child christopher-第19章
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out the hazel…thicket new clad in his old raiment; and she cried out aloud; and ran toward him。 But he doubted that some evil had betid; and that she was chased; so he drew out his sword; but she ran up to him and cried out: 〃Put up thy sword; here is none save me。〃
But he stood still; gazing on her in wonderment; and now she was drawn near to him she stood still before him; panting。 Then he said: 〃Nay; Lady; for this night there was no need of thy disguising thee; to…morrow it had been soon enough。〃
She said: 〃I were fain if thou wouldst take my hand; and lead me back to our resting…place。〃
Even so he did; and as their palms met he felt how her hand loved him; and a flood of sweetness swept over his heart; and made an end of all its soreness。 But he led her quietly back again to their place。 Then she turned to him and said: 〃Now art thou the woodland god again; and the courtier no more; so now will I worship thee。〃 And she knelt down before him; and embraced his knees and kissed them; but he drew her up to him; and cast his arms about her; and kissed her face many times; and said: 〃Now art thou the poor captive again。〃
She said: 〃Now hast thou forgiven me; but I will tell thee that my wilfulness and folly was not all utterly feigned; though when I was about it I longed for thee to break it down with the fierceness of a man; and bid me look to it how helpless I was; and thou how strong and my only defence。 Not utterly feigned it was: for I will say it; that I was grieved to the heart when I bethought me of Meadhamstead and the seat of my fathers。 What sayest thou then? Shalt thou be ever a woodman in these thickets; and a follower of Jack of the Tofts? If so thou wilt; it is well。〃
He took her by the shoulders and bent her backwards to kiss her; and held her up above the earth in his arms; waving her this way and that; till she felt how little and light she was in his grasp; though she was no puny woman; then he set her on her feet again; and laughed in her face; and said: 〃Sweetling; let to…morrow bring counsel。 But now let it all be: thou hast said it; thou art weary; so now will I dight thee a bed of our mantles; and thou shalt lie thee down; and I shall watch thee as thou badest me。〃
Therewith he went about; and plucked armfuls of the young bracken; and made a bed wide and soft; and spread the mantles thereover。
But she stood awhile looking on him; then she said: 〃Dost thou think to punish me for my wilful folly; and to shame me by making me speak to thee?〃
〃Nay;〃 he said; 〃it is not so。〃
She said: 〃I am not shamed in that I say to thee: if thou watch this night; I will watch by thee; and if I lie down to rest this night; thou shalt lie by me。 For my foemen have given me to thee; and now shalt thou give thyself to me。〃
So he drew near to her shyly; like unto one who hath been forgiven。 And there was their bridal bed; and nought but the oak boughs betwixt them and the bare heavens。
CHAPTER XXIII。
THEY FALL IN WITH FRIENDS。
Now awoke Goldilind when the morning was young and fresh; and she drew the mantle up over her shoulders; and as she did so; but half awake; she deemed she heard other sounds than the singing of the black…birds and throstles about the edge of the thicket; and she turned her eyes toward the oak trees and the hazel…thicket; and saw at once three of mankind coming on foot over the greensward toward her。 She was afraid; so that she durst not put out a hand to awaken Christopher; but sat gazing on those three as they came toward her; she saw that two were tall men; clad much as Christopher; but presently she saw that there was a woman with them; and she took heart somewhat thereat; and she noted that one of the men was short…haired and dark…haired; and the other had long red hair falling about his shoulders; and as she put out her hand and laid it on Christopher's shoulder; the red…haired one looked toward her a moment under the sharp of his hand (for the sun was on their side); and then set off running; giving out a great whoop therewithal。 Even therewith leapt up Christopher; still half awake; and the red…haired man ran right up to him; and caught him by the shoulders; and kissed him on both cheeks; so that Goldilind saw that these were the fellows whereof Christopher had told; and she stood there shame…fast and smiling。
Presently came up the others; to wit; Gilbert and Joanna; and they also kissed and embraced Christopher; and all they were as full of joy as might be。 Then came Joanna to Goldilind; and said: 〃I wot not who this may be; brother; yet meseems she will be someone who is dear to thee; wherefore is she my sister。〃 And therewith she kissed Goldilind; and she was kind; and sweet of flesh; and goodly of body; and Goldilind rejoiced in her。
Joanna made much of her; and said to her: 〃Here is to do; whereas two men have broken into a lady's chamber; come; sister; let us to the thicket; and I will be thy tiring… maid; and while these others tell their tales we shall tell ours。〃 And she took her hand and they went into the hazels; but the two new…come men seemed to find it hard to keep their eyes off Goldilind; till the hazels had hidden her。
Then turned David to Christopher; and said: 〃Thy pardon; little King; that we have waked thee so early; but we wotted not that thou hadst been amongst the wood…women; and; sooth to say; my lad; we had little ease till we found thee; after we came home and saw all those hoof…marks yonder。〃
〃Yea;〃 said Gilbert; 〃if we had lost thee we had been finely holpen up; for we could neither have gone back to the Tofts nor into the kingdom: for I think my father would have hanged us if we had come back with a 'By the way; Christopher is slain。' But tell us; lad; what hath befallen thee with yonder sweetling?〃
〃Yea; tell us;〃 said David; 〃and sit down here betwixt us; with thy back to the hazel…thicket; or we shall get no tale out of theetush; man; Joanna will bring her back; and that right soon; I hope。〃
Christopher laughed; and sat down between them; and told all how it had gone with him; and of Goldilind; who she was。 The others hearkened heedfully; and Gilbert said: 〃With all thou hast told us; brother; it is clear we shall find it hard to dwell in Littledale; so soon as thy loveling hath rested her at our house; we must go our ways to the Tofts; and take counsel of our father。〃
Christopher yea…said this; and therewithal was come Joanna leading Goldilind duly arrayed (yet still in her green gown; for she would none other); fresh; blushing; and all lovely; and David and Christopher did obeisance before her as to a great lady; but she hailed them as brothers; merrily and kindly; and bade them kiss her; and they kissed her cheek; but shyly; and especially David。
Thereafter they broke their fast under the oak trees; and spent a merry hour; and then departed; the two women riding the horses; the others afoot; so came they to the house of Littledale; some while before sunset; and were merry and glad there。 Young they were; troubles were behind them; and many a joy before them。
CHAPTER XXIV。
THEY TAKE COUNSEL AT LITTLEDALE。
Ten days they abode in the house of Littledale in all good cheer; and Joanna led Goldilind here and there about the woods; and made much of her; so that the heart within her was full of joy; for the freedom of the wild…woods and all the life thereof was well…nigh new to her; whereas on the day of her flight from Greenharbour; and on two other such times; deadly fear; as is aforesaid; was mingled with her joyance; and would have drowned it utterly; but for the wilfulness which hardened her heart against the punishment to come。 But now she was indeed free; and it seemed to her; as to Christopher when he was but new healed of his hurt; as if all this bright beauty of tree and flower; and beast and bird; was but made for her alone; and she wondered that her fellow could be so calm and sedate amidst of all this pleasure。 And now; forsooth; was her queenhood forgotten; and better and better to her seemed Christopher's valiant love; and the meeting in the hall of the eventide was so sweet to her; that she might do little but stand trembling whiles Christopher came up