the caged lion-第57章

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in　the　dreamy　inertness　of　recovery；　this　tranquil　onward　movement　in　the　still　autumn　weather　had　some　thing　in　it　of　healing　influence；　and　the　sweet　chants；　the　continual　offices　of　devotion；　were　accordant　with　his　present　tone　of　mind；　and　deepened　the　purpose　he　had　formed。

Queen　Catherine　and　her　ladies　joined　the　funeral　march　at　Rouen；　or　rather　followed　it　at　a　mile's　interval；　but　the　two　trains　kept　apart；　and　only　occasional　messages　were　sent　from　one　to　the　other。　Some　of　the　gentlemen；　who　had　a　wife　or　sister　in　the　Queen's　suite；　would　ride　at　nightfall　to　pay　her　a　hasty　visit；　but　Malcolmthough　he　longed　to　be　sentdurst　not　intrude　upon　Esclairmonde；　and　the　Duke　of　Bedford　was　not　only　forced　to　spend　all　the　evening　and　half　the　night　in　business；　but　was　not　loth　to　put　off　the　day　of　the　meeting　with　his　dear　sister　Catherineto　say　nothing　of　the　'Woman　of　Hainault。'

Therefore　it　was　not　until　all　had　arrived　at　Calais；　where　a　fleet　was　waiting　to　meet　them；　that　any　visits　were　openly　made　by　the　one　party　to　the　other。

Bedford　and　James　went　together　to　the　apartments　of　the　Queen；　and　while　they　saw　her　in　private；　Malcolm　came　blushing　towards　Esclairmonde；　and　was　welcomed　by　her　with　a　frank　smile；　outstretched　hand；　and　kind　inquiry　after　his　recovery。

She　treated　him　indeed　as　a　brother；　as　one　on　whom　she　depended；　and　had　really　wished　to　see　and　arrange　with。　　She　told　him　that　Alice　Montagu　and　her　husband　were　returning　to　England；　and　that　her　little　friend　had　so　earnestly　prayed　her　to　abide　with　her　at　Middleham　for　the　present；　that　she　had　consented'until　such　time　as　the　way　be　open；'　said　Esclairmonde；　with　her　steady　patient　smile。

Malcolm　bowed　his　head。　　'I　am　glad　you　will　not　be　forced　to　be　with　your　Countess；'　he　said。

'My　poor　lady！　　Maybe　I　have　spoken　too　plainly。　　But　I　owe　her　much。　I　must　ever　pray　for　her。　　And　you；　my　lord？'

'I；'　said　Malcolm；　'shall　go　to　study　at　Oxford。　　Dr。　Bennet　intends　returning　thither　to　continue　his　course　of　teaching；　and　my　king　has　consented　to　my　studying　with　him。　　It　will　not　cut　me　off；　lady；　from　that　which　you　permit　me　to　be。　　King　Henry　and　his　brothers　have　all　been　scholars　there。'

'I　understand；'　said　Esclairmonde；　slightly　colouring。　　'It　is　well。　And　truly　I　trust　that　matters　may　be　so　guided；　that　care　for　me　may　not　long　detain　you　from　more　lasting　vowsbe　they　of　heaven　or　earth。'

'Lady；'　said　Malcolm；　earnestly；　'none　who　had　been　plighted　to　you　COULD　pledge　himself　to　aught　else　save　One　above！'

Then；　feeling　in　himself；　or　seeing　in　Esclairmonde's　face；　that　he　was　treading　on　dangerous　ground；　he　asked　leave　to　present　to　her　his　cousin；　Patrick　Drummond：　　and　this　was　accordingly　done；　the　lady　comporting　herself　with　so　much　sweet　graciousness；　that　the　good　knight；　as　they　left　the　hall；　exclaimed：　　'By　St。　Andrew；　Malcolm；　if　you　let　that　maiden　escape　you　now　she　is　more　than　half…　wedded　to　you；　you'll　be　the　greatest　fool　in　broad　Scotland。　　Why；　she　is　a　very　queen　for　beauty；　and　would　rule　Glenuskie　like　a　princessay；　and　defend　the　Castle　like　Black　Agnes　of　Dunbar　herself！　　If　you　give　her　up；　ye'll　be　no　better　than　a　clod。'

Malcolm　and　Patrick　had　been　borne　off　by　James's　quitting　the　Castle；　Bedford　remained　longer；　having　affairs　to　arrange　with　the　Queen。　　As　he　left　her；　he　too　turned　aside　to　the　window　where　Esclairmonde　sat　as　usual　spinning；　and　Lady　Montagu　not　far　off；　but　at　present　absorbed　by　her　father；　who　was　to　remain　in　France。

One　moment's　hesitation；　and　then　Bedford　stepped　towards　the　Demoiselle　de　Luxemburg；　and　greeted　her。　　She　looked　up　in　his　face；　and　saw　its　settled　look　of　sad　patient　energy；　which　made　it　full　ten　years　older　in　appearance　than　when　they　had　sat　together　at　Pentecost；　and　she　marked　the　badge　that　he　had　assumed；　a　torn…up　root　with　the　motto；　'The　root　is　dead。'

'Ah！　my　lord；　things　are　changed；'　she　could　not　help　saying；　as　she　felt　that　he　yearned　for　comfort。

'Changed　indeed！'　he　said；　'God's　will　be　done！　　Lady；'　he　added；　'you　wot　of　that　which　once　passed　between　us。　　I　was　grieved　at　first　that　you　chose　a　different　protector　in　your　need。'

'You　COULD　not；　my　lord；'　faltered　Esclairmonde；　crimson　as　she　never　had　been　when　speaking　to　Malcolm。

'No；　I　COULD　not；'　said　Bedford；　'and；　lady；　my　purpose　was　to　thank　you　for　the　generous　soul　that　perceived　that　so　it　is。　　You　spared　me　from　a　cruel　case。　　I　have　no　self　any　longer；　Esclairmonde；　all　I　am；　all　I　have；　all　I　can；　must　be　spent　in　guarding　Harry's　work　for　his　boy。　　To　all　else　I　am　henceforth　dead；　and　all　I　can　do　is　to　be　thankful；　lady；　that　you　have　spared　me　the　sorest　trial　of　all；　both　to　heart　and　honour。'

Esclairmonde's　eyes　were　downcast；　as　she　said；　'Heaven　is　the　protector　of　those　of　true　and　kind　purpose；'　and　then　gathering　courage；　as　being　perfectly　aware　to　whom　Bedford　must　give　his　hand　if　he　would　conciliate　Burgundy；　she　added；　'And；　verily；　Sir；　the　way　of　policy　is　this　time　a　happy　one。　　Let　me　but　tell　you　how　I　have　known　and　loved　gentle　Lady　Anne。'

Bedford　shook　his　head　with　a　half　smile　and　a　heavy　sigh。　　'Time　fails　me；　dear　lady；'　he　said；　'and　I　cannot　brook　any　maiden's　praise；　even　from　you。　　I　only　wait　to　ask　whether　there　be　any　way　yet　left　wherein　I　can　serve　you。　　I　will　strive　to　deal　with　your　kinsmen　to　restore　your　lands。'

'Hold！'　said　Esclairmonde。　　'Never　for　lands　of　mine　will　I　have　your　difficulties　added　to。　　Nolet　them　go！　　It　was　a　vain；　proud　dream　when　I　thought　myself　most　humble；　to　become　a　foundress；　and　if　I　know　my　kinsmen；　they　will　be　too　much　angered　to　bestow　on　me　the　dower　required　by　a　convent。　　No；　Sir；　all　I　would　dare　to　inquire　would　be；　whether　you　have　any　voice　in　choosing　the　bedeswomen　of　St。　Katharine's　Hospital？'

'The　bedeswomen！　　They　come　chiefly　from　the　citizens；　not　from　princely　houses　like　yours！'　said　John；　in　consternation。

'I　have　done　with　princely　houses；'　said　Esclairmonde。　　'A　Flemish　maiden　would　be　of　no　small　service　among　the　many　whom　trade　brings　to　your　port　from　the　Netherlands；　and　my　longing　has　ever　been　to　serve　my　Lord　through　His　poor　and　afflicted。'

'It　is　my　father's　widow　who　holds　the　appointments；'　said　John。　'Between　her　and　me　there　hath　been　little　good…will；　but　my　dear　brother's　last　act　towards　her　was　of　forgiveness。　　She　may　wish　to　keep　well　with　us　of　the　Regencyand　more　like　still；　she　will　be　pleased　that　one　of　so　great　a　house　as　yours　should　sue　to　her。　　I　will　give　you　a　letter　to　her；　praying　her　to　remember　you　at　the　next　vacancy；　and　mayhap；　if　the　Lady　Montagu　could　take　you　to　visit　her；　you　could　prevail　with　her！　　But；　surely；　some　nunnery　more　worthy　of　your　rank'

'There　is　none　that　I　should　love　so　well；'　said　Esclairmonde；　smiling。　　'Mayhap　I　have　learnt　to　be　a　vagabond；　but　I　cannot　but　desire　to　toil　as　well　as　pray。'

'And　you　are　willing　to　wait　for　a　vacancy？'

'When　once　safe　from　my　kinsmen；　in　England；　I　will　wait　under　my　kind　Alice's　wing　tilltill　it　becomes　expedient　that　yonder　gentleman　be　set　free。'

'You　trust　him？'　said　Bedford。

'Entirely；'　responded　Esclairmonde；　heartily。

'Happy　lad！'　half　sighed　the　Duke；　but；　even　as　he　did　so；　he　stood　up　to　bid　the　lady　adieulingering　for　a　moment　more；　to　gaze　at　the　face　he　had　longed　for　permission　to　loveand　thus　take　leave　of　all　his　youth　and　joy；　addressing　himself　again　to　that　burthen　of　care　which　in　thirteen　years　laid　him　in　his　grave　at　Rouen。

As　he　left　the　Castle　and　came　out　into　the　steep　fortified　street；　Ralf　Percy　came　up　to　him；　laughing。　　'Here；　my　lord；　are　those　two　honest　Yorkshire　knights　running　all　over　Calais　to　make　a　petition　to　you。'

'WhatTrenton　and　Kitson！　　I　thought　their　year　of　service　was　up；　and　they　were　going　home！'

'Ay；　my　lord；'　said　Kitson；　who　with　his　comrade　had　followed　close　in　Percy's　wake；　'we　were　going　home　to　bid　Mistress　Agnes　take　her　choice　of　us；　but　this　morn　we've　met　a　pursuivant　that　is　come　with　Norroy　King…at…arms；　and　what　doth　he　but　tell　us　that　no　sooner　were　our　backs　turned；　than　what　doth　Mistress　Agnes　but　weday；　wed　outrightone　Tom　of　the