men of iron-第34章
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〃Sir；〃 said Myles； 〃I have been in battle when men were slain； but never did I think thereon as I have upon this matter。 Did I sin in so slaying my father's enemy？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Prior Edward； quietly； 〃thou didst not sin。 It was for others thou didst fight； my son； and for others it is pardonable to do battle。 Had it been thine own quarrel； it might haply have been more hard to have answered thee。〃
Who can gainsay； even in these days of light； the truth of this that the good priest said to the sick lad so far away in the past？
One day the Earl of Mackworth came to visit Myles。 At that time the young knight was mending； and was sitting propped up with pillows； and was wrapped in Sir James Lee's cloak； for the day was chilly。 After a little time of talk； a pause of silence fell。
〃My Lord；〃 said Myles； suddenly； 〃dost thou remember one part of a matter we spoke of when I first came from France？〃
The Earl made no pretence of ignorance。 〃I remember；〃 said he； quietly； looking straight into the young man's thin white face。
〃And have I yet won the right to ask for the Lady Alice de Mowbray to wife？〃 said Myles； the red rising faintly to his cheeks。
〃Thou hast won it；〃 said the Earl； with a smile。
Myles's eyes shone and his lips trembled with the pang of sudden joy and triumph； for he was still very weak。 〃My Lord；〃 said he； presently 〃belike thou camest here to see me for this very matter？〃
The Earl smiled again without answering； and Myles knew that he had guessed aright。 He reached out one of his weak； pallid hands from beneath the cloak。 The Earl of Mackworth took it with a firm pressure； then instantly quitting it again； rose； as if ashamed of his emotion； stamped his feet； as though in pretence of being chilled； and then crossed the room to where the fire crackled brightly in the great stone fireplace。
Little else remains to be told； only a few loose strands to tie； and the story is complete。
Though Lord Falworth was saved from death at the block； though his honor was cleansed from stain； he was yet as poor and needy as ever。 The King； in spite of all the pressure brought to bear upon him； refused to restore the estates of Falworth and Easterbridgethe latter of which had again reverted to the crown upon the death of the Earl of Alban without issueupon the grounds that they had been forfeited not because of the attaint of treason； but because of Lord Falworth having refused to respond to the citation of the courts。 So the business dragged along for month after month； until in January the King died suddenly in the Jerusalem Chamber at Westminster。 Then matters went smoothly enough； and Falworth and Mackworth swam upon the flood…tide of fortune。
So Myles was married； for how else should the story end？ And one day he brought his beautiful young wife home to Falworth Castle； which his father had given him for his own； and at the gateway of which he was met by Sir James Lee and by the newly…knighted Sir Francis Gascoyne。
One day； soon after this home…coming； as he stood with her at an open window into which came blowing the pleasant May…time breeze； he suddenly said； 〃What didst thou think of me when I first fell almost into thy lap； like an apple from heaven？〃
〃I thought thou wert a great； good…hearted boy； as I think thou art now；〃 said she； twisting his strong； sinewy fingers in and out。
〃If thou thoughtst me so then； what a very fool I must have looked to thee when I so clumsily besought thee for thy favor for my jousting at Devlen。 Did I not so？〃
〃Thou didst look to me the most noble； handsome young knight that did ever live； thou didst look to me Sir Galahad； as they did call thee； withouten taint or stain。〃
Myles did not even smile in answer； but looked at his wife with such a look that she blushed a rosy red。 Then； laughing； she slipped from his hold； and before he could catch her again was gone。
I am glad that he was to be rich and happy and honored and beloved after all his hard and noble fighting。
End
