the path of the king-第18节
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t in all the fields of France。〃
〃I do not seek wedlock。 Oh； it is well for you who are leading armies and doing the commands of God。 Something tells me that in marriage I shall lose my soul。〃
The girl was on her knees with her hands twined。 〃Let me follow you；〃 she cried。 〃I will bring a stout company behind me。 Let me ride with you to the freeing of France。 I promise to be stalwart。〃
The Maid shook her head gently。
〃Then I take the vows。〃 The obstinate little mouth had shut and there were no tears now in the eyes。
〃Listen； child；〃 and Jeanne took the suppliant hands in hers。 〃It is true that God has called me to a holy task。 He has sent His angels to guide me and they talk with me often。 The Lady of Fierbois has given me a mystic sword。 I think that in a little while this land will be free again。。。。 But I shall not see it； for God's promise is clear； and for me it does not give length of days。 I did not seek this errand of mine。 I resisted the command； till God was stern with me and I submitted with bitter tears。 I shall die a maid； and can never know the blessedness of women。 Often at night I weep to think that I shall never hold a babe next my heart。〃
The face of Jeanne was suddenly strained with a great sadness。 It was Catherine's turn to be the comforter。 She sat herself beside her and drew her head to her breast。
〃For you I see a happier fatea true man's wife the mother of sons。 Bethink you of the blessedness。 Every wife is like the Mother of Godshe has the hope of bearing a saviour of mankind。 She is the channel of the eternal purpose of Heaven。 Could I changecould I change！ What fortunate wife would envy a poor maid that dwells in the glare of battle？ 。 。 。 Nay； I do not murmur。 I do God's will and rejoice in it。 But I am very lonely。〃
For a little there was silence； an ecstatic silence。 Something hard within Catherine melted and she felt a gush of pity。 No longer self…pity； but compassion for another。 Her heart grew suddenly warm。 It was as if a window had been opened in a close room to let in air and landscape。
〃I must rest； for there is much ado to…morrow。 Will you sleep by me； for I have long been starved of a woman's comradeship？〃
In the great canopied bed the two girls lay till morning。 Once in the darkness Catherine started and found her arms empty。 Jeanne was kneeling by the window； her head thrown back and the moonlight on her upturned face。 When she woke in the dawn the Maid was already up； trussing the points of her breeches and struggling with her long boots。 She was crooning the verse of a ballad：
〃Serais je nonette' Crois que non〃
and looking with happy eyes at the cool morning light on the forest。
〃Up； sleepy…head；〃 she cried。 〃Listen to the merry trampling of the horses。 I must start； if I would spare the poor things in the noon。 Follow me with your prayers； for France rides with me。 I love you； sweet sister； Be sure I will hasten to you when my work is done。〃
So the Maid and her company rode off through the woods to Compiegne； and a brooding and silent Catherine took the north road to Picardy。
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The promise was kept。 Once again Catherine saw and had speech of Jeanne。 It was nearly two years later； when she sat in a May gloaming in the house of Beaumanoir； already three months a bride。 Much had happened since she had ridden north from the inn at the forest cross…roads。 She had summoned de Laval to her side； and the lovers had been reconciled。 Her father had died in the winter and the great fortune and wide manors of the family were now her own。 Her lover had fought with Jeanne in the futile battles of the spring； but he had been far away when in the fatal sortie at Compiegne the Maid was taken by her enemies。 All the summer of that year he had made desperate efforts at rescue； but Jeanne was tight in English hands； and presently was in prison at Rouen awaiting judgment； while her own king and his false councillors stirred not hand or foot to save her。 Sir Guy had hurled himself on Burgundy； and with a picked band made havoc of the eastern roads； but he could not break the iron cordon of Normandy。 In February they had been wed； but after that Beaumanoir saw him little； for he was reading Burgundy a lesson in the Santerre。
Catherine sat at home； anxious； tremulous； but happy。 A new…made wife lives in a new world； and though at times she grieved for the shame of her land； her mind was too full of housewifely cares； and her heart of her husband； for long repining。 But often the thought of Jeanne drove a sword into her contentment。 。 。 。 So when she lifted her eyes from her embroidery and saw the Maid before her； relief and gladness sent her running to greet her。
Long afterwards till she was very old Catherine would tell of that hour。 She saw the figure outlined against a window full of the amethyst sky of evening。 The white armour and the gay surcoat were gone。
Jeanne was still clad like a boy in a coarse grey tunic and black breeches； but her boots did not show any dust of the summer roads。 Her face was very pale； as if from long immurement； and her eyes were no more merry。 They shone instead with a grave ardour of happiness； which checked Catherine's embrace and set her heart beating。
She walked with light steps and kissed the young wife's cheeka kiss like thistledown。
〃You are free？〃 Catherine stammered。 Her voice seemed to break unwillingly in a holy quiet。
〃I am free；〃 the Maid answered。 〃I have come again to you as I promised。 But I cannot bide long。 I am on a journey。〃
〃You go to the King？〃 said Catherine。
〃I go to my King。〃
The Maid's hand took Catherine's； and her touch was like the fall of gossamer。 She fingered the girl's broad ring which had come from distant ancestors； the ring which Sir Aimery of Beaumanoir had worn in the Crusades。 She raised it and pressed it to her
Catherine's limbs would not do her bidding。 She would fain have risen in a hospitable bustle； but she seemed to be held motionless。 Not by fear； but by an exquisite and happy awe。 She remembered afterwards that from the Maid's rough clothes had come a faint savour of wood…smoke； as from one who has been tending a bonfire in the autumn stubble
〃God be with you； lady； and with the good knight； your husband。 Remember my word to you； that every wife is like Mary the Blessed and may bear a saviour of mankind。 The road is long； but the ways of Heaven are sure。〃
Catherine stretched out her arms； for a longing so fierce had awoke in her that it gave her power to move again。 Never in her life had she felt such a hunger of wistfulness。 But Jeanne evaded her embrace。 She stood poised as if listening。
〃They are calling me。 I go。 Adieu； sweet sister。〃
A light shone in her face which did not come from the westering sun。 To Catherine there was no sound of voices； but the Maid seemed to hear and answer。 She raised her hand as if in blessing and passed out。
Catherine sat long in an entranced silence。 Waves of utter longing flowed over her； till she fell on her knees and prayer passionately to her saints； among whom not the least was that grey…tunicked Maid whose eyes seemed doorways into heaven。 Her tirewoman found her asleep on her faldstool。
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Early next morning there came posts to Beaumanoir； men on weary horses with a tragic message。 On the day before； in the market…place of Rouen； the chief among the daughters of God had journeyed through the fire to Paradise。
CHAPTER 6。 THE WOOD OF LIFE
The Lady Catherine de Laval； in her own right Countess of Beaumanoir； and mistress of fiefs and manors； rights of chase and warren； mills and hospices； the like of which were not in Picardy； was happy in all things but her family。 Her one son had fallen in his youth in an obscure fray in Guienne； leaving two motherless boys who； after her husband's death； were the chief business of life to the Countess Catherine。 The elder； Aimery； grew to manhood after the fashion of the men of her own house； a somewhat heavy country gentleman； much set upon rustic sports； slow at learning； and averse alike from camps and cities。 The ambition of the grandmother found nothing to feed upon in the young lord of Beaumanoir。 He was kind； virtuous and honest； but dull as a pool on a winter's highway。
Catherine would fain have had the one youth a soldier and the other a saint； and of the two ambitions she most cherished the latter。 The first made shipwreck on the rustic Aimery； and therefore the second burned more fiercely。 She had the promise from the saints that her line had a great destiny； and the form of it she took to be sanctitude。 For； all her married days she had ruled her life according to the canons of God； fasting and praying； cherishing the poor； tending the afflicted； giving of her great wealth bountifully to the Church。 She had a name for holiness as far as the coasts of Italy。 Surely from the blood of Beaumanoir one would arise to be in dark times a defender of the Faith； a champion of Christ whom after death the Church should accept among the beatified。 Such a fate she desired for her seed more hungrily than any Emperor's crown。
In the
