the caged lion-第8章

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y　the　House　of　Albany；　so　that　there　was　little　doubt　that　this　would　be　the　first　refuge　thought　of　by　Sir　David's　followers。

Accordingly　Malcolm　and　his　companions　rode　up　to　the　chief　gateway；　a　grand　circular　archway；　with　all　the　noble　though　grotesque　mouldings；　zigzag　and　cable；　dog…tooth　and　parrot…beak；　visages　human　and　diabolic；　wherewith　the　Norman　builders　loved　to　surround　their　doorways。　　The　doors　were　of　solid　oak；　heavily　guarded　with　iron；　and　from　a　little　wicket　in　the　midst　peered　out　a　cowled　head；　and　instantly　ensued　the　exclamation　…

'Benedicite！　　Welcome；　my　Lord　Malcolm！　　Ah！　but　this　will　ease　the　heart　of　the　Tutor　of　Glenuskie！'

'Ah！　then　he　is　here？'　cried　Malcolm。

'Here；　Sir；　but　in　woful　plight；　borne　in　an　hour　syne　by　four　carles　who　said　you　had　been　set　upon　by　the　Master　of　Albany；　and　sair　harried；　and　they　say　the　Tutor　doth　nought　but　wail　for　his　bairns。　How　won　ye　out　of　his　hands；　my　Lord？'

'Thanks　to　this　good　knight；'　said　Malcolm；　and　the　gate　was　opened；　and　the　new…comers　dismounted　to　pass　under　the　archway；　which　taught　humility。　　A　number　of　the　brethren　met　them　as　they　came　forth　into　the　first　quadrangle；　surrounded　by　a　beautiful　cloister；　and　containing　what　was　called　Edgar's　Walls；　a　house　raised　by　the　good　founder；　for　his　own　lodging　and　that　of　visitors；　within　the　monastery。　　It　was　a　narrow　building；　about　thirty　feet　from　the　church；　was　perfectly　familiar　to　Malcolm；　who　bent　his　steps　at　once　thither；　among　the　congratulations　of　the　monks；　and　Lilias　was　not　prevented　from　accompanying　him　thus　far　within　the　convent；　but　all　beyond　the　nave　of　the　church　was　forbidden　ground　to　her　sex；　though　the　original　monastery　destroyed　by　the　Danes　had　been　one　of　the　double　foundations　for　monks　and　nuns。

Entering　the　building；　the　brother　and　sister　hastily　crossed　a　sort　of　outer　hall　to　a　chamber　where　Sir　David　lay　on　his　bed；　attended　by　the　Prior　Akecliff　and　the　Infirmarer。　　The　glad　tidings　had　already　reached　him；　and　he　held　out　his　hands；　kissed　and　blessed　his　restored　charges；　and　gave　thanks　with　all　his　heart；　but　there　was　a　strange　wanness　upon　his　face；　and　a　spasm　of　severe　pain　crossed　him　more　than　once；　though；　as　Lilias　eagerly　asked　after　his　hurts；　he　called　them　nothing；　since　he　had　her　safe　again；　and　then　bade　Malcolm　summon　the　captive　knight　that　he　might　thank　him。

Sir　James　Stewart　had　been　left　in　the　hall　without；　to　the　hospitality　of　the　monks；　he　had　laid　aside　his　helmet；　washed　his　face；　and　arranged　his　bright　locks；　and　as　he　rose　to　follow　Malcolm；　his　majestic　stature　and　bearing　seemed　to　befit　the　home　of　the　old　Scottish　King。

As　he　entered　the　chamber；　Sir　David　slightly　raised　himself　on　the　pillow；　and；　with　his　eyes　dilating　into　a　bewildered　gaze；　exclaimed；　'My　liege；　my　dear　master！'

'He　raves；'　sighed　Lilias；　clasping　Malcolm's　hand　in　dire　distress。

'No；'　muttered　the　sick　man；　sinking　back。　　'Good　King　Robert　has　been　in　his　grave　many　a　day；　his　sons；　woe　is　me！Sir；'　recovering　himself；　'pardon　the　error　of　an　old　dying　man；　who　owes　you　more　than　he　can　express。'

'Then；　Sir；'　said　James　Stewart；　'grant　me　the　favour　of　a　few　moments'　private　speech　with　you。　　I　will　not　keep　you　long　from　him；'　he　added　to　Malcolm　and　Lilias。

His　manner　was　never　one　to　be　disputed；　there　was　an　atmosphere　of　obedience　about　the　whole　monastery；　and　the　Prior　added　…

'Yes；　my　children；　it　is　but　fitting　that　you　should　give　thanks　in　the　church　for　your　unlooked…for　deliverance。'

Malcolm　was　forced　to　lead　Lilias　away　into　the　exquisite　cross　church；　built　in　the　loveliest　Early　English　style；　of　which　a　few　graceful　remnants　still　exist。　　The　two　young　things　knelt　together　hand　in　hand　in　the　lornness　of　their　approaching　desolation；　neither　of　them　having　dared　to　utter　the　foreboding　upon　their　hearts；　but　feeling　it　all　the　more　surely；　and　while　the　sister's　spirit　longed　fervently　after　him　whose　protection　had　been　only　just　removed；　the　brother　looked　up　to　the　sheltering　vaults；　lost　in　the　tranquil　twilight；　and　felt　that　here　alone　was　his　haven　of　peace；　the　refuge　for　the　feeble　and　the　fatherless。

Their　devotions　performed；　they　ventured　back　to　the　outer　hall；　and　on　their　return　being　notified；　they　were　again　admitted。　　Sir　James；　who　had　been　seated　on　a　stool　by　the　sick　man's　head；　immediately　rose　and　resigned　his　place　to　Lilias；　but　did　not　leave　the　room　and　Sir　David　thus　spoke：　　'Bairns；　God　in　His　mercy　hath　raised　you　up　the　best　of　guardians　in　the　stead　of　your　ain　poor　Tutor。　　Malcolm；　laddie；　you　will　ride　the　morn　with　this　gentleman　to　the　true　head　of　your　name；　your　ain　King；　whom　God　for　ever　bless！'　　His　voice　quivered。　　'And　be　it　your　study　so　to　profit　by　his　example　and　nurture；　as　to　do　your　devoir　by　him　for　ever。'

'Nay；　father；'　cried　Malcolm；　'I　cannot　leave　you　and　Lily。'

'If　you　call　me　father；　do　my　bidding；'　said　Sir　David。　　'Lily　can　be　safely　bestowed　with　the　good　Sisters　of　St。　Abbs；　nor　while　you　are　out　of　Albany's　reach　is　the　poor　lassie　worth　his　molesting；　but　when　I　am　gone；　your　uncles　of　Albany　and　Athole　become　your　tutors；　and　the　Prior　has　no　power　to　save　you。　　Only　over　the　Border　with　the　King　is　there　safety　from　them；　and　your　ruin　is　the　ruin　of　your　sister。'

'And；'　added　Sir　James；　'when　the　King　is　at　liberty；　or　when　you　yourself　are　of　age；　you　will　return　to　resume　the　charge　of　your　fair　sister；　unless　some　nearer　protector　be　found。　　Meantime；'　he　laid　one　hand　on　Malcolm's　head；　and　with　the　other　took　out　the　relic　which　had　had　so　great　an　effect　upon　Walter　Stewart；　'I　swear　on　this　holy　Rood　of　St。　Andrew；　that　Malcolm　Stewart　of　Glenuskie　shall　be　my　charge；　not　merely　as　my　kinsman；　but　as　my　young　brother。'

'You　hear；　Malcolm；'　said　Sir　David。　　'You　will　strive　to　merit　such　goodness。'

'Father；'　broke　out　the　poor　boy　again；　'you　cannot　mean　to　part　us！　Let　us　abide　as　we　have　been　till　I　am　of　age　to　take　my　vows！　　I　am　not　fit　to　serve　the　King。'

'He　is　the　best　judge　of　that；'　returned　Sir　James。

'And；'　added　Sir　David；　'I　tell　you；　lad；　that　I　shall　never　be　as　I　was　before；　and　that　were　I　a　whole　man　and　sain；　riding　back　to　Glenuskie　the　morn；　I　should　still　bless　the　saints　and　bid　you　gang。'

Rarely　did　the　youth　of　the　fifteenth　century　venture　to　question　the　authority　of　an　elder；　but　Malcolm　was　only　silenced　for　a　moment；　and　though　by　no　means　understanding　that　his　guardian　believed　his　injuries　mortal；　he　threw　himself　upon　the　advice　of　the　Prior；　whom　he　entreated　to　allow　him　to　judge　for　himself；　and　to　remain　to　protect　his　sisterhe　talked　boldly　of　protecting　her　after　this　day's　exploit。　　But　Prior　Akecliff　gave　him　no　more　encouragement　than　did　his　uncle。　　The　Benedictine　vows　were　out　of　the　question　till　he　should　be　eighteen；　and　the　renunciation　of　the　world　they　involved　would　be　ruinous　to　Lilias；　since　she　would　become　his　heiress。　　Moreover；　the　Prior　himself　was　almost　in　a　state　of　siege；　for　the　Regent　was　endeavouring　to　intrude　on　the　convent　one　Brother　William　Drake；　or　Drax；　by　his　own　nomination；　instead　of　the　canonical　appointment　emanating　from　Durham；　and　as　national　feeling　went　with　the　Regent's　nominee；　it　was　by　no　means　certain　that　the　present　Prior　would　be　able　to　maintain　his　position。

'Oh；　go！　yes；　go；　dear　brother；'　entreated　Lilias。　　'I　should　be　far　happier　to　know　you　in　safety。　　They　cannot　hurt　me　while　you　are　safe。'

'But　you；　Lily！　　What　if　this　villain　Drax　have　his　way？'

'He　could　not　harm　her　in　St。　Ebba's　fold；'　returned　the　Prior。　　'The　Abbess　herself　could　not　yield　her；　and；　as　you　have　so　often　been　told；　my　young　Lord；　your　absence　is　a　far　greater　protection　to　your　sister　than　your　presence。　　Moreover；　were　the　Tutor's　mind　at　rest；　there　would　be　far　better　hope　of　his　recovery。'

There　was　no　alternative；　and　Malcolm　could　not　but　submit。　　Lilias　was　to　be　conducted　before　daybreak　to　the　monastery　of　St。　Abbs；　about　six　miles　off；　whence　she　could　be　summoned　at　any　time　to　be　with　her　uncle　in　Coldingham；　and　Malcolm　was　to　set　off　at　daybreak　with　the　captive　knight；　whose　return　to　Englan