e reined up better another time。'
Malcolm had no choice but to bend his head； mutter something； and let the King grasp his hand； though to him the apology seemed none at all； but rather to increase the offence； since the blame was by no means taken back again； while the condescension was such as could not be rejected； and thus speciously took away his excuse for brooding over his wrath。 His hand lay so unwillingly in that strong hearty clasp that the King dropped it； frowned； shrugged his shoulders； and muttered to himself； 'Sullen young dog！ No Scot can let bygones be bygones！' and then he turned away and cast the trifle from his memory。
James was amazed not to see the moody face clear up； and asked of Malcolm whether he were not gratified with this ample satisfaction。
'I trow I must be； Sir；' said Malcolm。
'I tell thee； boy；' said James； 'not one kingnay； not one manin a thousand would have offered thee the frank amends King Harry hath done this day： nay； I doubt whether even he could so have done； were it not that the hope of his wife's coming hath made him overflow with joy and charity to all the world。'
Malcolm did not make much reply； and James regarded him with some disappointment。 The youth was certainly warmly attached to him； but these tokens of superiority to the faults of his time and country which had caused the King to seek him for a companion seemed to have vanished with his feebleness and timidity。 The manhood that had been awakened was not the chivalrous； generous； and gentle strength of Henry and his brothers； but the punctilious pride and sullenness； and almost something of the license； of the Scot。 The camp had not proved the school of chivalry that James； in his inexperience； had imagined it must be under Henry； and the tedium and wretchedness of the siege had greatly added to its necessary evils by promoting a reckless temper and willingness to snatch at any enjoyment without heed to consequences。 Close attendance on the kings had indeed prevented either Malcolm or Percy from even having the temptation of running into any such lengths as those gentry who had plundered the shrine of St。 Fiacre at Breuil； or were continually galloping off for an interval of dissipation at Paris； but they were both on the outlook for any snatch of stolen diversion； for in ceasing from monastic habits Malcolm seemed to have laid aside the scruples of a religious or conscientious youth； and specially avoided Dr。 Bennet； the King's almoner。
James feared he had been mistaken； and looked to the influence of Esclairmonde to repair the evil； if perchance she should follow the Queen to France。 And this it was almost certain she must do； since she was entirely dependent upon the Countess of Hainault； and could not obtain admission to a nunnery without recovering a portion of her estates。
CHAPTER IX： THE DANCE OF DEATH
The Queen was coming！ No sooner had the first note of surrender been sounded from the towers of Meaux； than Henry had sent intelligence to England that the way was open for the safe arrival of his much…loved wife； and at length； on a sunny day in May； tidings were received that she had landed in France； under the escort of the Duke of Bedford。
Vincennes； in the midst of its noble forest； was the place fixed for the meeting of the royal pair； and never did a happier or more brilliant cavalcade traverse those woodlands than that with which Henry rode to the appointed spot。
All the winter； the King had heeded appearances as little as of old when roughing it with Hotspur in Wales； but now his dress was of the most royal。 On his head was a small green velvet cap； encircled by a crown in embroidery； his robe was of scarlet silk； and over it was thrown a mantle of dark green samite； thickly powdered with tiny embroidered white antelopes； the Garter was on his knee； the George on his neck。 It was a kingly garb； and well became the tall slight person and fair noble features。 During these tedious months he had looked wan； haggard； and careworn； but the lines of anxiety were all effaced； his lustrous blue eyes shone and danced like Easter suns； his complexion rivalled the fresh delicate tints of the blossoms in the orchards； and when； with a shyness for which he laughed at himself； he halted to brush away any trace of dust that might offend the eye of his 'dainty Kate；' and gaily asked his brother king if he were sufficiently pranked out for a lady's bower； James； thinking he had never seen him so handsome； replied：
'Like a young bridegroomnay； more like a young suitor。'
'You're jealous； Jamieafraid of being outshone。 'Tis is your own fault； man； none can ever tell whether you be in festal trim or not。'
For King James's taste was for sober； well…blending hues； and as he never lapsed into Henry's carelessness； his state apparel was not very apparently dissimilar from his ordinary dress； being generally of dark rich crimson； blue； or russet； with the St。 Andrew's cross in white silk on his breast； or else the ruddy lion； but never conspicuously； and the sombre hues always seemed particularly well to suit his auburn colouring。
Malcolm； in scarlet and gold； was a far gayer figure； and quite conscious of the change in his own appearancehow much taller； ruddier； and browner he had become； how much better he held himself both in riding and walking； and how much awkwardness and embarrassment he had lost。 No wonder Esclairmonde had despised the sickly； timid； monkish school…boy； and if she had then shown him any sort of grace or preference； what would she think of the princely young squire he could new show her； who had seen service； had proved his valour； and was only not a knight because of King Henry's unkindness and King James's punctilio？at any rate； no child to be brow…beaten and silenced with folly about cloistral dedication； but a youth who had taken his place in the world； and could allege that his inspiration had come through her bright eyes。
Would she be there？ That was the chief anxiety： for it was not certain that either she or her mistress would risk themselves on the Continent； and Catherine had given no intimation as to who would be in her suiteso that； as Henry had merrily observed； he was the only one in the whole party who was not in suspense； except indeed Salisbury； who had sent his commands to his little daughter to come out with the Queen。
'She is come！' cried Henry。 'Beforehand with us； after all；' and he spurred his horse on as he saw the banner raised； and the escort around the gate； and in a few seconds more he and his companions had hurried through the court； where the ladies had scarcely dismounted； and hastened into the hall； breaking into the seneschal's solemn reception of the Queen。
'My Kate； my fairest！ Mine eyes have been hungry for a sight of thee。'
And Catherine； in her horned head…gear and flutter of spangled veil； was almost swallowed up in his hearty embrace； and the fervency of his great love so far warmed her； that she clung to him； and tenderly said； 'My lord； it is long since I saw you。'
'Thou wert before me！ Ah！ forgive thy tardy knight；' he continued； gazing at her really enhanced beauty as if he had eyes for no one else； even while with lip and hand； kiss； grasp； and word； he greeted her companions； of whom Jaqueline of Hainault and John of Bedford were the most prominent。
'And the babe！ where is he？' then cried he。 'Let me have him to hold up to my brave fellows in the court！'
'The Prince of Wales？' said Catherine。 'You never spake of my bringing him。'
'If I spake not； it was because I doubted not for a moment that you would keep him with you。 Nay； verily it is not in sooth that you left him。 You are merely sporting with use。'
'Truly； Sir；' said Catherine； 'I never guessed that you would clog yourself with a babe in the cradle； and I deemed him more safely nursed at Windsor。'
'If it be for his safety！ Yet a soldier's boy should thrive among soldiers；' said the King； evidently much disappointed； and proceeding to eager inquiries as to the appearance and progress of his child； to which the Queen replied with a certain languor； as though she had no very intimate personal knowledge of her little son。
Other eyes were meanwhile eagerly scanning the bright confusion of veils and wimples； and Malcolm had just made out the tall head and dark locks under a long almost shrouding white veil far away in the background behind the Countess of Hainault； when the Duke of Bedford came up with a frown of consternation on his always anxious face； and drawing King James into a window； said； 'What have you been doing to him？'to which James； without hearing the question； replied； 'Where is SHE？'
'Joan？ At home。 It was the Queen's will。 Of that another time。 But what means this？' and he signed towards his brother。 'Never saw I man so changed。'
'Had you seen him at Christmas you might have said so；' replied James； 'but now I see naught amiss； I had been thinking I had never seen him so fair and comely。'
'I tell you； James；' said Bedford； contracting his brows till they almost met ever his arched nose； 'I tell you； his look brings back to me my mother's； the last time she greeted my father！'
'To your fantasy； not your memory； John！ You were a mere babe at her death。'
'Of five years；' said Bedford。 'That facethat coughhave brought all backay； the yearning look when my father was absent； and the pure rosy fairness that Harry and Tom cited so fiercely against one who would have told them how sick to death she was。 I mind me too； that when our grandame of Hereford made us motherless children over to our grandsire of Lancaster； it was with a warning that Harry had the tender lungs of the Bohuns； and needed care。 One deadly sickness he had at Kenilworth； when my father was ridden for post…haste。 My mind misgave me throughout this weary siege； but his service held me fast at home； and I trusted that you would watch over him。'
'A man like him is ill to guide；' said James； 'but he is more himself now than he has been for months； and a few weeks' quiet with his wife will restore him。 But what is this？' he proceeded in his turn； 'why is the Lady Joan not here？'
'How can I tell？ It was no fault of mine。 I e