the wood beyond the world-第13章

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amongst　our　rough　oak…boles？　　What！　art　thou　looking　at　the　iron
ring　there？　　It　is　nought；　save　a　token　that　she　is　mine；　and　that　I
may　not　be　without　her。〃

Then　she　took　the　Maid　by　the　shoulders　and　turned　her　about　as　in
sport；　and　said：　　〃Go　thou　now；　and　bring　hither　the　good　grey　ones；
for　needs　must　we　bring　home　some　venison　to…day；　whereas　this　stout
warrior　may　not　feed　on　nought　save　manchets　and　honey。〃

So　the　Maid　went　her　way；　taking　care；　as　Walter　deemed；　to　give　no
side　glance　to　him。　　But　he　stood　there　shamefaced；　so　confused　with
all　this　openhearted　kindness　of　the　great　Lady　and　with　the　fresh
sight　of　the　darling　beauty　of　the　Maid；　that　he　went　nigh　to
thinking　that　all　he　had　heard　since　he　had　come　to　the　porch　of　the
house　that　first　time　was　but　a　dream　of　evil。

But　while　he　stood　pondering　these　matters；　and　staring　before　him
as　one　mazed；　the　Lady　laughed　out　in　his　face；　and　touched　him　on
the　arm　and　said：　　〃Ah；　our　Squire；　is　it　so　that　now　thou　hast　seen
my　Maid　thou　wouldst　with　a　good　will　abide　behind　to　talk　with　her？
But　call　to　mind　thy　word　pledged　to　me　e'en　now！　　And　moreover　I
tell　thee　this　for　thy　behoof　now　she　is　out　of　ear…shot；　that　I
will　above　all　things　take　thee　away　to…day：　　for　there　be　other
eyes；　and　they　nought　uncomely；　that　look　at　whiles　on　my　fair…
ankled　thrall；　and　who　knows　but　the　swords　might　be　out　if　I　take
not　the　better　heed；　and　give　thee　not　every　whit　of　thy　will。〃

As　she　spoke　and　moved　forward；　he　turned　a　little；　so　that　now　the
edge　of　that　hazel…coppice　was　within　his　eye…shot；　and　he　deemed
that　once　more　he　saw　the　yellow…brown　evil　thing　crawling　forth
from　the　thicket；　then；　turning　suddenly　on　the　Lady；　he　met　her
eyes；　and　seemed　in　one　moment　of　time　to　find　a　far　other　look　in
them　than　that　of　frankness　and　kindness；　though　in　a　flash　they
changed　back　again；　and　she　said　merrily　and　sweetly：　　〃So；　so；　Sir
Squire；　now　art　thou　awake　again；　and　mayest　for　a　little　while　look
on　me。〃

Now　it　came　into　his　head；　with　that　look　of　hers；　all　that　might
befall　him　and　the　Maid　if　he　mastered　not　his　passion；　nor　did　what
he　might　to　dissemble；　so　he　bent　the　knee　to　her；　and　spoke　boldly
to　her　in　her　own　vein；　and　said：　　〃Nay；　most　gracious　of　ladies；
never　would　I　abide　behind　to…day　since　thou　farest　afield。　　But　if
my　speech　be　hampered；　or　mine　eyes　stray；　is　it　not　because　my　mind
is　confused　by　thy　beauty；　and　the　honey　of　kind　words　which　floweth
from　thy　mouth？〃

She　laughed　outright　at　his　word；　but　not　disdainfully；　and　said：
〃This　is　well　spoken；　Squire；　and　even　what　a　squire　should　say　to
his　liege　lady；　when　the　sun　is　up　on　a　fair　morning；　and　she　and　he
and　all　the　world　are　glad。〃

She　stood　quite　near　him　as　she　spoke；　her　hand　was　on　his　shoulder；
and　her　eyes　shone　and　sparkled。　　Sooth　to　say；　that　excusing　of　his
confusion　was　like　enough　in　seeming　to　the　truth；　for　sure　never
creature　was　fashioned　fairer　than　she：　　clad　she　was　for　the
greenwood　as　the　hunting…goddess　of　the　Gentiles；　with　her　green
gown　gathered　unto　her　girdle；　and　sandals　on　her　feet；　a　bow　in　her
hand　and　a　quiver　at　her　back：　　she　was　taller　and　bigger　of　fashion
than　the　dear　Maiden；　whiter　of　flesh；　and　more　glorious；　and
brighter　of　hair；　as　a　flower　of　flowers　for　fairness　and　fragrance。

She　said：　　〃Thou　art　verily　a　fair　squire　before　the　hunt　is　up；　and
if　thou　be　as　good　in　the　hunting；　all　will　be　better　than　well；　and
the　guest　will　be　welcome。　　But　lo！　here　cometh　our　Maid　with　the
good　grey　ones。　　Go　meet　her；　and　we　will　tarry　no　longer　than　for
thy　taking　the　leash　in　hand。〃

So　Walter　looked；　and　saw　the　Maid　coming　with　two　couple　of　great
hounds　in　the　leash　straining　against　her　as　she　came　along。　　He　ran
lightly　to　meet　her；　wondering　if　he　should　have　a　look；　or　a　half…
whisper　from　her；　but　she　let　him　take　the　white　thongs　from　her
hand；　with　the　same　half…smile　of　shamefacedness　still　set　on　her
face；　and；　going　past　him；　came　softly　up　to　the　Lady；　swaying　like
a　willow…branch　in　the　wind；　and　stood　before　her；　with　her　arms
hanging　down　by　her　sides。　　Then　the　Lady　turned　to　her；　and　said：
〃Look　to　thyself；　our　Maid；　while　we　are　away。　　This　fair　young　man
thou　needest　not　to　fear　indeed；　for　he　is　good　and　leal；　but　what
thou　shalt　do　with　the　King's　Son　I　wot　not。　　He　is　a　hot　lover
forsooth；　but　a　hard　man；　and　whiles　evil　is　his　mood；　and　perilous
both　to　thee　and　me。　　And　if　thou　do　his　will；　it　shall　be　ill　for
thee；　and　if　thou　do　it　not；　take　heed　of　him；　and　let　me；　and　me
only；　come　between　his　wrath　and　thee。　　I　may　do　somewhat　for　thee。
Even　yesterday　he　was　instant　with　me　to　have　thee　chastised　after
the　manner　of　thralls；　but　I　bade　him　keep　silence　of　such　words；
and　jeered　him　and　mocked　him；　till　he　went　away　from　me　peevish　and
in　anger。　　So　look　to　it　that　thou　fall　not　into　any　trap　of　his
contrivance。〃

Then　the　Maid　cast　herself　at　the　Mistress's　feet；　and　kissed　and
embraced　them；　and　as　she　rose　up；　the　Lady　laid　her　hand　lightly　on
her　head；　and　then；　turning　to　Walter；　cried　out：　　〃Now；　Squire；　let
us　leave　all　these　troubles　and　wiles　and　desires　behind　us；　and
flit　through　the　merry　greenwood　like　the　Gentiles　of　old　days。〃

And　therewith　she　drew　up　the　laps　of　her　gown　till　the　whiteness　of
her　knees　was　seen；　and　set　off　swiftly　toward　the　wood　that　lay
south　of　the　house；　and　Walter　followed；　marvelling　at　her
goodliness；　nor　durst　he　cast　a　look　backward　to　the　Maiden；　for　he
knew　that　she　desired　him；　and　it　was　her　only　that　he　looked　to　for
his　deliverance　from　this　house　of　guile　and　lies。



CHAPTER　XIV：　　THE　HUNTING　OF　THE　HART



As　they　went；　they　found　a　change　in　the　land；　which　grew　emptier　of
big　and　wide…spreading　trees；　and　more　beset　with　thickets。　　From
one　of　these　they　roused　a　hart；　and　Walter　let　slip　his　hounds
thereafter　and　he　and　the　Lady　followed　running。　　Exceeding　swift
was　she；　and　well…breathed　withal；　so　that　Walter　wondered　at　her；
and　eager　she　was　in　the　chase　as　the　very　hounds；　heeding　nothing
the　scratching　of　briars　or　the　whipping　of　stiff　twigs　as　she　sped
on。　　But　for　all　their　eager　hunting；　the　quarry　outran　both　dogs
and　folk；　and　gat　him　into　a　great　thicket；　amidmost　whereof　was　a
wide　plash　of　water。　　Into　the　thicket　they　followed　him；　but　he
took　to　the　water　under　their　eyes　and　made　land　on　the　other　side；
and　because　of　the　tangle　of　underwood；　he　swam　across　much　faster
than　they　might　have　any　hope　to　come　round　on　him；　and　so　were　the
hunters　left　undone　for　that　time。

So　the　Lady　cast　herself　down　on　the　green　grass　anigh　the　water；
while　Walter　blew　the　hounds　in　and　coupled　them　up；　then　he　turned
round　to　her；　and　lo！　she　was　weeping　for　despite　that　they　had　lost
the　quarry；　and　again　did　Walter　wonder　that　so　little　a　matter
should　raise　a　passion　of　tears　in　her。　　He　durst　not　ask　what　ailed
her；　or　proffer　her　solace；　but　was　not　ill　apaid　by　beholding　her
loveliness　as　she　lay。

Presently　she　raised　up　her　head　and　turned　to　Walter；　and　spake　to
him　angrily　and　said：　　〃Squire；　why　dost　thou　stand　staring　at　me
like　a　fool？〃

〃Yea；　Lady；〃　he　said；　〃but　the　sight　of　thee　maketh　me　foolish　to　do
aught　else　but　to　look　on　thee。〃

She　said；　in　a　peevish　voice：　　〃Tush；　Squire；　the　day　is　too　far
spent　for　soft　and　courtly　speeches；　what　was　good　there　is　nought
so　good　here。　　Withal；　I　know　more　of　thine　heart　than　thou
deemest。〃

Walter　hung　down　his　head　and　reddened；　and　she　looked　on　him；　and
her　face　changed；　and　she　smiled　and　said；　kindly　this　time：　　〃Look
ye；　Squire；　I　am　hot　and　weary；　and　ill…content；　but　presently　it
will　be　better　with　me；　for　my　knees　have　been　telling　my　shoulders
that　the　cold　water　of　this　little　lake　will　be　sweet　and　pleasant
this　summer　noonday；　and　that　I　shall　forget　my　foil　when　I　have
taken　my　pleasure　therein。　　Wherefore；　go　thou　with　thine　hounds
without　the　thicket　and　there　abide　my　coming。　　And　I　bid　thee　look
not　aback　as　thou　goest；　for　therein　were　peril　to　thee：　　I　shall
not　keep　thee　tarrying　long　alone。〃

He　bowed　his　head　to　her；　and