the little duke- 第6部分

〃Ha！　is　this　all？　　What　didst　say；　child？〃　cried　Bernard　the　Dane；　hastily。

〃He　told　me　it　was　his　greatest　treasure！〃　repeated　Richard。

〃And　it　was！〃　said　Abbot　Martin。

Then　the　good　Abbot　told　them　the　history；　part　of　which　was　already　known　to　some　of　them。　　About　five　or　six　years　before；　Duke　William　had　been　hunting　in　the　forest　of　Jumieges；　when　he　had　suddenly　come　on　the　ruins　of　the　Abbey；　which　had　been　wasted　thirty　or　forty　years　previously　by　the　Sea…King；　Hasting。　　Two　old　monks；　of　the　original　brotherhood；　still　survived；　and　came　forth　to　greet　the　Duke；　and　offer　him　their　hospitality。

〃Ay！〃　said　Bernard；　〃well　do　I　remember　their　bread；　we　asked　if　it　was　made　of　fir…bark；　like　that　of　our　brethren　of　Norway。〃

William；　then　an　eager；　thoughtless　young　man；　turned　with　disgust　from　this　wretched　fare；　and　throwing　the　old　men　some　gold；　galloped　on　to　enjoy　his　hunting。　　In　the　course　of　the　sport；　he　was　left　alone；　and　encountered　a　wild　boar；　which　threw　him　down；　trampled　on　him；　and　left　him　stretched　senseless　on　the　ground；　severely　injured。　　His　companions　coming　up；　carried　him；　as　the　nearest　place　of　shelter；　to　the　ruins　of　Jumieges；　where　the　two　old　monks　gladly　received　him　in　the　remaining　portion　of　their　house。　　As　soon　as　he　recovered　his　senses；　he　earnestly　asked　their　pardon　for　his　pride；　and　the　scorn　he　had　shown　to　the　poverty　and　patient　suffering　which　he　should　have　reverenced。

William　had　always　been　a　man　who　chose　the　good　and　refused　the　evil；　but　this　accident；　and　the　long　illness　that　followed　it；　made　him　far　more　thoughtful　and　serious　than　he　had　ever　been　before；　he　made　preparing　for　death　and　eternity　his　first　object；　and　thought　less　of　his　worldly　affairs；　his　wars；　and　his　ducal　state。　　He　rebuilt　the　old　Abbey；　endowed　it　richly；　and　sent　for　Martin　himself　from　France；　to　become　the　Abbot；　he　delighted　in　nothing　so　much　as　praying　there；　conversing　with　the　Abbot；　and　hearing　him　read　holy　books；　and　he　felt　his　temporal　affairs；　and　the　state　and　splendour　of　his　rank；　so　great　a　temptation；　that　he　had　one　day　come　to　the　Abbot；　and　entreated　to　be　allowed　to　lay　them　aside；　and　become　a　brother　of　the　order。　　But　Martin　had　refused　to　receive　his　vows。　He　had　told　him　that　he　had　no　right　to　neglect　or　forsake　the　duties　of　the　station　which　God　had　appointed　him；　that　it　would　be　a　sin　to　leave　the　post　which　had　been　given　him　to　defend；　and　that　the　way　marked　out　for　him　to　serve　God　was　by　doing　justice　among　his　people；　and　using　his　power　to　defend　the　right。　　Not　till　he　had　done　his　allotted　work；　and　his　son　was　old　enough　to　take　his　place　as　ruler　of　the　Normans；　might　he　cease　from　his　active　duties；　quit　the　turmoil　of　the　world；　and　seek　the　repose　of　the　cloister。　　It　was　in　this　hope　of　peaceful　retirement；　that　William　had　delighted　to　treasure　up　the　humble　garments　that　he　hoped　one　day　to　wear　in　peace　and　holiness。

〃And　oh！　my　noble　Duke！〃　exclaimed　Abbot　Martin；　bursting　into　tears；　as　he　finished　his　narration；　〃the　Lord　hath　been　very　gracious　unto　thee！　　He　has　taken　thee　home　to　thy　rest；　long　before　thou　didst　dare　to　hope　for　it。〃

Slowly；　and　with　subdued　feelings；　the　Norman　Barons　left　the　chamber；　Richard；　whom　they　seemed　to　have　almost　forgotten；　wandered　to　the　stairs；　to　find　his　way　to　the　room　where　he　had　slept　last　night。　　He　had　not　made　many　steps　before　he　heard　Osmond's　voice　say；　〃Here；　my　Lord；〃　he　looked　up；　saw　a　white　cap　at　a　doorway　a　little　above　him；　he　bounded　up　and　flew　into　Dame　Astrida's　outstretched　arms。

How　glad　he　was　to　sit　in　her　lap；　and　lay　his　wearied　head　on　her　bosom；　while；　with　a　worn…out　voice；　he　exclaimed；　〃Oh；　Fru　Astrida！　I　am　very；　very　tired　of　being　Duke　of　Normandy！〃



CHAPTER　IV



Richard　of　Normandy　was　very　anxious　to　know　more　of　the　little　boy　whom　he　had　seen　among　his　vassals。

〃Ah！　the　young　Baron　de　Montemar；〃　said　Sir　Eric。　　〃I　knew　his　father　well；　and　a　brave　man　he　was；　though　not　of　northern　blood。　　He　was　warden　of　the　marches　of　the　Epte；　and　was　killed　by　your　father's　side　in　the　inroad　of　the　Viscount　du　Cotentin；　｛10｝　at　the　time　when　you　were　born；　Lord　Richard。〃

〃But　where　does　he　live？　　Shall　I　not　see　him　again？〃

〃Montemar　is　on　the　bank　of　the　Epte；　in　the　domain　that　the　French　wrongfully　claim　from　us。　　He　lives　there　with　his　mother；　and　if　he　be　not　yet　returned；　you　shall　see　him　presently。　　Osmond；　go　you　and　seek　out　the　lodgings　of　the　young　Montemar；　and　tell　him　the　Duke　would　see　him。〃

Richard　had　never　had　a　playfellow　of　his　own　age；　and　his　eagerness　to　see　Alberic　de　Montemar　was　great。　　He　watched　from　the　window；　and　at　length　beheld　Osmond　entering　the　court　with　a　boy　of　ten　years　old　by　his　side；　and　an　old　grey…headed　Squire；　with　a　golden　chain　to　mark　him　as　a　Seneschal　or　Steward　of　the　Castle；　walking　behind。

Richard　ran　to　the　door　to　meet　them；　holding　out　his　hand　eagerly。　Alberic　uncovered　his　bright　dark　hair；　bowed　low　and　gracefully；　but　stood　as　if　he　did　not　exactly　know　what　to　do　next。　　Richard　grew　shy　at　the　same　moment；　and　the　two　boys　stood　looking　at　each　other　somewhat　awkwardly。　　It　was　easy　to　see　that　they　were　of　different　races；　so　unlike　were　the　blue　eyes；　flaxen　hair；　and　fair　face　of　the　young　Duke；　to　the　black　flashing　eyes　and　olive　cheek　of　his　French　vassal；　who；　though　two　years　older；　was　scarcely　above　him　in　height；　and　his　slight　figure；　well…proportioned；　active　and　agile　as　it　was；　did　not　give　the　same　promise　of　strength　as　the　round　limbs　and　large…boned　frame　of　Richard；　which　even　now　seemed　likely　to　rival　the　gigantic　stature　of　his　grandfather；　Earl　Rollo；　the　Ganger。

For　some　minutes　the　little　Duke　and　the　young　Baron　stood　surveying　each　other　without　a　word；　and　old　Sir　Eric　did　not　improve　matters　by　saying；　〃Well；　Lord　Duke；　here　he　is。　　Have　you　no　better　greeting　for　him？〃

〃The　children　are　shame…faced；〃　said　Fru　Astrida；　seeing　how　they　both　coloured。　　〃Is　your　Lady　mother　in　good　health；　my　young　sir？〃

Alberic　blushed　more　deeply；　bowed　to　the　old　northern　lady；　and　answered　fast　and　low　in　French；　〃I　cannot　speak　the　Norman　tongue。〃

Richard；　glad　to　say　something；　interpreted　Fru　Astrida's　speech；　and　Alberic　readily　made　courteous　reply　that　his　mother　was　well；　and　he　thanked　the　Dame　de　Centeville；　a　French　title　which　sounded　new　to　Fru　Astrida's　ears。　　Then　came　the　embarrassment　again；　and　Fru　Astrida　at　last　said；　〃Take　him　out；　Lord　Richard；　take　him　to　see　the　horses　in　the　stables；　or　the　hounds；　or　what　not。〃

Richard　was　not　sorry　to　obey；　so　out　they　went　into　the　court　of　Rollo's　tower；　and　in　the　open　air　the　shyness　went　off。　　Richard　showed　his　own　pony；　and　Alberic　asked　if　he　could　leap　into　the　saddle　without　putting　his　foot　in　the　stirrup。　　No；　Richard　could　not；　indeed；　even　Osmond　had　never　seen　it　done；　for　the　feats　of　French　chivalry　had　scarcely　yet　spread　into　Normandy。

〃Can　you？〃　said　Richard；　〃will　you　show　us？〃

〃I　know　I　can　with　my　own　pony；〃　said　Alberic；　〃for　Bertrand　will　not　let　me　mount　in　any　other　way；　but　I　will　try　with　yours；　if　you　desire　it；　my　Lord。〃

So　the　pony　was　led　out。　　Alberic　laid　one　hand　on　its　mane；　and　vaulted　on　its　back　in　a　moment。　　Both　Osmond　and　Richard　broke　out　loudly　into　admiration。　　〃Oh；　this　is　nothing！〃　said　Alberic。　〃Bertrand　says　it　is　nothing。　　Before　he　grew　old　and　stiff　he　could　spring　into　the　saddle　in　this　manner　fully　armed。　　I　ought　to　do　this　much　better。〃

Richard　begged　to　be　shown　how　to　perform　the　exploit；　and　Alberic　repeated　it；　then　Richard　wanted　to　try；　but　the　pony's　patience　would　not　endure　any　longer；　and　Alberic　said　he　had　learnt　on　a　block　of　wood；　and　practised　on　the　great　wolf…hound。　　They　wandered　about　a　little　longer　in　the　court；　and　then　climbed　up　the　spiral　stone　stairs　to　the　battlements　at　the　top　of　the　tower；　where　they　looked　at　the　house…tops　of　Rouen　close　beneath；　and　the　river　Seine；　broadening　and　glittering　on　one　side　in　its　course　to　the　sea；　and　on　the　other　narrowing　to　a　blue　ribbon；　winding　through　the　green　expanse　of　fertile　Normandy。　　They　threw　the　pebbles　and　bits　of　mortar　down　that　they　might　hear　them　fall；　and　tried　which　could　stand　nearest　to　the　edge　of　the　battlement　without　being　giddy。　Richard　was　pleased　to　find　that　he　could　go　the　nearest；　and　began　to　tell　some　of　Fru　Astrida's　stories　about　the　precipices　of　Norway；　among　which　when　she　was　a　young　girl　she　used　to　climb　about　and　tend　the　cattle　in　the　long　light　summer　time。　　When　the　two　boys　came　down　again　into　the　hall　to　dinner；　they　felt　as　if　they　had　known　each　other　all　their　lives。　　The　dinner　was　laid　out　in　full　state；　and　Richard　had；　as　before；　to　sit　in　the　great　throne…like　chair　with　the　old　Count　of　Harcourt　on　one　side；　but；　to　his　comfort；　Fru　Astrida　was　on　the　other。

After　the　dinner；　Alberic　de　Montemar　rose　to　take　his　leave；　as　he　was　to　ride　half　way　to　his　home　that　afternoon。　　Count　Bernard；　who　all　dinner　time　had　been　watching　him　intently　from　under　his　shaggy　eye…brows；　at　this　moment　turned　to　Richard；　whom　he　hardly　ever　addressed；　and　said　to　him；　〃Hark　ye；　my　Lord；　what　should　you　say　to　have　him　yonder　for　a　comrade？〃

〃To　stay　with　me？〃　cried　Richard；　eagerly。　　〃Oh；　thanks；　Sir　Count；　and　may　he　stay？〃

〃You　are　Lord　here。〃

〃Oh；　Alberic！〃　cried　Richard；　jumping　out　of　his　chair　of　state；　and　running　up　to　him；　〃will　you　not　stay　with　me；　and　be　my　brother　and　comrade？〃

Alberic　looked　down　hesitating。

〃Oh；　say　that　you　will！　　I　will　give　you　horses；　and　hawks；　and　hounds；　and　I　will　love　youalmost　as　well　as　Osmond。　　Oh；　stay　with　me；　Alberic。〃

〃I　must　obey　you；　my　Lord；〃　said　Alberic；　〃but〃

〃Come；　young　Frenchman；　out　with　it；〃　said　Bernard；〃no　buts！　　Speak　honestly；　and　at　once；　like　a　Norman；　if　you　can。〃

This　rough　speech　seemed　to　restore　the　little　Baron's　self…　possession；　and　he　looked　up　bright　and　bold　at　the　rugged　face　of　the　old　Dane；　while　he　said；　〃I　had　rather　not　stay　here。〃

〃Ha！　not　do　service　to　your　Lord？〃

〃I　would　serve　him　with　all　my　heart；　but　I　do　not　want　to　stay　here。　I　love　the　Castle　of　Montemar　better；　and　my　mother　h