the little duke-第18章

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〃Take　that　dog　away；〃　said　Lothaire；　imperiously。　　No　one　moved　to　obey　him；　and　the　dog；　in　seeking　for　scraps；　again　came　towards　him。

〃Take　it　away；〃　he　repeated；　and　struck　it　with　his　foot。　　The　dog　growled；　and　Richard　started　up　in　indignation。

〃Prince　Lothaire；〃　he　said；　〃I　care　not　what　else　you　do；　but　my　dogs　and　my　people　you　shall　not　maltreat。〃

〃I　tell　you　I　am　Prince！　　I　do　what　I　will！　　Ha！　who　laughs　there？〃　cried　the　passionate　boy；　stamping　on　the　floor。

〃It　is　not　so　easy　for　French　Princes　to　scourge　free…born　Normans　here；〃　said　the　rough　voice　of　Walter　the　huntsman：　　〃there　is　a　reckoning　for　the　stripe　my　Lord　Duke　bore　for　me。〃

〃Hush；　hush；　Walter；〃　began　Richard；　but　Lothaire　had　caught　up　a　footstool；　and　was　aiming　it　at　the　huntsman；　when　his　arm　was　caught。

Osmond；　who　knew　him　well　enough　to　be　prepared　for　such　outbreaks；　held　him　fast　by　both　hands；　in　spite　of　his　passionate　screams　and　struggles；　which　were　like　those　of　one　frantic。

Sir　Eric；　meanwhile；　thundered　forth　in　his　Norman　patois；　〃I　would　have　you　to　know；　young　Sir；　Prince　though　you　be；　you　are　our　prisoner；　and　shall　taste　of　a　dungeon；　and　bread　and　water；　unless　you　behave　yourself。〃

Either　Lothaire　did　not　hear；　or　did　not　believe；　and　fought　more　furiously　in　Osmond's　arms；　but　he　had　little　chance　with　the　stalwart　young　warrior；　and；　in　spite　of　Richard's　remonstrances；　he　was　carried　from　the　hall；　roaring　and　kicking；　and　locked　up　alone　in　an　empty　room。

〃Let　him　alone　for　the　present；〃　said　Sir　Eric；　putting　the　Duke　aside；　〃when　he　knows　his　master；　we　shall　have　peace。〃

Here　Richard　had　to　turn；　to　reassure　Carloman；　who　had　taken　refuge　in　a　dark　corner；　and　there　shook　like　an　aspen　leaf；　crying　bitterly；　and　starting　with　fright；　when　Richard　touched　him。

〃Oh；　do　not　put　me　in　the　dungeon。　　I　cannot　bear　the　dark。〃

Richard　again　tried　to　comfort　him；　but　he　did　not　seem　to　hear　or　heed。　　〃Oh！　they　said　you　would　beat　and　hurt　us　for　what　we　did　to　you！　but；　indeed；　it　was　not　I　that　burnt　your　cheek！〃

〃We　would　not　hurt　you　for　worlds；　dear　Carloman；　Lothaire　is　not　in　the　dungeonhe　is　only　shut　up　till　he　is　good。〃

〃It　was　Lothaire　that　did　it；〃　repeated　Carloman；　〃and；　indeed；　you　must　not　be　angry　with　me；　for　my　mother　was　so　cross　with　me　for　not　having　stopped　Osmond　when　I　met　him　with　the　bundle　of　straw；　that　she　gave　me　a　blow；　that　knocked　me　down。　　And　were　you　really　there；　Richard？〃

Richard　told　his　story；　and　was　glad　to　find　Carloman　could　smile　at　it；　and　then　Fru　Astrida　advised　him　to　take　his　little　friend　to　bed。　　Carloman　would　not　lie　down　without　still　holding　Richard's　hand；　and　the　little　Duke　spared　no　pains　to　set　him　at　rest；　knowing　what　it　was　to　be　a　desolate　captive　far　from　home。

〃I　thought　you　would　be　good　to　me；〃　said　Carloman。　　〃As　to　Lothaire；　it　serves　him　right；　that　you　should　use　him　as　he　used　you。〃

〃Oh；　no；　Carloman；　if　I　had　a　brother　I　would　never　speak　so　of　him。〃

〃But　Lothaire　is　so　unkind。〃

〃Ah！　but　we　must　be　kind　to　those　who　are　unkind　to　us。〃

The　child　rose　on　his　elbow；　and　looked　into　Richard's　face。　　〃No　one　ever　told　me　so　before。〃

〃Oh；　Carloman；　not　Brother　Hilary？〃

〃I　never　heed　Brother　Hilaryhe　is　so　lengthy；　and　wearisome；　besides；　no　one　is　ever　kind　to　those　that　hate　them。〃

〃My　father　was；〃　said　Richard。

〃And　they　killed　him！〃　said　Carloman。

〃Yes；〃　said　Richard；　crossing　himself；　〃but　he　is　gone　to　be　in　peace。〃

〃I　wonder　if　it　is　happier　there；　than　here；〃　said　Carloman。　　〃I　am　not　happy。　　But　tell　me　why　should　we　be　good　to　those　that　hate　us？〃

〃Because　the　holy　Saints　wereand　look　at　the　Crucifix；　Carloman。　That　was　for　them　that　hated　Him。　　And；　don't　you　know　what　our　Pater　Noster　says？〃

Poor　little　Carloman　could　only　repeat　the　Lord's　Prayer　in　Latinhe　had　not　the　least　notion　of　its　meaningin　which　Richard　had　been　carefully　instructed　by　Father　Lucas。　　He　began　to　explain　it；　but　before　many　words　had　passed　his　lips；　little　Carloman　was　asleep。

The　Duke　crept　softly　away　to　beg　to　be　allowed　to　go　to　Lothaire；　he　entered　the　room；　already　dark；　with　a　pine　torch　in　his　hand；　that　so　flickered　in　the　wind；　that　he　could　at　first　see　nothing；　but　presently　beheld　a　dark　lump　on　the　floor。

〃Prince　Lothaire；〃　he　said；　〃here　is〃

Lothaire　cut　him　short。　　〃Get　away；〃　he　said。　　〃If　it　is　your　turn　now；　it　will　be　mine　by　and　by。　　I　wish　my　mother　had　kept　her　word；　and　put　your　eyes　out。〃

Richard's　temper　did　not　serve　for　such　a　reply。　　〃It　is　a　foul　shame　of　you　to　speak　so；　when　I　only　came　out　of　kindness　to　youso　I　shall　leave　you　here　all　night；　and　not　ask　Sir　Eric　to　let　you　out。〃

And　he　swung　back　the　heavy　door　with　a　resounding　clang。　　But　his　heart　smote　him　when　he　told　his　beads；　and　remembered　what　he　had　said　to　Carloman。　　He　knew　he　could　not　sleep　in　his　warm　bed　when　Lothaire　was　in　that　cold　gusty　room。　　To　be　sure；　Sir　Eric　said　it　would　do　him　good；　but　Sir　Eric　little　knew　how　tender　the　French　Princes　were。

So　Richard　crept　down　in　the　dark；　slid　back　the　bolt；　and　called；　〃Prince；　Prince；　I　am　sorry　I　was　angry。　　Come　out；　and　let　us　try　to　be　friends。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　said　Lothaire。

〃Come　out　of　the　cold　and　dark。　　Here　am　I。　　I　will　show　you　the　way。　Where　is　your　hand？　　Oh；　how　cold　it　is。　　Let　me　lead　you　down　to　the　hall　fire。〃

Lothaire　was　subdued　by　fright；　cold；　and　darkness；　and　quietly　allowed　Richard　to　lead　him　down。　　Round　the　fire；　at　the　lower　end　of　the　hall；　snored　half…a…dozen　men…at…arms；　at　the　upper　hearth　there　was　only　Hardigras；　who　raised　his　head　as　the　boys　came　in。　Richard's　whisper　and　soft　pat　quieted　him　instantly；　and　the　two　little　Princes　sat　on　the　hearth　together；　Lothaire　surprised；　but　sullen。　　Richard　stirred　the　embers；　so　as　to　bring　out　more　heat；　then　spoke：　　〃Prince；　will　you　let　us　be　friends？〃

〃I　must；　if　I　am　in　your　power。〃

〃I　wish　you　would　be　my　guest　and　comrade。〃

〃Well；　I　will；　I　can't　help　it。〃

Richard　thought　his　advances　might　have　been　more　graciously　met；　and；　having　little　encouragement　to　say　more；　took　Lothaire　to　bed；　as　soon　as　he　was　warm。



CHAPTER　XI



As　the　Baron　had　said；　there　was　more　peace　now　that　Lothaire　had　learnt　to　know　that　he　must　submit；　and　that　no　one　cared　for　his　threats　of　his　father's　or　his　mother's　vengeance。　　He　was　very　sulky　and　disagreeable；　and　severely　tried　Richard's　forbearance；　but　there　were　no　fresh　outbursts；　and；　on　the　whole；　from　one　week　to　another；　there　might　be　said　to　be　an　improvement。　　He　could　not　always　hold　aloof　from　one　so　good…natured　and　good…humoured　as　the　little　Duke；　and　the　fact　of　being　kept　in　order　could　not　but　have　some　beneficial　effect　on　him；　after　such　spoiling　as　his　had　been　at　home。

Indeed；　Osmond　was　once　heard　to　say；　it　was　a　pity　the　boy　was　not　to　be　a　hostage　for　life；　to　which　Sir　Eric　replied；　〃So　long　as　we　have　not　the　training　of　him。〃

Little　Carloman；　meanwhile；　recovered　from　his　fears　of　all　the　inmates　of　the　Castle　excepting　Hardigras；　at　whose　approach　he　always　shrank　and　trembled。

He　renewed　his　friendship　with　Osmond；　no　longer　started　at　the　entrance　of　Sir　Eric；　laughed　at　Alberic's　merry　ways；　and　liked　to　sit　on　Fru　Astrida's　lap；　and　hear　her　sing；　though　he　understood　not　one　word；　but　his　especial　love　was　still　for　his　first　friend；　Duke　Richard。　　Hand…in…hand　they　went　about　together；　Richard　sometimes　lifting　him　up　the　steep　steps；　and；　out　of　consideration　for　him；　refraining　from　rough　play；　and　Richard　led　him　to　join　with　him　in　those　lessons　that　Father　Lucas　gave　the　children　of　the　Castle；　every　Friday　and　Sunday　evening　in　the　Chapel。　　The　good　Priest　stood　on　the　Altar　steps；　with　the　children　in　a　half　circle　round　himthe　son　and　daughter　of　the　armourer；　the　huntsman's　little　son；　the　young　Baron　de　Montemar；　the　Duke　of　Normandy；　and　the　Prince　of　France；　all　were　equal　thereand　together　they　learnt；　as　he　explained　to　them　the　things　most　needful　to　believe；　and　thus　Carloman　left　off　wondering　why　Richard　thought　it　right　to　be　good　to　his　enemies；　and　though　at　first　he　had　known　less　than　even　the　little　leather…coated　huntsman；　he　seemed　to　take　the　holy　lessons　in　faster　than　any　of　themyes；　and　act　on　them；　too。　　His　feeble　health　seemed　to　make　him　enter　into　their　comfort　and　meaning　more　than　even　Richard；　and　Alberic　and　Father　Lucas　soon　told　Fru　Astrida　that　it　was　a　saintly…minded　child。

Indeed；　Carloman　was　more　disposed　to　thoughtfulness；　because　he　was　incapable　of　joining　in　the　sports　of　the　other　boys。　　A　race　round　the　court　was　beyond　his　strength；　the　fresh　wind　on　the　battlements　made　him　shiver　and　cower；　and　loud　shouting　play　was　dreadful　to　him。　　In　old　times；　he　used　to　cry　when　Lothaire　told　him　he　must　have　his　hair　cut；　and　be　a　priest；　now；　he　only　said　quietly；　he　should　like　it　very　much；　if　he　could　be　good　enough。

Fru　Astrida　sighed　and　shook　her　head；　and　feared　the　poor　child　would　never　grow　up　to　be　anything　on　this　earth。　　Great　as　had　been　the　difference　at　first　between　him　and　Richard；　it　was　now　far　greater。　　Richard　was　an　unusually　strong　boy　for　ten　years　old；　upright　and　broad…chested；　and　growing　very　fast；　while　Carloman　seemed　to　dwindle；　stooped　forward　from　weakness；　had　thin　pinched　features；　and　sallow　cheeks；　looking　like　a　plant　kept　in　the　dark。

The　old　Baron　said　that　hardy；　healthy　habits　would　restore　the　puny　children；　and　Lothaire　improved　in　health；　and　therewith　in　temper；　but　his　little　brother　had　not　strength　enough　to　bear　the　seasoning。　He　pined　and　drooped　more　each　day；　and　as　the　autumn　came　on；　and　the　wind　was　chilly；　he　grew　worse；　and　was　scarcely　ever　off　the　lap　of　the　kind　Lady　Astrida。　　It　was　not　a　settled　sickness；　but　he　grew　weaker；　and　wasted　away。　　They　made　up　a　little　couch　for　him　by　the　fire；　with　the　high　settle　between　it　and　the　door；　to　keep　off　the　draughts；　and　there　he　used　patiently　to　lie；　hour　after　hour；　speaking　feebly；　or　smiling　and　seeming　pleased；　when　any　one　of　those　he　loved　approached。　　He　liked　Father　Lucas　to　come　and　say　prayers　with　him；　and　he　never　failed　to　have　a　glad　look；　when　his　dear　little　Duke　came　to　talk　to　him；　in　his　cheerful　voice；　about　his　rides　and　his　hunting　and　hawking　adventures。　　Richard's　sick　guest　took　up　much　of　his　thoughts；　and　he　never　willingly　spent　many　hours　at　a　distance　from　him；　softening　his　step　and　lowering　his　voice；　as　he　entered　the　hall；　lest　Carloman　should　be　asleep。

〃Richard；　is　it　you？〃　said　the　little　boy；　as　the　young　figure　came　round　the　settle　in　the　darkening　twilight。

〃Yes。　　How　do　you　feel　now；　Carloman；　are　you　better？〃

〃No　better；　thanks；　dear　Richard；〃　and　the　little　wasted　fingers　were　put　into　his。

〃Has　the　pain　come　again？〃

〃No；　I　have　been　lying　still；　musing；　Richard；　I　shall　never　be　better。〃

〃Oh；　do　not　say　so！　　You　will；　indeed　you　will；　when　spring　comes。〃

〃I　feel　as　if　I　should　die；〃　said　the　little　boy；　〃I　think　I　shall。　But　do　not　grieve；　Richard。　　I　do　not　feel　much　afraid。　　You　said　it　was　happier　there　than　here；　and　I　know　it　now。〃

〃Where　my　blessed　father　is；〃　said　Richard；　thoughtfully。　　〃But　oh；　Ca