the virgin of the sun-第20节

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the　rest　I　was　mad　with　love　of　her；　also　both　then　and　as　the　days
went　by；　more　and　more　did　she　seem　to　be　travelling　on　this　same　road
of　Love。　If　not；　indeed　she　acted　well。

Within　a　month　we　were　wed　on　a　certain　October　day　in　the　church　of
St。　Margaret's　at　Westminster。　Once　it　was　agreed　all　desired　to　push
on　this　marriage；　and　not　least　Blanche　herself。　Sir　Robert　Aleys　said
that　he　wished　to　be　gone　from　London　to　his　estates　in　Sussex；　having
had　enough　of　the　Court　and　its　ways；　desiring　there　to　live　quietly
till　the　end；　I；　being　so　much　in　love；　was　on　fire　for　my　bride；　and
Blanche　herself　vowed　that　she　was　eager　to　become　my　wife；　saying
that　our　courtship；　which　began　on　Hastings　Hill；　had　lasted　long
enough。　For　the　rest；　there　was　nothing　to　cause　delay。　I　cancelled
Sir　Robert's　debt　to　me　and　signed　a　deed　in　favour　of　his　daughter
and　her　offspring；　whereof　I　gave　a　copy　to　his　lawyer　and　there　was
nought　else　to　be　done　except　to　prepare　my　house　for　her　which；　with
money　at　command；　was　easy。

No　great　business　was　made　of　this　marriage；　since　neither　his　kin　nor
Sir　Robert　himself　wished　to　noise　it　about　that　his　only　child；　the
last　of　his　House；　was　taking　a　merchant　for　her　husband　to　save　her
and　him　from　wreck。　Nor　did　I；　the　merchant；　wish　to　provoke　talk
amongst　those　of　my　own　station；　especially　as　it　was　known　that　I　had
advanced　moneys　to　these　fine　folks　of　the　Court。　So　it　came　about
that　few　were　asked　to　the　ceremony　that　was　fixed　for　an　early　hour；
and　of　these　not　many　came；　because　on　that　day；　although　it　was　but
October；　a　great　gale　with　storms　of　rain　began　to　blow；　the　greatest
indeed　that　I　had　known　in　my　life。

Thus　it　chanced　that　we　were　wed　in　an　almost　empty　church　while　the
fierce　wind；　thundering　against　the　windows；　overcame　the　feeble　voice
of　the　old　priest；　so　that　he　looked　like　one　acting　in　a　show　without
words。　The　darkness　caused　by　the　thick　rain　was　so　deep；　also；　that
scarce　could　I　see　my　bride's　lovely　face　or　find　the　finger　upon
which　I　must　set　the　ring。

At　length　it　was　done　and　we　went　down　the　aisle　to　find　our　horses
whereon　we　must　ride　to　my　house　in　Cheapside；　where　there　was　to　be　a
feast　for　my　dependents　and　such　of　my　few　friends　as　cared　to　come；
among　whom　were　not　numbered　any　grand　folk　from　Westminster。　As　we
drew　near　the　church　door　I　noted　among　those　who　were　present　those
two　gaudy　ladies　between　whom　Deleroy　had　sat　at　that　meal　after　the
business　of　the　loan　was　settled。　Moreover；　I　heard　one　of　them　say：

〃What　will　Deleroy　do　when　he　comes　back　to　find　his　darling　gone？〃
and　the　other　answer　with　a　high　laugh：

〃Seek　another；　doubtless；　or　borrow　more　money　from　the　merchant；
and〃　Here　I　lost　their　talk　in　the　rush　of　the　wind　through　the
opened　door。

In　the　porch　was　old　Sir　Robert　Aleys。

〃Mother　of　God！〃　he　shouted；　〃may　the　rest　of　the　lives　of　you　two　be
smoother　than　your　nuptials。　No　Cheapside　feast　for　me；　I'm　for　home
in　such　fiend's　weather。　Farewell；　son　Hubert；　and　all　joy　to　you。
Farewell；　Blanche。　Learn　to　be　obedient　as　a　wife　and　keep　your　eyes
for　your　husband's　face；　that　is　my　counsel　to　you。　Till　we　meet　again
at　Christmastide　in　Sussex；　whither　I　ride　to…morrow；　farewell　to　both
of　you。〃

Farewell；　it　was　indeed；　for　never　did　either　of　us　look　on　him　again。

Wrapped　close　in　our　cloaks　we　battled　through　the　storm　and　at
length；　somewhat　breathless；　reached　my　house　in　the　Cheap　where　the
garlands　of　autumn　flowers　and　greenery　that　I　had　caused　to　be
wreathed　from　posts　before　the　door　were　all　torn　away　by　the　gale。
Here　I　welcomed　my　wife　as　best　I　could；　kissing　her　as　she　crossed
the　threshold　and　saying　certain　sweet　words　that　I　had　prepared；　to
which　she　smiled　an　answer。　Then　the　women　took　her　to　her　chamber　to
make　herself　ready　and　afterwards　came　the　feast；　which　was　sumptuous
of　its　sort；　though　the　evil　weather　kept　some　of　the　guests　away。

Scarcely　had　it　begun　when　Kari；　who　of　late　had　been　sad…faced　and
brooding；　and　who　did　not　eat　with　us；　entered　and　whispered　to　me
that　my　Master　of　Lading　from　the　docks　prayed　to　see　me　at　once　on　a
matter　which　would　brook　no　delay。　Making　excuse　to　Blanche　and　the
company；　I　went　out　to　see　him　in　the　shop　and　found　the　man　much
disturbed。　It　seemed　that　a　certain　vessel　of　mine　that　I　had
rechristened　/Blanche/　in　honour　of　my　wife；　which　lay　in　the　stream
ready　to　sail；　was　in　great　danger　because　of　the　tempest。　Indeed；　she
was　dragging　at　her　anchor；　and　it　was　feared　that　unless　more　anchors
could　be　let　down　she　would　come　ashore　and　be　wrecked　against　the
jetty…heads　or　otherwise。　The　reason　why　this　had　not　been　done；　was
that　only　the　master　and　one　sailor　were　on　board　the　vessel；　the　rest
were　feasting　ashore　in　honour　of　my　marriage；　and　refused　to　row　out
to　her；　saying　that　the　boat　would　be　swamped　in　the　gale。

Now　this　ship；　although　not　very　large；　was　the　best　and　staunchest
that　I　owned；　being　almost　new；　moreover；　the　cargo　on　board　of　her；
laden　for　the　Mediterranean；　was　of　great　value；　so　great　indeed　that
its　loss　would　have　been　very　grievous　to　me。　Therefore；　it　was　plain
that　I　must　see　to　the　matter　without　delay；　since　from　my　servant's
account　there　was　no　hope　that　these　rebellious　sailors　would　listen
to　any　lesser　man　than　myself。　So；　if　I　would　save　the　ship　and　her
cargo；　I　must　ride　for　the　docks　at　once。

Going　back　to　the　eating…chamber；　in　a　few　words　I　told　my　wife　and
the　guests　how　the　matter　stood；　praying　the　oldest　man　among　the
latter　to　take　my　place　by　the　bride；　which　he　did　unwillingly；
muttering　that　this　was　an　unlucky　marriage　feast。

Then　it　was　that　Blanche　rose；　beseeching　me　earnestly　and　almost　with
tears　that　I　would　take　her　with　me　to　the　docks。　I　laughed　at　her；　as
did　the　company；　but　still　she　besought　with　much　persistence；　till　I
began　to　believe　that　she　must　be　afraid　of　something；　though　the
others　cried　that　it　was　but　love　and　fear　lest　I　should　come　to　harm。

In　the　end　I　made　her　drink　a　cup　of　wine　with　me；　but　her　hand　shook
so　much　that　she　spilled　the　cup　and　the　rich　red　wine　ran　down　her
breast；　staining　the　whiteness　of　her　robe；　whereat　some　women　among
the　company　murmured；　thinking　it　a　bad　omen。　At　length　with　a　kiss　I
tore　myself　away；　for　I　could　bide　no　longer　and　the　horses　were
waiting　presently。　So　I　was　riding　for　the　docks　as　fast　as　the　storm
would　suffer；　with　tiles　from　the　roofs；　and　when　we　were　clear　of
these　the　torn…off　limbs　of　trees　hurtling　round　me。　Kari；　I　should
say；　would　have　accompanied　me；　but　I　took　a　serving…man；　bidding　Kari
bide　where　he　was　in　the　house　in　case　he　might　be　of　service。

At　last　we　came　safely　to　the　docks　where　I　found　all　as　my　cargo…
master　had　described。　The　ship　/Blanche/　was　in　great　peril　and
dragging　every　minute　towards　a　pierhead　which；　if　she　struck；　would
stave　her　in　and　make　an　end　of　her。　The　men；　too；　were　still　feasting
in　the　inn　with　their　wharfside　trollops；　and　some　of　them　half　drunk。
I　spoke　to　them；　showing　them　their　shame；　and　saying　that　if　they
would　not　come；　I　and　my　man　would　take　a　boat　and　get　aboard　alone
and　this　upon　my　wedding　day。　Then　they　hung　their　heads　and　came。

We　won　to　the　ship　safely　though　with　much　toil　and　danger；　and　there
found　the　master　almost　crazed　with　fear　and　doubt　of　the　issue；　and
the　man　with　him　injured　by　a　falling　block。　Indeed；　this　poor　captain
clung　to　the　rail；　watching　the　cable　as　it　dragged　the　anchor　and
fearing　every　moment　lest　it　should　part。

The　rest　is　soon　told。　We　got　out　two　more　anchors　and　did　other
things　such　as　sailors　know；　to　help　in　such　a　case。　When　all　was　as
safe　as　it　could　be　made；　I　and　my　man　and　four　sailors　started　for
the　quay；　telling　the　master　that　I　would　return　upon　the　morrow。　The
wind　and　current　aiding　us；　we　landed　safe　and　sound　and　at　once　I
rode　back　to　Cheapside。

Now；　though　it　is　short　to　tell；　all　this　had　taken　a　long　while；　also
the　way　was　far　to　ride　in　such　a　storm。　Thus　it　came　about　that　it
was　nigh　to　ten　o'clock　at　night　when；　thanking　God；　I　dismounted　at
the　gate　of　my　house　and　bade　the　servant　take　the　horses　to　the
stable。　As　I　drew　near　the　door；　it　opened；　which　astonished　me　and；
as　the　light　within　showed；　there　stood　Kari。　What　astonished　me　still
more；　he　had　the　great　sword；　Wave…Flame；　in　his　hand；　though　not
drawn；　which　sword　he　must　have　fetched　from　where　it　was　kept　with
the　French　knight's　armour　and　the　shield　that　bore　three　arrows　as　a
cognizance。

Laying　his　finger　on　his　lips　he　shut　the　door　softly；　then　said　in　a
low　voice：

〃Master；　there　is　a　man　up　yonder　with　the　lady。〃

〃What　man？〃　I　asked。

〃That　same　lord；　Master；　who　came　here　with　her　once　before　to　buy
jewels　and　borrow　gold。　Hearken。　The　feast　being　finished　the　guests
went　away　at　fall　of　night；　but　the　wife…lady　withdrew　herself　into
the　chamber　that　is　called　sun…room　（the　solar）；　that　up　the　stairs；
which　looks　out　on　the　street。　About　one　hour　gone　there　came　a　knock
at　the　door。　I　who　was　watching；　opened；　thinking　it　was　you　returned；
and　there