the caged lion-第43部分

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acramental　words　of　union　were　deferred　for　the　completion　of　the　rite。　　It　was　the　first　part　of　the　Marriage　Service；　binding　the　pair　so　indissolubly　to　one　another；　that　neither　could　enter　into　wedlock　with　any　one　else　as　long　as　the　other　livedexcept；　of　course；　by　Papal　dispensation；　and　in　cases　of　stolen　weddings；　it　was　all　that　was　deemed　needful。

All　therefore　that　remained　to　be　done　was；　that　the　Bishop　summoned　his　chaplain　to　serve　as　a　witness　and　as　scribe；　and　then　the　two　young　people；　in　their　deep　mourning　dresses；　standing　before　the　Bishop；　vowed　to　belong　to　none　other　than　to　one　another；　and　the　betrothal　rings　being　produced；　were　placed　on　their　fingers；　and　their　hands　were　clasped。　　Malcolm's　was　steady；　as　he　felt　Esclairmonde's　rest　in　his　untrembling；　but　with　the　quietness　of　one　who　trusted　all　in　all　where　she　trusted　at　all。

'Poor　children！　they　have　all　to　learn；'　hilariously　shouted　the　Countess。　　'They　have　forgotten　the　kiss！'

'Will　you　suffer　it；　my　sister？'　said　Malcolm；　with　burning　cheeks。

'My　brother　and　my　guardian！'　responded　Esclairmonde；　raising　the　white　brow　to　his　lips。

At　that　moment　back　went　the　door；　and　in　flew　Alice　Montagu；　crying　aloud；　'Clairette！　the　Queenoh；　Madame；　your　pardon！　but　I　am　sent　for　Esclairmonde。　　The　Queen　is　in　worse　fits　than　ever。　　Sir　Lewis　can't　get　the　ring　from　her。　　They　think　she　will　rave　like　her　father　presently！　　Come！'

Esclairmonde　could　only　hurry　away　at　this；　while　Alice；　grasping　her　hand；　continued：

'Oh；　have　they　been　persecuting　you？　　I　dreaded　it　when　I　saw　yon　little　wretch；　butoh；　Esclairmonde；　what　is　this？'　in　an　utterly　changed　voice。

'He　holds　my　faith　in　trust。　　He　will　restore　it；'　said　Esclairmonde；　hurriedly。

But　Lady　Montagu　spoke　not　another　word；　and；　indeed；　they　were　hard　upon　the　English　queen's　rooms；　whence　they　already　heard　hysterical　screams　of　passion。

Jaqueline　had　immediately　set　forth　in　the　same　direction　out　of　curiosity；　and　Malcolm　in　much　anxiety；　since　the　mission　that　he　had　been　cautioned　to　guard　so　jealously　seemed　in　danger　of　being　known　everywhere。　　He　had　himself　been　allowed　to　stand　by　the　Queen's　bedside；　and　rehearse　James's　message；　but　when　he　had　further　hinted　of　his　being　sent　by　Bedford　to　bring　the　ring；　the　Queen；　perhaps　at　the　mention　of　the　brother…in…law；　pouted；　knew　nothing　of　any　ring；　and　supposed　M。　le　Duc　meant　to　strip　her；　a　poor　desolate　widow；　of　all　her　jewels。

Then　Malcolm　had　spoken　in　private　with　Sir　Lewis　Robsart；　who　knew　the　ring　was　among　her　jewels；　and　promised　to　get　it　for　him　as　soon　as　was　possible；　and　it　was　while　waiting　for　this　that　Malcolm　had　been　summoned　to　the　Countess　of　Hainault's　apartments。

But　ere　Sir　Lewis　could　get　the　ear　of　the　Queen；　as　he　now　told　Malcolm；　her　mother　had　been　with　her。　　Catherine　was　dull；　jealous；　unwilling　to　part　with　anything；　but　always　easily　coaxed　over。　　Her　mother　Isabeau　had；　on　the　other　hand；　a　good　deal　of　low　cunning　and　selfishness；　and　understood　how　valuable　an　instrument　might　be　a　duplicate　seal　of　a　deceased　monarch。　　Therefore　she　instigated　her　daughter　to　deny　that　she　possessed　it；　and　worked　her　up　into　a　state　of　impracticability；　in　which　Sir　Lewis　Robsart　was　unable　to　deal　with　her；　and　only　produced　so　wild　a　tempest　of　passion　as　perfectly　to　appal　both　him　and　her　ladies。

That　the　Duke　of　Bedford　had　sent　for　a　ring；　which　she　would　not　give　up；　was　known　over　the　whole　palace；　the　only　matter　still　not　perhaps　known　was；　what　was　the　value　of　that　individual　ring。

Robsart；　however；　promised　to　exonerate　Malcolm　from　having　shown　any　indiscretion；　he　charged　it　all　on　himself　for　having　left　his　Queen　for　an　instant　to　Isabeau。

Meanwhile；　Malcolm　and　he；　with　other　nobles　and　ladies；　waited；　waited　in　the　outer　chamber；　listening　to　the　fearful　storm　of　shrieks　and　cries；　till　they　began　to　spend　themselves　and　die　away；　and　then　they　heard　Esclairmonde's　low　voice　singing　her　lullaby；　and　every　one　breathed　freer；　as　though　relieved；　and　murmurs　of　conversation　rose　again。　　Malcolm　moved　across　to　greet　the　Lady　Montagu；　and　though　she　looked　at　him　with　all　the　disdain　her　little　gentle　face　could　accomplish；　he　had　somehow　a　spring　and　strength　in　him　that　could　not　now　be　brow…beaten。

He　bent　over　her；　and　said；　'Lady；　I　see　you　know　all。　　It　is　but　a　trust。'

'If　you　so　treat　it；　Sir；　you　will　do　well；'　responded　the　young　matron；　with　as　much　stern　gravity　as　she　could　assume；　the　fact　being　that　she　longed　to　break　down　and　cry　heartily；　that　Esclairmonde　should　so　far　have　failed；　and　become　like　other　people。

Long；　long　they　waitedMalcolm　with　a　strange　dreamy　feeling　at　his　heart；　neither　triumph　nor　disappointment；　but　something　between　both；　and　peace　above　all。　　Dinner　was　served　in　the　hall；　the　company　returned　to　the　outer　apartment；　yet　still　all　was　silent　within；　till　at　last；　late　in　the　afternoon；　there　came　a　black　figure　forth　from　under　the　black　hangings；　and　Esclairmonde；　turning　to　Lady　Warwick；　said；　'The　Queen　is　awake；　and　desires　her　ladies'　presence。'　　And　then　coming　towards　Malcolm；　who　was　standing　near　Sir　Lewis　Robsart；　she　placed　in　his　hand　the　signet…ring。

Both；　while　the　attendants　of　the　Queen　filed　back　into　her　chamber；　eagerly　demanded　how　the　ring　had　been　obtained。

'Poor　lady！'　said　Esclairmonde；　'she　was　too　much　spent　to　withhold　anything。　　She　was　weak　and　exhausted　with　cries　and　tears；　and　when　she　had　slept；　she　was　as　meek　as　a　lamb；　and　there　was　no　more　ado　but　to　bid　her　remember　that　the　blessed　King　her　lord　would　have　bidden　her　let　the　ring　be　broken　up　at　once；　lest　it　should　be　used　so　as　to　harm　her　son。'

That　Esclairmonde　had　prevailed　by　that　gentle　force　of　character　which　no　one　could　easily　resist；　could　not；　however；　be　doubted　for　a　moment；　and　a　fresh　thrill　of　amazement；　and　almost　of　joy；　came　over　Malcolm　at　the　sense　that　he　had　become　the　protector　of　such　a　being；　and　that　in　a　sort　she　belonged　to　him；　and　was　in　his　power；　having　trusted　herself　to　him。

Robsart　advised；　and　Esclairmonde　concurred　in　the　counsel；　that　Lord　Glenuskie　should　set　forth　for　Vincennes　immediately；　before　there　should　be　time　for　any　more　cabals；　or　for　Queen　Isabeau　to　have　made　her　daughter　repent　of　having　delivered　up　the　signet…ring。

Malcolm　therefore　at　once　took　leave　of　his　affianced；　venturing　to　kiss　her　hand　as　he　looked　wistfully　in　her　face；　and　said；　'Dear　lady；　how　shall　I　thank　you　for　this　trust？'

Esclairmonde　gave　her　sweet　grave　smile；　as　she　said；　'To　God's　keeping　I　commend　you；　Sir。'　　She　would　not　even　bid　him　be　true　to　his　trust；　it　would　have　seemed　to　her　to　insult　him　in　whom　her　confidence　was　placed；　and　she　only　added：　　'I　shall　ever　bless　you　for　having　saved　me。　　Farewell！　　Now　am　I　bound　for　ever　to　pray　for　you　and　your　sister。'

And　it　would　be　impossible　to　tell　how　the　sense　of　Esclairmonde's　trust；　and　of　the　resolute　self…denial　it　would　require　of　him；　elevated　Malcolm's　whole　tone；　and　braced　his　mind。　　The　taking　away　of　his　original　high　purpose　had　rendered　him　as　aimless　and　pleasure…loving　as　any　ordinary　lad；　but　the　situation　in　which　he　now　stoodguarding　this　saintly　being　for　her　chosen　destiny；　at　the　expense　of　all　possible　earthly　projects　for　his　own　happiness　or　ambitionwas　such　as　to　bring　out　that　higher　side　of　his　nature　that　had　well…nigh　collapsed。　　As　he　stood　alone　in　the　ante…room；　waiting　until　his　horse　and　escort　should　be　ready　for　his　return；　a　flood　of　happiness　seemed　to　gush　over　him。　　Esclairmonde　was　no　more　his　own；　indeed；　than　was　King　Henry's　signet；　but　the　trust　was　very　precious；　and　gave　him　at　least　the　power　of　thinking　of　her　as　joined　by　a　closer　link　than　even　his　sister　Lilias。　　And　towards　her　his　conscience　was　again　clear；　for　this　very　betrothal　put　marriage　out　of　the　question　for　him；　and　was　a　real　seal　of　his　dedication。　He　only　felt　as　if　his　heart　ought　not　to　be　so　light　and　peaceful；　while　his　penance　was　still　unsaid；　his　absolution　not　yet　pronounced。



CHAPTER　XV：　　THE　TRUST



James　of　Scotland　and　John　of　Bedford　sat　together　in　the　twilight　of　a　long　and　weary　day；　spent　by　the　one　in　standing　like　a　statue　at　the　head　of　his　deceased　friend　as　a　part　of　the　pageant　of　the　lying…in…state　in　the　chapel；　whither　multitudes　had　crowded　throughout　the　day　to　see　the　'mighty　victor；　mighty　lord；　lie　low　on　his　funeral　couch；'　the　nobles　gazing　with　a　certain　silent　and　bitter　satisfaction　at　him　who　had　not　only　broken　the　pride　of　their　country；　but　had　with　his　iron　hand　repressed　their　own　private　exactions；　while　the　poor　and　the　peasants　openly　bewailed　him　as　the　father　and　the　friend　who　had　stood　between　them　and　their　harsh　feudal　lords。　　By　the　other；　the　hours　had　passed　in　the　press　of　toil　and　perplexity　that　had　fallen　on　him　as　the　yet　unaccredited　representative　of　English　power　in　France；　and　in　writing　letters　to　those　persons　at　home　from　whom　he　must　derive　his　authority。　　The　hour　of　rest　and　relaxation　was　welcome　to　both；　though　they　chiefly　spent　it　each　leaning　back　in　his　chair　in　silence。

'Your　messenger　is　not　come　back；'　said　Bedford；　presently；　rousing　himself。

'It　may　have　been　no　easy　task；'　replied　James；　not　however　without　uneasiness。

'I　would；'　said　Bedford；　presently；　'that　I　had　writ　the　matter　straight　to　Robsart。　　The　lad　is　weak；　and　may　be　tampered　with。'

'He　knows　that　I　have　pledged　my　honour　for　him；'　said　James。

Bedford's　thin　lips　moved　at　the　corners。

'Nay；'　said　James；　not　angrily；　'the　youth　hath　in　some　measure　disappointed　me。　　The　evil　in　him　shot　forth　faster　than　the　good　under　this　camp　life；　but　methinks　there　is　in　him　a　certain　rare　quality　of　soul　that　I　loved　him　for　at　the　first；　and　though　it　hath　lain　asleep　all　this　time；　yet　what　he　hath　now　seen　seemed　to　me　about　to　work　the　change　in　him。'

'It　may　be　so；'　said　Bedford；　'and　yet　I　would　I　had　not　consented　to　his　going　where　that　woman　of　Hainault　might　work　on　him　to　fret　the　Lady　Esclairmonde。'

James　started　somewhat　as　he　remembered　overruling　this　objection　of　Malcolm's　own　making。　　'She　cannot　have　the　insolence；'