the little duke-第19节

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es！　and　there　the　chequers　of　Warenne！　　Oh；　and　best　of　all；　there　isthere　is　our　own　red　pennon　of　Centeville！　　O　Alberic！　　Alberic！　is　Sir　Eric　here？　　I　must　go　down　to　him！〃

〃Bertrand　sent　out　notice　to　them　all；　as　soon　as　you　came；　to　come　and　guard　our　Castle；〃　said　Alberic；　〃lest　the　Franks　should　pursue　you；　but　you　are　safe　nowsafe　as　Norman　spears　can　make　youthanks　be　to　God！〃

〃Yes；　thanks　to　God！〃　said　Richard；　crossing　himself　and　kneeling　reverently　for　some　minutes；　while　he　repeated　his　Latin　prayer；　then；　rising　and　looking　at　Alberic；　he　said；　〃I　must　thank　Him；　indeed；　for　he　has　saved　Osmond　and　me　from　the　cruel　King　and　Queen；　and　I　must　try　to　be　a　less　hasty　and　overbearing　boy　than　I　was　when　I　went　away；　for　I　vowed　that　so　I　would　be；　if　ever　I　came　back。　Poor　Osmond；　how　soundly　he　sleeps！　Come；　Alberic；　show　me　the　way　to　Sir　Eric！〃

And；　holding　Alberic's　hand；　Richard　left　the　room；　and　descended　the　stairs　to　the　Castle　hall。　　Many　of　the　Norman　knights　and　barons；　in　full　armour；　were　gathered　there；　but　Richard　looked　only　for　one。　He　knew　Sir　Eric's　grizzled　hair；　and　blue　inlaid　armour；　though　his　back　was　towards　him；　and　in　a　moment；　before　his　entrance　had　been　perceived；　he　sprang　towards　him；　and；　with　outstretched　arms；　exclaimed：　　〃Sir　Ericdear　Sir　Eric；　here　I　am！　Osmond　is　safe！　　And　is　Fru　Astrida　well？〃

The　old　Baron　turned。　　〃My　child！〃　he　exclaimed；　and　clasped　him　in　his　mailed　arms；　while　the　tears　flowed　down　his　rugged　cheeks。　〃Blessed　be　God　that　you　are　safe；　and　that　my　son　has　done　his　duty！〃

〃And　is　Fru　Astrida　well？〃

〃Yes；　right　well；　since　she　heard　of　your　safety。　　But　look　round；　my　Lord；　it　befits　not　a　Duke　to　be　clinging　thus　round　an　old　man's　neck。　　See　how　many　of　your　true　vassals　be　here；　to　guard　you　from　the　villain　Franks。〃

Richard　stood　up；　and　held　out　his　hand；　bowing　courteously　and　acknowledging　the　greetings　of　each　bold　baron；　with　a　grace　and　readiness　he　certainly　had　not　when　he　left　Normandy。　　He　was　taller　too；　and　though　still　pale；　and　not　dressed　with　much　care　（since　he　had　hurried　on　his　clothes　with　no　help　but　Alberic's）though　his　hair　was　rough　and　disordered；　and　the　scar　of　the　burn　had　not　yet　faded　from　his　checkyet　still；　with　his　bright　blue　eyes；　glad　face；　and　upright　form；　he　was　a　princely；　promising　boy；　and　the　Norman　knights　looked　at　him　with　pride　and　joy；　more　especially　when；　unprompted；　he　said：　　〃I　thank　you；　gallant　knights；　for　coming　to　guard　me。　　I　do　not　fear　the　whole　French　host　now　I　am　among　my　own　true　Normans。〃

Sir　Eric　led　him　to　the　door　of　the　hall　to　the　top　of　the　steps；　that　the　men…at…arms　might　see　him；　and　then　such　a　shout　rang　out　of　〃Long　live　Duke　Richard！〃〃Blessings　on　the　little　Duke！〃that　it　echoed　and　came　back　again　from　the　hills　aroundit　pealed　from　the　old　towerit　roused　Osmond　from　his　sleepand；　if　anything　more　had　been　wanting　to　do　so；　it　made　Richard　feel　that　he　was　indeed　in　a　land　where　every　heart　glowed　with　loyal　love　for　him。

Before　the　shout　had　died　away；　a　bugle…horn　was　heard　winding　before　the　gate；　and　Sir　Eric；　saying；　〃It　is　the　Count　of　Harcourt's　note；〃　sent　Bertrand　to　open　the　gates　in　haste；　while　Alberic　followed；　as　Lord　of　the　Castle；　to　receive　the　Count。

The　old　Count　rode　into　the　court；　and　to　the　foot　of　the　steps；　where　he　dismounted；　Alberic　holding　his　stirrup。　　He　had　not　taken　many　steps　upwards　before　Richard　came　voluntarily　to　meet　him　（which　he　had　never　done　before）；　held　out　his　hand；　and　said；　〃Welcome；　Count　Bernard；　welcome。　　Thank　you　for　coming　to　guard　me。　　I　am　very　glad　to　see　you　once　more。〃

〃Ah；　my　young　Lord；〃　said　Bernard；　〃I　am　right　glad　to　see　you　out　of　the　clutches　of　the　Franks！　You　know　friend　from　foe　now；　methinks！〃

〃Yes；　indeed　I　do；　Count　Bernard。　　I　know　you　meant　kindly　by　me；　and　that　I　ought　to　have　thanked　you；　and　not　been　angry；　when　you　reproved　me。　　Wait　one　moment；　Sir　Count；　there　is　one　thing　that　I　promised　myself　to　say　if　ever　I　came　safe　to　my　own　dear　home。　WalterMauriceJeannotall　you　of　my　household；　and　of　Sir　Eric's…　…I　know；　before　I　went　away；　I　was　often　no　good　Lord　to　you；　I　was　passionate；　and　proud；　and　overbearing；　but　God　has　punished　me　for　it；　when　I　was　far　away　among　my　enemies；　and　sick　and　lonely。　　I　am　very　sorry　for　it；　and　I　hope　you　will　pardon　me；　for　I　will　strive；　and　I　hope　God　will　help　me；　never　to　be　proud　and　passionate　again。〃

〃There；　Sir　Eric；〃　said　Bernard；　〃you　hear　what　the　boy　says。　　If　he　speaks　it　out　so　bold　and　free；　without　bidding；　and　if　he　holds　to　what　he　says；　I　doubt　it　not　that　he　shall　not　grieve　for　his　journey　to　France；　and　that　we　shall　see　him；　in　all　things；　such　a　Prince　as　his　father　of　blessed　memory。〃

〃You　must　thank　Osmond　for　me；〃　said　Richard；　as　Osmond　came　down；　awakened　at　length。　　〃It　is　Osmond　who　has　helped　me　to　bear　my　troubles；　and　as　to　saving　me；　why　he　flew　away　with　me　even　like　an　old　eagle　with　its　eaglet。　　I　say；　Osmond；　you　must　ever　after　this　wear　a　pair　of　wings　on　shield　and　pennon；　to　show　how　well　we　managed　our　flight。〃　｛15｝

〃As　you　will；　my　Lord；〃　said　Osmond；　half　asleep；　〃but　'twas　a　good　long　flight　at　a　stretch；　and　I　trust　never　to　have　to　fly　before　your　foes　or　mine　again。〃

What　a　glad　summer's　day　was　that！　Even　the　three　hours　spent　in　council　did　but　renew　the　relish　with　which　Richard　visited　Alberic's　treasures；　told　his　adventures；　and　showed　the　accomplishments　he　had　learnt　at　Laon。　　The　evening　was　more　joyous　still；　for　the　Castle　gates　were　opened；　first　to　receive　Dame　Yolande　Montemar；　and　not　above　a　quarter　of　an　hour　afterwards；　the　drawbridge　was　lowered　to　admit　the　followers　of　Centeville；　and　in　front　of　them　appeared　Fru　Astrida's　own　high　cap。　　Richard　made　but　one　bound　into　her　arms；　and　was　clasped　to　her　breast；　then　held　off　at　arm's…length；　that　she　might　see　how　much　he　was　grown；　and　pity　his　scar；　then　hugged　closer　than　ever：　　but；　taking　another　look；　she　declared　that　Osmond　left　his　hair　like　King　Harald　Horrid…locks；　｛16｝　and；　drawing　an　ivory　comb　from　her　pouch；　began　to　pull　out　the　thick　tangles；　hurting　him　to　a　degree　that　would　once　have　made　him　rebel；　but　now　he　only　fondled　her　the　more。

As　to　Osmond；　when　he　knelt　before　her；　she　blessed　him；　and　sobbed　over　him；　and　blamed　him　for　over…tiring　her　darling；　all　in　one；　and　assuredly；　when　night　closed　in　and　Richard　had；　as　of　old；　told　his　beads　beside　her　knee；　the　happiest　boy　in　Normandy　was　its　little　Duke。



CHAPTER　IX



Montemar　was　too　near　the　frontier　to　be　a　safe　abode　for　the　little　Duke；　and　his　uncle；　Count　Hubert　of　Senlis；　agreed　with　Bernard　the　Dane　that　he　would　be　more　secure　beyond　the　limits　of　his　own　duchy；　which　was　likely　soon　to　be　the　scene　of　war；　and；　sorely　against　his　will；　he　was　sent　in　secret；　under　a　strong　escort；　first　to　the　Castle　of　Coucy；　and　afterwards　to　Senlis。

His　consolation　was；　that　he　was　not　again　separated　from　his　friends；　Alberic；　Sir　Eric；　and　even　Fru　Astrida；　accompanied　him；　as　well　as　his　constant　follower；　Osmond。　　Indeed；　the　Baron　would　hardly　bear　that　he　should　be　out　of　his　sight；　and　he　was　still　so　carefully　watched；　that　it　was　almost　like　a　captivity。　　Never；　even　in　the　summer　days；　was　he　allowed　to　go　beyond　the　Castle　walls；　and　his　guardians　would　fain　have　had　it　supposed　that　the　Castle　did　not　contain　any　such　guest。

Osmond　did　not　give　him　so　much　of　his　company　as　usual；　but　was　always　at　work　in　the　armourer's　forgea　low；　vaulted　chamber；　opening　into　the　Castle　court。　　Richard　and　Alberic　were　very　curious　to　know　what　he　did　there；　but　he　fastened　the　door　with　an　iron　bar；　and　they　were　forced　to　content　themselves　with　listening　to　the　strokes　of　the　hammer；　keeping　time　to　the　voice　that　sang　out；　loud　and　cheerily；　the　song　of　〃Sigurd's　sword；　and　the　maiden　sleeping　within　the　ring　of　flame。〃　　Fru　Astrida　said　Osmond　was　quite　right　no　good　weapon…smith　ever　toiled　with　open　doors；　and　when　the　boys　asked　him　questions　as　to　his　work；　he　only　smiled；　and　said　that　they　would　see　what　it　was　when　the　call　to　arms　should　come。

They　thought　it　near　at　hand；　for　tidings　came　that　Louis　had　assembled　his　army；　and　marched　into　Normandy　to　recover　the　person　of　the　young　Duke；　and　to　seize　the　country。　　No　summons；　however；　arrived；　but　a　message　came　instead；　that　Rouen　had　been　surrendered　into　the　bands　of　the　King。　　Richard　shed　indignant　tears。　　〃My　father's　Castle！　　My　own　city　in　the　hands　of　the　foe！　　Bernard　is　a　traitor　then！　　None　shall　hinder　me　from　so　calling　him。　　Why　did　we　trust　him？〃

〃Never　fear；　Lord　Duke；〃　said　Osmond。　　〃When　you　come　to　the　years　of　Knighthood；　your　own　sword　shall　right　you；　in　spite　of　all　the　false　Danes；　and　falser　Franks；　in　the　land。〃

〃What！　you　too；　son　Osmond？　　I　deemed　you　carried　a　cooler　brain　than　to　miscall　one　who　was　true　to　Rollo's　race　before　you　or　yon　varlet　were　born！〃　said　the　old　Baron。

〃He　has　yielded　my　dukedom！　　It　is　mis…calling　to　say　he　is　aught　but　a　traitor！〃　cried　Richard。　　〃Vile；　treacherous；　favour…seeking〃

〃Peace；　peace；　my　Lord；〃　said　the　Baron。　　〃Bernard　has　more　in　that　wary　head　of　his　than　you