the caged lion-第3部分

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is　armour；　old　Sir　David　exclaimed；　'Ha！　never　did　I　see　such　a　likeness。　　Patie；　you　should　be　old　enough　to　remember；　do　you　not　see　it？'

'What　should　I　see？　　Who　is　he　like？'　asked　Patrick；　surprised　at　his　father's　manner。

'Who？'　whispered　Sir　David　in　a　lowered　voice；　'do　you　not　see　it？　to　the　unhappy　lad；　the　Duke　of　Rothsay。'

Patrick　could　not　help　smiling；　for　he　had　been　scarcely　seven　years　old　at　the　time　of　the　murder　of　the　unfortunate　Prince　of　Scotland；　hut　a　flush　of　colour　rose　into　the　face　of　the　guest；　and　he　shortly　answered；　'So　I　have　been　told；'　and　then　assuming　a　seat　near　Sir　David；　he　entered　into　conversation　with　him　upon　the　condition　of　Scotland　at　the　period；　inquiring　into　the　state　of　many　of　the　families　and　districts　by　name。　　Almost　always　there　was　but　one　answermurderharryingforay；　and　when　the　question　followed；　'What　had　the　Regent　done？'　there　was　a　shrug　of　the　shoulders；　and　as　often　Sir　James's　face　flushed　with　a　dark　red　fire；　and　his　hand　clenched　at　the　hilt　of　the　sword　by　his　side。

'And　is　there　not　a　man　in　Scotland　left　to　strike　for　the　right？'　he　demanded　at　last；　'cannot　nobles；　clergy；　and　burghers；　band　themselves　in　parliament　to　put　down　Albany　and　his　bloody　house；　and　recall　their　true　head？'

'They　love　to　have　it　so；'　returned　Sir　David　sadly。　　'United；　they　might　be　strong　enough；　but　each　knows　that　his　fellow；　Douglas；　Lennox；　March；　or　Mar；　would　be　ready　to　play　the　same　game　as　Albany；　and　to　raise　a　rival　none　will　stir。'

'And　so；'　proceeded　Sir　James；　bitterly；　'the　manhood　of　Scotland　goes　forth　to　waste　itself　in　an　empty　foreign　war；　merely　to　keep　France　in　as　wretched　a　state　of　misrule　as　itself。'

'Nay；　nay；　Sir；'　cried　Patrick　angrily；　'it　is　to　save　an　ancient　ally　from　the　tyranny　of　our　foulest　foe。　　It　is　the　only　place　where　a　Scotsman　can　seek　his　fortune　with　honour；　and　without　staining　his　soul　with　foul　deeds。　　Bring　our　King　home；　and　every　sword　shall　be　at　his　service。'

'What；　when　they　have　all　been　lavished　on　the　crazy　Frenchman？'　said　Sir　James。

'No；　Sir；'　said　Patrick；　rising　in　his　vehemence；　'when　they　have　been　brightened　there　by　honourable　warfare；　not　tarnished　by　home　barbarities。'

'He　speaks　truly；'　said　Sir　David；　'and　though　it　will　go　to　my　heart　to　part　with　the　lad；　yet　may　I　not　say　a　word　to　detain　him　in　a　land　where　the　contagion　of　violence　can　scarce　be　escaped　by　a　brave　man。'

Sir　James　gave　a　deep　sigh　as　of　pain；　but　as　if　to　hinder　its　being　remarked；　promptly　answered；　'That　may　be；　but　what　is　to　be　the　lot　of　a　land　whose　honest　men　desert　her　cause　as　too　evil　for　them；　and　seek　out　another；　that　when　seen　closer　is　scarce　less　evil？'

'How；　Sir！'　cried　Patrick；　'you　a　prisoner　of　England；　yet　speaking　against　our　noble　French　allies；　so　foully　trampled　on？'

'I　have　lived　long　enough　in　England；'　returned　Sir　James；　'to　think　that　land　happiest　where　law　is　strong　enough　to　enforce　peace　and　order。'

'The　coward　loons！'　muttered　Patrick；　chiefly　out　of　the　spirit　of　opposition。

'You　have　been　long　in　England；　Sir？'　said　Lilias；　hoping　to　direct　the　conversation　into　a　more　peaceful　current。

'Many　years；　fair　lady；'　he　replied；　turning　courteously　to　her；　'I　was　taken　when　I　was　a　mere　lad；　but　I　have　had　gentle　captors；　and　no　over　harsh　prison。'

'And　has　no　one　ransomed　you？'　she　asked　pitifully；　as　one　much　moved　by　a　certain　patience　on　his　brow；　and　in　his　sweet　full　voice。

'No　one；　lady。　　My　uncle　was　but　too　willing　that　the　heir　should　be　kept　aloof；　and　it　is　only　now　he　is　dead；　that　I　have　obtained　leave　from　my　friendly　captor　to　come　in　search　of　my　ransom。'

Lilias　would　have　liked　to　know　the　amount；　but　it　was　not　manners　to　ask；　since　the　rate　of　ransom　was　the　personal　value　of　the　knight；　and　her　uncle　put　in　the　question；　who　was　his　keeper。

'The　Earl　of　Somerset；'　rather　hastily　answered　Sir　James；　and　then　at　once　Lilias　exclaimed；　'Ah；　Uncle；　is　not　the　King；　too；　in　his　charge？'　　And　then　questions　crowded　on。　　'What　like　is　the　King？　How　brooks　he　his　durance？　　What　freedom　hath　he？　　What　hope　is　there　of　his　return？　　Can　he　brook　to　hear　of　his　people's　wretchedness？'

This　was　the　first　question　at　which　Sir　James　attempted　to　unclose　his　hitherto　smiling　and　amused　lip。　　Then　it　quivered；　and　the　dew　glittered　in　his　eyes　as　he　answered；　'Brook　it！　　No　indeed；　lady。　His　heart　burns　within　him　at　every　cry　that　comes　over　the　Border；　and　will　well…nigh　burst　at　what　I　have　seen　and　heard！　　King　Harry　tells　him　that　to　send　him　home　were　but　tossing　him　on　the　swords　of　the　Albany。　　Better；　better　so；　to　die　in　one　grapple　for　his　country's　sake；　than　lie　bound；　hearing　her　bitter　wails；　and　unable　to　stir　for　her　redress！'　and　as　he　dashed　the　indignant　tear　from　his　eyes；　Patrick　caught　his　hand。

'Your　heart　is　in　the　right　place；　friend；'　he　said；　'I　look　on　you　as　an　honest　man　and　brother　in　arms　from　this　moment。'

''Tis　a　bargain；'　said　Sir　James；　the　smile　returning；　and　his　eyes　again　glistening　as　he　wrung　Sir　Patrick's　hand。　　'When　the　hour　comes　for　the　true　rescue　of　Scotland；　we　will　strike　together。'

'And　you　will　tell　the　King；'　added　Patrick；　'that　here　are　true　hearts；　and　I　could　find　many　more；　only　longing　to　fence　him　from　the　Albany　swords；　about　which　King　Harry　is　so　good　as　to　fash　himself。'

'But　what　like　is　the　King？'　asked　Lilias　eagerly。　　'Oh；　I　would　fain　see　him。　　Is　it　true　that　he　was　the　tallest　man　at　King　Harry's　sacring？　more　shame　that　he　were　there！'

'He　and　I　are　much　of　a　height；　lady；'　returned　the　knight。　　'Maybe　I　may　give　you　the　justest　notion　of　him　by　saying　that　I　am　said　to　be　his　very　marrow。'

'That　explains　your　likeness　to　the　poor　Duke；'　said　Sir　David；　satisfied；　'and　you　too　count　kindred　with　our　royal　house；　methinks？'

'I　am　sprung　from　Walter　the　Stewart；　so　much　I　know；　my　lands　lie　Carrick…wards；'　said　Sir　James　lightly；　'but　I　have　been　a　prisoner　so　long；　that　the　pedigree　of　my　house　was　never　taught　me；　and　I　can　make　no　figure　in　describing　my　own　descent。'　　And　as　though　to　put　an　end　to　the　inquiry；　he　walked　to　the　window；　where　Malcolm　so　soon　as　they　had　begun　to　talk　of　the　misrule　of　Scotland；　had　ensconced　himself　in　the　window…seat　with　his　new　book；　making　the　most　of　the　failing　light；　and　asked　him　whether　the　Monk　of　Iona　equalled　his　expectations。

Malcolm　was　not　easy　to　draw　out　at　first；　but　it　presently　appeared　that　he　had　been　baffled　by　a　tough　bit　of　Latinity。　　The　knight　looked；　and　readily　expounded　the　sentence；　so　that　all　became　plain；　and　then；　as　it　was　already　too　dark　to　pursue　the　study　with　comfort；　he　stood　over　the　boy；　talking　to　him　of　books　and　of　poems；　while　the　usually　pale；　listless；　uninterested　countenance　responded　by　looks　of　eager　delight　and　flushing　colour。

It　seemed　as　though　each　were　equally　pleased　with　the　other：　　Sir　James；　at　finding　so　much　knowledge　and　understanding　in　a　Scottish　castle；　and　Malcolm；　at；　for　the　first　time；　meeting　anything　but　contempt　for　his　tastes　from　aught　but　an　ecclesiastic。

Their　talk　continued　till　they　were　summoned　to　supper；　which　had　been　somewhat　delayed　to　provide　for　the　new…comers。　　It　was　a　simple　enough　meal；　suited　to　Lent；　and　was　merely　of　dried　fish；　with　barley　bread　and　kail　brose；　but　there　were　few　other　places　in　Scotland　where　it　would　have　been　served　with　so　much　of　the　refinement　that　Sir　David　Drummond　and　his　late　wife　had　learnt　in　France。　　A　tablecloth　and　napkins；　separate　trenchers；　and　water　for　hand　cleansing；　were　not　always　to　be　found　in　the　houses　of　the　nobles；　and　in　fact；　there　were　those　who　charged　Malcolm's　delicacy　and　timidity　on　the　nisete　or　folly　of　his　effeminate　education；　the　having　the　rushes　on　the　floor　frequently　changed；　the　preference　of　lamps　for　pine　torches；　and　the　not　keeping　falcons；　dogs；　swine；　and　all；　pell　mell　in　the　great　hall。

Lilias　sat　between　her　uncle　and　his　guest；　looking　so　fair　and　bright　that　Patrick　felt　fresh　accesses　of　angry　jealousy；　while　the　visitor　talked　as　one　able　to　report　to　the　natives　from　another　world；　and　that　world　the　hateful　England；　which　as　a　Scotsman　he　was　bound　to　abhor。　　Had　it　been　France；　it　had　been　endurable；　but　praise　of　English　habits　was　mere　disloyalty；　and　yet；　whenever　Patrick　tried　to　throw　in　a　disparaging　word；　he　found　himself　met　with　a　quiet　superiority　such　as　he　had　believed　no　knight　in　Scotland　could　assume　with　him；　and　still　it　was　neither　brow…beating　nor　insolence；　nothing　that　could　give　offence。

Malcolm　begged　to　know　whether　there　had　not　been　a　rare　good　poet　in　England；　called　Chaucer。　　Verily　there　had　been；　said　the　knight；　and　on　a　little　solicitation；　so　soon　as　supper　was　over；　he　recited　to　the　eager　and　delighted　auditors　the　tale　of　patient　Grisel；　as　rendered　by　Chaucer；　calling　forth　eager　comments　from　both　Patrick　and　Lily；　on　the　unknightliness　of　the　Marquis。　　Malcolm；　however；　added；　'Yet；　after　all；　she　was　but　a　mere　peasant　wench。'

'What　makes　that；　young　Sir？'　replied　Sir　James　gravely。　　'I　would　have　you　to　know　that　the　husband's　rank　is　the　wife's；　and　the　more　unequal　were　their　lot　before；　the　more　is　he　bound　to　respect　her；　and　to　make　her　be　respected。'

'That　may　be；　after　the　deed　is　done；'　said　Sir　David；　in　a　warning　voice；　'but　it　is　not　well　that　like　should　not　match　with　like。　Many　an　evil　have　I　seen　in　my　time；　from　unequal　mating。'

'And；　Sir；'　eagerly　exclaimed　Patrick；　'no　doubt　you　can　gainsay　the　slander；　that　our　noble　King　has　been　caught　in　the　toils　of　an　artful　Englishwoman；　and　been　drawn　in　to　promise　her　a　share　in　his　crown。'

A　flush　of　crimson　flamed　forth　on　Sir　James　Stewart's　cheeks；　and　his　tawny　eye　glanced　with　a　fire　like　red　lightning；　but　he　seemed；　as　it　were；　to　be　holding　himself　in；　and　answered　with　a　voice　forcibly　kept　low　and　calm；　and　therefore　the　more　terribly　stern；　'Young　Sir；　I　warn　you　to　honour　your　future　queen。'

Sir　David　made　a　gesture　with　his　hand；　enforcing　restraint　upon　his　son；　and　turning　to　Sir　James；　said；　'Our　queen　will　we　honour；　when　such　she　is；　Sir；　but　if　you　are　returning　to　the　King；　it　were　well　that　he　should　kn