the wood beyond the world- 第14部分

So　they　crossed　the　stream　by　the　shallow　below　the　pool　wherein
Walter　had　bathed；　and　within　a　little　they　came　upon　a　tall　fence
of　flake…hurdles；　and　a　simple　gate　therein。　　The　Lady　opened　the
same；　and　they　entered　thereby　into　a　close　all　planted　as　a　most
fair　garden；　with　hedges　of　rose　and　woodbine；　and　with　linden…trees
a…blossom；　and　long　ways　of　green　grass　betwixt　borders　of　lilies
and　clove…gilliflowers；　and　other　sweet　garland…flowers。　　And　a
branch　of　the　stream　which　they　had　crossed　erewhile　wandered
through　that　garden；　and　in　the　midst　was　a　little　house　built　of
post　and　pan；　and　thatched　with　yellow　straw；　as　if　it　were　new
done。

Then　Walter　looked　this　way　and　that；　and　wondered　at　first；　and
tried　to　think　in　his　mind　what　should　come　next；　and　how　matters
would　go　with　him；　but　his　thought　would　not　dwell　steady　on　any
other　matter　than　the　beauty　of　the　Lady　amidst　the　beauty　of　the
garden；　and　withal　she　was　now　grown　so　sweet　and　kind；　and　even
somewhat　timid　and　shy　with　him；　that　scarce　did　he　know　whose　hand
he　held；　or　whose　fragrant　bosom　and　sleek　side　went　so　close　to
him。

So　they　wandered　here　and　there　through　the　waning　of　the　day；　and
when　they　entered　at　last　into　the　cool　dusk　house；　then　they　loved
and　played　together；　as　if　they　were　a　pair　of　lovers　guileless；
with　no　fear　for　the　morrow；　and　no　seeds　of　enmity　and　death　sown
betwixt　them。



CHAPTER　XVIII：　　THE　MAID　GIVES　WALTER　TRYST



Now；　on　the　morrow；　when　Walter　was　awake；　he　found　there　was　no　one
lying　beside　him；　and　the　day　was　no　longer　very　young；　so　he　arose；
and　went　through　the　garden　from　end　to　end；　and　all　about；　and
there　was　none　there；　and　albeit　that　he　dreaded　to　meet　the　Lady
there；　yet　was　he　sad　at　heart　and　fearful　of　what　might　betide。
Howsoever；　he　found　the　gate　whereby　they　had　entered　yesterday；　and
he　went　out　into　the　little　dale；　but　when　he　had　gone　a　step　or　two
he　turned　about；　and　could　see　neither　garden　nor　fence；　nor　any
sign　of　what　he　had　seen　thereof　but　lately。　　He　knit　his　brow　and
stood　still　to　think　of　it；　and　his　heart　grew　the　heavier　thereby；
but　presently　he　went　his　ways　and　crossed　the　stream；　but　had
scarce　come　up　on　to　the　grass　on　the　further　side；　ere　he　saw　a
woman　coming　to　meet　him；　and　at　first；　full　as　he　was　of　the　tide
of　yesterday　and　the　wondrous　garden；　deemed　that　it　would　be　the
Lady；　but　the　woman　stayed　her　feet；　and；　stooping；　laid　a　hand　on
her　right　ankle；　and　he　saw　that　it　was　the　Maid。　　He　drew　anigh　to
her；　and　saw　that　she　was　nought　so　sad　of　countenance　as　the　last
time　she　had　met　him；　but　flushed　of　cheek　and　bright…eyed。

As　he　came　up　to　her　she　made　a　step　or　two　to　meet　him；　holding　out
her　two　hands；　and　then　refrained　her；　and　said　smiling：　　〃Ah；
friend；　belike　this　shall　be　the　last　time　that　I　shall　say　to　thee；
touch　me　not；　nay；　not　so　much　as　my　hand；　or　if　it　were　but　the　hem
of　my　raiment。〃

The　joy　grew　up　in　his　heart；　and　he　gazed　on　her　fondly；　and　said：
〃Why；　what　hath　befallen　of　late？〃

〃O　friend；〃　she　began；　〃this　hath　befallen。〃

But　as　he　looked　on　her；　the　smile　died　from　her　face；　and　she
became　deadly　pale　to　the　very　lips；　she　looked　askance　to　her　left
side；　whereas　ran　the　stream；　and　Walter　followed　her　eyes；　and
deemed　for　one　instant　that　he　saw　the　misshapen　yellow　visage　of
the　dwarf　peering　round　from　a　grey　rock；　but　the　next　there　was
nothing。　　Then　the　Maid；　though　she　were　as　pale　as　death；　went　on
in　a　clear；　steady；　hard　voice；　wherein　was　no　joy　or　kindness；
keeping　her　face　to　Walter　and　her　back　to　the　stream：　　〃This　hath
befallen；　friend；　that　there　is　no　longer　any　need　to　refrain　thy
love　nor　mine；　therefore　I　say　to　thee；　come　to　my　chamber　（and　it
is　the　red　chamber　over　against　thine；　though　thou　knewest　it　not）
an　hour　before　this　next　midnight；　and　then　thy　sorrow　and　mine
shall　be　at　an　end：　　and　now　I　must　needs　depart。　　Follow　me　not；
but　remember！〃

And　therewith　she　turned　about　and　fled　like　the　wind　down　the
stream。

But　Walter　stood　wondering；　and　knew　not　what　to　make　of　it；　whether
it　were　for　good　or　ill：　　for　he　knew　now　that　she　had　paled　and
been　seized　with　terror　because　of　the　upheaving　of　the　ugly　head；
and　yet　she　had　seemed　to　speak　out　the　very　thing　she　had　to　say。
Howsoever　it　were；　he　spake　aloud　to　himself：　　Whatever　comes；　I
will　keep　tryst　with　her。

Then　he　drew　his　sword；　and　turned　this　way　and　that；　looking　all
about　if　he　might　see　any　sign　of　the　Evil　Thing；　but　nought　might
his　eyes　behold；　save　the　grass；　and　the　stream；　and　the　bushes　of
the　dale。　　So　then；　still　holding　his　naked　sword　in　his　hand；　he
clomb　the　bent　out　of　the　dale；　for　that　was　the　only　way　he　knew　to
the　Golden　House；　and　when　he　came　to　the　top；　and　the　summer　breeze
blew　in　his　face；　and　he　looked　down　a　fair　green　slope　beset　with
goodly　oaks　and　chestnuts；　he　was　refreshed　with　the　life　of　the
earth；　and　he　felt　the　good　sword　in　his　fist；　and　knew　that　there
was　might　and　longing　in　him；　and　the　world　seemed　open　unto　him。

So　he　smiled；　if　it　were　somewhat　grimly；　and　sheathed　his　sword　and
went　on　toward　the　house。



CHAPTER　XIX：　　WALTER　GOES　TO　FETCH　HOME　THE　LION'S　HIDE



He　entered　the　cool　dusk　through　the　porch；　and；　looking　down　the
pillared　hall；　saw　beyond　the　fountain　a　gleam　of　gold；　and　when　he
came　past　the　said　fountain　he　looked　up　to　the　high…seat；　and　lo！
the　Lady　sitting　there　clad　in　her　queenly　raiment。　　She　called　to
him；　and　he　came；　and　she　hailed　him；　and　spake　graciously　and
calmly；　yet　as　if　she　knew　nought　of　him　save　as　the　leal　servant　of
her；　a　high　Lady。　　〃Squire；〃　she　said；　〃we　have　deemed　it　meet　to
have　the　hide　of　the　servant　of　the　Enemy；　the　lion　to　wit；　whom
thou　slewest　yesterday；　for　a　carpet　to　our　feet；　wherefore　go　now；
take　thy　wood…knife；　and　flay　the　beast；　and　bring　me　home　his　skin。
This　shall　be　all　thy　service　for　this　day；　so　mayst　thou　do　it　at
thine　own　leisure；　and　not　weary　thyself。　　May　good　go　with　thee。〃

He　bent　the　knee　before　her；　and　she　smiled　on　him　graciously；　but
reached　out　no　hand　for　him　to　kiss；　and　heeded　him　but　little。
Wherefore；　in　spite　of　himself；　and　though　he　knew　somewhat　of　her
guile；　he　could　not　help　marvelling　that　this　should　be　she　who　had
lain　in　his　arms　night…long　but　of　late。

Howso　that　might　be；　he　took　his　way　toward　the　thicket　where　he　had
slain　the　lion；　and　came　thither　by　then　it　was　afternoon；　at　the
hottest　of　the　day。　　So　he　entered　therein；　and　came　to　the　very
place　whereas　the　Lady　had　lain；　when　she　fell　down　before　the
terror　of　the　lion；　and　there　was　the　mark　of　her　body　on　the　grass
where　she　had　lain　that　while；　like　as　it　were　the　form　of　a　hare。
But　when　Walter　went　on　to　where　he　had　slain　that　great　beast；　lo！
he　was　gone；　and　there　was　no　sign　of　him；　but　there　were　Walter's
own　footprints；　and　the　two　shafts　which　he　had　shot；　one　feathered
red；　and　one　blue。　　He　said　at　first：　　Belike　someone　hath　been
here；　and　hath　had　the　carcase　away。　　Then　he　laughed　in　very
despite；　and　said：　　How　may　that　be；　since　there　are　no　signs　of
dragging　away　of　so　huge　a　body；　and　no　blood　or　fur　on　the　grass　if
they　had　cut　him　up；　and　moreover　no　trampling　of　feet；　as　if　there
had　been　many　men　at　the　deed。　　Then　was　he　all　abashed；　and　again
laughed　in　scorn　of　himself；　and　said：　　Forsooth　I　deemed　I　had　done
manly；　but　now　forsooth　I　shot　nought；　and　nought　there　was　before
the　sword　of　my　father's　son。　　And　what　may　I　deem　now；　but　that
this　is　a　land　of　mere　lies；　and　that　there　is　nought　real　and　alive
therein　save　me。　　Yea；　belike　even　these　trees　and　the　green　grass
will　presently　depart　from　me；　and　leave　me　falling　down　through　the
clouds。

Therewith　he　turned　away；　and　gat　him　to　the　road　that　led　to　the
Golden　House；　wondering　what　next　should　befall　him；　and　going
slowly　as　he　pondered　his　case。　　So　came　he　to　that　first　thicket
where　they　had　lost　their　quarry　by　water；　so　he　entered　the　same；
musing；　and　bathed　him　in　the　pool　that　was　therein；　after　he　had
wandered　about　it　awhile；　and　found　nothing　new。

So　again　he　set　him　to　the　homeward　road；　when　the　day　was　now
waning；　and　it　was　near　sunset　that　he　was　come　nigh　unto　the　house；
though　it　was　hidden　from　him　as　then　by　a　low　bent　that　rose　before
him；　and　there　he　abode　and　looked　about　him。

Now　as　he　looked；　over　the　said　bent　came　the　figure　of　a　woman；　who
stayed　on　the　brow　thereof　and　looked　all　about　her；　and　then　ran
swiftly　down　to　meet　Walter；　who　saw　at　once　that　it　was　the　Maid。

She　made　no　stay　then　till　she　was　but　three　paces　from　him；　and
then　she　stooped　down　and　made　the　sign　to　him；　and　then　spake　to
him　breathlessly；　and　said：　　〃Hearken！　but　speak　not　till　I　have
done：　　I　bade　thee　to…night's　meeting　because　I　saw　that　there　was
one　anigh　whom　I　must　needs　beguile。　　But　by　thine　oath；　and　thy
love；　and　all　that　thou　art；　I　adjure　thee　come　not　unto　me　this
night　as　I　bade　thee！　but　be　hidden　in　the　hazel…copse　outside　the
house；　as　it　draws　toward　midnight；　and　abide　me　there。　　Dost　thou
hearken；　and　wilt　thou？　　Say　yes　or　no　in　haste；　for　I　may　not　tarry
a　moment　of　time。　　Who　knoweth　what　is　behind　me？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Walter　hastily；　〃but　friend　and　love〃

〃No　more；〃　she　said；　〃hope　the　best；〃　and　turning　from　him　she　ran
away　swiftly；　not　by　the　way　she　had　come；　but　sideways；　as　though
to　reach　the　house　by　fetching　a　compass。

But　Walter　went　slowly　on　his　way；　thinking　within　himself　that　now
at　that　present　moment　there　was　nought　for　it　but　to　refrain　him
from　doing；　and　to　let　others　do；　yet　deemed　he　that　it　was　little
manly　to　be　as　the　pawn　upon　the　board；　pushed　about　by　the　will　of
others。

Then；　as　he　went；　he　bethought　him　of　the　Maiden's　face　and　aspect；
as　she　came　running　to　him；　and　stood　before　him　for　that　minute；
and　all　eagerness　he　saw　in　her；　and　sore　love　of　him；　and　distress
of　soul；　all　blent　together。

So　came　he　to　the　brow　of　the　bent　whence　he　could　see　lying　before
him；　scarce　more　than　a　bow…shot　away；　the　Golden　House　now　gilded
again　and　reddened　by　the　setting　sun。　　And　even　t