sir nigel-第27节

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him；　but　a　moment　later　his　vague　doubts　were　set　at　rest　by　the
frank　voice　of　the　young　girl；　who　waved　her　whip　in　merry
greeting。

〃Hail　and　well　met；　Nigel！〃　she　cried。　　〃Whither　away　this
evening？　　Sure　I　am　that　it　is　not　to　see　your　friends　of　Cosford；
for　when　did　you　ever　don　so　brave　a　doublet　for　us？　　Come；　Nigel；
her　name；　that　I　may　hate　her　for　ever。〃

〃Nay；　Edith；〃　said　the　young　Squire；　laughing　back　at　the　laughing
girl。　　〃I　was　indeed　coming　to　Cosford。〃

〃Then　we　shall　ride　back　together；　for　I　will　go　no　farther。　　How
think　you　that　I　am　looking？〃

Nigel's　answer　was　in　his　eyes　as　he　glanced　at　the　fair　flushed
face；　the　golden　hair；　the　sparkling　eyes　and　the　daintily
graceful　figure　set　off　in　a　scarlet…and…black　riding…dress。　　〃You
are　as　fair　as　ever；　Edith。〃

〃Oh；　cold　of　speech！　　Surely　you　were　bred　for　the　cloisters；　and
not　for　a　lady's　bower；　Nigel。　　Had　I　asked　such　a　question　from
young　Sir　George　Brocas　or　the　Squire　of　Fernhurst；　he　would　have
raved　from　here　to　Cosford。　　They　are　both　more　to　my　taste　than
you　are；　Nigel。〃

〃It　is　the　worse　for　me；　Edith；〃　said　Nigel　ruefully。

〃Nay；　but　you　must　not　lose　heart。〃

〃Have　I　not　already　lost　it？〃　said　he。

〃That　is　better；〃　she　cried；　laughing。　　〃You　can　be　quick　enough
when　you　choose；　Master　Malapert。　　But　you　are　more　fit　to　speak
of　high　and　weary　matters　with　my　sister　Mary。　　She　will　have　none
of　the　prattle　and　courtesy　of　Sir　George；　and　yet　I　love　them
well。　　But　tell　me；　Nigel；　why　do　you　come　to　Cosford　tonight？〃

〃To　bid　you　farewell。〃

〃Me　alone？〃

〃Nay；　Edith；　you　and　your　sister　Mary　and　the　good　knight　your
father。〃

〃Sir　George　would　have　said　that　he　had　come　for　me　alone。　　Indeed
you　are　but　a　poor　courtier　beside　him。　　But　is　it　true；　Nigel；
that　you　go　to　France？〃

〃Yes；　Edith。〃

〃It　was　so　rumored　after　the　King　had　been　to　Tilford。　　The　story
goes　that　the　King　goes　to　France　and　you　in　his　train。　　Is　that
true？〃

〃Yes；　Edith；　it　is　true。〃

〃Tell　me；　then；　to　what　part　you　go；　and　when？〃

〃That；　alas！　　I　may　not　say。〃

〃Oh；　in　sooth！〃　　She　tossed　her　fair　head　and　rode　onward　in
silence；　with　compressed　lips　and　angry　eyes。

Nigel　glanced　at　her　in　surprise　and　dismay。　　〃Surely；　Edith；〃
said　he　at　last；　〃you　have　overmuch　regard　for　my　honor　that　you
should　wish　me　to　break　the　word　that　I　have　given？〃

〃Your　honor　belongs　to　you；　and　my　likings　belong　to　me；〃　said
she。　　〃You　hold　fast　to　the　one；　and　I　will　do　the　same　by　the
other。〃

They　rode　in　silence　through　Thursley　village。　　Then　a　thought
came　to　her　mind　and　in　an　instant　her　anger　was　forgotten　and　she
was　hot　on　a　new　scent。

〃What　would　you　do　if　I　were　injured；　Nigel？　　I　have　heard　my
father　say　that　small　as　you　are　there　is　no　man　in　these　parts
could　stand　against　you。　　Would　you　be　my　champion　if　I　suffered
wrong？〃

〃Surely　I　or　any　man　of　gentle　blood　would　be　the　champion　of　any
woman　who　had　suffered　wrong。〃

〃You　or　any　and　I　or　any　…　what　sort　of　speech　is　that？　　Is　it　a
compliment；　think　you；　to　be　mixed　with　a　drove　in　that　fashion？
My　question　was　of　you　and　me。　　If　I　were　wronged　would　you　be　my
man？〃

〃Try　me　and　see；　Edith！〃

〃Then　I　will　do　so；　Nigel。　　Either　Sir　George　Brocas　or　the　Squire
of　Fernhurst　would　gladly　do　what　I　ask；　and　yet　I　am　of　a　mind；
Nigel；　to　turn　to　you。〃

〃I　pray　you　to　tell　me　what　it　is。〃

〃　You　know　Paul　de　la　Fosse　of　Shalford？〃

〃You　mean　the　small　man　with　the　twisted　back？〃

〃He　is　no　smaller　than　yourself；　Nigel；　and　as　to　his　back　there
are　many　folk　that　I　know　who　would　be　glad　to　have　his　face。〃

〃Nay；　I　am　no　judge　of　that；　and　I　spoke　out　of　no　discourtesy。
What　of　the　man？〃

〃He　has　flouted　me；　Nigel；　and　I　would　have　revenge。〃

〃What　…　on　that　poor　twisted　creature？〃

〃I　tell　you　that　he　has　flouted　me！〃

〃But　how？〃

〃I　should　have　thought　that　a　true　cavalier　would　have　flown　to　my
aid；　withouten　all　these　questions。　　But　I　will　tell　you；　since　I
needs　must。　　Know　then　that　he　was　one　of　those　who　came　around　me
and　professed　to　be　my　own。　　Then；　merely　because　he　thought　that
there　were　others　who　were　as　dear　to　me　as　himself　he　left　me；
and　now　he　pays　court　to　Maude　Twynham；　the　little　freckle…faced
hussy　in　his　village。〃

〃But　how　has　this　hurt　you；　since　he　was　no　man　of　thine？〃

〃He　was　one　of　my　men；　was　he　not？　　And　he　has　made　game　of　me　to
his　wench。　　He　has　told　her　things　about　me。　　He　has　made　me
foolish　in　her　eyes。　　Yes；　yes；　I　can　read　it　in　her　saffron　face
and　in　her　watery　eyes　when　we　meet　at　the　church　door　on　Sundays。
She　smiles　…　yes；　smiles　at　me！　　Nigel；　go　to　him！　　Do　not　slay
him；　nor　even　wound　him；　but　lay　his　face　open　with　thy　riding…
whip；　and　then　come　back　to　me　and　tell　me　how　I　can　serve　you。〃

Nigel's　face　was　haggard　with　the　strife　within；　for　desire　ran
hot　in　every　vein；　and　yet　reason　shrank　with　horror。　　〃By　Saint
Paul！　　Edith；〃　he　cried；　〃I　see　no　honor　nor　advancement　of　any
sort　in　this　thing　which　you　have　asked　me　to　do。　　Is　it　for　me　to
strike　one　who　is　no　better　than　a　cripple？　　For　my　manhood　I
could　not　do　such　a　deed；　and　I　pray　you；　dear　lady；　that　you　will
set　me　some　other　task。〃

Her　eyes　flashed　at　him　in　contempt。　　〃And　you　are　a　man…at…arms！〃
she　cried；　laughing　in　bitter　scorn。　　〃You　are　afraid　of　a　little
man　who　can　scarce　walk。　　Yes；　yes；　say　what　you　will；　I　shall
ever　believe　that　you　have　heard　of　his　skill　at　fence　and　of　his
great　spirit；　and　that　your　heart　has　failed　you！　　You　are　right；
Nigel。　　He　is　indeed　a　perilous　man。　　Had　you　done　what　I　asked　he
would　have　slain　you；　and　so　you　have　shown　your　wisdom。〃

Nigel　flushed　and　winced　under　the　words；　but　he　said　no　more；　for
his　mind　was　fighting　hard　within　him；　striving　to　keep　that　high
image　of　woman　which　seemed　for　a　moment　to　totter　on　the　edge　of
a　fall。　　Together　in　silence；　side　by　side；　the　little　man　and　the
stately　woman；　the　yellow　charger　and　the　white　jennet；　passed　up
the　sandy　winding　track　with　the　gorse　and　the　bracken　head…high
on　either　side。　　Soon　a　path　branched　off　through　a　gateway　marked
with　the　boar…heads　of　the　Buttesthorns；　and　there　was　the　low
widespread　house　heavily　timbered；　loud　with　the　barking　of　dogs。
The　ruddy　Knight　limped　forth　with　outstretched　hand　and　roaring
voice

〃What　how；　Nigel！　　Good　welcome　and　all　hail！　　I　had　thought　that
you　had　given　over　poor　friends　like　us；　now　that　the　King　had
made　so　much　of　you。　　The　horses；　varlets；　or　my　crutch　will　be
across　you！　　Hush；　Lydiard！　　Down；　Pelamon！　　I　can　scarce　hear　my
voice　for　your　yelping。　　Mary；　a　cup　of　wine　for　young　Squire
Loring！〃

She　stood　framed　in　the　doorway；　tall；　mystic；　silent；　with
strange；　wistful　face　and　deep　soul　shining　in　her　dark；
questioning　eyes。　　Nigel　kissed　the　hand　that　she　held　out；　and
all　his　faith　in　woman　and　his　reverence　came　back　to　him　as　he
looked　at　her。　　Her　sister　had　slipped　behind　her　and　her　fair
elfish　face　smiled　her　forgiveness　of　Nigel　over　Mary's　shoulder。

The　Knight　of　Duplin　leaned　his　weight　upon　the　young　man's　arm
and　limped　his　way　across　the　great　high…roofed　hall　to　his
capacious　oaken　chair。　　〃Come；　come；　the　stool；　Edith！〃　he　cried。
〃As　God　is　my　help；　that　girl's　mind　swarms　with　gallants　as　a
granary　with　rats。　　Well；　Nigel；　I　hear　strange　tales　of　your
spear…running　at　Tilford　and　of　the　visit　of　the　King。　　How　seemed
he？　　And　my　old　friend　Chandos　…　many　happy　hours　in　the　woodlands
have　we　had　together　…　and　Manny　too；　he　was　ever　a　bold　and　a
hard　rider　…　what　news　of　them　all？〃

Nigel　told　to　the　old　Knight　all　that　had　occurred；　saying　little
of　his　own　success　and　much　of　his　own　failure；　yet　the　eyes　of
the　dark　woman　burned　the　brighter　as　she　sat　at　her　tapestry　and
listened。

Sir　John　followed　the　story　with　a　running　fire　of　oaths；　prayers；
thumps　with　his　great　fist　and　flourishes　of　his　crutch。　　〃Well；
well；　lad；　you　could　scarce　expect　to　hold　your　saddle　against
Manny；　and　you　have　carried　yourself　well。　　We　are　proud　of　you；
Nigel；　for　you　are　our　own　man；　reared　in　the　heather　country。
But　indeed　I　take　shame　that　you　are　not　more　skilled　in　the
mystery　of　the　woods；　seeing　that　I　have　had　the　teaching　of　you；
and　that　no　one　in　broad　England　is　my　master　at　the　craft。　　I
pray　you　to　fill　your　cup　again　whilst　I　make　use　of　the　little
time　that　is　left　to　us。〃

And　straightway　the　old　Knight　began　a　long　and　weary　lecture　upon
the　times　of　grace　and　when　each　beast　and　bird　was　seasonable；
with　many　anecdotes；　illustrations；　warnings　and　exceptions；　drawn
from　his　own　great　experience。　　He　spoke　also　of　the　several　ranks
and　grades　of　the　chase：　how　the　hare；　hart　and　boar　must　ever
take　precedence　over　the　buck；　the　doe；　the　fox；　the　marten　and
the　roe；　even　as　a　knight　banneret　does　over　a　knight；　while　these
in　turn　are　of　a　higher　class　to　the　badger；　the　wildcat　or　the
otter；　who　are　but　the　common　populace　of　the　world　of　beasts。　　Of
blood…stains　also　he　spoke　…　how　the　skilled　hunter　may　see　at　a
glance　if　blood　be　dark　and　frothy；　which　means　a　mortal　hurt；　or
thin　and　clear；　which　means　that　the