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第26章

the wood beyond the world-第26章

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each other。  But they noted that four brisk men lay without the
booth; and across the door; with their weapons beside them; so that
they must needs look upon themselves as captives。

Then Walter might not refrain him; but spake:  〃Sweet and dear
friend; I have come a long way from the quay at Langton; and the
vision of the Dwarf; the Maid; and the Lady; and for this kiss
wherewith I have kissed thee e'en now; and the kindness of thine
eyes; it was worth the time and the travail。  But to…morrow;
meseemeth; I shall go no further in this world; though my journey be
far longer than from Langton hither。  And now may God and All
Hallows keep thee amongst this wild folk; whenas I shall be gone
from thee。〃

She laughed low and sweetly; and said:  〃Dear friend; dost thou
speak to me thus mournfully to move me to love thee better?  Then is
thy labour lost; for no better may I love thee than now I do; and
that is with mine whole heart。  But keep a good courage; I bid thee;
for we be not sundered yet; nor shall we be。  Nor do I deem that we
shall die here; or to…morrow; but many years hence; after we have
known all the sweetness of life。  Meanwhile; I bid thee good…night;
fair friend!〃



CHAPTER XXVII:  MORNING AMONGST THE BEARS



So Walter laid him down and fell asleep; and knew no more till he
awoke in bright daylight with the Maid standing over him。  She was
fresh from the water; for she had been to the river to bathe her;
and the sun through the open door fell streaming on her feet close
to Walter's pillow。  He turned about and cast his arm about them;
and caressed them; while she stood smiling upon him; then he arose
and looked on her; and said:  〃How thou art fair and bright this
morning!  And yet 。 。 。 and yet 。 。 。 were it not well that thou do
off thee all this faded and drooping bravery of leaves and blossoms;
that maketh thee look like to a jongleur's damsel on a morrow of
May…day?〃

And he gazed ruefully on her。

She laughed on him merrily; and said:  〃Yea; and belike these others
think no better of my attire; or not much better; for yonder they
are gathering small wood for the burnt…offering; which; forsooth;
shall be thou and I; unless I better it all by means of the wisdom I
learned of the old woman; and perfected betwixt the stripes of my
Mistress; whom a little while ago thou lovedst somewhat。〃

And as she spake her eyes sparkled; her cheek flushed; and her limbs
and her feet seemed as if they could scarce refrain from dancing for
joy。  Then Walter knit his brow; and for a moment a thought half…
framed was in his mind:  Is it so; that she will bewray me and live
without me? and he cast his eyes on to the ground。  But she said:
〃Look up; and into mine eyes; friend; and see if there be in them
any falseness toward thee!  For I know thy thought; I know thy
thought。  Dost thou not see that my joy and gladness is for the love
of thee; and the thought of the rest from trouble that is at hand?〃

He looked up; and his eyes met the eyes of her love; and he would
have cast his arms about her; but she drew aback and said:  〃Nay;
thou must refrain thee awhile; dear friend; lest these folk cast
eyes on us; and deem us over lover…like for what I am to bid them
deem me。  Abide a while; and then shall all be in me according to
thy will。  But now I must tell thee that it is not very far from
noon; and that the Bears are streaming into the Dale; and already
there is an host of men at the Doom…ring; and; as I said; the bale
for the burnt…offering is wellnigh dight; whether it be for us; or
for some other creature。  And now I have to bid thee this; and it
will be a thing easy for thee to do; to wit; that thou look as if
thou wert of the race of the Gods; and not to blench; or show sign
of blenching; whatever betide:  to yea…say both my yea…say and my
nay…say:  and lastly this; which is the only hard thing for thee
(but thou hast already done it before somewhat); to look upon me
with no masterful eyes of love; nor as if thou wert at once praying
me and commanding me; rather thou shalt so demean thee as if thou
wert my man all simply; and nowise my master。〃

〃O friend beloved;〃 said Walter; 〃here at least art thou the master;
and I will do all thy bidding; in certain hope of this; that either
we shall live together or die together。〃

But as they spoke; in came the elder; and with him a young maiden;
bearing with them their breakfast of curds arid cream and
strawberries; and he bade them eat。  So they ate; and were not
unmerry; and the while of their eating the elder talked with them
soberly; but not hardly; or with any seeming enmity:  and ever his
talk gat on to the drought; which was now burning up the down…
pastures; and how the grass in the watered dales; which was no wide
spread of land; would not hold out much longer unless the God sent
them rain。  And Walter noted that those two; the elder and the Maid;
eyed each other curiously amidst of this talk; the elder intent on
what she might say; and if she gave heed to his words; while on her
side the Maid answered his speech graciously and pleasantly; but
said little that was of any import:  nor would she have him fix her
eyes; which wandered lightly from this thing to that; nor would her
lips grow stern and stable; but ever smiled in answer to the light
of her eyes; as she sat there with her face as the very face of the
gladness of the summer day。



CHAPTER XXVIII:  OF THE NEW GOD OF THE BEARS



At last the old man said:  〃My children; ye shall now come with me
unto the Doom…ring of our folk; the Bears of the Southern Dales; and
deliver to them your errand; and I beseech you to have pity upon
your own bodies; as I have pity on them; on thine especially;
Maiden; so fair and bright a creature as thou art; for so it is;
that if ye deal us out light and lying words after the manner of
dastards; ye shall miss the worship and glory of wending away amidst
of the flames; a gift to the God and a hope to the people; and shall
be passed by the rods of the folk; until ye faint and fail amongst
them; and then shall ye be thrust down into the flow at the Dale's
End; and a stone…laden hurdle cast upon you; that we may thenceforth
forget your folly。〃

The Maid now looked full into his eyes; and Walter deemed that the
old man shrank before her; but she said:  〃Thou art old and wise; O
great man of the Bears; yet nought I need to learn of thee。  Now
lead us on our way to the Stead of the Errands。〃

So the elder brought them along to the Doom…ring at the eastern end
of the Dale; and it was now all peopled with those huge men;
weaponed after their fashion; and standing up; so that the grey
stones thereof but showed a little over their heads。  But amidmost
of the said Ring was a big stone; fashioned as a chair; whereon sat
a very old man; long…hoary and white…bearded; and on either side of
him stood a great…limbed woman clad in war…gear; holding; each of
them; a long spear; and with a flint…bladed knife in the girdle; and
there were no other women in all the Mote。

Then the elder led those twain into the midst of the Mote; and there
bade them go up on to a wide; flat…topped stone; six feet above the
ground; just over against the ancient chieftain; and they mounted it
by a rough stair; and stood there before that folk; Walter in his
array of the outward world; which had been fair enough; of crimson
cloth and silk; and white linen; but was now travel…stained and
worn; and the Maid with nought upon her; save the smock wherein she
had fled from the Golden House of the Wood beyond the World; decked
with the faded flowers which she had wreathed about her yesterday。
Nevertheless; so it was; that those big men eyed her intently; and
with somewhat of worship。

Now did Walter; according to her bidding; sink down on his knees
beside her; and drawing his sword; hold it before him; as if to keep
all interlopers aloof from the Maid。  And there was silence in the
Mote; and all eyes were fixed on those twain。

At last the old chief arose and spake:  〃Ye men; here are come a man
and a woman; we know not whence; whereas they have given word to our
folk who first met them; that they 

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