sir nigel-第16章
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the meal had been eaten and cleared before she had done tracing
the network of intermarriages and connections； with quarterings；
impalements； lozenges and augmentations by which the blazonry of
the two families might be made to show a common origin。 Back to
the Conquest and before it there was not a noble family…tree every
twig and bud of which was not familiar to the Dame Ermyntrude。
And now when the trestles were cleared and the three were left
alone in the hall； Chandos broke his message to the lady。 〃King
Edward hath ever borne in mind that noble knight your son Sir
Eustace；〃 said he。 〃He will journey to Southampton next week； and
I am his harbinger。 He bade me say； noble and honored lady； that
he would come from Guildford in any easy stage so that he might
spend one night under your roof。〃
The old dame flushed with pleasure； and then turned white with
vexation at the words。 〃It is in truth great honor to the house
of Loring；〃 said she； 〃yet our roof is now humble and； as you have
seen； our fare is plain。 The King knows not that we are so poor。
I fear lest we seem churlish and niggard in his eyes。〃
But Chandos reasoned away her fears。 The King's retinue would
journey on to Farnham Castle。 There were no ladies in his party。
Though he was King； still he was a hardy soldier； and cared little
for his ease。 In any case； since he had declared his coming； they
must make the best of it。 Finally； with all delicacy； Chandos
offered his own purse if it would help in the matter。 But already
the Lady Ermyntrude had recovered her composure。
〃Nay； fair kinsman； that may not be；〃 said she。 〃I will make such
preparation as I may for the King。 He will bear in mind that if
the house of Loring can give nothing else； they have always held
their blood and their lives at his disposal。〃
Chandos was to ride on to Farnham Castle and beyond； but he
expressed his desire to have a warm bath ere he left Tilford； for
like most of his fellow…knights； he was much addicted to simmering
in the hottest water that he could possibly endure。 The bath
therefore； a high hooped arrangement like a broader but shorter
churn； was carried into the privacy of the guest…chamber； and
thither it was that Nigel was summoned to hold him company while
he stewed and sweltered in his tub。
Nigel perched himself upon the side of the high bed； swinging his
legs over the edge and gazing with wonder and amusement at the
quaint face； the ruffled yellow hair； and the sinewy shoulders of
the famous warrior； dimly seen amid a pillar of steam。 He was in
a mood for talk； so Nigel with eager lips plied him with a
thousand questions about the wars； hanging upon every word which
came back to him； like those of the ancient oracles； out of the
mist and the cloud。 To Chandos himself； the old soldier for whom
war had lost its freshness； it was a renewal of his own ardent
youth to listen to Nigel's rapid questions and to mark the rapt
attention with which he listened。
〃Tell me of the Welsh； honored sir；〃 asked the Squire。 〃What
manner of soldiers are the Welsh？〃
〃They are very valiant men of war；〃 said Chandos； splashing about
in his tub。 〃There is good skirmishing to be had in their valleys
if you ride with a small following。 They flare up like a
furzebush in the flames； but if for a short space you may abide
the heat of it； then there is a chance that it may be cooler。〃
〃And the Scotch？〃 asked Nigel。 〃You have made war upon them also；
as I understand。〃
〃The Scotch knights have no masters in the world； and he who can
hold his own with the best of them； be it a Douglas； a Murray or a
Seaton； has nothing more to learn。 Though you be a hard man； you
will always meet as hard a one if you ride northward。 If the
Welsh be like the furze fire； then； padieu！ the Scotch are the
peat； for they will smolder and you will never come to the end of
them。 I have had many happy hours on the marches of Scotland； for
even if there be no war the Percies of Alnwick or the Governor of
Carlisle can still raise a little bickering with the border
clans。〃
〃I bear in mind that my father was wont to say that they were very
stout spearmen。〃
〃No better in the world； for the spears are twelve foot long and
they hold them in very thick array； but their archers are weak；
save only the men of Ettrick and Selkirk who come from the forest。
I pray you to open the lattice； Nigel； for the steam is overthick。
Now in Wales it is the spearmen who are weak； and there are no
archers in these islands like the men of Gwent with their bows of
elm； which shoot with such power that I have known a cavalier to
have his horse killed when the shaft had passed through his mail
breeches； his thigh and his saddle。 And yet； what is the most
strongly shot arrow to these new balls of iron driven by the fire…
powder which will crush a man's armor as an egg is crushed by a
stone？ Our fathers knew them not。〃
〃Then the better for us；〃 cried Nigel； 〃since there is at least
one honorable venture which is all our own。〃
Chandos chuckled and turned upon the flushed youth a twinkling and
sympathetic eye。 〃You have a fashion of speech which carries me
back to the old men whom I met in my boyhood；〃 said he。 〃There
were some of the real old knight…errants left in those days； and
they spoke as you do。 Young as you are； you belong to another
age。 Where got you that trick of thought and word？〃
〃I have had only one to teach me； the Lady Ermyntrude。〃
〃Pardieu！ she has trained a proper young hawk ready to stoop at a
lordly quarry；〃 said Chandos。 〃I would that I had the first
unhooding of you。 Will you not ride with me to the wars？〃
The tears brimmed over from Nigel's eyes； and he wrung the gaunt
hand extended from the bath。 〃By Saint Paul！ what could I ask
better in the world？ I fear to leave her； for she has none other
to care for her。 But if it can in any way be arranged … 〃
〃The King's hand may smooth it out。 Say no more until he is here。
But if you wish to ride with me … 〃
〃What could man wish for more？ Is there a Squire in England who
would not serve under the banner of Chandos！ Whither do you go；
fair sir？ And when do you go？ Is it to Scotland？ Is it to
Ireland？ Is it to France？ But alas； alas！〃
The eager face had clouded。 For the instant he had forgotten that
a suit of armor was as much beyond his means as a service of gold
plate。 Down in a twinkling came all his high hopes to the ground。
Oh； these sordid material things； which come between our dreams
and their fulfilment！ The Squire of such a knight must dress with
the best。 Yet all the fee simple of Tilford would scarce suffice
for one suit of plate。
Chandos； with his quick wit and knowledge of the world； had
guessed the cause of this sudden change。 〃 If you fight under my
banner it is for me to find the weapons；〃 said he。 〃Nay； I will
not be denied。〃
But Nigel shook his head sadly。 〃 It may not be。 The Lady
Ermyntrude would sell this old house and every acre round it； ere
she would permit me to accept this gracious bounty which you
offer。 Yet I do not despair； for only last week I won for myself
a noble war…horse for which I paid not a penny； so perchance a
suit of armor may also come my way。〃
〃And how won you the horse？〃
〃It was given me by the monks of Waverley。〃
〃This is wonderful。 Pardieu！ I should have expected； from what I
had seen； that they would have given you little save their
malediction。〃
〃They had no use for the horse； and they gave it to me。〃
〃Then we have only to find some one who has no use for a suit of
armor and will give it to you。 Yet I trust that you will think
better of it and let me； since that good lady proves that I am
your kinsman； fit you for the wars。〃
〃I thank you； noble sir； and if I should turn to anyone it would
indeed be to you； but there are other ways which I would try
first。 But I pray you； goon Sir John； to tell me of some of your
noble spear…runnings against the French； for the whole land rings
with the tale of your deeds and I have heard that in one morning
three champions have fallen before your lance。 Was it not so？〃
〃That it was ind
