass　from　her。　Her　face　lit　up；　as　to　the　watcher　in　the　darkness　a　window　in　a　tower　suddenly　becomes　a　square　of　light。　She　sank　on　her　knees；　her　head　thrown　back；　her　lips　parted；　the　long　eyelashes　quiet　on　her　cheeks。　A　sudden　stillness　seemed　to　fall　on　everything。　Catherine　held　her　breath；　and　listened　to　the　beating　of　her　heart。

Jeanne's　lips　moved；　and　then　her　eyes　opened。　She　stood　up　again；　her　face　entranced　and　her　gaze　still　dwelling　on　some　hidden　world。　。　。　Never　had　Catherine　seen　such　happy　radiance。

〃My　Brothers　of　Paradise　spoke　with　me。　They　call　me　sometimes　when　I　am　sad。　Their　voices　said　to　me；　'Daughter　of　God；　go　forward。　We　are　at　your　side。'〃

Catherine　trembled。　She　seemed　on　the　edge　of　a　world　of　which　in　all　her　cosseted　life　she　had　never　dreamed；　a　world　of　beautiful　and　terrible　things。　There　was　rapture　in　it；　and　a　great　awe。　She　had　forgotten　her　grievances　in　wonder。

〃Do　not　shrink　from　me；〃　said　the　voice　which　seemed　to　have　won　an　unearthly　sweetness。　〃Let　us　sit　together　and　tell　our　thoughts。　You　are　very　fair。　Have　you　a　lover？〃

The　word　brought　the　girl　to　earth。　〃I　had　a　lover；　but　this　night　I　dismissed　him。　He　fights　in　your　company；　and　I　see　no　need　for　this　war。〃

Jeanne's　voice　was　puzzled。　〃Can　a　man　fight　in　a　holier　cause　than　to　free　his　country？〃

〃The　country　。　。　。〃　But　Catherine　faltered。　Her　argument　with　Guy　now　seemed　only　pettishness。

〃You　are　a　great　lady；〃　said　Jeanne；　〃and　to　such　as　you　liberty　may　seem　a　little　thing。　You　are　so　rich　that　you　need　never　feel　constraint。　But　to　us　poor　folk　freedom　is　life　itself。　It　sweetens　the　hind's　pottage；　and　gives　the　meanest　an　assurance　of　manhood。。。。　Likewise　it　is　God's　will。　My　Holy　Ones　have　told　me　that　sweet　France　shall　be　purged　from　bondage。　They　have　bidden　me　see　the　King　crowned　and　lead　him　to　Paris。　。　。　。　After　that　they　have　promised　me　rest。〃

She　laid　an　arm　round　Catherine's　neck　and　looked　into　her　eyes。

〃You　are　hungry；　sister　mine；〃　she　said。

The　girl　started。　For　the　eyes　were　no　longer　those　of　a　boy；　but　of　a　mothervery　wise；　very　tender。　Her　own　mother　had　died　so　long　ago　that　she　scarcely　remembered　her。　A　rush　of　longing　came　over　her　for　something　she　had　never　known。　She　wanted　to　lay　her　head　on　that　young　breast　and　weep。

〃You　are　hungryand　yet　I　think　you　have　been　much　smiled　on　by　fortune。　You　are　very　fair；　and　for　most　women　to　be　beautiful　is　to　be　happy。　But　you　are　not　content；　and　I　am　glad　of　it。　There　is　a　hunger　that　is　divine。。。。〃

She　broke　off；　for　the　girl　was　sobbing。　Crumpled　on　the　floor；　she　bent　her　proud　head　to　the　Maid's　lap　〃What　must　I　do？〃　she　cried　piteously。　〃The　sight　of　you　makes　me　feel　my　rottenness。　I　have　been　proud　of　worthless　things　and　I　have　cherished　that　wicked　pride　that　I　might　forget　the　doubts　knocking　on　my　heart。　You　say　true；　I　am　not　content。　I　shall　never　be　content；　I　am　most　malcontent　with　myself。　。　。　。　Would　to　God　that　like　you　I　had　been　born　a　peasant！〃

The　tragic　eyes　looked　up　to　find　the　Maid　laughinga　kind；　gentle　merriment。　Catherine　flushed　as　Jeanne　took　her　tear…stained　face　in　her　hands。

〃You　are　foolish；　little　sister。　I　would　I　had　been　born　to　your　station。　My　task　would　have　been　easier　had　I　been　Yoland　of　Sicily　or　that　daughter　of　the　King　of　Scots　from　whom　many　looked　for　the　succour　of　France。　Folly；　folly！　There　is　no　virtue　in　humble　blood。　I　would　I　had　been　a　queen！　I　love　fine　clothes　and　rich　trappings　and　the　great　horse　which　d'Alencon　gave　me。　God　has　made　a　brave　world　and　I　would　that　all　His　people　could　get　the　joy　of　it。　I　love　it　the　more　because　I　have　only　a　little　time　in　it。〃

〃But　you　are　happy；〃　said　the　girl；　〃and　I　want　such　happiness。〃

〃There　is　no　happiness；〃　said　the　Maid；　〃save　in　doing　the　will　of　God　our　Father。〃

〃But　I　do　not　know　His　will。　。　。　。　I　am　resolved　now。　I　will　take　the　vows　and　become　a　religious；　and　then　I　shall　find　peace。　I　am　weary　of　all　this　confusing　world。〃

〃Foolish　one；〃　and　Jeanne　played　with　the　little　curls　which　strayed　around　Catherine's　ear。　〃You　were　not　born　for　a　nunnery。　Not　that　way　God　calls　you。〃

〃Show　me　His　way；〃　the　girl　implored。　〃He　shows　His　way　privily　to　each　heart；　and　His　ways　are　many。　For　some　the　life　of　devout　contemplation；　but　not　for　you；　sister。　Your　blood　is　too　fiery　and　your　heart　too　passionate。。。。　You　have　a　lover？　Tell　me　his　name。

Docilely　Catherine　whispered　it；　and　Jeanne　laughed　merrily。

〃Sir　Guy！　My　most　loyal　champion。　By　my　staff；　you　are　the　blessed　maid。　There　is　no　more　joyous　knight　in　all　the　fields　of　France。〃

〃I　do　not　seek　wedlock。　Oh；　it　is　well　for　you　who　are　leading　ar