red eve-第2章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


took　to　merchandise。　Now　since　those　days　you　have　grown　rich　with
your　fishing　fleets；　your　wool　mart；　and　your　ferry　dues　at
Walberswick　and　Southwold。　We；　too；　are　rich　in　manors　and　land；
counting　our　acres　by　the　thousand；　but　yet　poor；　lacking　your　gold；
though　yonder　manor〃and　she　pointed　to　some　towers　which　rose　far
away　above　the　trees　upon　the　high　land〃has　many　mouths　to　feed。
Also　the　sea　has　robbed　us　at　Dunwich；　where　I　was　born；　taking　our
great　house　and　sundry　streets　that　paid　us　rent；　and　your　market　of
Southwold　has　starved　out　ours　at　Blythburgh。〃

〃Well；　what　has　all　this　to　do　with　you　and　me；　Eve？〃

〃Much；　Hugh；　as　you　should　know　who　have　been　bred　to　trade；〃　and　she
glanced　at　his　merchant's　dress。　〃Between　de　Cressi　and　Clavering
there　has　been　rivalry　and　feud　for　three　long　generations。　When　we
were　children　it　abated　for　a　while；　since　your　father　lent　money　to
mine；　and　that　is　why　they　suffered　us　to　grow　up　side　by　side。　But
then　they　quarrelled　about　the　ferry　that　we　had　set　in　pawn；　and　your
father　asked　his　gold　back　again；　and；　not　getting　it；　took　the　ferry；
which　I　have　always　held　a　foolish　and　strife…breeding　deed；　since
from　that　day　forward　the　war　was　open。　Therefore；　Hugh；　if　we　meet　at
all　it　must　be　in　these　frozen　reeds　or　behind　the　cover　of　a　thicket；
like　a　village　slut　and　her　man。〃

〃I　know　that　well　enough；　Eve；　who　have　spoken　with　you　but　twice　in
nine　months。〃　And　he　devoured　her　beautiful　face　with　hungry　eyes。
〃But　of　that　word；　'Farewell'〃

〃Of　that　ill　word；　this；　Hugh：　I　have　a　new　suitor　up　yonder；　a　fine
French　suitor；　a　very　great　lord　indeed；　whose　wealth；　I　am　told；　none
can　number。　From　his　mother　he　has　the　Valley　of　the　Waveney　up　to
Bungay　townay；　and　beyondand　from　his　father；　a　whole　county　in
Normandy。　Five　French　knights　ride　behind　his　banner；　and　with　them
ten　squires　and　I　know　not　how　many　men…at…arms。　There　is　feasting
yonder　at　the　manor；　I　can　tell　you。　Ere　his　train　leaves　us　our
winter　provender　will　be　done；　and　we'll　have　to　drink　small　beer　till
the　wine　ships　come　from　France　in　spring。〃

〃And　what　is　this　lord's　name？〃

〃God's　truth；　he　has　several；〃　she　answered。　〃Sir　Edmund　Acour　in
England；　and　in　France　the　high　and　puissant　Count　of　Noyon；　and　in
Italy；　near　to　the　city　of　Venicefor　there；　too；　he　has　possessions
which　came　to　him　through　his　grandmotherthe　Seigneur　of　Cattrina。〃

〃And　having　so　much；　does　he　want　you；　too；　as　I　have　heard；　Eve？　And
if　so；　why？〃

〃So　he　swears；〃　she　answered　slowly；　〃and　as　for　the　reason；　why；　I
suppose　you　must　seek　it　in　my　face；　which　by　ill…fortune　has　pleased
his　lordship　since　first　he　saw　it　a　month　ago。　At　the　least　he　has
asked　me　in　marriage　of　my　father；　who　jumped　at　him　like　a　winter
pike；　and　so　I'm　betrothed。〃

〃And　do　you　want　him；　Eve？〃

〃Ay；　I　want　him　as　far　as　the　sun　is　from　the　moon　or　the　world　from
either。　I　want　him　in　heaven　or　beneath　the　earth；　or　anywhere　away
from　me。〃

At　these　words　a　light　shone　in　Hugh's　keen　grey　eyes。

〃I'm　glad　of　that；　Eve；　for　I've　been　told　much　of　this　fine　fellow
amongst　other　things　that　he　is　a　traitor　come　here　to　spy　on　England。
But　should　I　be　a　match　for　him；　man　to　man；　Eve？〃　he　asked　after　a
little　pause。

She　looked　him　up　and　down；　then　answered：

〃I　think　so；　though　he　is　no　weakling；　but　not　for　him　and　the　five
knights　and　the　ten　squires；　and　my　noble　father；　and　my　brother；　and
the　rest。　Oh；　Hugh；　Hugh！〃　she　added　bitterly；　〃cannot　you　understand
that　you　are　but　a　merchant's　lad；　though　your　blood　be　as　noble　as
any　in　this　realma　merchant's　lad；　the　last　of　five　brothers？　Why
were　you　not　born　the　first　of　them　if　you　wished　for　Eve　Clavering；
for　then　your　red　gold　might　have　bought　me。〃

〃Ask　that　of　those　who　begot　me；〃　said　Hugh。　〃Come　now；　what's　in　your
mind？　You're　not　one　to　be　sold　like　a　heifer　at　a　faring　and　go
whimpering　to　the　altar；　and　I　am　not　one　to　see　you　led　there　while　I
stand　upon　my　feet。　We　are　made　of　a　clay　too　stiff　for　a　French
lord's　fingers；　Eve；　though　it　is　true　that　they　may　drag　you　whither
you　would　not　walk。〃

〃No；〃　she　answered；　〃I　think　I　shall　take　some　marrying　against　my
wish。　Moreover；　I　am　Dunwich　born。〃

〃What　of　that；　Eve？〃

〃Go　ask　your　godsire　and　my　friend；　Sir　Andrew　Arnold；　the　old　priest。
In　the　library　of　the　Temple　there　he　showed　me　an　ancient　roll；　a
copy　of　the　charter　granted　by　John　and　other　kings　of　England　to　the
citizens　of　Dunwich。〃

〃What　said　this　writing；　Eve？〃

〃It　said；　among　other　things；　that　no　man　or　maid　of　Dunwich　can　be
forced　to　marry　against　their　will；　even　in　the　lifetime　of　their
parents。〃

〃But　will　it　hold　to…day？〃

〃Ay；　I　think　so。　I　think　that　is　why　the　holy　Sir　Andrew　showed　it　to
me；　knowing　something　of　our　case；　for　he　is　my　confessor　when　I　can
get　to　him。〃

〃Then；　sweet；　you　are　safe！〃　exclaimed　Hugh；　with　a　sigh　of　relief。

〃Ay；　so　safe　that　to…morrow　Father　Nicholas；　the　French　chaplain　in
his　train；　has　been　warned　to　wed　me　to　my　lord　Acourthat　is；　if　I'm
there　to　wed。〃

〃And　if　this　Acour　is　here；　I'll　seek　him　out　to…night　and　challenge
him；　Eve；〃　and　Hugh　laid　hand　upon　his　sword。

〃Doubtless；〃　she　replied　sarcastically；　〃Sir　Edmund　Acour；　Count　of
Noyon；　Seigneur　of　Cattrina；　will　find　it　honour　to　accept　the
challenge　of　Hugh　de　Cressi；　the　merchant's　youngest　son。　Oh；　Hugh；
Hugh！　are　your　wits　frozen　like　this　winter　marsh？　Not　thus　can　you
save　me。〃

The　young　man　thought　a　while；　staring　at　the　ground　and　biting　his
lips。　Then　he　looked　up　suddenly　and　said：

〃How　much　do　you　love　me；　Eve？〃

With　a　slow　smile；　she　opened　her　arms；　and　next　moment　they　were
kissing　each　other　as　heartily　as　ever　man　and　maid　have　kissed　since
the　world　began；　so　heartily；　indeed；　that　when　at　length　she　pushed
him　from　her；　her　lovely　face　was　as　red　as　the　cloak　she　wore。

〃You　know　well　that　I　love　you；　to　my　sorrow　and　undoing；〃　she　said；
in　a　broken　voice。　〃From　childhood　it　has　been　so　between　us；　and　till
the　grave　takes　one　or　both　it　will　be　so；　and　for　my　part　beyond　it；
if　the　priests　speak　true。　For；　whatever　may　be　your　case；　I　am　not
one　to　change　my　fancy。　When　I　give；　I　give　all；　though　it　be　of
little　worth。　In　truth；　Hugh；　if　I　could　I　would　marry　you　to…night；
though　you　are　naught　but　a　merchant's　son；　or　even〃　And　she
paused；　wiping　her　eyes　with　the　back　of　her　slim；　strong　hand。

〃I　thank　you；〃　he　answered；　trembling　with　joy。　〃So　it　is　with　me。　For
you　and　no　other　woman　I　live　and　die；　and　though　I　am　so　humble　I'll
be　worthy　of　you　yet。　If　God　keeps　me　in　breath　you　shall　not　blush
for　your　man；　Eve。　Well；　I　am　not　great　at　words；　so　let　us　come　to
deeds。　Will　you　away　with　me　now？　I　think　that　Father　Arnold　would
find　you　lodging　for　the　night　and　an　altar　to　be　wed　at；　and
to…morrow　our　ship　sails　for　Flanders　and　for　France。〃

〃Yes；　but　would　your　father　give　us　passage　in　it；　Hugh？〃

〃Why　not？　It　could　not　deepen　the　feud　between　our　Houses；　which
already　has　no　bottom；　and　if　he　refused；　we　would　take　one；　for　the
captain　is　my　friend。　And　I　have　some　little　store　set　by；　it　came　to
me　from　my　mother。〃

〃You　ask　much；〃　she　said；　〃all　a　woman　has；　my　life；　perchance；　as
well。　Yet　there　it　is；　I'll　go　because　I'm　a　fool；　Hugh；　and；　as　it
chances；　you　are　more　to　me　than　aught；　and　I　hate　this　fine　French
lord。　I　tell　you　I　sicken　at　his　glance　and　shiver　when　he　touches　me。
Why；　if　he　came　too　near　I　should　murder　him　and　be　hanged。　I'll　go；
though　God　alone　knows　the　end　of　it。〃

〃Our　purpose　being　honest；　the　end　will　be　good；　Eve；　though　perhaps
before　all　is　done　we　may　often　think　it　evil。　And　now　let's　away；
though　I　wish　that　you　were　dressed　in　another　colour。〃

〃Red　Eve　they　name　me；　and　red　is　my　badge；　because　it　suits　my　dark
face　best。　Cavil　not　at　my　robe；　Hugh；　for　it　is　the　only　dowry　you
will　get　with　Eve　Clavering。　How　shall　we　go？　By　the　Walberswick
ferry？　You　have　no　horses。〃

〃Nay；　but　I　have　a　skiff　hidden　in　the　reeds　five　miles　furlongs　off。
We　must　keep　to　the　heath　above　Walberswick；　for　there　they　might　know
your　red　cloak　even　after　dark；　and　I　would　not　have　you　seen　till　we
are　safe　with　Sir　Arnold　in　the　Preceptory。　Mother　of　Heaven！　what　is
that？〃

〃A　peewit；　no　more；〃　she　answered　indifferently。

〃Nay；　it　is　my　man　Dick；　calling　like　a　peewit。　That　is　his　sign　when
trouble　is　afoot。　Ah；　here　he　comes。〃

As　he　spoke　a　tall；　gaunt　man　appeared；　advancing　towards　them。　His
gait　was　a　shambling　trot　that　seemed　slow；　although；　in　truth；　he　was
covering　the　ground　with　extraordinary　swiftness。　Moreover；　he　moved
so　silently　that　even　on　the　frost…held　soil　his　step　could　not　be
heard；　and　so　carefully　that　not　a　reed　stirred　as　he　threaded　in　and
out　among　their　clumps　like　an　otter；　his　head　crouched　down　and　his
long　bow　pointed　before　him　as　though　it　were　a　spear。　Half　a　minute
more；　and　he　was　before　thema　very　strange　man　to　see。　His　years
were　not　so　many；　thirty　perhaps；　and　yet　his　face　looked　quite　old
because　of　its　lack　of　colouring；　its　thinness；　and　the　hard　lines
that　marked　where　the　muscles　ran　down　to　the　tight；　straight　mouth
and　up　to　the　big　forehead；　over　which　hung　hair　so　light　that　at　a
little　distance　he　seemed　ashen…grey。　Only　in　this　cold；　rocky　face；
set　very　far　apart；　were　two　pale…blue　eyes；　which　just　now；　when　he
chose　to　lift　their　lids　that　generally　kept　near　together；　as　though
he　were　half　asleep；　were　full　of　fire　and　quick　cunning。

Reaching　the　pair；　this　strange　fellow　dropped　to　his　knee　and　raised
his　cap　to　Eve；　the　great　lady　of　the　ClaveringsRed　Eve；　as　they
called　her　through　that　country…side。　Then　he　spoke；　in　a　low；　husky
voice：

〃They're　coming；　master！　You　and　your　mistress　must　to　earth　unless
you　mean　to　face　them　in　the　open；〃　and　the　pale　eyes　glittered　as　he
tapped　his　great　black　bow。

〃Who　are　coming；　Dick？　Be　plain；　man！〃

〃Sir　John　Clavering；　my　lady's　father；　young　John；　my　lady's　brother；
the　fine　French　lord　who　wears　a　white　swan　for　a　crest；　three　of　the
nights；　his　companions；　and　sixno　sevenmen…at…arms。　Also　from　the
other　side　of　the　grieve；　Thomas　of　Kessland；　and　with　him　his　marsh
men　and　verderers。〃

〃And　what　are　they　coming　for？〃　he　asked　again。　〃Have　they　hounds；　and
hawk　on　wrist？〃

〃Nay；　but　they　have　swords　and　knife　on　thigh；〃　and　he　let　his　pale
eyes　fall　on　Eve。

〃Oh；　have　done！〃　she　broke　in。　〃They　come　to　take　me；　and　I'll　not　be
taken！　They　come　to　kill　you；　and　I'll　not　see　you　slain　and　live。　I
had　words　with　my　father　this　morning　about　the　Frenchman　and；　I　fear；
let　out　the　truth。　He　told　me　then　that　ere　the　Dunwich　roses　bloomed
again　she　who　loved　you　would　have　naught　but　bones　to　kiss。　Dick；　you
know　the　fen；　where　can　we　hide　till　nightfall？〃

〃Follow　me；〃　said　the　man；　〃and　keep　low！〃

Plunging　into　the　dense　brake　of　reeds；　through　which　he　glided　like　a
polecat；　Dick　led　them　over　ground　whereon；　save　in　times　of　hard
frost；　no　man　could　tread；　heading　toward　the　river　bank。　For　two
hundred　paces　or　more　they　went　thus；　till；　quite　near　to　the　lip　of
the　stream；　they　came　to