the caged lion-第34章

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　all　effaced；　his　lustrous　blue　eyes　shone　and　danced　like　Easter　suns；　his　complexion　rivalled　the　fresh　delicate　tints　of　the　blossoms　in　the　orchards；　and　when；　with　a　shyness　for　which　he　laughed　at　himself；　he　halted　to　brush　away　any　trace　of　dust　that　might　offend　the　eye　of　his　'dainty　Kate；'　and　gaily　asked　his　brother　king　if　he　were　sufficiently　pranked　out　for　a　lady's　bower；　James；　thinking　he　had　never　seen　him　so　handsome；　replied：

'Like　a　young　bridegroomnay；　more　like　a　young　suitor。'

'You're　jealous；　Jamieafraid　of　being　outshone。　　'Tis　is　your　own　fault；　man；　none　can　ever　tell　whether　you　be　in　festal　trim　or　not。'

For　King　James's　taste　was　for　sober；　well…blending　hues；　and　as　he　never　lapsed　into　Henry's　carelessness；　his　state　apparel　was　not　very　apparently　dissimilar　from　his　ordinary　dress；　being　generally　of　dark　rich　crimson；　blue；　or　russet；　with　the　St。　Andrew's　cross　in　white　silk　on　his　breast；　or　else　the　ruddy　lion；　but　never　conspicuously；　and　the　sombre　hues　always　seemed　particularly　well　to　suit　his　auburn　colouring。

Malcolm；　in　scarlet　and　gold；　was　a　far　gayer　figure；　and　quite　conscious　of　the　change　in　his　own　appearancehow　much　taller；　ruddier；　and　browner　he　had　become；　how　much　better　he　held　himself　both　in　riding　and　walking；　and　how　much　awkwardness　and　embarrassment　he　had　lost。　　No　wonder　Esclairmonde　had　despised　the　sickly；　timid；　monkish　school…boy；　and　if　she　had　then　shown　him　any　sort　of　grace　or　preference；　what　would　she　think　of　the　princely　young　squire　he　could　new　show　her；　who　had　seen　service；　had　proved　his　valour；　and　was　only　not　a　knight　because　of　King　Henry's　unkindness　and　King　James's　punctilio？at　any　rate；　no　child　to　be　brow…beaten　and　silenced　with　folly　about　cloistral　dedication；　but　a　youth　who　had　taken　his　place　in　the　world；　and　could　allege　that　his　inspiration　had　come　through　her　bright　eyes。

Would　she　be　there？　　That　was　the　chief　anxiety：　　for　it　was　not　certain　that　either　she　or　her　mistress　would　risk　themselves　on　the　Continent；　and　Catherine　had　given　no　intimation　as　to　who　would　be　in　her　suiteso　that；　as　Henry　had　merrily　observed；　he　was　the　only　one　in　the　whole　party　who　was　not　in　suspense；　except　indeed　Salisbury；　who　had　sent　his　commands　to　his　little　daughter　to　come　out　with　the　Queen。

'She　is　come！'　cried　Henry。　　'Beforehand　with　us；　after　all；'　and　he　spurred　his　horse　on　as　he　saw　the　banner　raised；　and　the　escort　around　the　gate；　and　in　a　few　seconds　more　he　and　his　companions　had　hurried　through　the　court；　where　the　ladies　had　scarcely　dismounted；　and　hastened　into　the　hall；　breaking　into　the　seneschal's　solemn　reception　of　the　Queen。

'My　Kate；　my　fairest！　　Mine　eyes　have　been　hungry　for　a　sight　of　thee。'

And　Catherine；　in　her　horned　head…gear　and　flutter　of　spangled　veil；　was　almost　swallowed　up　in　his　hearty　embrace；　and　the　fervency　of　his　great　love　so　far　warmed　her；　that　she　clung　to　him；　and　tenderly　said；　'My　lord；　it　is　long　since　I　saw　you。'

'Thou　wert　before　me！　　Ah！　forgive　thy　tardy　knight；'　he　continued；　gazing　at　her　really　enhanced　beauty　as　if　he　had　eyes　for　no　one　else；　even　while　with　lip　and　hand；　kiss；　grasp；　and　word；　he　greeted　her　companions；　of　whom　Jaqueline　of　Hainault　and　John　of　Bedford　were　the　most　prominent。

'And　the　babe！　where　is　he？'　then　cried　he。　　'Let　me　have　him　to　hold　up　to　my　brave　fellows　in　the　court！'

'The　Prince　of　Wales？'　said　Catherine。　　'You　never　spake　of　my　bringing　him。'

'If　I　spake　not；　it　was　because　I　doubted　not　for　a　moment　that　you　would　keep　him　with　you。　　Nay；　verily　it　is　not　in　sooth　that　you　left　him。　　You　are　merely　sporting　with　use。'

'Truly；　Sir；'　said　Catherine；　'I　never　guessed　that　you　would　clog　yourself　with　a　babe　in　the　cradle；　and　I　deemed　him　more　safely　nursed　at　Windsor。'

'If　it　be　for　his　safety！　　Yet　a　soldier's　boy　should　thrive　among　soldiers；'　said　the　King；　evidently　much　disappointed；　and　proceeding　to　eager　inquiries　as　to　the　appearance　and　progress　of　his　child；　to　which　the　Queen　replied　with　a　certain　languor；　as　though　she　had　no　very　intimate　personal　knowledge　of　her　little　son。

Other　eyes　were　meanwhile　eagerly　scanning　the　bright　confusion　of　veils　and　wimples；　and　Malcolm　had　just　made　out　the　tall　head　and　dark　locks　under　a　long　almost　shrouding　white　veil　far　away　in　the　background　behind　the　Countess　of　Hainault；　when　the　Duke　of　Bedford　came　up　with　a　frown　of　consternation　on　his　always　anxious　face；　and　drawing　King　James　into　a　window；　said；　'What　have　you　been　doing　to　him？'to　which　James；　without　hearing　the　question；　replied；　'Where　is　SHE？'

'Joan？　　At　home。　　It　was　the　Queen's　will。　　Of　that　another　time。　But　what　means　this？'　and　he　signed　towards　his　brother。　　'Never　saw　I　man　so　changed。'

'Had　you　seen　him　at　Christmas　you　might　have　said　so；'　replied　James；　'but　now　I　see　naught　amiss；　I　had　been　thinking　I　had　never　seen　him　so　fair　and　comely。'

'I　tell　you；　James；'　said　Bedford；　contracting　his　brows　till　they　almost　met　ever　his　arched　nose；　'I　tell　you；　his　look　brings　back　to　me　my　mother's；　the　last　time　she　greeted　my　father！'

'To　your　fantasy；　not　your　memory；　John！　　You　were　a　mere　babe　at　her　death。'

'Of　five　years；'　said　Bedford。　　'That　facethat　coughhave　brought　all　backay；　the　yearning　look　when　my　father　was　absent；　and　the　pure　rosy　fairness　that　Harry　and　Tom　cited　so　fiercely　against　one　who　would　have　told　them　how　sick　to　death　she　was。　　I　mind　me　too；　that　when　our　grandame　of　Hereford　made　us　motherless　children　over　to　our　grandsire　of　Lancaster；　it　was　with　a　warning　that　Harry　had　the　tender　lungs　of　the　Bohuns；　and　needed　care。　　One　deadly　sickness　he　had　at　Kenilworth；　when　my　father　was　ridden　for　post…haste。　　My　mind　misgave　me　throughout　this　weary　siege；　but　his　service　held　me　fast　at　home；　and　I　trusted　that　you　would　watch　over　him。'

'A　man　like　him　is　ill　to　guide；'　said　James；　'but　he　is　more　himself　now　than　he　has　been　for　months；　and　a　few　weeks'　quiet　with　his　wife　will　restore　him。　　But　what　is　this？'　he　proceeded　in　his　turn；　'why　is　the　Lady　Joan　not　here？'

'How　can　I　tell？　　It　was　no　fault　of　mine。　　I　even　got　a　prim　warning　that　it　became　me　not　to　meddle　about　her　ladies；　and　I　doubted　what　slanders　you　might　hear　if　I　were　seen　asking　your　Nightingale　for　a　token。'

'Have　you　none！　　Good　John；　I　know　you　have。'

John　smiled　his　ironical　smile；　produced　from　the　pouch　at　his　girdle　a　small　packet　bound　with　rose…coloured　silk；　and　said：　　'The　Nightingale　hath　a　plume；　you　see；　and　saith；　moreover；　that　her　knight　hath　done　his　devoir　passably；　but　that　she　yet　looks　to　see　him　send　some　captive　giant　to　her　feet。　　So；　Sir　Knight；　I　hope　your　poor　dwarf　hath　acquitted　him　well　in　your　chivalrous　jargon。'

James　smiled　and　coloured　with　pleasure；　the　fantastic　message　was　not　devoid　of　reality　in　the　days　when　young　imaginative　spirits　tried　to　hide　the　prose　of　war　and　policy　in　a　bright　mist　of　romantic　fancy；　nor　was　he　ashamed　to　bend　his　manly　head　in　reverence　to；　and　even　press　to　his　lips；　his　lady's　first　love…　letter；　in　the　very　sight　of　the　satirical　though　sympathizing　Bedford；　of　whom　he　eagerly　asked　of　the　fair　Joan's　health　and　welfare；　and　whether　she　were　flouted　by　Queen　Catherine。

'No　more　than　is　the　meed　of　her　beauty；'　said　Bedford。　　'Sister　Kate　likes　not　worship　at　any　shrine　save　one。　　Look　at　our　suite：　　our　knightsyea；　our　very　grooms　are　picked　for　their　comeliness；　to　wit　that　great　feather…pated　oaf　of　a　Welshman；　Owen　Tudor　there；　while　dames　and　demoiselles；　tire…women　and　all；　are　as　near　akin　as　may　be　to　Sir　Gawain's　loathly　lady。'

'Not　at　least　the　fair　Luxemburg。　　Did　not　I　see　her　stately　mien？'

'She　is　none　of　the　Queen's；　and　moreover　she　stands　aloof；　so　that　the　women　forgive　her　gifts！　　There　is　that　cough　of　Harry's　again！　He　is　the　shadow　of　the　man　he　was；　I　would　I　knew　if　this　were　the　step…dame's　doing。'

'Nay；　John；　when　you　talk　to　me　of　Harry's　cough；　and　of　night…　watches　and　flooded　camps；　I　hearken；　but　when　your　wits　run　wool…　gathering　after　that　poor　woman；　making　waxen　images　stuck　full'

'You　are　in　the　right　on't；　James；'　said　Hen