child christopher-第8章
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ng for the loveliness of the world without； converse of friends； hope of the sufficiency of desire； and the sweetness of love returned。 And so strong a wave of anguish swept over her； that she bowed her down upon the grass and wept bitterly。 Yet but a little while it lasted； she rose up presently and looked warily all round her； and up to the Castle； and saw none stirring； she drew up the skirts of her green gown into her girdle； till the hem but just hid her knees； then she stepped lightly through the half…open door with flushed cheeks and glittering eyes； while her heart rose within her； then she lifted her hand； unhitched the reins from the iron ring； and quietly led the horse close under the garth…wall； and stole gently up the slope which； as all roads from the Castle； went straightway toward the thicket； but this was the straightest。 So she went； till she came to the corner of the garth…wall； and a little further； and the Castle on that side was blind； save for the swale on the battlement； whereon in that deep peace was little going； and； moreover； it was not even yet six o'clock。
CHAPTER XIV。
GOLDILIND GOES FREE。
There then she stayed the horse； and； flushed and panting； got lightly into the saddle and bestrode it； and； leaning over on the beast's neck； smote his flanks with her heels； the horse was fresh； though his master had been weary； whereas the said messenger had gotten him from a forester some six miles away in the wood that morning； so the nag answered to her call for speed； and she went a great gallop into the wood； and was hidden in a twinkling from any eyes that might be looking out of the Castle。
Without checking the nag she sped along； half mad with joy at the freedom of this happy morn。 Nigh aimless she was； but had an inkling that it were well with her if she could hold northward ever； for the old man aforesaid had told her of Oakenrealm； and how it lay northward of them； so that way she drifted as the thicket would suffer her。 When she had gone as much of a gallop as she might for some half hour； she drew rein to breathe her nag； and hearkened； she turned in the saddle； but heard nought to affright her； so she went on again； but some what more soberly； and thuswise she rode for some two hours； and the day waxed hot； and she was come to a clear pool amidst of a little clearing； covered with fine greensward right down to the water's edge。
There she made stay； and got off her horse； and stood awhile by him as he cropped the sweet grass； and the birds sang at the edge of the thicket； and the rabbits crept and gambolled on the other side of the water； and from the pool's edge the moorhens cried。 She stood half leaning against the side of the horse till she became somewhat drowsy； yea； and even dreamed a little； and that little but ill； it seemed； as she gave a troubled cry and shrank together and turned pale。 Then she rubbed her eyes and smiled； and turned to the pool； where now a little ripple was running over the face of it； and a thought came upon her； and she set her hand to the clasp of her gown and undid it； and drew the gown off her shoulders； and so did off all her raiment； and stood naked a little on the warm sunny grass； and then bestirred her and went lightly into the pool； and bathed and sported there； and then came on to the grass again； and went to and fro to dry her in the air and sun。 Then she did on her raiment again； and laid her down under a thorn…bush by the pool…side； and there； would she； would she not； went to sleep soundly and dreamed not。 And when she awoke she deemed her sleep had been long； but it was not so； but scarce a score of minutes。 Anyhow； she sprang up now and went to her horse； and drew the girths tight （which she had loosed erewhile；） and so bestrode the good horse； and shook the reins； and rode away much comforted and enheartened。
CHAPTER XV。
OF GOLDILIND IN THE WILD…WOOD。
Goldilind rode on； hastening yet to put as many miles as she might betwixt her and Greenharbour。 Within a three hours from her bathing she fell a…hungering sore； and knew not what to do to eat； till she found a pouch made fast to the saddle…bow； and therein a little white loaf； that and no more； which she took and ate the half of with great joy； sitting down by a brook…side； whence she had her drink。
Then again she mounted； and rode on till dusk overtook her just as she came to a little river running from the north from pool to shallow； and shallow to pool。 And whereas she was now exceeding weary； and the good horse also much spent； and that the grass was very sweet and soft down to the water's edge； and that there was a thick thorn…bush to cover her； she made up her mind that this place should be her bed…chamber。 So she took saddle and bridle off the horse； as he must needs bite the grass； and then when she had eaten the other half of her bread； she laid her down on the green grass； with her head on the saddle； and when she had lain listening to the horse cropping the grass close anigh her for a minute or two； she fell fast asleep； and lay there long and had no dreams。
CHAPTER XVI。
WHAT GOLDILIND FOUND IN THE WOOD。
When she awoke it was broad day and bright sun； and she rose up to her feet and looked about； and saw the horse standing close by； and sharing the shade with her； whisking his tail about lazily。 Then she turned； and saw the stream rippling out from the pool over the clean gravel； and here and there a fish darting through the ripple； or making clean rings on the pool as he quietly took a fly； the sky was blue and clear； there was scarce a breath of air； and the morning was already hot； no worse than yesterday sang the birds in the bushes； but as she looked across the river； where； forsooth； the alders grew thick about the pool's edge； a cock blackbird； and then another； flew out from the close boughs； where they had been singing to their mates； with the sharp cry that they use when they are frighted。 Withal she saw the bush move； though； as aforesaid； the morning was without wind。 She had just stooped to do off her foot…gear （for she was minded to bathe again）； but now she stopped with one shoe in her hand； and looked on the bushes keenly with beating heart； and again she thought she saw the boughs shaken； and stood； not daring to move a while； but they moved no more now when she had looked steadily at them a space； and again a blackbird began singing loud just where they had been shaken。 So she gathered heart again； and presently turned her hand once more to stripping her raiment off her； for she would not be baulked of her bath； but when the stripping was done； she loitered not naked on the bank as she had done the day before； but walked swiftly into the shallow； and thence down into the pool； till nothing but her head and the whiteness of her shoulders showed over the dark water。 Even then she turned her head about twice to look into the over…side bushes； but when she saw nothing stir there she began to play in the water； but not for long； but came splashing through the shallow and hurried on her raiment。
When she was clad again she went up to the horse； and patted and caressed him； and did bridle and saddle on him； and was going to climb upon him； when； of a sudden； she thought she would lead him across； lest there should be a hole near the other bank and he might stumble into it unwarily； so she bared her feet once more and trussed up her gown skirts； and so took the ford； leading the beast； the water was nowhere up to mid…leg of her； and she stepped ashore on to short and fine grass； which spread like a meadow before her； with a big thorn or two scattered about it； and a little grassy hill beset with tall elms toward the top； coming down into the flat of the meadow and drawing round it nearly up to the river on the north side。
But now she stood staring in wonder and some deal of fear； for there were three milch kine feeding on the meadow； and； moreover； under a thorn； scarce a hundred yards from where she stood； was a tall man standing gazing on her。 So stricken was she that she might neither cry out nor turn aside； neither did she think to pull her gown out of her girdle to cover the nakedness of her legs。
When they had thus stood a little while the man began to move toward her very slowly； nor did she dare to flee any the more。 But when he was within half a dozen paces her face flushed red； and she did pull her gown out of its trusses and let it flow down。 But he spake to her in a pleasant voice； and said： 〃May I speak to thee； maiden？〃
Fear was yet in her soul； so that she might not speak for a little； and then she said： 〃O； I beseech thee； bring me not back to Greenharbour！〃 And she paled sorely as she spake the word。
But he said： 〃I wot not of Greenharbour； how to find the way thereto； though we have heard of it。 But comfort thyself； I pray thee； there is nought to fear in me。〃
The sound of his voice was full pleasant to her； and when she hearkened him； how kind and frank it was； then she knew how much of terror was blent with her joy in her newly…won freedom and the delight of the kind and happy words。 Yet still she spoke not； and was both shamefast and still not altogether unafraid。 Yet； sooth to say； though his attire was but simple； he was nought wild or fierce to look on。 From time to time she looked on him； and then dropped her eyes again。 In those glances she saw that he was grey… eyed； and smooth…cheeked； and round…chinned； and his hair curly and golden； and she must needs think that she had never seen any face half so fair。 He was clad but in a green coat that came not down to his knees； and brogues were tied to his feet； and no more raiment he had； and for hat he had made him a garland of white may blossom； and well it sat there： and again she looked on him； and thought him no worse than the running angel that goes before the throne of God in the picture of the choir of Meadhamstead； and she looked on him and marvelled。
Now she hung her head before him and wished he would speak； and even so did he； and said： 〃Maiden； when I first saw thee from amidst of the bush by the river yonder； I deemed thou wert a wood…wight； or some one of the she…Gods of the Gentiles come back hither。 For this is a lonely place； and some might deem that the Devil hath might here more than in other places； and when I saw thee； that thou wouldst do off thy raiment to bathe thee； though soothly I longed to lie hidden there； I feared thee； lest thou shouldst be angry with me if I were to see thee unclad； so I came away； yet I went not far； for I was above all things yearning to see thee； and sooth it is； that hadst thou not crossed the water； I should presently have crossed it myself to seek thee； wert thou Goddess； or wood…wife； or whatever might have come of it。 But now thou art come to us； and I have heard thy voice beseeching me not to bring thee to Greenharbour； I see that thou art a woman of the kindred of Adam。 And yet so it is； that even now I fear thee somewhat。 Yet I will pray thee not to be wroth if I ask thee whether I may do aught for thy need。〃
Now she began somewhat to smile； and she looked him full in the face； and said： 〃Forsooth； my need is simple； for I am hungry。〃
He smote himself on the b
