maid marian-第14章

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In　pursuance　of　the　arrangement　recorded　in　the　twelfth　chapter；　the　baron；　Robin；　and　Marian　disguised　themselves　as　pilgrims　returned　from　Palestine；　and　travelling　from　the　sea…coast　of　Hampshire　to　their　home　in　Northumberland。　　By　dint　of　staff　and　cockle…shell；　sandal　and　scrip；　they　proceeded　in　safety　the　greater　part　of　the　way　（for　Robin　had　many　sly　inns　and　resting…places　between　Barnsdale　and　Sherwood）；　and　were　already　on　the　borders　of　Yorkshire；　when；　one　evening；　they　passed　within　view　of　a　castle；　where　they　saw　a　lady　standing　on　a　turret；　and　surveying　the　whole　extent　of　the　valley　through　which　they　were　passing。　A　servant　came　running　from　the　castle；　and　delivered　to　them　a　message　from　his　lady；　who　was　sick　with　expectation　of　news　from　her　lord　in　the　Holy　Land；　and　entreated　them　to　come　to　her；　that　she　might　question　them　concerning　him。　　This　was　an　awkward　occurrence：　but　there　was　no　presence　for　refusal；　and　they　followed　the　servant　into　the　castle。　　The　baron；　who　had　been　in　Palestine　in　his　youth；　undertook　to　be　spokesman　on　the　occasion；　and　to　relate　his　own　adventures　to　the　lady　as　having　happened　to　the　lord　in　question。　This　preparation　enabled　him　to　be　so　minute　and　circumstantial　in　his　detail；　and　so　coherent　in　his　replies　to　her　questions；　that　the　lady　fell　implicitly　into　the　delusion；　and　was　delighted　to　find　that　her　lord　was　alive　and　in　health；　and　in　high　favour　with　the　king；　and　performing　prodigies　of　valour　in　the　name　of　his　lady；　whose　miniature　he　always　wore　in　his　bosom。　The　baron　guessed　at　this　circumstance　from　the　customs　of　that　age；　and　happened　to　be　in　the　right。

〃This　miniature；〃　added　the　baron；　〃I　have　had　the　felicity　to　see；　and　should　have　known　you　by　it　among　a　million。〃　The　baron　was　a　little　embarrassed　by　some　questions　of　the　lady　concerning　her　lord's　personal　appearance；　but　Robin　came　to　his　aid；　observing　a　picture　suspended　opposite　to　him　on　the　wall；　which　he　made　a　bold　conjecture　to　be　that　of　the　lord　in　question；　and　making　a　calculation　of　the　influences　of　time　and　war；　which　he　weighed　with　a　comparison　of　the　lady's　age；　he　gave　a　description　of　her　lord　sufficiently　like　the　picture　in　its　groundwork　to　be　a　true　resemblance；　and　sufficiently　differing　from　it　in　circumstances　to　be　more　an　original　than　a　copy。　The　lady　was　completely　deceived；　and　entreated　them　to　partake　her　hospitality　for　the　night；　but　this　they　deemed　it　prudent　to　decline；　and　with　many　humble　thanks　for　her　kindness；　and　representations　of　the　necessity　of　not　delaying　their　homeward　course；　they　proceeded　on　their　way。

As　they　passed　over　the　drawbridge；　they　met　Sir　Ralph　Montfaucon　and　his　squire；　who　were　wandering　in　quest　of　Marian；　and　were　entering　to　claim　that　hospitality　which　the　pilgrims　had　declined。　Their　countenances　struck　Sir　Ralph　with　a　kind　of　imperfect　recognition；　which　would　never　have　been　matured；　but　that　the　eyes　of　Marian；　as　she　passed　him；　encountered　his；　and　the　images　of　those　stars　of　beauty　continued　involuntarily　twinkling　in　his　sensorium　to　the　exclusion　of　all　other　ideas；　till　memory；　love；　and　hope　concurred　with　imagination　to　furnish　a　probable　reason　for　their　haunting　him　so　pertinaciously。　Those　eyes；　he　thought；　were　certainly　the　eyes　of　Matilda　Fitzwater；　and　if　the　eyes　were　hers；　it　was　extremely　probable；　if　not　logically　consecutive；　that　the　rest　of　the　body　they　belonged　to　was　hers　also。　Now；　if　it　were　really　Matilda　Fitzwater；　who　were　her　two　companions？　The　baron？　　Aye；　and　the　elder　pilgrim　was　something　like　him。　And　the　earl　of　Huntingdon？　　Very　probably。　　The　earl　and　the　baron　might　be　good　friends　again；　now　that　they　were　both　in　disgrace　together。　While　he　was　revolving　these　cogitations；　he　was　introduced　to　the　lady；　and　after　claiming　and　receiving　the　promise　of　hospitality；　he　inquired　what　she　knew　of　the　pilgrims　who　had　just　departed？　The　lady　told　him　they　were　newly　returned　from　Palestine；　having　been　long　in　the　Holy　Land。　　The　knight　expressed　some　scepticism　on　this　point。　The　lady　replied；　that　they　had　given　her　so　minute　a　detail　of　her　lord's　proceedings；　and　so　accurate　a　description　of　his　person；　that　she　could　not　be　deceived　in　them。　　This　staggered　the　knight's　confidence　in　his　own　penetration；　and　if　it　had　not　been　a　heresy　in　knighthood　to　suppose　for　a　moment　that　there　could　be　in　rerum　natura　such　another　pair　of　eyes　as　those　of　his　mistress；　he　would　have　acquiesced　implicitly　in　the　lady's　judgment。　But　while　the　lady　and　the　knight　were　conversing；　the　warder　blew　his　bugle…horn；　and　presently　entered　a　confidential　messenger　from　Palestine；　who　gave　her　to　understand　that　her　lord　was　well；　but　entered　into　a　detail　of　his　adventures　most　completely　at　variance　with　the　baron's　narrative；　to　which　not　the　correspondence　of　a　single　incident　gave　the　remotest　colouring　of　similarity。　It　now　became　manifest　that　the　pilgrims　were　not　true　men；　and　Sir　Ralph　Montfaucon　sate　down　to　supper　with　his　head　full　of　cogitations；　which　we　shall　leave　him　to　chew　and　digest　with　his　pheasant　and　canary。

Meanwhile　our　three　pilgrims　proceeded　on　their　way。　The　evening　set　in　black　and　lowering；　when　Robin　turned　aside　from　the　main　track；　to　seek　an　asylum　for　the　night；　along　a　narrow　way　that　led　between　rocky　and　woody　hills。　A　peasant　observed　the　pilgrims　as　they　entered　that　narrow　pass；　and　called　after　them：　　〃Whither　go　you；　my　masters？　there　are　rogues　in　that　direction。〃

〃Can　you　show　us　a　direction；〃　said　Robin；　〃in　which　there　are　none？　If　so　we　will　take　it　in　preference。〃　　The　peasant　grinned；　and　walked　away　whistling。

The　pass　widened　as　they　advanced；　and　the　woods　grew　thicker　and　darker　around　them。　　Their　path　wound　along　the　slope　of　a　woody　declivity；　which　rose　high　above　them　in　a　thick　rampart　of　foliage；　and　descended　almost　precipitously　to　the　bed　of　a　small　river；　which　they　heard　dashing　in　its　rocky　channel；　and　saw　its　white　foam　gleaming　at　intervals　in　the　last　faint　glimmerings　of　twilight。　In　a　short　time　all　was　dark；　and　the　rising　voice　of　the　wind　foretold　a　coming　storm。　　They　turned　a　point　of　the　valley；　and　saw　a　light　below　them　in　the　depth　of　the　hollow；　shining　through　a　cottage…casement　and　dancing　in　its　reflection　on　the　restless　stream。　Robin　blew　his　horn；　which　was　answered　from　below。　　The　cottage　door　opened：　　a　boy　came　forth　with　a　torch；　ascended　the　steep；　showed　tokens　of　great　delight　at　meeting　with　Robin；　and　lighted　them　down　a　flight　of　steps　rudely　cut　in　the　rock；　and　over　a　series　of　rugged　stepping…stones；　that　crossed　the　channel　of　the　river。　They　entered　the　cottage；　which　exhibited　neatness；　comfort；　and　plenty；　being　amply　enriched　with　pots；　pans；　and　pipkins；　and　adorned　with　flitches　of　bacon　and　sundry　similar　ornaments；　that　gave　goodly　promise　in　the　firelight　that　gleamed　upon　the　rafters。　A　woman；　who　seemed　just　old　enough　to　be　the　boy's　mother；　had　thrown　down　her　spinning　wheel　in　her　joy　at　the　sound　of　Robin's　horn；　and　was　bustling　with　singular　alacrity　to　set　forth　her　festal　ware　and　prepare　an　abundant　supper。　Her　features；　though　not　beautiful；　were　agreeable　and　expressive；　and　were　now　lighted　up　with　such　manifest　joy　at　the　sight　of　Robin；　that　Marian　could　not　help　feeling　a　momentary　touch　of　jealousy；　and　a　half…formed　suspicion　that　Robin　had　broken　his　forest　law；　and　had　occasionally　gone　out　of　bounds；　as　other　great　men　have　done　upon　occasion；　in　order　to　reconcile　the　breach　of　the　spirit；　with　the　preservation　of　the　letter；　of　their　own　legislation。　However；　this　suspicion；　if　it　could　be　said　to　exist　in　a　mind　so　generous　as　Marian's；　was　very　soon　dissipated　by　the　entrance　of　the　woman's　husband；　who　testified　as　much　joy　as　his　wife　had　done　at　the　sight　of　Robin；　and　in　a　short　time　the　whole　of　the　party　were　amicably　seated　round　a　smoking　supper　of　river…fish　and　wild　wood　fowl；　on　which　the　baron　fell　with　as　much　alacrity　as　if　he　had　been　a　true　pilgrim　from　Palestine。

The　husband　produced　some　recondite　flasks　of　wine；　which　were　laid　by　in　a　binn　consecrated　to　Robin；　whose　occasional　visits　to　them　in　his　wanderings　were　the　festal　days　of　these　warm…hearted　cottagers；　whose　manners　showed　that　they　had　not　been　born　to　this　low　estate。　Their　story　had　no　mystery；　and　Marian　easily　collected　it　from　the　tenour　of　their　conversation。　　The　young　man　had　been；　like　Robin；　the　victim　of　an　usurious　abbot；　and　had　been　outlawed　for　debt；　and　his　nut…brown　maid　had　accompanied　him　to　the　depths　of　Sherwood；　where　they　lived　an　unholy　and　illegitimate　life；　killing　the　king's　deer；　and　never　hearing　mass。　　In　this　state；　Robin；　then　earl　of　Huntingdon；　discovered　them　in　one　of　his　huntings；　and　gave　them　aid　and　protection。　When　Robin　himself　became　an　outlaw；　the　necessary　qualification　or　gift　of　continency　was　too　hard　a　law　for　our　lovers　to　subscribe　to；　and　as　they　were　thus　disqualified　for　foresters；　Robin　had　found　them　a　retreat　in　this　romantic　and　secluded　spot。　　He　had　done　similar　service　to　other　lovers　similarly　circumstanced；　and　had　disposed　them　in　various　wild　scenes　which　he　and　his　men　had　discovered　in　their　flittings　from　place　to　place；　supplying　them　with　all　necessaries　and　comforts　from　the　reluctant　disgorgings　of　fat　abbots　and　usurers。　The　benefit　was　in　some　measure　mutual；　for　these　cottages　served　him　as　resting…places　in　his　removals；　and　enabled　him　to　travel　untraced　and　unmolested；　and　in　the　delight　with　which　he　was　always　received　he　found　himself　even　more　welcome　than　he　would　have　been　at　an　inn；　and　this　is　saying　very　much　for　gratitude　and　affection　together。　The　smiles　which　surrounded　him　were　of　his　own　creation；　and　he　participated　in　the　happiness　he　had　bestowed。

The　casements　began　to　rattle　in　the　wind；　and　the　rain　to　beat　upon　the　windows。　　The　wind　swelled　to　a　hurricane；　and　the　rain　dashed　like　a　flood　against　the　glass。　　The　boy　retired　to　his　little　bed；　the　wife　trimmed　the　lamp；　the　husband　heaped　logs　upon　the　fire：　Robin　broached　another　flask；　and　Marian　filled　the　baron's　cup；　and　sweetened　Robin's　by　touching　its　edge　with　her　lips。

〃Well；〃　said　the　baron；　〃give　me　a　roof　over　my　head；　be　it　never　so　humble。　Your　greenwood　canopy　is　pretty　and　pleasant　in　sunshine；　but　if　I　were　doomed　to　live　under　it；　I　should　wish　it　were　water…tight。〃

〃But；〃　said　Robin；　〃we　have　tents　and　caves　for　foul　weather；　good　store　of　wine　and　venison；　and　fuel　in　abundance。〃

〃Ay；　but；〃　said　the　baron；　〃I　like　to　pull　off　my　boots　of　a　night；　which　you　foresters　seldom　do；　and　to　ensconce　myself　thereafter　in　a　comfortable　bed。　Your　beech…root　is　over…hard　for　a　couch；　and　your　mossy　stump　is　somewhat　rough　for　a　bolster。〃

〃Had　you　not　dry　leaves；〃　said　Robin；　〃with　a　bishop's　surplice　over　them？　What　would　you　have　softer？　　And　had　you　not　an　abbot's　travelling　cloak　for　a　coverlet？　　What　would　you　have　warmer？〃

〃Very　true；〃　said　the　baron；　〃but　that　was　an　indulgence　to　a　guest；　and　I　dreamed　all　night　of　the　sheriff　of　Nottingham。　　I　like　to　feel　myself　safe；〃　he　added；　stretching　out　his　legs　to　the　fire；　and　throwing　himself　back　in　his　chair　with　the　air　of　a　man　de