red eve-第22章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


sanctuary　again。〃



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　VII

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　LOVE　PHILTRE

So　it　came　about　that　on　the　morrow　Eve　and　Sir　Andrew；　accompanied
only　by　a　single　serving　man；　fearing　no　guile　since　it　seemed　certain
that　the　Frenchmen　were　so　far　away；　rode　across　the　moor　to
Blythburgh。　At　the　manor…house　they　found　the　drawbridge　up。　The
watchman　at　the　gate　said　also　that　his　orders　were　to　admit　none；　for
the　Frenchmen　being　gone；　there　were　but　few　to　guard　the　place。

〃What；　good　fellow；〃　asked　Eve；　〃not　even　the　daughter　of　the　house
who　has　heard　that　her　father　lies　so　sick？〃

〃Ay；　he　lies　sick；　lady；〃　the　man　replied；　〃but　such　are　his　orders。
Yet　if　you　will　bide　here　a　while；　I'll　go　and　learn　his　mind。〃

So　he　went　and　returned　presently；　saying　that　Sir　John　commanded　that
his　daughter　was　to　be　admitted；　but　that　if　Sir　Andrew　attempted　to
enter　he　should　be　driven　back　by　force。

〃Will　you　go　in　or　will　you　return　with　me？〃　asked　her　companion　of
Eve。

〃God's　truth！〃　she　answered；　〃am　I　one　to　run　away　from　my　father；
however　bad　his　humour？　I'll　go　in　and　set　my　case　before　him；　for
after　all　he　loves　me　in　his　own　fashion　and　when　he　understands　will；
I　think；　relent。〃

〃Your　heart　is　your　best　guide；　daughter；　and　it　would　be　an　ill　task
for　me　to　stand　between　sire　and　child。　Enter　then；　for　I　am　sure　that
the　Saints　and　your　own　innocence　will　protect　you　from　all　harm。　At
the　worst　you　can　come　or　send　to　me　for　help。〃

So　they　parted；　and　the　bridge　having　been　lowered；　Eve　walked　boldly
to　her　father's　sleeping　chamber；　where　she　was　told　he　lay。　As　she
approached　the　door　she　met　several　of　the　household　leaving　it　with
scared　faces；　who　scarcely　stayed　to　salute　her。　Among　these　were　two
servants　of　her　dead　brother　John；　men　whom　she　had　never　liked；　and　a
woman；　the　wife　of　one　of　them；　whom　she　liked　least　of　all。

Pushing　open　the　door；　which　was　shut　behind　her；　she　advanced　toward
Sir　John；　who　was　not；　as　she　had　thought；　in　bed；　but　clad　in　a
furred　robe　and　standing　by　the　hearth；　on　which　burnt　a　fire。　He
watched　her　come；　but　said　no　word；　and　the　look　of　him　frightened　her
somewhat。

〃Father；〃　she　said；　〃I　heard　that　you　were　sick　and　alone〃

〃Ay；〃　he　broke　in；　〃sick；　very　sick　here；〃　and　he　laid　his　hand　upon
his　heart；　〃where　grief　strikes　a　man。　Alone；　too；　since　you　and　your
fellow　have　done　my　only　son　to　death；　murdered　my　guests；　and　caused
them　to　depart　from　so　bloody　a　house。〃

Now　Eve；　who　had　come　expecting　to　find　her　father　at　the　point　of
death　and　was　prepared　to　plead　with　him；　at　these　violent　words　took
fire　as　was　her　nature。

〃You　know　well　that　you　speak　what　is　not　true；〃　she　said。　〃You　and
your　Frenchmen　strove　to　burn　us　out　of　Middle　Marsh；　my　brother　John
struck　Hugh　de　Cressi　as　though　he　were　a　dog　and　used　words　toward
him　that　no　knave　would　bear；　let　alone　one　better　born　than　we　are。
Moreover；　afterward　once　he　spared　his　life；　and　Grey　Dick；　standing
alone　against　a　crowd；　did　but　use　his　skill　to　save　us。　Is　it　murder；
then　to　protect　our　honour　and　to　save　ourselves　from　death？　And　am　I
wrong　to　refuse　to　marry　a　fine　French　knave　when　I　chance　to　love　an
honest　man？〃

〃And；　pray；　am　I　your　father；　girl；　that　you　dare　to　scold　at　me
thus？〃　shouted　Sir　John；　growing　purple　with　wrath。　〃If　I　choose　a
husband　for　you；　by　what　right　do　you　refuse　him；　saying　that　you　love
a　Dunwich　shop…boy？　Down　on　your　knees　and　beg　my　pardon；　or　you　shall
have　the　whipping　you　have　earned。〃

Now　Eve's　black　eyes　glittered　dangerously。

〃Ill　would　it　go　with　any　man　who　dared　to　lay　a　hand　upon　me；〃　she
said；　drawing　herself　up　and　grasping　the　dagger　in　her　girdle。　〃Yes；
very　ill；　even　though　he　were　my　own　father。　Look　at　me　and　say　am　I
one　to　threaten？　Ay；　and　before　you　answer　bear　in　mind　that　there　are
those　at　my　call　who　can　strike　hard；　and　that　among　them　I　think
you'll　find　the　King　of　England。〃

She　paused。

〃What　hellish　plot　is　this　that　you　hatch　against　me？〃　asked　Sir　John；
with　some　note　of　doubt　in　his　voice。　〃What　have　I　to　fear　from　my
liege　lord；　the　King　of　England？〃

〃Only；　sir；　that　you　consort　with　and　would　wed　me　to　one　who；
although　you　may　not　know　it；　has；　I　am　told；　much　to　fear　from　him；
so　much　that　I　wonder　that　he　has　ridden　to　seek　his　Grace's　presence。
Well；　you　are　ill　and　I　am　angered　and　together　we　are　but　as　steel
and　flint；　from　the　meeting　of　which　comes　fire　that　may　burn　us　both。
Therefore；　since　being　better　than　I　thought；　you　need　me　not　and　have
only　cruel　words　for　greeting；　I'll　bid　you　farewell　and　get　me　back
to　those　who　are　kindlier。　God　be　with　you；　and　give　you　your　health
again。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　or　rather　snarled　Sir　John；　〃I　thought　as　much　and　am　ready
for　the　trick。　You'd　win　back　to　sanctuary；　would　you；　and　the　company
of　that　old　wizard；　Andrew　Arnold；　thence　to　make　a　mock　of　me？　Well；
not　one　step　do　you　take　upon　that　road　while　I　live；〃　and　pushing
past　her　he　opened　the　door　and　shouted　aloud。

Apparently　the　men　and　woman　whom　Eve　had　met　in　the　passage　were
still　waiting　there；　for　instantly　they　all　reappeared。

〃Now；　fellows；〃　said　Sir　John；　〃and　you；　Jane　Mell；　take　this
rebellious　girl　of　mine　to　the　chamber　in　the　prisoners'　tower；　whence
I　think　she'll　find　it　hard　to　fly　to　sanctuary。　There　lock　her　fast；
feeding　her　with　the　bread　and　water　of　affliction　to　tame　her　proud
spirit；　and　suffering　none　to　go　near　her　save　this　woman；　Jane　Mell。
Stay；　give　me　that　bodkin　which　she　wears　lest　she；　who　has　learned
bloody　ways　of　late；　should　do　some　of　you　or　herself　a　mischief。〃

As　he　spoke　one　of　the　men　deftly　snatched　the　dagger　from　Eve's
girdle　and　handed　it　to　Sir　John　who　threw　it　into　the　farthest　corner
of　the　room。　Then　he　turned　and　said：

〃Now；　girl；　will　you　go；　or　must　you　be　dragged？〃

She　raised　her　head　slowly　and　looked　him　in　the　eyes。　Mad　as　he　was
with　passion　there　was　something　in　her　face　that　frightened　him。

〃Can　you　be　my　father？〃　she　said　in　a　strained；　quiet　voice。　〃Oh！　glad
am　I　that　my　mother　did　not　live　to　see　this　hour。〃

Then　she　wheeled　round　and　addressed　the　men。

〃Hearken；　fellows。　He　who　lays　a　finger　on　me；　dies。　Soon　or　late
assuredly　he　dies　as　he　would　not　wish　to　die。　Yes；　even　if　you　murder
me；　for　I　have　friends　who　will　learn　the　truth　and　pay　back　coin　for
coin　with　interest　a　hundredfold。　Now　I'll　go。　Stand　clear；　knaves；
and　pray　to　God　that　never　again　may　Red　Eve　cross　the　threshold　of
her　prison。　Pray　also　that　never　again　may　you　look　on　Hugh　de
Cressi's　sword　or　hear　Grey　Dick's　arrows　sing；　or　face　the　curse　of
old　Sir　Andrew。〃

So　proud　and　commanding　was　her　mien　and　so　terrible　the　import　of　her
words；　that　these　rough　hinds　shrank　away　from　her　and　the　woman　hid
her　face　in　her　hands。　But　Sir　John　thundered　threats　and　oaths　at
them；　so　that　slowly　and　unwillingly　they　ringed　Eve　round。　Then　with
head　held　high　she　walked　thence　in　the　midst　of　them。

The　prisoners'　chamber　beneath　the　leads　of　the　lofty　tower　was　cold
and　unfurnished　save　for　a　stool　and　a　truckle…bed。　It　had　a　great
door　of　oak　locked　and　barred　on　the　outer　side；　with　a　grille　in　it
through　which　the　poor　wretch　within　could　be　observed。　There　was　no
window；　only　high　up　beneath　the　ceiling　were　slits　like　loopholes
that　not　a　child　could　have　passed。　Such　was　the　place　to　which　Eve
was　led。

Here　they　left　her。　At　nightfall　the　door　was　opened　and　Jane　Mell
entered；　bearing　a　loaf　of　bread　and　a　jug　of　water；　which　she　set
down　upon　the　floor。

〃Would　you　aught　else？〃　she　asked。

〃Ay；　woman；〃　answered　Eve；　〃my　thick　red　woollen　cloak　from　my
chamber；　and　hood　to　match。　Also　water　to　wash　me；　for　this　place　is
cold　and　foul；　and　I　would　die　warm　and　clean。〃

〃First　I　must　get　leave　from　my　lord　your　father；〃　said　the　woman　in　a
surly　voice。

〃Get　it　then　and　be　swift；〃　said　Eve；　〃or　leave　it　ungotten；　I　care
little。〃

Mell　went　and　within　half　an　hour　returned　with　the　garments；　the
water　and　some　other　things。　Setting　them　down　without　a　word　she
departed；　locking　and　bolting　t