. and now you are going too, who
could carry my thoughts out of these gray walls, and raise my
mind above tapestry and distaffs. what can i do? i am of no more
use or value than that broken bowstave."
"you are of such value to me," he cried, in a whirl of hot,
passionate words, "that all else has become nought. you are my
heart, my life, my one and only thought. oh, maude, i cannot
live without you, i cannot leave you without a word of love. all
is changed to me since i have known you. i am poor and lowly and
all unworthy of you; but if great love may weigh down such
defects, then mine may do it. give me but one word of hope to
take to the wars with me--but one. ah, you shrink, you shudder!
my wild words have frightened you."
twice she opened her lips, and twice no sound came from them. at
last she spoke in a hard and measured voice, as one who dare not
trust herself to speak too freely.
"this is over sudden," she said; "it is not so long since the
world was nothing to you. you have changed once; perchance you
may change again."
"cruel!" he cried, "who hath changed me?"
"and then your brother," she continued with a little laugh,
disregarding his question. "methinks this hath become a family
custom amongst the edricsons. nay, i am sorry; i did not mean a
jibe. but, indeed, alleyne, this hath come suddenly upon me, and
i scarce know what to say."
"say some word of hope, however distant--some kind word that i
may cherish in my heart."
"nay, alleyne, it were a cruel kindness, and you have been too
good and true a friend to me that i should use you despitefully.
there cannot be a closer link between us. it is madness to think
of it. were there no other reasons, it is enough that my father
and your brother would both cry out against it."
"my brother, what has he to do with it? and your father----"
"come, alleyne, was it not you who would have me act fairly to
all men, and, certes, to my father amongst them?"
"you say truly," he cried, "you say truly. but you do not reject
me, maude? you give me some ray of hope? i do not ask pledge or
promise. say only that i am not hateful to you--that on some
happier day i may hear kinder words from you."
her eyes softened upon him, and a kind answer was on her lips,
when a hoarse shout, with the clatter of arms and stamping of
steeds, rose up from the bailey below. at the sound her face set
her eyes sparkled, and she stood with flushed cheek and head
thrown back--a woman's body, with a soul of fire.
"my father hath gone down," she cried. "your place is by his
side. nay, look not at me, alleyne. it is no time for dallying.
win my father's love, and all may follow. it is when the brave
soldier hath done his devoir that he hopes for his reward,
farewell, and may god be with you!" she held out her white, slim
hand to him, but as he bent his lips over it she whisked away and
was gone, leaving in his outstretched hand the very green veil
for which poor peter terlake had craved in vain. again the
hoarse cheering burst out from below, and he heard the clang of
the rising portcullis. pressing the veil to his lips, he thrust
it into the bosom of his tunic, and rushed as fast as feet could
bear him to arm himself and join the muster.
the raw morning had broken ere the hot spiced ale had been served
round and the last farewell spoken. a cold wind blew up from the
sea and ragged clouds drifted swiftly across the sky.
the christchurch townsfolk stood huddled about the bridge of
avon, the women pulling tight their shawls and the men swathing
themselves in their gaberdines, while down the winding path from
the castle came the van of the little army, their feet clanging
on the hard, frozen road. first came black simon with his
banner, bestriding a lean and powerful dapple-gray charger, as
hard and wiry and warwise as himself. after him, riding three
abreast, were nine men-at-arms, all picked soldiers, who had
followed the french wars before, and knew the marches of picardy
as they knew the downs of their native hampshire. they were
armed to the teeth with lance, sword, and mace, with square
shields notched at the upper right-hand corner to serve as a
spear-rest. for defence each man wore a coat of interlaced
leathern thongs, strengthened at the shoulder, elbow, and upper
arm with slips of steel. greaves and knee-pieces were also of
leather backed by steel, and their gauntlets and shoes were of
iron plates, craftily jointed, so, with jingle of arms and
clatter of hoofs, they rode across the bridge of avon, while the
burghers shouted lustily for the flag of the five roses and its
gallant guard.
close at the heels of the horses came two-score archers bearded
and burly, their round targets on their backs and their long
yellow bows, the most deadly weapon that the
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