child christopher-第7章

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；　as　if　all　the　fair　show　of　the　greenery；　and　the　boles　of　the　ancient　oaks；　and　the　squirrels　running　from　bough　to　bough；　and　the　rabbits　scuttling　from　under　the　bracken；　and　the　hind　leaping　in　the　wood…lawn；　and　the　sun　falling　through　the　rustling　leaves；　and　the　wind　on　his　face；　and　the　scent　of　the　forest；　yea；　and　his　fair　companions　and　their　loveliness　&　valiancy　and　kindness；　and　the　words　and　songs　that　came　from　their　dear　mouths；　all　these　seemed　to　him；　as　it　were；　one　great　show　done　for　the　behoof　and　pleasure　of　him；　the　man　come　from　the　peril　of　death　and　the　sick…bed。

They　lay　that　night　in　all　glee　under　the　green　boughs；　and　arose　on　the　morrow；　and　went　all　day；　and　again　slept　in　the　greenwood；　and　the　next　morning　came　down　into　a　fair　valley；　which　was　indeed　Littledale；　through　which　ran　a　pleasant　little　river；　and　on　a　grassy　knoll；　but　a　short　way　from　its　bank；　was　a　long　framed　hall；　somewhat　narrow；　and　nought　high；　whitherward　they　turned　them　straightway；　and　were　presently　before　the　door；　then　Gilbert　drew　a　key　from　out　of　his　scrip　and　unlocked　the　door；　and　they　entered；　and　found　within　a　fair　little　hall；　with　shut…beds　out　from　it　on　the　further　side；　and　kitchen；　and　store…bowers　at　the　end；　all　things　duly　appointed　with　plenishing；　and　meal　and　wine；　for　it　was　but　some　three　months　since　one　of　Jack　of　the　Tofts'　allies；　Sir　Launcelot　a'Green　and　his　wife　and　two　bairns；　had　left　it　till　their　affair　was　made　straight；　whereas　he　had　dwelt　there　a　whole　year；　for　he　had　been　made　an　outlaw　of　Meadham；　and　was　a　dear　friend　of　the　said　Jack。

〃Now；〃　said　David　smiling；　〃here　is　now　thy　high　house　and　thy　castle；　little　King　Christopher；　how　doth　it　like　thee？〃

〃Right　well；〃　said　Christopher；　〃and；　to　say　sooth；　I　would　almost　that　it　were　night；　or　my　bones　do　else；　that　I　might　lie　naked　in　a　bed。〃

〃Nay；　lad；〃　said　Gilbert；　〃make　it　night　now；　and　we　will　do　all　that　needs　must　be　done；　while　thou　liest　lazy；　as　all　kings　use　to　do。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Christopher；　〃I　will　be　more　a　king　than　so；　for　I　will　do　neither　this　nor　that；　I　will　not　work　and　I　will　not　go　to　bed；　but　will　look　on；　till　it　is　time　for　me　to　take　to　the　crooked　stick　and　the　grey…goose　wing　and　seek　venison。〃

〃That　is　better　than　well；〃　said　David；　〃for　I　can　see　by　thine　eyes；　that　are　dancing　with　pleasure；　that　in　three　or　four　days　thou　wilt　be　about　the　thickets　with　us。〃

〃Meantime；〃　said　Joanna；　〃thou　shalt　pay　for　thy　meat　and　drink　by　telling　us　tales　when　we　come　home　weary。〃

〃Yea；〃　said　Christopher　laughing；　〃that　ye　may　go　to　sleep　before　your　time。〃

So　they　talked；　and　were　joyous　and　blithe　together；　and　between　them　they　made　the　house　trim；　and　decked　it　with　boughs　and　blossoms；　and　though　Christopher　told　them　no　tale　that　night；　Joanna　and　David　sang　both；　and　in　a　night　or　two　it　was　Christopher　that　was　the　minstrel。　　So　when　the　morrow　came　there　began　their　life　of　the　woodland；　but；　save　for　the　changing　of　the　year　and　the　chances　of　the　hunt；　the　time　passed　on　from　day　to　day　with　little　change；　and　it　was　but　seldom　that　any　man　came　their　way。　When　Yule　was；　they　locked　the　house　door　behind　them　and　went　their　ways　home　to　the　Tofts；　and　now　of　all　of　these　wayfarers　was　Christopher　by　far　the　hardest　and　strongest；　for　his　side　had　utterly　forgotten　Simon's　knife。　　At　the　Tofts　they　were　welcomed　with　all　triumph；　and　they　were　about　there　in　the　best　of　cheer；　till　it　was　wearing　toward　Candlemas；　and　then　they　took　occasion　of　a　bright　and　sunny　day　to　go　back　to　Littledale　once　more；　and　there　they　abode　till　spring　was　come　and　was　wearing　into　summer；　and　messages　had　come　and　gone　betwixt　them　and　the　Tofts；　and　it　was　agreed　that　with　the　first　of　autumn　they　should　go　back　to　the　Tofts　and　see　what　should　betide。

But　now　leave　we　Christopher　and　these　good　fellows　of　the　Tofts　and　turn　to　Goldilind；　who　is　yet　dwelling　amid　no　very　happy　days　in　the　Castle　of　Greenharbour；　on　the　northernmost　marches　of　Meadham。



CHAPTER　XII。

OF　GOLDILIND　IN　THE　MAY　MORNING　AT　GREENHARBOUR。


May　was　on　the　land　now；　and　was　come　into　its　second　week；　and　Goldilind　awoke　on　a　morn　in　the　Castle　of　Greenharbour；　but　little　did　her　eyes　behold　of　the　May；　even　when　they　were　fully　open；　for　she　was　lying；　not　in　her　own　chamber；　which　was　proper；　and　even　somewhat　stately；　and　from　whence　she　could　look　on　the　sky　and　greenwood；　but　in　a　chamber　low　down　amidst　the　footings　of　the　wall；　little　lighted；　unadorned；　with　nought　in　it　for　sport　or　pleasure；　nought；　forsooth；　save　the　pallet　bed　on　which　she　lay；　a　joint　stool　and　water　ewer。　　To　be　short；　though　it　were　called　the　Least　Guard…chamber；　it　was　a　prison；　and　she　was　there　dreeing　her　penance；　as　Dame　Elinor　would　call　the　cruelty　of　her　malice；　which　the　chaplain；　Dame　Elinor's　led　captain；　had　ordained　her　for　some　sin　which　the　twain　had　forged　between　them。

She　lay　there　naked　in　her　smock；　with　no　raiment　anigh　her；　and　this　was　the　third　morning　whereon　she　had　awakened　to　the　dusky　bare　walls；　and　a　long　while　had　their　emptiness　made　of　the　hours：　　but　she　lay　quiet　and　musing；　not　altogether　without　cheer　now；　for　indeed　she　was　not　wont　to　any　longer　penance　than　this　she　had　but　now　tholed；　so　she　looked　for　release　presently：　　and；　moreover；　there　had　grown　in　her　mind　during　those　three　days　a　certain　purpose；　to　wit；　that　she　would　get　hold　of　the　governor　of　the　castle　privily；　and　two　or　three　others　of　the　squires　who　most　regarded　her；　and　bewail　her　case　to　them；　so　that　she　might　perchance　get　some　relief。　　Forsooth；　as　she　called　to　mind　this　resolve；　her　heart　beat　and　her　cheek　flushed；　for　well　she　knew　that　there　was　peril　in　it；　and　she　forecast　what　might　be　the　worst　that　would　come　thereof；　while；　on　the　other　hand；　the　best　that　might　be　seemed　to　her　like　a　glimpse　of　Paradise。

As　she　lay　there　and　turned　the　matter　over　in　her　mind　for　this　many　an　hundred　time；　there　came　a　key　into　the　lock；　and　the　door　opened；　and　thereby　entered　a　tall　woman；　dark…haired；　white…skinned；　somewhat　young；　and　not　ill…favoured：　　Goldilind　still　lay　there；　till　the　new…comer　said　to　her　in　a　hard　voice；　wherein　was　both　threatening　and　mockery：　　〃Rise　up；　our　Lady！　the　Dame　Elinor　saith　that　it　is　enough；　and　that　thou　art　to　go　forth。　　Nay；　hold　a　while；　for　I　say　unto　thee　that　it　is　yet　early　in　the　day；　and　that　thy　chamber　is　not　yet　dight　for　thee；　so　thou　must　needs　bestow　thyself　elsewhere　till　it　be　done。〃

Goldilind　rose　up；　and　said　smiling：　　〃Yea；　Aloyse；　but　thou　hast　not　brought　my　raiment：　　and　thou　seest！〃

The　maid　stood　looking　at　her　a　moment　somewhat　evilly；　and　then　said：　　〃Well；　since　it　is　but　scant　six　o'clock；　I　may　do　that；　but　I　bid　thee　ask　me　not　overmuch；　for　meseemeth　Dame　Elinor　is　not　overwell　pleased　with　thee　to…day；　nor　our　chaplain　either。〃

Therewith　she　turned　and　went　out；　locking　the　door　behind　her；　and　came　back　presently　bearing　on　her　arm　a　green　gown　and　other　raiment：　　she　laid　them　on　the　stool　before　the　Lady；　and　said：　　〃Hasten；　my　Lady；　and　let　me　go　to　my　place：　　sooth　to　say；　it　may　well　be　double　trouble　to　thee　to　don　thy　clothes；　for　thou　mayst　have　to　doff　them　again　before　long。〃

Goldilind　answered　nought；　but　reddened　and　paled　again　as　she　clad　her　under　the　waiting…maid's　eyes。　　Then　they　went　out　together；　and　up　a　short　stone　stair；　till　they　were　level　with　the　greensward　without。　　Then　the　maid　turned　to　Goldilind　and　said：　〃And　now　thou　art　clad　and　out；　my　Lady；　I　wot　not　where　thou　art　to　go　to；　since　to　thy　chamber　thou　must　not　go。　　Nay；　hold　and　hearken！　here　we　be　at　the　door　which　opens　on　to　the　Foresters'　Garth　under　the　Foresters'　Tower；　thither　shalt　thou　abide　till　I　come　to　fetch　thee。　How　now；　my　Lady！　what　else　wouldst　thou？〃

Goldilind　looked　on　her　with　a　smile；　yet　with　eagereyes；　and　said：　　〃O　good　Aloyse；　wouldst　thou　but　give　me　a　piece　of　bread？　for　I　hunger；　thou　wottest　my　queenly　board　hath　not　been　overloaded　these　last　days。〃

〃Ha！〃　said　Aloyse；　〃if　thou　ask　me　overmuch　I　fear　thou　mayst　pay　for　it；　my　Lady；　but　this　last　asking　thou　shalt　have；　and　then　none　other　till　all　thy　penance　thou　hast　dreed。　Abide！〃

Therewith　she　went　up　the　stairs；　and　Goldilind；　who　now　was　but　weak　with　her　prison　and　the　sudden　light；　and　the　hope　and　fear　of　her　purpose　of　bewailing　her　story；　sat　her　down　on　the　stair　there；　almost；　as　it　were；　'twixt　home　and　hell；　till　her　heart　came　back　to　her　and　the　tears　began　to　flow　from　her　eyes。　　Forthright　came　back　Aloyse；　bearing　a　white　loaf　and　a　little　pitcher　of　milk　on　a　silver　serving…dish；　she　laid　them　down；　unlocked　the　door　into　the　garden；　and　thrust　Goldilind　through　by　the　shoulders；　then　she　turned　and　took　up　her　serving…dish　with　the　bread　and　milk；　and　handed　it　to　Goldilind　through　the　door；　and　said：　〃Now　is　my　Lady　served。　　It　were　indeed　well　that　my　Lady　should　strengthen　herself　this　hour　for　the　hour　next　to　come。〃

Therewith　she　turned　about；　and　shut　and　locked　the　door；　and　the　King's　daughter　fell　to　eagerly　on　her　bread；　and　thought　of　little　till　she　had　eaten　and　drunk；　save　that　she　felt　the　sweet　scent　of　the　gilliflowers　and　eglantine　as　it　were　a　part　of　her　meal。

Then　she　went　slowly　down　the　garden；　treading　the　greensward　beside　the　flowers；　and　she　looked　on　the　hold；　and　the　low　sun　gilded　the　walls　thereof　and　glittered　in　a　window　here　and　there；　and　though　there　was　on　her　a　foreboding　of　the　hours　of　that　day；　she　did　what　she　might　to　make　the　best　of　the　fragrant　May　morning　and　the　song　of　birds　and　rustle　of　leaves；　though；　indeed；　at　whiles　the　tears　would　gush　out　of　her　eyes　when　she　thought　how　young　she　was　and　how　feeble；　and　the　pity　of　herself　became　sweet　unto　her。



CHAPTER　XIII。

OF　GOLDILIND　IN　THE　GARTH。


Now；　as　she　went　in　that　garden　with　her　face　turned　toward　the　postern　which　led　into　the　open　space　of　the　greenwood；　which　was　but　two　bow…shots　from　the　thicket；　she　heard　the　clatter　of　horse…hoofs　on　the　loose　stones　of　the　path；　and　how　they　stopped　at　the　said　postern；　and　presently　there　was　a　key　in　the　lock；　the　door　opened；　and　a　man　came　in　walking　stiffly；　like　a　rider　who　has　ridden　far　and　fast。　He　was　clad　in　jack　and　sallet；　and　had　a　sword　by　his　side；　and　on　his　sleeve　was　done　in　green　and　gold　a　mountain　aflame；　so　that　Goldilind　knew　him　at　once　for　a　man　of　Earl　Geoffrey's；　and；　indeed；　she　had　seen　the　man　before；　coming　and　going　on　errands　that　she　knew　nought　of；　and　on　which　nothing　followed　that　was　of　import　to　her。　　Therefore；　as　she　watched　him　cross　the　garden　and　go　straight　up　to　the　door　of　the　Foresters'　Tower；　and　take　out　another　key　and　enter；　she　heeded　him　but　little；　nor　did　his　coming　increase　her　trouble　a　whit。

She　walked　on　toward　the　postern；　and　now　she　saw　that　the　errand…bearer　had　left　it　open　behind　him；　and　when　she　came　close　up　to　it；　she　saw　his　horse　tied　to　a　ring　in　the　wall；　a　strong　and　good　bay　nag。　　The　sight　of　him；　and　the　glimpse　of　the　free　and　open　land；　stirred　in　her　the　misery　of　her　days　and　the　yearning　for　the　loveliness　of　the　world　without；　converse　of　friends；　hope　of　the　sufficiency　of　desire；