sir nigel-第30章

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his　cap。

He　had　ridden　over　Thursley　Ridge　past　that　old　stone　where　in
days　gone　by　at　the　place　of　Thor　the　wild　Saxons　worshiped　their
war…god。　　Nigel　looked　at　it　with　a　wary　eye　and　spurred　Pommers
onward　as　he　passed　it；　for　still　it　was　said　that　wild　fires
danced　round　it　on　the　moonless　nights；　and　they　who　had　ears　for
such　things　could　hear　the　scream　and　sob　of　those　whose　lives　had
been　ripped　from　them　that　the　fiend　might　be　honored。　　Thor's
stone；　Thor's　jumps；　Thor's　punch…bowl　…　the　whole　country…side
was　one　grim　monument　to　the　God　of　Battles；　though　the　pious
monks　had　changed　his　uncouth　name　for　that　of　the　Devil　his
father；　so　that　it　was　the　Devil's　jumps　and　the　Devil's
punch…bowl　of　which　they　spoke。　　Nigel　glanced　back　at　the　old
gray　boulder；　and　he　felt　for　an　instant　a　shudder　pass　through
his　stout　heart。　　Was　it　the　chill　of　the　evening　air；　or　was　it
that　some　inner　voice　had　whispered　to　him　of　the　day　when　he　also
might　lie　bound　on　such　a　rock　and　have　such　a　blood…stained　pagan
crew　howling　around　him。

An　instant　later　the　rock　and　his　vague　fear　and　all　things　else
had　passed　from　his　mind；　for　there；　down　the　yellow　sandy　path；
the　setting　sun　gleaming　on　her　golden　hair；　her　lithe　figure
bending　and　swaying　with　every　heave　of　the　cantering　horse；　was
none　other　than　the　same　fair　Edith；　whose　face　had　come　so　often
betwixt　him　and　his　sleep。　　His　blood　rushed　hot　to　his　face　at
the　sight；　for　fearless　of　all　else；　his　spirit　was　attracted　and
yet　daunted　by　the　delicate　mystery　of　woman。　　To　his　pure　and
knightly　soul　not　Edith　alone；　but　every　woman；　sat　high　and
aloof；　enthroned　and　exalted；　with　a　thousand　mystic　excellencies
and　virtues　which　raised　her　far　above　the　rude　world　of　man。
There　was　joy　in　contact　with　them；　and　yet　there　was　fear；　fear
lest　his　own　unworthiness；　his　untrained　tongue　or　rougher　ways
should　in　some　way　break　rudely　upon　this　delicate　and　tender
thing。　　Such　was　his　thought　as　the　white　horse　cantered　toward
him；　but　a　moment　later　his　vague　doubts　were　set　at　rest　by　the
frank　voice　of　the　young　girl；　who　waved　her　whip　in　merry
greeting。

〃Hail　and　well　met；　Nigel！〃　she　cried。　　〃Whither　away　this
evening？　　Sure　I　am　that　it　is　not　to　see　your　friends　of　Cosford；
for　when　did　you　ever　don　so　brave　a　doublet　for　us？　　Come；　Nigel；
her　name；　that　I　may　hate　her　for　ever。〃

〃Nay；　Edith；〃　said　the　young　Squire；　laughing　back　at　the　laughing
girl。　　〃I　was　indeed　coming　to　Cosford。〃

〃Then　we　shall　ride　back　together；　for　I　will　go　no　farther。　　How
think　you　that　I　am　looking？〃

Nigel's　answer　was　in　his　eyes　as　he　glanced　at　the　fair　flushed
face；　the　golden　hair；　the　sparkling　eyes　and　the　daintily
graceful　figure　set　off　in　a　scarlet…and…black　riding…dress。　　〃You
are　as　fair　as　ever；　Edith。〃

〃Oh；　cold　of　speech！　　Surely　you　were　bred　for　the　cloisters；　and
not　for　a　lady's　bower；　Nigel。　　Had　I　asked　such　a　question　from
young　Sir　George　Brocas　or　the　Squire　of　Fernhurst；　he　would　have
raved　from　here　to　Cosford。　　They　are　both　more　to　my　taste　than
you　are；　Nigel。〃

〃It　is　the　worse　for　me；　Edith；〃　said　Nigel　ruefully。

〃Nay；　but　you　must　not　lose　heart。〃

〃Have　I　not　already　lost　it？〃　said　he。

〃That　is　better；〃　she　cried；　laughing。　　〃You　can　be　quick　enough
when　you　choose；　Master　Malapert。　　But　you　are　more　fit　to　speak
of　high　and　weary　matters　with　my　sister　Mary。　　She　will　have　none
of　the　prattle　and　courtesy　of　Sir　George；　and　yet　I　love　them
well。　　But　tell　me；　Nigel；　why　do　you　come　to　Cosford　tonight？〃

〃To　bid　you　farewell。〃

〃Me　alone？〃

〃Nay；　Edith；　you　and　your　sister　Mary　and　the　good　knight　your
father。〃

〃Sir　George　would　have　said　that　he　had　come　for　me　alone。　　Indeed
you　are　but　a　poor　courtier　beside　him。　　But　is　it　true；　Nigel；
that　you　go　to　France？〃

〃Yes；　Edith。〃

〃It　was　so　rumored　after　the　King　had　been　to　Tilford。　　The　story
goes　that　the　King　goes　to　France　and　you　in　his　train。　　Is　that
true？〃

〃Yes；　Edith；　it　is　true。〃

〃Tell　me；　then；　to　what　part　you　go；　and　when？〃

〃That；　alas！　　I　may　not　say。〃

〃Oh；　in　sooth！〃　　She　tossed　her　fair　head　and　rode　onward　in
silence；　with　compressed　lips　and　angry　eyes。

Nigel　glanced　at　her　in　surprise　and　dismay。　　〃Surely；　Edith；〃
said　he　at　last；　〃you　have　overmuch　regard　for　my　honor　that　you
should　wish　me　to　break　the　word　that　I　have　given？〃

〃Your　honor　belongs　to　you；　and　my　likings　belong　to　me；〃　said
she。　　〃You　hold　fast　to　the　one；　and　I　will　do　the　same　by　the
other。〃

They　rode　in　silence　through　Thursley　village。　　Then　a　thought
came　to　her　mind　and　in　an　instant　her　anger　was　forgotten　and　she
was　hot　on　a　new　scent。

〃What　would　you　do　if　I　were　injured；　Nigel？　　I　have　heard　my
father　say　that　small　as　you　are　there　is　no　man　in　these　parts
could　stand　against　you。　　Would　you　be　my　champion　if　I　suffered
wrong？〃

〃Surely　I　or　any　man　of　gentle　blood　would　be　the　champion　of　any
woman　who　had　suffered　wrong。〃

〃You　or　any　and　I　or　any　…　what　sort　of　speech　is　that？　　Is　it　a
compliment；　think　you；　to　be　mixed　with　a　drove　in　that　fashion？
My　question　was　of　you　and　me。　　If　I　were　wronged　would　you　be　my
man？〃

〃Try　me　and　see；　Edith！〃

〃Then　I　will　do　so；　Nigel。　　Either　Sir　George　Brocas　or　the　Squire
of　Fernhurst　would　gladly　do　what　I　ask；　and　yet　I　am　of　a　mind；
Nigel；　to　turn　to　you。〃

〃I　pray　you　to　tell　me　what　it　is。〃

〃　You　know　Paul　de　la　Fosse　of　Shalford？〃

〃You　mean　the　small　man　with　the　twisted　back？〃

〃He　is　no　smaller　than　yourself；　Nigel；　and　as　to　his　back　there
are　many　folk　that　I　know　who　would　be　glad　to　have　his　face。〃

〃Nay；　I　am　no　judge　of　that；　and　I　spoke　out　of　no　discourtesy。
What　of　the　man？〃

〃He　has　flouted　me；　Nigel；　and　I　would　have　revenge。〃

〃What　…　on　that　poor　twisted　creature？〃

〃I　tell　you　that　he　has　flouted　me！〃

〃But　how？〃

〃I　should　have　thought　that　a　true　cavalier　would　have　flown　to　my
aid；　withouten　all　these　questions。　　But　I　will　tell　you；　since　I
needs　must。　　Know　then　that　he　was　one　of　those　who　came　around　me
and　professed　to　be　my　own。　　Then；　merely　because　he　thought　that
there　were　others　who　were　as　dear　to　me　as　himself　he　left　me；
and　now　he　pays　court　to　Maude　Twynham；　the　little　freckle…faced
hussy　in　his　village。〃

〃But　how　has　this　hurt　you；　since　he　was　no　man　of　thine？〃

〃He　was　one　of　my　men；　was　he　not？　　And　he　has　made　game　of　me　to
his　wench。　　He　has　told　her　things　about　me。　　He　has　made　me
foolish　in　her　eyes。　　Yes；　yes；　I　can　read　it　in　her　saffron　face
and　in　her　watery　eyes　when　we　meet　at　the　church　door　on　Sundays。
She　smiles　…　yes；　smiles　at　me！　　Nigel；　go　to　him！　　Do　not　slay
him；　nor　even　wound　him；　but　lay　his　face　open　with　thy　riding…
whip；　and　then　come　back　to　me　and　tell　me　how　I　can　serve　you。〃

Nigel's　face　was　haggard　with　the　strife　within；　for　desire　ran
hot　in　every　vein；　and　yet　reason　shrank　with　horror。　　〃By　Saint
Paul！　　Edith；〃　he　cried；　〃I　see　no　honor　nor　advancement　of　any
sort　in　this　thing　which　you　have　asked　me　to　do。　　Is　it　for　me　to
strike　one　who　is　no　better　than　a　cripple？　　For　my　manhood　I
could　not　do　such　a　deed；　and　I　pray　you；　dear　lady；　that　you　will
set　me　some　other　task。〃

Her　eyes　flashed　at　him　in　contempt。　　〃And　you　are　a　man…at…arms！〃
she　cried；　laughing　in　bitter　scorn。　　〃You　are　afraid　of　a　little
man　who　can　scarce　walk。　　Yes；　yes；　say　what　you　will；　I　shall
ever　believe　that　you　have　heard　of　his　skill　at　fence　and　of　his
great　spirit；　and　that　your　heart　has　failed　you！　　You　are　right；
Nigel。　　He　is　indeed　a　perilous　man。　　Had　you　done　what　I　asked　he
would　have　slain　you；　and　so　you　have　shown　your　wisdom。〃

Nigel　flushed　and　winced　under　the　words；　but　he　said　no　more；　for
his　mind　was　fighting　hard　within　him；　striving　to　keep　that　high
image　of　woman　which　seemed　for　a　moment　to　totter　on　the　edge　of
a　fall。　　Together　in　silence；　side　by　side；　the　little　man　and　the
stately　woman；　the　yellow　charger　and　the　white　jennet；　passed　up
the　sandy　winding　track　with　the　gorse　and　the　bracken　head…high
on　either　side。　　Soon　a　path　branched　off　through　a　gateway　marked
with