the wood beyond the world-第9章

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of　the　World；　and　I　a　poor　youth　that　without　thee　were　nothing！〃

She　answered　nought；　and　he　went　on　again：　　〃Was　it　not　so；　O
goddess；　that　this　man　of　the　sons　of　the　merchants　was　little
heedful　of　thee；　and　thy　loveliness　and　thy　majesty？〃

She　laughed　and　said：　　〃Maybe　he　deemed　not　that　he　had　much　to　gain
of　us；　seeing　thee　sitting　by　our　side；　and　whereas　we　spake　to　him
coldly　and　sternly　and　disdainfully。　　Withal；　the　poor　youth　was
dazzled　and　shamefaced　before　us；　that　we　could　see　in　the　eyes　and
the　mien　of　him。〃

Now　this　she　spoke　so　kindly　and　sweetly；　that　again　was　Walter　all
stirred　thereat；　and　it　came　into　his　mind　that　it　might　be　she　knew
he　was　anigh　and　hearing　her；　and　that　she　spake　as　much　for　him　as
for　the　King's　Son：　　but　that　one　answered：　　〃Lady；　didst　thou　not
see　somewhat　else　in　his　eyes；　to　wit；　that　they　had　but　of　late
looked　on　some　fair　woman　other　than　thee？　　As　for　me；　I　deem　it　not
so　unlike　that　on　the　way　to　thine　hall　he　may　have　fallen　in　with
thy　Maid。〃

He　spoke　in　a　faltering　voice；　as　if　shrinking　from　some　storm　that
might　come。　　And　forsooth　the　Lady's　voice　was　changed　as　she
answered；　though　there　was　no　outward　heat　in　it；　rather　it　was
sharp　and　eager　and　cold　at　once。　　She　said：　　〃Yea；　that　is　not　ill
thought　of；　but　we　may　not　always　keep　our　thrall　in　mind。　　If　it　be
so　as　thou　deemest；　we　shall　come　to　know　it　most　like　when　we　next
fall　in　with　her；　or　if　she　hath　been　shy　this　time；　then　shall　she
pay　the　heavier　for　it；　for　we　will　question　her　by　the　Fountain　in
the　Hall　as　to　what　betid　by　the　Fountain　of　the　Rock。〃

Spake　the　King's　Son；　faltering　yet　more：　　〃Lady；　were　it　not　better
to　question　the　man　himself？　the　Maid　is　stout…hearted；　and　will　not
be　speedily　quelled　into　a　true　tale；　whereas　the　man　I　deem　of　no
account。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　the　Lady　sharply；　〃it　shall　not　be。〃

Then　was　she　silent　a　while；　and　then　she　said：　　〃How　if　the　man
should　prove　to　be　our　master？〃

〃Nay；　our　Lady；〃　said　the　King's　Son；　〃thou　art　jesting　with　me；
thou　and　thy　might　and　thy　wisdom；　and　all　that　thy　wisdom　may
command；　to　be　over…mastered　by　a　gangrel　churl！〃

〃But　how　if　I　will　not　have　it　command；　King's　Son？〃　said　the　Lady。
〃I　tell　thee　I　know　thine　heart；　but　thou　knowest　not　mine。　　But　be
at　peace！　　For　since　thou　hast　prayed　for　this　womannay；　not　with
thy　words；　I　wot；　but　with　thy　trembling　hands；　and　thine　anxious
eyes；　and　knitted　browI　say；　since　thou　hast　prayed　for　her　so
earnestly；　she　shall　escape　this　time。　　But　whether　it　will　be　to
her　gain　in　the　long　run；　I　misdoubt　me。　　See　thou　to　that；　Otto！
thou　who　hast　held　me　in　thine　arms　so　oft。　　And　now　thou　mayest
depart　if　thou　wilt。〃

It　seemed　to　Walter　as　if　the　King's　Son　were　dumbfoundered　at　her
words：　　he　answered　nought；　and　presently　he　rose　from　the　ground；
and　went　his　ways　slowly　toward　the　house。　　The　Lady　lay　there　a
little　while；　and　then　went　her　ways　also；　but　turned　away　from　the
house　toward　the　wood　at　the　other　end　thereof；　whereby　Walter　had
first　come　thither。

As　for　Walter；　he　was　confused　in　mind　and　shaken　in　spirit；　and
withal　he　seemed　to　see　guile　and　cruel　deeds　under　the　talk　of
those　two；　and　waxed　wrathful　thereat。　　Yet　he　said　to　himself；　that
nought　might　he　do；　but　was　as　one　bound　hand　and　foot；　till　he　had
seen　the　Maid　again。



CHAPTER　XIII：　　NOW　IS　THE　HUNT　UP



Next　morning　was　he　up　betimes；　but　he　was　cast　down　and　heavy　of
heart；　not　looking　for　aught　else　to　betide　than　had　betid　those
last　four　days。　　But　otherwise　it　fell　out；　for　when　he　came　down
into　the　hall；　there　was　the　lady　sitting　on　the　high…seat　all
alone；　clad　but　in　a　coat　of　white　linen；　and　she　turned　her　head
when　she　heard　his　footsteps；　and　looked　on　him；　and　greeted　him；
and　said：　　〃Come　hither；　guest。〃

So　he　went　and　stood　before　her；　and　she　said：　　〃Though　as　yet　thou
hast　had　no　welcome　here；　and　no　honour；　it　hath　not　entered　into
thine　heart　to　flee　from　us；　and　to　say　sooth；　that　is　well　for
thee；　for　flee　away　from　our　hand　thou　mightest　not；　nor　mightest
thou　depart　without　our　furtherance。　　But　for　this　we　can　thee
thank；　that　thou　hast　abided　here　our　bidding　and　eaten　thine　heart
through　the　heavy　wearing　of　four　days；　and　made　no　plaint。　　Yet　I
cannot　deem　thee　a　dastard；　thou　so　well　knit　and　shapely　of　body；
so　clear…eyed　and　bold　of　visage。　　Wherefore　now　I　ask　thee；　art
thou　willing　to　do　me　service；　thereby　to　earn　thy　guesting？〃

Walter　answered　her；　somewhat　faltering　at　first；　for　he　was
astonished　at　the　change　which　had　come　over　her；　for　now　she　spoke
to　him　in　friendly　wise；　though　indeed　as　a　great　lady　would　speak
to　a　young　man　ready　to　serve　her　in　all　honour。　　Said　he：　　〃Lady；　I
can　thank　thee　humbly　and　heartily　in　that　thou　biddest　me　do　thee
service；　for　these　days　past　I　have　loathed　the　emptiness　of　the
hours；　and　nought　better　could　I　ask　for　than　to　serve　so　glorious　a
Mistress　in　all　honour。〃

She　frowned　somewhat；　and　said：　　〃Thou　shalt　not　call　me　Mistress；
there　is　but　one　who　so　calleth　me；　that　is　my　thrall；　and　thou　art
none　such。　　Thou　shalt　call　me　Lady；　and　I　shall　be　well　pleased
that　thou　be　my　squire；　and　for　this　present　thou　shalt　serve　me　in
the　hunting。　　So　get　thy　gear；　take　thy　bow　and　arrows；　and　gird
thee　to　thy　sword。　　For　in　this　fair　land　may　one　find　beasts　more
perilous　than　be　buck　or　hart。　　I　go　now　to　array　me；　we　will　depart
while　the　day　is　yet　young；　for　so　make　we　the　summer　day　the
fairest。〃

He　made　obeisance　to　her；　and　she　arose　and　went　to　her　chamber；　and
Walter　dight　himself；　and　then　abode　her　in　the　porch；　and　in　less
than　an　hour　she　came　out　of　the　hall；　and　Walter's　heart　beat　when
he　saw　that　the　Maid　followed　her　hard　at　heel；　and　scarce　might　he
school　his　eyes　not　to　gaze　over…eagerly　at　his　dear　friend。　　She
was　clad　even　as　she　was　before；　and　was　changed　in　no　wise；　save
that　love　troubled　her　face　when　she　first　beheld　him；　and　she　had
much　ado　to　master　it：　　howbeit　the　Mistress　heeded　not　the　trouble
of　her；　or　made　no　semblance　of　heeding　it；　till　the　Maiden's　face
was　all　according　to　its　wont。

But　this　Walter　found　strange；　that　after　all　that　disdain　of　the
Maid's　thralldom　which　he　had　heard　of　the　Mistress；　and　after　all
the　threats　against　her；　now　was　the　Mistress　become　mild　and
debonaire　to　her；　as　a　good　lady　to　her　good　maiden。　　When　Walter
bowed　the　knee　to　her；　she　turned　unto　the　Maid；　and　said：　　〃Look
thou；　my　Maid；　at　this　fair　new　Squire　that　I　have　gotten！　　Will　not
he　be　valiant　in　the　greenwood？　　And　see　whether　he　be　well　shapen
or　not。　　Doth　he　not　touch　thine　heart；　when　thou　thinkest　of　all
the　woe；　and　fear；　and　trouble　of　the　World　beyond　the　Wood；　which
he　hath　escaped；　to　dwell　in　this　little　land　peaceably；　and　well…
beloved　both　by　the　Mistress　and　the　Maid？　　And　thou；　my　Squire；
look　a　little　at　this　fair　slim　Maiden；　and　say　if　she　pleaseth　thee
not：　　didst　thou　deem　that　we　had　any　thing　so　fair　in　this　lonely
place？〃

Frank　and　kind　was　the　smile　on　her　radiant　visage；　nor　did　she　seem
to　note　any　whit　the　trouble　on　Walter's　face；　nor　how　he　strove　to
keep　his　eyes　from　the　Maid。　　As　for　her；　she　had　so　wholly　mastered
her　countenance；　that　belike　she　used　her　face　guilefully；　for　she
stood　as　one　humble　but　happy；　with　a　smile　on　her　face；　blushing；
and　with　her　head　hung　down　as　if　shamefaced　before　a　goodly　young
man；　a　stranger。

But　the　Lady　looked　upon　her　kindly　and　said：　　〃Come　hither；　child；
and　fear　not　this　frank　and　free　young　man；　who　belike　feareth　thee
a　little；　and　full　certainly　feareth　me；　and　yet　only　after　the
manner　of　men。〃

And　therewith　she　took　the　Maid　by　the　hand　and　drew　her　to　her；　and
pressed　her　to　her　bosom；　and　kissed　her　cheeks　and　her　lips；　and
undid　the　lacing　of　her　gown　and　bared　a　shoulder　of　her；　and　swept
away　her　skirt　from　her　feet；　and　then　turned　to　Walter　and　said：
〃Lo　thou；　Squire！　is　not　this　a　lovely　thing　to　have　grown　up
amongst　our　rough　oak…boles？　　What！　art　thou　looking　at　the　iron
ring　there？　　It　is　nought；　save　a　token　that　she　is　mine；　and　that　I
may　not　be　without　her。〃

Then　she　took　the　Maid　by　the　shoulders　and　turned　her　about　as　in
sport；　and　said：　　〃Go　thou　now；　and　bring　hither　the　good　grey　ones；
for　needs　must　we　bring　home　some　venison　to…day；　whereas　this　stout
warrior　may　not　feed　on　nought　save　manchets　and　honey。〃

So　the　Maid　went　her　way；　taking　care；　as　Walter　deemed；　to　give　no
side　glance　to　him。　　But　he　stood　there　shamefaced；　so　confused　with
all　this　openhearted　kindness　of　the　great　Lady　and　with　the　fresh
sight　of　the　darling　beauty　of　the　Maid；　that　he　went　nigh　to
thinking　that　all　he　had　heard　since　he　had　come　to　the　porch　of　the
house　that　first　time　was　but　a　dream　of　evil。

But　while　he　stood　pondering　these　matters；　and　staring　before　him
as　one　mazed；　the　Lady　laughed　out　in　his　face；　and　touched　him　on
the　arm　and　said：　　〃Ah；　our　Squire；　is　it　so　that　now　thou　hast　seen
my　Maid　thou　wouldst　with　a　good　will　abide　behind　to　talk　with　her？
But　call　to　mind　thy　word　pledged　to　me　e'en　now！　　And　moreover　I
tell　thee　this　for　thy　behoof　now　she　is　out　of　ear…shot；　that　I
will　above　all　things　take　thee　away　to…day：　　for　there　be　other
eyes；　and　they　nought　uncomely；　that　look　at　whiles　on　my　fair…
ankled　thrall；　and　who　knows　but　the　swords　might　be　out　if　I　take
not　the　better　heed；　and　give　thee　not　every　whit　of　thy　will。〃

As　she　spoke　and　moved　forward；　he　turned　a　little；　so　that　now　the
edge　of　that　hazel…coppice　was　within　his　eye…shot；　and　he　deemed
that　once　more　he　saw　the　yellow…brown　evil　thing　crawling　forth
from　the　thicket；　then；　turning　suddenly　on　the　Lady；　he　met　her
eyes；　and　seemed　in　one　moment　of　time　to　find　a　far　other　look　in
them　than　that　of　frankness　and　kindness；　though　in　a　flash　they
changed　back　again；　and　she　said　merrily　and　sweetly：　　〃So；　so；　Sir
Squire；　now　art　thou　awake　again；　and　mayest　for　a　little　while　look
on　me。〃

Now　it　came　into　his　head；　with　that　look　of　hers；　all　that　might
befall　him　and　the　Maid　if　he　mastered　not　his　passion；　nor　did　what
he　might　to　dissemble；　so　he　bent　the　knee　to　her；　and　spoke　boldly
to　her　in　her　own　vein；　and　said：　　〃Nay；　most　gracious　of　ladies；
never　would　I　abide　behind　to…day　since　thou　farest　afield。　　But　if
my　speech　be　hampered；　or　mine　eyes　stray；　is　it　not　because　my　mind
is　confused　by　thy　beauty；　and　the　honey　of　kind　words　which　floweth
from　thy　mouth？〃

She　laughed　outright　at　his　word；　but　not　disdainfully；　and　said：
〃This　is　well　spoken；　Squire；　and　even　what　a　squire　should　say　to
his　liege　lady；　when　the　sun　is　up　on　a　fair　morning；　and　she　and　he
and　all　the　world　are　glad。〃

She　stood　quite　near　him　as　she　spoke；　her　hand　was　on　his　shoulder；
and　her　eyes　shone　and　sparkled。　　Sooth　to　say；　that　excusing　of　his
confusion　was　like　enough　in　seeming　to　the　truth；　for　sure　never
creature　was　fashioned　fairer　than　she：　　clad　she　was　for　the
greenwood　as　the　hunting…goddess　of　the　Gentiles；　with　her　green
gown　gathered　unto　her　girdle；　and　sandals　on　her　feet；　a　bow　in　her
hand　and　a　quiver　at