men of iron(铁人)-第20章
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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；
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〃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
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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
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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 covert smile
or half nod from one or both of the girls； not a little delightful in its very
secret friendliness。
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CHAPTER 19
As waS said； perhaps a month passed； then Myles's visits came to an
abrupt termination； and with it ended； in a certain sense； a chapter of his
life。
One Saturday afternoon he climbed the garden wall； and skirting
behind a long row of rosebushes that screened him from the Countess's
terrace； came to a little summer…house where the two young ladies had
appointed to meet him that day。
A pleasant half…hour or so was passed； and then it was time for Myles
to go。 He lingered for a while before he took his final leave； leaning
against the door…post； and laughingly telling how he and some of his
brother squires had made a figure of straw dressed in men's clothes； and
had played a trick with it one night upon a watchman against whom they
bore a grudge。
The young ladies were listening with laughing faces； when suddenly；
as Myles looked； he saw the smile vanish from Lady Alice's eyes and a
wide terror take its place。 She gave a half…articulate cry； and rose abruptly
from the bench upon which she was sitting。
Myles turned sharply； and then his very heart seemed to stand still
within him； for there； standing in the broad sunlight without； and glaring
in upon the party with baleful eyes； was the Earl of Mackworth himself。
How long was the breathless silence that followed； Myles could never
tell。 He knew that the Lady Anne had also risen； and that she and her
cousin were standing as still as statues。 Presently the Earl pointed to the
house with his staff； and Myles noted stupidly how it trembled in his hand。
〃Ye wenches；〃 said he at last； in a hard； harsh voice〃ye wenches；
what meaneth this？ Would ye deceive me so； and hold parlance thus
secretly with this fellow？ I will settle with him anon。 Meantime get ye
straightway to the house and to your rooms； and there abide until I give ye
leave to come forth again。 Go； I say！〃
〃Father；〃 said Lady Anne； in a breathless voice she was as white as
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death； and moistened her lips with her tongue before she spoke〃father；
thou wilt not do harm to this young man。 Spare him； I do beseech thee； for
truly it was I who bade him come hither。 I know that he would not have
come but at our bidding。〃
The Earl stamped his foot upon the gravel。 〃Did ye not hear me？〃 said
he； still pointing towards the house with his trembling staff。 〃I bade ye go
to your rooms。 I will settle with this fellow； I say； as I deem fitting。〃
〃Father；〃 began Lady Anne again； but the Earl made such a savage
gesture that poor Lady Alice uttered a faint shriek； and Lady Anne stopped
abruptly； trembling。 Then she turned and passed out the farther
