the little duke-第2章

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Duke　William　listened；　and　smiled；　and　seemed　as　well　pleased　to　hear　as　the　boy　was　to　tell。　　〃And；　Richard；〃　said　he　at　last；　〃have　you　nought　to　tell　me　of　Father　Lucas；　and　his　great　book？　　What；　not　a　word？　　Look　up；　Richard；　and　tell　me　how　it　goes　with　the　learning。〃　｛3｝

〃Oh；　father！〃　said　Richard；　in　a　low　voice；　playing　with　the　clasp　of　his　father's　belt；　and　looking　down；　〃I　don't　like　those　crabbed　letters　on　the　old　yellow　parchment。〃

〃But　you　try　to　learn　them；　I　hope！〃　said　the　Duke。

〃Yes；　father；　I　do；　but　they　are　very　hard；　and　the　words　are　so　long；　and　Father　Lucas　will　always　come　when　the　sun　is　so　bright；　and　the　wood　so　green；　that　I　know　not　how　to　bear　to　be　kept　poring　over　those　black　hooks　and　strokes。〃

〃Poor　little　fellow；〃　said　Duke　William；　smiling　and　Richard；　rather　encouraged；　went　on　more　boldly。　　〃You　do　not　know　this　reading；　noble　father？〃

〃To　my　sorrow；　no；〃　said　the　Duke。

〃And　Sir　Eric　cannot　read；　nor　Osmond；　nor　any　one；　and　why　must　I　read；　and　cramp　my　fingers　with　writing；　just　as　if　I　was　a　clerk；　instead　of　a　young　Duke？〃　　Richard　looked　up　in　his　father's　face；　and　then　hung　his　head；　as　if　half…ashamed　of　questioning　his　will；　but　the　Duke　answered　him　without　displeasure。

〃It　is　hard；　no　doubt；　my　boy；　to　you　now；　but　it　will　be　the　better　for　you　in　the　end。　　I　would　give　much　to　be　able　myself　to　read　those　holy　books　which　I　must　now　only　hear　read　to　me　by　a　clerk；　but　since　I　have　had　the　wish；　I　have　had　no　time　to　learn　as　you　have　now。〃

〃But　Knights　and　Nobles　never　learn；〃　said　Richard。

〃And　do　you　think　it　a　reason　they　never　should？　　But　you　are　wrong；　my　boy；　for　the　Kings　of　France　and　England；　the　Counts　of　Anjou；　of　Provence；　and　Paris；　yes；　even　King　Hako　of　Norway；　｛4｝　can　all　read。〃

〃I　tell　you；　Richard；　when　the　treaty　was　drawn　up　for　restoring　this　King　Louis　to　his　throne；　I　was　ashamed　to　find　myself　one　of　the　few　crown　vassals　who　could　not　write　his　name　thereto。〃

〃But　none　is　so　wise　or　so　good　as　you；　father；〃　said　Richard；　proudly。　　〃Sir　Eric　often　says　so。〃

〃Sir　Eric　loves　his　Duke　too　well　to　see　his　faults；〃　said　Duke　William；　〃but　far　better　and　wiser　might　I　have　been；　had　I　been　taught　by　such　masters　as　you　may　be。　　And　hark；　Richard；　not　only　can　all　Princes　here　read；　but　in　England；　King　Ethelstane　would　have　every　Noble　taught；　they　study　in　his　own　palace；　with　his　brothers；　and　read　the　good　words　that　King　Alfred　the　truth…teller　put　into　their　own　tongue　for　them。〃

〃I　hate　the　English；〃　said　Richard；　raising　his　head　and　looking　very　fierce。

〃Hate　them？　and　wherefore？〃

〃Because　they　traitorously　killed　the　brave　Sea　King　Ragnar！　　Fru　Astrida　sings　his　death…song；　which　he　chanted　when　the　vipers　were　gnawing　him　to　death；　and　he　gloried　to　think　how　his　sons　would　bring　the　ravens　to　feast　upon　the　Saxon。　　Oh！　had　I　been　his　son；　how　I　would　have　carried　on　the　feud！　　How　I　would　have　laughed　when　I　cut　down　the　false　traitors；　and　burnt　their　palaces！〃　　Richard's　eye　kindled；　and　his　words；　as　he　spoke　the　old　Norse　language；　flowed　into　the　sort　of　wild　verse　in　which　the　Sagas　or　legendary　songs　were　composed；　and　which；　perhaps；　he　was　unconsciously　repeating。

Duke　William　looked　grave。

〃Fru　Astrida　must　sing　you　no　more　such　Sagas；〃　said　he；　〃if　they　fill　your　mind　with　these　revengeful　thoughts；　fit　only　for　the　worshippers　of　Odin　and　Thor。　　Neither　Ragnar　nor　his　sons　knew　better　than　to　rejoice　in　this　deadly　vengeance；　but　we；　who　are　Christians；　know　that　it　is　for　us　to　forgive。〃

〃The　English　had　slain　their　father！〃　said　Richard；　looking　up　with　wondering　dissatisfied　eyes。

〃Yes；　Richard；　and　I　speak　not　against　them；　for　they　were　even　as　we　should　have　been；　had　not　King　Harold　the　fair…haired　driven　your　grandfather　from　Denmark。　　They　had　not　been　taught　the　truth；　but　to　us　it　has　been　said；　'Forgive；　and　ye　shall　be　forgiven。'　　Listen　to　me；　my　son；　Christian　as　is　this　nation　of　ours；　this　duty　of　forgiveness　is　too　often　neglected；　but　let　it　not　be　so　with　you。　Bear　in　mind；　whenever　you　see　the　Cross　｛5｝　marked　on　our　banner；　or　carved　in　stone　on　the　Churches；　that　it　speaks　of　forgiveness　to　us；　but　of　that　pardon　we　shall　never　taste　if　we　forgive　not　our　enemies。　　Do　you　mark　me；　boy？〃

Richard　hesitated　a　little；　and　then　said；　〃Yes；　father；　but　I　could　never　have　pardoned；　had　I　been　one　of　Ragnar's　sons。〃

〃It　may　be　that　you　will　be　in　their　case；　Richard；〃　said　the　Duke；　〃and　should　I　fall；　as　it　may　well　be　I　shall；　in　some　of　the　contests　that　tear　to　pieces　this　unhappy　Kingdom　of　France；　then；　remember　what　I　say　now。　　I　charge　you；　on　your　duty　to　God　and　to　your　father；　that　you　keep　up　no　feud；　no　hatred；　but　rather　that　you　should　deem　me　best　revenged；　when　you　have　with　heart　and　hand；　given　the　fullest　proof　of　forgiveness　to　your　enemy。　　Give　me　your　word　that　you　will。〃

〃Yes；　father；〃　said　Richard；　with　rather　a　subdued　tone；　and　resting　his　head　on　his　father's　shoulder。　　There　was　a　silence　for　a　little　space；　during　which　he　began　to　revive　into　playfulness；　to　stroke　the　Duke's　short　curled　beard；　and　play　with　his　embroidered　collar。

In　so　doing；　his　fingers　caught　hold　of　a　silver　chain；　and　pulling　it　out　with　a　jerk；　he　saw　a　silver　key　attached　to　it。　　〃Oh；　what　is　that？〃　he　asked　eagerly。　　〃What　does　that　key　unlock？〃

〃My　greatest　treasure；〃　replied　Duke　William；　as　he　replaced　the　chain　and　key　within　his　robe。

〃Your　greatest　treasure；　father！　　Is　that　your　coronet？〃

〃You　will　know　one　day；〃　said　his　father；　putting　the　little　hand　down　from　its　too　busy　investigations；　and　some　of　the　Barons　at　that　moment　returning　into　the　hall；　he　had　no　more　leisure　to　bestow　on　his　little　son。

The　next　day；　after　morning　service　in　the　Chapel；　and　breakfast　in　the　hall；　the　Duke　again　set　forward　on　his　journey；　giving　Richard　hopes　he　might　return　in　a　fortnight's　time；　and　obtaining　from　him　a　promise　that　he　would　be　very　attentive　to　Father　Lucas；　and　very　obedient　to　Sir　Eric　de　Centeville。



CHAPTER　II



One　evening　Fru　Astrida　sat　in　her　tall　chair　in　the　chimney　corner；　her　distaff；　with　its　load　of　flax　in　her　hand；　while　she　twisted　and　drew　out　the　thread；　and　her　spindle　danced　on　the　floor。　　Opposite　to　her　sat；　sleeping　in　his　chair；　Sir　Eric　de　Centeville；　Osmond　was　on　a　low　bench　within　the　chimney　corner；　trimming　and　shaping　with　his　knife　some　feathers　of　the　wild　goose；　which　were　to　fly　in　a　different　fashion　from　their　former　one；　and　serve；　not　to　wing　the　flight　of　a　harmless　goose；　but　of　a　sharp　arrow。

The　men　of　the　household　sat　ranged　on　benches　on　one　side　of　the　hall；　the　women　on　the　other；　a　great　red　fire；　together　with　an　immense　flickering　lamp　which　hung　from　the　ceiling；　supplied　the　light；　the　windows　were　closed　with　wooden　shutters；　and　the　whole　apartment　had　a　cheerful　appearance。　　Two　or　three　large　hounds　were　reposing　in　front　of　the　hearth；　and　among　them　sat　little　Richard　of　Normandy；　now　smoothing　down　their　broad　silken　ears；　now　tickling　the　large　cushions　of　their　feet　with　the　end　of　one　of　Osmond's　feathers；　now　fairly　pulling　open　the　eyes　of　one　of　the　good…natured　sleepy　creatures；　which　only　stretched　its　legs；　and　remonstrated　with　a　sort　of　low　groan；　rather　than　a　growl。　　The　boy's　eyes　were；　all　the　time；　intently　fixed　on　Dame　Astrida；　as　if　he　would　not　lose　one　word　of　the　story　she　was　telling　him；　how　Earl　Rollo；　his　grandfather；　had　sailed　into　the　mouth　of　the　Seine；　and　how　Archbishop　Franco；　of　Rouen；　had　come　to　meet　him　and　brought　him　the　keys　of　the　town；　and　how　not　one　Neustrian　of　Rouen　had　met　with　harm　from　the　brave　Northmen。　　Then　she　told　him　of　his　grandfather's　baptism；　and　how　during　the　seven　days　that　he　wore　his　white　baptismal　robes；　he　had　made　large　gifts　to　all　the　chief　churches　in　his　dukedom　of　Normandy。

〃Oh；　but　tell　of　the　paying　homage！〃　said　Richard；　〃and　how　Sigurd　Bloodaxe　threw　down　simple　King　Charles！　　Ah！　how　would　I　have　laughed　to　see　it！〃

〃Nay；　nay；　Lord　Richard；〃　said　the　old　lady；　〃I　love　not　that　tale。　That　was　ere　the　Norman　learnt　courtesy；　and　rudeness　ought　rather　to　be　forgotten　than　remembered；　save　for　the　sake　of　amending　it。　　No；　I　will　rather　tell　you　of　our　coming　to　Centeville；　and　how　dreary　I　thought　these　smooth　meads；　and　broad　soft　gliding　streams；　compared　with　mine　own　father's　fiord　in　Norway；　shut　in　with　the　tall　black　rocks；　and　dark　pines　above　them；　and　far　away　the　snowy　mountains　rising　into　the　sky。　　Ah！　how　blue　the　waters　were　in　the　long　summer　days　when　I　sat　in　my　father's　boat　in　the　little　fiord；　and〃

Dame　Astrida　was　interrupted。　　A　bugle　note　rang　out　at　the　castle　gate；　the　dogs　started　to　their　feet；　and　uttered　a　sudden　deafening　bark；　Osmond　sprung　up；　exclaiming；　〃Hark！〃　and　trying　to　silence　the　hounds；　and　Richard　running　to　Sir　Eric；　cried；　〃Wake；　wake；　Sir　Eric；　my　father　is　come！　　Oh；　haste　to　open　the　gate；　and　admit　him。〃

〃Peace；　dogs！〃　said　Sir　Eric；　slowly　rising；　as　the　blast　of　the　horn　was　repeated。　　〃Go；　Osmond；　with　the　porter；　and　see　whether　he　who　comes　at　such　an　hour　be　friend　or　foe。　　Stay　you　here；　my　Lord；〃　he　added；　as　Richard　was　running　after　Osmond；　and　the　little　boy　obeyed；　and　stood　still；　though　quivering　all　over　with　impatience。

〃Tidings　from　the　Duke；　I　should　guess；〃　said　Fru　Astrida。　　〃It　can　scarce　be　himself　at　such　an　hour。〃

〃Oh；　it　must　be；　dear　Fru　Astrida！〃　said　Richard。　　〃He　said　he　would　come　again。　　Hark；　there　are　horses'　feet　in　the　court！　　I　am　sure　that　is　his　black　charger's　tread！　　And　I　shall　not　be　there　to　hold　his　stirrup！　　Oh！　　Sir　Eric；　let　me　go。〃

Sir　Eric；　always　a　man　of　few　words；　only　shook　his　head；　and　at　that　moment　steps　were　heard　on　the　stone　stairs。　　Again　Richard　was　about　to　spring　forward；　when　Osmond　returned；　his　face　showing；　at　a　glance；　that　something　was　amiss；　but　all　that　he　said　was；　〃Count　Bernard　of　Harcourt；　and　Sir　Rainulf　de　Ferrieres；〃　and　he　stood　aside　to　let　them　pass。

Richard　stood　still　in　the　midst　of　the　hall；　disappointed。　　Without　greeting　to　Sir　Eric；　or　to　any　within　the　hall；　the　Count　of　Harcourt　came　forward　to　Richard；　bent　his　knee　before　him；　took　his　hand；　and　said　with　a　broken　voice　and　heaving　breast；　〃Richard；　Duke　of　Normandy；　I　am　thy　liegeman　and　true　vassal；〃　then　rising　from　his　knees　while　Rainulf　de　Ferrieres　went　through　the　same　form；　the　old　man　covered　his　face　with　his　hands　and　wept　aloud。

〃Is　it　even　so？〃　said　the　Baron　de　Centeville；　and　being　answered　by　a　mournful　look　and　sigh　from　Ferrieres；　he　too　bent　before　the　boy；　and　repeated　the　words；　〃I　am　thy　liegeman　and　true　vassal；　and　swear　fealty　to　thee　for　my　castle　and　barony　of　Centeville。〃

〃Oh；　no；　no！〃　cried　Richard；　drawing　back　his　hand　in　a　sort　of　agony；　feeling　as　if　he　was　in　a　frightful　dream　from　which　he　could　not　awake。　　〃What　means　it？　　Oh！　　Fru　Astrida；　tell　me　what　means　it？　Where　is　my　father？〃

〃Alas；　my　child！〃　said　the　old　lady；　putting　her　arm　round　him；　and　drawing　him　close　to　her；　whilst　her　tears　flowed　fast；　and　Richard　stood；　reassured　by　her　embrace；　listening　with　eyes　open　wide；　and　deep　oppressed　breathing；　to　what　was　passing