men of iron(铁人)-第8章
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recurring to what he had already said。 〃Is it not foolish for thee to come
hither to this place； and then not submit to the ways thereof； as the rest of
us do？〃
〃Thou talkest not like a true friend to chide me thus；〃 said Myles；
sullenly； and he withdrew his arm from his friend's。
〃Marry； come up！〃 said Gascoyne； 〃an I were not thy friend； I would
let thee jog thine own way。 It aches not my bones to have thine drubbed。〃
Just then they entered the chapel； and words that might have led to a
quarrel were brought to a close。
Myles was not slow to see that he had the ill will of the head of their
company。 That morning in the armory he had occasion to ask some
question of Blunt； the head squire stared coldly at him for a moment； gave
him a short； gruff answer； and then； turning his back abruptly； began
talking with one of the other bachelors。 Myles flushed hot at the other's
insulting manner； and looked quickly around to see if any of the others had
observed what had passed。 It was a comfort to him to see that all were too
busy arming themselves to think of anything else； nevertheless； his face
was very lowering as he turned away。
〃Some day I will show him that I am as good a man as he；〃 he
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muttered to himself。 〃An evil… hearted dog to put shame upon me！〃
The storm was brewing and ready to break。
That day was exceptionally hot and close； and permission had been
asked by and granted to those squires not on duty to go down to the river
for a bath after exercise at the pels。 But as Myles replaced his arms in the
rack； a little page came with a bidding to come to Sir James in his office。
〃Look now；〃 said Myles； 〃here is just my ill… fortune。 Why might he
not have waited an hour longer rather than cause me to miss going with
ye？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Gascoyne； 〃let not that grieve thee； Myles。 Wilkes and I
will wait for thee in the dormitorywill we not； Edmund？ Make thou haste
and go to Sir James。〃
Sir James was sitting at the table studying over a scroll of parchment；
when Myles entered his office and stood before him at the table。
〃Well； boy；〃 said he； laying aside the parchment and looking up at the
lad； 〃I have tried thee fairly for these few days； and may say that I have
found thee worthy to be entered upon the rolls as esquire of the body。〃
〃I give thee thanks； sir；〃 said Myles。
The knight nodded his head in acknowledgement； but did not at once
give the word of dismissal that Myles had expected。 〃Dost mean to write
thee a letter home soon？〃 said he； suddenly。
〃Aye；〃 said Myles； gaping in great wonderment at the strangeness of
the question。
〃Then when thou dost so write；〃 said Sir James； 〃give thou my deep
regards to thy father。〃 Then he continued； after a brief pause。 〃Him did I
know well in times gone by； and we were right true friends in hearty love；
and for his sake I would befriend theethat is； in so much as is fitting。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Myles； but Sir James held up his hand； and he stopped short
in his thanks。
〃But； boy；〃 said he； 〃that which I sent for thee for to tell thee was of
more import than these。 Dost thou know that thy father is an attainted
outlaw？〃
〃Nay；〃 cried Myles； his cheeks blazing up as red as fire； 〃who sayeth
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that of him lieth in his teeth。〃
〃Thou dost mistake me；〃 said Sir James； quietly。 〃It is sometimes no
shame to be outlawed and banned。 Had it been so； I would not have told
thee thereof； nor have bidden thee send my true love to thy father； as I did
but now。 But； boy； certes he standest continually in great danger greater
than thou wottest of。 Were it known where he lieth hid； it might be to his
undoing and utter ruin。 Methought that belike thou mightest not know that；
and so I sent for thee for to tell thee that it behoovest thee to say not one
single word concerning him to any of these new friends of thine； nor who
he is； nor what he is。〃
〃But how came my father to be so banned？〃 said Myles； in a
constrained and husky voice； and after a long time of silence。
〃That I may not tell thee just now；〃 said the old knight； 〃only thisthat
I have been bidden to make it known to thee that thy father hath an enemy
full as powerful as my Lord the Earl himself； and that through that enemy
all his ill…fortune his blindness and everythinghath come。 Moreover；
did this enemy know where thy father lieth； he would slay him right
speedily。〃
〃Sir；〃 cried Myles； violently smiting his open palm upon the table； 〃tell
me who this man is； and I will kill him！〃
Sir James smiled grimly。 〃Thou talkest like a boy；〃 said he。 〃Wait until
thou art grown to be a man。 Mayhap then thou mayst repent thee of these
bold words； for one time this enemy of thy father's was reckoned the
foremost knight in England； and he is now the King's dear friend and a
great lord。〃
〃But；〃 said Myles； after another long time of heavy silence； 〃will not
my Lord then befriend me for the sake of my father； who was one time his
dear comrade？〃
Sir James shook his head。 〃It may not be；〃 said he。 〃Neither thou nor
thy father must look for open favor from the Earl。 An he befriended
Falworth； and it came to be known that he had given him aid or succor； it
might belike be to his own undoing。 No； boy； thou must not even look to
be taken into the household to serve with gentlemen as the other squires
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do serve； but must even live thine own life here and fight thine own way。〃
Myles's eyes blazed。 〃Then；〃 cried he； fiercely； 〃it is shame and attaint
upon my Lord the Earl； and cowardice as well； and never will I ask favor
of him who is so untrue a friend as to turn his back upon a comrade in
trouble as he turneth his back upon my father。〃
〃Thou art a foolish boy；〃 said Sir James with a bitter smile； 〃and
knowest naught of the world。 An thou wouldst look for man to befriend
man to his own danger； thou must look elsewhere than on this earth。 Was I
not one time Mackworth's dear friend as well as thy father？ It could cost
him naught to honor me； and here am I fallen to be a teacher of boys。 Go
to！ thou art a fool。〃
Then； after a little pause of brooding silence； he went on to say that the
Earl was no better or worse than the rest of the world。 That men of his
position had many jealous enemies； ever seeking their ruin； and that such
must look first of all each to himself； or else be certainly ruined； and drag
down others in that ruin。 Myles was silenced； but the bitterness had
entered his heart； and abided with him for many a day afterwards。
Perhaps Sir James read his feelings in his frank face； for he sat looking
curiously at him； twirling his grizzled mustache the while。 〃Thou art like
to have hard knocks of it； lad； ere thou hast gotten thee safe through the
world；〃 said he； with more kindness in his harsh voice than was usual。
〃But get thee not into fights before thy time。〃 Then he charged the boy
very seriously to live at peace with his fellow…squires； and for his father's
sake as well as his own to enter into none of the broils that were so
frequent in their quarters。
It was with this special admonition against brawling that Myles was
dismissed； to enter； before five minutes had passed； into the first really
great fight of his life。
Besides Gascoyne and Wilkes； he found gathered in the dormitory six
or eight of the company of squires who were to serve that day upon
household duty； among others； Walter Blunt and three other bachelors；
who were changing their coarse service clothes for others more fit for the
household。
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〃Why didst thou tarry so long； Myles？〃 said Gascoyne； as he entered。
〃Methought thou wert never coming。〃
〃Where goest thou； Falworth？〃 called Blunt from the other end of the
room； where he was lacing his doublet。
Just now Myles had no heart in the swimming or sport of any sort； but
he answered； shortly； 〃I go to the river to swim。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Blunt； 〃thou goest not forth from the castle to…day。 Hast
thou forgot how thou didst answer me back about fetching the water this
morning？ This day thou must do penance； so go thou straight to the
armory and scour thou up my breastplate。〃
From the time he had arisen that morning everything had gone wrong
with Myles。 He had felt himself already outrated in rendering service to
the bachelors； he had quarrelled with the head of the esquires； he had
nearly quarrelled with Gascoyne； and then had come the bitterest and
worst of all； the knowledge that his father was an outlaw； and that the Earl
would not stretch out a hand to aid him or to give him any countenance。
Blunt's words brought the last bitter cut to his heart； and they stung him to
fury。 For a while he could not answer； but stood glaring with a face fairly
convulsed with passion at the young man； who continued his toilet；
unconscious of the wrath of the new recruit。
Gascoyne and Wilkes； accepting Myles's punishment as a thing of
course； were about to leave the dormitory when Myles checked them。
〃Stop； Francis！〃 he cried； hoarsely。 〃Thinkest thou that I will stay behind
to do yon dog's dirty work？ No； I go with ye。〃
A moment or two of dumb； silent amazement followed his bold words；
then Blunt cried； 〃Art thou mad？〃
〃Nay；〃 answered Myles in the same hoarse voice； 〃I am not mad。 I tell
thee a better man than thou shouldst not stay me from going an I list to go。
〃I will break thy cockerel head for that speech；〃 said Blunt； furiously。
He stooped as he spoke； and picked up a heavy clog that lay at his feet。
It
