the wood beyond the world-第6章

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Lady？〃

The　creature　let　out　another　wordless　roar　as　of　furious　anger；　and
then　the　words　came：　　〃It　hath　a　face　white　and　red；　like　to　thine；
and　hands　white　as　thine；　yea；　but　whiter；　and　the　like　it　is
underneath　its　raiment；　only　whiter　still：　　for　I　have　seen　Ityes；
I　have　seen　It；　ah　yes　and　yes　and　yes。〃

And　therewith　his　words　ran　into　gibber　and　yelling；　and　he　rolled
about　and　smote　at　the　grass：　　but　in　a　while　he　grew　quiet　again
and　sat　still；　and　then　fell　to　laughing　horribly　again；　and　then
said：　　〃But　thou；　fool；　wilt　think　It　fair　if　thou　fallest　into　Its
hands；　and　wilt　repent　it　thereafter；　as　I　did。　　Oh；　the　mocking　and
gibes　of　It；　and　the　tears　and　shrieks　of　It；　and　the　knife！　　What！
sayest　thou　of　my　Lady？What　Lady？　　O　alien；　what　other　Lady　is
there？　　And　what　shall　I　tell　thee　of　her？　it　is　like　that　she　made
me；　as　she　made　the　Bear　men。　　But　she　made　not　the　Wretch；　the
Thing；　and　she　hateth　It　sorely；　as　I　do。　　And　some　day　to　come〃

Thereat　he　brake　off　and　fell　to　wordless　yelling　a　long　while；　and
thereafter　spake　all　panting：　　〃Now　I　have　told　thee　overmuch；　and　O
if　my　Lady　come　to　hear　thereof。　　Now　I　will　go。〃

And　therewith　he　took　out　two　more　loaves　from　his　wallet；　and
tossed　them　to　Walter；　and　so　turned　and　went　his　ways；　whiles
walking　upright；　as　Walter　had　seen　his　image　on　the　quay　of
Langton；　whiles　bounding　and　rolling　like　a　ball　thrown　by　a　lad；
whiles　scuttling　along　on　all…fours　like　an　evil　beast；　and　ever　and
anon　giving　forth　that　harsh　and　evil　cry。

Walter　sat　a　while　after　he　was　out　of　sight；　so　stricken　with
horror　and　loathing　and　a　fear　of　he　knew　not　what；　that　he　might
not　move。　　Then　he　plucked　up　a　heart；　and　looked　to　his　weapons　and
put　the　other　loaves　into　his　scrip。

Then　he　arose　and　went　his　ways　wondering；　yea　and　dreading；　what
kind　of　creature　he　should　next　fall　in　with。　　For　soothly　it　seemed
to　him　that　it　would　be　worse　than　death　if　they　were　all　such　as
this　one；　and　that　if　it　were　so；　he　must　needs　slay　and　be　slain。



CHAPTER　X：　　WALTER　HAPPENETH　ON　ANOTHER　CREATURE　IN　THE　STRANGE　LAND



But　as　he　went　on　through　the　fair　and　sweet　land　so　bright　and　sun…
litten；　and　he　now　rested　and　fed；　the　horror　and　fear　ran　off　from
him；　and　he　wandered　on　merrily；　neither　did　aught　befall　him　save
the　coming　of　night；　when　he　laid　him　down　under　a　great　spreading
oak　with　his　drawn　sword　ready　to　hand；　and　fell　asleep　at　once；　and
woke　not　till　the　sun　was　high。

Then　he　arose　and　went　on　his　way　again；　and　the　land　was　no　worser
than　yesterday；　but　even　better；　it　might　be；　the　greensward　more
flowery；　the　oaks　and　chestnuts　greater。　　Deer　of　diverse　kinds　he
saw；　and　might　easily　have　got　his　meat　thereof；　but　he　meddled　not
with　them　since　he　had　his　bread；　and　was　timorous　of　lighting　a
fire。　　Withal　he　doubted　little　of　having　some　entertainment；　and
that；　might　be；　nought　evil；　since　even　that　fearful　dwarf　had　been
courteous　to　him　after　his　kind；　and　had　done　him　good　and　not　harm。
But　of　the　happening　on　the　Wretch　and　the　Thing；　whereof　the　dwarf
spake；　he　was　yet　somewhat　afeard。

After　he　had　gone　a　while　and　whenas　the　summer　morn　was　at　its
brightest；　he　saw　a　little　way　ahead　a　grey　rock　rising　up　from
amidst　of　a　ring　of　oak…trees；　so　he　turned　thither　straightway；　for
in　this　plain…land　he　had　seen　no　rocks　heretofore；　and　as　he　went
he　saw　that　there　was　a　fountain　gushing　out　from　under　the　rock；
which　ran　thence　in　a　fair　little　stream。　　And　when　he　had　the　rock
and　the　fountain　and　the　stream　clear　before　him；　lo！　a　child　of
Adam　sitting　beside　the　fountain　under　the　shadow　of　the　rock。　　He
drew　a　little　nigher；　and　then　he　saw　that　it　was　a　woman；　clad　in
green　like　the　sward　whereon　she　lay。　　She　was　playing　with　the
welling　out　of　the　water；　and　she　had　trussed　up　her　sleeves　to　the
shoulder　that　she　might　thrust　her　bare　arms　therein。　　Her　shoes　of
black　leather　lay　on　the　grass　beside　her；　and　her　feet　and　legs　yet
shone　with　the　brook。

Belike　amidst　the　splashing　and　clatter　of　the　water　she　did　not
hear　him　drawing　nigh；　so　that　he　was　close　to　her　before　she　lifted
up　her　face　and　saw　him；　and　he　beheld　her；　that　it　was　the　maiden
of　the　thrice…seen　pageant。　　She　reddened　when　she　saw　him；　and
hastily　covered　up　her　legs　with　her　gown…skirt；　and　drew　down　the
sleeves　over　her　arms；　but　otherwise　stirred　not。　　As　for　him；　he
stood　still；　striving　to　speak　to　her；　but　no　word　might　he　bring
out；　and　his　heart　beat　sorely。

But　the　maiden　spake　to　him　in　a　clear　sweet　voice；　wherein　was　now
no　trouble：　　〃Thou　art　an　alien；　art　thou　not？　　For　I　have　not　seen
thee　before。〃

〃Yea；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　an　alien；　wilt　thou　be　good　to　me？〃

She　said：　　〃And　why　not？　　I　was　afraid　at　first；　for　I　thought　it
had　been　the　King's　Son。　　I　looked　to　see　none　other；　for　of　goodly
men　he　has　been　the　only　one　here　in　the　land　this　long　while；　till
thy　coming。〃

He　said：　　〃Didst　thou　look　for　my　coming　at　about　this　time？〃

〃O　nay；〃　she　said；　〃how　might　I？〃

Said　Walter：　　〃I　wot　not；　but　the　other　man　seemed　to　be　looking　for
me；　and　knew　of　me；　and　he　brought　me　bread　to　eat。〃

She　looked　on　him　anxiously；　and　grew　somewhat　pale；　as　she　said：
〃What　other　one？〃

Now　Walter　did　not　know　what　the　dwarf　might　be　to　her；　fellow…
servant　or　what　not；　so　he　would　not　show　his　loathing　of　him；　but
answered　wisely：　　〃The　little　man　in　the　yellow　raiment。〃

But　when　she　heard　that　word；　she　went　suddenly　very　pale；　and
leaned　her　head　aback；　and　beat　the　air　with　her　hands；　but　said
presently　in　a　faint　voice：　　〃I　pray　thee　talk　not　of　that　one　while
I　am　by；　nor　even　think　of　him；　if　thou　mayest　forbear。〃

He　spake　not；　and　she　was　a　little　while　before　she　came　to　herself
again；　then　she　opened　her　eyes；　and　looked　upon　Walter　and　smiled
kindly　on　him；　as　though　to　ask　his　pardon　for　having　scared　him。
Then　she　rose　up　in　her　place；　and　stood　before　him；　and　they　were
nigh　together；　for　the　stream　betwixt　them　was　little。

But　he　still　looked　anxiously　upon　her　and　said：　　〃Have　I　hurt　thee？
I　pray　thy　pardon。〃

She　looked　on　him　more　sweetly　still；　and　said：　　〃O　nay；　thou
wouldst　not　hurt　me；　thou！〃

Then　she　blushed　very　red；　and　he　in　like　wise；　but　afterwards　she
turned　pale；　and　laid　a　hand　on　her　breast；　and　Walter　cried　out
hastily：　　〃O　me！　　I　have　hurt　thee　again。　　Wherein　have　I　done
amiss？〃

〃In　nought；　in　nought；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　am　troubled；　I　wot　not
wherefore；　some　thought　hath　taken　hold　of　me；　and　I　know　it　not。
Mayhappen　in　a　little　while　I　shall　know　what　troubles　me。　　Now　I
bid　thee　depart　from　me　a　little；　and　I　will　abide　here；　and　when
thou　comest　back；　it　will　either　be　that　I　have　found　it　out　or　not；
and　in　either　case　I　will　tell　thee。〃

She　spoke　earnestly　to　him；　but　he　said：　　〃How　long　shall　I　abide
away？〃

Her　face　was　troubled　as　she　answered　him：　　〃For　no　long　while。〃

He　smiled　on　her　and　turned　away；　and　went　a　space　to　the　other　side
of　the　oak…trees；　whence　she　was　still　within　eyeshot。　　There　he
abode　until　the　time　seemed　long　to　him；　but　he　schooled　himself　and
forbore；　for　he　said：　　Lest　she　send　me　away　again。　　So　he　abided
until　again　the　time　seemed　long　to　him；　and　she　called　not　to　him：
but　once　again　he　forbore　to　go；　then　at　last　he　arose；　and　his
heart　beat　and　he　trembled；　and　he　walked　back　again　speedily；　and
came　to　the　maiden；　who　was　still　standing　by　the　rock　of　the
spring；　her　arms　hanging　down；　her　eyes　downcast。　　She　looked　up　at
him　as　he　drew　nigh；　and　her　face　changed　with　eagerness　as　she
said：　　〃I　am　glad　thou　art　come　back；　though　it　be　no　long　while
since　thy　departure〃　（sooth　to　say　it　was　scarce　half　an　hour　in
all）。　　〃Nevertheless　I　have　been　thinking　many　things；　and　thereof
will　I　now　tell　thee。〃

He　said：　　〃Maiden；　there　is　a　river　betwixt　us；　though　it　be　no　big
one。　　Shall　I　not　stride　over；　and　come　to　thee；　that　we　may　sit
down　together　side　by　side　on　the　green　grass？〃

〃Nay；〃　she　said；　〃not　yet；　tarry　a　while　till　I　have　told　thee　of
matters。　　I　must　now　tell　thee　of　my　thoughts　in　order。〃

Her　colour　went　and　came　now；　and　she　plaited　the　folds　of　her　gown
with　restless　fingers。　　At　last　she　said：　　〃Now　the　first　thing　is
this；　that　though　thou　hast　seen　me　first　only　within　this　hour；
thou　hast　set　thine　heart　upon　me　to　have　me　for　thy　speech…friend
and　thy　darling。　　And　if　this　be　not　so；　then　is　all　my　speech；　yea
and　all　my　hope；　come　to　an　end　at　once。〃

〃O　yea！〃　said　Walter；　〃even　so　it　is：　　but　how　thou　hast　found　this
out　I　wot　not；　since　now　for　the　first　time　I　say　it；　that　thou　art
indeed　my　love；　and　my　dear　and　my　darling。〃

〃Hush；〃　she　said；　〃hush！　lest　the　wood　have　ears；　and　thy　speech　is
loud：　　abide；　and　I　shall　tell　thee　how　I　know　it。　　Whether　this　thy
love　shall　outlast　the　first　time　that　thou　holdest　my　body　in　thine
arms；　I　wot　not；　nor　dost　thou。　　But　sore　is　my　hope　that　it　may　be
so；　for　I　also；　though　it　be　but　scarce　an　hour　since　I　set　eyes　on
thee；　have　cast　mine　eyes　on　thee　to　have　thee　for　my　love　and　my
darling；　and　my　speech…friend。　　And　this　is　how　I　wot　that　thou
lovest　me；　my　friend。　　Now　is　all　this　dear　and　joyful；　and
overflows　my　heart　with　sweetness。　　But　now　must　I　tell　thee　of　the
fear　and　the　evil　which　lieth　behind　it。〃

Then　Walter　stretched　out　his　hands　to　her；　and　cried　out：　　〃Yea；
yea！　　But　whatever　evil　entangle　us；　now　we　both　know　these　two
things；　to　wit；　that　thou　lovest　me；　and　I　thee；　wilt　thou　not　come
hither；　that　I　may　cast　mine　arms　about　thee；　and　kiss　thee；　if　not
thy　kind　lips　or　thy　friendly　face　at　all；　yet　at　least　thy　dear
hand：　　yea；　that　I　may　touch　thy　body　in　some　wise？〃

She　looked　on　him　steadily；　and　said　softly：　　〃Nay；　this　above　all
things　must　not　be；　and　that　it　may　not　be　is　a　part　of　the　evil
which　entangles　us。　　But　hearken；　friend；　once　again　I　tell　thee
that　thy　voice　is　over　loud　in　this　wilderness　fruitful　of　evil。
Now　I　have　told　thee；　indeed；　of　two　things　whereof　we　both　wot；　but
next　I　must　needs　tell　thee　of　things　whereof　I　wot；　and　thou
wottest　not。　　Yet　this　were　better；　that　thou　pledge　thy　word　not　to
touch　so　much　as　one　of　my　hands；　and　that　we　go　together　a　little
way　hence　away　from　these　tumbled　stones；　and　sit　down　upon　the　open
greensward；　whereas　here　is　cover　if　there　be　spying　abroad。〃

Again；　as　she　spoke；　she　turned　very　pale；　but　Walter　said：　　〃Since
it　must　be　so；　I　pledge　thee　my　word　to　thee　as　I　love　thee。〃

And　therewith　she　knelt　down；　and　did　on　her　foot…gear；　and　then
sprang　lightly　over　the　rivulet；　and　then　the　twain　of　them　went
side　by　side　some　half　a　furlong　thence；　and　sat　down；　shadowed　by
the　boughs　of　a　slim　quicken…tree　growing　up　out　of　the　greensward；
whereon　for　a　good　space　around　was　neither　bush　nor　brake。

There　began　the　maiden　to　talk　soberly；　and　said：　　〃This　is　what　I
must　needs　say　to　thee　now；　that　thou　art　come　into　a　land　perilous
for　any　one　that　loveth　aught　of　good；　from　which；　forsooth；　I　were
fain　that　thou　wert　gotten　away　safely；　even　though　I　should　die　of
longing　for　thee。　　As　for　myself；　my　peril　is；　in　a　measure；　less