the caged lion-第53部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

t　and　his　brothers　had　become　so　insolent　and　violent　as　to　pass　the　endurance　of　their　father　the　Regent；　as　well　as　of　all　honest　Scots；　and　how；　after　secret　negotiations　and　vain　endeavours　to　obtain　from　him　a　pledge　of　indemnity　for　all　that　had　happened；　the　matter　had　been　at　length　opened　with　Gloucester；　Beaufort；　and　the　Council。　　The　Scottish　nation；　with　Albany　at　the　head；　was　really　recalling　the　King。　　This　was　the　condition　on　which　Henry　V。　had　always　declared　that　he　should　be　liberated；　these　were　the　terms　on　which　he　had　always　hoped　to　return；　and　his　patience　was　at　last　rewarded。　　Bedford　had　sent　his　joyful　consent；　and　all　was　now　concluded。　　James　was　really　free；　and　waited　only　for　his　marriage。

'I　would　not　tell　you；　Malcolm；　while　there　might　yet　be　a　slip　between　cup　and　lip；'　said　the　King；　'it　might　have　hindered　the　humanities；　and　yet　I　needed　you　as　much　when　I　was　glad　as　when　all　seemed　like　to　fail！'

'You　had　Patrick；'　said　Malcolm。

'Patrick's　a　tall　and　trusty　fellow；'　said　the　King；　'with　a　shrewd　wit；　and　like　to　be　a　right…hand　man；　but　there's　something　in　you；　Malcolm；　that　makes　a　man　turn　to　you　for　fellow…feeling；　even　as　to　a　wife。'

Nevertheless；　the　King　and　Patrick　had　grown　much　attached　to　each　other；　though　the　latter；　being　no　lover　of　books；　had　wearied　sorely　of　the　sojourn　at　Windsor；　which　the　King　himself　only　found　endurable　by　much　study　and　reflection。　　Their　only　variety　had　been　keeping　Christmas　at　Hertford　with　Queen　Catherine；　'sorry　pastime；'　as　Drummond　reported　it　to　him；　though　gladdened　to　the　King　by　Joan　Beaufort's　presence；　in　all　her　charms。

'The　Demoiselle　of　Luxemburg　was　there　too；　statelier　than　ever；'　said　James。　　'She　is　now　at　Middleham　Castle；　with　the　Lady　Montagu；　and　you　might　make　it　your　way　northward；　and　lodge　a　night　there。　If　you　can　win　her　consent；　it　were　well　to　be　wedded　when　we　are。'

'Never　shall　I；　my　lord。　　I　should　not　dare　even　to　speak　of　it。'

'It　is　well；　but；　Malcolm；　you　merit　something　from　the　damsel。　　You　are　ten　times　the　man　you　were　when　she　flouted　you。　　If　women　were　not　mostly　witless；　you　would　be　much　to　be　preferred　to　any　mere　Ajax　or　Fierabras；　and　if　this　damsel　should　have　come　to　the　wiser　mind　that　it　were　pity　to　be　buried　to　the　world'

'Sir；　I　pray　you　say　no　more。　　I　were　forsworn　to　ask　such　a　thing。'

'I　bid　you　not；　only　I　would　I　were　there　to　see　that　all　be　not　lost　for　want　of　a　word　in　season；　and　it　is　high　time　that　something　be　done。　　Here　be　letters　from　my　Lord　of　Therouenne；　demanding　the　performance　of　the　contract　ere　our　return　home。'

'He　cannot　reach　her　here；'　said　Malcolm。

'No；　but　his　outcry　can　reach　your　honour；　and　it　were　ill　to　have　such　a　house　as　that　of　Luxemburg　crying　out　upon　you　for　breach　of　faith　to　their　daughter。'

Malcolm　smiled。　　'That　I　should　heed　little；　Sir。　　I　would　fain　bear　something　for　her。'

'Why；　this　is　mere　sublimated　devoir；　too　fine　for　our　gross　understandings；'　said　James；　ironically。　　'Mayhap　the　sight　of　the　soft　roseate　cheek　may　bring　it　somewhat　down　to　poor　human　flesh　and　blood　once　more。'

'Once　I　was　tempted；　Sir；'　said　Malcolm；　blushing　deeply；　'but　did　I　not　know　that　her　holiness　is　the　guardian　of　her　earthly　beauty；　I　would　not　see　her　again。'

'Nay；　there　I　command　you；'　said　the　King；　'soon　I　shall　have　subjects　enough；　but　while　I　have　but　half　a　dozen；　I　cannot　be　disobeyed　by　them！　　I　bid　you　go　to　Middleham；　and　there　I　leave　all　to　the　sight。'

The　King　spoke　gaily；　and　with　such　kind　good…humour　that　Malcolm；　humiliated　by　the　thought　of　the　past；　durst　not　make　fresh　asseverations。　　James；　in　the　supreme　moment　of　the　pure　and　innocent　romance　of　which　he　was　the　hero；　looked　on　love　like　his　own　as　the　highest　crown　of　human　life；　and　distrusted　the　efforts　after　the　superhuman　which　too　often　were　mere　simulation　or　imitation；　but　a　certain　recollection　of　Henry's　warnings　withheld　him　from　pressing　the　matter；　and　he　returned　to　his　own　joys　and　hopes；　looking　on　the　struggles　he　expected　with　a　strong　man's　exulting　joy；　and　not　even　counting　the　years　of　his　captivity　wasted；　though　they　had　taken　away　his　first　youth。

'What　should　I　have　been；'　he　said；　'bred　up　in　the　tumults　at　home？　What　could　I　have　known　better　than　Perth？　　Nay；　had　I　been　sent　home　when　I　came　to　age；　as　a　raw　lad；　how　would　one　or　other　by　fraud　or　force　have　got　the　upper　hand；　so　as　I　might　never　have　won　it　back。　No；　I　would　not　have　foregone　one　year　of　studyfar　less　that　campaign　in　France；　and　the　sight　of　Harry　in　war　and　in　policy。'

James　also　took　Malcolm　to　see　the　child　king；　his　little　master。　This；　the　third　king　of　James's　captivity；　was　now　a　fair　creature　of　two　years　old。　　He　trotted　to　meet　his　visitor；　calling　him　by　a　baby　name　for　brother；　and　stretching　out　his　arms　to　be　lifted　up　and　fondled；　for；　as　Dame　Alice　Boteller；　his　gouvernante；　muttered；　he　knew　the　King　of　Scots　better　than　he　did　his　own　mother。

A　retinue　had　been　already　collected；　and　equipments　prepared；　so　that　there　was　no　delay　in　sending　forth　Malcolm　and　Patrick　upon　their　northward　journey。　　At　the　nearest　town　they　halted；　sending　forward　a　messenger　to　announce　their　neighbourhood　to　the　old　Countess　of　Salisbury　and　her　grand…daughter　Lady　Montagu；　and　to　request　permission　to　halt　for　'Mothering　Sunday'　at　the　Castle。

In　return　a　whole　band　of　squires　and　retainers　came　forth；　headed　by　the　knightly　seneschal；　to　invite　Lord　Malcolm　Stewart　and　his　companion　to　the　Castle；　whereupon　Sir　Patrick　proceeded　to　don　his　gayest　gown　and　chaperon；　and　was　greatly　scandalized　that　Malcolm's　preparation　consisted　in　putting　on　his　black　serge　bachelor's　gown　and　hood　of　rabbit's　fur　such　as　he　wore　at　Oxford；　looking；　as　Patrick　declared；　no　better　than　a　begging　scholar。　　But　Malcolm　had　made　up　his　mind　that　if　he　appeared　before　Esclairmonde　at　all　it　should　be　in　no　other　guise；　and　thus　it　was　that　he　rode　like　a　black　spot　in　the　midst　of　the　cavalcade；　bright　with　the　colours　of　Nevil　and　of　Montagu；　and　was　marshalled　up　the　broad　stairs　by　the　silver　wand　of　the　seneschal。

Lord　Montagu　had　gone　back　to　the　wars；　so　the　family　at　home　consisted　of　the　grand；　stately；　and　distant　old　Countess　of　Salisbury；　and　her　young　grand…daughter；　the　Lady　Montagu；　with　her　three　months'　old　son。　　Each　had　an　almost　royal　suite　of　well…born　dames　and　damsels　in　attendance；　among　whom　the　Demoiselle　de　Luxemburg　alone　was　on　an　equality　with　the　mistresses　of　the　house。　Even　Queen　Catherine's　presence…chamber　had　hardly　equalled　the　grand　baronial　ceremony　of　the　hall；　where　sat　the　three　ladies　in　the　midst　of　their　circle　of　attendants；　male　and　female　ranged　on　opposite　sides；　and　old　Lady　Salisbury　knew　the　exact　number　of　paces　that　it　befitted　her　and　Lady　Montagu　to　advance　to　receive　the　royal　infusion　of　blood　that　flowed　in　the　veins　of　my　Lord　of　Glenuskie。　And　yet　it　was　the　cheek；　and　not　the　hand；　that　were　offered　in　salutation　by　both　ladies；　as　well　as　by　Esclairmonde。　　Malcolm；　however；　only　durst　kneel　on　one　knee　and　salute　her　hand；　and　felt　himself　burning　with　crimson　as　the　touch　and　voice　brought　back　those　longings　that；　as　James　had　said；　proved　him　human　still。　　He　was　almost　glad　that　etiquette　required　him　to　hand　the　aged　Countess　to　her　seat　and　to　devote　his　chief　attention　to　her。

Punctilio　reigned　supreme　in　such　a　house　as　this。　　Nowhere　had　Malcolm　seen　such　observance　of　ceremony；　save　in　the　court　of　the　Duke　of　Burgundy；　and　there　it　was　modified　by　the　presence　of　rough　and　ready　warriors；　but　an　ancient　dame　like　Lady　Salisbury　thought　it　both　the　due　and　the　safeguard　of　her　son's　honour；　and　exacted　it　rigorously　of　all　who　approached　her。

Alice　of　Montagu　had　the　sweet　fragile　look　of　a　young　mother　about　her；　but　her　frightened　fawn　air　was　gone；　she　was　in　her　home；　had　found　her　place；　and　held　it　with　a　simple　dignity　of　her　own；　quite　ready　to　ripen　into　all　the　matronly　authority；　without　the　severe　formality；　of　her　grand…dame。

She　treated　Malcolm　with　a　gentle　smiling　courtesy　such　as　she　had　never　vouchsafed　to　him　before；　and　all　the　shyness　that　had　once　made　her　silent　was　gone；　when　at　the　supper…table；　and　afterwards　seated　around　the　fire；　the　tidings　of　the　camp　and　court　were　talked　over　with　all　the　zest　of　those　to　whom　King　Harry's　last　campaign　was　becoming　'old　times'；　and　what　with　her　husband's　letters　and　opinions；　little　Alice　was　really　the　best…informed　as　to　the　present　state　of　things。　　Esclairmonde　took　her　part　in　the　conversation；　but　there　was　no　opportunity　of　exchanging　a　private　or　personal　word　between　her　and　Malcolm　in　a　party　of　five；　where　one　was　as　vigilant　and　grave…eyed　as　my　Lady　Salisbury。

However；　the　next　was　a　peculiar　day；　the　Fourth　Sunday　in　Lent；　called　'Mothering　Sunday'　because　on　that　day　it　was　originally　the　custom　for　offerings　to　be　carried　from　all　the　country　round　to　the　cathedral　or　mother　church　on　that　day。　　This　custom　had　been　modified；　but　it　was　still　the　rule　that　all　the　persons；　who　at　other　times　worshipped　at　the　nearest　monastery　chapel　or　at　a　private　chapel　in　their　own　houses；　s