ghtly colored tapestry, representing the achievements of sir
bevis of hampton, and behind this convenient screen were stored
the tables dormant and benches which would be needed for banquet
or high festivity. the floor was of polished tiles, with a
square of red and black diapered flemish carpet in the centre;
and many settees, cushions, folding chairs, and carved bancals
littered all over it. at the further end was a long black buffet
or dresser, thickly covered with gold cups, silver salvers, and
other such valuables. all this alleyne examined with curious
eyes; but most interesting of all to him was a small ebony table
at his very side, on which, by the side of a chess-board and the
scattered chessmen, there lay an open manuscript written in a
right clerkly hand, and set forth with brave flourishes and
devices along the margins. in vain alleyne bethought him of
where he was, and of those laws of good breeding and decorum
which should restrain him: those colored capitals and black even
lines drew his hand down to them, as the loadstone draws the
needle, until, almost before he knew it, he was standing with the
romance of garin de montglane before his eyes, so absorbed in its
contents as to be completely oblivious both of where he was and
why he had come there.
he was brought back to himself, however, by a sudden little
ripple of quick feminine laughter. aghast, he dropped the
manuscript among the chessmen and stared in bewilderment round
the room. it was as empty and as still as ever. again he
stretched his hand out to the romance, and again came that
roguish burst of merriment. he looked up at the ceiling, back at
the closed door, and round at the stiff folds of motionless
tapestry. of a sudden, however, he caught a quick shimmer from
the corner of a high-backed bancal in front of him, and, shifting
a pace or two to the side, saw a white slender hand, which held a
mirror of polished silver in such a way that the concealed
observer could see without being seen. he stood irresolute,
uncertain whether to advance or to take no notice; but, even as
he hesitated, the mirror was whipped in, and a tall and stately
young lady swept out from behind the oaken screen, with a dancing
light of mischief in her eyes. alleyne started with astonishment
as he recognized the very maiden who had suffered from his
brother's violence in the forest. she no longer wore her gay
riding-dress, however, but was attired in a long sweeping robe of
black velvet of bruges, with delicate tracery of white lace at
neck and at wrist, scarce to be seen against her ivory skin.
beautiful as she had seemed to him before, the lithe charm of her
figure and the proud, free grace of her bearing were enhanced now
by the rich simplicity of her attire.
"ah, you start," said she, with the same sidelong look of
mischief, "and i cannot marvel at it. didst not look to see the
distressed damosel again. oh that i were a minstrel, that i
might put it into rhyme, with the whole romance--the luckless
maid, the wicked socman, and the virtuous clerk! so might our
fame have gone down together for all time, and you be numbered
with sir percival or sir galahad, or all the other rescuers of
oppressed ladies."
"what i did," said alleyne, "was too small a thing for thanks;
and yet, if i may say it without offence, it was too grave and
near a matter for mirth and raillery. i had counted on my
brother's love, but god has willed that it should be otherwise.
it is a joy to me to see you again, lady, and to know that you
have reached home in safety, if this be indeed your home."
"yes, in sooth, castle twynham is my home, and sir nigel loring
my father, i should have told you so this morning, but you said
that you were coming thither, so i bethought me that i might hold
it back as a surprise to you. oh dear, but it was brave to see
you!" she cried, bursting out a-laughing once more, and standing
with her hand pressed to her side, and her half-closed eyes
twinkling with amusement. "you drew back and came forward with
your eyes upon my book there, like the mouse who sniffs the
cheese and yet dreads the trap."
"i take shame," said alleyne, "that i should have touched it."
"nay, it warmed my very heart to see it. so glad was i, that i
laughed for very pleasure. my fine preacher can himself be
tempted then, thought i; he is not made of another clay to the
rest of us."
"god help me! i am the weakest of the weak," groaned alleyne.
"i pray that i may have more strength."
"and to what end?" she asked sharply. "if you are, as i
understand, to shut yourself forever in your cell within the four
walls of an abbey, then of what use would it be were your prayer
to be answered?"
"the use of my own salvation."
she turned from him with a pretty shrug and wave. "is that all?"
she s
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