child christopher-第14章

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e　was　led　straight　to　her　own　chamber；　and　one　of　her　women；　but　not　Aloyse；　waited　on　her；　and　when　she　tried　to　have　some　tidings　of　her；　the　woman　spake　to　her　no　more　than　if　she　were　dumb。　　So　all　unhappily　she　laid　her　down　in　her　bed；　foreboding　the　worst；　which　she　deemed　might　well　be　death　at　the　hand　of　her　jailers。　　As　for　Christopher；　she　saw　the　last　of　him　as　they　entered　the　Castle…gate；　and　knew　not　what　they　had　done　with　him。　　So　she　lay　in　dismal　thoughts；　but　at　last　fell　asleep　for　mere　weariness。

When　she　awoke　it　was　broad　day；　and　there　was　someone　going　about　in　the　chamber；　she　turned；　and　saw　that　it　was　Aloyse。　　She　felt　sick　at　heart；　and　durst　not　move　or　ask　of　tidings；　but　presently　Aloyse　turned；　and　came　to　the　bed；　and　made　an　obeisance；　but　spake　not。　　Goldilind　raised　her　head；　and　said　wearily：　　〃What　is　to　be　done；　Aloyse；　wilt　thou　tell　me？　For　my　heart　fails　me；　and　meseems；　unless　they　have　some　mercy；　I　shall　die　to…day。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　chambermaid；　〃keep　thine　heart　up；　for　here　is　one　at　hand　who　would　see　thee；　when　it　is　thy　pleasure　to　be　seen。〃

〃Yea；〃　said　Goldilind；　〃Dame　Elinor　to　wit。〃　　And　she　moaned；　and　fear　and　heart…sickness　lay　so　heavy　on　her　that　she　went　nigh　to　swooning

But　Aloyse　lifted　up　her　head；　and　brought　her　wine　and　made　her　drink；　and　when　Goldilind　was　come　to　herself　again　the　maid　said：　　〃I　say；　keep　up　thine　heart；　for　it　is　not　Dame　Elinor　and　the　rods　that　would　see　thee；　but　a　mighty　man；　nay；　the　most　mighty；　to　wit；　Earl　Geoffrey；　who　is　King　of　Meadham　in　all　but　the　name。〃

Goldilind　did　in　sooth　take　heart　at　this　tidings；　and　she　said：　　〃I　wonder　what　he　may　have　to　do　here；　all　this　while　he　hath　not　been　to　Greenharbour；　or；　mayhappen；　it　might　have　been　better　for　me。〃

〃I　wot　not；〃　said　Aloyse；　〃but　even　so　it　is。　　I　shall　tell　thee；　the　messenger；　whose　horse　thou　didst　steal；　brought　no　other　word　in　his　mouth　save　this；　that　my　Lord　Earl　was　coming；　and　come　he　did；　but　that　was　toward　sunset；　long　after　they　had　laid　the　blood…hounds　on　thy　slot；　and　I　had　been　whipped　for　letting　thee　find　the　way　out　a…gates。　Now；　our　Lady；　when　thou　hast　seen　the　Earl；　and　hast　become　our　Lady　and　Mistress　indeed；　wilt　thou　bethink　thee　of　the　morn　before　yesterday　on　my　behalf？〃

〃Yea；〃　said　Goldilind；　〃if　ever　it　shall　befall。〃

〃Befall　it　shall；〃　said　Aloyse；　〃I　dreamed　of　thee　three　nights　ago；　and　thou　sitting　on　thy　throne　commanding　and　forbidding　the　great　men。　　But　at　worst　no　harm　hath　happened　save　to　my　shoulders　and　sides；　by　thy　stealing　thyself；　since　thou　hast　come　back　in　the　nick　of　time；　and　of　thine　own　will；　as　men　say。　　But　tell　me　now　of　thine　holiday；　and　if　it　were　pleasant　to　thee？〃

Goldilind　fell　a…weeping　at　the　word；　bethinking　her　of　yesterday　morning；　and　Aloyse　stood　looking　on　her；　but　saying　nought。　　At　last　spake　Goldilind　softly：　　〃Tell　me；　Aloyse；　didst　thou　hear　any　speaking　of　that　young　man　who　was　brought　in　hither　last　night？　Have　they　slain　him？〃

Said　Aloyse：　　〃Soothly；　my　Lady；　I　deem　they　have　done　him　no　hurt；　though　I　wot　not　for　sure。　　There　hath　been　none　headed　or　hanged　in　the　base…court　to…day。　　I　heard　talk　amongst　the　men…at…arms　of　one　whom　they　took；　they　said　he　was　a　wonder　of　sheer　strength；　and　how　that　he　cast　their　men　about　as　though　he　were　playing　at　ball。　　Sooth　to　say；　they　seemed　to　bear　him　no　grudge　therefor。　　But　now　I　would　counsel　thee　to　arise；　and　I　am　bidden　to　tire　and　array　thee　at　the　best。　　And　now　I　would　say　a　word　in　thine　ear；　to　wit；　that　Dame　Elinor　feareth　thee　somewhat　this　morn。〃

So　Goldilind　arose；　and　was　arrayed　like　a　very　queen；　and　was　served　of　what　she　would　by　Aloyse　and　the　other　women；　and　sat　in　her　chamber　awaiting　the　coming　of　the　mighty　Lord　of　Meadham。



CHAPTER　XVIII。

EARL　GEOFFREY　SPEAKS　WITH　GOLDILIND。


But　a　little　while　had　she　sat　there；　before　footsteps　a　many　came　to　the　door；　which　was　thrown　open；　and　straight　it　was　as　if　the　sun　had　shone　on　a　flower…bed；　for　there　was　come　Earl　Geoffrey　and　his　lords　all　arrayed　most　gloriously。　　Then　came　the　Earl　up　the　chamber　to　Goldilind；　and　bent　the　knee　before　her；　and　said：　　〃Lady　and　Queen；　is　it　thy　pleasure　that　thy　servant　should　kiss　thine　hand？〃

She　made　him　little　cheer；　but　reached　out　to　him　her　lily　hand　in　its　gold　sleeve；　and　said：　　〃Thou　must　do　thy　will。〃

So　he　kissed　the　hand　reverently；　and　said：　　〃And　these　my　lords；　may　they　enter　and　do　obeisance　and　kiss　hands；　my　Lady？〃

Said　Goldilind：　　〃I　will　not　strive　to　gainsay　their　will；　or　thine；　my　Lord。〃

So　they　entered　and　knelt　before　her；　and　kissed　her　hand；　and；　to　say　sooth；　most　of　them　had　been　fain　to　kiss　both　hands　of　her；　yea；　and　her　cheeks　and　her　lips；　though　but　little　cheer　she　made　them；　but　looked　sternly　on　them。

Then　the　Earl　spake　to　her；　and　told　her　of　her　realm；　and　how　folk　thrived；　and　of　the　deep　peace　that　was　upon　the　land；　and　of　the　merry　days　of　Meadham；　and　the　praise　of　the　people。　　And　she　answered　him　nothing；　but　as　he　spake　her　bosom　began　to　heave；　and　the　tears　came　into　her　eyes　and　rolled　down　her　cheeks。　　Then　man　looked　on　man；　and　the　Earl　said：　　〃My　masters；　I　deem　that　my　Lady　hath　will　to　speak　to　me　privily；　as　to　one　who　is　her　chiefest　friend　and　well…willer。　　Is　it　so；　my　Lady？〃

She　might　not　speak　for　the　tears　that　welled　out　from　her　heart；　but　she　bowed　her　head　and　strove　to　smile　on　him。

But　the　Earl　waved　his　hand；　and　those　lords；　and　the　women　also；　voided　the　chamber；　and　left　those　two　alone；　the　Earl　standing　before　her。　　But　ere　he　could　speak；　she　arose　from　her　throne　and　fell　on　her　knees　before　him；　and　joined　hands　palm　to　palm；　and　cried　in　a　broken　voice：　　〃Mercy！　Mercy！　Have　pity　on　my　young　life；　great　Lord！〃

But　he　lifted　her　up；　and　set　her　on　her　throne　again；　and　said：　　〃Nay；　my　Lady；　this　is　unmeet；　but　if　thou　wouldst　talk　and　tell　with　me　I　am　ready　to　hearken。〃

She　strove　with　her　passion　a　while；　and　then　she　said：　〃Great　Lord；　I　pray　thee　to　hearken；　and　to　have　patience　with　a　woman's　weak　heart。　　Prithee；　sit　down　here　beside　me。

〃It　were　unfitting；〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　take　a　lowlier　seat。〃　Then　he　drew　a　stool　to　him；　and　sat　down　before　her；　and　said：　　〃What　aileth　thee？　What　wouldest　thou？〃

Then　she　said：　　〃Lord　Earl；　I　am　in　prison；　I　would　be　free。〃

Quoth　he：　　〃Yea；　and　is　this　a　prison；　then？〃

〃Yea；〃　she　said；　〃since　I　may　not　so　much　as　go　out　from　it　and　come　back　again　unthreatened；　yet　have　I　been；　and　that　unseldom；　in　a　worser　prison　than　this：　　do　thou　go　look　on　the　Least　Guard…chamber；　and　see　if　it　be　a　meet　dwelling　for　thy　master's　daughter。〃

He　spake　nought　awhile；　then　he　said：　　〃And；　yet　if　it　grieveth　thee；　it　marreth　thee　nought；　for　when　I　look　on　thee　mine　eyes　behold　the　beauty　of　the　world；　and　the　body　wherein　is　no　lack。〃

She　reddened　and　said：　　〃If　it　be　so；　it　is　God's　work；　and　I　praise　him　therefor。　　But　how　long　will　it　last？　For　grief　slayeth　beauty。〃

He　looked　on　her　long；　and　said：　　〃To　thy　friends　I　betook　thee；　and　I　looked　that　they　should　cherish　thee；　where　then　is　the　wrong　that　I　have　done　thee？〃

She　said：　　〃Maybe　no　wrong　wittingly；　since　now；　belike；　thou　art　come　to　tell　me　that　all　this　weary　sojourn　is　at　an　end；　and　that　thou　wilt　take　me　to　Meadhamstead；　and　set　me　on　the　throne　there；　and　show　my　father's　daughter　to　all　the　people。〃

He　held　his　peace；　and　his　face　grew　dark　before　her　while　she　watched　it。　　At　last　he　spake　in　a　harsh　voice：　　〃Lady；〃　he　said；　〃it　may　not　be；　here　in　Greenharbour　must　thou　abide；　or　in　some　other　castle　apart　from　the　folk。〃

〃Yea；〃　she　said；　〃now　I　see　it　is　true；　that　which　I　foreboded　when　first　I　came　hither：　thou　wouldst　slay　me；　that　thou　mayest　sit　safely　in　the　seat　of　thy　master's　daughter；　thou　durst　not　send　me　a　man　with　a　sword　to　thrust　me　through；　therefore　thou　hast　cast　me　into　prison　amongst　cruel　jailers；　who　have　been　bidden　by　thee　to　take　my　life　slowly　and　with　torments。　　Hitherto　I　have　withstood　their　malice　and　thine；　but　now　am　I　overcome；　and　since　I　know　that　I　must　die；　I　have　now　no　fear；　and　this　is　why　I　am　bold　to　tell　thee　this　that　I