the caged lion-第52章

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s　his　goodly　promise　about　the　sisterhood　of　good　works　at　Paris。'

Esclairmonde　responded　with　a　gesture　of　sorrow；　and　the　murmur　of　the　'In　principibus　non　confide'　that　is　so　often　the　echo　of　disappointment。

'And　what　will　you　do？'　continued　Alice；　watching　her　anxiously；　as　her　face；　turning　very　pale；　was　nevertheless　uplifted　towards　heaven。

'Strive　to　trust　more　in　God；　less　in　princes；'　she　breathed　forth；　clasping　her　hands；　and　compressing　her　lips。

'Nay；　but　does　it　grieve　you　so　intensely？'　asked　Alice。　　'Mayhap'

'Alas！　sweet　one！　　I　would　that　the　fall　of　this　device　seemed　like　to　be　the　worst　effect　to　me　of　your　good　king's　death。　　Pray　for　me；　Alice；　for　now　no　earthly　power　stands　between　me　and　my　kinsmen's　will。'

Alice　cried　aloud；　'Nay；　nay；　lady；　we　are　English　still。　　There　are　my　father；　my　lord；　the　Duke　of　Bedford；　they　will　not　suffer　any　wrong　to　be　done。'

'Hush；　Alice。　　None　of　them　hath　any　power　to　aid　me。　　Even　good　King　Henry　had　no　legal　power　to　protect　me；　only　he　was　so　great；　so　strong　in　word　or　deed；　that　no　man　durst　do　before　him　what　he　declared　a　shame　and　a　sin。　　Now　it　will　be　expedient　more　than　ever　that　nothing　be　done　by　the　English　to　risk　offending　the　Duke　of　Burgundy。　　None　will　dare　withhold　me；　none　ought　to　dare；　for　they　act　not　for　themselves；　but　for　their　infant　charge；　and　my　countess　is　weary　of　me。　　There　is　nothing　to　prevent　my　uncles　from　taking　me　away　with　them；　or'

'Nothing！'　cried　Alice。　　'It　cannot　be！　　Oh；　that　my　father　were　here！'

'He　could　do　nothing　for　me。'

'A　convent！'

'No　convent　here　could　keep　me　against　the　Bishop　of　Therouenne。'

Alice　wrung　her　hands。　　'Oh；　it　cannotshall　not　be！'

'No；　Alice；　I　do　not　believe　it　will　be。　　I　have　that　confidence　in　Him　to　whom　I　have　given　myself；　that　I　do　not　believe　He　will　permit　me　to　be　snatched　from　Him；　so　long　as　my　will　does　not　consent。'　Esclairmonde　faltered　a　moment；　as　she　remembered　her　wavering；　crossed　her　hands　on　her　breast；　and　ejaculated；　'May　He　deal　mercifully　with　me！　　Yet　it　may　be　at　an　exceeding　costat　that　of　all　my　cherished　schemes；　of　all　that　was　pride　and　self…seeking。　Alice；　look　not　so　terrified。　　Nothing　can　be　done　immediately；　or　with　violence；　in　this　first　mourning　for　the　King；　and　I　trust　to　make　use　of　the　time　to　disguise　me；　and　escape　to　England；　where　I　may　keep　my　vow　as　anchoress；　or　as　lay　sister。　　Let　me　keep　that；　and　my　self…exalting　schemes　shall　be　all　put　by！'

The　question　whether　this　should　be　to　England；　or　to　the　southern　parts　of　France　held　by　the　Armagnacs；　remained　for　decision；　as　opportunity　should　direct：　　Alice　constantly　urging　her　own　scheme　of　carrying　her　friend　with　her　as　her　tire…woman；　if；　as　seemed　likely；　she　were　sent　home；　and　Esclairmonde　refusing　to　consent　to　anything　that　might　bring　the　bride　into　troubles　with　her　father　and　husband；　and　the　debates　being　only　interrupted　when　the　Lady　Montagu　was　required　to　take　her　turn　among　the　weary　ladies…in…waiting　around　Catherine's　state　bed。

Whenever　she　was　not　required　to　control；　console；　or　persuade　the　Queen；　Esclairmonde　spent　most　of　her　time　in　a　chamber　apart　from　the　chatter　of　Jaqueline's　little　court；　where　she　was　weaving；　in　the　delicate　point…lace　work　she　had　learnt　in　her　Flemish　convent；　an　exquisite　robe；　such　as　were　worn　by　priests　at　Mass。　　She　seldom　worked；　save　for　the　poor；　but　she　longed　to　do　some　honour　to　the　one　man　who　would　have　promoted　her　nearly　vanished　scheme；　and　this　work　she　trusted　to　offer　for　a　vestment　to　be　used　at　his　burial　Mass。　　Many　a　cherished　plan　was　resigned；　many　an　act　of　self…　negation　uttered；　as　she　bent　over　the　dainty　web；　many　an　entreaty　breathed；　that　her　moment's　wandering　of　fancy　might　not　be　reckoned　against　her；　but　that　she　might　be　aided　to　keep　the　promise　of　her　infancy；　and　devote　herself　undivided　to　the　direct　service　of　God　and　of　His　poor；　be　it　in　ever　so　humble　a　station。

Here　she　sat　alone；　when　steps　approached；　the　door　opened；　and　of　all　people　he　stood　before　her　whom　she　least　wished　to　see；　the　young　Lord　of　Glenuskie。

Amazed　as　she　was；　she　betrayed　no　confusion；　and　merely　rose；　saying　quietly；　'This　is　an　error。　　I　will　show　you　Madame's　apartment。'

But　Malcolm；　who　had　begun　by　looking　far　more　confused　than　she；　cried　earnestly；　'One　moment；　lady。　　I　came　not　willingly；　the　Countess　sent　for　me　to　her。　　But　since　I　am　herelisten　while　Heaven　gives　me　strength　to　say　itI　will　trouble　you　never　again。　I　am　come　to　a　better　mind。　　Oh；　forgive　me！'

'What　are　you　here　then　for；　Sir？'　said　Esclairmonde；　with　the　same　defensive　dignity。

'My　king　sent　me；　against　my　will；　on　a　mission　to　the　Queen；'　panted　Malcolm。　　'I　am　forced　to　wait　here；　or；　lady；　I　should　have　been　this　day　doing　penance　for　my　pursuit　of　you。　　Verily　I　am　a　penitent。　　Mayhap　Heaven　will　forgive　me；　if　you　will。'

'If　I　understand　you　aright；　it　is　well；'　said　Esclairmonde；　still　gravely　and　doubtfully。

'It　is　so　indeed；'　protested　Malcolm；　with　a　terrible　wrench　to　his　heart；　yet　a　sensation　of　freeing　his　conscience。　　'Fear　me　no　longer　now。　　After　that　which　I　saw　at　Vincennes；　I　know　what　it　is　to　be　on　the　straight　path；　andoh！　what　it　is　to　have　fallen　from　it。　　How　could　I　dream　of　dragging　you　down　to　be　with　one　so　unworthy；　becoming　more　worthless　each　day？　　Lady；　if　I　never　see　you　more；　pardon　me；　pray　for　me；　as　a　saint　for　a　poor　outcast　on　earth！'

'Hush；'　said　Esclairmonde；　'I　am　no　saintonly　a　maiden　pledged。　But；　Sir；　I　thank　you　fervently。　　You　have　lightened　my　heart　of　one　of　my　fears。'

Malcolm　could　not　but　be　cheered　by　being　for　once　spoken　to　by　her　in　so　friendly　a　tone；　and　he　added；　gravely　and　resolutely：　　'My　suit；　then；　I　yield　up；　ladyyield　for　ever。　　Am　I　permitted　once　to　kiss　that　fair　and　holy　hand；　as　I　resign　my　presumptuous　hopes　thereof？'

'Mayhap　it　were　wiser　left　undone；'　said　Esclairmonde。　　'My　mind　misgives　me　that　this　meeting　is　planned　to　bring　us　into　trouble。　Farewell；　my　lord。'

As　she　had　apprehended；　the　door　was　flung　back；　and　Countess　Jaqueline　rushed　in；　clasping　her　hands　in　an　affectation　of　merry　surprise；　as　she　cried；　'Here　they　are！　　See；　Monseigneur！　　No　keeping　doves　apart！'

'Madame；'　said　Esclairmonde；　turning　on　her　with　cold　dignity；　'I　have　been　thanking　Monsieur　de　Glenuskie　for　having　resigned　the　suit　that　I　always　declared　to　be　in　vain。'

'You　misunderstood；　Clairette；'　said　Jaqueline。　　'No　gentleman　ever　so　spoke！　　No；　no；　my　young　lord　has　kept　his　promise　to　me；　and　I　will　not　fail　him。'

'Madame；'　faltered　Malcolm；　'I　came　by　command　of　the　King　of　Scots。'

'So　much　the　better；'　cried　Jaqueline。　　'So　he　can　play　into　our　hands；　for　all　his　grandeur！　　It　will　lose　him　his　wager；　though！　Here　is　bridethere　is　priestnay；　bishop！'　pointing　to　him　of　Therouenne；　who　had　accompanied　her；　but　hitherto　had　stood　silent。

'Madame；'　said　Malcolm；　'the　time　and　state　of　the　household　forbid。'

'Ma　foi！　　What　is　that　to　us？　　King　Henry　is　neither　our　brother　nor　our　father；　and　Catherine　will　soon　laugh　at　it　as　a　good　joke。'

'Nay；'　said　the　Bishop；　with　more　propriety；　'it　is　the　contract　and　troth…plight　alone　that　could　take　place　at　present。　　That　secure；　the　full　solemnities　will　await　a　fitting　time；　but　it　is　necessary　that　the　troth　be　exchanged　at　once。'

'Monseigneur；'　said　Esclairmonde；　'mine　is　in　other　keeping。'

'And；　Monseigneur；'　added　Malcolm；　'I　have　just　told　the　lady　that　I　repent　of　having　fallen　from　my　vocation；　and　persecuted　her。'

'How；　Sir！'　said　the　Bishop；　turning　on　him；　'do　you　thus　lightly　treat　a　lady　of　the　house　of　Luxemburg？　　Beware！　　There　are　those　who　know　how　to　visit　an　insult　on　a　malapert　lad；　who　meddles　with　the　honour　of　the　family。'

'Be　not　threatened；　Lord　Malcolm；'　said　Esclairmonde；　with　a　gleam　in　her　eye。

And　Malcolm　was　Stewart　enough　to　answer　with　spirit：　　'My　lord；　I　will　meet　them　if　needed。　　This　lady　is　so　affianced；　that　it　is　sacrilege　to　aspire　to　her。'

'Ah！'　said　the　Bishop；　in　an　audible　aside　to　the　giggling　Countess：　'this　comes　of　her　having　thrown　herself　at　the　youth's　head。　　Now　he　will　no　more　of