the little duke-第6章

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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　has　no　one　but　me。〃

〃Brave　and　true；　Sir　Frenchman；〃　said　the　old　Count；　laying　his　great　hand　on　Alberic's　head；　and　looking　better　pleased　than　Richard　thought　his　grim　features　could　have　appeared。　　Then　turning　to　Bertrand；　Alberic's　Seneschal；　he　said；　〃Bear　the　Count　de　Harcourt's　greetings　to　the　noble　Dame　de　Montemar；　and　say　to　her　that　her　son　is　of　a　free　bold　spirit；　and　if　she　would　have　him　bred　up　with　my　Lord　Duke；　as　his　comrade　and　brother　in　arms；　he　will　find　a　ready　welcome。〃

〃So；　Alberic；　you　will　come　back；　perhaps？〃　said　Richard。

〃That　must　be　as　my　mother　pleases；〃　answered　Alberic　bluntly；　and　with　all　due　civilities　he　and　his　Seneschal　departed。

Four　or　five　times　a　day　did　Richard　ask　Osmond　and　Fru　Astrida　if　they　thought　Alberic　would　return；　and　it　was　a　great　satisfaction　to　him　to　find　that　every　one　agreed　that　it　would　be　very　foolish　in　the　Dame　de　Montemar　to　refuse　so　good　an　offer；　only　Fru　Astrida　could　not　quite　believe　she　would　part　with　her　son。　　Still　no　Baron　de　Montemar　arrived；　and　the　little　Duke　was　beginning　to　think　less　about　his　hopes；　when　one　evening；　as　he　was　returning　from　a　ride　with　Sir　Eric　and　Osmond；　he　saw　four　horsemen　coming　towards　them；　and　a　little　boy　in　front。

〃It　is　Alberic　himself；　I　am　sure　of　it！〃　he　exclaimed；　and　so　it　proved；　and　while　the　Seneschal　delivered　his　Lady's　message　to　Sir　Eric；　Richard　rode　up　and　greeted　the　welcome　guest。

〃Oh；　I　am　very　glad　your　mother　has　sent　you！〃

〃She　said　she　was　not　fit　to　bring　up　a　young　warrior　of　the　marches；〃　said　Alberic。

〃Were　you　very　sorry　to　come？〃

〃I　dare　say　I　shall　not　mind　it　soon；　and　Bertrand　is　to　come　and　fetch　me　home　to　visit　her　every　three　months；　if　you　will　let　me　go；　my　Lord。〃

Richard　was　extremely　delighted；　and　thought　he　could　never　do　enough　to　make　Rouen　pleasant　to　Alberic；　who　after　the　first　day　or　two　cheered　up；　missed　his　mother　less；　managed　to　talk　something　between　French　and　Norman　to　Sir　Eric　and　Fru　Astrida；　and　became　a　very　animated　companion　and　friend。　　In　one　respect　Alberic　was　a　better　playfellow　for　the　Duke　than　Osmond　de　Centeville；　for　Osmond；　playing　as　a　grown　up　man；　not　for　his　own　amusement；　but　the　child's；　had　left　all　the　advantages　of　the　game　to　Richard；　who　was　growing　not　a　little　inclined　to　domineer。　　This　Alberic　did　not　like；　unless；　as　he　said；　〃it　was　to　be　always　Lord　and　vassal；　and　then　he　did　not　care　for　the　game；〃　and　he　played　with　so　little　animation　that　Richard　grew　vexed。

〃I　can't　help　it；〃　said　Alberic；　〃if　you　take　all　the　best　chances　to　yourself；　'tis　no　sport　for　me。　　I　will　do　your　bidding；　as　you　are　the　Duke；　but　I　cannot　like　it。〃

〃Never　mind　my　being　Duke；　but　play　as　we　used　to　do。〃

〃Then　let　us　play　as　I　did　with　Bertrand's　sons　at　Montemar。　　I　was　their　Baron；　as　you　are　my　Duke；　but　my　mother　said　there　would　be　no　sport　unless　we　forgot　all　that　at　play。〃

〃Then　so　we　will。　　Come；　begin　again；　Alberic；　and　you　shall　have　the　first　turn。〃

However；　Alberic　was　quite　as　courteous　and　respectful　to　the　Duke　when　they　were　not　at　play；　as　the　difference　of　their　rank　required；　indeed；　he　had　learnt　much　more　of　grace　and　courtliness　of　demeanour　from　his　mother；　a　Provencal　lady；　than　was　yet　to　be　found　among　the　Normans。　　The　Chaplain　of　Montemar　had　begun　to　teach　him　to　read　and　write；　and　he　liked　learning　much　better　than　Richard；　who　would　not　have　gone　on　with　Father　Lucas's　lessons　at　all；　if　Abbot　Martin　of　Jumieges　had　not　put　him　in　mind　that　it　had　been　his　father's　especial　desire。

What　Richard　most　disliked　was；　however；　the　being　obliged　to　sit　in　council。　　The　Count　of　Harcourt　did　in　truth　govern　the　dukedom；　but　nothing　could　be　done　without　the　Duke's　consent；　and　once　a　week　at　least；　there　was　held　in　the　great　hall　of　Rollo's　tower；　what　was　called　a　Parlement；　or　〃a　talkation；〃　where　Count　Bernard；　the　Archbishop；　the　Baron　de　Centeville；　the　Abbot　of　Jumieges；　and　such　other　Bishops；　Nobles；　or　Abbots；　as　might　chance　to　be　at　Rouen；　consulted　on　the　affairs　of　Normandy；　and　there　the　little　Duke　always　was　forced　to　be　present；　sitting　up　in　his　chair　of　state；　and　hearing　rather　than　listening　to；　questions　about　the　repairing　and　guarding　of　Castles；　the　asking　of　loans　from　the　vassals；　the　appeals　from　the　Barons　of　the　Exchequer；　who　were　then　Nobles　sent　through　the　duchy　to　administer　justice；　and　the　discussions　about　the　proceedings　of　his　neighbours；　King　Louis　of　France；　Count　Foulques　of　Anjou；　and　Count　Herluin　of　Montreuil；　and　how　far　the　friendship　of　Hugh　of　Paris；　and　Alan　of　Brittany　might　be　trusted。

Very　tired　of　all　this　did　Richard　grow；　especially　when　he　found　that　the　Normans　had　made　up　their　minds　not　to　attempt　a　war　against　the　wicked　Count　of　Flanders。　　He　sighed　most　wearily；　yawned　again　and　again；　and　moved　restlessly　about　in　his　chair；　but　whenever　Count　Bernard　saw　him　doing　so；　he　received　so　severe　a　look　and　sign　that　he　grew　perfectly　to　dread　the　eye　of　the　fierce　old　Dane。　Bernard　never　spoke　to　him　to　praise　him；　or　to　enter　into　any　of　his　pursuits；　he　only　treated　him　with　the　grave　distant　respect　due　to　him　as　a　Prince；　or　else　now　and　then　spoke　a　few　stern　words　to　him　of　reproof　for　this　restlessness；　or　for　some　other　childish　folly。

Used　as　Richard　was　to　be　petted　and　made　much　of　by　the　whole　house　of　Centeville；　he　resented　this　considerably　in　secret；　disliked　and　feared　the　old　Count；　and　more　than　once　told　Alberic　de　Montemar；　that　as　soon　as　he　was　fourteen；　when　he　would　be　declared　of　age；　he　should　send　Count　Bernard　to　take　care　of　his　own　Castle　of　Harcourt；　instead　of　letting　him　sit　gloomy　and　grim　in　the　Castle　hall　in　the　evening；　spoiling　all　their　sport。

Winter　had　set　in；　and　Osmond　used　daily　to　take　the　little　Duke　and　Alberic　to　the　nearest　sheet　of　ice；　for　the　Normans　still　prided　themselves　on　excelling　in　skating；　though　they　had　long　since　left　the　frost…bound　streams　and　lakes　of　Norway。

One　day；　as　they　were　returning　from　the　ice；　they　were　surprised；　even　before　they　entered　the　Castle　court；　by　hearing　the　trampling　of　hor