saint george for england-第8章

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ment　where　Dame　Vernon　was　reclining　on　a　couch。　Her　little　daughter　was　sitting　upon　a　low　stool　beside　her；　and　upon　seeing　Walter　she　leapt　to　her　feet；　clapping　her　hands。

〃Oh！　mother；　this　is　the　boy　that　rescued　us　out　of　the　river。〃

The　lady　looked　with　some　surprise　at　the　lad。　She　had　but　a　faint　remembrance　of　the　events　which　occurred　between　the　time　when　she　received　a　blow　from　the　sword　of　one　of　her　assailants　and　that　when　she　found　herself　on　a　couch　in　the　abode　of　her　kinsman；　and　when　she　had　been　told　that　she　had　been　saved　by　a　city　apprentice　she　had　pictured　to　herself　a　lad　of　a　very　different　kind　to　him　who　now　stood　before　her。

Walter　was　now　nearly　sixteen　years　old。　His　frame　was　very　powerful　and　firmly　knit。　His　dark　brown　hair　was　cut　short；　but；　being　somewhat　longer　than　was　ordinary　with　the　apprentices；　fell　with　a　slight　wave　back　on　his　forehead。　　His　bearing　was　respectful；　and　at　the　same　time　independent。　There　was　none　of　that　confusion　which　might　be　expected　on　the　part　of　a　lad　from　the　city　in　the　presence　of　a　lady　of　rank。　His　dark；　heavy　eyebrows；　resolute　mouth；　and　square　chin　gave　an　expression　of　sternness　to　his　face；　which　was　belied　by　the　merry　expression　of　his　eyes　and　the　bright　smile　when　he　was　spoken　to。

〃I　have　to　thank　you；　young　sir；〃　she　said；　holding　out　her　hand；　which　Walter；　after　the　custom　of　the　time；　raised　to　his　lips；　bending　upon　one　knee　as　he　did　so；　〃for　the　lives　of　myself　and　my　daughter；　which　would　surely　have　been　lost　had　you　not　jumped　over　to　save　us。

〃I　am　glad　that　I　arrived　in　time　to　be　of　aid；〃　Walter　said　frankly；　〃but　indeed　I　am　rather　to　be　blamed　than　praised；　for　had　I；　when　I　heard　the　plotting　against　the　safety　of　the　boat；　told　my　master　of　it；　as　I　should　have　done；　instead　of　taking　the　adventure　upon　mine　own　shoulders；　doubtless　a　boat　would　have　been　sent　up　in　time　to　prevent　the　attack　from　taking　place。　　Therefore；　instead　of　being　praised　for　having　arrived　a　little　too　late；　I　should　be　rated　for　not　having　come　there　in　time。〃

Dame　Vernon　smiled。

〃Although　you　may　continue　to　insist　that　you　are　to　blame；　this　does　not　alter　the　fact　that　you　have　saved　our　lives。　Is　there　any　way　in　which　I　can　be　useful　to　you？　Are　you　discontent　with　your　state？　　For；　in　truth；　you　look　as　if　Nature　had　intended　you　for　a　gallant　soldier　rather　than　a　city　craftsman。　　Earl　Talbot；　who　is　my　uncle；　would；　I　am　sure；　receive　you　into　his　following　should　you　so　choose　it；　and　I　would　gladly　pay　for　the　cancelling　of　your　indentures。〃

〃I　thank　you；　indeed；　lady；　for　your　kind　offices；〃　Walter　said　earnestly；　〃for　the　present　I　am　well　content　to　remain　at　my　craft；　which　is　that　of　an　armourer；　until；　at　any　rate；　I　have　gained　such　manly　strength　and　vigour　as　would　fit　me　for　a　man…at…arms；　and　my　good　master；　Geoffrey　Ward；　will；　without　payment　received；　let　me　go　when　I　ask　that　grace　of　him。〃

〃Edith；　go　and　look　from　the　window　at　the　boats　passing　along　the　river；　and　now；〃　she　went　on；　as　the　girl　had　obeyed　her　orders；　〃I　would　fain　ask　you　more　about　the　interview　you　overhead　in　the　marshes。　Sir　William　de　Hertford　told　me　of　the　evidence　that　you　had　given　before　the　justice。　It　is　passing　strange　that　he　who　incited　the　other　to　the　deed　should　have　been　by　him　termed　'Sir　Knight'。　Maybe　it　was　merely　a　nickname　among　his　fellows。〃

〃Before　I　speak；　lady；〃　Walter　said　quietly；　〃I　would　fain　know　whether　you　wish　to　be　assured　of　the　truth。　　Sometimes；　they　say；　it　is　wiser　to　remain　in　ignorance；　at　other　times　forewarned　is　forearmed。　Frankly；　I　did　not　tell　all　I　know　before　the　court；　deeming　that　peradventure　you　might　wish　to　see　me；　and　that　I　could　then　tell　the　whole　to　your　private　ear；　should　you　wish　to　know　it；　and　you　could　then　bid　me　either　keep　silence　or　proclaim　all　I　knew　when　the　trial　of　these　evil…doers　comes　on。〃

〃You　seem　to　me　to　be　wise　beyond　your　years；　young　sir；〃　the　lady　said。

〃The　wisdom　is　not　mine；　lady；　but　my　master's。　I　took　counsel　with　him；　and　acted　as　he　advised　me。

〃I　would　fain　know　all；〃　the　lady　said。　〃I　have　already　strange　suspicions　of　one　from　whom　assuredly　I　looked　not　for　such　evil　designs。　It　will　grieve　me　to　be　convinced　that　the　suspicions　are　well　founded；　but　it　will　be　better　to　know　the　truth　than　to　remain　in　a　state　of　doubt。〃

〃The　person　then　was　a　knight；　for　I　had　seen　him　before　when　he　came　in　knightly　harness　into　my　master's　shop　to　have　two　rivets　put　into　his　hauberk。　　I　liked　not　his　face　then；　and　should　have　remembered　it　anywhere。　　I　knew　him　at　once　when　I　saw　him。　He　was　a　dark　faced　knight；　handsome；　and　yet　with　features　which　reminded　me　of　a　hawk。〃

Dame　Vernon　gave　a　little　exclamation；　which　assured　the　lad　that　she　recognized　the　description。

〃You　may　partly　know；　lady；　whether　it　is　he　whom　you　suppose；　for　he　said　that　he　would　detain　your　boat　so　that　it　should　not　come　along　until　dark；　and；　moreover；　he　told　them　that　they　would　know　the　boat　since　you　would　be　wrapt　in　a　white　mantle。〃

The　lady　sat　for　some　time　with　her　face　hidden　in　her　hands。

〃It　is　as　I　feared；〃　she　said　at　last；　〃and　it　grieves　me　to　the　heart　to　think　that　one　who；　although　not　so　nearly　related　in　blood；　I　regarded　as　a　brother；　should　have　betrayed　me　to　death。　My　mind　is　troubled　indeed；　and　I　know　not　what　course　I　shall　take；　whether　to　reveal　this　dreadful　secret　or　to　conceal　it。〃

〃I　may　say；　madam；〃　Walter　said　earnestly；　〃that　should　you　wish　the　matter　to　remain　a　secret；　you　may　rely　upon　it　that　I　will　tell　no　more　at　the　trial　than　I　revealed　yesterday；　but　I　would　remind　you　that　there　is　a　danger　that　the　leader　of　yon　ruffians；　who　is　probably　alone　acquainted　with　the　name　of　his　employer；　may；　under　the　influence　of　the　torture；　reveal　it。〃

〃That　fear　is　for　the　present　past；　since　a　messenger　arrived　from　Kingston　but　a　few　minutes　since；　saying　that　yester…even；　under　the　threat　of　torture；　the　prisoners　had　pointed　out　the　one　among　their　number　who　was　their　chief。　　This　morning；　however；　it　was　found　that　the　warder　who　had　charge　of　them　had　been　bribed；　he　was　missing　from　his　post；　and　the　door　of　the　cell　wherein　the　principal　villain　had　been　immured；　apart　from　the　others；　was　opened；　and　he　had　escaped。〃

〃Then；〃　Walter　said；　〃it　is　now　open　to　you　to　speak　or　be　silent　as　you　will。　　You　will　pardon　my　forwardness　if　I　say　that　my　master；　in　talking　the　matter　over　with　me；　suggested　that　this　evil　knight　might　be　scared　from　attempting　any　future　enterprise　against　you　were　he　informed　that　it　was　known　to　several　persons　that　he　was　the　author　of　this　outrage；　and　that　if　any　further　attempts　were　at　any　time　made　against　you；　the　proofs　of　his　crime　would　be　laid　before　the　king。〃

〃Thanks；　good　lad；〃　the　lady　said；　〃for　your　suggestion。　　Should　I　decide　to　keep　the　matter　secret；　I　will　myself　send　him　a　message　to　that　effect；　in　such　guise　that　he　would　not　know　whence　it　comes。　And　now；　I　would　fain　reward　you　for　what　you　have　done　for　us；　and；〃　she　went　on；　seeing　a　flush　suddenly　mount　upon　the　lad's　face；　as　he　made　a　half　step　backwards；　〃before　I　saw　you；　had　thought　of　offering　you　a　purse　of　gold；　which；　although　it　would　but　poorly　reward　your　services；　would　yet　have　proved　useful　to　you　when　the　time　came　for　you　to　start　as　a　craftsman　on　your　own　account；　but　now　that　I　have　seen　you；　I　feel　that　although　there　are　few　who　think　themselves　demeaned　by　accepting　gifts　of　money　in　reward　for　services；　you　would　rather　my　gratitude　took　some　other　form。　It　can　only　do　that　of　offering　you　such　good　services　that　I　can　render　with　Earl　Talbot；　should　you　ever　choose　the　profession　of　arms；　and　in　the　meantime；　as　a　memento　of　the　lives　you　have　saved；　you　will；　I　am　sure；　not　refuse　this　chain；〃　and　she　took　a　very　handsome　one　of　gold　from　her　neck；　〃the　more　so　since　it　was　the　gift　of　her　majesty；　our　gracious　queen　to　myself。　　She　will；　I　am　sure；　acquit　me　of　parting　with　her　gift　when　I　tell　her　that　I　transferred　it　to　one　who　had　saved　the　lives　of　myself　and　my　daughter；　and　who　was　too　proud　to　accept　other　acknowledgment。〃

Colouring　deeply；　and　with　tears　in　his　eyes　at　the　kindness　and　thoughtful　consideration　of　the　lady；　Walter　knelt　on　one　knee　before　her；　and　she　placed　round　his　neck　the　long　gold　chain　which　she　had　been　wearing。

〃It　is　a　knight's　chain；〃　the　lady　said；　smiling；　〃and　was　part　of　the　spoil　gained　by　King　Edward　from　the　French。　　Maybe；〃　she　added　kindly；　〃it　will　be　worn　by　a　knight　again。　　Stranger　things　have　happened；　you　know。〃

Walter　flushed　again　with　pleasure。

〃Maybe；　lady；〃　he　said　modestly；　〃even　apprentices　have　their　dreams；　and　men…　at…arms　may　always　hope；　by　deeds　of　valour；　to　attain　a　knight's　spurs　even　though　they　may　not　be　of　noble　blood　or　have　served　as　page　and　squire　to　a　baron；　but　whether　as　a　'prentice　or　soldier；　I　hope　I　shall　never　do　discredit　to　your　gift。〃

〃Edith；　come　here；〃　Dame　Vernon　said；　〃I　have　done　talking　now。　And　what　are　you　going　to　give　this　brave　knight　of　ours　who　saved　us　from　drowning。〃

The　girl　looked　thoughtfully　at　Walter。　〃I　don't　think　you　would　care　for　presents；〃　she　said；　〃and　you　look　as　if　a　sword　or　a　horse　would　suit　you　better　than　a　girl's　gift。　And　yet　I　should　like　to　give　you　something；　such　as　ladies　give　their　knights　who　have　done　brave　deeds　for　them。　It　must　be　something　quite　my　own；　and　you　must　take　it　as　a　keepsake。　What　shall　it　be；　mamma？〃

〃Give　him　the　bracelet　which　your　cousin　gave　you　last　week；〃　her　mother　said；　〃I　would　rather　that　you　did　not　keep　it；　and　I　know　you　are　not　very　fond　of　him。〃

〃I　can't　bear　him；〃　the　girl　said　earnestly；　〃and　I　wish　he　would　not　kiss　me；　he　always　looks　as　if　he　were　going　to　bite；　and　I　will　gladly　give　his　bracelet　to　this　brave　boy。〃

〃Very　well；　Edith；　fetch　the　bracelet　from　that　coffer　in　the　corner。〃

The　girl　went　to　the　coffer　and　brought　out　the　little　bracelet；　then　she　approached　Walter。

〃You　must　go　down　on　your　knee；〃　she　said；　〃true　knights　always　do　that　to　receive　their　lady's　gifts。　Now　hold　out　your　hand。　There；〃　she　went　on　in　a　pretty　imperious　way；　〃take　this　gage　as　a　reward　of　your　valour；　and　act　ever　as　a　true　knight　in　the　service　of　your　lady。〃

Bending　down　she　dropt　a　kiss　upon　Walter's　glowing　cheek；　and　then；　half　frightened　at　her　own　temerity；　ran　back　to　her　mother's　side。

〃And　now；〃　Dame　Vernon　went　on；　〃will　you　thank　your　five　comrades　for　their　service　in　the　matter；　and　give　them　each　two　gold　pieces　to　spend　as　they　will。〃

〃He　is　a　noble　lad；〃　Dame　Vernon　had　said　to　herself　when　Walter　had　taken　his　leave。　〃Would　he　had　been　the　son　of　one　of　the　nobles　of　the　court！　It　might　have　been　then；　if　he　distinguished　himself　in　war；　as　he　would　surely　do；　that　the　king　might　have　assigned　Edith　to　him。　As　her　lord　and　guardian　he　is　certain　to　give　her　hand　as　a　reward　for　valour　in　the　field；　and　it　may　well　be　to　a　man　with　whom　she　would　be　less　happy　than　with　this　'prentice　lad；　but　there；　I　need　not　be　troubling　myself　about　a　matter　which　is　five　or　six　years　distant　yet。　Still　the　thought　that　Edith　is　a　ward　of　the　crown；　and　that　her