the caged lion-第2章

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raits；　and　above　all；　have　mercy　on　our　King；　break　his　fetters；　and　send　him　home　to　be　the　healer　of　his　land；　the　avenger　of　her　cruel　wrongs。'

So　absorbed　was　the　old　man　that　he　never　heard　the　step　that　came　across　the　hall。　　It　was　a　slightly　unequal　step；　but　was　carefully　hushed　at　entrance；　as　if　supposing　the　old　man　asleep；　and　at　a　slow　pace　the　new…comer　crossed　the　hall　to　the　chimney；　where　he　stood　by　the　fire；　warming　himself　and　looking　wistfully　at　the　old　Knight。

He　was　wrapped　in　a　plaid；　black　and　white；　which　increased　the　gray　appearance　of　the　pale　sallow　face　and　sad　expression　of　the　wearer；　a　boy　of　about　seventeen；　with　soft　pensive　dark　eyes　and　a　sickly　complexion；　with　that　peculiar　wistful　cast　of　countenance　that　is　apt　to　accompany　deformity；　though　there　was　no　actual　malformation　apparent；　unless　such　might　be　reckoned　the　slight　halt　in　the　gait；　and　the　small　stature　of　the　lad；　who　was　no　taller　than　many　boys　of　twelve　or　fourteen。　　But　there　was　a　depth　of　melancholy　in　those　dark　brown　eyes；　that　went　far　into　the　heart　of　any　one　who　had　the　power　to　be　touched　with　their　yearning；　appealing；　almost　piteous　gaze；　as　though　their　owner　had　come　into　a　world　that　was　much　too　hard　for　him；　and　were　looking　out　in　bewilderment　and　entreaty　for　some　haven　of　peace。

He　had　stood　for　some　minutes　looking　thoughtfully　into　the　fire；　and　the　sadness　of　his　expression　ever　deepening；　before　the　old　man　raised　his　face；　and　said；　'You　here；　Malcolm？　where　are　the　others？'

'Patie　and　Lily　are　still　on　the　turret…top；　fair　Uncle；'　returned　the　boy。　　'It　was　so　cold；'　and　he　shivered　again；　and　seemed　as　though　he　would　creep　into　the　fire。

'And　the　reek？'　asked　the　uncle。

'There　is　another　reek　broken　out　farther　west；'　replied　Malcolm。　'Patie　is　sure　now　that　it　is　as　you　deemed；　Uncle；　that　it　is　a　cattle…lifting　from　Badenoch。'

'Heaven　help　them！'　sighed　the　old　man；　again　folding　his　hands　in　prayer。　　'How　long；　O　Lord；　how　long？'

Malcolm　took　up　the　appeal　of　the　Psalm；　repeating　it　in　Latin；　but　with　none　the　less　fervency；　that　Psalm　that　has　ever　since　David's　time　served　as　the　agonized　voice　of　hearts　hot…burning　at　the　sight　of　wrong。

'Ah　yes；'　he　ended；　'there　is　nothing　else　for　it！　　Uncle；　this　was　wherefore　I　came。　　It　was　to　speak　to　you　of　my　purpose。'

'The　old　purpose；　Malcolm？　　Nay；　that　hath　been　answered　before。'

'But　listen；　listen；　dear　Uncle。　　I　have　not　spoken　of　it　for　a　full　year　now。　　So　that　you　cannot　say　it　is　the　caresses　of　the　good　monks。　　No；　nor　the　rude　sayings　of　the　Master　of　Albany；'　he　added；　colouring　at　a　look　of　his　uncle。　　'You　bade　me　say　no　more　till　I　be　of　full　age；　nor　would　I；　save　that　I　were　safe　lodged　in　an　abbey；　then　might　Patrick　and　Lily　be　wedded；　and　he　not　have　to　leave　us　and　seek　his　fortune　far　away　in　France；　and　in　Patie's　hands　and　leading；　my　vassals　might　be　safe；　but　what　could　the　doited　helpless　cripple　do？'　he　added；　the　colour　rising　hotly　to　his　cheek　with　pain　and　shame。　　'Oh；　Sir；　let　me　but　save　my　soul；　and　find　peace　in　Coldingham！'

'My　poor　bairn；'　said　his　uncle；　laying　a　kind　hand　upon　him；　as　in　his　eagerness　he　knelt　on　one　knee　beside　the　chair；　'it　must　not　be。　It　is　true　that　the　Regent　and　his　sons　would　willingly　see　you　in　a　cloister。　　Nay；　that　unmanly　jeer　of　Walter　Stewart's　was；　I　verily　believe；　meant　to　drive　you　thither。　　But　were　you　there；　then　would　poor　Lilias　become　a　prize　worth　having；　and　the　only　question　would　be；　whether　Walter　of　Albany；　or　Robert　of　Athole；　or　any　of　the　rest　of　them；　should　tear　her　away　to　be　the　lady　of　their　fierce　ungodly　households。'

'You　could　give　her　to　Patrick；　Uncle。'

'No；　Malcolm；　that　were　not　consistent　with　mine　honour；　or　oaths　to　the　King　and　State。　　You　living；　and　Laird　of　Glenuskie；　Lilias　is　a　mere　younger　sister；　whom　you　may　give　in　marriage　as　you　will；　but　were　you　dead　to　the　world；　under　a　cowl；　then　the　Lady　of　Glenuskie；　a　king's　grandchild；　may　not　be　disposed　of；　save　by　her　royal　kinsman；　or　by　those　who；　woe　worth　the　day！　stand　in　his　place。　　I　were　no　better　than　yon　Wolf　of　Badenoch　or　the　Master　of　Albany；　did　I　steal　a　march　on　the　Regent；　and　give　the　poor　lassie　to　my　own　son！'

'And　so　Lilias　must　pine；　and　Patrick　wander　off　to　the　weary　French　war；'　sighed　Malcolm；　'and　I　must　be　scorned　by　my　cousins　whenever　the　House　of　Stewart　meets　together；　and　must　strive　with　these　fierce　cruel　men；　that　will　ever　be　too　hard　for　me　when　Patie　is　gone。'　　His　eyes　filled　with　tears　as　he　continued；　'Ah！　that　fair　chapel；　with　the　sweet　chant　of　the　choir；　the　green　smooth…shaven　quadrangle；　the　calm　cloister　walk；　there；　there　alone　is　rest。　There；　one　ceases　to　be　a　prey　and　a　laughing…stock；　there；　one　sees　no　more　bloodshed　and　spulzie；　there；　one　need　not　be　forced　to　treachery　or　violence。　　Oh；　Uncle！　my　very　soul　is　sick　for　Coldingham。　　How　many　years　will　it　be　ere　I　can　myself　bestow　my　sister　on　Patie；　and　hide　my　head　in　peace！'

Before　his　uncle　had　done　more　than　answer；　'Nay；　nay；　Malcolm；　these　are　no　words　for　the　oe　of　Bruce；　you　are　born　to　dare　as　well　as　to　suffer；'　there　was　an　approach　of　footsteps；　and　two　young　people　entered　the　hall；　the　first　a　girl；　with　a　family　likeness　to　Malcolm；　but　tall；　upright；　beautiful；　and　with　the　rich　colouring　of　perfect　health；　her　plaid　still　hanging　in　a　loose　swelling　hood　round　her　brilliant　face　and　dark　hair；　snooded　with　a　crimson　ribbon　and　diamond　clasp；　the　other；　a　knightly　young　man；　of　stately　height　and　robust　limbs；　keen　bright　blue　eyes　and　amber　hair　and　beard；　moving　with　the　ease　and　grace　that　showed　his　training　in　the　highest　school　of　chivalry。

'Good　Uncle；'　cried　the　maiden　in　eager　excitement；　'there　is　a　guest　coming。　　He　has　just　turned　over　the　brae　side；　and　can　be　coming　nowhere　but　here。'

'A　guest！'　cried　both　Malcolm　and　the　elder　knight；　'of　what　kind；　Lily？'

'A　knighta　knight　in　bright　steel；　and　with　three　attendants；'　said　Lilias；　'one　of　Patrick's　French　comrades；　say　I；　by　the　grace　of　his　riding。'

'Not　a　message　from　the　Regent；　I　trust；'　sighed　Malcolm。　　'Patie；　oh　do　not　lower　the　drawbridge；　till　we　hear　whether　it　be　friend　or　foe。'

'Nay；　Malcolm；　'tis　well　none　save　friends　heard　that；'　said　Patrick。　'When　shall　we　make　a　brave　man　of　you？'

'Nevertheless；　Patie；'　said　the　old　gentleman；　'though　I　had　rather　the　caution　had　come　from　the　eldest　rather　than　the　youngest　head　among　us；　parley　as　much　as　may　serve　with　honour　and　courtesy　ere　opening　the　gate　to　the　stranger。　　Hark；　there　is　his　bugle。'

A　certain　look　of　nervous　terror　passed　over　young　Malcolm's　face；　while　his　sister　watched　full　of　animation　and　curiosity；　as　one　to　whom　excitement　of　any　kind　could　hardly　come　amiss；　exclaiming；　as　she　looked　from　the　window；　'Fear　not；　most　prudent　Malcolm；　Father　Ninian　is　with　him：　　Father　Ninian　must　have　invited　him。'

'Strange；'　muttered　Patrick；　'that　Father　Ninian　should　be　picking　up　and　bringing　home　stray　wandering　land…loupers；'　and　with　an　anxious　glance　at　Lilias；　he　went　forward　unwillingly　to　perform　those　duties　of　hospitality　which　had　become　necessary；　since　the　presence　of　the　castle　chaplain　was　a　voucher　for　the　guest。　　The　drawbridge　had　already　been　lowered；　and　the　new…comer　was　crossing　it　upon　a　powerful　black　steed；　guided　by　Father　Ninian　upon　his　rough　mountain　pony；　on　which　he　had　shortly　before　left　the　castle；　to　attend　at　a　Church　festival　held　at　Coldingham。

The　chaplain　was　a　wise；　prudent；　and　much…respected　man；　nevertheless；　young　Sir　Patrick　Drummond　felt　little　esteem　for　his　prudence　in　displaying　one　at　least　of　the　treasures　of　the　castle　to　the　knight　on　the　black　horse。　　The　stranger　was　a　very　tall　man；　of　robust　and　stalwart　make；　apparently　aged　about　seven　or　eight　and　twenty　years；　clad　in　steel　armour；　enamelled　so　as　to　have　a　burnished　blue　appearance；　but　the　vizor　of　the　helmet　was　raised；　and　the　face　beneath　it　was　a　manly　open　face；　thoroughly　Scottish　in　its　forms；　but　very　handsome；　and　with　short　dark　auburn　hair；　and　eyes　of　the　same　peculiar　tint；　glancing　with　a　light　that　once　seen　could　never　be　forgotte