sir nigel-第32节

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eastward。　　A　moment　later　Aylward　broke　from　the　group　of　archers
and　laughing　girls　who　clung　to　his　bridle　and　his　stirrup　straps；
and　rode　on；　blowing　kisses　over　his　shoulder。　　So　at　last　the　two
comrades；　gentle　and　simple；　were　fairly　started　on　their　venture。

There　are　two　seasons　of　color　in　those　parts：　the　yellow；　when
the　country…side　is　flaming　with　the　gorse…blossoms；　and　the
crimson；　when　all　the　long　slopes　are　smoldering　with　the　heather。
So　it　was　now。　　Nigel　looked　back　from　time　to　time；　as　he　rode
along　the　narrow　track　where　the　ferns　and　the　ling　brushed　his
feet　on　either　side；　and　as　he　looked　it　seemed　to　him　that　wander
where　he　might　he　would　never　see　a　fairer　scene　than　that　of　his
own　home。　　Far　to　the　westward；　glowing　in　the　morning　light；
rolled　billow　after　billow　of　ruddy　heather　land；　until　they
merged　into　the　dark　shadows　of　Woolmer　Forest　and　the　pale　clear
green　of　the　Butser　chalk　downs。　　Never　in　his　life　had　Nigel
wandered　far　beyond　these　limits；　and　the　woodlands；　the　down　and
the　heather　were　dear　to　his　soul。　　It　gave　him　a　pang　in　his
heart　now　as　he　turned　his　face　away　from　them；　but　if　home　lay　to
the　westward；　out　there　to　the　eastward　was　the　great　world　of
adventure；　the　noble　stage　where　each　of　his　kinsmen　in　turn　had
played　his　manly　part　and　left　a　proud　name　behind。

How　often　he　had　longed　for　this　day！　　And　now　it　had　come　with　no
shadow　cast　behind　it。　　Dame　Ermyntrude　was　under　the　King's
protection。　　The　old　servants　had　their　future　assured。　　The
strife　with　the　monks　of　Waverley　had　been　assuaged。　　He　had　a
noble　horse　under　him；　the　best　of　weapons；　and　a　stout　follower
at　his　back。　　Above　all　he　was　bound　on　a　gallant　errand　with　the
bravest　knight　in　England　as　his　leader。　　All　these　thoughts
surged　together　in　his　mind；　and　he　whistled　and　sang；　as　he　rode；
out　of　the　joy　of　his　heart；　while　Pommers　sidled　and　curveted　in
sympathy　with　the　mood　of　his　master。　　Presently；　glancing　back；
he　saw　from　Aylward's　downcast　eyes　and　Puckered　brow　that　the
archer　was　clouded　with　trouble。　　He　reined　his　horse　to　let　him
come　abreast　of　him。

〃How　now；　Aylward？〃　said　he。　　〃Surely　of　all　men　in　England　you
and　I　should　be　the　most　blithe　this　morning；　since　we　ride
forward　with　all　hopes　of　honorable　advancement。　　By　Saint　Paul！
ere　we　see　these　heather　hills　once　more　we　shall　either
worshipfully　win　worship；　or　we　shall　venture　our　persons　in　the
attempt。　　These　be　glad　thoughts；　and　why　should　you　be　downcast？〃

Aylward　shrugged　his　broad　shoulders；　and　a　wry　smile　dawned　upon
his　rugged　face。　　〃I　am　indeed　as　limp　as　a　wetted　bowstring；〃
said　he。　　〃It　is　the　nature　of　a　man　that　he　should　be　sad　when　he
leaves　the　woman　he　loves。〃

〃In　truth；　yes！〃　cried　Nigel；　and　in　a　flash　the　dark　eyes　of　Mary
Buttesthorn　rose　before　him；　and　he　heard　her　low；　sweet；　earnest
voice　as　he　had　heard　it　that　night　when　they　brought　her　frailer
sister　back　from　Shalford　Manor；　a　voice　which　made　all　that　was
best　and　noblest　in　a　man　thrill　within　his　soul。　　〃Yet；　bethink
you；　archer；　that　what　a　woman　loves　in　man　is　not　his　gross　body；
but　rather　his　soul；　his　honor；　his　fame；　the　deeds　with　which　he
has　made　his　life　beautiful。　　Therefore　you　are　winning　love　as
well　as　glory　when　you　turn　to　the　wars。〃

〃It　may　be　so；〃　said　Aylward；　〃but　indeed　it　goes　to　my　heart　to
see　the　pretty　dears　weep；　and　I　would　fain　weep　as　well　to　keep
them　company。　　When　Mary　…　or　was　it　Dolly？　…　nay；　it　was　Martha；
the　red…headed　girl　from　the　mill　…　when　she　held　tight　to　my
baldric　it　was　like　snapping　my　heart…string　to　pluck　myself
loose。〃

〃You　speak　of　one　name　and　then　of　another；〃　said　Nigel。　　〃How　is
she　called　then；　this　maid　whom　you　love？〃

Aylward　pushed　back　his　steel　cap　and　scratched　his　bristling　head
with　some　embarrassment。　　〃Her　name；〃　said　he；　〃　is　Mary　Dolly
Martha　Susan　Jane　Cicely　Theodosia　Agnes　Johanna　Kate。〃

Nigel　laughed　as　Aylward　rolled　out　this　prodigious　title。　　〃I　had
no　right　to　take　you　to　the　wars；〃　said　he；　〃for　by　Saint　Paul！
it　is　very　clear　that　I　have　widowed　half　the　parish。　　But　I　saw
your　aged　father　the　franklin。　　Bethink　you　of　the　joy　that　will
fill　his　heart　when　he　hears　that　you　have　done　some　small　deed　in
France；　and　so　won　honor　in　the　eyes　of　all。〃

〃I　fear　that　honor　will　not　help　him　to　pay　his　arrears　of　rent　to
the　sacrist　of　Waverley；〃　said　Aylward。　　〃Out　he　will　go　on　the
roadside；　honor　and　all；　if　he　does　not　find　ten　nobles　by　next
Epiphany。　　But　if　I　could　win　a　ransom　or　be　at　the　storming　of　a
rich　city；　then　indeed　the　old　man　would　be　proud　of　me。　　Thy
sword　must　help　my　spade；　Samkin；'　said　he　as　he　kissed　me　goodby。
Ah！　it　would　indeed　be　a　happy　day　for　him　and　for　all　if　I　could
ride　back　with　a　saddle…bag　full　of　gold　pieces；　and　please　God；　I
shall　dip　my　hand　in　somebody's　pocket　before　I　see　Crooksbury
Hill　once　more！〃

Nigel　shook　his　head；　for　indeed　it　seemed　hopeless　to　try　to
bridge　the　gulf　between　them。　　Already　they　had　made　such　good
progress　along　the　bridle…path　through　the　heather　that　the　little
hill　of　Saint　Catharine　and　the　ancient　shrine　upon　its　summit
loomed　up　before　them。　　Here　they　crossed　the　road　from　the　south
to　London；　and　at　the　crossing　two　wayfarers　were　waiting　who
waved　their　hands　in　greeting；　the　one　a　tall；　slender；　dark　woman
upon　a　white　jennet；　the　other　a　very　thick　and　red…faced　old　man；
whose　weight　seemed　to　curve　the　back　of　the　stout　gray　cob　which
he　bestrode。

〃What　how；　Nigel！〃　he　cried。　　〃Mary　has　told　me　that　you　make　a
start　this　morning；　and　we　have　waited　here　this　hour　and　more　on
the　chance　of　seeing　you　pass。　　Come；　lad；　and　have　a　last　stoup
of　English　ale；　for　many　a　time　amid　the　sour　French　wines　you
will　long　for　the　white　foam　under　your　nose；　and　the　good　homely
twang　of　it。〃

Nigel　had　to　decline　the　draft；　for　it　meant　riding　into　Guildford
town；　a　mile　out　of　his　course；　but　very　gladly　he　agreed　with
Mary　that　they　should　climb　the　path　to　the　old　shrine　and　offer　a
last　orison　together。　　The　knight　and　Aylward　waited　below　with
the　horses；　and　so　it　came　about　that　Nigel　and　Mary　found
themselves　alone　under　the　solemn　old　Gothic　arches；　in　front　of
the　dark　shadowed　recess　in　which　gleamed　the　golden　reliquary　of
the　saint。　　In　silence　they　knelt　side　by　side　in　prayer；　and　then
came　forth　once　more　out　of　the　gloom　and　the　shadow　into　the
fresh　sunlit　summer　morning。　　They　stopped　ere　they　descended　the
path；　and　looked　to　right　and　left　at　the　fair　meadows　and　the
blue　Wey　curling　down　the　valley。

〃What　have　you　prayed　for；　Nigel？〃　said　she。

〃I　have　prayed　that　God　and　His　saints　will　hold　my　spirit　high
and　will　send　me　back　from　France　in　such　a　fashion　that　I　may
dare　to　come　to　you　and　to　claim　you　for　my　own。〃

〃Bethink　you　well　what　it　is　that　you　say；　Nigel；〃　said　she。
〃What　you　are　to　me　only　my　own　heart　can　tell；　but　I　would　never
set　eyes　upon　your　face　again　rather　than　abate　by　one　inch　that
height　of　honor　and　worshipful　achievement　to　which　you　may
attain。〃

〃Nay；　my　dear　and　most　sweet　lady；　how　should　you　abate　it；　since
it　is　the　thought　of　you　which　will　nerve　my　arm　and　uphold　my
heart？〃

〃Think　once　more；　my　fair　lord；　and　hold　yourself　bound　by　no　word
which　you　have　said。　　Let　it　be　as　the　breeze　which　blows　past　our
faces　and　is　heard　of　no　more。　　Your　soul　yearns　for　honor。　　To
that　has　it　ever　turned。　　Is　there　room　in　it　for　love　also？　or　is
it　possible　that　both　shall　live　at　their　highest　in　one　mind？　　Do
you　not　call　to　mind　that　Galahad　and　other　great　knights　of　old
have　put　women　out　of　their　lives　that　they　might　ever　give　their
whole　soul　and　strength　to　the　winning　of　honor？　　May　it　not　be
that　I　shall　be　a　drag　upon　you；　that　your　heart　may　shrink　from
some　honorable　task；　lest　it　should　bring　risk　and　pain　to　me？
Think　well　before　you　answer；　my　fair　lord；　for　indeed　my　very
heart　would　break　if　it　should　ever　happen　that　through　love　of　me
your　high　hopes　and　great　promise　should　miss　fulfilment。〃

Nigel　looked　at　her　with　sparkling　eyes。　　The　soul　which　shone
through　her　dark　face　had　transformed　it　for　the　moment　into　a
beauty　more　lofty　and　more　rare　than　that　of　her　shallow　sister。
He　bowed　before　the　majesty　of　the　woman；　and　pressed　his　lips　to
her　hand。　　〃You　are　like　a　star　upon　my　path　which　guides　me　on
the　upward　way；〃　said　he。　　〃Our　souls　are　set　together　upon　the
finding　of　honor；　and　how　shall　we　hold　each　other　back　when　our
purpose　is　the　same？〃

She　shook　her　proud　head。　　〃So　it　seems　to　you　now；　fair　lord；　but
it　may　be　otherwise　as　the　years　pass。　　How　shall　you　prove　that　I
am　indeed　a　help　and　not　a　hindrance？〃

〃I　will　prove　it　by　my　deeds；　fair　and　dear　lady；〃　said　Nigel。
〃Here　at　the　shrine　of　the　holy　Catharine；　on　this；　the　Feast　of
Saint　Margaret；　I　take　my　oath　that　I　will　do　three　deeds　in　your
honor　as　a　proof　of　my　high　love　before　I　set　eyes　upon　your　face
again；　and　these　three　deeds　shall　stand　as　a　proof　to　you　that　if
I　love　you　dearly；　still　I　will　not　let　the　thought　of　you　stand
betwixt　me　and　honorable　achievement！〃