men of iron-第23章

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to　an　honest；　pleasant　friendship。　More　than　once　Myles；　when　in　Lord　George's　train；　caught　a　covert　smile　or　half　nod　from　one　or　both　of　the　girls；　not　a　little　delightful　in　its　very　secret　friendliness。



CHAPTER　19

As　waS　said；　perhaps　a　month　passed；　then　Myles's　visits　came　to　an　abrupt　termination；　and　with　it　ended；　in　a　certain　sense；　a　chapter　of　his　life。

One　Saturday　afternoon　he　climbed　the　garden　wall；　and　skirting　behind　a　long　row　of　rosebushes　that　screened　him　from　the　Countess's　terrace；　came　to　a　little　summer…house　where　the　two　young　ladies　had　appointed　to　meet　him　that　day。

A　pleasant　half…hour　or　so　was　passed；　and　then　it　was　time　for　Myles　to　go。　He　lingered　for　a　while　before　he　took　his　final　leave；　leaning　against　the　door…post；　and　laughingly　telling　how　he　and　some　of　his　brother　squires　had　made　a　figure　of　straw　dressed　in　men's　clothes；　and　had　played　a　trick　with　it　one　night　upon　a　watchman　against　whom　they　bore　a　grudge。

The　young　ladies　were　listening　with　laughing　faces；　when　suddenly；　as　Myles　looked；　he　saw　the　smile　vanish　from　Lady　Alice's　eyes　and　a　wide　terror　take　its　place。　She　gave　a　half…articulate　cry；　and　rose　abruptly　from　the　bench　upon　which　she　was　sitting。

Myles　turned　sharply；　and　then　his　very　heart　seemed　to　stand　still　within　him；　for　there；　standing　in　the　broad　sunlight　without；　and　glaring　in　upon　the　party　with　baleful　eyes；　was　the　Earl　of　Mackworth　himself。

How　long　was　the　breathless　silence　that　followed；　Myles　could　never　tell。　He　knew　that　the　Lady　Anne　had　also　risen；　and　that　she　and　her　cousin　were　standing　as　still　as　statues。　Presently　the　Earl　pointed　to　the　house　with　his　staff；　and　Myles　noted　stupidly　how　it　trembled　in　his　hand。

〃Ye　wenches；〃　said　he　at　last；　in　a　hard；　harsh　voice〃ye　wenches；　what　meaneth　this？　Would　ye　deceive　me　so；　and　hold　parlance　thus　secretly　with　this　fellow？　I　will　settle　with　him　anon。　Meantime　get　ye　straightway　to　the　house　and　to　your　rooms；　and　there　abide　until　I　give　ye　leave　to　come　forth　again。　Go；　I　say！〃

〃Father；〃　said　Lady　Anne；　in　a　breathless　voice　she　was　as　white　as　death；　and　moistened　her　lips　with　her　tongue　before　she　spoke〃father；　thou　wilt　not　do　harm　to　this　young　man。　Spare　him；　I　do　beseech　thee；　for　truly　it　was　I　who　bade　him　come　hither。　I　know　that　he　would　not　have　come　but　at　our　bidding。〃

The　Earl　stamped　his　foot　upon　the　gravel。　〃Did　ye　not　hear　me？〃　said　he；　still　pointing　towards　the　house　with　his　trembling　staff。　〃I　bade　ye　go　to　your　rooms。　I　will　settle　with　this　fellow；　I　say；　as　I　deem　fitting。〃

〃Father；〃　began　Lady　Anne　again；　but　the　Earl　made　such　a　savage　gesture　that　poor　Lady　Alice　uttered　a　faint　shriek；　and　Lady　Anne　stopped　abruptly；　trembling。　Then　she　turned　and　passed　out　the　farther　door　of　the　summerhouse；　poor　little　Lady　Alice　following；　holding　her　tight　by　the　skirts；　and　trembling　and　shuddering　as　though　with　a　fit　of　the　ague。

The　Earl　stood　looking　grimly　after　them　from　under　his　shaggy　eyebrows；　until　they　passed　away　behind　the　yew…trees；　appeared　again　upon　the　terrace　behind；　entered　the　open　doors　of　the　women's　house；　and　were　gone。　Myles　heard　their　footsteps　growing　fainter　and　fainter；　but　he　never　raised　his　eyes。　Upon　the　ground　at　his　feet　were　four　pebbles；　and　he　noticed　how　they　almost　made　a　square；　and　would　do　so　if　he　pushed　one　of　them　with　his　toe；　and　then　it　seemed　strange　to　him　that　he　should　think　of　such　a　little　foolish　thing　at　that　dreadful　time。

He　knew　that　the　Earl　was　looking　gloomily　at　him；　and　that　his　face　must　be　very　pale。　Suddenly　Lord　Mackworth　spoke。　〃What　hast　thou　to　say？〃　said　he；　harshly。

Then　Myles　raised　his　eyes；　and　the　Earl　smiled　grimly　as　he　looked　his　victim　over。　〃I　have　naught　to　say；〃　said　the　lad；　huskily。

〃Didst　thou　not　hear　what　my　daughter　spake　but　now？〃　said　the　Earl。　〃She　said　that　thou　came　not　of　thy　own　free…will；　what　sayst　thou　to　that；　sirrahis　it　true？〃

Myles　hesitated　for　a　moment　or　two；　his　throat　was　tight　and　dry。　〃Nay；〃　said　he　at　last；　〃she　belieth　herself。　It　was　I　who　first　came　into　the　garden。　I　fell　by　chance　from　the　tree　yonderI　was　seeking　a　ballthen　I　asked　those　two　if　I　might　not　come　hither　again；　and　so　have　done　some　several　times　in　all。　But　as　for　hernay；　it　was　not　at　her　bidding　that　I　came；　but　through　mine　own　asking。〃

The　Earl　gave　a　little　grunt　in　his　throat。　〃And　how　often　hast　thou　been　here？〃　said　he；　presently。

Myles　thought　a　moment　or　two。　〃This　maketh　the　seventh　time；〃　said　he。

Another　pause　of　silence　followed；　and　Myles　began　to　pluck　up　some　heart　that　maybe　all　would　yet　be　well。　The　Earl's　next　speech　dashed　that　hope　into　a　thousand　fragments。　〃Well　thou　knowest；〃　said　he；　〃that　it　is　forbid　for　any　to　come　here。　Well　thou　knowest　that　twice　have　men　been　punished　for　this　thing　that　thou　hast　done；　and　yet　thou　camest　in　spite　of　all。　Now　dost　thou　know　what　thou　wilt　suffer？〃

Myles　picked　with　nervous　fingers　at　a　crack　in　the　oaken　post　against　which　he　leaned。　〃Mayhap　thou　wilt　kill　me；〃　said　he　at　last；　in　a　dull；　choking　voice。

Again　the　Earl　smiled　a　grim　smile。　〃Nay；〃　said　he；　〃I　would　not　slay　thee；　for　thou　hast　gentle　blood。　But　what　sayest　thou　should　I　shear　thine　ears　from　thine　head；　or　perchance　have　thee　scourged　in　the　great　court？〃

The　sting　of　the　words　sent　the　blood　flying　back　to　Myles's　face　again；　and　he　looked　quickly　up。　〃Nay；〃　said　he；　with　a　boldness　that　surprised　himself；　〃thou　shalt　do　no　such　unlordly　thing　upon　me　as　that。　I　be　thy　peer；　sir；　in　blood；　and　though　thou　mayst　kill　me；　thou　hast　no　right　to　shame　me。〃

Lord　Mackworth　bowed　with　a　mocking　courtesy。　〃Marry！〃　said　he。　〃Methought　it　was　one　of　mine　own　saucy　popinjay　squires　that　I　caught　sneaking　here　and　talking　to　those　two　foolish　young　lasses；　and　lo！　it　is　a　young　Lordor　mayhap　thou　art　a　young　Princeand　commandeth　me　that　I　shall　not　do　this　and　I　shall　not　do　that。　I　crave　your　Lordship's　honorable　pardon；　if　I　have　said　aught　that　may　have　galled　you。〃

The　fear　Myles　had　felt　was　now　beginning　to　dissolve　in　rising　wrath。　〃Nay；〃　said　he；　stoutly；　〃I　be　no　Lord　and　I　be　no　Prince；　but　I　be　as　good　as　thou。　For　am　I　not　the　son　of　thy　onetime　very　true　comrade　and　thy　kinsmanto　wit；　the　Lord　Falworth；　whom；　as　thou　knowest；　is　poor　and　broken；　and　blind；　and　helpless；　and　outlawed；　and　banned？　Yet；〃　cried　he；　grinding　his　teeth；　as　the　thought　of　it　all　rushed　in　upon　him；　〃I　would　rather　be　in　his　place　than　in　yours；　for　though　he　be　ruined；　you〃

He　had　just　sense　enough　to　stop　there。

The　Earl；　gripping　his　staff　behind　his　back；　and　with　his　head　a　little　bent；　was　looking　keenly　at　the　lad　from　under　his　shaggy　gray　brows。　〃Well；〃　said　he；　as　Myles　stopped；　〃thou　hast　gone　too　far　now　to　draw　back。　Say　thy　say　to　the　end。　Why　wouldst　thou　rather　be　in　thy　father's　stead　than　in　mine？〃

Myles　did　not　answer。

〃Thou　shalt　finish　thy　speech；　or　else　show　thyself　a　coward。　Though　thy　father　is　ruined；　thou　didst　say　I　amwhat？〃

Myles　keyed　himself　up　to　the　effort；　and　then　blurted　out；　〃Thou　art　attainted　with　shame。〃

A　long　breathless　silence　followed。

〃Myles　Falworth；〃　said　the　Earl　at　last　（and　even　in　the　whirling　of　his　wits　Myles　wondered　that　he　had　the　name　so　pat）〃Myles　Falworth；　of　all　the　bold；　mad；　hare…brained　fools；　thou　art　the　most　foolish。　How　dost　thou　dare　say　such　words　to　me？　Dost　thou　not　know　that　thou　makest　thy　coming　punishment　ten　times　more　bitter　by　such　a　speech？〃

〃Aye！〃　cried　Myles；　desperately；　〃but　what　else　could　I　do？　An　I　did　not　say　the　words；　thou　callest　me　coward；　and　coward　I　am　not。〃

〃By　'r　Lady！〃　said　the　Earl；　〃I　do　believe　thee。　Thou　art　a　bold；　impudent　varlet　as　ever　livedto　beard　me　so；　forsooth！　Hark'ee；　thou　sayst　I　think　naught　of　mine　old　comrade。　I　will　show　thee　that　thou　dost　belie　me。　I　will　suffer　what　thou　hast　said　to　me　for　his　sake；　and　for　his　sake　will　forgive　thee　thy　coming　hitherwhich　I　would　not　do　in　another　case　to　any　other　man。　Now　get　thee　gone　straightway；　and　come　hither　no　more。　Yonder　is　the　postern…gate；　mayhap　thou　knowest　the　way。　But　stay！　How　camest　thou　hither？〃

Myle