men of iron-第16章

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rvous　laugh。　Myles　heard　it；　and　felt　his　face　grow　hotter　and　redder　than　ever。

〃Nay；〃　said　Lady　Anne；　〃I　do　believe　Master　Giles〃

〃My　name　be'st　Myles；〃　corrected　Myles。

〃Very　well；　then；　Master　Myles；　I　say　I　do　believe　that　thou　meanest　no　harm　in　coming　hither；　ne'theless　it　was　ill　of　thee　so　to　do。　An　my　father　should　find　thee　here；　he　would　have　thee　shrewdly　punished　for　such　trespassing。　Dost　thou　not　know　that　no　one　is　permitted　to　enter　this　placeno；　not　even　my　uncle　George？　One　fellow　who　came　hither　to　steal　apples　once　had　his　ears　shaven　close　to　his　head；　and　not　more　than　a　year　ago　one　of　the　cook's　men　who　climbed　the　wall　early　one　morning　was　shot　by　the　watchman。〃

〃Aye；〃　said　Myles；　〃I　knew　of　him　who　was　shot；　and　it　did　go　somewhat　against　my　stomach　to　venture；　knowing　what　had　happed　to　him。　Ne'theless；　an　I　gat　not　the　ball；　how　were　we　to　play　more　to…day　at　the　trap？〃

〃Marry；　thou　art　a　bold　fellow；　I　do　believe　me；〃　said　the　young　lady；　〃and　sin　thou　hast　come　in　the　face　of　such　peril　to　get　thy　ball；　thou　shalt　not　go　away　empty。　Whither　didst　thou　strike　it？〃

〃Over　yonder　by　the　cherry…tree；〃　said　Myles；　jerking　his　head　in　that　direction。　〃An　I　may　go　get　it；　I　will　trouble　ye　no　more。〃　As　he　spoke　he　made　a　motion　to　leave　them。

〃Stay！〃　said　the　Lady　Anne；　hastily；　〃remain　where　thou　art。　An　thou　cross　the　open；　some　one　may　haply　see　thee　from　the　house；　and　will　give　the　alarm；　and　thou　wilt　be　lost。　I　will　go　get　thy　ball。〃

And　so　she　left　Myles　and　her　cousin；　crossing　the　little　plots　of　grass　and　skirting　the　rosebushes　to　the　cherry…tree。

When　Myles　found　himself　alone　with　Lady　Alice；　he　knew　not　where　to　look　or　what　to　do；　but　twisted　the　piece　of　clematis　which　he　still　held　in　and　out　more　industriously　than　ever。

Lady　Alice　watched　him　with　dancing　eyes　for　a　little　while。　〃Haply　thou　wilt　spoil　that　poor　vine；〃　said　she　by…and…by；　breaking　the　silence　and　laughing；　then　turning　suddenly　serious　again。　〃Didst　thou　hurt　thyself　by　thy　fall？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Myles；　looking　up；　〃such　a　fall　as　that　was　no　great　matter。　Many　and　many　a　time　I　have　had　worse。〃

〃Hast　thou　so？〃　said　the　Lady　Alice。　〃Thou　didst　fright　me　parlously；　and　my　coz　likewise。〃

Myles　hesitated　for　a　moment；　and　then　blurted　out；　〃Thereat　I　grieve；　for　thee　I　would　not　fright　for　all　the　world。〃

The　young　lady　laughed　and　blushed。　〃All　the　world　is　a　great　matter；〃　said　she。

〃Yea；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　a　great　matter；　but　it　is　a　greater　matter　to　fright　thee；　and　so　I　would　not　do　it　for　that；　and　more。〃

The　young　lady　laughed　again；　but　she　did　not　say　anything　further；　and　a　space　of　silence　fell　so　long　that　by…and…by　she　forced　herself　to　say；　〃My　cousin　findeth　not　the　ball　presently。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Myles；　briefly；　and　then　again　neither　spoke；　until　by…and…by　the　Lady　Anne　came；　bringing　the　ball。　Myles　felt　a　great　sense　of　relief　at　that　coming；　and　yet　was　somehow　sorry。　Then　he　took　the　ball；　and　knew　enough　to　bow　his　acknowledgment　in　a　manner　neither　ill　nor　awkward。

〃Didst　thou　hurt　thyself？〃　asked　Lady　Anne。

〃Nay；〃　said　Myles；　giving　himself　a　shake；　〃seest　thou　not　I　be　whole；　limb　and　bone？　Nay；　I　have　had　shrewdly　worse　falls　than　that。　Once　I　fell　out　of　an　oak…tree　down　by　the　river　and　upon　a　root；　and　bethought　me　I　did　break　a　rib　or　more。　And　then　one　time　when　I　was　a　boy　in　Crosbey…Dale　that　was　where　I　lived　before　I　came　hitherl　did　catch　me　hold　of　the　blade　of　the　windmill；　thinking　it　was　moving　slowly；　and　that　I　would　have　a　ride　i'　th'　air；　and　so　was　like　to　have　had　a　fall　ten　thousand　times　worse　than　this。〃

〃Oh；　tell　us　more　of　that！〃　said　the　Lady　Anne；　eagerly。　〃I　did　never　hear　of　such　an　adventure　as　that。　Come；　coz；　and　sit　down　here　upon　the　bench；　and　let　us　have　him　tell　us　all　of　that　happening。〃

Now　the　lads　upon　the　other　side　of　the　wall　had　been　whistling　furtively　for　some　time；　not　knowing　whether　Myles　had　broken　his　neck　or　had　come　off　scot…free　from　his　fall。　〃I　would　like　right　well　to　stay　with　ye；〃　said　he；　irresolutely；　〃and　would　gladly　tell　ye　that　and　more　an　ye　would　have　me　to　do　so；　but　hear　ye　not　my　friends　call　me　from　beyond？　Mayhap　they　think　I　break　my　back；　and　are　calling　to　see　whether　I　be　alive　or　no。　An　I　might　whistle　them　answer　and　toss　me　this　ball　to　them；　all　would　then　be　well；　and　they　would　know　that　I　was　not　hurt；　and　so；　haply；　would　go　away。〃

〃Then　answer　them；〃　said　the　Lady　Anne；　〃and　tell　us　of　that　thing　thou　spokest　of　anonhow　thou　tookest　a　ride　upon　the　windmill。　We　young　ladies　do　hear　little　of　such　matters；　not　being　allowed　to　talk　with　lads。　All　that　we　hear　of　perils　are　of　knights　and　ladies　and　jousting；　and　such　like。　It　would　pleasure　us　right　well　to　have　thee　tell　of　thy　adventures。〃

So　Myles　tossed　back　the　ball；　and　whistled　in　answer　to　his　friends。

Then　he　told　the　two　young　ladies　not　only　of　his　adventure　upon　the　windmill；　but　also　of　other　boyish　escapades；　and　told　them　well；　with　a　straightforward　smack　and　vigor；　for　he　enjoyed　adventure　and　loved　to　talk　of　it。　In　a　little　while　he　had　regained　his　ease；　his　shyness　and　awkwardness　left　him；　and　nothing　remained　but　the　delightful　fact　that　he　was　really　and　actually　talking　to　two　young　ladies；　and　that　with　just　as　much　ease　and　infinitely　more　pleasure　than　could　be　had　in　discourse　with　his　fellow…squires。　But　at　last　it　was　time　for　him　to　go。　〃Marry；〃　said　he；　with　a　half…sigh；　〃methinks　I　did　never　ha'　so　sweet　and　pleasant　a　time　in　all　my　life　before。　Never　did　I　know　a　real　lady　to　talk　with；　saving　only　my　mother；　and　I　do　tell　ye　plain　methinks　I　would　rather　talk　with　ye　than　with　any　he　in　Christendomsaving；　perhaps；　only　my　friend　Gascoyne。　I　would　I　might　come　hither　again。〃

The　honest　frankness　of　his　speech　was　irresistible；　the　two　girls　exchanged　glances　and　then　began　laughing。　〃Truly；〃　said　Lady　Anne；　who；　as　was　said　before；　was　some　three　or　four　years　older　than　Myles；　〃thou　art　a　bold　lad　to　ask　such　a　thing。　How　wouldst　thou　come　hither？　Wouldst　tumble　through　our　clematis　arbor　again；　as　thou　didst　this　day？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Myles；　〃I　would　not　do　that　again；　but　if　ye　will　bid　me　do　so；　I　will　find　the　means　to　come　hither。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Lady　Anne；　〃I　dare　not　bid　thee　do　such　a　foolhardy　thing。　Nevertheless；　if　thou　hast　the　courage　to　come〃

〃Yea；〃　said　Myles；　eagerly；　〃I　have　the　courage。〃

〃Then；　if　thou　hast　so；　we　will　be　here　in　the　garden　on　Saturday　next　at　this　hour。　I　would　like　right　well　to　hear　more　of　thy　adventures。　But　what　didst　thou　say　was　thy　name？　I　have　forgot　it　again。〃

〃It　is　Myles　Falworth。〃

〃Then　we　shall　yclep　thee　Sir　Myles；　for　thou　art　a　soothly　errant…knight。　And　stay！　Every　knight　must　have　a　lady　to　serve。　How　wouldst　thou　like　my　Cousin　Alice　here　for　thy　true　lady？〃

〃Aye；〃　said　Myles；　eagerly；　〃I　would　like　it　right　well。〃　And　then　he　blushed　fiery　red　at　his　boldness。

〃I　want　no　errant…knight　to　serve　me；〃　said　the　Lady　Alice；　blushing；　in　answer。　〃Thou　dost　ill　tease　me；　coz！　An　thou　art　so　free　in　choosing　him　a　lady　to　serve；　thou　mayst　choose　him　thyself　for　thy　pains。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　Lady　Anne；　laughing；　〃I　say　thou　shalt　be　his　true　lady；　and　he　shall　be　thy　true　knight。　Who　knows？　Perchance　he　may　serven　thee　in　some　wondrous　adventure；　like　as　Chaucer　telleth　of。　But　now；　Sir　Errant…Knight；　thou　must　take　thy　leave　of　us；　and　I　must　e'en　let　thee　privily　out　by　the　postern…wicket。　And　if　thou　wilt　take　the　risk　upon　thee　and　come　hither　again；　prithee　be　wary　in　that　coming；　lest　in　venturing　thou　have　thine　ears　clipped　in　most　unknightly　fashion。〃

That　evening；　as　he　and　Gascoyne　sat　together　on　a　bench　under　the　trees　in　the　great　quadrangle；　Myles　told　of　his　adventure　of　the　afternoon；　and　his　friend　listened　with　breathless　interest。

〃But；　Myles；〃　cried　Gascoyne；　〃did　the　Lady　Anne　never　once　seem　proud　and　unkind？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Myles；　〃only　at　first；　when　she　chid　me　for　falling　through　the　roof　of　their　arbor。　And　to　think；　Francis！　Lady　Anne　herself　bade　me　hold　the　Lady　Alice　as　my　true　lady；　and　to　serve　her　in　all　knightliness！〃　Then　he　told　his　friend　that　he　was　going　to　the　privy　garden　again　on　the　next　Saturday；　and　that　the　Lady　Anne　had　given　him　permission　so　to　do。

Gascoyne　gave　a　long；　wondering　whistle；　and　then　sat　quite　still；　staring　into　the　sky。　By…and…by　he　turned　to　his　friend　and　said；　〃I　give　thee　my　pledge；　Myles　Falworth；　that　never　in　all　my　life　did　I　hear　of　any　one　that　had　such　marvellous　strange　happenings　befall　him　as　thou。〃


Whenever　the　opportunity　occurred　for　sending　a　letter　to　Crosbey…Holt；　Myles　wrote　one　to　his　mother；　and　one　can　guess　how　they　were　treasured　by　the　good　lady；　and　read　over　and　over　again　to　the　blind　old　Lord　as　he　sat　staring　into　darkness　with　his　sightless　eyes。

About　the　time　of　this　escapade　he　wrote　a　letter　telling　of　those　doings；　wherein；　after　speaking　of　his　misadventure　of　falling　from　the　wall；　and　of　his　acquaintance　with　the　young　ladies；　he　went　on　to　speak　of　the　matter　in　which　he　repeated　his　visits。　The　letter　was　worded　in　the　English　of　that　daythe　quaint　and　crabbed　language　in　which　Chaucer　wrote。　Perhaps　few　boys　could　read　it　nowadays；　so；　modernizing　it　somewhat；　it　ran　thus：

〃And　now　to　let　ye　weet　that　thing　that　followed　that　happening　that　made　me　acquaint　with　they　two　young　Damoiselles。　I　take　me　to　the　south　wall　of　that　garden　one　day　four　and　twenty　great　spikes；　which　Peter　Smith　did　forge　for　me　and　for　which　I　pay　him　fivepence；　and　that　all　the　money　that　I　had　left　of　my　half…year's　wage；　and　wot　not　where　I　may　get　more　at　these　present；　withouten　I　do　betake　me　to　Sir　James；　who；　as　I　did　tell　ye；　hath　consented　to　hold　those　moneys　that　Prior　Edward　gave　me　till　I　need　them。

〃Now　these　same　spikes；　I　say；　I　take　me　them　down　behind　the　corner　of　the　wall；　and　there　drave　them　betwixt　the　stones；　my　very　dear　comrade　and　true　friend　Gascoyne　holping　me　thereto　to　do。　And　so　come　Saturday；　I　climb　me　over　the　wall　and　to　the　roof　of　the　tool…house　below；　seeking　a　fitting　opportunity　when　I　might　so　do　without　being　in　too　great　jeopardy。

〃Yea；　and　who　should　be　there　but　they　two　ladies；　biding　my　coming；　who；　seeing　me；　made　as　though　they　had　expected　me　not；　and　gave　me　greatest　rebuke　for　adventuring　so　moughtily。　Yet；　methinks；　were　they　right　well　pleasured　that　I　should　so　aventure；　which　indeed　I　might　not　otherwise　do；　seeing　as　I　have　telled　to　thee；　that　one　of　them　is　mine　own　true　lady　for　to　serven；　and　so　was　the　only　way　that　I　might　come　to　speech　with　her。〃

Such　was　Myles's　own　quaint　way　of　telling　how　he　accomplished　his　aim　of　visiting　the　forbidden　garden；　and　no　doubt　the　smack　of　adventure　and　the　savor　of　danger　in　the　undertaking　recommended　him　not　a　little　to　the　favor　of　the　young　ladies。

After　this　first　acquaintance　perhaps　a　month　passed；　during　which　Myles　had　climbed　the　wall　some　half　a　dozen　times　（for　the　Lady　Anne　would　not　permit　of　too　frequent　visits）；　and　during　which　the　first　acquaintance　of　the　three　ripened　rapidly　to　an　honest；　pleasant　friendship。　More　than　once　Myles；　when　in　Lord　George's　train；　caught　a　cover