epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第9章

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　no　mistaking　her。　This　was　the　urchin　of　the　oak　tree；　and　the　greatest　heiress　and　most　desirable　prize　in　marriage　in　all　this　countryside。
　The　steward　was　an　older　man；　grey…headed　and　balding；　with　a　soft；　good…humoured　face。　〃He　is　Rhisiart's　kinsman　by　marriage；〃　whispered　Huw；　〃his　wife's　elder　brother。〃
　〃And　the　other　girl　is　Sioned's　tirewoman？〃　No　need　to　name　her；　he　already　knew　her　name。　Dimpled　and　smiling；　Annest　followed　her　friend　with　demure　little　steps　into　the　church；　and　the　sun　stroked　all　the　bright；　silvery　grain　in　the　sheaf　of　her　pale　hair。　〃She　is　the　smith's　niece；〃　said　Father　Huw　helpfully。　〃A　good　girl；　she　visits　him　often　since　he　buried　his　wife；　and　bakes　for　him。〃
　〃Bened's　niece？〃　Brother　John　pricked　his　ears；　and　looked　after　the　shapely　waist　and　glowing　hair　with　fascinated　eyes；　no　doubt　hoping　there　would　be　a　baking　day　before　they　had　to　leave　Gwytherin。　The　lodging　arrangements　had　certainly　been　inspired；　though　whether　by　an　angel　or　an　imp　remained　to　be　seen。
　〃Lower　your　eyes；　brother；〃　said　Jerome　chidingly。　〃It　is　not　seemly　to　look　so　straightly　upon　women。〃
　〃And　how　did　he　know　there　were　women　passing；〃　whispered　Brother　John　rebelliously；　〃if　his　own　eyes　were　so　dutifully　lowered？〃
　Brother　Columbanus；　at　least；　was　standing　as　prescribed　in　the　presence　of　females；　with　pale　hands　prayerfully　folded；　and　lofty　eyelids　lowered；　his　gaze　upon　the　grass。
　〃And　here　es　Cadwallon　now；〃　said　Father　Huw。　〃These　good　brothers　already　know　him；　of　course。　And　his　lady。　And　his　son　Peredur。〃
　So　this　young　man；　loping　after　his　parents　with　the　long；　springy　gait　of　a　yearling　roebuck；　was　the　chosen　husband　for　Sioned；　the　lad　she　liked　well　enough；　and　had　known　familiarly　all　her　life；　but　was　in　no　way　inclined　to　marry。　It　occurred　to　Cadfael　that　he　had　never　asked　how　the　groom　felt　about　the　situation；　but　it　needed　only　a　glimpse　of　Peredur's　face　when　he　caught　sight　of　Sioned　to　settle　the　matter。　Here　was　a　tangle。　The　girl　might　have　worn　out　in　mere　liking　all　her　inclination　to　love；　but　the　boy　certainly　had　not。　At　sight　of　her　his　face　paled；　and　his　eyes　took　fire。
　The　parents　were　ordinary　enough；　fortable　people　grown　plump　from　placid　living；　and　expecting　things　to　go　smoothly　still　as　they　always　had。　Cadwallon　had　a　round；　fleshy；　smiling　face；　and　his　wife　was　fat；　fair　and　querulous。　The　boy　cast　back　to　some　more　perilous　ancestor。　The　spring　of　his　step　was　a　joy　to　watch。　He　was　not　above　middle　height；　but　so　well…proportioned　that　he　looked　tall。　His　dark　hair　was　cut　short；　and　curled　crisply　all　over　his　head。　His　chin　was　shaven　clean；　and　all　the　bones　of　his　face　were　as　bold　and　elegant　as　his　colouring　was　vivid；　with　russet　brushings　of　sun　on　high　cheekbones；　and　a　red；　audacious；　self…willed　mouth。　Such　a　young　person　might　well　find　it　hard　to　bear　that　another；　and　an　alien　at　that；　should　be　preferred　to　him。　He　proclaimed　in　his　every　movement　and　glance　that　everything　and　everyone　in　his　life　had　responded　subserviently　to　his　charm；　until　now。
　At　the　right　moment；　when　the　church　was　full；　Prior　Robert；　tall　and　imposing　and　carefully　groomed；　swept　in　through　the　tiny　sacristy　and　took　his　place；　and　all　the　Shrewsbury　brothers　fell　into　line　and　followed　on　his　heels。　The　Mass　began。
　In　the　deliberations　of　the　free　assembly　of　the　parish；　of　course；　the　women　had　no　part。　Neither　had　the　villeins；　though　they　had　their　indirect　influence　through　those　of　their　friends　who　were　free。　So　while　the　free　men　lingered　after　the　Mass；　the　rest　dispersed；　moving　away　with　slow　dignity；　and　not　too　far；　just　far　enough　to　be　discreetly　out　of　sight　and　earshot；　but　handy　to　detect　what　was　passing　by　instinct；　and　confirm　it　as　soon　as　the　meeting　broke　up。
　The　free　men　gathered　in　the　open　before　the　church。　The　sun　was　already　high；　for　it　was　little　more　than　an　hour　to　noon。　Father　Huw　stood　up　before　the　assembly；　and　gave　them　the　gist　of　the　matter；　as　it　had　been　presented　to　him。　He　was　the　father　of　this　flock；　and　he　owed　his　people　truth；　but　he　also　owed　his　church　fealty。　He　told　them　what　bishop　and　prince　had　answered　to　the　request　from
　Shrewsbury；　reverently　presented；　and　with　many　proofs。　Which　proofs　he　left　to　Robert　to　deliver。
　The　prior　had　never　looked　holier　or　more　surely　headed　for　sainthood　himself。　He　had　always　a　sense　of　occasion；　and　beyond　a　doubt　it　had　been　his　idea　to　hold　the　meeting　here　in　the　open；　where　the　sun　could　gild　and　illuminate　his　other…worldly　beauty。　It　was　Cadfael's　detached　opinion　that　he　did　himself　more　than　justice；　by　being　less　overbearing　than　might　have　been　expected。　Usually　he　overdid　things；　this　time　he　got　it　right；　or　as　right　as　something　only　equivocally　right　in　itself　can　be　got。
　〃They're　not　happy！〃　whispered　Brother　John　in　Cadfael's　ear；　himself　sounding　far　from　sad　about　it。　There　were　times　when　even　Brother　John　could　be　humanly　smug。　And　indeed；　those　Welsh　faces　ranged　round　them　were　singularly　lacking　in　enthusiasm　for　all　these　English　miracles　performed　by　a　Welsh　saint。　Robert　at　his　best　was　not　exactly　carrying　his　audience。
　They　swayed　and　murmured；　and　eyed　one　another；　and　again　turned　as　one　man　to　eye　him。
　〃If　Owain　ap　Griffith　wills　it；　and　the　bishop　gives　his　blessing；　too；〃　began　Cadwallon　hesitantly；　〃as　loyal　sons　of　the　church；　and　true　men　of　Gwynedd；　we　can　hardly。。。〃
　〃Both　prince　and　bishop　have　blessed　our　errand；〃　said　the　prior　loftily。
　〃But　the　girl　is　here；　in　Gwytherin；〃　said　Rhisiart　abruptly。　He　had　the　voice　that　might　have　been　expected　from　him；　large；　melodious　and　deep；　a　voice　that　sang　what　it　felt；　and　waited　for　thought　afterwards；　to　find　that　the　thought　had　been　there　already　in　the　feeling。　〃Ours；　not　Bishop　David's！　Not　Owain　ap　Griffith's！　She　lived　out　her　life　here；　and　never　said　a　word　about　wanting　to　leave　us。　Am　I　to　believe　easily　that　she　wants　to　leave　us　now；　after　so　long？　Why　has　she　never　told　us？　Why？〃
　〃She　has　made　it　clear　to　us；〃　said　the　prior；　〃by　many　manifestations；　as　I　have　told　you。〃
　〃But　never　a　word　to　us；〃　cried　Rhisiart；　roused。　〃Do　you　call　that　courtesy？　Are　we　to　believe　that；　of　a　virgin　who　chose　to　make　her　home　here　among　us？〃
　They　were　with　him；　his　assurance　had　fired　their　smouldering　reluctance。　They　cried　out　from　a　dozen　directions　at　once　that　Saint　Winifred　belonged　to　Gwytherin；　and　to　no　other　place。
　〃Do　you　dare　tell　me；〃　said　Prior　Robert；　high　and　clear；　〃that　you　have　visited　her？　That　you　have　mitted　your　prayers　to　her？　That　you　have　invoked　the　aid　of　this　blessed　virgin；　and　given　her　the　honour　that　is　her　due？　Do　you　know　of　any　reason　why　she　should　desire　to　remain　here　among　you？　Have　you　not　neglected　even　her　grave？〃
　〃And　if　we　have；〃　said　Rhisiart　with　blithe　conviction；　〃do　you　suppose　the　girl　wonders　at　it？　You　have　not　lived　here　among　us。　She　did。　You　are　English；　she　was　Welsh；　she　knew　us；　and　was　never　so　moved　against　us　that　she　withdrew　or　plained。　We　know　she　is　there；　no　need　to　exclaim　or　make　any　great　outcry。　If　we　have　needs；　she　knows　it；　and　never　asks　that　we　should　e　with　prayers　and　tears；　knocking　our　knees　on　the　ground　before　her。　If　she　grudged　a　few　brambles　and　weeds；　she　would　have　found　a　means　to　tell　us。　Us；　not　some　distant　Benedictine　house　in　England！〃
　Throats　were　opening　joyfully；　shouting　where　they　had　muttered。　The　man　was　a　poet　and　a　preacher；　match　for　any　Englishman。　Brother　Cadfael　let　loose　his　bardic　blood；　and　rejoiced　silently。　Not　even　because　it　was　Prior　Robert　recoiling　into　marble　rage　under　Welsh　siege。　Only　because　it　was　a　Welsh　voice　that　cried　battle。
　〃And　do　you　deny；〃　thundered　Robert；　stretching　his　ascetic　length　to　its　loftiest；　〃the　truth　of　those　omens　and　miracles　I　have　declared　to　you；　the　beckoning　that　led　us　here？〃
　〃No！〃　said　Rhisiart　roundly。　〃I　never　doubted　you　believed　and　had　experienced　these　portents。　But　portents　can　arise；　miracles　can　be　delivered；　either　from　angels　or　devils。　If　these　are　from　heaven；　why　have　we　not　been　instructed？　The　little　saint　is　here；　not　in　England。　She　owes　us　the　courtesy　of　kinsmen。　Dare　you　say　she　is　turned　traitor？　Is　there　not　a　church　in　Wales；　a　Celtic　church　such　as　she　served？　What　did　she　know　of　yours？　I　do　not　believe　she　would　speak　to　you　and　not　to　us。　You　have　been　deceived　by　devils！　Winifred　never　said　word！〃
　A　dozen　voices　took　up　the　challenge；　hallooing　applause　for　their　most　articulate　spokesman；　who　had　put　his　finger　on　the　very　pulse　of　their　resentment。　Even　the　very　system　of　bishoprics　galled　the　devout　adherents　of　the　old；　saintly　Celtic　church；　that　had　no　worldly　trappings；　courted　no　thrones；　but　rather　withdrew　from　the　world　into　the　blessed　solitude　of　thought　and　prayer。　The　murmur　became　a　subdued　rumbling；　a　thunder；　a　roar。　Prior　Robert；　none　too　wisely；　raised　his　manding　voice　to　shout　them　down。
　〃She　said　no　word　to　you；　for　you　had　left　her　forgotten　and　unhonoured。　She　has　turned　to　us　for　recognition；　when　she　could　get　none　from　you。〃
　〃That　is　not　true；〃　said　Rhisiart；　〃though　you　in　your　ignorance　may　believe　it。　The　saint　is　a　good　Welshwoman；　and　knows　her　countrymen。　We　are　not　quick　in　respect　to　rank　or　riches；　we　do　not　doff　and　bow　and　scrape　when　any　man　flaunts　himself　before　us。　We　are　blunt　and　familiar　even　in　praise。　What　we　value　we　value　in　the　heart；　and　this　Welsh　girl　knows　it。　She　would　never　leave　her　own　unfurnished；　even　if　we　have　neglected　to　trim　her　grave。　It　is　the　spirit　that　leans　to　us；　and　is　felt　by　us　as　guardian　and　kin。　But　these　bones　you　e　hunting　are　also　hers。　Not　ours；　not　yours！　Until　she　tells　us　she　wills　to　have　them　moved；　here　they　stay。　We　should　be　damned　else！〃
　It　was　the　bitterest　blow　of　Prior　Robert's　life　to　know　that　he　had　met　his　match　and　overmatch　in　eloquence　and　argument；　here　in　a　half…barbaric　Welsh　landholder；　no　great　lord；　but　a　mere　squireling　elevated　among　his　inferiors　to　a　status　he　barely　rated；　at　least　in　Norman　eyes。　It　was　the　difference　between　them　that　Robert　thought　in　hierarchies；　and　Rhisiart　thought　in　blood…ties；　high　and　low　of　one　mind　and　in　one　kinship；　and　not　a　man　among　them　aware　of　inferiority；　only　of　his　due　place　in　a　united　family。
　The　thunder　was　one　voice　now；　demanding　and　assured；　but　it　was　one　man　who　had　called　it　into　being。　Prior　Robert；　well　aware　that　a　single　adversary　confronted　him；　subdued　his　angry　tones；　and　opted　for　the　wisdom　of　the　dove；　and　the　subtlety　of　single　bat。　He　raised　his　long；　elegant　arms；　from　which　the　wide　sleeves　of　his　habit　fell　free；　and　smiled　on　the　assembly；　turning　the　smile　at　its　most　pelling　and　fatherly　upon　Rhisiart。
　〃e　Brother　Cadfael；　say　this　for　me　to　the　lord　Rhisiart；　that　it　is　all　too　easy　for　us；　who　have　the　same　devotion　at　heart；　to　disagree　about　the　means。　It　is　better　to　speak　quietly；　man　to　man；　and　avoid　the　deformation　of　anger。　Lord　Rhisiart；　I　beg　you　to　e　apart　with　me；　and　let　us　debate　this　matter　in　quietude；　and　then　you　shall　have　liberty　to　speak　out　what　you　will。　And　having　had　my　say　fairly　with　you；　I　will　say　no　word　further　to　challenge　wh