the caged lion-第38章

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What　she　saw　and　heard；　on　the　other　hand；　gave　form　and　purpose　to　her　aspirations。　　The　Dutch　Sisters　of　St。　Bega；　the　English　Bedeswomen　of　St。　Katharine；　were　sorely　needed　at　Paris。　　They　would　gather　up　the　sufferers；　collect　the　outcast　children；　feed　the　hungry；　follow　with　balm　wherever　a　wound　had　been。　　To　found　a　Beguinage　at　Paris　seemed　to　her　the　most　befitting　mode　of　devoting　her　wealth；　and　her　little　admirer；　Alice；　gave　up　her　longing　desire　that　the　foundation　should　be　in　England；　when　she　learned　that；　as　the　wife　of　Nevil；　her　abode　was　likely　to　be　in　France　as　long　as　that　country　required　English　garrisons。

To　the　young　heiress　of　Salisbury；　her　own　marriage；　though　close　at　hand；　seemed　a　mere　ordinary　matter　compared　with　Esclairmonde's　Beguinage；　to　her　the　real　romance。　　Never　did　she　see　a　beggar　crouching　at　the　church　door；　without　a　whisper　to　herself　that　there　was　a　subject　for　the　Beguines；　and；　tender…hearted　as　she　was；　she　looked　quite　gratified　at　any　lamentable　tale　which　told　the　need。

If　Esclairmonde　had　a　climax　to　her　visions　of　her　brown…robed　messengers　of　mercy；　it　was　that　the　holy　Canon　of　St。　Agnes　should　be　induced　to　come　and　act　the　part　of　master　to　her　bedeswomen；　as　did　Master　Kedbesby　at　home。

She　had　even　dared　to　murmur　her　design　to　Dr。　Bennet；　and　when　he；　under　strict　seal　of　secrecy；　had　sounded　King　Henry；　the　present　real　master　of　Paris；　he　reported　that　the　tears　had　stood　in　the　King's　eyes　for　a　moment；　as　he　said；　'Blessings　on　the　maiden！　Should　she　be　able　to　do　this　for　this　city；　I　shall　know　that　Heaven　hath　indeed　sent　a　blessing　by　my　arms！'

For　one　brief　week；　Esclairmonde　and　Alice　were　very　happy　in　this　secret　hope；　but　at　the　end　of　that　time　the　Bishop　of　Therouenne　appeared。　　Esclairmonde　had　ventured　to　hope　that　the　King's　influence；　and　likewise　the　fact　that　her　intention　was　not　to　enrich　one　of　the　regular　monastic　orders；　might　lead　him　to　lend　a　favourable　ear　to　her　scheme；　but　she　was　by　no　means　prepared　to　find　him　already　informed　of　the　affair　of　the　Dance　of　Death；　and　putting　his　own　construction　on　it。

'So；　my　fair　cousin；　this　is　the　end　of　your　waywardness。　　The　tokens　were　certainly　somewhat　strong；　but　the　young　gentleman's　birth　being　equal　to　yours；　after　the　spectacle　you　have　presented；　your　uncle　of　St。　Pol；　and　I　myself；　must　do　our　utmost　to　obtain　the　consent　of　the　Duke　of　Burgundy。'

'Monseigneur　is　mistaken；'　said　Esclairmonde。

'Child；　we　will　have　no　more　folly。　　You　have　flown　after　this　young　Scot　in　a　manner　fitted　only　for　the　foolish　name　your　father　culled　for　you　out　of　his　books　of　chivalry。　　You　have　given　a　lesson　to　the　whole　Court　and　city　on　the　consequences　of　a　damsel　judging　for　herself；　and　running　a　mad　course　over　the　world；　instead　of　submitting　to　her　guardians。'

'The　Court　understands　my　purpose　as　well　as　you　do；　Monseigneur。'

'Silence；　Mademoiselle。　　Your　convent　obstinacy　is　ended　for　ever　now；　since　to　send　you　to　one　would　be　to　appear　to　hide　a　scandal。'

'I　do　not　wish　to　enter　a　convent；'　said　Esclairmonde。　　'My　desire　is　to　dedicate　my　labour　and　my　substance　to　the　foundation　of　a　house　here　at　Paris；　such　as　are　the　Beguinages　of　our　Netherlands；'

The　Bishop　held　up　his　hands。　　He　had　never　heard　of　such　lunacy　and　it　angered　him；　as　such　purposes　are　wont　to　anger　worldly…hearted　men。　　That　a　lady　of　Luxemburg　should　have　such　vulgar　tastes　as　to　wish　to　be　a　Beguine　was　bad　enough；　but　that　Netherlandish　wealth　should　be　devoted　to　support　the　factious　poor　of　Paris　was　preposterous。　　Neither　the　Duke　of　Burgundy；　nor　her　uncle　of　St。　Pol；　would　allow　a　sou　to　pass　out　of　their　grasp　for　so　absurd　a　purpose；　the　Pope　would　give　no　licenseabove　all　to　a　vain　girl；　who　had　helped　a　wife　to　run　away　from　her　husbandfor　new　religious　houses；　and；　unless　Esclairmonde　was　prepared　to　be　landless；　penniless；　and　the　scorn　of　every　one；　for　her　wild　behaviour；　she　must　submit；　bon　gre；　mal　gre；　to　become　the　wife　of　the　Scottish　prince。

'Landless　and　penniless　then　will　I　be；　Monseigneur；'　said　Esclairmonde。　　'Was　not　poverty　the　bride　of　St。　Francis？'

The　Bishop　made　a　growl　of　contempt；　but　recollecting　himself；　and　his　respect　for　the　saint；　began　to　argue　that　what　was　possible　for　a　man；　a　mere　merchant's　son；　an　inspired　saint　besides；　was　not　possible　to　a　damsel　of　high　degree；　and　that　it　was　mere　presumption；　vanity；　and　obstinacy　in　her　to　appeal　to　such　a　precedent。

There　was　something　in　this　that　struck　Esclairmonde；　for　she　was　conscious　of　a　certain　satisfaction　in　her　plan　of　being　the　first　to　introduce　a　Beguinage　at　Paris；　and　that　she　was　to　a　certain　degree　proud　of　her　years　of　constancy　to　her　high　purpose；　and　she　looked　just　so　far　abashed　that　the　uncle　saw　his　advantage；　and　discoursed　on　the　danger　of　attempting　to　be　better　than　other　people；　and　of　trying　to　vapour　in　spiritual　heights；　to　all　of　which　she　attempted　no　reply；　till　at　last　he　broke　up　the　interview　by　saying；　'There；　then；　child；　all　will　be　well。　　I　see　you　are　coming　to　a　better　mind。'

'I　hope　I　am；　Monseigneur；'　she　replied；　with　lofty　meekness；　'but　scarcely　such　as　you　mean。'

Alice　Montagu's　indignation　knew　no　bounds。　　What！　was　this　noble　votaress　to　be　forced；　not　only　to　resign　the　glory　of　being　the　foundress　of　a　new　order　of　beneficence；　but　to　be　married；　just　like　everybody　else；　and　to　that　wretched　little　coward？　　Boemond　of　Burgundy　was　better　than　that；　for　he　at　least　was　a　man！

'No；　no；　Alice；'　said　Esclairmonde；　with　a　shudder；　'any　one　rather　than　the　Burgundian！　　It　is　shame　even　to　compare　the　Scot！'

'He　may　not　be　so　evil　in　himself；'　said　Alice；　'but　with　a　brave　man　you　have　only　his　own　sins；　while　a　coward　has　all　those　other　people　may　frighten　him　into。'

'He　bore　himself　manfully　in　battle；'　said　the　fair　Fleming　in　reproof。

But　Alice　answered　with　the　scorn　that　sits　so　quaintly　on　the　gentle　daughter　of　a　bold　race：　　'Ay；　where　he　would　have　been　more　afraid　to　run　than　to　stand。'

'You　are　hard　on　the　Scot；'　said　Esclairmonde。　　'Maybe　it　is　because　the　Nevils　of　Raby　are　Borderers；'　she　added；　smiling；　and；　as　Alice　likewise　smiled　and　blushed；　'Now；　if　it　were　not　for　this　madness；　I　could　like　the　youth。　　I　would　fain　have　had　him　for　a　brother　that　I　could　take　care　of。'

'But　what　will　you　do；　Esclairmonde？'

'Trust；'　said　she；　sighing。　　'Maybe；　my　pride　ought　to　be　broken；　and　I　may　have　to　lay　aside　all　my　hopes　and　plans；　and　become　a　mere　serving　sister；　to　learn　true　humility。　　Anyhow；　I　verily　trust　to　my　Heavenly　Spouse　to　guard　me　for　himself。　　If　the　Duke　of　Burgundy　still　maintains　Boemond's　suit；　then　in　the　dissension　I　see　an　escape。

'And　my　father　will　defend　you；　and　so　will　Sir　Richard；'　said　Alice；　with　complacent　certainty　in　their　full　efficiency。　　'And　King　Harry　will　interfere；　and　we　WILL　have　your　hospital；　ay；　we　WILL。　　How　can　you　talk　so　lightly　of　abandoning　it？'

'I　only　would　know　what　is　human　pride；　and　what　God's　will；'　sighed　Esclairmonde。

The　Duke　arrived　with　his　two　sisters；　his　wife　being　left　at　home　in　bad　health；　and　took　up　his　abode　at　the　Hotel　de　Bourgogne；　whence　he　came　at　once　to　pay　his　respects　to　the　King　of　England；　the　poor　King　of　France；　at　the　Hotel　de　St。　Pol；　being　quite　neglected。

Esclairmonde　and　Alice　stood　at　a　window；　and　watched　the　arrival　of　the　magnificent　cavalcade；　attended　by　a　multitude；　ecstatically　shouting；　'Noel　Noel！　　Long　live　Philippe　le　Bon！　　Blessings　on　the　mighty　Duke！'　　While　seated　on　a　tall　charger；　whose　great　dappled　head；　jewelled　and　beplumed；　could　alone　be　seen　amid　his　sweeping　housings；　bowing　right　and　left；　waving　his　embroidered　gloved　hand　in　courtesy；　was　seen　the　stately　Duke；　in　the　prime　of　life；　handsome…faced；　brilliantly　coloured；　dazzlingly　arrayed　in　gemmed　robes；　so　that　Alice　drew　a　long　breath　of　wonder　and　exclaimed；　'This　Duke　is　a　goodly　man；　he　looks　like　the　emperor　of　us　all！'

But　when　he　had　entered　the　hall；　conducted　by　John　of　Bedford　and　Edmund　of　March；　had　made　his　obeisance　to　Henry；　and　had　been　presented　by　him　to　King　James；　Alice；　standing　close　behind　he