sir nigel-第8章
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ease his pace； only to be driven onward by the cruel spur and the
falling lash。 He was blind and giddy with fatigue。
He saw no longer where he placed his feet； he cared no longer
whither he went； but his one mad longing was to get away from this
dreadful thing； this torture which clung to him and would not let
him go。 Through Thursley village he passed； his eyes straining in
his agony； his heart bursting within him； and he had won his way
to the crest of Thursley Down； still stung forward by stab and
blow； when his spirit weakened； his giant strength ebbed out of
him； and with one deep sob of agony the yellow horse sank among
the heather。 So sudden was the fall that Nigel flew forward over
his shoulder； and beast and man lay prostrate and gasping while
the last red rim of the sun sank behind Butser and the first stars
gleamed in a violet sky。
The young Squire was the first to recover； and kneeling by the
panting； overwrought horse he passed his hand gently over the
tangled mane and down the foam…flecked face。 The red eye rolled
up at him； but it was wonder not hatred； a prayer and not a
threat； which he could read in it。 As he stroked the reeking
muzzle； the horse whinnied gently and thrust his nose into the
hollow of his hand。 It was enough。 It was the end of the
contest； the acceptance of new conditions by a chivalrous foe from
a chivalrous victor。
〃You are my horse； Pommers；〃 Nigel whispered； and he laid his
cheek against the craning head。 〃I know you； Pommers； and you
know me； and with the help of Saint Paul we shall teach some other
folk to know us both。 Now let us walk together as far as this
moorland pond； for indeed I wot not whether it is you or I who
need the water most。〃
And so it was that some belated monks of Waverley passing homeward
from the outer farms saw a strange sight which they carried on
with them so that it reached that very night the ears both of
sacrist and of Abbot。 For； as they passed through Tilford they
had seen horse and man walking side by side and head by head up
the manor…house lane。 And when they had raised their lanterns on
the pair it was none other than the young Squire himself who was
leading home； as a shepherd leads a lamb； the fearsome yellow
horse of Crooksbury。
IV。 HOW THE SUMMONER CAME TO THE MANOR HOUSE OF TILFORD
By the date of this chronicle the ascetic sternness of the old
Norman castles had been humanized and refined so that the new
dwellings of the nobility； if less imposing in appearance； were
much more comfortable as places of residence。 A gentle race had
built their houses rather for peace than for war。 He who compares
the savage bareness of Pevensey or Guildford with the piled
grandeur of Bodmin or Windsor cannot fail to understand the change
in manners which they represent。
The earlier castles had a set purpose； for they were built that
the invaders might hold down the country； but when the Conquest
was once firmly established a castle had lost its meaning save as
a refuge from justice or as a center for civil strife。 On the
marches of Wales and of Scotland the castle might continue to be a
bulwark to the kingdom； and there still grew and flourished； but
in all other places they were rather a menace to the King's
majesty； and as such were discouraged and destroyed。 By the reign
of the third Edward the greater part of the old fighting castles
had been converted into dwelling…houses or had been ruined in the
civil wars； and left where their grim gray bones are still
littered upon the brows of our hills。 The new buildings were
either great country…houses； capable of defense； but mainly
residential； or they were manor…houses with no military
significance at all。
Such was the Tilford Manor…house where the last survivors of the
old and magnificent house of Loring still struggled hard to keep a
footing and to hold off the monks and the lawyers from the few
acres which were left to them。 The mansion was a two…storied one；
framed in heavy beams of wood； the interstices filled with rude
blocks of stone。 An outside staircase led up to several
sleeping…rooms above。 Below there were only two apartments； the
smaller of which was the bower of the aged Lady Ermyntrude。 The
other was the hall； a very large room； which served as the living
room of the family and as the common dining…room of themselves and
of their little group of servants and retainers。 The dwellings of
these servants； the kitchens； the offices and the stables were all
represented by a row of penthouses and sheds behind the main
building。 Here lived Charles the page； Peter the old falconer；
Red Swire who had followed Nigel's grandfather to the Scottish
wars； Weathercote the broken minstrel； John the cook； and other
survivors of more prosperous days； who still clung to the old
house as the barnacles to some wrecked and stranded vessel。
One evening about a week after the breaking of the yellow horse；
Nigel and his grandmother sat on either side of the large empty
fireplace in this spacious apartment。 The supper had been
removed； and so had the trestle tables upon which it had been
served； so that the room seemed bare and empty。 The stone floor
was strewed with a thick layer of green rushes； which was swept
out every Saturday and carried with it all the dirt and debris of
the week。 Several dogs were now crouched among these rushes；
gnawing and cracking the bones which had been thrown from the
table。 A long wooden buffet loaded with plates and dishes filled
one end of the room； but there was little other furniture save
some benches against the walls； two dorseret chairs； one small
table littered with chessmen； and a great iron coffer。 In one
corner was a high wickerwork stand； and on it two stately falcons
were perched； silent and motionless； save for an occasional
twinkle of their fierce yellow eyes。
But if the actual fittings of the room would have appeared scanty
to one who had lived in a more luxurious age； he would have been
surprised on looking up to see the multitude of objects which were
suspended above his head。 Over the fireplace were the
coats…of…arms of a number of houses allied by blood or by marriage
to the Lorings。 The two cresset…lights which flared upon each
side gleamed upon the blue lion of the Percies； the red birds of
de Valence； the black engrailed cross of de Mohun； the silver star
of de Vere； and the ruddy bars of FitzAlan； all grouped round the
famous red roses on the silver shield which the Lorings had borne
to glory upon many a bloody field。 Then from side to side the
room was spanned by heavy oaken beams from which a great number of
objects were hanging。 There were mail…shirts of obsolete pattern；
several shields； one or two rusted and battered helmets；
bowstaves； lances； otter…spears； harness； fishing…rods； and other
implements of war or of the chase； while higher still amid the
black shadows of the peaked roof could be seen rows of hams；
flitches of bacon； salted geese； and those other forms of
preserved meat which played so great a part in the housekeeping of
the Middle Ages。
Dame Ermyntrude Loring； daughter； wife； and mother of warriors；
was herself a formidable figure。 Tall and gaunt； with hard craggy
features and intolerant dark eyes； even her snow…white hair and
stooping back could not entirely remove the sense of fear which
she inspired in those around her。 Her thoughts and memories went
back to harsher times； and she looked upon the England around her
as a degenerate and effeminate land which had fallen away from the
old standard of knightly courtesy and valor。
The rising power of the people； the growing wealth of the Church；
the increasing luxury in life and manners； and the gentler tone of
the age were all equally abhorrent to her； so that the dread of
her fierce face； and even of the heavy oak staff with which she
supported her failing limbs； was widespread through all the
country round。
Yet if she was feared she was also respected； for in days when
books were few and readers scarce； a long memory and a ready
tongue were of the more value； and where； save from Dame
Ermyntrude； could the young unlett
