the caged lion-第69章

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As　they　walked　together　over　the　long　stretches　of　moor；　many　were　Lily's　questions；　and　Malcolm　beguiled　the　way　with　many　a　story　of　camp　and　court；　told　both　for　his　own　satisfaction　in　her　sympathy；　and　with　the　desire　to　make　the　Scottish　lassie　see　what　was　the　life　and　what　the　thoughts　of　ladies　of　her　own　degree　in　other　lands；　so　that　the　Lady　of　Glenuskie　might　be　awake　to　somewhat　of　the　high　purpose　of　virtuous　home　government　to　which　Alice　of　Salisbury　had　been　trained。

As　to　the　Flemish　heiress；　no　representation　would　induce　Lilias　to　love　her。　　Reject　Malcolm　for　a　convent's　sake！　　It　was　unpardonable；　and　as　to　a　bedeswoman；　working　uncloistered　in　the　streets；　Lily　viewed　that　as　neither　the　one　thing　nor　the　other；　neither　religious　nor　secular；　and　she　was　persuaded　that　a　little　exertion　on　the　part　of　the　brother；　whom　she　viewed　as　a　paladin；　would　overcome　all　coyness　on　the　lady's　part。

Malcolm　found　it　vain　to　try　to　show　his　sister　his　sense　of　his　own　deserts；　and　equally　so　to　declare　that　if　the　maiden　should　so　yield；　she　would　indeed　be　the　Demoiselle　de　Luxemburg　to　whom　he　was　pledged；　but　not　the　Esclairmonde　whom　his　better　part　adored。　　So　he　let　the　matter　pass　by；　and　both　enjoyed　their　masquing　in　one　another's　company　as　a　holiday　such　as　they　could　never　have　again。

They　had　no　serious　alarms；　the　pursuit　must　have　been　disconcerted；　and　the　two　young　scholars　were　not　worth　the　attention　of　freebooters。　　Their　winsomeness　of　manner　won　them　kindness　wherever　they　harboured；　and　thus；　after　many　days；　without　molestation　they　came　to　the　walls　of　Berwick。　　And　now；　while　Malcolm　thought　his　difficulties　at　an　end；　a　horror　of　bashfulness　fell　upon　Lilias。　She　had　been　Clerk　Davie　merrily　enough　while　there　was　no　one　to　suspect　her；　but　the　transmutation　into　her　proper　self　filled　her　with　shame。

She　hung　back；　and　could　be　hardly　dragged　forward　to　the　embattled　gateway　of　the　bridge　by　her　brotherwho；　as　the　guards；　jealously　cautious　even　in　this　time　of　peace；　called　out　to　him　to　stand；　showed　his　ring　bearing　the　royal　arms；　and　desired　to　speak　within　the　captain　of　the　garrison；　who　was　commanding　in　the　name　of　the　Earl　of　Northumberland；　Governor　of　Berwick　and　Warden　of　the　Marches；　and　who　had　entertained　him　on　his　way　north；　and　would　have　been　warned　by　Patrick　of　his　probable　return　in　this　guise。

Instead　of　the　stalwart　form　of　the　veteran　sub…governor；　however；　a　quick　step　came　hurrying　to　the　gateway；　and　the　light　figure　of　a　young　knight　stood　before　him；　with　outstretched　hands；　crying：　'Welcome　to　the　good　town　of　Berwick…upon…Tweed；　dear　comrade！'　　And　he　added　in　a　lower　tone：　　'So　you　have　succeeded　in　your　questif；　as　I　trow；　this　fairest　of　clerks　be　your　lady　sister。　　May　I'

'Hold！'　softly　said　Malcolm。　　'She　is　so　shamefast　that　she　cannot　brook　a　word；'　and　in　fact　Lilias　had　pulled　her　hood　over　her　face；　and　shrunk　behind　him；　at　the　first　approach　of　the　young　gentleman。

'We　will　to　my　mother；'　said　Ralf；　aloud。　　'She　has　always　a　soft　corner　in　her　heart　for　a　young　clerk　or　a　wanderer。'

And　so　saying；　without　even　looking　at　the　disguised　figure；　he　gave　the　pass…word；　and　holding　Malcolm　by　the　arm；　led　him；　followed　by　Lilias；　through　the　defences　and　into　the　court　of　the　castle；　then　to　a　side…door；　where；　bounding　up　several　steps　at　once　of　a　stone　stair；　he　opened　a　sort　of　anteroom　door；　and　bade　the　two　strangers　wait　there　while　he　fetched　his　mother。

'That　is　well！　　Who　would　have　looked　to　see　him　here！'　cried　Malcolm；　joyously。　　'What；　you　knew　him　not？　　It　was　Ralf　Percy；　my　dear　old　companion！'

'Ralf　Percy！　he　that　was　so　bold　and　daring？'　cried　Lilias。　　'Nay；　but　how　can　it　be；　he　was　as　meek　and　shamefast'

'As　yourself；'　smiled　Malcolm。　　'Ah；　sister；　you　have　much　to　learn　of　the　ways　of　an　English　gentleman　among　ladies。'

Before　many　further　words　could　be　exchanged；　there　entered　a　fair　and　matronly　dame　in　the　widow's　veil　she　had　worn　ever　since　the　fatal　day　of　Shrewsburythat　eager；　loving；　yet　almost　childish　woman　whom　we　know　so　well　as　Hotspur's　gentle　Kate　（only　that　unfortunately　her　name　was　Elizabeth）；　fondling；　teasing；　being　fondled　and　teased　in　return；　and　then　with　all　her　pretty　puerilities　scorched　away　when　she　upbraids　Northumberland　with　his　fatal　delay。　　Could　Malcolm　and　Lilias　have　known　her　as　we　do　in　Shakespeare；　they　would　have　been　the　more　gratified　by　her　welcome；　whereas　they　only　saw　her　kind　face　and　the　courtly　sweep　of　her　curtsey；　as；　going　straight　up　to　the　disguised　girl；　blushing　and　trembling　now　more　than　ever；　she　said：　　'Poor　child；　come　with　me；　and　we　will　soon　have　you　yourself　again；　ere　any　other　eye　see　you；'　and　then　moved　away　again；　holding　Lily　by　the　hand；　while　Ralf；　who　had　followed　close　behind　her；　again　grasped　Malcolm's　hand。

'Well　done；　Glenuskie；　you　have　all　the　adventures！　　They　seek　you；　I　believe！　　So　you　have　borne　off　your　damosel　errant；　and　are　just　in　time　to　receive　your　king。'

'Is　he　wedded　then？'

'Ay；　and　you　find　us　all　here　in　full　state；　prepared　to　banquet　him　and　lodge　him　and　his　bride　for　a　night；　and　then　I　fancy　my　brother　is　to　go　through　some　ceremony；　ere　giving　him　up　to　his　own　subjects。　　We　are　watching　for　him　every　day。　　Come　to　my　chamber；　and　I'll　apparel　you。'

'Nay；　but　what　brings　you　here；　Ralf？you；　whom　I　thought　in　France。'

''Twas　a　Scottish　bill　that　brought　me；'　answered　Ralf。　　'What；　are　you　too　lost　in　parchment　at　Oxford　to　hear　of　us　poor　soldiers；　or　knew　you　not　how　we　fought　at　Crevant？'

'I　heard　of　the　battle；　and　that　you　were　hurt；　but　that　was　months　ago；　and　I　deemed　you　long　since　in　the　field　again。　　Was　it　so　sore　a　matter？'

'Chiefly　sore　for　that　it　hindered　me　from　taking　the　old　rogue　Douglas；　and　meriting　my　spurs　as　befitted　a　Percy。　　I　was　knighted　while　the　trumpet　was　sounding；　and　I　did　think　that　I　was　on　the　way　to　prowess；　for　fully　in　the　melee　I　saw　a　fellow　with　the　Douglas　banner。　　I　made　at　it；　thinking　of　my　father's　and　of　Otterburn；　and；　Malcolm；　this　very　hand　was　on　the　staff；　when　what　must　a　big　Scot　do　but　chop　at　me　with　his　bill　like　a　butcher's　axe。　　Had　it　fallen　on　mine　arm　it　would　have　been　lopped　off　like　a　bough　of　a　tree；　but；　by　St。　George's　grace；　it　lit　here；　between　my　neck　and　shoulder；　and　stuck　fast　as　I　went　down；　and　the　fellow　was　swept　away　from　me。　　'Twas　so　fixed　in　the　very　bone；　that　they　had　much　ado　to　wrench　it　out；　when　there　was　time　after　the　fight　to　look　after　us　who　had　come　by　the　worse。　　And　what　d'ye　think　they　found；　Malcolm？　　Why；　those　honest　Yorkshiremen；　Trenton　and　Kitson；　stark　dead；　both　of　them。　　Trenton　must　have　gone　down　first；　with　a　lance…　thrust　in　the　throat；　and　there　was　Kitson　over　him；　his　shield　over　his　head；　and　his　own　cleft　open　with　an　axe！　　They　laid　them　side　by　sideso　I　was　toldin　their　grave；　and　sure　'twas　as　strange　and　as　true　a　brotherhood　as　ever　was　between　two　brave　men。'

'The　good　fellows！'　cried　Malcolm。　　'Nay；　after　what　I　saw　I　can　hardly　grieve。　　I　went　to　Kitson's　home；　where　they　knew　as　little　as　I　did　of　his　death；　and　verily　his　place　had　closed　up　behind　him；　so　that　I　scarce　think　his　mother　even　cared　to　see　him　more；　and　the　whole　of　them　seemed　more　concerned　at　his　amity　with　Trenton　than　proud　of　his　feats　of　arms。　　I　was　marvelling　if　their　friendship　would　be　allowed　to　subsist　at　home；　even　when　they；　poor　fellows；　were　lying　side　by　side　in　their　French　grave。'

'We　warriors　should　never　come　home；'　said　Percy；　'we　are　spoilt　for　aught　but　our　French　camp。　　I　am　wearying　to　get　back　once　more；　but　so　long　as　I　cannot　swing　my　sword…arm　I　must　play　the　idler　here。'

'It　must　have　been　a　fearsome　wound；'　said　Malcolm。　　'The　marvel　is　your　overgetting　it。'

'So　say　they　all；　and　truly　it　has　lasted　no　small　time。　　They　shipped　me　off　home　so　soon　as　I　could　leave　my　bed；　and　bade　me　rest。　　Nay；　and　my　mother　herself　came　even　to　London；　when　my　brother　was　summoned　to　Parliament；she　who　had　never　been　there　since　the　first　year　after　she　was　wedded！'

'You　can　scarce　complain　of　such　kin　as　that；'　said　Malcolm。

''Tis　not　the　kin；　but