the caged lion- 第14部分

'Ay；'　said　James；　'but　King　Harry　had　learnt　the　art　of　war　as　a　boy；　first　under　Hotspur；　in　Wales；　nor　doth　he　love　that　northern　fashion　of　ours　of　keeping　up　feud　from　generation　to　generation。　　So　hath　he　restored　the　eldest　son　to　his　barony；　and　set　him　to　watch　our　Borders；　and　the　younger；　Ralf；　he　is　training　in　his　own　school　of　chivalry。'

More　wonders　for　Malcolm　Stewart；　who　had　learnt　to　believe　it　mere　dishonour　and　tameness　to　forgive　the　son　for　his　father's　deeds。　　A　cloistered　priest　could　hardly　do　so：　　pardon　to　a　hostile　family　came　only　with　the　last　mortal　throe；　and　here　was　this　warlike　king　forgiving　as　a　mere　matter　of　course！

'But；'　added　James；　'you　had　best　not　speak　of　your　bent　conventwards　in　the　Court　here。　　I　should　not　like　to　have　you　called　the　monkling！'

Malcolm　crimsoned；　with　the　resolution　never　to　betray　himself。



CHAPTER　V：　　WHITTINGTON　S　FEAST



The　next　day　the　royal　train　set　forth　from　Pontefract；　and　ere　mounting；　James　presented　his　young　kinsman　to　the　true　Joan　Beaufortfair…haired；　soft…featured；　blue…eyed；　and　with　a　lovely　air　of　graciousness；　as　she　greeted　him　with　a　sweet；　blushing；　sunny　smile；　half　that　of　the　queen　in　anticipation；　half　that　of　the　kindly　maiden　wishing　to　set　a　stranger　at　ease。　　So　beautiful　was　she；　that　Malcolm　felt　annihilated　at　the　thought　of　his　blunder　of　last　night。

As　they　rode　on；　James　was　entirely　occupied　with　the　lady；　and　Malcolm　was　a　good　deal　left　to　himself；　for；　though　the　party　was　numerous；　he　knew　no　one　except　the　Duke　of　Bedford；　who　was　riding　with　the　King　and　Lord　Warwick；　in　deep　consultation；　while　Sir　Nigel　Baird；　Lord　Marmion；　and　the　rest　were　in　the　rear。　　He　fell　into　a　mood　of　depression　such　as　had　not　come　upon　him　since　he　passed　the　border；　thinking　himself　despised　by　all　for　being　ill…favoured　and　ill…dressed；　and　chafing；　above　all；　at　the　gay　contempt　he　fancied　in　young　Ralf　Percy's　eye。　　He　became　constantly　more　discontented　with　this　noisy　turmoil；　and　more　resolved　to　insist　on　returning　to　the　peaceful　cloister　where　alone　he　could　hide　his　head　and　be　at　rest。

The　troop　halted　for　what　they　called　their　noon　meat　at　the　abode　of　a　hospitable　Yorkshire　knight；　but　King　Henry；　in　order　that　the　good　gentleman's　means　should　not　be　overtasked；　had　given　directions　that　only　the　ladies　and　the　princes　should　enter　the　house；　while　the　rest　of　the　suite　should　take　their　meal　at　the　village　inn。

King　James；　in　attending　to　Joan；　had　entirely　forgotten　his　cousin；　and　Malcolm；　doubtful　and　diffident；　was　looking　hesitatingly　at　the　gateway；　when　Ralf　Percy　called　out；　'Ha！　you　there；　this　is　our　way。　That　is　only　for　the　royal　folk；　but　there's　good　sack　and　better　sport　down　here！　　I'll　show　you　the　way；'　he　added；　good…naturedly；　softened；　as　most　were；　by　the　startled；　wistful；　timid　look。

Malcolm；　ashamed　to　say　he　was　royal；　but　surprised　at　the　patronage；　was　gratefully　following；　when　old　Bairdsbrae　indignantly　laid　his　hand　on　the　rein。　　'Not　so；　Sir；　this　is　no　place　for　you！'

'Let　me　alone！'　entreated　Malcolm；　as　he　saw　Percy's　amazed　look　and　whistle　of　scorn。　　'They　don't　want　me。'

'You　will　never　have　your　place　if　you　do　not　take　it；'　said　the　old　gentleman；　and　leading　the　trembling；　shrinking　boy　up　to　the　door；　he　continued；　'For　the　honour　of　Scotland；　Sir！'　and　then　announcing　Malcolm　by　his　rank　and　title；　he　almost　thrust　him　in。

Fancying　he　detected　a　laugh　on　Ralf　Percy's　face；　and　a　sneer　on　that　of　the　stout　English　porter；　Malcolm　felt　doubly　wretched　as　he　was　ushered　into　the　hall　and　the　buzz　of　talk　and　the　confusion　made　by　the　attendance　of　the　worthy　knight　and　his　many　sons；　one　of　whom；　waiting　with　better　will　than　skill；　had　nearly　run　down　the　shy　limping　Scotsman；　who　looked　wildly　for　refuge　at　some　table。　　In　his　height　of　distress；　a　kindly　gesture　of　invitation　beckoned　to　him；　and　he　found　himself　seated　and　addressed；　first　in　French；　and　then　in　careful　foreign　English；　by　the　same　lady　whom　he　had　yesterday　taken　for　Joan　of　Somerset；　namely；　Esclairmonde　de　Luxemburg。

He　was　too　much　confused　to　look　up　till　the　piece　of　pasty　and　the　wine　with　which　the　lady　had　caused　him　to　be　supplied　were　almost　consumed；　and　it　was　not　till　she　had　made　some　observations　on　the　journey　that　he　became　at　ease　enough　to　hazard　any　sort　of　answer；　and　then　it　was　in　his　sweet　low　Scottish　voice；　with　that　irresistibly　attractive　look　of　shy　wistful　gratitude　in　his　great　soft　brown　eyes；　while　his　un…English　accent　caused　her　to　say；　'I　am　a　stranger　here；　like　yourself；　my　Lord；'　and　at　the　same　moment　he　first　raised　his　eyes　to　behold　what　seemed　to　him　perfect　beauty　and　dignity；　an　oval　face；　richly…tinted　olive　complexion；　dark　pensive　eyes；　a　sweet　grave　mouth　smiling　with　encouraging　kindness；　and　a　lofty　brow　that　gave　the　whole　face　a　magnificent　air；　not　so　much　stately　as　above　and　beyond　this　world。　　It　might　have　befitted　St。　Barbara　or　St。　Katherine；　the　great　intellectual　virgin　visions　of　purity　and　holiness　of　the　middle　ages；　but　the　kindness　of　the　smile　went　to　Malcolm's　heart；　and　emboldened　him　to　answer　in　his　best　French；　'You　are　from　Holland；　lady？'

'Not　from　the　fens；'　she　answered。　　'My　home　lies　in　the　borders　of　the　forest　of　Ardennes。'

And　then　they　found　that　they　understood　each　other　best　when　she　spoke　French；　and　Malcolm　English；　or　rather　Scotch；　and　their　acquaintance　made　so　much　progress；　that　when　the　signal　was　again　given　to　mount；　the　Lady　Esclairmonde　permitted　Malcolm　to　assist　her　to　her　saddle；　and　as　he　rode　beside　her　he　felt　pleased　with　himself；　and　as　if　Ralf　Percy　were　welcome　to　look　at　him　now。

On　Esclairmonde's　other　hand　there　rode　a　small；　slight　girl；　whom　Malcolm　took　for　quite　a　child；　and　paid　no　attention　to；　but　presently　old　Sir　Lewis　Robsart　rode　back　with　a　message　that　my　Lady　of　Westmoreland　wished　to　know　where　the　Lady　Alice　Montagu　was。　　A　gentle；　timid　voice　answered；　'O　Sir；　I　am　well　here　with　Lady　Esclairmonde。　　Pray　tell　my　good　lady　so。'

And　therewith　Sir　Lewis　smiled；　and　said；　'You　could　scarcely　be　in　better　hands；　fair　damsel；'　and　rode　back　again；　while　Alice　was　still　entreating；　'May　I　stay　with　you；　dear　lady？　　It　is　all　so　strange　and　new！'

Esclairmonde　smiled；　and　said；　'You　make　me　at　home　here；　Mademoiselle。　　It　is　I　who　am　the　stranger！'

'Ah！　but　you　have　been　in　Courts　before。　　I　never　lived　anywhere　but　at　Middleham　Castle　till　they　fetched　me　away　to　meet　the　Queen。'

For　the　gentle　little　maiden；　a　slender；　fair…haired；　childish…faced　creature；　in　her　sixteenth　year；　was　the　motherless　child　and　heiress　of　the　stout　Earl　of　Salisbury；　the　last　of　the　Montacutes；　or　Montagues；　who　was　at　present　fighting　the　King's　battles　in　France；　but　had　sent　his　commands　that　she　should　be　brought　to　Court；　in　preparation　for　fulfilling　the　long…arranged　contract　between　her　and　Sir　Richard　Nevil；　one　of　the　twenty…two　children　of　the　Earl　of　Westmoreland。

She　was　under　the　charge　of　the　Countessa　stately　dame；　with　all　the　Beaufort　pride；　and　much　afraid　of　her　she　was；　as　everything　that　was　shy　or　forlorn　seemed　to　turn　towards　the　maiden　whose　countenance　not　only　promised　kindness　but　protection。

Presently　the　cavalcade　passed　a　gray　building　in　the　midst　of　green　fields　and　orchards；　where；　under　the　trees；　some　black…veiled　figures　sat　spinning。

'A　nunnery！'　quoth　Esclairmonde；　looking　eagerly　after　it　as　she　rode　past。

'A　nunnery！'　said　Malcolm；　encouraged　into　the　simple　confidingness　of　a　young　boy。　　'How　unlike　the　one　where　my　sister　is！　　Not　a　tree　is　near　it；　it　is　perched　upon　a　wild　crag　overhanging　the　angry　sea；　and　the　winds　roar；　and　the　gulls　and　eagles　scream；　and　the　waves　thunder　round　it！'

'Yet　it　is　not　the　less　a　haven　of　peace；'　replied　Esclairmonde。

'Verily；'　said　Malcolm；　'one　knows　what　peace　is　under　that　cloister；　where　all　is　calm　while　the　winds　rave　without。'

'You　know　how　to　love　a　cloister；'　said　the　lady；　as　she　heard　his　soft；　sad　tones。

'I　had　promised　myself　to　make　my　home　in　one；'　said　Malcolm；　'but　my　King　will　have　me　make　trial　of　the　world　first。　　And　so　please　you；'　he　added；　recollecting　himself；　'he　forbade　me　to　make　my　purpose　known；　so　pray；　lady；　be　so　good　as　to　forget　what　I　have　said。'

'I　will　be　silent；'　said　Esclairmonde；　'but　I　will　not　forget；　for　I　look　on　you　as　one　like　myself；　my　young　lord。　　I　too　am　dedicated；　and　only　longing　to　reach　my　cloistered　haven。'

She　spoke　it　out　with　the　ease　of　those　days　when　the　monastic　was　as　recognized　a　profession　as　any　other　calling；　and　yet　with　something　of　the　desire　to　make　it　evident　on　what　ground　she　stood。

Lady　Alice　uttered　an　exclamation　of　surprise。

'Yes；'　said　Esclairmonde；　'I　was　dedicated　his　my　infancy；　and　promised　myself　in　the　nunnery　at　Dijon　when　I　was　seven　years　old。'

Then；　as　if　to　turn　the　conversation　from　herself；　she　asked　of　Malcolm　if　he　too　had　made　any　vow。

'Only　to　myself；'　said　Malcolm。　　'Neither　my　Tutor　nor　the　Prior　of　Coldingham　would　hear　my　vows。'　　And　he　was　soon　drawn　into　telling　his　whole　story；　to　which　the　ladies　both　listened　with　great　interest　and　kindness；　Esclairmonde　commending　his　resolution　to　leave　the　care　of　his　lands　and　vassals　to　one　whom　he　represented　as　so　much　better　fitted　to　bear　them　as　Patrick　Drummond；　and　only　regretting　the　silence　King　James　had　enjoined；　saying　she　felt　that　there　was　safety　and　protection　in　being　avowed　as　a　destined　religious。

'And　you　are　one；'　said　Lady　Alice；　looking　at　her　in　wonder。　　'And　yet　you　are　with　THAT　lady'　　And　the　girl's　innocent　face　expressed　a　certain　wonder　and　disgust　that　no　one　could　marvel　at　who　had　heard　the　Flemish　Countess　talk　in　the　loudest；　broadest；　most　hoydenish　style。

'She　has　been　my　very　good　lady；'　said　Esclairmonde；　'she　has；　under　the　saints；　saved　me　from　much。'

'Oh；　I　entreat　you；　tell　us；　dear　lady！'　entreated　Alice。　　It　was　not　a　reticent　age。　　Malcolm　Stewart　had　already　avowed　himself　in　his　own　estimation　pledged　to　a　monastic　life；　and　Esclairmonde　of　Luxemburg　had　reasons　for　wishing　her　position　and　intentions　to　be　distinctly　understood　by　all　w