sir nigel-第30节

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It　was　a　great　room；　draped　and　curtained　with　black　shadows；　with
one　vivid　circle　of　light　in　the　center；　where　two　oil　lamps　shone
upon　a　small　table。　　A　meal　was　laid　upon　the　table；　but　only　two
were　seated　at　it；　and　there　were　no　servants　in　the　room。　　At　the
near　end　was　Edith；　her　golden　hair　loose　and　streaming　down　over
the　scarlet　and　black　of　her　riding…dress。

At　the　farther　end　the　light　beat　strongly　upon　the　harsh　face　and
the　high…drawn　misshapen　shoulders　of　the　lord　of　the　house。　　A
tangle　of　black　hair　surmounted　a　high　rounded　forehead；　the
forehead　of　a　thinker；　with　two　deep…set　cold　gray　eyes　twinkling
sharply　from　under　tufted　brows。　　His　nose　was　curved　and　sharp；
like　the　beak　of　some　cruel　bird；　but　below　the　whole　of　his
clean…shaven　powerful　face　was　marred　by　the　loose　slabbing　mouth
and　the　round　folds　of　the　heavy　chin。　　His　knife　in　one　hand　and
a　half…gnawed　bone　in　the　other；　he　looked　fiercely　up；　like　some
beast　disturbed　in　his　den；　as　the　two　intruders　broke　in　upon　his
hall。

Nigel　stopped　midway　between　the　door　and　the　table。　　His　eyes　and
those　of　Paul　de　la　Fosse　were　riveted　upon　each　other。　　But　Mary；
with　her　woman's　soul　flooded　over　with　love　and　pity；　had　rushed
forward　and　cast　her　arms　round　her　younger　sister。　　Edith　had
sprung　up　from　her　chair；　and　with　averted　face　tried　to　push　the
other　away　from　her。

〃Edith；　Edith！　　By　the　Virgin；　I　implore　you　to　come　back　with　us；
and　to　leave　this　wicked　man！〃　cried　Mary。　　〃Dear　sister；　you
would　not　break　our　father's　heart；　nor　bring　his　gray　head　in
dishonor　to　the　grave！　　Come　back　Edith；　come　back　and　all　is
well。〃

But　Edith　pushed　her　away；　and　her　fair　cheeks　were　flushed　with
her　anger。　　〃What　right　have　you　over　me；　Mary；　you　who　are　but
two　years　older；　that　you　should　follow　me　over　the　country…side
as　though　I　were　a　runagate　villain　and　you　my　mistress？　　Do　you
yourself　go　back；　and　leave　me　to　do　that　which　seems　best　in　my
own　eyes。〃

But　Mary　still　held　her　in　her　arms；　and　still　strove　to　soften
the　hard　and　angry　heart。　　〃Our　mother　is　dead；　Edith。　　I　thank
God　that　she　died　ere　she　saw　you　under　this　roof！　　But　I　stand
for　her；　as　I　have　done　all　my　life；　since　I　am　indeed　your　elder。
It　is　with　her　voice　that　I　beg　and　pray　you　that　you　will　not
trust　this　man　further；　and　that　you　will　come　back　ere　it　be　too
late！〃

Edith　writhed　from　her　grasp；　and　stood　flushed　and　defiant；　with
gleaming；　angry　eyes　fixed　upon　her　sister。　　〃You　may　speak　evil
of　him　now；〃　said　she；　〃but　there　was　a　time　when　Paul　de　la　Fosse
came　to　Cosford；　and　who　so　gentle　and　soft…spoken　to　him　then　as
wise；　grave；　sister　Mary？　　But　he　has　learned　to　love　another；　so
now　he　is　the　wicked　man；　and　it　is　shame　to　be　seen　under　his
roof！　　From　what　I　see　of　my　good　pious　sister　and　her　cavalier　it
is　sin　for　another　to　ride　at　night　with　a　man　at　your　side；　but
it　comes　easy　enough　to　you。　　Look　at　your　own　eye；　good　sister；
ere　you　would　take　the　speck　from　that　of　another。〃

Mary　stood　irresolute　and　greatly　troubled；　holding　down　her　pride
and　her　anger；　but　uncertain　how　best　to　deal　with　this　strong
wayward　spirit。

〃It　is　not　a　time　for　bitter　words；　dear　sister；〃　said　she；　and
again　she　laid　her　hand　upon　her　sister's　sleeve。　　〃All　that　you
say　may　be　true。　　There　was　indeed　a　time　when　this　man　was　friend
to　us　both；　and　I　know　even　as　you　do　the　power　which　he　may　have
to　win　a　woman's　heart。　　But　I　know　him　now；　and　you　do　not。　　I
know　the　evil　that　he　has　wrought；　the　dishonor　that　he　has
brought；　the　perjury　that　lies　upon　his　soul；　the　confidence
betrayed；　the　promise　unfulfilled　…　all　this　I　know。　　Am　I　to　see
my　own　sister　caught　in　the　same　well…used　trap？　　Has　it　shut　upon
you；　child？　　Am　I　indeed　already　too　late？　　For　God's　sake；　tell
me；　Edith；　that　it　is　not　so？〃

Edith　plucked　her　sleeve　from　her　sister　and　made　two　swift　steps
to　the　head　of　the　table。　　Paul　de　la　Fosse　still　sat　silent　with
his　eyes　upon　Nigel。　　Edith　laid　her　hand　upon　his　shoulder：　〃This
is　the　man　I　love；　and　the　only　man　that　I　have　ever　loved。　　This
is　my　husband；〃　said　she。

At　the　word　Mary　gave　a　cry　of　joy。

〃And　is　it　so？〃　she　cried。　　〃Nay；　then　all　is　in　honor；　and　God
will　see　to　the　rest。　　If　you　are　man　and　wife　before　the　altar；
then　indeed　why　should　I；　or　any　other；　stand　between　you？　　Tell
me　that　it　is　indeed　so；　and　I　return　this　moment　to　make　your
father　a　happy　man。〃

Edith　pouted　like　a　naughty　child。　　〃We　are　man　and　wife　in　the
eyes　of　God。　　Soon　also　we　shall　be　wedded　before　all　the　world。
We　do　but　wait　until　next　Monday　when　Paul's　brother；　who　is　a
priest　at　St。　Albans；　will　come　to　wed　us。　　Already　a　messenger
has　sped　for　him；　and　he　will　come；　will　he　not；　dear　love？〃

〃He　will　come；〃　said　the　master　of　Shalford；　still　with　his　eyes
fixed　upon　the　silent　Nigel。

〃It　is　a　lie；　he　will　not　come；〃　said　a　voice　from　the　door。

It　was　the　old　priest；　who　had　followed　the　others　as　far　as　the
threshold。

〃He　will　not　come；〃　he　repeated　as　he　advanced　into　the　room。
〃Daughter；　my　daughter；　hearken　to　the　words　of　one　who　is　indeed
old　enough　to　be　your　earthly　father。　　This　lie　has　served　before。
He　has　ruined　others　before　you　with　it。　　The　man　has　no　brother
at　Saint　Albans。　　I　know　his　brothers　well；　and　there　is　no　priest
among　them。　　Before　Monday；　when　it　is　all　too　late；　you　will　have
found　the　truth　as　others　have　done　before　you。　　Trust　him　not；
but　come　with　us！〃

Paul　de　la　Fosse　looked　up　at　her　with　a　quick　smile　and　patted
the　hand　upon　his　shoulder。

〃Do　you　speak　to　them；　Edith；〃　said　he。

Her　eyes　flashed　with　scorn　as　she　surveyed　them　each　in　turn；　the
woman；　the　youth　and　the　priest。

〃I　have　but　one　word　to　say　to　them；〃　said　she。　　〃It　is　that　they
go　hence　and　trouble　us　no　more。　　Am　I　not　a　free　woman？　　Have　I
not　said　that　this　is　the　only　man　I　ever　loved？　　I　have　loved　him
long。　　He　did　not　know　it；　and　in　despair　he　turned　to　another。
Now　he　knows　all　and　never　again　can　doubt　come　between　us。
Therefore　I　will　stay　here　at　Shalford　and　come　to　Cosford　no　more
save　upon　the　arm　of　my　husband。　　Am　I　so　weak　that　I　would
believe　the　tales　you　tell　against　him？　　Is　it　hard　for　a　jealous
woman　and　a　wandering　priest　to　agree　upon　a　lie？　　No；　no；　Mary；
you　can　go　hence　and　take　your　cavalier　and　your　priest　with　you；
for　here　I　stay；　true　to　my　love　and　safe　in　my　trust　upon　his
honor！〃

〃Well　spoken；　on　my　faith；　my　golden　bird！〃　said　the　little　master
of　Shalford。　　〃Let　me　add　my　own　word　to　that　which　has　been　said。
You　would　not　grant　me　any　virtue　in　your　unkindly　speech；　good
Lady　Mary；　and　yet　you　must　needs　confess　that　at　least　I　have
good　store　of　patience；　since　I　have　not　set　my　dogs　upon　your
friends　who　have　come　between　me　and　my　ease。　　But　even　to　the
most　virtuous　there　comes　at　last　a　time　when　poor　human　frailty
may　prevail；　and　so　I　pray　you　to　remove　both　yourself；　your
priest　and　your　valiant　knight　errant；　lest　perhaps　there　be　more
haste　and　less　dignity　when　at　last　you　do　take　your　leave。　　Sit
down；　my　fair　love；　and　let　us　turn　once　more　to　our　supper。〃　He
motioned　her　to　her　chair；　and　he　filled　her　wine…cup　as　well　as
his　own。

Nigel　had　said　no　word　since　he　had　entered　the　room；　but　his　look
had　never　lost　its　set　purpose；　nor　had　his　brooding　eyes　ever
wandered　from　the　sneering　face　of　the　deformed　master　of
Shalford。　　Now　he　turned　with　swift　decision　to　Mary　and　to　the
priest。

〃That　is　over；〃　said　he　in　a　low　voice。　　〃You　have　done　all　that
you　could；　and　now　it　is　for　me　to　play　my　part　as　well　as　I　am
able。　　I　pray　you；　Mary；　and　you；　good　father；　that　you　will　await
me　outside。〃

〃Nay；　Nigel；　if　there　is　danger　…　〃

〃It　is　easier　for　me；　Mary；　if　you　are　not　there。　　I　pray　you　to
go。　　I　can　speak　to　this　man　more　at　my　ease。〃

She　looked　at　him　with　questioning　eyes　and　then　obeyed。

Nigel　plucked　at　the　priest's　gown。

〃I　pray　you；　father；　have　you　your　book　of　offices　with　you？〃

〃Surely；　Nigel；　it　is　ever　in　my　breast。〃

〃Have　it　ready；　father！〃

〃For　what；　my　son？〃

〃There　are　two　places　you　may　mark；　there　is　the　service　of
marriage　and　there　is　the　prayer　for　the　dying。　　Go　with　her；
father；　and　be　ready　at　my　call。〃

He　closed　the　door　behind　them　and　was　alone　with　this　ill…matched
couple。　　They　both　turned　in　their　chairs　to　look　at　him；　Edith
with　a　defiant　face；　the　man　with　a　bitter　smile　upon　his　lips　and
malignant　hatred　in　his　eyes。

〃What；〃　said　he；　〃the　knight　errant　still　lingers？　　Have　we　not
heard　of　his　thirst　for　glory？　　What　new　venture　does　he　see　that
he　should　tarry　here？〃

Nigel　walked　to　the　table。

〃There　is　no　glory　and　little　venture；〃　said　he；　〃but　I　have　come
for　a　purpose　and　I　must　do　it。　　I　learn　from　your　own　lips；
Edith；　that　you　will　not　leave　this　man。〃

〃If　you　have　ears　you　have　heard　it。〃

〃You　are；　as　you　have　said；　a　free　woman；　and　who　can　gainsay　you？
But　I　have　known　you；　Edith；　since　we　played　as　boy　and　girl　on
the　heather…hills　together。　　I　will　save　you　from　this　man's
cunning　and　from　your　own　foolish　weakness。〃

〃What　woul