child christopher-第18章
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Presently then came forth through the gate those two; hand in hand; and Earl Geoffrey with them。 And he set Goldilind on her horse himself; and knelt before her to say farewell; and therewith was Christopher on his horse; and him the Earl saluted debonairly。
But just as they were about shaking their reins to depart; Aloyse fell down on her knees before the Earl; who said: 〃What is toward; woman?〃
〃A grace; my Lord; a grace;〃 said she。
〃Stand up on thy feet;〃 said the Earl; 〃and ye; my masters; draw out of earshot。〃
Even so did they; and the Earl bade her speak; and she said: 〃Lord; my Lady is going away from Greenharbour; and anon thou wilt be going; and I shall be left with the sleek she…devil yonder that thou hast set over us; and here there will be hell for me without escape; now that my Lady is gone。 Wherefore I pray thee take me with thee to Meadhamstead; even if it be to prison; for here I shall die the worst of deaths。〃
Earl Geoffrey smiled on her sourly; and said: 〃If it be as I understand; that thou hast lifted thine hand against my Lady; wert thou wending with me; thou shouldst go just so far as the first tree。 Thou mayst deem thyself lucky if I leave thee behind here。 Nor needest thou trouble thee concerning Dame Elinor; little more shalt thou hear of her henceforward。〃
But Goldilind spake and said: 〃My Lord Earl; I would ask grace for this one; for what she did to me she did compelled; and not of her free will; and I forgive it her。 And moreover; this last time she suffered in her body for the helping of me; so if thou mightest do her asking I were the better pleased。〃
〃It shall be as thou wilt; my Lady;〃 said the Earl; 〃and I will have her with me and keep her quiet in Meadhamstead; but; by Allhallows! had it not been for thy word we would have had her whipped into the wild…wood; and hanged up on to a tree thereafter。〃
Then Aloyse knelt before Goldilind and kissed her feet; and wept; and drew back pale and trembling。 But Goldilind shook her rein once for all now; and her apple…grey horse went forth with her; Christopher came after; leading the sumpter beast; and forth they went; and passed over the open green about the Castle; and came on to the woodland way whereby Goldilind had fled that other time。
CHAPTER XXII。
OF THE WOODLAND BRIDE…CHAMBER。
They rode in silence a good way; and it was some three hours after noon; and the day as fair and bright as might be。 Christopher held his peace for sweet shame that he was alone with a most fair maid; and she his own; and without defence against him。 But she amidst of her silence turned; now red; and now somewhat pale; and now and again she looked somewhat askance on him; and he deemed her looks were no kinder than they should be。
At last she spake; yet not looking on him; and said: 〃So; Forester; now is done what I must needs do: thy life is saved; and I am quit of Greenharbour; and its prison; and its torments: whither away then?〃
Quoth he; all dismayed; for her voice was the voice of anger: 〃I wot not whither; save to the house thou hast blessed already with thy dear body。〃
At that word she turned quite pale; and trembled; and spake not for a while; and smote her horse and hastened on the way; and he after her; but when he was come up with her again; then she said; still not looking at him: 〃A house of woodmen and wolf…heads。 Is that a meet dwelling…place for me? Didst thou hear men at Greenharbour say that I am a Queen?〃
〃Hear them I did;〃 quoth he; 〃but meseemeth nought like a Queen had they done with thee。〃
She said: 〃And dost thou mock me with that? thou?〃 And she burst out weeping。 He answered not; for sore grief smote him; remembering her hand in his but a little while ago。 And again she hurried on; and he followed her。
When he came up with her she said: 〃And thou; didst thou woo me as a Queen?〃
〃Lady;〃 he said; 〃I wooed thee not at all; I was given to thee; would I; would I not: great joy was that to me。〃
Then said she: 〃Thou sayest sooth; thou hast not wooed me; but taken me。〃 She laughed therewith; as one in bitterness。 But presently she turned to him; and he wondered; for in her face was longing and kindness nought like to her words。 But he durst not speak to her lest he should anger her; and she turned her face from him again: and she said: 〃Wert thou given to me? meseems I was given to thee; would I; would I not; the Queen to the Churl; the Wood…man; the Wolf…head。〃 And again she rode on; and he followed; sick at heart and wondering sorely。
When they were riding together again; they spake not to each other; though she stole glances at him to see how he fared; but he rode on with knit brows and a stern countenance。 So in a while she began to speak to him again; but as if there were nought but courtesy between them; and neither love nor hatred。 She fell to asking him of woodland matters; concerning bird and beast and things creeping; and at first he would scarce answer her at all; and then were his answers short; but at last; despite of all; he began to forget both grief and anger; so much the sweetness of her speech wound about his heart; and; withal; she fell to asking him of his fellows and their life in the woods; and of Jack of the Tofts and the like; and now he answered her questions fully; and whiles she laughed at his words; and he laughed also; and all pleasure had there been of this converse; if he had not beheld her from time to time and longed for the fairness of her body; and feared her wrath at his longing。
So wore the day; and the sun was getting low; and they were come to another woodland pool which was fed by a clear…running little brook; and up from it went a low bank of greensward exceeding sweet; and beyond that oak trees wide…branched and great; and still fair greensward beneath them and hazel…thicket beyond them。 There; then; Goldilind reined up; and looked about her; but Christopher looked on her and nought else。 But she said: 〃Let to…morrow bring counsel; but now am I weary to…night; and if we are not to ride night…long; we shall belike find no better place to rest in。 Wilt thou keep watch while I sleep?〃
〃Yea;〃 he said; bowing his head to her soberly; and therewith he got off his horse; and would have helped her down from hers; but she slipped lightly down and stood before him face to face; and they were very nigh to each other; she standing close to her horse。 Her face was pale to his deeming and there was a piteous look in her eyes; so that he yearned towards her in his bowels; and reached his hand toward her; but she shrank aback; leaning against her horse; and said in a trembling voice; looking full at him; and growing yet paler: 〃Forester; dost thou think it seemly that thou shouldst ride with us; thou such as thou hast told thyself to be; in this lordly raiment; which they gave thee yonder as part of the price for thy leading us away into the wild…wood?〃
〃Lady;〃 said he; 〃whether it be seemly or not; I see that it is thy will that I should go clad as a woodland churl; abide a little; and thy will shall be done。〃
Therewith he did off the burden from the sumpter horse; and set the chests on the earth; then he took her horse gently; and led him with the other two in under the oak trees; and there he tethered them so that they could bite the grass; and came back thereafter; and took his old raiment out of the chest; and said: 〃What thou wilt have me do; I will do now; and this all the more as to…morrow I should have done it unbidden; and should have prayed thee to do on garments less glorious than now thou bearest; so that we may look the less strange in the woodland if we chance to fall in with any man。
Nought she answered as he turned toward the hazel copse; she had been following him with her eyes while he was about that business; and when his back was turned; she stood a moment till her bosom fell a…heaving; and she wept; then she turned her about to the chest wherein was her raiment; and went hastily and did off her glorious array; and did on the green gown wherewith she had fled; and left her feet bare withal。 Then she looked up and saw Christopher; how he was coming from out the hazel…thicket new clad in his old raiment; an