maid marian(女孩马丽安)-第24章
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should have known you by it among a million。〃 The baron was a little
embarrassed by some questions of the lady concerning her lord's personal
appearance； but Robin came to his aid； observing a picture suspended
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opposite to him on the wall； which he made a bold conjecture to be that of
the lord in question； and making a calculation of the influences of time
and war； which he weighed with a comparison of the lady's age； he gave a
description of her lord sufficiently like the picture in its groundwork to be
a true resemblance； and sufficiently differing from it in circumstances to
be more an original than a copy。 The lady was completely deceived； and
entreated them to partake her hospitality for the night； but this they
deemed it prudent to decline； and with many humble thanks for her
kindness； and representations of the necessity of not delaying their
homeward course； they proceeded on their way。
As they passed over the drawbridge； they met Sir Ralph Montfaucon
and his squire； who were wandering in quest of Marian； and were entering
to claim that hospitality which the pilgrims had declined。 Their
countenances struck Sir Ralph with a kind of imperfect recognition； which
would never have been matured； but that the eyes of Marian； as she passed
him； encountered his； and the images of those stars of beauty continued
involuntarily twinkling in his sensorium to the exclusion of all other ideas；
till memory； love； and hope concurred with imagination to furnish a
probable reason for their haunting him so pertinaciously。 Those eyes； he
thought； were certainly the eyes of Matilda Fitzwater； and if the eyes were
hers； it was extremely probable； if not logically consecutive； that the rest
of the body they belonged to was hers also。 Now； if it were really Matilda
Fitzwater； who were her two companions？ The baron？ Aye； and the elder
pilgrim was something like him。 And the earl of Huntingdon？ Very
probably。 The earl and the baron might be good friends again； now that
they were both in disgrace together。 While he was revolving these
cogitations； he was introduced to the lady； and after claiming and
receiving the promise of hospitality； he inquired what she knew of the
pilgrims who had just departed？ The lady told him they were newly
returned from Palestine； having been long in the Holy Land。 The knight
expressed some scepticism on this point。 The lady replied； that they had
given her so minute a detail of her lord's proceedings； and so accurate a
description of his person； that she could not be deceived in them。 This
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staggered the knight's confidence in his own penetration； and if it had not
been a heresy in knighthood to suppose for a moment that there could be
in rerum natura such another pair of eyes as those of his mistress； he
would have acquiesced implicitly in the lady's judgment。 But while the
lady and the knight were conversing； the warder blew his bugle…horn； and
presently entered a confidential messenger from Palestine； who gave her
to understand that her lord was well； but entered into a detail of his
adventures most completely at variance with the baron's narrative； to
which not the correspondence of a single incident gave the remotest
colouring of similarity。 It now became manifest that the pilgrims were not
true men； and Sir Ralph Montfaucon sate down to supper with his head
full of cogitations； which we shall leave him to chew and digest with his
pheasant and canary。
Meanwhile our three pilgrims proceeded on their way。 The evening set
in black and lowering； when Robin turned aside from the main track； to
seek an asylum for the night； along a narrow way that led between rocky
and woody hills。 A peasant observed the pilgrims as they entered that
narrow pass； and called after them： 〃Whither go you； my masters？ there
are rogues in that direction。〃
〃Can you show us a direction；〃 said Robin； 〃in which there are none？
If so we will take it in preference。〃 The peasant grinned； and walked
away whistling。
The pass widened as they advanced； and the woods grew thicker and
darker around them。 Their path wound along the slope of a woody
declivity； which rose high above them in a thick rampart of foliage； and
descended almost precipitously to the bed of a small river； which they
heard dashing in its rocky channel； and saw its white foam gleaming at
intervals in the last faint glimmerings of twilight。 In a short time all was
dark； and the rising voice of the wind foretold a coming storm。 They
turned a point of the valley； and saw a light below them in the depth of the
hollow； shining through a cottage…casement and dancing in its reflection
on the restless stream。 Robin blew his horn； which was answered from
below。 The cottage door opened： a boy came forth with a torch；
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ascended the steep； showed tokens of great delight at meeting with Robin；
and lighted them down a flight of steps rudely cut in the rock； and over a
series of rugged stepping…stones； that crossed the channel of the river。
They entered the cottage； which exhibited neatness； comfort； and plenty；
being amply enriched with pots； pans； and pipkins； and adorned with
flitches of bacon and sundry similar ornaments； that gave goodly promise
in the firelight that gleamed upon the rafters。 A woman； who seemed just
old enough to be the boy's mother； had thrown down her spinning wheel in
her joy at the sound of Robin's horn； and was bustling with singular
alacrity to set forth her festal ware and prepare an abundant supper。 Her
features； though not beautiful； were agreeable and expressive； and were
now lighted up with such manifest joy at the sight of Robin； that Marian
could not help feeling a momentary touch of jealousy； and a half…formed
suspicion that Robin had broken his forest law； and had occasionally gone
out of bounds； as other great men have done upon occasion； in order to
reconcile the breach of the spirit； with the preservation of the letter； of
their own legislation。 However； this suspicion； if it could be said to exist in
a mind so generous as Marian's； was very soon dissipated by the entrance
of the woman's husband； who testified as much joy as his wife had done at
the sight of Robin； and in a short time the whole of the party were
amicably seated round a smoking supper of river…fish and wild wood fowl；
on which the baron fell with as much alacrity as if he had been a true
pilgrim from Palestine。
The husband produced some recondite flasks of wine； which were laid
by in a binn consecrated to Robin； whose occasional visits to them in his
wanderings were the
