diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 234-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 106459 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 234-h/234-h.htm | 6088 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 234.txt | 5156 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 234.zip | bin | 0 -> 101868 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/chilc10.txt | 5802 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/chilc10.zip | bin | 0 -> 108672 bytes |
9 files changed, 17062 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/234-h.zip b/234-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed1d30c --- /dev/null +++ b/234-h.zip diff --git a/234-h/234-h.htm b/234-h/234-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aae4f94 --- /dev/null +++ b/234-h/234-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6088 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair, by William Morris + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Child Christopher, by William Morris + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Child Christopher + +Author: William Morris + +Release Date: July 1, 2008 [EBook #234] +Last Updated: February 6, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHILD CHRISTOPHER *** + + + + +Produced by John Hamm and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + CHILD CHRISTOPHER <br /> AND GOLDILIND THE FAIR + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + by William Morris + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h3> + 1895 + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. OF THE KING OF OAKENREALM, AND HIS + WIFE AND HIS CHILD. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. OF THE KING'S SON. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. OF THE KING OF MEADHAM AND HIS + DAUGHTER. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. OF THE MAIDEN GOLDILIND. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. GOLDILIND COMES TO GREENHARBOUR. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. HOW ROLF THE MARSHAL DREAMS A DREAM + AND COMES TO THE CASTLE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. HOW CHRISTOPHER WENT A JOURNEY + INTO THE WILD-WOOD. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. CHRISTOPHER COMES TO THE TOFTS. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. SQUIRE SIMON COMES BACK TO + OAKENHAM. THE EARL MARSHAL TAKEN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. OF CHRISTOPHER AT THE TOFTS. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. HOW CHRISTOPHER CAME TO LITTLEDALE + TO ABIDE THERE A WHILE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. OF GOLDILIND IN THE MAY MORNING AT + GREENHARBOUR. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. OF GOLDILIND IN THE GARTH. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. GOLDILIND GOES FREE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV. OF GOLDILIND IN THE WILD-WOOD. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI. WHAT GOLDILIND FOUND IN THE WOOD. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII. GOLDILIND COMES BACK TO + GREENHARBOUR. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII. EARL GEOFFREY SPEAKS WITH + GOLDILIND. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX. EARL GEOFFREY SPEAKETH WITH + CHRISTOPHER. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0020"> CHAPTER XX. OF THE WEDDING OF CHRISTOPHER AND + GOLDILIND. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0021"> CHAPTER XXI. OF THE WEDDING OF THOSE TWAIN. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0022"> CHAPTER XXII. OF THE WOODLAND BRIDE-CHAMBER. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0023"> CHAPTER XXIII. THEY FALL IN WITH FRIENDS. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0024"> CHAPTER XXIV. THEY TAKE COUNSEL AT LITTLEDALE. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0025"> CHAPTER XXV. NOW THEY ALL COME TO THE TOFTS. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0026"> CHAPTER XXVI. OF THE KING OF OAKENREALM. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0027"> CHAPTER XXVII. OF THE HUSTING OF THE TOFTS. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0028"> CHAPTER XXVIII. OF THE HOSTING IN HAZELDALE. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0029"> CHAPTER XXIX. TIDINGS COME TO HAZELDALE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0030"> CHAPTER XXX. OF THE FIELD THAT WAS SET IN THE + HOLM OF HAZELDALE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0031"> CHAPTER XXXI. THE BATTLE ON THE HOLM. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0032"> CHAPTER XXXII. OF GOLDILIND AND CHRISTOPHER. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0033"> CHAPTER XXXIII. A COUNCIL OF CAPTAINS: THE HOST + COMES TO BROADLEES </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0034"> CHAPTER XXXIV. BATTLE BEFORE WOODWALL. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0035"> CHAPTER XXXV. AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE AND AN EVIL + DEED. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0036"> CHAPTER XXXVI. KING CHRISTOPHER COMES TO + OAKENHAM. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0037"> CHAPTER XXXVII. OF CHILD CHRISTOPHER'S DEALINGS + WITH HIS FRIENDS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0038"> CHAPTER XXXVIII. OF MATTERS OF MEADHAM. </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. OF THE KING OF OAKENREALM, AND HIS WIFE AND HIS CHILD. + </h2> + <p> + Of old there was a land which was so much a woodland, that a minstrel + thereof said it that a squirrel might go from end to end, and all about, + from tree to tree, and never touch the earth: therefore was that land + called Oakenrealm. + </p> + <p> + The lord and king thereof was a stark man, and so great a warrior that in + his youth he took no delight in aught else save battle and tourneys. But + when he was hard on forty years old, he came across a daughter of a + certain lord, whom he had vanquished, and his eyes bewrayed him into + longing, so that he gave back to the said lord the havings he had + conquered of him that he might lay the maiden in his kingly bed. So he + brought her home with him to Oakenrealm and wedded her. + </p> + <p> + Tells the tale that he rued not his bargain, but loved her so dearly that + for a year round he wore no armour, save when she bade him play in the + tilt-yard for her desport and pride. + </p> + <p> + So wore the days till she went with child and was near her time, and then + it betid that three kings who marched on Oakenrealm banded them together + against him, and his lords and thanes cried out on him to lead them to + battle, and it behoved him to do as they would. + </p> + <p> + So he sent out the tokens and bade an hosting at his chief city, and when + all was ready he said farewell to his wife and her babe unborn, and went + his ways to battle once more: but fierce was his heart against the foemen, + that they had dragged him away from his love and his joy. + </p> + <p> + Even amidst of his land he joined battle with the host of the ravagers, + and the tale of them is short to tell, for they were as the wheat before + the hook. But as he followed up the chase, a mere thrall of the fleers + turned on him and cast his spear, and it reached him whereas his hawberk + was broken, and stood deep in, so that he fell to earth unmighty: and when + his lords and chieftains drew about him, and cunning men strove to heal + him, it was of no avail, and he knew that his soul was departing. Then he + sent for a priest, and for the Marshal of the host, who was a great lord, + and the son of his father's brother, and in few words bade him look to the + babe whom his wife bore about, and if it were a man, to cherish him and do + him to learn all that a king ought to know; and if it were a maiden, that + he should look to her wedding well and worthily: and he let swear him on + his sword, on the edges and the hilts, that he would do even so, and be + true unto his child if child there were: and he bade him have rule, if so + be the lords would, and all the people, till the child were of age to be + king: and the Marshal swore, and all the lords who stood around bare + witness to his swearing. Thereafter the priest houselled the King, and he + received his Creator, and a little while after his soul departed. + </p> + <p> + But the Marshal followed up the fleeing foe, and two battles more he + fought before he beat them flat to earth; and then they craved for peace, + and he went back to the city in mickle honour. + </p> + <p> + But in the King's city of Oakenham he found but little joy; for both the + King was bemoaned, whereas he had been no hard man to his folk; and also, + when the tidings and the King's corpse came back to Oakenrealm, his Lady + and Queen took sick for sorrow and fear, and fell into labour of her + child, and in childing of a man-bairn she died, but the lad lived, and was + like to do well. + </p> + <p> + So there was one funeral for the slain King and for her whom his slaying + had slain: and when that was done, the little king was borne to the font, + and at his christening he gat to name Christopher. + </p> + <p> + Thereafter the Marshal summoned all them that were due thereto to come and + give homage to the new king, and even so did they, though he were but a + babe, yea, and who had but just now been a king lying in his mother's + womb. But when the homage was done, then the Marshal called together the + wise men, and told them how the King that was had given him in charge his + son as then unborn, and the ruling of the realm till the said son were + come to man's estate: but he bade them seek one worthier if they had heart + to gainsay the word of their dying lord. Then all they said that he was + worthy and mighty and the choice of their dear lord, and that they would + have none but he. + </p> + <p> + So then was the great folk-mote called, and the same matter was laid + before all the people, and none said aught against it, whereas no man was + ready to name another to that charge and rule, even had it been his own + self. + </p> + <p> + Now then by law was the Marshal, who hight Rolf, lord and earl of the land + of Oakenrealm. He ruled well and strongly, and was a fell warrior: he was + well befriended by many of the great; and the rest of them feared him and + his friends: as for the commonalty, they saw that he held the realm in + peace; and for the rest, they knew little and saw less of him, and they + paid to his bailiffs and sheriffs as little as they could, and more than + they would. But whereas that left them somewhat to grind their teeth on, + and they were not harried, they were not so ill content. So the Marshal + throve, and lacked nothing of a king's place save the bare name. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. OF THE KING'S SON. + </h2> + <p> + As for the King's son, to whom the folk had of late done homage as king, + he was at first seen about a corner of the High House with his nurses; and + then in a while it was said, and the tale noted, but not much, that he + must needs go for his health's sake, and because he was puny, to some + stead amongst the fields, and folk heard say that he was gone to the + strong house of a knight somewhat stricken in years, who was called Lord + Richard the Lean. The said house was some twelve miles from Oakenham, not + far from the northern edge of the wild-wood. But in a while, scarce more + than a year, Lord Richard brake up house at the said castle, and went + southward through the forest. Of this departure was little said, for he + was not a man amongst the foremost. As for the King's little son, if any + remembered that he was in the hands of the said Lord Richard, none said + aught about it; for if any thought of the little babe at all, they said to + themselves, Never will he come to be king. + </p> + <p> + Now as for Lord Richard the Lean, he went far through the wood, and until + he was come to another house of his, that stood in a clearing somewhat + near to where Oakenrealm marched on another country, which hight Meadham; + though the said wild-wood ended not where Oakenrealm ended, but stretched + a good way into Meadham; and betwixt one and the other much rough country + there was. + </p> + <p> + It is to be said that amongst those who went to this stronghold of the + woods was the little King Christopher, no longer puny, but a stout babe + enough: so he was borne amongst the serving men and thralls to the castle + of the Outer March; and he was in no wise treated as a great man's son; + but there was more than one woman who was kind to him, and as he waxed in + strength and beauty month by month, both carle and quean fell to noting + him, and, for as little as he was, he began to be well-beloved. + </p> + <p> + As to the stead where he was nourished, though it were far away amongst + the woods, it was no such lonely or savage place: besides the castle and + the houses of it, there was a merry thorpe in the clearing, the houses + whereof were set down by the side of a clear and pleasant little stream. + Moreover the goodmen and swains of the said township were no ill folk, but + bold of heart, free of speech, and goodly of favour; and the women of them + fair, kind, and trusty. Whiles came folk journeying in to Oakenrealm or + out to Meadham, and of these some were minstrels, who had with them + tidings of what was astir whereas folk were thicker in the world, and some + chapmen, who chaffered with the thorpe-dwellers, and took of them the + woodland spoil for such outland goods as those woodmen needed. + </p> + <p> + So wore the years, and in Oakenham King Christopher was well nigh + forgotten, and in the wild-wood had never been known clearly for King's + son. At first, by command of Rolf the Marshal, a messenger came every year + from Lord Richard with a letter that told of how the lad Christopher did. + But when five years were worn, the Marshal bade send him tidings thereof + every three years; and by then it was come to the twelfth year, and still + the tidings were that the lad throve ever, and meanwhile the Marshal sat + fast in his seat with none to gainsay, the word went to Lord Richard that + he should send no more, for that he, the Marshal, had heard enough of the + boy; and if he throve it were well, and if not, it was no worse. So wore + the days and the years. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. OF THE KING OF MEADHAM AND HIS DAUGHTER. + </h2> + <p> + Tells the tale that in the country which lay south of Oakenrealm, and was + called Meadham, there was in these days a king whose wife was dead, but + had left him a fair daughter, who was born some four years after King + Christopher. A good man was this King Roland, mild, bounteous, and no + regarder of persons in his justice; and well-beloved he was of his folk: + yet could not their love keep him alive; for, whenas his daughter was of + the age of twelve years, he sickened unto death; and so, when he knew that + his end drew near, he sent for the wisest of his wise men, and they came + unto him sorrowing in the High House of his chiefest city, which hight + Meadhamstead. So he bade them sit down nigh unto his bed, and took up the + word and spake: + </p> + <p> + "Masters, and my good lords, ye may see clearly that a sundering is at + hand, and that I must needs make a long journey, whence I shall come back + never; now I would, and am verily of duty bound thereto, that I leave + behind me some good order in the land. Furthermore, I would that my + daughter, when she is of age thereto, should be Queen in Meadham, and rule + the land; neither will it be many years before she shall be of ripe age + for ruling, if ever she may be; and I deem not that there shall be any + lack in her, whereas her mother could all courtesy, and was as wise as a + woman may be. But how say ye, my masters?" + </p> + <p> + So they all with one consent said Yea, and they would ask for no better + king than their lady his daughter. Then said the King: + </p> + <p> + "Hearken carefully, for my time is short: Yet is she young and a maiden, + though she be wise. Now therefore do I need some man well looked to of the + folk, who shall rule the land in her name till she be of eighteen winters, + and who shall be her good friend and counsellor into all wisdom + thereafter. Which of you, my masters, is meet for this matter?" + </p> + <p> + Then they all looked one on the other, and spake not. And the King said: + "Speak, some one of you, without fear; this is no time for tarrying." + </p> + <p> + Thereon spake an elder, the oldest of them, and said: "Lord, this is the + very truth, that none of us here present are meet for this office: + whereas, among other matters, we be all unmeet for battle; some of us have + never been warriors, and other some are past the age for leading an host. + To say the sooth, King, there is but one man in Meadham who may do what + thou wilt, and not fail; both for his wisdom, and his might afield, and + the account which is had of him amongst the people; and that man is Earl + Geoffrey, of the Southern Marches." + </p> + <p> + "Ye say sooth," quoth the King; "but is he down in the South, or nigher to + hand?" + </p> + <p> + Said the elder: "He is as now in Meadhamstead, and may be in this chamber + in scant half an hour." So the King bade send for him, and there was + silence in the chamber till he came in, clad in a scarlet kirtle and a + white cloak, and with his sword by his side. He was a tall man, bigly + made; somewhat pale of face, black and curly of hair; blue-eyed, + thin-lipped, and hook-nosed as an eagle; a man warrior-like, and somewhat + fierce of aspect. He knelt down by the King's bedside, and asked him in a + sorrowful voice what he would, and the King said: "I ask a great matter of + thee, and all these my wise men, and I myself, withal, deem that thou + canst do it, and thou alone—nay, hearken: I am departing, and I + would have thee hold my place, and do unto my people even what I would do + if I myself were living; and to my daughter as nigh to that as may be. I + say all this thou mayst do, if thou wilt be as trusty and leal to me after + I am dead, as thou hast seemed to all men's eyes to have been while I was + living. What sayest thou?" + </p> + <p> + The Earl had hidden his face in the coverlet of the bed while the King was + speaking; but now he lifted up his face, weeping, and said: "Kinsman and + friend and King; this is nought hard to do; but if it were, yet would I do + it." + </p> + <p> + "It is well," said the King: "my heart fails me and my voice; so give + heed, and set thine ear close to my mouth: hearken, belike my daughter + Goldilind shall be one of the fairest of women; I bid thee wed her to the + fairest of men and the strongest, and to none other." + </p> + <p> + Thereat his voice failed him indeed, and he lay still; but he died not, + till presently the priest came to him, and, as he might, houselled him: + then he departed. + </p> + <p> + As for Earl Geoffrey, when the King was buried, and the homages done to + the maiden Goldilind, he did no worse than those wise men deemed of him, + but bestirred him, and looked full sagely into all the matters of the + kingdom, and did so well therein that all men praised his rule perforce, + whether they loved him or not; and sooth to say he was not much beloved. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. OF THE MAIDEN GOLDILIND. + </h2> + <p> + AMIDST of all his other business Earl Geoffrey bethought him in a while of + the dead King's daughter, and he gave her in charge to a gentlewoman, + somewhat stricken in years, a widow of high lineage, but not over wealthy. + She dwelt in her own house in a fair valley some twenty miles from + Meadhamstead: thereabode Goldilind till a year and a half was worn, and + had due observance, but little love, and not much kindness from the said + gentlewoman, who hight Dame Elinor Leashowe. Howbeit, time and again came + knights and ladies and lords to see the little lady, and kissed her hand + and did obeisance to her; yet more came to her in the first three months + of her sojourn at Leashowe than the second, and more in the second than + the third. + </p> + <p> + At last, on a day when the said year and a half was fully worn, thither + came Earl Geoffrey with a company of knights and men-at-arms, and he did + obeisance, as due was, to his master's daughter, and then spake awhile + privily with Dame Elinor; and thereafter they went into the hall, he, and + she, and Goldilind, and there before all men he spake aloud and said: + </p> + <p> + "My Lady Goldilind, meseemeth ye dwell here all too straitly; for neither + is this house of Leashowe great enough for thy state, and the + entertainment of the knights and lords who shall have will to seek to thee + hither; nor is the wealth of thy liege dame and governante as great as it + should be, and as thou, meseemeth, wouldst have it. Wherefore I have been + considering thy desires herein, and if thou deem it meet to give a gift to + Dame Elinor, and live queenlier thyself than now thou dost, then mayst + thou give unto her the Castle of Greenharbour, and the six manors + appertaining thereto, and withal the rights of wild-wood and fen and fell + that lie thereabout. Also, if thou wilt, thou mayst honour the said castle + with abiding there awhile at thy pleasure; and I shall see to it that thou + have due meney to go with thee thither. How sayest thou, my lady?" + </p> + <p> + Amongst that company there were two or three who looked at each other and + half smiled; and two or three looked on the maiden, who was goodly as of + her years, as if with compassion; but the more part kept countenance in + full courtly wise. + </p> + <p> + Then spake Goldilind in a quavering voice (for she was afraid and wise), + and she said: "Cousin and Earl, we will that all this be done; and it + likes me well to eke the wealth of this lady and my good friend Dame + Elinor." + </p> + <p> + Quoth Earl Geoffrey: "Kneel before thy lady, Dame, and put thine hands + between hers and thank her for the gift." So Dame Elinor knelt down, and + did homage and obeisance for her new land; and Goldilind raised her up and + kissed her, and bade her sit down beside her, and spake to her kindly; and + all men praised the maiden for her gentle and courteous ways; and Dame + Elinor smiled upon her and them, what she could. + </p> + <p> + She was small of body and sleek; but her cheeks somewhat flagging; brown + eyes she had, long, half opened; thin lips, and chin somewhat falling away + from her mouth; hard on fifty winters had she seen; yet there have been + those who were older and goodlier both. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. GOLDILIND COMES TO GREENHARBOUR. + </h2> + <p> + But a little while tarried the Earl Geoffrey at Leashowe, but departed + next morning and came to Meadhamstead. A month thereafter came folk from + him to Leashowe, to wit, the new meney for the new abode of Goldilind; + amongst whom was a goodly band of men-at-arms, led by an old lord pinched + and peevish of face, who kneeled to Goldilind as the new burgreve of + Greenharbour; and a chaplain, a black canon, young, broad-cheeked and + fresh-looking, but hard-faced and unlovely; three new damsels withal were + come for the young Queen, not young maids, but stalworth women, + well-grown, and two of them hard-featured; the third, tall, black-haired, + and a goodly-fashioned body. + </p> + <p> + Now when these were come, who were all under the rule of Dame Elinor, + there was no gainsaying the departure to the new home; and in two days' + time they went their ways from Leashowe. But though Goldilind was young, + she was wise, and her heart misgave her, when she was amidst this new + meney, that she was not riding toward glory and honour, and a world of + worship and friends beloved. Howbeit, whatso might lie before her, she put + a good face upon it, and did to those about her queenly and with all + courtesy. + </p> + <p> + Five days they rode from Leashowe north away, by thorpe and town and mead + and river, till the land became little peopled, and the sixth day they + rode the wild-wood ways, where was no folk, save now and again the little + cot of some forester or collier; but the seventh day, about noon, they + came into a clearing of the wood, a rugged little plain of lea-land, + mingled with marish, with a little deal of acre-land in barley and rye, + round about a score of poor frame-houses set down scattermeal about the + lea. But on a long ridge, at the northern end of the said plain, was a + grey castle, strong, and with big and high towers, yet not so much greater + than was Leashowe, deemed Goldilind, as for a dwelling-house. + </p> + <p> + Howbeit, they entered the said castle, and within, as without, it was + somewhat grim, though nought was lacking of plenishing due for folk + knightly. Long it were to tell of its walls and baileys and chambers; but + let this suffice, that on the north side, toward the thick forest, was a + garden of green-sward and flowers and potherbs; and a garth-wall of grey + stone, not very high, was the only defence thereof toward the wood, but it + was overlooked by a tall tower of the great wall, which hight the + Foresters' Tower. In the said outer garth-wall also was a postern, whereby + there was not seldom coming in and going out. + </p> + <p> + Now when Goldilind had been in her chamber for a few days, she found out + for certain, what she had before misdoubted, that she had been brought + from Leashowe and the peopled parts near to Meadhamstead unto the + uttermost parts of the realm to be kept in prison there. + </p> + <p> + Howbeit, it was in a way prison courteous; she was still served with + observance, and bowed before, and called my lady and queen, and so forth: + also she might go from chamber to hall and chapel, to and fro, yet scarce + alone; and into the garden she might go, yet not for the more part + unaccompanied; and even at whiles she went out a-gates, but then ever with + folk on the right hand and the left. Forsooth, whiles and again, within + the next two years of her abode at Greenharbour, out of gates she went and + alone; but that was as the prisoner who strives to be free (although she + had, forsooth, no thought or hope of escape), and as the prisoner brought + back was she chastised when she came within gates again. + </p> + <p> + Everywhere, to be short, within and about the Castle of Greenharbour, did + Goldilind meet the will and the tyranny of the little sleek widow, Dame + Elinor, to whom both carle and quean in that corner of the world were but + as servants and slaves to do her will; and the said Elinor, who at first + was but spiteful in word and look toward her lady, waxed worse as time + wore and as the blossom of the King's daughter's womanhood began to + unfold, till at last the she-jailer had scarce feasted any day when she + had not in some wise grieved and tormented her prisoner; and whatever she + did, none had might to say her nay. + </p> + <p> + But Goldilind took all with a high heart, and her courage grew with her + years, nor would she bow the head before any grief, but took to her + whatsoever solace might come to her; as the pleasure of the sun and the + wind, and the beholding of the greenery of the wood, and the fowl and the + beasts playing, which oft she saw afar, and whiles anear, though whiles, + forsooth, she saw nought of it all, whereas she was shut up betwixt four + walls, and that not of her chamber, but of some bare and foul prison of + the Castle, which, with other griefs, must she needs thole under the name + and guise of penance. + </p> + <p> + However, she waxed so exceeding fair and sweet and lovely, that the + loveliness of her pierced to the hearts of many of her jailers, so that + some of them, and specially of the squires and men-at-arms, would do her + some easement which they might do unrebuked, or not sorely rebuked; as + bringing her flowers in the spring, or whiles a singing-bird or a + squirrel; and an old man there was of the men-at-arms, who would ask + leave, and get it at whiles, to come to her in her chamber, or the garden? + and tell her minstrel tales and the like for her joyance. Sooth to say, + even the pinched heart of the old Burgreve was somewhat touched by her; + and he alone had any might to stand between her and Dame Elinor; so that + but for him it had gone much harder with her than it did. + </p> + <p> + For the rest, none entered the Castle from the world without, nay not so + much as a travelling monk, or a friar on his wanderings, save and except + some messenger of Earl Geoffrey who had errand with Dame Elinor or the + Burgreve. + </p> + <p> + So wore the days and the seasons, till it was now more than four years + since she had left Leashowe, and her eighteenth summer was beginning. + </p> + <p> + But now the tale leaves telling of Goldilind, and goes back to the matters + of Oakenrealm, and therein to what has to do with King Christopher and + Rolf the Marshal. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. HOW ROLF THE MARSHAL DREAMS A DREAM AND COMES TO THE CASTLE OF + THE UTTERMOST MARCH. + </h2> + <p> + Now this same summer, when King Christopher was of twenty years and two, + Rolf the Marshal, sleeping one noontide in the King's garden at Oakenham, + dreamed a dream. For himseemed that there came through the garth-gate a + woman fair and tall, and clad in nought but oaken-leaves, who led by the + hand an exceeding goodly young man of twenty summers, and his visage like + to the last battle-dead King of Oakenrealm when he was a young man. And + the said woman led the swain up to the Marshal, who asked in his mind what + these two were: and the woman answered his thought and said: "I am the + Woman of the Woods, and the Landwight of Oakenrealm; and this lovely lad + whose hand I hold is my King and thy King and the King of Oakenrealm. + Wake, fool—wake! and look to it what thou wilt do!" + </p> + <p> + And therewith he woke up crying out, and drew forth his sword. But when he + was fully awakened, he was ashamed, and went into the hall, and sat in his + high-seat, and strove to think out of his troubled mind; but for all he + might do, he fell asleep again; and again in the hall he dreamed as he had + dreamed in the garden: and when he awoke from his dream he had no thought + in his head but how he might the speediest come to the house of Lord + Richard the Lean, and look to the matter of his lord's son and see him + with his eyes, and, if it might be, take some measure with the threat + which lay in the lad's life. Nought he tarried, but set off in an hour's + time with no more company than four men-at-arms and an old squire of his, + who was wont to do his bidding without question, whether it were good or + evil. + </p> + <p> + So they went by frith and fell, by wood and fair ways, till in two days' + time they were come by undern within sight of the Castle of the Outer + March, and entered into the street of the thorpe aforesaid; and they saw + that there were no folk therein and at the house-doors save old carles and + carlines scarce wayworthy, and little children who might not go afoot. But + from the field anigh the thorpe came the sound of shouting and glad + voices, and through the lanes of the houses they saw on the field many + people in gay raiment going to and fro, as though there were games and + sports toward. + </p> + <p> + Thereof Lord Rolf heeded nought, but went his ways straight to the Castle, + and was brought with all honour into the hall, and thither came Lord + Richard the Lean, hastening and half afeard, and did obeisance to him; and + there were but a few in the hall, and they stood out of earshot of the two + lords. + </p> + <p> + The Marshal spoke graciously to Lord Richard, and made him sit beside him, + and said in a soft voice: "We have come to see thee, Lord, and how the + folk do in the Uttermost Marches. Also we would wot how it goes with a lad + whom we sent to thee when he was yet a babe, whereas he was some byblow of + the late King, our lord and master, and we deemed thee both rich enough + and kind enough to breed him into thriving without increasing pride upon + him: and, firstly, is the lad yet alive?" + </p> + <p> + He knitted his brow as he spake, for carefulness of soul; but Lord Richard + smiled upon him, though as one somewhat troubled, and answered: "Lord + Marshal, I thank thee for visiting this poor house; and I shall tell thee + first that the lad lives, and hath thriven marvellously, though he be + somewhat unruly, and will abide no correction now these last six years. + Sooth to say, there is now no story of his being anywise akin to our late + Lord King; though true it is that the folk in this faraway corner of the + land call him King Christopher, but only in a manner of jesting. But it is + no jest wherein they say that they will gainsay him nought, and that + especially the young women. Yet I will say of him that he is wise, and + asketh not overmuch; the more is the sorrow of many of the maidens. A fell + woodsman he is, and exceeding stark, and as yet heedeth more of valiance + than of the love of woman." + </p> + <p> + The Marshal looked no less troubled than before at these words; he said: + "I would see this young man speedily." + </p> + <p> + "So shall it be, Lord," said Lord Richard. Therewith he called to him a + squire, and said: "Go thou down into the thorpe, and bring hither + Christopher, for that a great lord is here who would set him to do a deed + of woodcraft, such as is more than the wont of men." + </p> + <p> + So the squire went his ways, and was gone a little while, and meantime + drew nigh to the hall a sound of triumphing songs and shouts, and right up + to the hall doors; then entered the squire, and by his side came a tall + young man, clad but in a white linen shirt and deerskin brogues, his head + crowned with a garland of flowers: him the squire brought up to the lords + on the dais, and louted to them, and said: "My lords, I bring you + Christopher, and he not overwilling, for now hath he been but just crowned + king of the games down yonder; but when the carles and queans there said + that they would come with him and bear him company to the hall doors, + then, forsooth, he yea-said the coming. It were not unmeet that some shame + were done him." + </p> + <p> + "Peace, man!" said Lord Richard, "what hath this to do with thee? Seest + thou not the Lord Marshal here?" The Lord Rolf sat and gazed on the lad, + and scowled on him; but Christopher saw therein nought but the face of a + great lord burdened with many cares; so when he had made his obeisance he + stood up fearlessly and merrily before them. + </p> + <p> + Sooth to say, he was full fair to look on: for all his strength, which, as + ye shall hear, was mighty, all the fashion of his limbs and his body was + light and clean done, and beauteous; and though his skin, where it showed + naked, was all tanned with the summer, it was fine and sleek and kindly, + every deal thereof: bright-eyed and round-cheeked he was, with full lips + and carven chin, and his hair golden brown of hue, and curling crisp about + the blossoms of his garland. + </p> + <p> + So must we say that he was such an youngling as most might have been in + the world, had not man's malice been, and the mischief of grudging and the + marring of grasping. + </p> + <p> + But now spake Lord Rolf: "Sir varlet, they tell me that thou art a mighty + hunter, and of mickle guile in woodcraft; wilt thou then hunt somewhat for + me, and bring me home a catch seldom seen?" + </p> + <p> + "Yea, Lord King," said Christopher, "I will at least do my best, if thou + but tell me where to seek the quarry and when." + </p> + <p> + "It is well," said the Marshal, "and to-morrow my squire, whom thou seest + yonder, and who hight Simon, shall tell thee where the hunt is up, and + thou shalt go with him. But hearken! thou shalt not call me king; for + to-day there is no king in Oakenrealm, and I am but Marshal, and Earl of + the king that shall be." + </p> + <p> + The lad fell a-musing for a minute, and then he said: "Yea, Lord Marshal, + I shall do thy will: but meseemeth I have heard some tale of one who was + but of late king in Oakenrealm: is it not so, Lord?" + </p> + <p> + "Stint thy talk, young man," cried the Marshal in a harsh voice, "and + abide to-morrow; who knoweth who shall be king, and whether thou or I + shall live to see him." + </p> + <p> + But as he spake the words they seemed to his heart like a foretelling of + evil, and he turned pale and trembled, and said to Christopher: "Come + hither, lad; I will give thee a gift, and then shalt thou depart till + to-morrow." So Christopher drew near to him, and the Marshal pulled off a + ring from his finger and set it on the lad's, and said to him: "Now depart + in peace;" and Christopher bent the knee to him and thanked him for the + gracious gift of the ruler of Oakenrealm, and then went his ways out of + the hall, and the folk without gave a glad cry as he came amongst them. + </p> + <p> + But by then he was come to the door, Lord Rolf looked on his hand, and saw + that, instead of giving the youngling a finger-ring which he had bought of + a merchant for a price of five bezants, as he had meant to do, he had + given him a ring which the old King had had, whereon was the first letter + of his name (Christopher to wit), and a device of a crowned rose, for this + ring was a signet of his. Wherefore was the Marshal once more sore + troubled, and he arose, and was half minded to run down the hall after + Christopher; but he refrained him, and presently smiled to himself, and + then fell a-talking to Lord Richard, sweetly and pleasantly. + </p> + <p> + SO wore the day to evening; but, ere he went to bed, the Lord Rolf had a + privy talk, first with Lord Richard, and after with his squire Simon. What + followed of that talk ye may hear after. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. HOW CHRISTOPHER WENT A JOURNEY INTO THE WILD-WOOD. + </h2> + <p> + Next morning Christopher, who slept in the little hall of the inner court + of the Castle, arose betimes, and came to the great gate; but, for as + early as he was, there he saw the squire Simon abiding him, standing + between two strong horses; to him he gave the sele of the day, and the + squire greeted him, but in somewhat surly wise. Then he said to him: + "Well, King Christopher, art thou ready for the road?" + </p> + <p> + "Yea, as thou seest," said the youngling smiling. For, indeed, he had + breeches now beneath his shirt, and a surcoat of green woollen over it; + boots of deerskin had he withal, and spurs thereon: he was girt with a + short sword, and had a quiver of arrows at his back, and bare a great bow + in his hand. + </p> + <p> + "Yea," quoth Simon, "thou deemest thee a gay swain belike; but thou + lookest likelier for a deerstealer than a rider, thou, hung up to thy + shooting-gear. Deemest thou we go a-hunting of the hind?" + </p> + <p> + Quoth Christopher: "I wot not, squire; but the great lord who lieth + sleeping yonder, hath told me that thou shouldest give me his errand; and + of some hunting or feat of wood-craft he spake. Moreover, this crooked + stick can drive a shaft through matters harder than a hind's side." + </p> + <p> + Simon looked confused, and he reddened and stammered somewhat as he + answered: "Ah, yea: so it was; I mind me; I will tell thee anon." + </p> + <p> + Said Christopher: "Withal, squire, if we are wending into the wood, as + needs we must, unless we ride round about this dale in a ring all day, + dost thou deem we shall go at a gallop many a mile? Nay, fair sir; the + horses shall wend a foot's pace oftenest, and we shall go a-foot not + unseldom through the thickets." + </p> + <p> + Now was Simon come to himself again, and that self was surly, so he said: + "Ay, ay, little King, thou deemest thee exceeding wise in these woods, + dost thou not? and forsooth, thou mayst be. Yet have I tidings for thee." + </p> + <p> + "Yea, and what be they?" said Christopher. + </p> + <p> + Simon grinned: "Even these," said he, "that Dr. Knowall was no man's + cousin while he lived, and that he died last week." + </p> + <p> + Therewith he swung himself into his saddle, and Christopher laughed + merrily at his poor gibe and mounted in like wise. + </p> + <p> + Wherewithal they rode their ways through the thorpe, and at the southern + end thereof Simon drew rein, and looked on Christopher as if he would ask + him something, but asked not. Then said Christopher: "Whither go we now?" + </p> + <p> + Said Simon: "It is partly for thee to say: hearken, I am bidden first to + ride the Redwater Wood with thee: knowest thou that?" + </p> + <p> + "Yea," said the lad, "full well: but which way shall we ride it? Wilt thou + come out of it at Redwater Head, or Herne Moss, or the Long Pools?" + </p> + <p> + Said Simon: "We shall make for the Long Pools, if thou canst bring me + there." + </p> + <p> + Christopher laughed: "Aha!" said he, "then am I some faraway cousin of Dr. + Knowall when the whole tale is told: forsooth I can lead thee thither; but + tell me, what shall I do of valiant deeds at the Long Pools? for there is + no fire-drake nor effit, nay, nor no giant, nor guileful dwarf, nought + save mallard and coot, heron and bittern; yea, and ague-shivers to boot." + </p> + <p> + Simon looked sourly on him and said: "Thou are bidden to go with me, young + man, or gainsay the Marshal. Art thou mighty enough thereto? For the rest, + fear not but that the deed shall come to thee one day." + </p> + <p> + "Nay," said Christopher, "it is all one to me, for I am at home in these + woods and wastes, I and my shafts. Tell me of the deeds when thou wilt." + But indeed he longed to know the deed, and fretted him because of Simon's + surliness and closeness. Then he said: "Well, Squire Simon, let us to the + road; for thou shalt know that to-night we must needs house us under the + naked heaven; in nowise can we come to the Long Pools before to-morrow + morning." + </p> + <p> + "Yea, and why not?" said the squire; "I have lain in worse places." + </p> + <p> + "Wilt thou tell me thereof?" said Christopher. + </p> + <p> + "Mayhappen," said Simon, "if to-morrow comes and goes for both of us + twain." + </p> + <p> + So they rode their ways through the wood, and baited at midday with what + Simon bare in his saddle-bags, and then went on till night fell on them; + then asked Simon how long they were from the Long Pools, and Christopher + told him that they were yet short of them some fifteen miles, and those + long ones, because of the marish grounds. So they tethered their horses + there and ate their supper; and lay down to sleep in the house of the + woods, by a fire-side which they lighted. + </p> + <p> + But in the midnight Christopher, who was exceeding fine-eared, had an + inkling of someone moving afoot anigh him, and he awoke therewith, and + sprang up, his drawn short-sword in his hand, and found himself face to + face with Simon, and he also with his sword drawn. Simon sprang aback, but + held up his sword-point, and Christopher, not yet fully awake, cried out: + "What wouldst thou? What is it?" + </p> + <p> + Simon answered, stammering and all abashed: "Didst thou not hear then? it + wakened me." + </p> + <p> + "I heard nought," said Christopher; "what was it?" + </p> + <p> + "Horses going in the wood," said Simon + </p> + <p> + "Ah, yea," said Christopher, "it will have been the wild colts and the + mares; they harbour about these marsh-land parts. Go to sleep again, + neighbour, the night is not yet half worn; but I will watch a while." + </p> + <p> + Then Simon sheathed his sword, and turned about and stood uneasily a + little while, and then cast him down as one who would sleep hastily; but + slept not forsooth, though he presently made semblance of it: as for + Christopher, he drew together the brands of the fire, and sat beside it + with his blade over his knees, until the first beginning of the summer + dawn was in the sky; then he began to nod, and presently lay aback and + slept soundly. Simon slept not, but durst not move. So they lay till it + was broad day, and the sunbeams came thrusting through the boughs of the + thicket. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. CHRISTOPHER COMES TO THE TOFTS. + </h2> + <p> + When they arose in the sunshine, Simon went straightway to see to the + horses, while Christopher stayed by the fire to dight their victuals; he + was merry enough, and sang to himself the while; but when Simon came back + again, Christopher looked on him sharply, but for a while Simon would not + meet his eye, though he asked divers questions of him concerning little + matters, as though he were fain to hear Christopher's voice; at last he + raised his eyes, and looked on him steadily, and then Christopher said: + "Well, wayfarer mine, and whither away this morning?" + </p> + <p> + Said Simon: "As thou wottest, to the Long Pools." + </p> + <p> + Said the lad: "Well, thou keepest thy tidings so close, that I will ask + thee no more till we come to the Long Pools; since there, forsooth, thou + must needs tell me; unless we sunder company there, whereof I were nought + grieving." + </p> + <p> + "Mayhappen thou shalt fare a long way to-day," muttered Simon. + </p> + <p> + But the lad cried out aloud, while his eye glittered and his cheek + flushed: "Belike thou hadst well-nigh opened the door thereto last night!" + And therewith he leapt to his feet and drew his short-sword, and with + three deft strokes sheared asunder an overhanging beech-bough as thick as + a man's wrist, that it fell crashing down, and caught Simon amongst the + fall of its leafy twigs, while Christopher stood laughing on him, but with + a dangerous lofty look in his eyes: then he turned away quietly toward the + horses and mounted his nag, and Simon followed and did the like, silently; + crestfallen he looked, with brooding fierceness in his face. + </p> + <p> + So they rode their ways, and spake but little each to each till they came + to where the trees of the wood thinned speedily, and gave out at last at + the foot of a low stony slope but little grassed; and when they had ridden + up to the brow and could see below, Christopher stretched out his hand, + and said: "Lo thou the Long Pools, fellow wayfarer! and lo some of the + tramping; horses that woke thee and not me last night." + </p> + <p> + Forsooth there lay below them a great stretch of grass, which whiles ran + into mere quagmire, and whiles was sound and better grassed; and the said + plain was seamed by three long shallow pools, with, as it were, grassy + causeways between them, grown over here and there with ancient alder + trees; but the stony slope whereon they had reined up bent round the plain + mostly to the east, as though it were the shore of a great water; and far + away to the south the hills of the forest rose up blue, and not so low at + the most, but that they were somewhat higher than the crest of the White + Horse as ye may see it from the little Berkshire hills above the Thames. + Down on the firm greensward there was indeed a herd of wild horses + feeding; mallard and coot swam about the waters; the whimbrel laughed from + the bent-sides, and three herons stood on the side of the causeway seeking + a good fishing-stead. + </p> + <p> + Simon sat a-horseback looking askance from the marish to Christopher, and + said nothing a while; then he spake in a low croaking voice, and said: + "So, little King, we have come to the Long Pools; now I will ask thee, + hast thou been further southward than this marish land?" + </p> + <p> + "That have I," said the lad, "a day's journey further; but according to + the tales of men it was at the peril of my life." + </p> + <p> + Simon seemed as if he had not noted his last word; he said: "Well then, + since thou knowest the wild and the wood, knowest thou amidst of the + thickets there, two lumps of bare hills, like bowls turned bottom up, that + rise above the trees, and on each a tower, and betwixt them a long house." + </p> + <p> + "Save us, Allhallows!" quoth Christopher, "but thou wilt mean the Tofts! + Is it so, sir squire?" + </p> + <p> + "Even so," said Simon. + </p> + <p> + "And thou knowest what dwellest there, and wouldst have me lead thee + thither?" said the lad. + </p> + <p> + "I am so bidden," said Simon; "if thou wilt not do my bidding, seek thou + some place to hide thee in from the hand of the Earl Marshal." + </p> + <p> + Said the youngling: "Knowest thou not Jack of the Tofts and his seven + sons, and what he is, and that he dwelleth there?" + </p> + <p> + Said Simon: "I know of him; yea, and himself I know, and that he dwelleth + there; and I wot that men call him an outlaw, and that many rich men shall + lack ere he lacks. What then?" + </p> + <p> + "This," said Christopher, "that, as all tales tell, he will take my life + if I ride thither. And," said he, turning to Simon, "this is belike what + thou wouldest with me?" And therewith he drew out his sword, for his bow + was unstrung. + </p> + <p> + But Simon sat still and let his sword abide, and said, sourly enough: + "Thou art a fool to think I am training thee to thy death by him; for I + have no will to die, and why shall he not slay me also? Now again I say + unto thee, thou hast the choice, either to lead me to the Tofts, where + shall be the deed for thee to do, or to hide thee in some hole, as I said + afore, from the vengeance of the Lord of Oakenrealm. But as for thy sword, + thou mayst put it up, for I will not fight with thee, but rather let thee + go with a string to thy leg, if thou wilt not be wise and do as thy lords + ordain for thee." + </p> + <p> + Christopher sheathed his sword, and a smile came into his face, as if some + new thought were stirring in him, and he said: "Well, since thou wilt not + fight with me, and I but a lad, I will e'en do thy will and thine errand + to Jack of the Tofts. Maybe he is not so black as he is painted, and not + all tales told of him are true. But some of them I will tell thee as we + ride along." + </p> + <p> + "And some thereof I know already, O woodland knight," said Simon, as they + rode down the bent, and Christopher led on toward the green causeway + betwixt the waters. "Tell me," quoth he, when they had ridden awhile, "is + this one of thy tales, how Jack of the Tofts went to the Yule feast of a + great baron in the guise of a minstrel, and, even as they bore in the + boar's head, smote the said baron on the neck, so that his head lay by the + head of the swine on the Christmas board?" + </p> + <p> + "Yea," said Christopher, "and how Jack cried out: 'Two heads of swine, one + good to eat, one good to burn.' But, my master, thou shalt know that this + manslaying was not for nought: whereas the Baron of Greenlake had erewhile + slain Jack's father in felon wise, where he could strike no stroke for + life; and two of his brethren also had he slain, and made the said Jack an + outlaw, and he all sackless. In the Uttermost March we deem that he had a + case against the baron." + </p> + <p> + "Hah!" said Simon. "Is this next tale true, that this Jack o' the Tofts + slew a good knight before the altar, so that the priest's mass-hackle was + all wet with his blood, whereas the said priest was in the act of putting + the holy body into the open mouth of the said knight?" + </p> + <p> + Christopher said eagerly: "True was it, by the Rood! and well was it done, + for that same Sir Raoul was an ugly traitor, who had knelt down where he + died to wed the Body of the Lord to a foul lie in his mouth; whereas the + man who knelt beside him he had trained to his destruction, and was even + then doing the first deal of his treason by forswearing him there." + </p> + <p> + "And that man who knelt with him there," said Simon, "what betid to him?" + </p> + <p> + Said Christopher: "He went out of the church with Jack of the Tofts that + minute of the stroke; and to the Tofts he went with him, and abode with + him freely: and a valiant man he was...and is." + </p> + <p> + "Hah!" said Simon again. "And then there is this: that the seven sons of + Jack of the Tofts bore off perforce four fair maidens of gentle blood from + the castle wherein they dwelt, serving a high dame in all honour; and that + moreover, they hanged the said dame over the battlements of her own + castle. Is this true, fair sir?" + </p> + <p> + "True is it as the gospel," said Christopher: "yet many say that the + hanged dame had somewhat less than her deserts; for a foul & cruel + whore had she been; and had done many to be done to death, and stood by + while they were pined. And the like had she done with those four damsels, + had there not been the stout sons of Jack of the Tofts; so that the dear + maidens were somewhat more than willing to be borne away." + </p> + <p> + Simon grinned: "Well, lad," said he, "I see that thou knowest Jack of the + Tofts even better than I do; so why in the devil's name thou art loth to + lead me to him, I wot not." + </p> + <p> + Christopher reddened, and held his peace awhile; then he said: "Well + fellow-farer, at least I shall know something of him ere next midnight." + </p> + <p> + "Yea," said Simon, "and shall we not come to the Tofts before nightfall?" + </p> + <p> + "Let us essay it," said Christopher, "and do our best, it yet lacketh + three hours of noon." Therewith he spurred on, for the greensward was hard + under the hooves, and they had yet some way to go before they should come + amongst the trees and thickets. + </p> + <p> + Into the said wood they came, and rode all day diligently, but night fell + on them before they saw either house or man or devil; then said Simon: + "Why should we go any further before dawn? Will it not be best to come to + this perilous house by daylight?" + </p> + <p> + Said Christopher: "There be perils in the wood as well as in the house. If + we lie down here, maybe Jack's folk may come upon us sleeping, and some + mischance may befall us. Withal, hereabout be no wild horses to wake thee + and warn thee of thy foeman anigh. Let us press on; there is a moon, + though she be somewhat hidden by clouds, and meseemeth the way lieth clear + before me; neither are we a great way from the Tofts." + </p> + <p> + Then Simon rode close up to Christopher, and took his rein and stayed him, + and said to him, as one who prayeth: "Young man, willest thou my death?" + </p> + <p> + "That is as it may be," said Christopher; "willest thou mine?" + </p> + <p> + Simon held his peace awhile, and Christopher might not see what was in his + face amidst the gathering dusk; but he twitched his rein out of the + squire's hand, as if he would hasten onward; then the squire said: "Nay, I + pray thee abide and hear a word of me." + </p> + <p> + "Speak then," said Christopher, "but hasten, for I hunger, and I would we + were in the hall." And therewith he laughed. + </p> + <p> + Said Simon: "Thus it is: if I go back to my lord and bear no token of + having done his errand to Jack of the Tofts, then am I in evil case; and + if I come to the Tofts, I wot well that Jack is a man fierce of heart, and + ready of hand: now, therefore, I pray thee give me thy word to be my + warrant, so far as thou mayst be, with this woodman and his sons." + </p> + <p> + At that word Christopher brake out a-laughing loudly, till all the dusk + wood rang with the merry sound of his fresh voice; at last he said: "Well, + well, thou art but a craven to be a secret murderer: the Lord God would + have had an easy bargain of Cain, had he been such as thou. Come on, and + do thine errand to Jack of the Tofts, and I will hold thee harmless, so + far as I may. Though, sooth to say, I guessed what thine errand was, after + the horses waked thee and put a naked sword in thine hand last night. + Marry! I had no inkling of it when we left the Castle yesterday morning, + but deemed thy lord needed me to do him some service. Come on then! or + rather go thou on before me a pace; there, where thou seest the glimmer + betwixt the beech-trees yonder; if thou goest astray, I am anigh thee for + a guide. And I say that we shall not go far without tidings." + </p> + <p> + Simon went on perforce, as he was bidden, and they rode thus a while + slowly, Christopher now and then crying, as they went: "To the right, + squire! To the left! Straight on now!" and so on. But suddenly they heard + voices, and it was as if the wood had all burst out into fire, so bright a + light shone out. Christopher shouted, and hastened on to pass Simon, going + quite close to his right side thereby, and as he did so, he saw steel + flashing in his hand, and turned sidling to guard him, but ere he could do + aught Simon drave a broad dagger into his side, and then turned about and + fled the way they had come, so far as he knew how. + </p> + <p> + Christopher fell from his horse at once as the stroke came home, but + straightway therewith were there men with torches round about him, a dozen + of them; men tall and wild-looking in the firelight; and one of them, a + slim young man with long red hair falling all about his shoulders, knelt + down by him, while the others held his horse and gat his feet out of the + stirrups. + </p> + <p> + The red-head laid his hand on his breast, and raised his head up till the + light of a torch fell on it, and then he cried out: "Masters, here hath + been a felon; the man hath been sticked, and the deed hath to do with us; + for lo you, this is none other than little Christopher of the Uttermost + March, who stumbled on the Tofts last Yule, and with whom we were so merry + together. Here, thou Robert of Maisey, do thy leechdom on him if he be yet + living; but if he be dead, or dieth of his hurt, then do I take the feud + on me, to follow it to the utmost against the slayer; even I, David the + Red, though I be the youngest of the sons of Jack of the Tofts. For this + man I meant should be my fellow in field and fell, ganging and galloping, + in hall and high-place, in cot and in choir, before woman and warrior, and + priest and proud-prince. Now thou Robert, how does he?" + </p> + <p> + Said the man who had looked to Christopher's wound, and had put aside his + coat and shirt: "He is sore hurt, but meseemeth not deadly. Nay, belike he + may live as long as thou, or longer, whereas thou wilt ever be shoving thy + red head and lank body wheresoever knocks are going." + </p> + <p> + David rose with a sigh of one who is lightened of a load, and said: "Well + Robert, when thou hast bound his wound let us have him into the house: Ho + lads! there is light enough to cut some boughs and make a litter for him. + But, ho again! has no one gone after the felon to take him?" + </p> + <p> + Robert grinned up from his job with the hurt man: "Nay, King David," said + he, "it is mostly thy business; mayhappen thou wilt lay thy heels on thy + neck and after him." + </p> + <p> + The red-head stamped on the ground, and half drew his sax, and shoved it + back again unto the sheath, and then said angrily: "I marvel at thee, + Robert, that thou didst not send a man or two at once after the felon: how + may I leave my comrade and sweet board-fellow lying hurt in the wild-wood? + Art thou growing over old for our woodland ways, wherein loitering + bringeth louting?" + </p> + <p> + Robert chuckled and said: "I thought thou wouldst take the fly in thy + mouth, foster-son: if the felon escape Ralph Longshanks and Anthony Green, + then hath he the devil's luck; and they be after him." + </p> + <p> + "That is well," said the young man, "though I would I were with them." And + therewith he walked up and down impatiently, while the others were getting + ready the litter of boughs. + </p> + <p> + At last it was done, and Christopher laid thereon, and they all went on + together through the woodland path, the torches still flaring about them. + Presently they came out into a clearing of the wood, and lo, looming great + and black before them against the sky, where the moon had now broken out + of the clouds somewhat, the masses of the tofts, and at the top of the + northernmost of them a light in the upper window of a tall square tower. + Withal the yellow-litten windows of a long house showed on the plain below + the tofts; but little else of the house might be seen, save that, as they + drew near, the walls brake out in doubtful light here and there as the + torches smote them. + </p> + <p> + So came they to a deep porch, where they quenched all the torches save + one, and entered a great hall through it, David and two other tall young + men going first, and Robert Maisey going beside the bier. The said hall + was lighted with candles, but not very brightly, save at the upper end; + but amidmost a flickering heap of logs sent a thin line of blue smoke up + to the luffer. There were some sixty folk in the hall, scattered about the + end-long tables, a good few of whom were women, well grown and comely + enough, so far as could be seen under the scanty candle-light. At the + high-table, withal, were sitting both men and women, and as they drew near + to the greater light of it, there could be seen in the chief seat a man, + past middle age, tall, wide-shouldered and thin-flanked, with a short + peaked beard and close-cut grizzled hair; he was high of cheekbones, + thin-faced, with grey eyes, both big and gentle-looking; he was clad in a + green coat welted with gold. Beside him sat a woman, tall and big-made, + but very fair of face, though she were little younger, belike, than the + man. Out from these two sat four men and four women, man by man and woman + by woman, on either side of the high-seat. Of the said men, one was of + long red hair as David, and like to him in all wise, but older; the others + were of like fashion to him in the high-seat. Shortly to say it, his sons + they were, as David and the two young men with him. The four women who sat + with these men were all fair and young, and one of them, she who drank out + of the red-head's cup, so fair, and with such a pleasant slim grace, that + her like were not easy to be found. + </p> + <p> + Again, to shorten the tale, there in the hall before Christopher, who lay + unwotting, were Jack of the Tofts and his seven sons, and the four wives + of four of the same, whom they had won from the Wailful Castle, when they, + with their father, put an end to the evil woman, and the great she-tyrant + of the Land betwixt the Wood and the River. + </p> + <p> + Now when David and his were come up to the dais, they stayed them, and + their father spake from his high-seat and said: "What is to do, ye three? + and what catch have ye?" + </p> + <p> + Said David: "I would fain hope 'tis the catch of a life that or I love; + for here is come thy guest of last Yule, even little Christopher, who + wrestled with thee and threw thee after thou hadst thrown all of us, and + he lying along and hurt, smitten down by a felon hard on our very doors. + What will ye do with him?" + </p> + <p> + "What," said Jack of the Tofts, "but tend him and heal him and cherish + him. And when he is well, then we shall see. But where is the felon who + smote him?" + </p> + <p> + Said David: "He fled away a-horseback ere we came to the field of deed, + and Anthony Green and Ralph Longshanks are gone after him, and belike, + will take him." + </p> + <p> + "Mayhappen not," said the master. "Now, forsooth, I have an inkling of + what this may mean; whereas there can be but one man whose business may be + the taking of our little guest's life. But let all be till he be healed + and may tell us his tale; and, if he telleth it as I deem he will, then + shall we seek further tidings. Meanwhile, if ye take the felon, keep him + heedfully till I may see him; for then may I have a true tale out of him, + even before Christopher is hale again." + </p> + <p> + So therewith David and Robert, with two or three others, brought + Christopher to a chamber, and did what leechdoms to him they might; but + Jack of the Tofts, and his sons and their fair wives, and his other folk, + made merry in the hall of the Tofts. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. SQUIRE SIMON COMES BACK TO OAKENHAM. THE EARL MARSHAL TAKEN TO + KING IN OAKENREALM. + </h2> + <p> + Now as to Squire Simon, whether the devil helped him, or his luck, or were + it his own cunning and his, horse's stoutness, we wot not; but in any case + he fell not in with Ralph Longshanks and Anthony Green, but rode as far + and as fast as his horse would go, and then lay down in the wild-wood; and + on the morrow arose and went his ways, and came in the even to the Castle + of the Uttermost March, and went on thence the morrow after on a fresh + horse to Oakenham. There he made no delay but went straight to the High + House, and had privy speech of the Earl Marshal; and him he told how he + had smitten Christopher, and, as he deemed, slain him. The Earl Marshal + looked on him grimly and said: "Where is the ring then?" + </p> + <p> + "I have it not," said Simon. "How might I light down to take it, when the + seven sons were hard on us?" And therewith he told him all the tale, and + how he had risen to slay Christopher the even before; and how he had found + out after that the youngling had become guest and fosterling of the folk + of the Tofts; and how warily Christopher had ridden, so that he, Simon, + had had to do his best at the last moment. "And now, Lord," quoth he, "I + see that it will be my luck to have grudging of thee, or even worse it may + be; yea, or thou wilt be presently telling me that I am a liar and never + struck the stroke: but I warrant me that by this time Jack of the Tofts + knoweth better, for I left my knife in the youngling's breast, and belike + he wotteth of my weapons. Well, then, if thou wilt be quit of me, thou + hast but to forbear upholding me against the Toft folk, and then am I gone + without any to-do of thee." + </p> + <p> + Earl Rolf spake quietly in answer, though his face was somewhat troubled: + "Nay, Simon, I doubt thee not, not one word; for why shouldest thou lie to + me? nor do I deem thou wouldest, for thou art trusty and worthy. Yet sore + I doubt if the child be dead. Well, even so let it be, for I am alive; and + full surely I am mightier than Jack of the Tofts, both to uphold thee + against him (wherein I shall not fail), and otherwise. But may God make me + even as that young man if I be not mightier yet in a few days. But now do + thou go and eat and drink and take thy disport; for thou hast served me + well; and in a little while I shall make thee knight and lord, and do all + I can to pleasure thee." + </p> + <p> + So then Simon knelt to the Earl and made obeisance to him, and arose and + went his ways, light-hearted and merry. + </p> + <p> + But within the month it so befel that some of the lords and dukes came to + the Earl Marshal, and prayed him to call together a great Folk-mote of all + Oakenrealm; and he answered them graciously, and behight them to do as + they would; and even so did he. + </p> + <p> + And that Mote was very great, and whenas it was hallowed, there arose a + great lord, grey and ancient, and bewailed him before the folk, that they + had no king over Oakenrealm to uphold the laws & ward the land; and + "Will ye live bare and kingless for ever?" said he at last. "Will ye not + choose you a king, and crown him, before I die, and we others of the realm + who are old and worn?" Then he sat down, and another arose, and in plain + terms he bade them take the Earl Marshal to king. And then arose one after + other, and each sang the same song, till the hearts of the people grew + warm with the big words, and at first many, and then more cried out: "A + King, a King! The Earl Marshal for King! Earl Rolf for King!" So that at + last the voices rose into a great roar, and sword clashed on shield, and + they who were about the Earl turned to him and upraised him on a great + war-shield, and he stood thereon above the folk with a naked sword in his + hand, and all the folk shouted about him. + </p> + <p> + Thereafter the chiefs and all the mightiest came and did homage to him for + King of Oakenrealm as he sat on the Hill of the Folk-mote: and that night + there was once more a King of Oakenrealm, and Earl Rolf was no more, but + King Rolf ruled the people. + </p> + <p> + But now the tale leaves telling of him, and turns again to Christopher the + woodman, who lay sick of his hurt in the House of the Tofts. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. OF CHRISTOPHER AT THE TOFTS. + </h2> + <p> + Christopher was six weeks ere he could come and go as he was wont; but it + was but a few days ere he was well enough to tell his tale to Jack of the + Tofts and his seven bold sons; and they cherished him and made much of + him, and so especially did David, the youngest son, to his board-fellow + and troth-brother. + </p> + <p> + On a day when he was well-nigh whole, as he sat under an oak-tree nigh the + house, in the cool of the evening, Jack of the Tofts came to him and sat + beside him, and made him tell his tale to him once more, and when he was + done he said to him: "Foster-son, for so I would have thee deem of + thyself, what is the thing that thou rememberest earliest in thy days?" + </p> + <p> + Said Christopher: "A cot without the Castle walls at the Uttermost + Marches, and a kind woman therein, big, sandy-haired, and freckled, and a + lad that was white-haired and sturdy, somewhat bigger than I. And I mind + me standing up against the door-post of the cot and seeing men-at-arms + riding by in white armour, and one of them throwing an apple to me, and I + raised my arm to throw it back at him, but my nurse (for somehow I knew + she was not my mother) caught my hand and drew me back indoors, and I + heard the men laughing behind me. And then a little after my nurse took me + into the Castle court, and there was again the man who had thrown me the + apple, sitting on a bench therein, clad in a scarlet gown furred with + brown fur; and she led me up to him, and he stooped down and chucked me + under the chin and put his hand on my head, and looked at my nurse and + said: 'Yea, he is a big lad, and groweth apace, whereas he is but of six + winters.' 'Nay, Lord,' said my nurse, 'he is but scantly five.' He knit + his brows and said: 'Nay, I tell thee he is six.' She shook her head, but + said nought, and the great man scowled on her and said: 'Mistress, wilt + thou set thy word against mine? Know now that this child is of six years. + Now then, how old is he?' She said faintly: 'Six years.' Said he: 'Look to + it that thy head and thy mouth forget it not, else shall we make thy back + remember it.' Then he put his hand on my head again, and said: 'Well, I + say thou art a big lad for six years;' and therewith he gave me a silver + penny; and even as he spake, came up a grey-clad squire to him and looked + on me curiously. Then I went away with my nurse, and wondered why she was + grown so pale, whereas she was mostly red-cheeked and jolly. But when she + had brought me into the cot again, she kissed me and clipped me, weeping + sorely the while; wherefore I wept, though I knew not why. Sithence, I + soon came to know that the man was the lord and governor of the Castle, as + ye may well wot; but to this hour I know not what he meant by threatening + my nurse." + </p> + <p> + Said Jack: "And how old art thou now, Christopher mine?" + </p> + <p> + Said the youngling, laughing: "By my lord the Castellan's reckoning I am + twenty and two years; but if thou wilt trow my good and kind nurse, that + yet liveth a kind dame, thou must take twelve months off the tale." + </p> + <p> + Jack sat silent a little; then he laughed and said: "Well, thou art a + mickle babe, Christopher, and it may be that one day many a man shall know + it. But now tell me again; thou hadst said to me before that thou hast + known neither father nor mother, brother nor sisters: is it so, verily?" + </p> + <p> + Said Christopher: "Never a kinsman of blood have I, though many + well-wishers." + </p> + <p> + Said Jack: "Well, now hast thou father and mother, brethren and sisters, + though they be of the sort of man-slayers and strong-thieves and outlaws; + yet they love thee, lad, and thou mayst one day find out how far thou + mayst trust them." + </p> + <p> + Christopher nodded and smiled at him merrily; then he fell silent awhile, + and the outlaw sat looking on him; at last he said suddenly: + "Foster-father, tell me what I am, and of what kindred, I pray thee; for, + methinks, thou knowest thereof; and what wonder, wise man as thou art." + </p> + <p> + "Forsooth, son Christopher, I have a deeming thereof, or somewhat more, + and when it is waxen greater yet, I will tell it thee one day, but not + now. But hearken! for I have other tidings for thee. Thou art now whole + and strong, and in a few days thou mayst wend the wild-wood as stoutly as + e'er a one of us. Now, therefore, how sayest thou, if I bid thee fare a + two days' journey with David and Gilbert thy brethren, and thy sister + Joanna, till they bring thee to a fair little stead which I call mine own, + to dwell there awhile? For, meseemeth, lad, that the air of the Tofts here + may not be overwholesome unto thee." + </p> + <p> + Christopher reddened, and he half rose up, and said: "What is this, + foster-father? Is it that there shall be battle at the Tofts, and that + thou wouldst have me away thence? Am I then such a weakling?" + </p> + <p> + Said Jack, laughing: "Be still now, thou sticked one. The Tofts go down to + battle at some whiles; but seldom comet battle to the Tofts; and no battle + do I look for now. But do my bidding, sweet fosterling, and it will be + better for me and better for thee, and may, perchance, put off battle for + awhile; which to me as now were not unhandy. If thou wilt but abide at + Littledale for somewhile, there shall be going and coming betwixt us, and + thou shalt drink thy Yule at the Tofts, and go back afterwards, and ever + shalt thou have thy sweet fellows with thee; so be wise, since thou goest + not perforce." + </p> + <p> + "Yea, yea," said Christopher, laughing; "thou puttest force on no man, is + it not so, foster-father? Wherefore I will go, and uncompelled." + </p> + <p> + Therewith came up to them, from out of the wild-wood, David, and with him + Joanna, who was the wife of Gilbert, and one of those fair maidens from + the Wailful Castle, though not the fairest of them; they had been + a-hunting, for ever those three would willingly go together, Gilbert, + David, and Joanna; and now Gilbert had abided behind, to dight the quarry + for fetching home. Christopher looked on the two joyfully, as a man + getting whole after sickness smiles on goodly things; and Joanna was fair + to see in her hunter's attire, with brogues tied to her naked feet, and + the shapeliness of her legs bare to the knee beneath the trussing up of + her green skirts. + </p> + <p> + They greeted Christopher kindly, and Joanna sat down by him to talk, but + Jack of the Tofts took his son by the arm, and went toward the house with + him in earnest speech. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. HOW CHRISTOPHER CAME TO LITTLEDALE TO ABIDE THERE A WHILE. + </h2> + <p> + In about a week's time from this, those four fellows went their ways + southward from the Tofts, having with them four good nags and four sumpter + beasts laden with such things as they needed, whereof were weapons enough, + though they all, save Christopher, bare bows; and he and the others were + girt with swords, and a leash of good dogs followed them. Two milch kine + also they drave with them. + </p> + <p> + Merry they were all as they went their ways through the woods, but the + gladness of Christopher was even past words; wherefore, after a little, he + spake scarce at all, but sat in his saddle hearkening the tales and songs + and jests of his fellows, who went close beside him, for more often they + went a-foot than rode. And, forsooth, as the sweet morning wore, it seemed + to him, so great was his joy, as if all the fair show of the greenery, and + the boles of the ancient oaks, and the squirrels running from bough to + bough, and the rabbits scuttling from under the bracken, and the hind + leaping in the wood-lawn, and the sun falling through the rustling leaves, + and the wind on his face, and the scent of the forest, yea, and his fair + companions and their loveliness & valiancy and kindness, and the words + and songs that came from their dear mouths, all these seemed to him, as it + were, one great show done for the behoof and pleasure of him, the man come + from the peril of death and the sick-bed. + </p> + <p> + They lay that night in all glee under the green boughs; and arose on the + morrow, and went all day, and again slept in the greenwood, and the next + morning came down into a fair valley, which was indeed Littledale, through + which ran a pleasant little river; and on a grassy knoll, but a short way + from its bank, was a long framed hall, somewhat narrow, and nought high, + whitherward they turned them straightway, and were presently before the + door; then Gilbert drew a key from out of his scrip and unlocked the door, + and they entered, and found within a fair little hall, with shut-beds out + from it on the further side, and kitchen, and store-bowers at the end; all + things duly appointed with plenishing, and meal and wine; for it was but + some three months since one of Jack of the Tofts' allies, Sir Launcelot + a'Green and his wife and two bairns, had left it till their affair was + made straight; whereas he had dwelt there a whole year, for he had been + made an outlaw of Meadham, and was a dear friend of the said Jack. + </p> + <p> + "Now," said David smiling, "here is now thy high house and thy castle, + little King Christopher; how doth it like thee?" + </p> + <p> + "Right well," said Christopher; "and, to say sooth, I would almost that it + were night, or my bones do else, that I might lie naked in a bed." + </p> + <p> + "Nay, lad," said Gilbert, "make it night now, and we will do all that + needs must be done, while thou liest lazy, as all kings use to do." + </p> + <p> + "Nay," said Christopher, "I will be more a king than so, for I will do + neither this nor that; I will not work and I will not go to bed, but will + look on, till it is time for me to take to the crooked stick and the + grey-goose wing and seek venison." + </p> + <p> + "That is better than well," said David; "for I can see by thine eyes, that + are dancing with pleasure, that in three or four days thou wilt be about + the thickets with us." + </p> + <p> + "Meantime," said Joanna, "thou shalt pay for thy meat and drink by telling + us tales when we come home weary." + </p> + <p> + "Yea," said Christopher laughing, "that ye may go to sleep before your + time." + </p> + <p> + So they talked, and were joyous and blithe together, and between them they + made the house trim, and decked it with boughs and blossoms; and though + Christopher told them no tale that night, Joanna and David sang both; and + in a night or two it was Christopher that was the minstrel. So when the + morrow came there began their life of the woodland; but, save for the + changing of the year and the chances of the hunt, the time passed on from + day to day with little change, and it was but seldom that any man came + their way. When Yule was, they locked the house door behind them and went + their ways home to the Tofts; and now of all of these wayfarers was + Christopher by far the hardest and strongest, for his side had utterly + forgotten Simon's knife. At the Tofts they were welcomed with all triumph, + and they were about there in the best of cheer, till it was wearing toward + Candlemas, and then they took occasion of a bright and sunny day to go + back to Littledale once more, and there they abode till spring was come + and was wearing into summer, and messages had come and gone betwixt them + and the Tofts, and it was agreed that with the first of autumn they should + go back to the Tofts and see what should betide. + </p> + <p> + But now leave we Christopher and these good fellows of the Tofts and turn + to Goldilind, who is yet dwelling amid no very happy days in the Castle of + Greenharbour, on the northernmost marches of Meadham. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. OF GOLDILIND IN THE MAY MORNING AT GREENHARBOUR. + </h2> + <p> + May was on the land now, and was come into its second week, and Goldilind + awoke on a morn in the Castle of Greenharbour; but little did her eyes + behold of the May, even when they were fully open; for she was lying, not + in her own chamber, which was proper, and even somewhat stately, and from + whence she could look on the sky and greenwood, but in a chamber low down + amidst the footings of the wall, little lighted, unadorned, with nought in + it for sport or pleasure; nought, forsooth, save the pallet bed on which + she lay, a joint stool and water ewer. To be short, though it were called + the Least Guard-chamber, it was a prison, and she was there dreeing her + penance, as Dame Elinor would call the cruelty of her malice, which the + chaplain, Dame Elinor's led captain, had ordained her for some sin which + the twain had forged between them. + </p> + <p> + She lay there naked in her smock, with no raiment anigh her, and this was + the third morning whereon she had awakened to the dusky bare walls, and a + long while had their emptiness made of the hours: but she lay quiet and + musing, not altogether without cheer now; for indeed she was not wont to + any longer penance than this she had but now tholed, so she looked for + release presently: and, moreover, there had grown in her mind during those + three days a certain purpose; to wit, that she would get hold of the + governor of the castle privily, and two or three others of the squires who + most regarded her, and bewail her case to them, so that she might + perchance get some relief. Forsooth, as she called to mind this resolve, + her heart beat and her cheek flushed, for well she knew that there was + peril in it, and she forecast what might be the worst that would come + thereof, while, on the other hand, the best that might be seemed to her + like a glimpse of Paradise. + </p> + <p> + As she lay there and turned the matter over in her mind for this many an + hundred time, there came a key into the lock, and the door opened; and + thereby entered a tall woman, dark-haired, white-skinned, somewhat young, + and not ill-favoured: Goldilind still lay there, till the new-comer said + to her in a hard voice, wherein was both threatening and mockery: "Rise + up, our Lady! the Dame Elinor saith that it is enough, and that thou art + to go forth. Nay, hold a while; for I say unto thee that it is yet early + in the day, and that thy chamber is not yet dight for thee, so thou must + needs bestow thyself elsewhere till it be done." + </p> + <p> + Goldilind rose up, and said smiling: "Yea, Aloyse, but thou hast not + brought my raiment: and thou seest!" + </p> + <p> + The maid stood looking at her a moment somewhat evilly, and then said: + "Well, since it is but scant six o'clock, I may do that; but I bid thee + ask me not overmuch; for meseemeth Dame Elinor is not overwell pleased + with thee to-day, nor our chaplain either." + </p> + <p> + Therewith she turned and went out, locking the door behind her, and came + back presently bearing on her arm a green gown and other raiment: she laid + them on the stool before the Lady, and said: "Hasten, my Lady, and let me + go to my place: sooth to say, it may well be double trouble to thee to don + thy clothes, for thou mayst have to doff them again before long." + </p> + <p> + Goldilind answered nought, but reddened and paled again as she clad her + under the waiting-maid's eyes. Then they went out together, and up a short + stone stair, till they were level with the greensward without. Then the + maid turned to Goldilind and said: "And now thou art clad and out, my + Lady, I wot not where thou art to go to, since to thy chamber thou must + not go. Nay, hold and hearken! here we be at the door which opens on to + the Foresters' Garth under the Foresters' Tower, thither shalt thou abide + till I come to fetch thee. How now, my Lady! what else wouldst thou?" + </p> + <p> + Goldilind looked on her with a smile, yet with eagereyes, and said: "O + good Aloyse, wouldst thou but give me a piece of bread? for I hunger; thou + wottest my queenly board hath not been overloaded these last days." + </p> + <p> + "Ha!" said Aloyse; "if thou ask me overmuch I fear thou mayst pay for it, + my Lady; but this last asking thou shalt have, and then none other till + all thy penance thou hast dreed. Abide!" + </p> + <p> + Therewith she went up the stairs, and Goldilind, who now was but weak with + her prison and the sudden light, and the hope and fear of her purpose of + bewailing her story, sat her down on the stair there, almost, as it were, + 'twixt home and hell, till her heart came back to her and the tears began + to flow from her eyes. Forthright came back Aloyse, bearing a white loaf + and a little pitcher of milk on a silver serving-dish; she laid them down, + unlocked the door into the garden, and thrust Goldilind through by the + shoulders; then she turned and took up her serving-dish with the bread and + milk, and handed it to Goldilind through the door, and said: "Now is my + Lady served. It were indeed well that my Lady should strengthen herself + this hour for the hour next to come." + </p> + <p> + Therewith she turned about, and shut and locked the door; and the King's + daughter fell to eagerly on her bread, and thought of little till she had + eaten and drunk, save that she felt the sweet scent of the gilliflowers + and eglantine as it were a part of her meal. + </p> + <p> + Then she went slowly down the garden, treading the greensward beside the + flowers; and she looked on the hold, and the low sun gilded the walls + thereof and glittered in a window here and there, and though there was on + her a foreboding of the hours of that day, she did what she might to make + the best of the fragrant May morning and the song of birds and rustle of + leaves, though, indeed, at whiles the tears would gush out of her eyes + when she thought how young she was and how feeble, and the pity of herself + became sweet unto her. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII. OF GOLDILIND IN THE GARTH. + </h2> + <p> + Now, as she went in that garden with her face turned toward the postern + which led into the open space of the greenwood, which was but two + bow-shots from the thicket, she heard the clatter of horse-hoofs on the + loose stones of the path, and how they stopped at the said postern; and + presently there was a key in the lock, the door opened, and a man came in + walking stiffly, like a rider who has ridden far and fast. He was clad in + jack and sallet, and had a sword by his side, and on his sleeve was done + in green and gold a mountain aflame; so that Goldilind knew him at once + for a man of Earl Geoffrey's; and, indeed, she had seen the man before, + coming and going on errands that she knew nought of, and on which nothing + followed that was of import to her. Therefore, as she watched him cross + the garden and go straight up to the door of the Foresters' Tower, and + take out another key and enter, she heeded him but little, nor did his + coming increase her trouble a whit. + </p> + <p> + She walked on toward the postern, and now she saw that the errand-bearer + had left it open behind him, and when she came close up to it, she saw his + horse tied to a ring in the wall, a strong and good bay nag. The sight of + him, and the glimpse of the free and open land, stirred in her the misery + of her days and the yearning for the loveliness of the world without, + converse of friends, hope of the sufficiency of desire, and the sweetness + of love returned. And so strong a wave of anguish swept over her, that she + bowed her down upon the grass and wept bitterly. Yet but a little while it + lasted; she rose up presently and looked warily all round her, and up to + the Castle, and saw none stirring; she drew up the skirts of her green + gown into her girdle, till the hem but just hid her knees; then she + stepped lightly through the half-open door with flushed cheeks and + glittering eyes, while her heart rose within her; then she lifted her + hand, unhitched the reins from the iron ring, and quietly led the horse + close under the garth-wall, and stole gently up the slope which, as all + roads from the Castle, went straightway toward the thicket, but this was + the straightest. So she went, till she came to the corner of the + garth-wall, and a little further; and the Castle on that side was blind, + save for the swale on the battlement, whereon in that deep peace was + little going; and, moreover, it was not even yet six o'clock. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV. GOLDILIND GOES FREE. + </h2> + <p> + There then she stayed the horse, and, flushed and panting, got lightly + into the saddle and bestrode it, and, leaning over on the beast's neck, + smote his flanks with her heels; the horse was fresh, though his master + had been weary, whereas the said messenger had gotten him from a forester + some six miles away in the wood that morning, so the nag answered to her + call for speed, and she went a great gallop into the wood, and was hidden + in a twinkling from any eyes that might be looking out of the Castle. + </p> + <p> + Without checking the nag she sped along, half mad with joy at the freedom + of this happy morn. Nigh aimless she was, but had an inkling that it were + well with her if she could hold northward ever; for the old man aforesaid + had told her of Oakenrealm, and how it lay northward of them; so that way + she drifted as the thicket would suffer her. When she had gone as much of + a gallop as she might for some half hour, she drew rein to breathe her + nag, and hearkened; she turned in the saddle, but heard nought to affright + her, so she went on again, but some what more soberly; and thuswise she + rode for some two hours, and the day waxed hot, and she was come to a + clear pool amidst of a little clearing, covered with fine greensward right + down to the water's edge. + </p> + <p> + There she made stay, and got off her horse, and stood awhile by him as he + cropped the sweet grass; and the birds sang at the edge of the thicket, + and the rabbits crept and gambolled on the other side of the water; and + from the pool's edge the moorhens cried. She stood half leaning against + the side of the horse till she became somewhat drowsy; yea, and even + dreamed a little, and that little but ill, it seemed, as she gave a + troubled cry and shrank together and turned pale. Then she rubbed her eyes + and smiled, and turned to the pool, where now a little ripple was running + over the face of it, and a thought came upon her, and she set her hand to + the clasp of her gown and undid it, and drew the gown off her shoulders, + and so did off all her raiment, and stood naked a little on the warm sunny + grass, and then bestirred her and went lightly into the pool, and bathed + and sported there, and then came on to the grass again, and went to and + fro to dry her in the air and sun. Then she did on her raiment again, and + laid her down under a thorn-bush by the pool-side, and there, would she, + would she not, went to sleep soundly and dreamed not. And when she awoke + she deemed her sleep had been long, but it was not so, but scarce a score + of minutes. Anyhow, she sprang up now and went to her horse, and drew the + girths tight (which she had loosed erewhile,) and so bestrode the good + horse, and shook the reins, and rode away much comforted and enheartened. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV. OF GOLDILIND IN THE WILD-WOOD. + </h2> + <p> + Goldilind rode on, hastening yet to put as many miles as she might betwixt + her and Greenharbour. Within a three hours from her bathing she fell + a-hungering sore, and knew not what to do to eat, till she found a pouch + made fast to the saddle-bow, and therein a little white loaf, that and no + more, which she took and ate the half of with great joy, sitting down by a + brook-side, whence she had her drink. + </p> + <p> + Then again she mounted, and rode on till dusk overtook her just as she + came to a little river running from the north from pool to shallow, and + shallow to pool. And whereas she was now exceeding weary, and the good + horse also much spent, and that the grass was very sweet and soft down to + the water's edge, and that there was a thick thorn-bush to cover her, she + made up her mind that this place should be her bed-chamber. So she took + saddle and bridle off the horse, as he must needs bite the grass, and then + when she had eaten the other half of her bread, she laid her down on the + green grass, with her head on the saddle, and when she had lain listening + to the horse cropping the grass close anigh her for a minute or two, she + fell fast asleep, and lay there long and had no dreams. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI. WHAT GOLDILIND FOUND IN THE WOOD. + </h2> + <p> + When she awoke it was broad day and bright sun, and she rose up to her + feet and looked about, and saw the horse standing close by, and sharing + the shade with her, whisking his tail about lazily. Then she turned, and + saw the stream rippling out from the pool over the clean gravel, and here + and there a fish darting through the ripple, or making clean rings on the + pool as he quietly took a fly; the sky was blue and clear, there was + scarce a breath of air, and the morning was already hot; no worse than + yesterday sang the birds in the bushes; but as she looked across the + river, where, forsooth, the alders grew thick about the pool's edge, a + cock blackbird, and then another, flew out from the close boughs, where + they had been singing to their mates, with the sharp cry that they use + when they are frighted. Withal she saw the bush move, though, as + aforesaid, the morning was without wind. She had just stooped to do off + her foot-gear (for she was minded to bathe again), but now she stopped + with one shoe in her hand, and looked on the bushes keenly with beating + heart, and again she thought she saw the boughs shaken, and stood, not + daring to move a while; but they moved no more now when she had looked + steadily at them a space, and again a blackbird began singing loud just + where they had been shaken. So she gathered heart again, and presently + turned her hand once more to stripping her raiment off her, for she would + not be baulked of her bath; but when the stripping was done, she loitered + not naked on the bank as she had done the day before, but walked swiftly + into the shallow, and thence down into the pool, till nothing but her head + and the whiteness of her shoulders showed over the dark water. Even then + she turned her head about twice to look into the over-side bushes, but + when she saw nothing stir there she began to play in the water, but not + for long, but came splashing through the shallow and hurried on her + raiment. + </p> + <p> + When she was clad again she went up to the horse, and patted and caressed + him, and did bridle and saddle on him, and was going to climb upon him, + when, of a sudden, she thought she would lead him across, lest there + should be a hole near the other bank and he might stumble into it + unwarily; so she bared her feet once more and trussed up her gown skirts, + and so took the ford, leading the beast; the water was nowhere up to + mid-leg of her, and she stepped ashore on to short and fine grass, which + spread like a meadow before her, with a big thorn or two scattered about + it, and a little grassy hill beset with tall elms toward the top, coming + down into the flat of the meadow and drawing round it nearly up to the + river on the north side. + </p> + <p> + But now she stood staring in wonder and some deal of fear; for there were + three milch kine feeding on the meadow, and, moreover, under a thorn, + scarce a hundred yards from where she stood, was a tall man standing + gazing on her. So stricken was she that she might neither cry out nor turn + aside; neither did she think to pull her gown out of her girdle to cover + the nakedness of her legs. + </p> + <p> + When they had thus stood a little while the man began to move toward her + very slowly, nor did she dare to flee any the more. But when he was within + half a dozen paces her face flushed red, and she did pull her gown out of + its trusses and let it flow down. But he spake to her in a pleasant voice, + and said: "May I speak to thee, maiden?" + </p> + <p> + Fear was yet in her soul, so that she might not speak for a little, and + then she said: "O, I beseech thee, bring me not back to Greenharbour!" And + she paled sorely as she spake the word. + </p> + <p> + But he said: "I wot not of Greenharbour, how to find the way thereto, + though we have heard of it. But comfort thyself, I pray thee, there is + nought to fear in me." + </p> + <p> + The sound of his voice was full pleasant to her, and when she hearkened + him, how kind and frank it was, then she knew how much of terror was blent + with her joy in her newly-won freedom and the delight of the kind and + happy words. Yet still she spoke not, and was both shamefast and still not + altogether unafraid. Yet, sooth to say, though his attire was but simple, + he was nought wild or fierce to look on. From time to time she looked on + him, and then dropped her eyes again. In those glances she saw that he was + grey-eyed, and smooth-cheeked, and round-chinned, and his hair curly and + golden; and she must needs think that she had never seen any face half so + fair. He was clad but in a green coat that came not down to his knees, and + brogues were tied to his feet, and no more raiment he had; and for hat he + had made him a garland of white may blossom, and well it sat there: and + again she looked on him, and thought him no worse than the running angel + that goes before the throne of God in the picture of the choir of + Meadhamstead; and she looked on him and marvelled. + </p> + <p> + Now she hung her head before him and wished he would speak, and even so + did he, and said: "Maiden, when I first saw thee from amidst of the bush + by the river yonder, I deemed thou wert a wood-wight, or some one of the + she-Gods of the Gentiles come back hither. For this is a lonely place, and + some might deem that the Devil hath might here more than in other places; + and when I saw thee, that thou wouldst do off thy raiment to bathe thee, + though soothly I longed to lie hidden there, I feared thee, lest thou + shouldst be angry with me if I were to see thee unclad; so I came away; + yet I went not far, for I was above all things yearning to see thee; and + sooth it is, that hadst thou not crossed the water, I should presently + have crossed it myself to seek thee, wert thou Goddess, or wood-wife, or + whatever might have come of it. But now thou art come to us, and I have + heard thy voice beseeching me not to bring thee to Greenharbour, I see + that thou art a woman of the kindred of Adam. And yet so it is, that even + now I fear thee somewhat. Yet I will pray thee not to be wroth if I ask + thee whether I may do aught for thy need." + </p> + <p> + Now she began somewhat to smile, and she looked him full in the face, and + said: "Forsooth, my need is simple, for I am hungry." + </p> + <p> + He smote himself on the breast, and said: "See now, what a great fool I + am, not to have known it without telling, instead of making long-winded + talk about myself. Come quickly, dear maiden, and leave thine horse to + crop the grass." + </p> + <p> + So he hurried on to the thorn-bush aforesaid, and she went foot to foot + with him, but he touched her not; and straightway she sat her down on the + root of the thorn, and smiled frankly on him, and said: + </p> + <p> + "Nay, sir, and now thou hast made me go all this way I am out of breath + and weary, so I pray thee of the victual at once." + </p> + <p> + But he had been busy with his scrip which he had left cast down there, and + therewithal reached out to her a mighty hunch of bread and a piece of + white cheese, and said: + </p> + <p> + "Now shall I fetch thee milk." Wherewith he took up a bowl of aspen tree + that had lain by the scrip, and ran off to one of the kine and milked the + bowl full, and came back with it heedfully, and set it down beside her and + said: "This was the nighest thing to hand, but when thou hast eaten and + rested then shall we go to our house, if thou wilt be so kind to me; for + there have we better meat and wine to boot." + </p> + <p> + She looked up at him smiling, but her pleasure of the meat and the + kindness was so exceeding, that she might not refrain from tears also, but + she spake not. + </p> + <p> + As for him, he knelt beside her, looking on her wistfully; and at last he + said: "I shall tell thee, that I am glad that thou wert hungry and that I + have seen thee eating, else might I have deemed thee somewhat other than a + woman of mankind even yet." + </p> + <p> + She said: "Yea, and why wouldst thou not believe my word thereto?" + </p> + <p> + He said, reddening: "I almost fear to tell thee, lest thou think me + overbold and be angry with me." + </p> + <p> + "Nay," she said, "tell me, for I would know." + </p> + <p> + Said he: "The words are not easy in my rude mouth; but this is what I + mean: that though I be young I have seen fair women not a few, but beside + any of them thou art a wonder;....and loth I were if thou wert not really + of mankind, if it were but for the glory of the world." + </p> + <p> + She hung her head and answered nought a while, and he also seemed ashamed: + but presently she spake: "Thou hast been kind to us, wouldst thou tell us + thy name? and then, if it like thee, what thou art?" + </p> + <p> + "Lady," he said, "my name is easy to tell, I hight Christopher; and whiles + folk in merry mockery call me Christopher King; meseems because I am of + the least account of all carles. As for what else I am, a woodman I am, an + outlaw, and the friend of them: yet I tell thee I have never by my will + done any harm to any child of man; and those friends of mine, who are + outlaws also, are kind and loving with me, both man and woman, though + needs must they dwell aloof from kings' courts and barons' halls." + </p> + <p> + She looked at him wondering, and as if she did not altogether understand + him; and she said: "Where dost thou dwell?" + </p> + <p> + He said: "To-day I dwell hard by; though where I shall dwell to-morrow, + who knows? And with me are dwelling three of my kind fellows; and the + dearest is a young man of mine own age, who is my fellow in all matters, + for us to live and die each for the other. Couldst thou have seen him, + thou wouldst love him I deem." + </p> + <p> + "What name hath he?" said Goldilind. + </p> + <p> + "He hight David," said Christopher. + </p> + <p> + But therewith he fell silent and knit his brow, as though he were thinking + of some knotty point: but in a while his face cleared, and he said: "If I + durst, I would ask thee thy name, and what thou art?" + </p> + <p> + "As to my name," said she, "I will not tell it thee as now. As to what I + am, I am a poor prisoner; and much have I been grieved and tormented, so + that my body hath been but a thing whereby I might suffer anguish. + Something else am I, but I may not tell thee what as yet." + </p> + <p> + He looked on her long, and then arose and went his way along the very + track of their footsteps, and he took the horse and brought him back to + the thorn, and stood by the lady and reddened, and said: "I must tell thee + what I have been doing these last minutes." + </p> + <p> + "Yea," said she, looking at him wonderingly, "hast thou not been fetching + my horse to me?" + </p> + <p> + "So it is," said he; "but something else also. Ask me, or I cannot tell + thee." + </p> + <p> + She laughed, and said: "What else, fair sir?" + </p> + <p> + Said he: "Ask me what, or I cannot tell thee." + </p> + <p> + "Well, what, then?" said she. + </p> + <p> + He answered, stammering and blushing: "I have been looking at thy foot + prints, whereby thou camest up from the water, to see what new and fairer + blossoms have come up in the meadow where thy feet were set e'en now." + </p> + <p> + She answered him nothing, and he held his peace. But in a while she said: + "If thou wouldst have us come to thine house, thou shalt lead us thither + now." And therewith she took her foot-gear from out of her girdle, as if + she would do it on, and he turned his face away, but sighed therewith. + Then she reddened and put them back again, and rose up lightly, and said: + "I will go afoot; and wilt thou lead the horse for me?" + </p> + <p> + So did he, and led her by all the softest and most flowery ways, turning + about the end of a spur of the little hill that came close to the water, + and going close to the lip of the river. And when they had thus turned + about the hill there was a somewhat wider vale before them, grassy and + fair, and on a knoll, not far from the water, a long frame-house thatched + with reed. + </p> + <p> + Then said Christopher: "Lady, this is now Littledale, and yonder the house + thereof." + </p> + <p> + She said quietly: "Lovely is the dale, and fair the house by seeming, and + I would that they may be happy that dwell therein!" + </p> + <p> + Said Christopher: "Wilt thou not speak that blessing within the house as + without?" + </p> + <p> + "Fain were I thereof," she said. And therewith they came into the garth, + wherein the apple trees were blossoming, and Goldilind spread abroad her + hands and lifted up her head for joy of the sight and the scent, and they + stayed awhile before they went on to the door, which was half open, for + they feared none in that place, and looked for none whom they might not + deal with if he came as a foe. + </p> + <p> + Christopher would have taken a hand of her to lead her in, but both hands + were in her gown to lift up the hem as she passed over the threshold; so + he durst not. + </p> + <p> + Fair and bright now was the hall within, with its long and low windows + goodly glazed, a green halling on the walls of Adam and Eve and the + garden, and the good God walking therein; the sun shone bright through the + southern windows, and about the porch it was hot, but further toward the + dais cool and pleasant. + </p> + <p> + So Goldilind sat down in the coolest of the place at the standing table; + but Christopher bestirred himself, and brought wine and white bread, and + venison and honey, and said: "I pray thee to dine, maiden, for it is now + hard on noon; and as for my fair fellows, I look not for them before + sunset for they were going far into the wood." + </p> + <p> + She smiled on him, and ate and drank a little deal, and he with her. Sooth + to say, her heart was full, and though she had forgotten her fear, she was + troubled, because, for as glad as she was, she could not be as glad as her + gladness would have her, for the sake of some lack, she knew not what. + </p> + <p> + Now spake Christopher: "I would tell thee something strange, to wit, + though it is little more than three hours since I first saw thee beside + the river, yet I seem to know thee as if thou wert a part of my life." + </p> + <p> + She looked on him shyly, and he went on: "This also is strange, and, + withal, it likes me not, that when I speak of my fair fellows here, David, + and Gilbert, and Joanna, they are half forgotten to my heart, though their + names are on my tongue; and this house, doth it like thee, fair guest?" + </p> + <p> + "Yea, much," she said; "it seems joyous to me: and I shall tell thee that + I have mostly dwelt in unmerry houses, though they were of greater cost + than this." + </p> + <p> + Said Christopher: "To me it hath been merry and happy enough; but now it + seems to me as if it had all been made for thee and this meeting." + </p> + <p> + "Is it therefore no longer merry to thee because of that?" she said, + smiling, yet flushing much red therewith. Now it was his turn not to + answer her, and she cast down her eyes before him, and there was silence + between them. + </p> + <p> + Then she looked at him steadily, and said: "It is indeed grievous that + thou shouldest forget thine old friends for me, and that it should have + come into thy mind that this fair and merry house was not made for thy + fair fellows and thy delight with them, but for me, the chance-comer. For, + hearken, whereas thou saidst e'en now, that I was become a part of thy + life, how can that be? For if I become the poor captive again, how canst + thou get to me, thou who art thyself a castaway, as thou hast told me? + Yea, but even so, I shall be too low for thee to come down to me. And if I + become what I should be, then I must tell thee that I shall be too high + for thee to climb up to me; so that in one way or other we shall be + sundered, who have but met for an hour or two." + </p> + <p> + He hung his head a while as they stood there face to face, for both of + them had arisen from the board; but presently he looked up to her with + glittering eyes, and said: "Yea, for an hour or two; why then do we tarry + and linger, and say what we have no will to say, and refrain from what our + hearts bid us?" + </p> + <p> + Therewith he caught hold of her right wrist, and laid his hand on her left + shoulder, and this first time that he had touched her, it was as if a fire + ran through all his body and changed it into the essence of her: neither + was there any naysay in her eyes, nor any defence against him in the + yielding body of her. But even in that nick of time he drew back a little, + and turned his head, as a man listening, toward the door, and said: "Hist! + hist! Dost thou hear, maiden?" She turned deadly pale: "O what is it? What + is it? Yea, I hear; it is horses drawing nigh, and the sound of hounds + baying. But may it not be thy fellows coming back?" + </p> + <p> + "Nay, nay," he said; "they rode not in armour. Hark to it! and these + hounds are deep-voiced sleuth-dogs! But come now, there may yet be time." + </p> + <p> + He turned, and caught up axe and shield from off the wall, and drew her + toward a window that looked to the north, and peered out of it warily; but + turned back straightway, and said: "Nay, it is too late that way, they are + all round about the house. Maiden, get thou up into the solar by this + stair, and thou wilt find hiding-place behind the traverse of the bed; and + if they go away, and my fellows come in due time, then art thou safe. But + if not, surely they shall do thee no hurt; for I think, indeed, that thou + art some great one." + </p> + <p> + And he fell to striding down the hall toward the door; but she ran after + him, and caught his arm, and said: "Nay, nay, I will not hide, to be + dragged out of my refuge like a thief: thou sayest well that I am of the + great; I will stand by thee and command and forbid as a Queen. O go not to + the door! Stay by me, stay!" + </p> + <p> + "Nay, nay," he said, "there is nought for it but the deed of arms. Look! + seest thou not steel by the porch?" + </p> + <p> + And therewith he broke from her and ran to the door, and was met upon the + very threshold by all-armed men, upon whom he fell without more ado, + crying out: "For the Tofts! For the Tofts! The woodman to the rescue!" And + he hewed right and left on whatsoever was before him, so that what fell + not, gave back, and for a moment of time he cleared the porch; but in that + nick of time his axe brake on the basnet of a huge man-at-arms, and they + all thrust them on him together and drave him back into the hall, and came + bundling after him in a heap. But he drave his shield at one, and then + with his right hand smote another on the bare face, so that he rolled over + and stirred no more till the day of doom. Then was there a weapon before + him, might he have stooped to pick it up; but he might not; so he caught + hold of a sturdy but somewhat short man by the collar and the lap of his + leather surcoat, and drew aback, and with a mighty heave cast him on the + rout of them, who for their parts had drawn back a little also, as if he + had been a huge stone, and down went two before that artillery; and they + set up a great roar of wonder and fear. But he followed them, and this + time got an axe in his hand, so mazed they were by his onset, and he hewed + at them again and drave them aback to the threshold of the door: but could + get them no further, and they began to handle long spears to thrust at + him. + </p> + <p> + But then came forward a knight, no mickle man, but clad in very goodly + armour, with a lion beaten in gold on his green surcoat; this man smote up + the spears, and made the men go back a little, while he stood on the + threshold; so Christopher saw that he would parley with him, and forbore + him, and the knight spake: "Thou youngling, art thou mad? What doest thou + falling on my folk?" + </p> + <p> + "And what do ye," said Christopher fiercely, "besetting the houses of folk + with weapons? Now wilt thou take my life. But I shall yet slay one or two + before I die. Get thee back, lord, or thou shalt be the first." + </p> + <p> + But the knight, who had no weapon in his hand, said: "We come but to seek + our own, and that is our Lady of Meadham, who dwelleth at Greenharbour by + her own will. And if thou wilt stand aside thou mayst go free to the devil + for us." + </p> + <p> + Now would Christopher have shouted and fallen on, and gone to his death + there and then; but even therewith a voice, clear and sweet, spake at the + back of him, and said: "Thou kind host, do thou stand aside and let us + speak that which is needful." And therewith stepped forth Goldilind and + stood beside Christopher, and said: "Sir Burgreve, we rode forth to drink + the air yesterday, and went astray amidst the wild-wood, and were belated, + so that we must needs lie down under the bare heaven; but this morning we + happened on this kind forester, who gave us to eat, and took us to his + house and gave us meat and drink; for which it were seemlier to reward him + than threaten him. Now it is our pleasure that ye lead us back to + Greenharbour; but as for this youth, that ye do him no hurt, but let him + go free, according to thy word spoken e'en now, Sir Burgreve." + </p> + <p> + She spake slowly and heavily, as one who hath a lesson to say, and it was + to be seen of her that all grief was in her heart, though her words were + queenly. Some of them that heard laughed; but the Burgreve spake, and + said: "Lady, we will do thy will in part, for we will lead thee to + Greenharbour in all honour; but as to this young man, if he will not be + slain here and now, needs must he with us. For he hath slain two of our + men outright, and hath hurt many, and, methinks, the devil of the woods is + in his body. So do thou bid him be quiet, if thou wouldst not see his + blood flow." + </p> + <p> + She turned a pale unhappy face on Christopher, and said: "My friend, we + bid thee withstand them no more, but let them do with thee as they will." + </p> + <p> + Christopher stood aside therewith, and sat down on a bench and laughed, + and said in a high voice: "Stout men-at-arms, forsooth, to take a maid's + kirtle to their shield." + </p> + <p> + But therewith the armed men poured into the hall, and a half dozen of the + stoutest came up unto Christopher where he sat, and bound his hands with + their girdles, and he withstood them no whit, but sat laughing in their + faces, and made as if it were all a Yule-tide game. But inwardly his heart + burned with anger, and with love of that sweet Lady. + </p> + <p> + Then they made him stand up, and led him without the house, and set him on + a horse, and linked his feet together under the belly thereof. And when + that was done he saw them lead out the Lady, and they set her in a horse + litter, and then the whole troop rode off together, with two men riding on + either side of the said litter. In this wise they left Littledale. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII. GOLDILIND COMES BACK TO GREENHARBOUR. + </h2> + <p> + They rode speedily, and had with them men who knew the woodland ways, so + that the journey was nought so long thence as Goldilind had made it + thither; and they stayed not for nightfall, since the moon was bright, so + that they came before the Castle-gate before midnight. Now Goldilind + looked to be cast into prison, whatever might befall her upon the morrow; + but so it went not, for she was led straight to her own chamber, and one + of her women, but not Aloyse, waited on her, and when she tried to have + some tidings of her, the woman spake to her no more than if she were dumb. + So all unhappily she laid her down in her bed, foreboding the worst, which + she deemed might well be death at the hand of her jailers. As for + Christopher, she saw the last of him as they entered the Castle-gate, and + knew not what they had done with him. So she lay in dismal thoughts, but + at last fell asleep for mere weariness. + </p> + <p> + When she awoke it was broad day, and there was someone going about in the + chamber; she turned, and saw that it was Aloyse. She felt sick at heart, + and durst not move or ask of tidings; but presently Aloyse turned, and + came to the bed, and made an obeisance, but spake not. Goldilind raised + her head, and said wearily: "What is to be done, Aloyse, wilt thou tell + me? For my heart fails me, and meseems, unless they have some mercy, I + shall die to-day." + </p> + <p> + "Nay," said the chambermaid, "keep thine heart up; for here is one at hand + who would see thee, when it is thy pleasure to be seen." + </p> + <p> + "Yea," said Goldilind, "Dame Elinor to wit." And she moaned, and fear and + heart-sickness lay so heavy on her that she went nigh to swooning + </p> + <p> + But Aloyse lifted up her head, and brought her wine and made her drink, + and when Goldilind was come to herself again the maid said: "I say, keep + up thine heart, for it is not Dame Elinor and the rods that would see + thee, but a mighty man; nay, the most mighty, to wit, Earl Geoffrey, who + is King of Meadham in all but the name." + </p> + <p> + Goldilind did in sooth take heart at this tidings, and she said: "I wonder + what he may have to do here; all this while he hath not been to + Greenharbour, or, mayhappen, it might have been better for me." + </p> + <p> + "I wot not," said Aloyse, "but even so it is. I shall tell thee, the + messenger, whose horse thou didst steal, brought no other word in his + mouth save this, that my Lord Earl was coming; and come he did; but that + was toward sunset, long after they had laid the blood-hounds on thy slot, + and I had been whipped for letting thee find the way out a-gates. Now, our + Lady, when thou hast seen the Earl, and hast become our Lady and Mistress + indeed, wilt thou bethink thee of the morn before yesterday on my behalf?" + </p> + <p> + "Yea," said Goldilind, "if ever it shall befall." + </p> + <p> + "Befall it shall," said Aloyse; "I dreamed of thee three nights ago, and + thou sitting on thy throne commanding and forbidding the great men. But at + worst no harm hath happened save to my shoulders and sides, by thy + stealing thyself, since thou hast come back in the nick of time, and of + thine own will, as men say. But tell me now of thine holiday, and if it + were pleasant to thee?" + </p> + <p> + Goldilind fell a-weeping at the word, bethinking her of yesterday morning, + and Aloyse stood looking on her, but saying nought. At last spake + Goldilind softly: "Tell me, Aloyse, didst thou hear any speaking of that + young man who was brought in hither last night? Have they slain him?" + </p> + <p> + Said Aloyse: "Soothly, my Lady, I deem they have done him no hurt, though + I wot not for sure. There hath been none headed or hanged in the + base-court to-day. I heard talk amongst the men-at-arms of one whom they + took; they said he was a wonder of sheer strength, and how that he cast + their men about as though he were playing at ball. Sooth to say, they + seemed to bear him no grudge therefor. But now I would counsel thee to + arise; and I am bidden to tire and array thee at the best. And now I would + say a word in thine ear, to wit, that Dame Elinor feareth thee somewhat + this morn." + </p> + <p> + So Goldilind arose, and was arrayed like a very queen, and was served of + what she would by Aloyse and the other women, and sat in her chamber + awaiting the coming of the mighty Lord of Meadham. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII. EARL GEOFFREY SPEAKS WITH GOLDILIND. + </h2> + <p> + But a little while had she sat there, before footsteps a many came to the + door, which was thrown open, and straight it was as if the sun had shone + on a flower-bed, for there was come Earl Geoffrey and his lords all + arrayed most gloriously. Then came the Earl up the chamber to Goldilind, + and bent the knee before her, and said: "Lady and Queen, is it thy + pleasure that thy servant should kiss thine hand?" + </p> + <p> + She made him little cheer, but reached out to him her lily hand in its + gold sleeve, and said: "Thou must do thy will." + </p> + <p> + So he kissed the hand reverently, and said: "And these my lords, may they + enter and do obeisance and kiss hands, my Lady?" + </p> + <p> + Said Goldilind: "I will not strive to gainsay their will, or thine, my + Lord." + </p> + <p> + So they entered and knelt before her, and kissed her hand; and, to say + sooth, most of them had been fain to kiss both hands of her, yea, and her + cheeks and her lips; though but little cheer she made them, but looked + sternly on them. + </p> + <p> + Then the Earl spake to her, and told her of her realm, and how folk + thrived, and of the deep peace that was upon the land, and of the merry + days of Meadham, and the praise of the people. And she answered him + nothing, but as he spake her bosom began to heave, and the tears came into + her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Then man looked on man, and the Earl + said: "My masters, I deem that my Lady hath will to speak to me privily, + as to one who is her chiefest friend and well-willer. Is it so, my Lady?" + </p> + <p> + She might not speak for the tears that welled out from her heart; but she + bowed her head and strove to smile on him. + </p> + <p> + But the Earl waved his hand, and those lords, and the women also, voided + the chamber, and left those two alone, the Earl standing before her. But + ere he could speak, she arose from her throne and fell on her knees before + him, and joined hands palm to palm, and cried in a broken voice: "Mercy! + Mercy! Have pity on my young life, great Lord!" + </p> + <p> + But he lifted her up, and set her on her throne again, and said: "Nay, my + Lady, this is unmeet; but if thou wouldst talk and tell with me I am ready + to hearken." + </p> + <p> + She strove with her passion a while, and then she said: "Great Lord, I + pray thee to hearken, and to have patience with a woman's weak heart. + Prithee, sit down here beside me. + </p> + <p> + "It were unfitting," he said; "I shall take a lowlier seat." Then he drew + a stool to him, and sat down before her, and said: "What aileth thee? What + wouldest thou?" + </p> + <p> + Then she said: "Lord Earl, I am in prison; I would be free." + </p> + <p> + Quoth he: "Yea, and is this a prison, then?" + </p> + <p> + "Yea," she said, "since I may not so much as go out from it and come back + again unthreatened; yet have I been, and that unseldom, in a worser prison + than this: do thou go look on the Least Guard-chamber, and see if it be a + meet dwelling for thy master's daughter." + </p> + <p> + He spake nought awhile; then he said: "And, yet if it grieveth thee, it + marreth thee nought; for when I look on thee mine eyes behold the beauty + of the world, and the body wherein is no lack." + </p> + <p> + She reddened and said: "If it be so, it is God's work, and I praise him + therefor. But how long will it last? For grief slayeth beauty." + </p> + <p> + He looked on her long, and said: "To thy friends I betook thee, and I + looked that they should cherish thee; where then is the wrong that I have + done thee?" + </p> + <p> + She said: "Maybe no wrong wittingly; since now, belike, thou art come to + tell me that all this weary sojourn is at an end, and that thou wilt take + me to Meadhamstead, and set me on the throne there, and show my father's + daughter to all the people." + </p> + <p> + He held his peace, and his face grew dark before her while she watched it. + At last he spake in a harsh voice: "Lady," he said, "it may not be; here + in Greenharbour must thou abide, or in some other castle apart from the + folk." + </p> + <p> + "Yea," she said, "now I see it is true, that which I foreboded when first + I came hither: thou wouldst slay me, that thou mayest sit safely in the + seat of thy master's daughter; thou durst not send me a man with a sword + to thrust me through, therefore thou hast cast me into prison amongst + cruel jailers, who have been bidden by thee to take my life slowly and + with torments. Hitherto I have withstood their malice and thine; but now + am I overcome, and since I know that I must die, I have now no fear, and + this is why I am bold to tell thee this that I have spoken, though I wot + now I shall be presently slain. And now I tell thee I repent it, that I + have asked grace of a graceless face." + </p> + <p> + Although she spake strong words, it was with a mild and steady voice. But + the Earl was sore troubled, and he rose up and walked to and fro of the + chamber, half drawing his sword and thrusting it back into the scabbard + from time to time. At last he came back to her, and sat down before her + and spake: + </p> + <p> + "Maiden, thou art somewhat in error. True it is that I would sit firm in + my seat and rule the land of Meadham, as belike none other could. True it + is also that I would have thee, the rightful heir, dwell apart from the + turmoil for a while at least; for I would not have thy white hands thrust + me untimely from my place, or thy fair face held up as a banner by my + foemen. Yet nowise have I willed thy death or thine anguish; and if all be + true as thou sayest it, and thou art so lovely that I know not how to + doubt it, tell me then what these have done with thee." + </p> + <p> + She said: "Sir, those friends to whom thou hast delivered me are my foes, + whether they were thy friends or not. Wilt thou compel me to tell thee all + my shame? They have treated me as a thrall who had whiles to play a + queen's part in a show. To wit, thy chaplain whom thou hast given me has + looked on me with lustful eyes, and has bidden me buy of him ease and + surcease of pain with my very body, and hath threatened me more evil else, + and kept his behest." + </p> + <p> + Then leapt up the Earl and cried out: "Hah! did he so? Then I tell thee + his monk's hood shall not be stout enough to save his neck. Now, my child, + thou speakest; tell me more, since my hair is whitening." + </p> + <p> + She said: "The sleek, smooth-spoken woman to whom thou gavest me, didst + thou bid her to torment me with stripes, and the dungeon, and the dark, + and solitude, and hunger?" + </p> + <p> + "Nay, by Allhallows!" he said, "nor thought of it; trust me she shall pay + therefor if so she hath done." + </p> + <p> + She said: "I crave no vengeance, but mercy I crave, and thou mayst give it + me." + </p> + <p> + Then were they both silent, till he said: "Now I, for my part, will pray + thee bear what thou must bear, which shall be nought save this, that thy + queenship lie quiet for a while; nought else of evil shall betide thee + henceforth; but as much of pleasure and joy as may go with it. But tell + me, there is a story of thy snatching a holiday these two days, and of a + young man whom thou didst happen on. Tell me now, not as a maiden to her + father or warder, but as a great lady might tell a great lord, what betid + betwixt you two: for thou art not one on whom a young and doughty man may + look unmoved. By Allhallows! but thou art a firebrand, my Lady!" And he + laughed therewith. + </p> + <p> + Goldilind flushed red exceeding; but she answered steadily: "Lord Earl, + this is the very sooth, that I might not fail to see it, how he thought me + worth looking on, but he treated me with all honour, as a brother might a + sister." + </p> + <p> + "Tell me," said the Earl, "what like was this man?" + </p> + <p> + Said she: "He was young, but strong beyond measure; and full doughty: true + it is that I saw him with mine eyes take and heave up one of our men in + his hands and cast him away as a man would a clod of earth." + </p> + <p> + The Earl knit his brow: "Yea," said he, "and that story I have heard from + the men-at-arms also. But what was the man like of aspect?" + </p> + <p> + She reddened: "He was of a most goodly body," she said, "fair-eyed, and of + a face well carven; his speech kind and gentle." And yet more she + reddened. + </p> + <p> + Said the Earl: "Didst thou hear what he was, this man?" + </p> + <p> + She said: "I deem from his own words that he was but a simple forester." + </p> + <p> + "Yea," quoth the Earl, "a simple forester? Nay, but a woodman, an outlaw, + a waylayer; so say our men, that he fell on them with the cry: A-Tofts! + A-Tofts! Hast thou never heard of Jack of the Tofts?" + </p> + <p> + "Nay, never," said she. + </p> + <p> + Said the Earl: "He is the king of these good fellows; and a perilous host + they be. Now I fear me, if he be proven to be one of these, there will be + a gallows reared for him to-morrow, for as fair and as doughty as he may + be." + </p> + <p> + She turned all pale, and her lips quivered: then she rose up, and fell on + her knees before the Earl, and cried out: "O sir, a grace, a grace, I pray + thee! Pardon this poor man who was so kind to me!" + </p> + <p> + The Earl raised her up and smiled, and said: "Nay, my Lady Queen, wouldst + thou kneel to me? It is unmeet. And as for this woodman, it is for thee to + pardon him, and not for me; and since, by good luck, he is not hanged yet, + thy word hath saved his neck." She sat down in her chair again, but still + looked white and scared. But the Earl spake again, and kindly: + </p> + <p> + "Now to all these matters I shall give heed, my Lady; wherefore I will ask + leave of thee, and be gone; and to-morrow I will see thee again, and lay + some rede before thee. Meantime, be of good cheer, for thou shalt be made + as much of as may be, and live in mickle joy if thou wilt. And if any so + much as give thee a hard word, it shall be the worse for them." + </p> + <p> + Therewith he arose, and made obeisance to her, and departed. And she abode + quiet, and looking straight before her, till the door shut, and then she + put her hands to her face and fell a-weeping, and scarce knew what ailed + her betwixt hope, and rest of body, and love, though that she called not + by its right name. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX. EARL GEOFFREY SPEAKETH WITH CHRISTOPHER. + </h2> + <p> + Now it is to be said that the Earl had had much tidings told him of + Christopher, and had no intent to put him to death, but rather meant to + take him into the company of his guard, to serve him in all honour; and + that which he said as to hanging him was but to try Goldilind; but having + heard and seen of her such as we have told, he now thought it good to have + a privy talk with this young man. So he bade a squire lead him to where + Christopher was held in ward, and went much pondering. + </p> + <p> + So the squire brought him to the self-same Littlest Guardroom (in sooth a + prison) where Goldilind had lain that other morn; and he gave the squire + leave, and entered and shut the door behind him, so that he and + Christopher were alone together. The young man was lying on his back on + the pallet, with his hands behind his head, and his knees drawn up, + murmuring some fag-end of an old song; but when he heard the door shut to + he sat up, and, turning to the new-comer, said: "Art thou tidings? If so, + then tell me quickly which it is to be, the gallows or freedom?" + </p> + <p> + "Friend," said the Earl sternly, "dost thou know who I am?" + </p> + <p> + "Nay," said Christopher; "by thine attire thou shouldst be some great man; + but that is of little matter to me, since thou wilt neither bid slay me, + or let me go, for a heedless word." + </p> + <p> + Quoth the Earl: "I am the master of the land of Meadham, so there is no + need to tell thee that I have thy life or death in my hand. Now thou wilt + not deny that thou art of the company of Jack o' the Tofts?" + </p> + <p> + "It is sooth," said Christopher. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the Earl, "thou art bold then to have come hither, for thou + sayest it that thou art a wolf's-head and forfeit of thy life. Now, again, + thou didst take the Lady of Meadham home to thy house yesterday, and wert + with her alone a great while. Now according to thy dealings with her thou + dost merit either the most evil of deaths, or else it may be a reward: + hah! what sayest thou?" + </p> + <p> + Christopher leapt up, and said in a loud voice: "Lord King, whatsoever I + may be, I am not each man's dastard; when I saw that pearl of all women, I + loved her indeed, as who should not, but it was even as I had loved the + Mother of God had she come down from the altar picture at the Church of + Middleham of the Wood. And whoso saith otherwise, I give him the lie back + in his teeth, and will meet him face to face if I may; and then, meseems, + it will go hard with him." + </p> + <p> + Spake the Earl, laughing: "I will be no champion against thee, for I hold + my skin and my bones of too much price thereto. And, moreover, though + meseemeth the Blessed Virgin would have a hot lover in thee were she to + come down to earth anigh thy dwelling, yet trow I thy tale, that thou hast + dealt with my Lady in honour. Therefore, lad, what sayest thou, wilt thou + be a man of mine, and bear arms for me, and do my will?" + </p> + <p> + Spake Christopher: "Lord, this is better than hanging." + </p> + <p> + "Why, so it is, lad," said the Earl, laughing again, "and some would say + better by a good deal. But hearken! if thou take it, thou must abide here + in Greenharbour—a long while, maybe; yea, even so long as my Lady + dwelleth here." + </p> + <p> + Christopher flushed and said: "Lord, thou art kind and gracious, and I + will take thy bidding." + </p> + <p> + The Earl said: "Well, so it shall be then; and presently thou shalt go out + of this guard-room a free man. But abide a while." + </p> + <p> + Therewith he drew a stool to him and sat down, and spake not for a long + while; and Christopher abode his pleasure; at last spake the Earl: "One + day, mayhappen, we may make a wedding for thee, and that no ill one." + </p> + <p> + Christopher laughed: "Lord," said he, "what lady will wed me, a no man's + son?" + </p> + <p> + Said the Earl: "Not if the Lord of Meadham be thy friend? Well then, how + if the Lady and Queen of Meadham make thee the wedding?" + </p> + <p> + Said Christopher: "I were liefer to make mine own wedding, whenso I need a + woman in my bed: I will compel no woman, nor ask others to compel her." + </p> + <p> + The Earl rose up, and fell to pacing the prison to and fro; and at last he + stood over against Christopher, and said: "Hearken, forester: I will + foretell thy fortune; it is that thou shalt become great by wedding." + </p> + <p> + Christopher held his peace; and the Earl spake again: "Now is the shortest + word best. We deem thee both goodly and doughty, and would wed thee to a + great lady, even that one to whom thou hast shown kindness in the + wilderness." + </p> + <p> + Said Christopher: "It is the wont of great lords to mock poor folk, + therefore I must not show anger against thee." + </p> + <p> + "I mock thee not," said the Earl; "I mean nought, but as my words say." + </p> + <p> + "Nay then," said Christopher, "thou biddest me an evil deed, great Lord. + What I said was that I would compel no woman; and shall I compel her who + is the wonder of the world and my very own Lady?" + </p> + <p> + "Hold thy peace, sir fool," said the Earl; "let me tell thee that she is + as like to compel thee as thou her. And as to her being thy Lady, she + shall be thy Lady and wife indeed; but not here, for above all things will + she get her away from Greenharbour, and thou shalt be her champion, to + lead her about the world like a knight errant." + </p> + <p> + Now was Christopher so troubled that he knew not what countenance to make, + and scarce might he get a word out of his mouth a long while. At last he + said: "Lord, I see that I must needs do thy will if this be no trap which + thou hast set for me. But overwonderful it is, that a great lady should be + wedded to a gangrel churl." + </p> + <p> + The Earl laughed: "Many a ferly fares to the fair-eyed," quoth he; "and + also I will tell thee in thine ear that this Lady may not be so great as + her name is great. Did she praise her life-days to thee?" + </p> + <p> + "Nay," said Christopher; "I mind me well, she called herself the poor + captive." + </p> + <p> + "She said but sooth," quoth the Earl; "and her going away from + Greenharbour is instead of her captivity; and I tell thee it is by that + only I may make her joyous. And now one word: thou that criest out For the + Tofts in battle art not altogether unfriended, meseemeth." + </p> + <p> + Christopher looked up proudly and fiercely: he said: "Forsooth, Lord, my + friends are good, though thou callest them wolf-heads and gallows-meat." + </p> + <p> + "Champion," said the Earl, laughing, "that may well be sooth; and there + are a many ups and downs in the world. Bethink thee that the time may come + when thou and thy friends may wend to my help, and may win the names of + knight and baron and earl: such hap hath been aforetime. And now I crave + of thee, when thou comest back to the Tofts, to bid Jack fall upon other + lands than Meadham when he rideth, because of the gift and wedding that I + give thee now. So, lad, I deem that thou hast chosen thy part; but let not + the tale thereof go out of thy mouth, or thou wilt gab away thy wedding. + Lo, thou, I leave this door open behind me; and presently shall the smith + come here to do away thine irons; and I shall send a squire to thee to + lead thee to a fair chamber, and to bring thee goodly raiment, and do thou + play amongst thy fellows as one of the best of them; and show them, if + thou wilt, some such feats in peace as yesterday thou showedst them in + battle. And to-morrow there will be new tidings." And therewith he + departed. + </p> + <p> + No worse than his word he was, and anon came the smith and the squire; and + he was brought to a chamber, and raiment of fine linen and silk and + embroidery was brought to him: and when he was new clad he looked like a + king's son, whereas aforetime he looked like a God of the Gentiles of old. + All men praised his beauty and his courtesy, and after dinner was, and + they had rested, they bade him play with them and show them his prowess, + and he was nought loth thereto, and did what he might in running and + leaping, and casting of the bar, and shooting in the bow. And in all these + things he was so far before everyone, that they marvelled at him, and said + it was well indeed that he had not been slain yesterday. As to wrestling, + therein he might do but little; for all forbore him after the first man + had stood before him, a squire, well learned in war, and long and tough, + and deemed a very stark man; him Christopher threw over his shoulder as + though he had been a child of twelve years. So wore the day at + Greenharbour in merrier wise for all good folk than for many a day had + been the wont there. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XX. OF THE WEDDING OF CHRISTOPHER AND GOLDILIND. + </h2> + <p> + Early on the morrow came the Earl unto Goldilind, and she received him + gladly, as one who had fashioned life anew for her. And when he had sat + down by her, he spake and said: "Lady, thou cravedst of me yesterday two + things; the first was freedom from the captivity of Greenharbour; and the + second, life and liberty for the varlet that cherished thee in the + wild-wood the other day. Now thy first asking grieved me, for that thou + hast been tyrannously done by; and thy second I wondered at; but since I + have seen the young man, I wonder the less; for he is both so goodly, and + so mighty of body, and of speech bold and free, yet gentle and of all + courtesy, that he is meet to be knight or earl, yea, or very king. Now, + therefore, in both these matters I will well to do thy pleasure, and in + one way it may be; and thou mayst then go forth from Greenharbour as free + as a bird, and thy varlet's life may be given unto him, and mickle honour + therewith. Art thou, then, willing to do after my rede and my commandment, + so that both these good things may betide thee?" + </p> + <p> + "Right willing am I," she said, "to be free and happy and to save the life + of a fair youth and kind." + </p> + <p> + "Then," said he, "there is one thing for thee to do: that this day thou + wed this fair and kind youth, and let him lead thee forth from + Greenharbour; and, belike, he will bring thee to no ill stead; for his + friends are mightier than mayhappen thou deemest." + </p> + <p> + She turned as red as blood at his word; she knit her brows, and her eyes + flashed as she answered: "Is it seemly for a King's daughter to wed a + nameless churl? And now I know thee, Lord Earl, what thou wouldst do; thou + wouldst be King of Meadham and put thy master's daughter to the road." And + she was exceeding wroth. + </p> + <p> + But he said, smiling somewhat: "Was it then seemly for the King's daughter + to kneel for this man's life, and go near to swooning for joy when it was + granted to her?" + </p> + <p> + "Yea," she said, "for I love him with all my body and soul; and I would + have had him love me par amours, and then should I have been his mistress + and he my servant; but now shall he be my master and I his servant." And + still was she very wroth. + </p> + <p> + Quoth the Earl: "As to the matter of my being King of Meadham, that will I + be, whatever befall, or die in the place else. So if thou wilt not do my + rede, then must the varlet whom thou lovest die, and at Greenharbour must + thou abide with Dame Elinor. There is no help for it." + </p> + <p> + She shrieked out at that word of his, and well nigh swooned, lying back in + her chair: but presently fell a-weeping sorely. But the Earl said: + "Hearken, my Lady, I am not without warrant to do this. Tell me, hast thou + ever seen any fairer or doughtier than this youngling?" + </p> + <p> + "Never," said she. + </p> + <p> + "So say we all," he said. "Now I shall tell thee (and I can bring witness + to it) that in his last hour the King, thy father, when he gave thee into + my keeping, spake also this: that I should wed thee to none save the + fairest and doughtiest man that might be found: even so would I do now. + What then sayest thou?" + </p> + <p> + She answered not, but still wept somewhat; then said the Earl: "Lady, give + me leave, and I shall send thy women to thee, and sit in the great hall + for an hour, and if within that while thou send a woman of thine to say + one word, Yes, unto me, then is all well. But if not, then do I depart + from Greenharbour straightway, and take the youngling with me to hang him + up on the first tree. Be wise, I pray thee." + </p> + <p> + And therewith he went his ways. But Goldilind, being left alone a little, + rose up and paced the chamber to and fro, and her tears and sobbing + ceased; and a great and strange joy grew up in her heart, mingled with the + pain of longing, so that she might rest in nowise. Even therewith the door + opened, and her women entered, Aloyse first, and she called to her at + once, and bade her to find Earl Geoffrey in the great hall, and say to + him: Yes. So Aloyse went her ways, and Goldilind bade her other women to + array her in the best and goodliest wise that they might. And the day was + yet somewhat young. Now it must be said of Earl Geoffrey that, in spite of + his hard word, he had it not in his heart either to slay Christopher or to + leave Goldilind at Greenharbour to the mercy of Dame Elinor. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXI. OF THE WEDDING OF THOSE TWAIN. + </h2> + <p> + Now were folk gathered in the hall, and the Earl Geoffrey was standing on + the dais by the high-seat, and beside him a worthy clerk, the Abbot of + Meadhamstead, a monk of St. Benedict, and next to him the Burgreve of + Greenharbour, and then a score of knights all in brave raiment, and + squires withal, and sergeants; but down in the hall were the men-at-arms + and serving-men, and a half hundred of folk of the countryside, queans as + well as carles, who had been gathered for the show and bidden in. No other + women were there in the hall till Goldilind and her serving-women entered. + She went straight up the hall, and took her place in the high-seat; and + for all that her eyes seemed steady, she had noted Christopher standing by + the shot-window just below the dais. + </p> + <p> + Now when she was set down, and there was silence in the hall, Earl + Geoffrey came forth and said: "Lords and knights, and ye good people, the + Lady Goldilind, daughter of the Lord King Roland that last was, is now of + age to wed; and be it known unto you, that the King, her father, bade me, + in the last words by him spoken, to wed her to none but the loveliest and + strongest that might be, as witness I can bring hereto. Now such a man + have I sought hereto in Meadhamstead and the much-peopled land of Meadham, + and none have I come on, however worthy he were of deeds, or well-born of + lineage, but that I doubted me if he were so fair or so doughty as might + be found; but here in this half-desert corner of the land have I gotten a + man than whom none is doughtier, as some of you have found to your cost. + And tell me all you, where have ye seen any as fair as this man?" And + therewith he made a sign with his hand, and forth strode Christopher up on + to the dais; and he was so clad, that his kirtle was of white samite, girt + with a girdle of goldsmith's work, whereby hung a good sword of like + fashion, and over his shoulders was a mantle of red cloth-of-gold, furred + with ermine, and lined with green sendall; and on his golden curled locks + sat a chaplet of pearls. + </p> + <p> + Then to the lords and all the people he seemed so fair and fearless and + kind that they gave a great shout of welcome; and Goldilind came forth + from her chair, as fair as a June lily, and came to Christopher and + reached out her hand to him, but he refrained him a moment, so that all + they could see how sweet and lovely a hand it was, and then he took it, + and drew her to him, and kissed her mouth before them all; and still he + held her hand, till the Abbot of Meadhamstead aforetold came and stood by + them and blessed them. + </p> + <p> + Then spake the Earl again: "Lo ye, here hath been due betrothal of these + twain, and ye may see how meet they be for each other in goodliness and + kindness. Now there lacketh nought but they should be wedded straightway; + and all is arrayed in the chapel; wherefore if this holy man will come + with us and do on his mass-hackle, our joy shall be fulfilled; save that + thereafter shall feast and merriment await all you in this hall, and we + shall be there to welcome all comers in this house of Greenharbour, + whereas this our gracious Lady has long abided so happily." + </p> + <p> + Man looked on man here and there, and smiled a little as he spake, but + none said aught, for there were none save the Earl's servants there, and a + sort of poor wretches. + </p> + <p> + So therewithal they went their ways to the chapel where was the wedding + done as grandly as might be, considering they were in no grander place + than Greenharbour. And when all was done, and folk began to flow away from + the chapel, and Goldilind sat shamefaced but strangely happy in a great + stall of the choir, the Earl called Christopher unto him, and said: "My + lad, I deem that some great fortune shall betide thee since already thou + hast begun so luckily. But I beseech thee mar not thy fortune by coming + back with thy fair wife to the land of Meadham; or else it may be thou + shalt cast thy life away, and that will bring her sorrow, as I can see + well." + </p> + <p> + He spake this grimly, though he smiled as he spake. But he went on more + gently: "I will not send you twain away empty-handed; when ye go out + a-gates into the wide world, ye shall find two fair horses for your + riding, well bedight, and one with a woman's saddle; and, moreover, a + sumpter beast, not very lightly burdened, for on one side of him he + beareth achest wherein is, first of all, the raiment of my Lady, and + beneath it some deal of silver and gold and gems; but on the other side is + victual and drink for the way for you, and raiment for thee, youngling. + How sayest thou, is it well?" + </p> + <p> + "It is well, Lord," said Christopher; "yet would I have with me the + raiment wherewith I came hither, and my bow and my sax." + </p> + <p> + "Yea and wherefore, carle?" said Earl Geoffrey. + </p> + <p> + Said the youngling: "We be going to ride the wild-wood, and it might be + better for safety's sake that I be so clad as certain folk look to see men + ride there." + </p> + <p> + But he reddened as he spake; and the Earl said: "By Allhallows! but it is + not ill thought of; and, belike, the same-like kind of attire might be + better to hide the queenship of the Lady from the wood-folk than that + which now she weareth?" + </p> + <p> + "True is that, Lord," quoth Christopher. + </p> + <p> + "Yet," said the Earl, "I will have you go forth from the Castle clad in + your lordly weed, lest folk of mine say that I have stripped my Lady and + cast her forth: don ye your poor raiment when in the wood ye be." + </p> + <p> + Therewith he called to a squire, and bade him seek out that poor raiment + of the new-wedded youngling, and bow withal and shafts good store, and do + all on the sumpter; and, furthermore, he bade him tell one of my Lady's + women to set on the sumpter some of Goldilind's old and used raiment. So + the squire did the Earl's will, and both got Christopher's gear and also + found Aloyse and gave her the Earl's word. + </p> + <p> + She smiled thereat, and went straightway and fetched the very same + raiment, green gown and all, which she had brought to Goldilind in prison + that other day, and in which Goldilind had fled from Greenharbour. And + when she had done them in the chest above all the other gear, she stood + yet beside the horses amidst of the varlets and squires who were gathered + there to see the new-wedded folk depart. + </p> + <p> + Presently then came forth through the gate those two, hand in hand, and + Earl Geoffrey with them. And he set Goldilind on her horse himself, and + knelt before her to say farewell, and therewith was Christopher on his + horse, and him the Earl saluted debonairly. + </p> + <p> + But just as they were about shaking their reins to depart, Aloyse fell + down on her knees before the Earl, who said: "What is toward, woman?" + </p> + <p> + "A grace, my Lord, a grace," said she. + </p> + <p> + "Stand up on thy feet," said the Earl, "and ye, my masters, draw out of + earshot." + </p> + <p> + Even so did they; and the Earl bade her speak, and she said: "Lord, my + Lady is going away from Greenharbour, and anon thou wilt be going, and I + shall be left with the sleek she-devil yonder that thou hast set over us, + and here there will be hell for me without escape, now that my Lady is + gone. Wherefore I pray thee take me with thee to Meadhamstead, even if it + be to prison; for here I shall die the worst of deaths." + </p> + <p> + Earl Geoffrey smiled on her sourly, and said: "If it be as I understand, + that thou hast lifted thine hand against my Lady, wert thou wending with + me, thou shouldst go just so far as the first tree. Thou mayst deem + thyself lucky if I leave thee behind here. Nor needest thou trouble thee + concerning Dame Elinor; little more shalt thou hear of her henceforward." + </p> + <p> + But Goldilind spake and said: "My Lord Earl, I would ask grace for this + one; for what she did to me she did compelled, and not of her free will, + and I forgive it her. And moreover, this last time she suffered in her + body for the helping of me; so if thou mightest do her asking I were the + better pleased." + </p> + <p> + "It shall be as thou wilt, my Lady," said the Earl, "and I will have her + with me and keep her quiet in Meadhamstead; but, by Allhallows! had it not + been for thy word we would have had her whipped into the wild-wood, and + hanged up on to a tree thereafter." + </p> + <p> + Then Aloyse knelt before Goldilind and kissed her feet, and wept, and drew + back pale and trembling. But Goldilind shook her rein once for all now, + and her apple-grey horse went forth with her; Christopher came after, + leading the sumpter beast, and forth they went, and passed over the open + green about the Castle, and came on to the woodland way whereby Goldilind + had fled that other time. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0022" id="link2HCH0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXII. OF THE WOODLAND BRIDE-CHAMBER. + </h2> + <p> + They rode in silence a good way, and it was some three hours after noon, + and the day as fair and bright as might be. Christopher held his peace for + sweet shame that he was alone with a most fair maid, and she his own, and + without defence against him. But she amidst of her silence turned, now + red, and now somewhat pale, and now and again she looked somewhat askance + on him, and he deemed her looks were no kinder than they should be. + </p> + <p> + At last she spake, yet not looking on him, and said: "So, Forester, now is + done what I must needs do: thy life is saved, and I am quit of + Greenharbour, and its prison, and its torments: whither away then?" + </p> + <p> + Quoth he, all dismayed, for her voice was the voice of anger: "I wot not + whither, save to the house thou hast blessed already with thy dear body." + </p> + <p> + At that word she turned quite pale, and trembled, and spake not for a + while, and smote her horse and hastened on the way, and he after her; but + when he was come up with her again, then she said, still not looking at + him: "A house of woodmen and wolf-heads. Is that a meet dwelling-place for + me? Didst thou hear men at Greenharbour say that I am a Queen?" + </p> + <p> + "Hear them I did," quoth he; "but meseemeth nought like a Queen had they + done with thee." + </p> + <p> + She said: "And dost thou mock me with that? thou?" And she burst out + weeping. He answered not, for sore grief smote him, remembering her hand + in his but a little while ago. And again she hurried on, and he followed + her. + </p> + <p> + When he came up with her she said: "And thou, didst thou woo me as a + Queen?" + </p> + <p> + "Lady," he said, "I wooed thee not at all; I was given to thee, would I, + would I not: great joy was that to me." + </p> + <p> + Then said she: "Thou sayest sooth, thou hast not wooed me, but taken me." + She laughed therewith, as one in bitterness. But presently she turned to + him, and he wondered, for in her face was longing and kindness nought like + to her words. But he durst not speak to her lest he should anger her, and + she turned her face from him again: and she said: "Wert thou given to me? + meseems I was given to thee, would I, would I not; the Queen to the Churl, + the Wood-man, the Wolf-head." And again she rode on, and he followed, sick + at heart and wondering sorely. + </p> + <p> + When they were riding together again, they spake not to each other, though + she stole glances at him to see how he fared; but he rode on with knit + brows and a stern countenance. So in a while she began to speak to him + again, but as if there were nought but courtesy between them, and neither + love nor hatred. She fell to asking him of woodland matters, concerning + bird and beast and things creeping; and at first he would scarce answer + her at all, and then were his answers short; but at last, despite of all, + he began to forget both grief and anger, so much the sweetness of her + speech wound about his heart; and, withal, she fell to asking him of his + fellows and their life in the woods, and of Jack of the Tofts and the + like; and now he answered her questions fully, and whiles she laughed at + his words, and he laughed also; and all pleasure had there been of this + converse, if he had not beheld her from time to time and longed for the + fairness of her body, and feared her wrath at his longing. + </p> + <p> + So wore the day, and the sun was getting low, and they were come to + another woodland pool which was fed by a clear-running little brook, and + up from it went a low bank of greensward exceeding sweet, and beyond that + oak trees wide-branched and great, and still fair greensward beneath them + and hazel-thicket beyond them. There, then, Goldilind reined up, and + looked about her, but Christopher looked on her and nought else. But she + said: "Let to-morrow bring counsel; but now am I weary to-night, and if we + are not to ride night-long, we shall belike find no better place to rest + in. Wilt thou keep watch while I sleep?" + </p> + <p> + "Yea," he said, bowing his head to her soberly; and therewith he got off + his horse, and would have helped her down from hers, but she slipped + lightly down and stood before him face to face, and they were very nigh to + each other, she standing close to her horse. Her face was pale to his + deeming and there was a piteous look in her eyes, so that he yearned + towards her in his bowels, and reached his hand toward her; but she shrank + aback, leaning against her horse, and said in a trembling voice, looking + full at him, and growing yet paler: "Forester, dost thou think it seemly + that thou shouldst ride with us, thou such as thou hast told thyself to + be, in this lordly raiment, which they gave thee yonder as part of the + price for thy leading us away into the wild-wood?" + </p> + <p> + "Lady," said he, "whether it be seemly or not, I see that it is thy will + that I should go clad as a woodland churl; abide a little, and thy will + shall be done." + </p> + <p> + Therewith he did off the burden from the sumpter horse, and set the chests + on the earth; then he took her horse gently, and led him with the other + two in under the oak trees, and there he tethered them so that they could + bite the grass; and came back thereafter, and took his old raiment out of + the chest, and said: "What thou wilt have me do, I will do now; and this + all the more as to-morrow I should have done it unbidden, and should have + prayed thee to do on garments less glorious than now thou bearest; so that + we may look the less strange in the woodland if we chance to fall in with + any man." + </p> + <p> + Nought she answered as he turned toward the hazel copse; she had been + following him with her eyes while he was about that business, and when his + back was turned, she stood a moment till her bosom fell a-heaving, and she + wept; then she turned her about to the chest wherein was her raiment, and + went hastily and did off her glorious array, and did on the green gown + wherewith she had fled, and left her feet bare withal. Then she looked up + and saw Christopher, how he was coming from out the hazel-thicket new clad + in his old raiment, and she cried out aloud, and ran toward him. But he + doubted that some evil had betid, and that she was chased; so he drew out + his sword; but she ran up to him and cried out: "Put up thy sword, here is + none save me." + </p> + <p> + But he stood still, gazing on her in wonderment, and now she was drawn + near to him she stood still before him, panting. Then he said: "Nay, Lady, + for this night there was no need of thy disguising thee, to-morrow it had + been soon enough." + </p> + <p> + She said: "I were fain if thou wouldst take my hand, and lead me back to + our resting-place." + </p> + <p> + Even so he did, and as their palms met he felt how her hand loved him, and + a flood of sweetness swept over his heart, and made an end of all its + soreness. But he led her quietly back again to their place. Then she + turned to him and said: "Now art thou the woodland god again, and the + courtier no more; so now will I worship thee." And she knelt down before + him, and embraced his knees and kissed them; but he drew her up to him, + and cast his arms about her, and kissed her face many times, and said: + "Now art thou the poor captive again." + </p> + <p> + She said: "Now hast thou forgiven me; but I will tell thee that my + wilfulness and folly was not all utterly feigned; though when I was about + it I longed for thee to break it down with the fierceness of a man, and + bid me look to it how helpless I was, and thou how strong and my only + defence. Not utterly feigned it was: for I will say it, that I was grieved + to the heart when I bethought me of Meadhamstead and the seat of my + fathers. What sayest thou then? Shalt thou be ever a woodman in these + thickets, and a follower of Jack of the Tofts? If so thou wilt, it is + well." + </p> + <p> + He took her by the shoulders and bent her backwards to kiss her, and held + her up above the earth in his arms, waving her this way and that, till she + felt how little and light she was in his grasp, though she was no puny + woman; then he set her on her feet again, and laughed in her face, and + said: "Sweetling, let to-morrow bring counsel. But now let it all be: thou + hast said it, thou art weary; so now will I dight thee a bed of our + mantles, and thou shalt lie thee down, and I shall watch thee as thou + badest me." + </p> + <p> + Therewith he went about, and plucked armfuls of the young bracken, and + made a bed wide and soft, and spread the mantles thereover. + </p> + <p> + But she stood awhile looking on him; then she said: "Dost thou think to + punish me for my wilful folly, and to shame me by making me speak to + thee?" + </p> + <p> + "Nay," he said, "it is not so." + </p> + <p> + She said: "I am not shamed in that I say to thee: if thou watch this + night, I will watch by thee; and if I lie down to rest this night, thou + shalt lie by me. For my foemen have given me to thee, and now shalt thou + give thyself to me." + </p> + <p> + So he drew near to her shyly, like unto one who hath been forgiven. And + there was their bridal bed, and nought but the oak boughs betwixt them and + the bare heavens. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0023" id="link2HCH0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIII. THEY FALL IN WITH FRIENDS. + </h2> + <p> + Now awoke Goldilind when the morning was young and fresh, and she drew the + mantle up over her shoulders; and as she did so, but half awake, she + deemed she heard other sounds than the singing of the black-birds and + throstles about the edge of the thicket, and she turned her eyes toward + the oak trees and the hazel-thicket, and saw at once three of mankind + coming on foot over the greensward toward her. She was afraid, so that she + durst not put out a hand to awaken Christopher, but sat gazing on those + three as they came toward her; she saw that two were tall men, clad much + as Christopher; but presently she saw that there was a woman with them, + and she took heart somewhat thereat; and she noted that one of the men was + short-haired and dark-haired, and the other had long red hair falling + about his shoulders; and as she put out her hand and laid it on + Christopher's shoulder, the red-haired one looked toward her a moment + under the sharp of his hand (for the sun was on their side), and then set + off running, giving out a great whoop therewithal. Even therewith leapt up + Christopher, still half awake, and the red-haired man ran right up to him, + and caught him by the shoulders, and kissed him on both cheeks; so that + Goldilind saw that these were the fellows whereof Christopher had told, + and she stood there shame-fast and smiling. + </p> + <p> + Presently came up the others, to wit, Gilbert and Joanna, and they also + kissed and embraced Christopher, and all they were as full of joy as might + be. Then came Joanna to Goldilind, and said: "I wot not who this may be, + brother, yet meseems she will be someone who is dear to thee, wherefore is + she my sister." And therewith she kissed Goldilind; and she was kind, and + sweet of flesh, and goodly of body, and Goldilind rejoiced in her. + </p> + <p> + Joanna made much of her, and said to her: "Here is to do, whereas two men + have broken into a lady's chamber; come, sister, let us to the thicket, + and I will be thy tiring-maid, and while these others tell their tales we + shall tell ours." And she took her hand and they went into the hazels; but + the two new-come men seemed to find it hard to keep their eyes off + Goldilind, till the hazels had hidden her. + </p> + <p> + Then turned David to Christopher, and said: "Thy pardon, little King, that + we have waked thee so early; but we wotted not that thou hadst been + amongst the wood-women; and, sooth to say, my lad, we had little ease till + we found thee, after we came home and saw all those hoof-marks yonder." + </p> + <p> + "Yea," said Gilbert, "if we had lost thee we had been finely holpen up, + for we could neither have gone back to the Tofts nor into the kingdom: for + I think my father would have hanged us if we had come back with a 'By the + way, Christopher is slain.' But tell us, lad, what hath befallen thee with + yonder sweetling?" + </p> + <p> + "Yea, tell us," said David, "and sit down here betwixt us, with thy back + to the hazel-thicket, or we shall get no tale out of thee—tush, man, + Joanna will bring her back, and that right soon, I hope." + </p> + <p> + Christopher laughed, and sat down between them, and told all how it had + gone with him, and of Goldilind, who she was. The others hearkened + heedfully, and Gilbert said: "With all thou hast told us, brother, it is + clear we shall find it hard to dwell in Littledale; so soon as thy + loveling hath rested her at our house, we must go our ways to the Tofts, + and take counsel of our father." + </p> + <p> + Christopher yea-said this, and therewithal was come Joanna leading + Goldilind duly arrayed (yet still in her green gown, for she would none + other), fresh, blushing, and all lovely; and David and Christopher did + obeisance before her as to a great lady; but she hailed them as brothers, + merrily and kindly, and bade them kiss her; and they kissed her cheek, but + shyly, and especially David. + </p> + <p> + Thereafter they broke their fast under the oak trees, and spent a merry + hour, and then departed, the two women riding the horses, the others + afoot; so came they to the house of Littledale, some while before sunset, + and were merry and glad there. Young they were, troubles were behind them, + and many a joy before them. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0024" id="link2HCH0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIV. THEY TAKE COUNSEL AT LITTLEDALE. + </h2> + <p> + Ten days they abode in the house of Littledale in all good cheer, and + Joanna led Goldilind here and there about the woods, and made much of her, + so that the heart within her was full of joy, for the freedom of the + wild-woods and all the life thereof was well-nigh new to her; whereas on + the day of her flight from Greenharbour, and on two other such times, + deadly fear, as is aforesaid, was mingled with her joyance, and would have + drowned it utterly, but for the wilfulness which hardened her heart + against the punishment to come. But now she was indeed free, and it seemed + to her, as to Christopher when he was but new healed of his hurt, as if + all this bright beauty of tree and flower, and beast and bird, was but + made for her alone, and she wondered that her fellow could be so calm and + sedate amidst of all this pleasure. And now, forsooth, was her queenhood + forgotten, and better and better to her seemed Christopher's valiant love; + and the meeting in the hall of the eventide was so sweet to her, that she + might do little but stand trembling whiles Christopher came up to her, and + Joanna's trim feet were speeding her over the floor to meet her man, that + she might be a sharer in his deeds of the day. + </p> + <p> + Many tales withal Joanna told the Queen of the deeds of her husband and + his kindred, and of the freeing of her and the other three from their + captivity at Wailing Knowe, and of the evil days they wore there before + the coming of their lads, which must have been worser by far, thought + Goldilind, than the days of Greenharbour; so with all these tales, and the + happy days in the house of the wild-woods, Goldilind now began to deem of + this new life as if there had been none other fated for her, so much a + part was she now become of the days of those woodmen and wolf-heads. + </p> + <p> + But when the last of those ten days was wearing to an end and those five + were sitting happy in the hall (albeit David sat somewhat pensive, now + staring at Goldilind's beauty, now rising from his seat to pace the floor + restlessly), Gilbert spake and said: "Brethren, and thou, Queen Goldilind, + it may be that the time is drawing near for other deeds than letting fly a + few shafts at the dun deer, and eating our meat, and singing old songs as + we lie at our ladies' feet; for though we be at peace here in the + wild-wood, forgetting all things save those that are worthy to be + remembered, yet in the cities and the courts of kings guile is not + forgotten, and pride is alive, and tyranny, and the sword is whetted for + innocent lives, and the feud is eked by the destruction of those who be + sackless of its upheaving. Wherefore it behoveth to defend us by the ready + hand and the bold heart and the wise head. So, I say, let us loiter here + no longer, but go our ways to-morrow to the Tofts, and take the rede of + our elders. How say ye, brethren?" + </p> + <p> + Quoth Christopher: "Time was, brother, when what thou sayest would have + been as a riddle to me, and I would have said: Here are we merry, though + we be few; and if ye lack more company, let me ride to the Tofts and come + back with a half score of lads and lasses, and thus let us eke our mirth; + and maybe they will tell us whitherward to ride. But now there is a + change, since I have gained a gift over-great for me, and I know that they + shall be some of the great ones who would be eager to take it from me; and + who knows what guile may be about the weaving even now, as on the day when + thou first sawest this hall, beloved." + </p> + <p> + Goldilind spake and sighed withal: "Whither my lord will lead me, thither + will I go; but here is it fair and sweet and peaceful; neither do I look + for it that men will come hither to seek the Queen of Meadham." + </p> + <p> + David said: "Bethink thee, though, my Lady, that he who wedded thee to the + woodman may yet rue, and come hither to undo his deed, by slaying the said + woodman, and showing the Queen unto the folk." + </p> + <p> + Goldilind turned pale; but Joanna spake: "Nay, brother David, why wilt + thou prick her heart with this fear? For my part, I think that, chance-hap + apart, we might dwell here for years in all safety, and happily enough, + maybe. Yet also I say that we of the Tofts may well be eager to show this + jewel to our kindred, and especially to our father and mother of the + Tofts; so to-morrow we will set about the business of carrying her + thither, will she, nill she." And therewith she threw her arms about + Goldilind, and clipped her and kissed her; and Goldilind reddened for + pleasure and for joy that she was so sore prized by them all. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0025" id="link2HCH0025"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXV. NOW THEY ALL COME TO THE TOFTS. + </h2> + <p> + Next morning, while the day was yet young, they rode together, all of + them, the nighest way to the Tofts, for they knew the wood right well. + Again they slept one night under the bare heavens, and, rising betimes on + the morrow, came out under the Tofts some four hours after high noon, on + as fair and calm a day of early summer as ever was seen. + </p> + <p> + They rode up straight to the door of the great hall, and found but few + folk about, and those mostly women and children; Jack was ridden abroad, + they said, but they looked to see him back to supper, him and his sons, + for he was no great way gone. + </p> + <p> + Meantime, when they got off their horses, the women and children thronged + round about them; and the children especially about Christopher, whom they + loved much. The maidens, also, would not have him pass into the hall + unkissed, though presently, after their faces had felt his lips, they fell + a-staring and wondering at Goldilind, and when Christopher took her by the + hand and gave her welcome to the House of the Tofts, and they saw that she + was his, they grew to be somewhat afraid, or it might be shy, both of her + and of him. + </p> + <p> + Anyhow, folk came up to them in the hall, and made much of them, and took + them unto chambers and washed their feet, and crowned them with flowers, + and brought them into the hall again, and up on to the dais, and gave them + to eat and drink. Thither came to them also the Lady Margaret, Jack's + wedded wife, and made them the most cheer that she might; and unto her did + Christopher tell his story as unto his very mother; and what there was in + the house, both of carle and of quean, gathered round about to hearken, + and Christopher nothing loth. And Goldilind's heart warmed toward that + folk, and in sooth they were a goodly people to look on, and frank and + happy, and of good will, and could well of courtesy, though it were not of + the courts. + </p> + <p> + Wore the bright day, and it drew toward sunset, and now the carles came + straight into the hall by twos and threes, till there were a many within + its walls. But to each one of these knots as they entered, someone, carle + or quean, spake a word or two, and straightway the new-comers went up to + the dais and greeted Christopher pleasantly, and made obeisance to + Goldilind. + </p> + <p> + At last was the hall, so quiet erst, grown busy as a beehive, and amidst + the throng thereof came in the serving-folk, women and men, and set the + endlong boards up (for the high-table was a standing one of oak, right + thick and strong); and then they fell to bringing in the service, all but + what the fire was dealing with in the kitchen. And whiles this was + a-doing, the sun was sinking fast, and it was dusk in the hall by then it + was done, though without the sky was fair and golden, and about the edges + of the thicket were the nightingales singing loud and sweet, but within + was the turmoil of many voices, whereof few heeded if their words were + loud or soft. + </p> + <p> + Amidst all this, from close to the hall, rang out the sound of many horns + winding a woodland tune. None was afeard or astonied, because all knew it + for the horns of Jack of the Tofts; but they stilled their chattering talk + somewhat, and abided his coming; and even therewith came the sound of many + feet and the clash of weapons, and men poured in, and there was the gleam + of steel, as folk fell back to the right and left, and gave room to the + new-comers. Then a loud, clear, and cheery voice cried out from amidst of + them: "Light in the hall, men and maids! Candles, candles! Let see who is + here before us!" + </p> + <p> + Straightway then was there running hither and thither and light sprang up + over all the hall, and there could folk see Jack of the Tofts, and a score + and a half of his best, every man of them armed with shield and helm and + byrny, with green coats over their armour, and wreaths of young oak about + their basnets; there they stood amidst of the hall, and every man with his + naked sword in his fist. Jack stood before his folk clad in like wise with + them, save that his head was bare but for an oak wreath. Men looked on a + while and said nought, while Jack looked proudly and keenly over the hall, + and at last his eye caught Christopher's, but he made the youngling no + semblance of greeting. Christopher's heart fell, and he misdoubted if + something were not wrong; but he spake softly to one who stood by him, and + said: "Is aught amiss, Will Ashcroft? this is not the wont here." + </p> + <p> + Said the other: "Not in thy time; but for the last seven days it hath been + the wont, and then off weapons and to supper peaceably." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0026" id="link2HCH0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVI. OF THE KING OF OAKENREALM. + </h2> + <p> + Even therewith, and while the last word had but come to Christopher's + ears, rang out the voice of Jack of the Tofts again, louder and clearer + than before: and he said: "Men in this hall, I bear you tidings! The King + of Oakenrealm is amongst us to-night." + </p> + <p> + Then, forsooth, was the noise and the turmoil, and cries and shouts and + clatter, and fists raised in air and weapons caught down from the wall, + and the glitter of spear-points and gleam of fallow blades. For the name + of Rolf, King of Oakenrealm, was to those woodmen as the name of the Great + Devil of Hell, so much was he their unfriend and their dastard. But Jack + raised up his hand, and cried: "Silence ye! Blow up, horns, The Hunt's + Up!" + </p> + <p> + Blared out the horns then, strong and fierce, under the hall-roof, and + when they were done, there was more silence in the hall than in the summer + night without; only the voice of the swords could not be utterly still, + but yet tinkled and rang as hard came against hard here and there in the + hush. + </p> + <p> + Again spake Jack: "Let no man speak! Let no man move from his place! I SEE + THE KING! Ye shall see him!" + </p> + <p> + Therewith he strode up the hall and on to the dais, and came up to where + stood Christopher holding Goldilind's hand, and she all pale and + trembling; but Jack took him by the shoulder, and turned him about toward + a seat which stood before the board, so that all men in the hall could see + it; then he set him down in it, and took his sword from his girdle, and + knelt down before the young man, and took his right hand, and said in a + loud voice: "I, Jack of the Tofts, a free man and a sackless, wrongfully + beguilted, am the man of King Christopher of Oakenrealm, to live and die + for him as need may be. Lo, Lord, my father's blade! Wilt thou be good to + me and gird me therewith, as thy father girt him?" + </p> + <p> + Now when Christopher heard him, at first he deemed that all this was some + sport or play done for his pastime and the pleasure of the hall-folk in + all kindness and honour. But when he looked in the eyes of him, and saw + him fierce and eager and true, he knew well it was no jest; and as the + shouts of men went up from the hall and beat against the roof, himseemed + that he remembered, as in a dream, folk talking a-nigh him when he was too + little to understand, of a king and his son, and a mighty man turned thief + and betrayer. Then his brow cleared, and his eyes shone bright, and he + leaned forward to Jack and girt him with the sword, and kissed his mouth, + and said: "Thou art indeed my man and my thane and my earl, and I gird + thee with thy sword as my father girded thy father." + </p> + <p> + Then stood up Jack o' the Tofts and said: "Men in this hall, happy is the + hour, and happy are ye! This man is the King of Oakenrealm, and he yonder + is but a thief of kings, a dastard!" + </p> + <p> + And again great was the shouting, for carle and quean, young and old, they + loved Christopher well: and Jack of the Tofts was not only their war-duke + and alderman, but their wise man also, and none had any thought of + gainsaying him. But he spake again and said: "Is there here any old man, + or not so old, who hath of past days seen our King that was, King + Christopher to wit, who fell in battle on our behalf? If so there be, let + him come up hither." + </p> + <p> + Then arose a greybeard from a bench nigh the high-table, and came up on to + the dais; a very tall man had he been, but was now somewhat bowed by age. + He now knelt before Christopher, and took his hand, and said: "I, William + of Whittenham, a free man, a knight, sackless of the guilt which is laid + on me, would be thy man, O my lord King, to serve thee in all wise; if so + be that I may live to strike one stroke for my master's son, whom now I + see, the very living image of the King whom I served in my youth." + </p> + <p> + Then Christopher bent down to him and kissed him, and said: "Thou art + indeed my man and my thane & my baron; and who knows but that thou + mayst have many a stroke to strike for me in the days that are nigh at + hand." + </p> + <p> + And again the people shouted: and then there came another and another, and + ten more squires and knights and men of estate, who were now indeed + woodmen and wolf-heads, but who, the worst of them, were sackless of aught + save slaying an unfriend, or a friend's unfriend, in fair fight; and all + these kneeled before him, and put their hands in his, and gave themselves + unto him. + </p> + <p> + When this was done, there came thrusting through the throng of the hall a + tall woman, old, yet comely as for her age; she went right up on to the + dais, and came to where sat Christopher, and without more ado cast her + arms about him and kissed him, and then she held him by the shoulders and + cried out: "O, have I found thee at last, my loveling, and my dear, and my + nurse-chick? and thou grown so lovely and yet so big that I may never more + hold thee aloft in mine arms, as once I was wont; though high enough + belike thou shalt be lifted; and I say praise be to God and to his Hallows + that thou art grown so beauteous and mighty a man!" + </p> + <p> + Therewith she turned about toward the hall-throng and said: "Thou, duke of + these woodmen, and all ye in this hall, I have been brought hither by one + of you; and though I have well-nigh died of joy because of the suddenness + of this meeting, yet I thank him therefor. For who is this goodly and + gracious young man save the King's son of Oakenrealm, Christopher that + was; and that to my certain knowledge; for he is my fosterling and my + milk-child, and I took him from the hands of the midwife in the High House + of Oakenham a twenty-one years ago; and they took him from Oakenham, and + me with him to the house of Lord Richard the Lean, at Longholms, and there + we dwelt; but in a little while they took him away from Longholms to I wot + not whither, but would not suffer me to go along with him, and ever + sithence have I been wandering about and hoping to see this lovely child + again, and now I see him, what he is, and again I thank God and Allhallows + therefor." + </p> + <p> + Once more then was there stir and glad tumult in the hall. But Goldilind + stood wondering, and fear entered into her soul; for she saw before her a + time of turmoil and unpeace, and there seemed too much between her and the + sweetness of her love. Withal it must be said, that for as little as she + knew of courts and war-hosts, she yet seemed to see lands without that + hall, and hosts marching, and mighty walls glittering with spears, and the + banners of a great King displayed; and Jack of the Tofts and his champions + and good fellows seemed but a frail defence against all that, when once + the hidden should be shown, and the scantiness of the woodland should cry + on the abundance of the kingdom to bow down. + </p> + <p> + Now she came round the board and stood beside Christopher, and he turned + to her, and stood up and took her hand, in such wise that she felt the + caress of it; and joy filled her soul, as if she had been alone with him + in the wild-wood. + </p> + <p> + But he spake and said: "All ye my friends: I see and wot well that ye + would have me sit in my father's seat and be the King of Oakenrealm, and + that ye will give me help and furtherance therein to the utmost; nor will + I cast back the gift upon you; and I will say this, that when I am King + indeed, it is my meaning and my will now, that then I shall be no less one + of you good fellows and kind friends than ye have known me hitherto; and + even so I deem that ye think of me. But, good friends, it is not to be + hidden that the road ye would have me wend with you is like to be rough; + and it may well be that we shall not come to be kings or kings' friends + but men hunted, and often, maybe, men taken and slain. Therefore, till one + thing or the other come, the kingship, or the taking, I will try to be no + less joyous than now I am, and so meseemeth shall ye; and if ye be of this + mind, then shall the coming days be no worse than the days which have + been; and God wot they have been happy enough. Now again, ye see this most + fair lady, whose hand I hold; she is my beloved and my wife; and + therewithal she is the true Queen of Meadham, and a traitor sits in her + place even as a traitor sits in mine. But I must tell you that when she + took me for her beloved, she knew not, nor did I, that I was a King's son, + but she took me as a woodman and an outcast, and as a wood-man and outcast + I wooed her, trusting in the might that was in my body, and the love that + was in my heart; and now before all you, my friends, I thank her and + worship her that my body and my love was enough for her; as, God wot, the + kingship of the whole earth should not be overmuch for her, if it lay open + to her to take. But, sweet friends, here am I talking of myself as a King + wedded unto a Queen, whereas meseemeth the chiefest gift our twin kingship + hath brought you to-night is the gift of two most mighty unfriends for + you; to wit, her foeman and mine. See ye to it, then, if the wild-wood + yonder is not a meeter dwelling for us than this your goodly hall; and + fear not to put us to the door as a pair of make-bates and a peril to this + goodly company. Lo you, the sky without has not yet lost all memory of the + sun, and in a little while it will be yellowing again to the dawn. Nought + evil shall be the wild-wood for our summer dwelling; and what! ere the + winter come, we may have won us another house where erst my fathers + feasted. And thereto, my friends, do I bid you all." + </p> + <p> + But when they heard his friendly words, and saw the beauty of the fair + woman whose hand he held, his face grew so well-beloved to them, that they + cried out with so great a voice of cheer, wordless for their very joy, + that the timbers of the hall quavered because of it, and it went out into + the wild-wood as though it had been the feastful roaring of the ancient + gods of the forest. + </p> + <p> + But when the tumult sank a little, then cried out Jack of the Tofts: + "Bring now the mickle shield, and let us look upon our King." + </p> + <p> + So men went and fetched in a huge ancient shield, plated with berry-brown + iron, inlaid with gold, and the four biggest men in the hall took it on + their shoulders and knelt down anigh the dais, before Christopher, and + Jack said aloud: "King! King! Stand up here! for this war-board of old + days is the castle and the burg alone due to thee, and these four fellows + here are the due mountains to upbear it." + </p> + <p> + Then lightly strode Child Christopher on to the shield, and when he stood + firm thereon, they rose heedfully underneath him till they were standing + upright on their feet, and the King stood on the shield as if he were + grown there, and waved his naked sword to the four orts. + </p> + <p> + Then cried out an old woman in a shrill voice: "Lo, how the hills rise up + into tall mountains; even so shall arise Child Christopher to the + kingship." + </p> + <p> + Thereat all the folk laughed for joy and cried out: "Child Christopher! + Child Christopher, our King!" And for that word, when he came to the crown + indeed, and ruled wide lands, was he called Child Christopher; and that + name clave to him after he was dead, and but a name in the tale of his + kindred. + </p> + <p> + Now the King spake and said: "Friends, now is it time to get to the board, + and the feast which hath been stayed this while; and I pray you let it be + as merry as if there were no striving and unpeace betwixt us and the + winning of peace. But to-morrow we will hallow-in the Mote, and my earl + and my barons and good men shall give counsel, and then shall it be that + the hand shall do what the heart biddeth." + </p> + <p> + Therewith he leapt down from the shield, and went about the hall talking + to this one and that, till the board was full dight; then he took his + place in the high-seat, beside Jack of the Tofts; and David and Gilbert + and his other foster-brethren sat on either side of him, and their wives + with them; and men fell to feasting in great glee. + </p> + <p> + But one thing there is yet to tell of this feast. When men had drunk a cup + or two, and drunk memories to good men dead, and healths to good men + living, amidst this arose a grey-head carle from the lower end of the + hall, and said: "Child Christopher, thy grace, that I may crave a boon of + thee on this day of leal service.' + </p> + <p> + "Ask then," said Christopher, with a pleasant face. + </p> + <p> + "King," quoth the carle, "here are we all gathered together, and we have + before us the most beautifullest woman of the world, who sitteth by thy + side; now to-night we be all dear friends, and there is no lack between + us; yet who can say how often we may meet and things be so? I do not say + that there shall enmity and dissension arise between us, though that may + betide; but it is not unlike that another time thou, King, and thy mate, + may be prouder than now ye be, since now ye are new to it. And if that + distance grow between us, it will avail nought to ask my boon then." + </p> + <p> + "Well, well, ask it now, friend," said the King, laughing; "I were fain of + ending the day with a gift." + </p> + <p> + "This it is then, King," said the carle: "since we are here set down + before the loveliest woman in the world, grant us this, that all we + men-folk may for this once kiss the face of her, if she will have it so." + </p> + <p> + Huge laughter and cheers arose at his word; but King Christopher arose and + said: "Friend, thy boon is granted with a good will; or how sayest thou, + Goldilind my beloved?" + </p> + <p> + For all answer she stood up blushing like a rose, and held out her two + hands to the men in the hall. And straightway the old carle rose up and + went in haste to the high-table, before another man might stir, and took + Goldilind by the chin, and kissed her well-favouredly, and again men + laughed joyously. Then came before her Jack of the Tofts and all his sons, + one after other, and kissed her face, save only David, who knelt humbly + before her, and took her right hand and kissed it, while the tears were in + his eyes. Then came many of the men in the hall, and some were bold, but + many were shy, and when they came before her durst kiss neither hand nor + face of her, but their hearts were full of her when they went to their + places again; and all the assembly was praising her. + </p> + <p> + So wore the time of that first night of the kingship of Child Christopher. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0027" id="link2HCH0027"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVII. OF THE HUSTING OF THE TOFTS. + </h2> + <p> + When morning was, there were horns sounding from the tower on the toft, + and all men hastening in their war-gear to the topmost of the other toft, + the bare one, whereon was no building; for thereon was ever the mote-stead + of these woodmen. But men came not only from the stead and houses of the + Tofts, but also from the woodland cots and dwellings anigh, of which were + no few. And they that came there first found King Christopher sitting on + the mound amid the mote-stead, and Jack of the Tofts and his seven sons + sitting by him, and all they well-weaponed and with green coats over their + hauberks; and they that came last found three hundreds of good men and + true gathered there, albeit this was but the Husting of the Tofts. + </p> + <p> + So when there were no more to come, then was the Mote hallowed, and the + talk began; but short and sharp was their rede, for well did all men wot + who had been in the hall the night before that there was now no time to + lose. For though nigh all the men that had been in the hall were well + known to each other, yet might there perchance have been some spy unknown, + who had edged him in as a guest to one of the good men. Withal, as the saw + saith: The word flieth, the wight dieth. And it were well if they might + gather a little host ere their foeman might gather a mickle. + </p> + <p> + First therefore arose Jack of the Tofts, and began shortly to put forth + the sooth, that there was come the son of King Christopher the Old, and + that now he was seeking to his kingdom, not for lust of power and gain, + but that he might be the friend of good men and true, and uphold them and + be by them upholden. And saith he: "Look ye on the face of this man, and + tell me where ye shall find a friend friendlier than he, and more + single-hearted?" And therewith he laid his hand on Christopher's head, and + the young man rose up, blushing like a maid, and thereafter a long time + could no lord be heard for the tumult of gladness and the clashing of + weapons. + </p> + <p> + But when it was a little hushed, then spake Jack again: "Now need no man + say more to man on this matter, for ye call this curly-headed lad the King + of Oakenrealm, even as some of ye did last night." + </p> + <p> + Mighty was the shout of yea-say that arose at that word; and when it was + stilled, a grey-head stood up and said: "King Christopher, and thou, our + leader, whom we shall henceforth call Earl, it is now meet that we shear + up the war-arrow, and send it forth to whithersoever we deem our friends + dwell, and that this be done at once here in this Mote, and that the + hosting be after three nights' frist in the plain of Hazeldale, which all + ye know is twelve miles nigher to Oakenrealm than this." + </p> + <p> + All men yea-said this, no one gainsaid it; and straightway was fire + kindled and the bull slain, for the said elder had brought him thither; + and the arrow was sheared and scorched and reddened, and the runners were + fetched, and the word given them, and they were sped on their errand. + </p> + <p> + Up rose then another, a young man, and spake: "Many stout fellows be here, + and some wise and well-ruled, and many also hot-head and wilful: Child + Christopher is King now, and we all know him that when he cometh into the + fray he is like to strike three strokes for two that any other winneth; + but as to his lore of captainship, if he hath any, he was born with it, as + is like enough, seeing who was his father; therefore we need a captain + well-proven, to bid us how to turn hither and thither, and where to gather + thickest, and where to spread thinnest; and when to fall on fiercely and + when to give way, and let the thicket cover us; for wise in war shall our + foemen be. Now therefore if anyone needeth a better captain than our + kin-father and war-father Jack of the Tofts, he must needs go fetch him + from otherwhere! How sayest thou, Christopher lad?" + </p> + <p> + Great cheer there was at the word, and laughter no little therewith. But + Christopher stood up, and took Jack by the hand, and said: "Now say I, + that if none else follow this man into battle, yet will I; and if none + else obey him to go backward or forward to the right hand or to the left + as he biddeth, yet will I. Thou, Wilfrid Wellhead, look to it that thou + dost no less. But ye folk, what will ye herein?" + </p> + <p> + So they all yea-said Jack of the Tofts for captain; and forsooth they + might do no less, for he was wary and wise, and had done many deeds, and + seen no little of warfare. + </p> + <p> + Then again arose a man of some forty winters, strong built and not + ungoodly, but not merry of countenance, and he spake: "King and + war-leader, I have a word to say: We be wending to battle, we carles, with + spear in fist and sword by side; and if we die in the fray, of the day's + work is it; but what do we with our kinswomen, as mothers and daughters + and wives and she-friends, and the little ones they have borne us? For, + see ye! this warfare we are faring, maybe it shall not last long, and yet + maybe it shall; and then may the foeman go about us and fall on this stead + if we leave them behind here with none to guard them; and if, on the other + hand, we leave them men enough for their warding, then we minish our host + overmuch. What do we then?" + </p> + <p> + Then spake Jack of the Tofts: "This is well thought of by Haward of + Whiteacre, and we must look to it. And, by my rede, we shall have our + women and little ones with us; and why not? For we shall then but be + moving Toftstead as we move; and ever to some of us hath it been as a camp + rather than an house. Moreover, ye know it, that our women be no useless + and soft queans, who durst not lie under the oak boughs for a night or + two, or wade a water over their ankles, but valiant they be, and kind, and + helpful; and many of them are there who can draw a bow with the best, and, + it may be, push a spear if need were. How say ye, lads?" + </p> + <p> + Now this also they yea-said gladly; forsooth they had scarce been fain of + leaving the women behind, at least the younger ones, even had they been + safe at the Tofts; for there is no time when a man would gladlier have a + fair woman in his arms than when battle and life-peril are toward. + </p> + <p> + Thereafter the Mote sundered, when the Captain had bidden his men this and + that matter that each should look to; and said that he, for his part, with + King Christopher and a chosen band, would set off for Hazeldale on the + morrow morn, whereas some deal of the gathering would of a certainty be + come thither by then; and that there was enough left of that day to see to + matters at the Tofts. + </p> + <p> + So all men went about their business, which was, for the most part, seeing + to the victualling of the host. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0028" id="link2HCH0028"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVIII. OF THE HOSTING IN HAZELDALE. + </h2> + <p> + On the morrow early was Jack of the Tofts dight for departure, with + Christopher and David and Gilbert and five score of his best men. But when + they went out of the porch into the sweet morning, lo! there was Goldilind + before them, clad in her green gown, and as fresh and dear as the early + day itself. And Jack looked on her and said: "And thou, my Lady and Queen, + thou art dight as thou wouldst wend with us?" + </p> + <p> + "Yea," she said, "and why not?" + </p> + <p> + "What sayest thou, King Christopher?" said the Captain. + </p> + <p> + "Nay," said King Christopher, reddening, "it is for thee to yea-say or + nay-say; though true it is that I have bidden her farewell for two days' + space." And the two stood looking on one another. + </p> + <p> + But Jack laughed and said: "Well, then, so be it; but let us get to the + way, or else when the sweethearts of these lads know that we have a woman + with us we shall have them all at our backs." Thereat all laughed who were + within earshot, and were merry. + </p> + <p> + So they wended the woodland ways, some afoot, some a-horseback, of whom + was Jack of the Tofts, but Christopher and David went afoot. And Goldilind + rode a fair white horse which the Captain had gotten her. + </p> + <p> + As they went, and King Christopher ever by Goldilind's right hand, and + were merry and joyous, they two were alone in the woodland way; so + Christopher took her hand and kissed it, and said: "Sweetling, why didst + thou tell me nought of thy will to come along with us? Never had I balked + thee." + </p> + <p> + She looked at him, blushing as a rose, and said: "Dear friend, I will tell + thee; I knew that thou wouldst make our parting piteous-sweet this + morning; and of that I would not be balked. See, then, how rich I am, + since I have both parted from thee and have thee." And therewith she + louted down from her saddle, and they kissed together sweetly, and so + thereafter wore the way. + </p> + <p> + So came they to the plain of Hazeldale, which was a wide valley with a + middling river winding about it, the wild-wood at its back toward the + Tofts, and in front down-land nought wooded, save here and there a tree + nigh a homestead or cot; for that way the land was builded for a space. + Forsooth it was not easy for the folk thereabout to live quietly, but if + they were friends in some wise to Jack of the Tofts. + </p> + <p> + So when the company of the Tofts came out into the dale about three hours + after noon, it was no wonder to them to see men riding and going to and + fro, and folk pitching tents and raising booths nigh to the cover of the + wood; and when the coming of the Toft-folk was seen, and the winding of + their horns heard, there was many a glad cry raised in answer, and many an + horn blown, and all men there came running together toward where now was + stayed Jack of the Tofts and Christopher and their men. + </p> + <p> + Then Goldilind bade Christopher help her light down; so he took her in his + arms, and was not over hasty in setting her down again. But when she stood + by him, she looked over the sunny field darkened by the folk hastening + over the greensward, and her eyes glittered and her cheek flushed, and she + said: "Lord King, be these some others of thy men?" + </p> + <p> + "Yea, sweetling," said he, "to live and die with me." + </p> + <p> + She looked on him, and said softly: "Maybe it were an ill wish to wish + that I were thou; yet if it might be for one hour!" + </p> + <p> + Said he: "Shall it not be for more than one hour? Shall it not be for + evermore, since we twain are become one?" + </p> + <p> + "Nay," she said, "this is but a word; I am but thine handmaid: and now I + can scarce refrain my body from falling before thy feet." + </p> + <p> + He laughed in her face for joy, and said: "Abide a while, until these men + have looked on thee, and then shalt thou see how thou wilt be a flame of + war in their hearts that none shall withstand." + </p> + <p> + Now were the dale-dwellers all come together in their weapons, and they + were glad of their King and his loveling; and stout men were they all, + albeit some were old, and some scarce of man's age. So they were ranked + and told over, and the tale of them was over six score who had obeyed the + war-arrow, and more and more, they said, would come in every hour. But now + the Captains of them bade the Toft-folk eat with them; and they yea-said + the bidding merrily, and word was given, and sacks and baskets brought + forth, and barrels to boot, and all men sat down on the greensward, and + high was the feast and much the merriment on the edge of Hazeldale. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0029" id="link2HCH0029"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIX. TIDINGS COME TO HAZELDALE. + </h2> + <p> + But they had not done their meat, and had scarce begun upon their drink, + ere they saw three men come riding on the spur over the crown of the bent + before them; these made no stay for aught, but rode straight through the + ford of the river, as men who knew well where it was, and came on hastily + toward the feasters by the wood-edge. Then would some have run to meet + them, but Jack of the Tofts bade them abide till he had heard the tidings; + whereas they needed not to run to their weapons, for, all of them, they + were fully dight for war, save, it might be, the doing on of their sallets + or basnets. But Jack and Christopher alone went forward to meet those men; + and the foremost of them cried out at once: "I know thee, Jack of the + Tofts! I know thee! Up and arm! up and arm! for the foemen are upon thee; + and so choose thee whether thou wilt fight or flee." + </p> + <p> + Quoth Jack, laughing: "I know thee also, Wat of Whiteend; and when thou + hast told me how many and who be the foemen, we will look either to + fighting or fleeing." + </p> + <p> + Said Wat: "Thou knowest the blazon of the banner which we saw, three red + wolves running on a silver field?" + </p> + <p> + "Yea, forsooth," said Jack; "'tis the Baron of Brimside that beareth that + shield ever; and the now Baron, hight the Lord Gandolf, how many was he?" + </p> + <p> + Said Wat: "Ten hundreds or more. But what say fellows?" + </p> + <p> + Quoth the other twain: "More, more they were." + </p> + <p> + Said Jack of the Tofts: "And when shall he be here, deem ye?" + </p> + <p> + "In less than an hour," said Wat, "he will be on thee with great and + small; but his riders, some of them, in lesser space." + </p> + <p> + Then turned Jack about and cried out for David, and when he came, he said: + "Put thy long legs over a good horse, and ride straight back to the Tofts + and gather whatever may bear spear and draw bow, and hither with them, + lad, by the nighest road; tarry not, speak no word, be gone!" + </p> + <p> + So David turned, and was presently riding swiftly back through the + woodland paths. But Jack spake to the bearers of tidings: "Good fellows, + go ye yonder and bid them give you a morsel and a cup; and tell all the + tidings, and this, withal, that we have nought to flee from a good + fightstead for Gandolf of Brimside." Therewith he turned to Christopher + and said: "Thy pardon, King, but these matters must be seen to + straightway. Now do thou help me array our folk, for there is heart enough + in them as in thee and me; and mayhappen we may make an end to this matter + now and here. Moreover, the Baron of Brimside is a stout carle, so fight + we must, meseemeth." + </p> + <p> + Then he called to them one of the captains of the Tofts and they three + spake together heedfully a little, and thereafter they fell to work + arraying the folk; and King Christopher did his part therein deftly and + swiftly, for quick of wit he was, and that the more whenso anything was to + be done. + </p> + <p> + As to the array, the main of the folk that were spearmen and billmen but + moved forward somewhat from where they had dined to the hanging of the + bent, so that their foemen would have the hill against them or ever they + came on point and edge. But the bowmen, of whom were now some two + hundreds, for many men had come in after the first tally, were spread + abroad on the left hand of the spearmen toward the river, where the ground + was somewhat broken, and bushed with thorn-bushes. And a bight of the + water drew nearer to the Tofters, amidst of which was a flat eyot, edged + with willows and covered with firm and sound greensward, and was some + thirty yards endlong and twenty overthwart. So there they abode the coming + of the foe, and it was now hard on five o'clock. + </p> + <p> + But Christopher went up to Goldilind where she stood amidst of the + spearmen, hand turning over hand, and her feet wandering to and fro almost + without her will; and when he came to her, she had much ado to refrain her + from falling on his bosom and weeping there. But he cried to her gaily: + "Now, my Lady and Queen, thou shalt see a fair play toward even sooner + than we looked for; and thine eyes shall follow me, if the battle be + thronged, by this token, that amongst all these good men and true I only + wear a forgilded basnet with a crown about it." + </p> + <p> + "O!" she said, "if it were but over, and thou alive and free! I would pay + for that, I deem, if I might, by a sojourn in Greenharbour again." + </p> + <p> + "What!" he said, "that I might have to thrust myself into the peril of + snatching thee forth again?" And he laughed merrily. "Nay," said he, "this + play must needs begin before it endeth; and by Saint Nicholas, I deem that + to-day it beginneth well." + </p> + <p> + But she put her hands before her face, and her shoulders were shaken with + sobs. "Alas! sweetling," said he, "that my joy should be thy sorrow! But, + I pray thee, take not these stout-hearts for runaways. And Oh! look, + look!" + </p> + <p> + She looked up, wondering and timorous, but all about her the men sprang up + and shouted, and tossed up bill and sword, and the echo of their cries + came back from the bowmen on the left, and Christopher's sword came + rattling out of the scabbard and went gleaming up aloft. Then words came + into the cry of the folk, and Goldilind heard it, that they cried "Child + Christopher! King Christopher!" Then over her head came a sound of + flapping and rending as the evening wind beat about the face of the wood; + and she heard folk cry about her: "The banner, the banner! Ho for the + Wood-wife of Oakenrealm!" + </p> + <p> + Then her eyes cleared for what was aloof before her, and she saw a dark + mass come spreading down over the bent on the other side of the river, and + glittering points and broad gleams of white light amidst of it, and noise + came from it; and she knew that here were come the foemen. But she thought + to herself that they looked not so many after all; and she looked at the + great and deft bodies of their folk, and their big-headed spears and + wide-bladed glaves and bills, and strove with her heart and refrained her + fear, and thrust back the image which had arisen before her of + Greenharbour come back again, and she lonely and naked in the Least + Guard-chamber: and she stood firm, and waved her hand to greet the folk. + </p> + <p> + And lo! there was Christopher kneeling before her and kissing her hand, + and great shouts arising about her of "The Lady of Oakenrealm! The Lady of + Meadham! For the Lady! For the Lady!" + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0030" id="link2HCH0030"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXX. OF THE FIELD THAT WAS SET IN THE HOLM OF HAZELDALE. + </h2> + <p> + Now thither cometh Jack o' the Tofts, and spake to Christopher: "See thou, + lad—Lord King, I should say; this looketh not like very present + battle, for they be stayed half way down the bent; and lo thou, some half + score are coming forth from the throng with a white shield raised aloft. + Do we in likewise, for they would talk with us." + </p> + <p> + "Shall we trust them, father?" said Christopher. + </p> + <p> + "Trust them we may, son," said Jack; "Gandolf is a violent man, and a + lifter of other men's goods, but I deem not so evil of him as that he + would bewray troth." + </p> + <p> + So then they let do a white cloth over a shield and hoist it on a long + spear, and straightway they gat to horse, Jack of the Tofts, and + Christopher, and Haward of Whiteacre, and Gilbert, and a half score all + told; and they rode straight down to the ford, which was just below the + tail of the eyot aforesaid, and as they went, they saw the going of the + others, who were by now hard on the waterside; and said Jack: "See now, + King Christopher, he who rides first in a surcoat of his arms is even the + Baron, the black bullet-headed one; and the next to him, the red-head, is + his squire and man, Oliver Marson, a stout man, but fierce and + grim-hearted. Lo thou, they are taking the water, but they are making for + the eyot and not our shore: son mine, this will mean a hazeled field in + the long run; but now they will look for us to come to them therein. Yea, + now they are aland and have pitched their white shield. And hearken, that + is their horn; blow we an answer: ho, noise! set thy lips to the brass." + </p> + <p> + So then, when one horn had done its song, the other took it up, and all + men of both hosts knew well that the horns blew but for truce and parley. + </p> + <p> + Now come the Toft-folk to the ford, and take the water, which was very + shallow on their side, and when they come up on to the eyot, they find the + Baron and his folk off their horses, and lying on the green grass, so they + also lighted down and stood and hailed the new comers. Then uprose the + Lord Gandolf, and greeted the Toft-folk, and said: "Jack of the Tofts, + thou ridest many-manned to-day." + </p> + <p> + "Yea, Lord," said Jack, "and thou also. What is thine errand?" + </p> + <p> + "Nay," said the Baron, "what is thine? As for mine host here, there came a + bird to Brimside and did me to wit that I should be like to need a throng + if I came thy way; and sooth was that. Come now, tell us what is toward, + thou rank reiver, though I have an inkling thereof; for if this were a + mere lifting, thou wouldst not sit still here amidst thy friends of + Hazeldale." + </p> + <p> + "Lord," said Jack o' the Tofts, "thou shalt hear mine errand, and then + give heed to what thou wilt do. Look to the bent under the wood, and tell + me, dost thou see the blazon of the banner under which be my men?" + </p> + <p> + "That can I not," said the Lord Gandolf; "but I have seen the banner of + Oakenrealm, which beareth the wood-woman with loins garlanded with + oak-leaves, look much like to it at such a distance." + </p> + <p> + Said Jack: "It is not ill guessed. Yonder banner is the King's banner, and + beareth on it the woman of Oakenrealm." + </p> + <p> + The Lord bent his brows on him, and said: "Forsooth, rank reiver, I wotted + not that thou hadst King Rolf for thy guest." + </p> + <p> + Quoth Jack of the Tofts: "Forsooth, Lord, no such guest as the Earl + Marshal Rolf would I have alive in my poor house." + </p> + <p> + "Well, Jack," said the big Lord, grinning, "arede me the riddle, and then + we shall see what is to be done, as thou sayest." + </p> + <p> + "Lord," said Jack, "dost thou see this young man standing by me?" + </p> + <p> + "Yea," said the other, "he is big enough that I may see him better than + thy banner: if he but make old bones, as is scarce like, since he is of + thy flock, he shall one day make a pretty man; he is a gay rider now. What + else is he?" + </p> + <p> + Quoth Jack of the Tofts: "He is my King and thy King, and the all-folk's + King, and the King of Oakenrealm: and now, hearken mine errand: it is to + make all folk name him King." + </p> + <p> + Said the Lord: "This minstrel's tale goes with the song the bird sang to + me this morning; and therefore am I here thronging—to win thy head, + rank reiver, and this young man's head, since it may not better be, and + let the others go free for this time. Hah! what sayest thou? and thou, + youngling? 'Tis but the stroke of a sword, since thou hast fallen into my + hands, and not into the hangman's or the King's." + </p> + <p> + "Thou must win them first, Lord," said Jack of the Tofts. "Therefore, what + sayest thou? Where shall we cast down the white shield and uprear the + red?" + </p> + <p> + "Hot art thou, head, heart, and hand, rank reiver," said the Lord; "bide a + while." So he sat silent a little; then he said: "Thou seest, Jack of the + Tofts, that now thou hast thrust the torch into the tow; if I go back to + King Rolf without the heads of you twain, I am like to pay for it with + mine own. Therefore hearken. If we buckle together in fight presently, it + is most like that I shall come to my above, but thou art so wily and stout + that it is not unlike that thou, and perchance this luckless youngling, + may slip through my fingers into the wood; and then it will avail me + little with the King that I have slain a few score nameless wolf-heads. + So, look you! here is a fair field hazelled by God; let us two use it + to-day, and fight to the death here; and then if thou win me, smite off my + head, and let my men fight it out afterwards, as best they may without me, + and 'tis like they will be beaten then. But if I win thee, then I win this + youngling withal, and bear back both heads to my Lord King, after I have + scattered thy wolf-heads and slain as many as I will; which shall surely + befall, if thou be slain first." + </p> + <p> + Then cried out Jack of the Tofts: "Hail to thy word, stout-heart! this is + well offered, and I take it for myself and my Lord King here." And all + that stood by and heard gave a glad sound with their voices, and their + armour rattled and rang as man turned to man to praise their captains. + </p> + <p> + But now spake Christopher: "Lord of Brimside, it is nought wondrous though + thou set me aside as of no account, whereas thou deemest me no king or + king's kindred; but thou, Lord Earl, who wert once Jack of the Tofts, I + marvel at thee, that thou hast forgotten thy King so soon. Ye twain shall + now wot that this is my quarrel, and that none but I shall take this + battle upon him. + </p> + <p> + "Thou servant of Rolf, the traitor and murderer, hearken! I say that I am + King of Oakenrealm, and the very son of King Christopher the Old; and that + will I maintain with my body against every gainsayer. Thou Lord of + Brimside, wilt thou gainsay it? Then I say thou liest, and lo here, my + glove!" And he cast it down before the Lord. + </p> + <p> + Again was there good rumour, and that from either side of the bystanders; + but Jack of the Tofts stood up silent and stiff, and the Baron of Brimside + laughed, and said: "Well, swain, if thou art weary of life, so let it be, + as for me; but how sayest thou, Jack of the Tofts? Art thou content to + give thine head away in this fashion, whereas thou wottest that I shall + presently slay this king of thine?" + </p> + <p> + Said Jack: "The King of Oakenrealm must rule me as well as others of his + liege-men: he must fight if he will, and be slain if he will." Then + suddenly he fell a-laughing, and beat his hand on his thigh till the + armour rattled again, and then he cried out: "Lord Gandolf, Lord Gandolf, + have a care, I bid thee! Where wilt thou please to be buried, Lord?" + </p> + <p> + Said the other: "I wot not what thou wilt mean by thy fooling, rank + reiver. But here I take up this youngling's glove; and on his head be his + fate! Now as to this battle. My will is, that we two champions be all + alone and afoot on the eyot. How say ye?" + </p> + <p> + "Even so be it," said Jack; "but I say that half a score on each side + shall be standing on their own bank to see the play, and the rest of the + host come no nigher than now we are." + </p> + <p> + "I yea-say it," said the Baron; "and now do thou, rank reiver, go back to + thy fellowship and tell them what we have areded, and do thou, Oliver + Marson, do so much for our folk; and bid them wot this, that if any of + them break the troth, he shall lose nought more than his life for that + same." + </p> + <p> + Therewith all went ashore to either bank, save the Baron of Brimside and + Christopher. And the Baron laid him down on the ground and fell to + whistling the tune of a merry Yule dance; but as for Christopher, he + looked on his foeman, and deemed he had seldom seen so big and stalwarth a + man; and withal he was of ripe age, and had seen some forty winters. Then + he also cast himself down on the grass, and fell into a kind of dream, as + he watched a pair of wagtails that came chirping up from the sandy spit + below the eyot; till suddenly great shouting broke out, first from his own + bent, and then from the foemen's, and Christopher knew that the folk on + either side had just heard of the battle that was to be on the holm. The + Baron arose at the sound and looked to his own men, whence were now coming + that half-score who were to look on the battle from the bank; but + Christopher stirred not, but lay quietly amongst the flowers of the grass, + till he heard the splash of horse-hoofs in the ford, and there presently + was come Jack of the Tofts bearing basnet and shield for his lord. And he + got off his horse and spake to Christopher: "If I may not fight for thee, + my son and King, yet at least it is the right of thine Earl to play the + squire to thee: but a word before thy basnet is over thine ears; the man + yonder is well-nigh a giant for stature and strength; yet I think thou + mayest deal with him, and be none the sorer when thou liest down to-night. + To be short, this is it: when thou hast got a stroke in upon him, and he + falters, then give him no time, but fly at him in thy wild-cat manner and + show what-like thews thou hast under thy smooth skin; now thine helm, lad. + So art thou dight; and something tells me thou shalt do it off in + victory." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0031" id="link2HCH0031"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXI. THE BATTLE ON THE HOLM. + </h2> + <p> + So when Christopher was armed, Jack turned about speedily, and so gat him + back through the ford and stood there on the bank with the nine other folk + of the Tofts. And by this time was Gandolf of Brimside armed also, and + Oliver Marson, who had done his helm on him, was gone to his side of the + river. + </p> + <p> + Drew the huge man-at-arms then toward Christopher, but his sword was yet + in the sheath: Christopher set his point to the earth and abode him; and + the Baron spake: "Lad, thou art fair and bold both, as I can see it, and + Jack of the Tofts is so much an old foe of mine that he is well-nigh a + friend: so what sayest thou? If thou wilt yield thee straightway, I will + have both thine head and the outlaw's with me to King Rolf, but yet on + your shoulders and ye two alive. Haps will go as haps will; and it maybe + that ye shall both live for another battle, and grow wiser, and mayhappen + abide in the wood with the reiver's men. Hah? What sayest thou?" + </p> + <p> + Christopher laughed and said: "Wouldst thou pardon one who is not yet + doomed, Baron? And yet thy word is pleasant to us; for we see that if we + win thee, thou shalt be good liegeman of us. Now, Baron, sword in fist!" + </p> + <p> + Gandolf drew his sword, muttering: "Ah, hah! he is lordly and kingly + enough, yet may this learn him a lesson." Indeed the blade was huge and + brown and ancient, and sword and man had looked a very terror save to one + great-hearted. + </p> + <p> + But Christopher said: "What sayest thou now, Baron, shall we cast down our + shields to earth? For why should we chop into wood and leather?" + </p> + <p> + The Baron cast down his shield, and said: "Bold are thy words, lad; if thy + deeds go with them, it may be better for thee than for me. Now keep thee." + </p> + <p> + And therewith he leapt forward and swept his huge sword around; but + Christopher swerved speedily and enough, so that the blade touched him + not, and the huge man had over-reached himself, and ere he had his sword + well under sway again, Christopher had smitten him so sharply on the + shoulder that the mails were sundered & the blood ran; and withal the + Baron staggered with the mere weight of the stroke. Then Christopher saw + his time, and leapt aloft and dealt such a stroke on the side of his head, + that the Baron tottered yet more; but now was he taught by those two + terrible strokes, and he gathered all his heart to him, and all the might + of his thews, and leapt aback and mastered his sword, and came on fierce + but wary, shouting out for Brimside and the King. + </p> + <p> + Christopher cried never a cry, but swung his sword well within his sway, + and the stroke came on Gandolf's fore-arm and brake the mails and wounded + him, and then as the Baron rushed forward, the wary lad gat his blade + under his foeman's nigh the hilts, and he gave it a wise twist and forth + flew the ancient iron away from its master. + </p> + <p> + Gandolf seemed to heed not that he was swordless, but gave out a great + roar and rushed at Christopher to close with him, and the well-knit lad + gave back before him and turned from side to side, and kept the + sword-point before Gandolf's eyes ever, till suddenly, as the Baron was + running his fiercest, he made a mighty sweep at his right leg, since he + had no more to fear his sword, and the edge fell so strong and true, that + but for the byrny-hose he had smitten the limb asunder, and even as it was + it made him a grievous wound, so that the Lord of Brimside fell clattering + to the earth, and Christopher bestrode him and cried: "How sayest thou, + champion, is it enough?" + </p> + <p> + "Yea, enough, and maybe more," said the Baron. "Wilt thou smite off mine + head? Or what wilt thou?" + </p> + <p> + Said Christopher: "Here hath been enough smiting, meseemeth, save thy lads + and ours have a mind to buckle to; and lo thou! men are running down from + the bents towards us from both sides, yet not in any warlike manner as + yet. Now, Baron, here cometh thy grim squire that I heard called Oliver, + and if thou wilt keep the troth, thou shalt bid him order thy men so that + they fall not upon us till the battle be duly pitched. Then shalt thou be + borne home, since thou canst not go, with no hindrance from us." + </p> + <p> + Now was Oliver come indeed, and the other nine with him, and on the other + side was come Jack of the Tofts and four others. + </p> + <p> + Then spake the Baron of Brimside: "I may do better than thou biddest me; + for now I verily trow herein, that thou art the son of Christopher the + Old; so valiant as thou art, and so sad a smiter, and withal that thou + fearest not to let thy foeman live. So hearken all ye, and thou specially, + Oliver Marson, my captain: I am now become the man of my lord King + Christopher, and will follow him whereso he will; and I deem that will + presently be to Oakenham, and the King's seat there. Now look to it that + thou, Oliver, order my men under King Christopher's banner, till I be + healed; and then if all be not over, I shall come forth myself, shield on + neck and spear in fist, to do battle for my liege lord; so help me God and + St. James of the Water!" + </p> + <p> + Therewith speech failed him and his wit therewith; so betwixt them they + unarmed him and did him what leechdom they might do there and then; and he + was nowise hurt deadly: as for Child Christopher, he had no scratch of + steel on him. And Oliver knelt before him when he had dight his own lord, + and swore fealty to him then and there; and so departed, to order the folk + of Brimside and tell them the tidings, and swear them liege men of King + Christopher. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0032" id="link2HCH0032"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXII. OF GOLDILIND AND CHRISTOPHER. + </h2> + <p> + Now Jack of the Tofts said a word to one of his men, and he rode + straightway up into the field under the wood, and spake to three of the + captains of the folk, and they ranked a hundred of the men, of those who + were best dight, and upraised amongst them the banner of Oakenrealm, and + led all them down to the river bank; and with these must needs go + Goldilind; and when they came down thither, Christopher and Jack were + there on the bank to hail them, and they raised a great shout when they + saw their King and their Earl standing there, and the shout was given back + from the wood-side; and then the men of Brimside took it up, for they had + heard the bidding of their Lord, and he was now in a pavilion which they + had raised for him on the mead, and the leeches were looking to his hurts; + and they feared him, but rather loved than hated him, and he was more to + them than the King in Oakenrealm and they were all ready to do his will. + </p> + <p> + But as to Goldilind, her mind it had been, as she was going down the + meadow, that she would throw herself upon Christopher's bosom and love him + with glad tears of love; but as she came and stood over against him, she + was abashed, and stood still looking on him, and spake no word; and he + also was ashamed before all that folk to say the words whereof his heart + was full, and longed for the night, that they might be alone together. + </p> + <p> + But at last he said: "Lady and Queen, thou seest that we be well-beloved + that they rejoice so much in a little deed of mine." And still she spake + nought, and held hand in hand. + </p> + <p> + But Jack of the Tofts spake and said: "By St. Hubert! the deed may be + little, though there be men who would think no little of overcoming the + biggest man and the fellest fighter of Oakenrealm, but at least great + things shall come thereof. King, thy strokes of this day have won thee + Oakenrealm, or no man I know in field, and many a mother's son have they + saved from death. For look thou yonder over the river, Goldilind, my Lady, + and tell me what thou seest." She turned to him and said: "Lord Earl, I + see warriors a many." + </p> + <p> + "Yea," said Jack, "and stout fellows be they for the more part; and hard + had been the hand-play had we met, ere they had turned their backs; but + now, see thou, we shall wend side by side toward Oakenrealm, for our Lord + there hath won them to his friends; and doubt thou not that when they see + him and thee anigh, they shall be friends indeed. What! dost thou weep for + this? Or is it because he hath done the deed and not thou? or rather, + because thine heart is full for the love of him?" + </p> + <p> + She smiled kindly on Jack, but even therewith she felt two hands laid on + her shoulders, and Christopher kissed her without any word. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0033" id="link2HCH0033"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXIII. A COUNCIL OF CAPTAINS: THE HOST COMES TO BROADLEES, AND + MAKES FOR WOODWALL. + </h2> + <p> + That night, though there was some little coming and going between the + Tofters and the Brimsiders, yet either flock slept on their own side of + the river. Moreover, before the midst of the night, cometh David to the + wood-side, and had with him all men defensible of the Tofts and the houses + thereabout, and most of the women also many of whom bore spear or bow, so + that now by the wood-side, what with them of the Tofts and the folk who + joined them thereto from the country-side about Hazeldale, there were + well-nigh ten hundreds of folk under weapons; and yet more came in the + night through; for the tidings of the allegiance of Brimside was spreading + full fast. + </p> + <p> + Betimes on the morrow was King Christopher afoot, and he and Jack and + David and Gilbert, and they twelve in company, went down to the banner by + the water-side; and to them presently came Oliver Marson and ten other of + the captains of Brimside, and did them to wit that the Baron were fain if + they would come to his pavilion and hold counsel therein, for that he was + not so sick but he might well speak his mind from where he lay. So thither + they went all, with good will, and the Baron greeted them friendly, and + made what reverence he might to Christopher, and bade him say what was his + mind and his will. But Christopher bade them who were his elders in battle + to speak; and the Baron laughed outright and said: "Meseemeth, Lord King, + thou didst grow old yesterday at my costs; but since thou wilt have me to + speak, I will even do so. And to make matters the shorter, I will say that + I wot well what ye have to do; and that is, to fall upon the Earl + Marshal's folk ere they fall upon us. Now some folk deem we should fare to + Brimside and have a hosting there; but I say nay; whereas it lieth out of + the road to Oakenham, and thereby is our road, meseemeth; and it is but + some six days' riding hence, save, as is most like, two of those days be + days of battle But if we go straight forward with banners displayed, each + day's faring shall be a day of hosting and gathering; for I tell thee, + Lord King, the fame of thee has by now gone far in this country-side. + Wherefore I say no more, since I wax weary, than this: to the road this + morning, and get we so far as Broadlees ere night-fall, for there we shall + get both victual and folk." + </p> + <p> + There was good cheer made at his word, so Christopher spake: "Baron of + Brimside, thou hast spoken my very mind and will; and but if these lords + and captains gainsay it, let us tarry no longer, but array all our folk in + good order and take tale of them, and so for Broadlees. What say ye, + lords?" + </p> + <p> + None nay-said it, so there was no more talk save as to the ordering of + this or the other company. And it was so areded that the Brimside men + should fare first at the head of the host with the banner of Brimside, and + that then should go the mingled folk of the country-side, and lastly the + folk of the Tofts with the banner of Oakenrealm; so that if the host came + upon foemen, they might be for a cloud to hide the intent of their battles + awhile till they might take their advantage. + </p> + <p> + So went the captains to their companies, and the Tofters and their mates + crossed the river to the men of Brimside, who gave them good cheer when + they came amongst them; and it was hard to order the host for a while, so + did the upland folk throng about the King and the Queen; and happy were + they who had a full look on Goldilind; and yet were some so lucky and so + bold that they kissed a hand of her; and one there was, a very tall young + man, and a goodly, who stood there and craved to kiss her cheek, and she + did not gainsay him, and thereafter nought was good to him save an + occasion to die for her. + </p> + <p> + As for Christopher, he spake to many, and said to them that wheresoever + his banner was, he at least should be at the forefront whenso they came + upon unpeace; and so soon as they gat to the road, he went from company to + company, speaking to many, and that so sweetly and friendly that all + praised him, and said that here forsooth was a king who was all good and + nothing bad, whereas hitherto men had deemed them lucky indeed if their + king were half good and half bad. + </p> + <p> + Merry then was the road to Broadlees, and they came there before + night-fall; and it was a little cheaping town and unwalled, and if the + folk had had any will to ward them, they lacked might. But when they found + they were not to be robbed, and that it was but the proclaiming of King + Christopher in the market-place, and finding victual and house-room for + the host, and the Mayor taking a paper in payment thereof, none stirred + against them, and a many joined the host to fight for the fair young King. + Now nought as yet had they heard at Broadlees of any force stirring + against them. + </p> + <p> + But in the morning when they went on their ways again, and were bound for + Cheaping Woodwall, which was a fenced town, they sent out well-horsed + riders to espy the road, who came back on the spur two hours after noon, + and did them to wit that there was a host abiding them beneath the walls + of Woodwall under the banner of Walter the White, an old warrior and fell + fighter; but what comfort he might have from them of Woodwall they wotted + not; but they said that the tidings of their coming had gone abroad, and + many folk were abiding the issue of this battle ere they joined them to + either host. Now on these tidings the captains were of one mind, to wit, + to fare on softly till they came to a defensible place not far from the + foemen, since they could scarce come to Woodwall in good order before + nightfall, and if they were unfoughten before, to push forward to battle + in the morning. + </p> + <p> + Even so did they, and made a halt at sunset on a pleasant hill above a + river some three miles from Woodwall, and there they passed the night + unmeddled with. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0034" id="link2HCH0034"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXIV. BATTLE BEFORE WOODWALL. + </h2> + <p> + When morning was, the captains came to King Christopher to council: but + while they were amidst of their talk came the word that the foe was anigh + and come close to the river-bank; whereat was none abashed; but to all it + seemed wisdom to abide them on the vantage-ground. So then there was + girding of swords and doing on of helms; as for ordering of the folk, it + was already done, for all the host was ranked on the bent-side, with the + banner of Oakenrealm in the midst; on its left hand the banner of the + Tofts, and on the right the banner of Brimside. + </p> + <p> + Now when Christopher was come to his place, he looked down and saw how the + foemen were pouring over the river, for it was nowhere deep, and there + were four quite shallow fords: many more were they than his folk, but he + deemed that they fared somewhat tumultuously; and when the bowmen of the + Tofts began shooting, the foemen, a many of them, stayed amidst of the + river to bend bow in their turn, and seemed to think that were nigh enough + already; nay, some went back again to the other bank, to shoot thence the + surer and the drier, and some went yet a little further back on the field. + So that when their sergeants and riders were come on to the hither bank, + they lacked about a fifth of all their host; and they themselves, for all + they were so many, had some ado to make up their minds to go forward. + </p> + <p> + Forsooth, when they looked up to the bent and saw the three banners of + Oakenrealm and the Tofts and Brimside all waving over the same ranks, they + knew not what to make of it. And Christopher's host, when they saw them + hang back, brake out into mocking whoops and shouts, and words were heard + in them: "Come and dine at Brimside, good fellows! Come up to the Tofts + for supper and bed! A Christopher! A Christopher!" and so forth. Now all + King Christopher's men were afoot, saving a band of the riders of + Brimside, who bestrode strong and tall horses, and bore jack and sallet + and spear, but no heavy armour. + </p> + <p> + So Christopher heard and saw, and the heart rose high in him, and he sent + messengers to the right and the left, and bade the captains watch till he + waved his sword aloft, and then all down the bent together; and he bade + the Brimside riders edge a little outward and downward, and be ready for + the chase, and suffer not any of the foemen to gather together when once + they fell to running; for he knew in his heart that the folk before him + would never abide their onfall. And the day was yet young, and it lacked + four hours of noon. + </p> + <p> + King Christopher abode ill he saw the foemen were come off the level + ground, and were mounting the bent slowly, and not in very good order or + in ranks closely serried. Then he strode forth three paces, and waved his + sword high above his head, and cried out: "A Christopher! A Christopher! + Forward, banner of the Realm!" And forth he went, steady and strong, and a + great shout arose behind him, and none shrank or lagged, but spears and + bills, and axes and swords, all came on like a wall of steel, so that to + the foemen the earth seemed alive with death, and they made no show of + abiding the onset, but all turned and ran, save Walter the White and a + score of his knights, who forsooth were borne down in a trice, and were + taken to mercy, those of them who were not slain at the first crash of + weapons. + </p> + <p> + There then ye might have seen great clumps of men making no defence, but + casting down their weapons and crying mercy; and forsooth so great was the + throng, that no great many were slain; but on the other hand, but few gat + away across the water, and on them presently fell the Brimside riders, and + hewed down and slew and took few to mercy. And some few besides the first + laggards of the bowmen, it might be three hundreds in all, escaped, and + gat to Woodwall, but when they of the town saw them, they made up their + minds speedily, and shut their gates, and the poor fleers found but the + points of shafts and the heads of quarrels before them. + </p> + <p> + But on the field of deed those captives were somewhat fearful as to what + should be done with them, and they spake one to the other about it, that + they would be willing to serve the new King, since he was so mighty. And + amidst of their talk came the captains of King Christopher, and they drew + into a ring around them, and the lords bade them look to it whether they + would be the foemen of the King, the son of that King Christopher the Old. + "If so ye be," said they, "ye may escape this time; but ye see how valiant + a man he is, and how lucky withal, and happy shall they be whom he calleth + friends. Now what say ye, will ye take up your weapons again, and be under + the best of kings and a true one, or will ye depart and take the chance of + his wrath in the coming days? We say, how many of you will serve King + Christopher." + </p> + <p> + Then arose from them a mighty shout: "All! All! One and All!" Albeit some + there were who slunk away and said nought; and none heeded them. + </p> + <p> + So then all the sergeants and the common folk swore allegiance to King + Christopher; but of the knights who were left alive, some said Yea, and + some Nay; and these last were suffered to depart, but must needs ride + unarmed. + </p> + <p> + Now by the time all was done, and the new men had dined along with the + rest of the host, and of the new-comers tale had been taken, the day was + wearing; so they set off for Woodwall, and on the way they met the Mayor + and Aldermen thereof, who came before King Christopher and knelt to him, + and gave him the keys of their town; so he was gracious to them, and + thanked them, and bade see to the victual and lodging of the host, and + that all should be paid thereafter. And they said that they had seen to + all this before they came forth of the town, and that if the Lord King + would ride forth, he would find fair lodging in the good town. So King + Christopher was pleased, and bade the burgesses ride beside him, and he + talked merrily with them on the way, so that their hearts rejoiced over + the kindness of their lord. + </p> + <p> + So they came to the gate, and there the King made stay till Goldilind was + fetched to him, so that they might ride into the good town side by side. + And in the street was much people thronging, and the sun was scarce set, + so that the folk could see their King and Queen what they were; and they + who were nighest unto them, they let their shouts die out, so were their + hearts touched with the sight of them and the love of their beauty. + </p> + <p> + Thus rode they in triumph through the street till they were come to their + lodging, which was great and goodly as for a cheaping town; and so the day + was gone and the night was come, and the council and the banquet were + over; then were the King and Goldilind together again, like any up-country + lad and lass. But she stood before him and said: "O thou King and mighty + warrior, surely I ought to fear thee now, but it is not so, so sore as I + desire thee; but yet it maketh both laughter and tears come to me when I + think of the day we rode away from Greenharbour with thee, and I seemed to + myself a great lady, though I were unhappy; and though I loved thy body, I + feared lest the churl's blood in thee might shame me perchance, and I was + proud and unkind to thee, and I hurt thee sorely; and now I will say it, + and confess, that somewhat I joyed to see thine anguish, for I knew that + it meant thy love for me and thy desire to me. Lo now, wilt thou forgive + me this, or wilt thou punish me, O Lord King?" + </p> + <p> + He laughed. "Sweetling," he said, "meseemeth now all day long I have been + fighting against raiment rather than men; no man withstood me in the + battle, for that they feared the crown on my helm and the banner over my + head; and when those good men of the town brought me the keys, how should + I have known them from borrel folk but for their scarlet gowns and fur + hoods? And meseemed that when they knelt to me, it was the scarlet gowns + kneeling to the kingly armour. Therefore, sweetheart, if thou fearest that + the King should punish thee for so wounding the poor Christopher of those + few days ago, as belike thou deservest it, bid the King do off his + raiment, and do thou in likewise, and then there shall be no King to + punish, and no King's scather to thole the punishment, but only + Christopher and Goldilind, even as they met erewhile on the dewy grass of + Littledale." + </p> + <p> + She blushed blood-red; but ere his words were done, her hands were busy + with girdle and clasp, and her raiment fell from her to the earth, and his + kingly raiment was cast from him, and he took her by the hand and led her + to the bed of honour, that their love might have increase that night also. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0035" id="link2HCH0035"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXV. AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE AND AN EVIL DEED. + </h2> + <p> + When morning was, and it was yet early, the town was all astir and the + gates were thrown open, and weaponed men thronged into it crying out for + Christopher the King. Then the King came forth, and Jack o' the Tofts and + his sons, and Oliver Marson, and the captains of Brimside; and the host + was blown together to the market-place, and there was a new tale of them + taken, and they were now hard on seventy hundreds of men. So then were new + captains appointed, and thereafter they tarried not save to eat a morsel, + but went out a-gates faring after the banners to Oakenrealm, all folk + blessing them as they went. + </p> + <p> + Nought befell them of evil that day, but ever fresh companies joined them + on the road; and they gat harbour in another walled town, hight Sevenham, + and rested there in peace that night, and were now grown to eighty + hundreds. + </p> + <p> + Again on the morrow they were on the road betimes, and again much folk + joined them, and they heard no tidings of any foeman faring against them; + whereat Jack o' the Tofts marvelled, for he and others had deemed that now + at last would Rolf the traitor come out against them. Forsooth, when they + had gone all day and night was at hand, it seemed most like to the + captains that he would fall upon them that night, whereas they were now in + a somewhat perilous pass; for they must needs rest at a little thorpe + amidst of great and thick woods, which lay all round about the frank of + Oakenham as a garland about a head. So there they kept watch and ward more + heedfully than their wont was; and King Christopher lodged with Goldilind + at the house of a good man of the thorpe. + </p> + <p> + Now when it lacked but half an hour of midnight, and Jack o' the Tofts and + Oliver Marson and the Captain of Woodwall had just left him, after they + had settled the order of the next day's journey, and Goldilind lay abed in + the inner chamber, there entered one of the men of the watch and said: + "Lord King, here is a man hereby who would see thee; he is weaponed, and + he saith that he hath a gift for thee: what shall we do with him?" + </p> + <p> + Said Christopher: "Bring him in hither, good fellow." And the man went + back, and came in again leading a tall man, armed, but with a hood done + over his steel hat, so that his face was hidden, and he had a bag in his + hand with something therein. + </p> + <p> + Then spake the King and said: "Thou man, since thy face is hidden, this + trusty man-at-arms shall stand by thee while we talk together." + </p> + <p> + "Lord," said the man, "let there be a dozen to hear our talk I care not; + for I tell thee that I come to give thee a gift, and gift-bearers are + oftenest welcome." + </p> + <p> + Quoth the King: "Maybe, yet before thou bring it forth I would see thy + face, for meseems I have an inkling of thy voice." + </p> + <p> + So the man cast back his hood, and lo, it was Simon the squire. "Hah!" + said Christopher, "is it thou then! hast thou another knife to give me?" + </p> + <p> + "Nay," said Simon, "only the work of the knife." And therewith he set his + hand to the bag and drew out by the hair a man's head, newly hacked off + and bleeding, and said: "Hast thou seen him before, Lord? He was a great + man yesterday, though not so great as thou shalt be to-morrow." + </p> + <p> + "Once only I have seen him," said Christopher, "and then he gave me this + gift" (and he showed his father's ring on his finger): "thou hast slain + the Earl Marshal, who called himself the King of Oakenrealm: my traitor + and dastard he was but thy friend. Wherefore have I two evil deeds to + reward thee, Simon, the wounding of me and the slaying of him. Dost thou + not deem thee gallows-ripe?" + </p> + <p> + "King," said Simon, "what wouldst thou have done with him hadst thou + caught him?" + </p> + <p> + Said Christopher: "I had slain him had I met him with a weapon in his + fist; and if we had taken him I had let the folk judge him." + </p> + <p> + Said Simon: "That is to say, that either thou hadst slain him thyself, or + bidden others to slay him. Now then I ask thee, King, for which deed wilt + thou slay me, for not slaying thee, or for doing thy work and slaying thy + foe?" + </p> + <p> + Said Christopher to the guard: "Good fellow, fetch here a good horse ready + saddled and bridled, and be speedy." + </p> + <p> + So the man went: and Christopher said to Simon: "For the knife in my side, + I forgive it thee; and as to the slaying of thy friend, it is not for me + to take up the feud. But this is no place for thee: if Jack of the Tofts, + or any of his sons, or one of the captains findeth thee, soon art thou + sped; wherefore I rede thee, when yonder lad hath brought thee the horse, + show me the breadth of thy back, and mount the beast, and put the most + miles thou canst betwixt me and my folk; for they love me." + </p> + <p> + Said Simon: "Sorry payment for making thee a king!" + </p> + <p> + Said Christopher: "Well, thou art in the right; I may well give gold for + getting rid of such as thou." And he put his hand into a pouch that hung + on his chair, and drew out thence a purse, and gave it unto Simon, who + took it and opened it and looked therein, and then flung it down on the + ground. + </p> + <p> + Christopher looked on him wrathfully with reddened face, and cried out: + "Thou dog! wouldst thou be an earl and rule the folk? What more dost thou + want?" + </p> + <p> + "This!" cried out Simon, and leapt upon him, knife aloft. Christopher was + unarmed utterly; but he caught hold of the felon's right arm with his + right hand, and gripped the wrist till he shrieked; then he raised up his + mighty left hand, and drave it down on Simon's head by the ear, and all + gave way before it, and the murderer fell crushed and dead to earth. + </p> + <p> + Therewith came in the man-at-arms to tell him that the horse was come; but + stared wild when he saw the dead man on the ground. But Christopher said: + "My lad, here hath been one who would have thrust a knife into an unarmed + man, wherefore I must needs give him his wages. But now thou hast this to + do: take thou this dead man and bind him so fast on the horse thou hast + brought that he will not come off till the bindings be undone; and bind + withal the head of this other, who was once a great man and an evil, + before the slayer of him, so that it also may be fast; then get thee to + horse and lead this beast and its burden till ye are well on the highway + to Oakenham, and then let him go and find his way to the gate of the city + if God will. And hearken, my lad; seest thou this gold which lieth + scattering on the floor here? this was mine, but is no longer, since I + have given it away to the dead man just before he lifted his hand against + me. Wherefore now I will keep it for thee against thou comest back safe to + me in the morning betimes, as I deem thou wilt, if thou wilt behight to + St. Julian the helping of some poor body on the road. Go therefore, but + send hither the guard; for I am weary now, and would go to sleep without + slaying any man else." + </p> + <p> + So departed the man full of joy, and Christopher gathered his money + together again, and so fared to his bed peacefully. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0036" id="link2HCH0036"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXVI. KING CHRISTOPHER COMES TO OAKENHAM. + </h2> + <p> + But on the morrow the first man who came to the King was the man-at-arms + aforesaid; and he told that he had done the King's errand, and ridden a + five miles on the road to Oakenham before he had left the horse with his + felon load, and that he had found nought stirring all that way when he had + passed through their own out-guards, where folk knew him and let him go + freely. "And," quoth he, "it is like enough that this gift to Oakenham, + Lord King, has by now come to the gate thereof." Then the King gave that + man the gold which he had promised, and he kissed the King's hand and went + his ways a happy man. + </p> + <p> + Thereafter sent Christopher for Jack of the Tofts, and told him in few + words what had betid, and that Rolf the traitor was dead. Then spake Jack: + "King and fosterling, never hath so mighty a warrior as thou waged so easy + a war for so goodly a kingdom as thou hast done; for surely thy war was + ended last night, wherefore will we straight to Oakenham, if so thou wilt. + But if it be thy pleasure I will send a chosen band of riders to wend on + the spur thereto, and bid them get ready thy kingly house, and give word + to the Barons and the Prelates, and the chiefs of the Knighthood, and the + Mayor and the Aldermen, and the Masters of the Crafts, to show themselves + of what mind they be towards thee. But I doubt it not that they will deem + of thee as thy father come back again and grown young once more." + </p> + <p> + Now was Christopher eager well nigh unto weeping to behold his people that + he should live amongst, and gladly he yea-said the word of Jack of the + Tofts. So were those riders sent forward; and the host was ordered, and + Christopher rode amidst it with Goldilind by his side; and the sun was not + yet gone down when they came within sight of the gate of Oakenham, and + there before the gate and in the fields on either side of it was gathered + a very great and goodly throng, and there went forth from it to meet the + King the Bishop of Oakenham, and the Abbot of St. Mary's and the Priors of + the other houses of religion, all fairly clad in broidered copes, with the + clerks and the monks dight full solemnly; and they came singing to meet + him, and the Bishop blessed him and gave him the hallowed bread, and the + King greeted him and craved his prayers. Then came the Burgreve of + Oakenham, and with him the Barons and the Knights, and they knelt before + him, and named him to king, and the Burgreve gave him the keys of the + city. Thereafter came the Mayor and the Aldermen, and the Masters of the + Crafts, and they craved his favour, and warding of his mighty sword; and + all these he greeted kindly and meekly, rather as a friend than as a great + lord. + </p> + <p> + Thereafter were the gates opened, and King Christopher entered, and there + was no gainsaying, and none spake a word of the Traitor Rolf. + </p> + <p> + But the bells of the minster and of all the churches rang merrily, and + songs were sung sweetly by fair women gloriously clad; and whereas King + Christopher and Queen Goldilind had lighted down from their horses and + went afoot through the street, roses and all kinds of sweet flowers were + cast down before the feet of them all the way from the city gate to the + King's High House of Oakenham. + </p> + <p> + There then in the great hall of his father's house stood Christopher the + King on the dais, and Goldilind beside him. And Jack of the Tofts and the + chiefest of the Captains, and the Bishop, and the greatest lords of the + Barons, and the doughtiest of the Knights, and the Mayor and the Aldermen, + and the Masters of the Crafts, sat at the banquet with the King and his + mate; they brake bread together and drank cups of renown, till the voidee + cup was borne in. Then at last were the King & the Queen brought to + their chamber with string-play and songs and all kinds of triumph; and + that first night since he lay in his mother's womb did Child Christopher + fall asleep in the house which the fathers had builded for him. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0037" id="link2HCH0037"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXVII. OF CHILD CHRISTOPHER'S DEALINGS WITH HIS FRIENDS & HIS + FOLK. + </h2> + <p> + It was in the morning when King Christopher arose, and Goldilind stood + before him in the kingly chamber, that he clipped her and kissed her, and + said: "This is the very chamber whence my father departed when he went to + his last battle, and left my mother sickening with the coming birth of me. + And never came he back hither, nor did mine eyes behold him ever. Here + also lay my mother and gave birth to me, and died of sorrow, and her also + I never saw, save with eyes that noted nought that I might remember. And + my third kinsman was the traitor, that cast me forth of mine heritage, and + looked to it that I should wax up as a churl, and lose all hope of high + deeds; and at the last he strove to slay me. + </p> + <p> + "Therefore, sweet, have I no kindred, and none that are bound to cherish + me, and it is for thee to take the place of them, and be unto me both + father and mother, and brother and sister, and all kindred." + </p> + <p> + She said: "My mother I never saw, and I was but little when my father + died; and if I had any kindred thereafter they loved me not well enough to + strike one stroke for me, nay, or to speak a word even, when I was thrust + out of my place and delivered over to the hands of pitiless people, and my + captivity worsened on me as the years grew. Wherefore to me also art thou + in the stead of all kindred and affinity." + </p> + <p> + Now Christopher took counsel with Jack of the Tofts and the great men of + the kingdom, and that same day, the first day of his kingship in Oakenham, + was summoned a great mote of the whole folk; and in half a month was it + holden, and thereat was Christopher taken to king with none gainsaying. + </p> + <p> + Began now fair life for the people of Oakenrealm; for Jack of the Tofts + abode about the King in Oakenham; and wise was his counsel, and there was + no greed in him, and yet he wotted of greed and guile in others, and + warned the King thereof when he saw it, and the tyrants were brought low, + and no poor and simple man had need to thieve. As for Christopher, he + loved better to give than to take; and the grief and sorrow of folk irked + him sorely; it was to him as if he had gotten a wound when he saw so much + as one unhappy face in a day; and all folk loved him, and the fame of him + went abroad through the lands and the roads of travel, so that many were + the wise and valiant folk that left their own land and came into + Oakenrealm to dwell there, because of the good peace and the kindliness + that there did abound; so that Oakenrealm became both many-peopled and + joyous. + </p> + <p> + Though Jack of the Tofts abode with the King at Oakenham, his sons went + back to the Tofts, and Gilbert was deemed the head man of them; folk + gathered to them there, and the wilderness about them became builded in + many places, and the Tofts grew into a goodly cheaping town, for those + brethren looked to it that all roads in the woodland should be safe and at + peace, so that no chapman need to arm him or his folk; nay, a maiden might + go to and fro on the woodland ways, with a golden girdle about her, + without so much as the crumpling of a lap of her gown unless by her own + will. + </p> + <p> + As to David, at first Christopher bade him strongly to abide with him + ever, for he loved him much. But David nay-said it, and would go home to + the Tofts; and when the King pressed him sore, at last he said: "Friend + and fellow, I must now tell thee the very sooth, and then shalt thou + suffer me to depart, though the sundering be but sorrow to me. For this it + is, that I love thy Lady and wife more than meet is, and here I find it + hard to thole my desire and my grief; but down in the thicket yonder + amongst my brethren of the woods, and man and maid, and wife and babe, + nay, the very deer of the forest, I shall become a man again, and be no + more a peevish and grudging fool; and as the years wear, shall sorrow + wear, and then, who knows but we may come together again." + </p> + <p> + Then Christopher smiled kindly on him and embraced him, but they spake no + more of that matter, but sat talking a while, and then bade each other + farewell, and David went his ways to the Tofts. But a few months + thereafter, when a son had been born to Christopher, David came to + Oakenrealm, but stayed there no longer than to greet the King, and do him + to wit that he was boun for over-sea to seek adventure. Many gifts the + King gave him, and they sundered in all loving-kindness, and the King + said: "Farewell, friend, I shall remember thee and thy kindness for ever." + But David said: "By the roof in Littledale and by the hearth thereof, thou + shalt be ever in my mind." + </p> + <p> + Thus they parted for that time; but five and twenty years afterwards, when + Child Christopher was in his most might and majesty, and Goldilind was yet + alive and lovely, and sons and daughters sat about their board, it was the + Yule feast in the King's Hall at Oakenham, and there came a man into the + hall that none knew, big of stature, grey-eyed and hollow-cheeked, with + red hair grizzled, and worn with the helm; a weaponed man, chieftain-like + and warrior-like. And when the serving-men asked him of his name, and + whence and whither, he said: "I have come from over-seas to look upon the + King, and when he seeth me he will know my name." Then he put them all + aside and would not be gainsaid, but strode up the hall to the high-seat, + and stood before the King and said: "Hail, little King Christopher! Hail, + stout babe of the woodland!" + </p> + <p> + Then the King looked on him and knew him at once, and stood up at once + with a glad cry, and came round unto him, and took his arms about him and + kissed him, and led him into the high-seat, and set him betwixt him and + Goldilind, and she also greeted him and took him by the hand and kissed + him; and Jack of the Tofts, now a very old man, but yet hale and stark, + who sat on the left hand of the King, leaned toward him and kissed him and + blessed him; for lo! it was David of the Tofts. + </p> + <p> + Spake he now and said: "Christopher, this is now a happy day!" + </p> + <p> + Said the King: "David, whither away hence, and what is thine heart set + upon?" + </p> + <p> + "On the renewal of our youth," said David, "and the abiding with thee. By + my will no further will I go than this thine house. How sayest thou?" + </p> + <p> + "As thou dost," said Christopher, "that this is indeed a happy day; drink + out of my cup now, to our abiding together, and the end of sundering till + the last cometh." + </p> + <p> + So they drank together, they two, and were happy amidst the folk of the + hall; and at last the King stood up and spake aloud, and did all to wit + that this was his friend and fellow of the old days; and he told of his + doughty deeds, whereof he had heard many a tale, and treasured them in his + heart while they were apart, and he bade men honour him, all such as would + be his friends. And all men rejoiced at the coming of this doughty man and + the friend of the King. + </p> + <p> + So there abode David, holden in all honour, and in great love of Child + Christopher and Goldilind; and when his father died, his earldom did the + King give to David his friend, who never sundered from him again, but was + with him in peace and in war, in joy and in sorrow. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0038" id="link2HCH0038"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXVIII. OF MATTERS OF MEADHAM. + </h2> + <p> + GOES the tale back now to the time when the kingship of Child Christopher + was scarce more than one month old; and tells that as the King sat with + his Queen in the cool of his garden on a morning of August, there came to + him a swain of service, who did him to wit that an outland lord was come, + and would see him and give him a message. + </p> + <p> + So the King bade bring him in to the garden to him straight-way; so the + man went, and came back again leading in a knight somewhat stricken in + years, on whose green surcoat was beaten a golden lion. + </p> + <p> + He came to those twain and did obeisance to them, but spake, as it seemed, + to Goldilind alone: "Lady, and Queen of Meadham," said he, "it is unto + thee, first of all, that mine errand is." + </p> + <p> + Then she spoke and said: "Welcome to thee, Sir Castellan of Greenharbour, + we shall hear thy words gladly." + </p> + <p> + Said the new-comer: "Lady, I am no longer the Burgreve of Greenharbour, + but Sir Guisebert, lord of the Green March, and thy true servant and a + suitor for thy grace and pardon." + </p> + <p> + "I pardon thee not, but thank thee for what thou didst of good to me," + said Goldilind, "and I think that now thine errand shall be friendly." + </p> + <p> + Then turned the Green Knight to the King, and he said: "Have I thy leave + to speak, Lord King?" and he smiled covertly. + </p> + <p> + But Christopher looked on the face and coat-armour of him, and called him + to mind as the man who had stood betwixt him and present death that + morning in the porch of the Littledale house; so he looked on him + friendly, and said: "My leave thou hast, Sir Knight, to speak fully and + freely, and that the more as meseemeth I saw thee first when thou hadst + weaponed men at thy back, and wert turning their staves away from my + breast." + </p> + <p> + "Even so it is, Lord King," said the Knight; "and to say sooth, I fear + thee less for thy kingship, than because I wot well that thou mayst + lightly take me up by the small of my back and cast me over thy shoulder + if thou have a mind therefor." + </p> + <p> + Christopher laughed at his word, and bade him sit down upon the green + grass and tell his errand straightway; and the Knight tarried not, but + spake out: "Queen of Meadham, I am a friend and fellow, and in some sort a + servant, to Earl Geoffrey, Regent of Meadham, whom thou knowest; and he + hath put a word in my mouth which is both short and easy for me to tell. + All goes awry in Meadham now, and men are arming against each other, and + will presently be warring, but if thou look to it; because all this is for + lack of thee. But if thou wilt vouchsafe to come to Meadhamstead, and sit + on thy throne for a little while, commanding and forbidding; and if thou + wilt appoint one of the lords for thine Earl there, and others for thy + captains, and governors and burgreves and so forth; then if the people see + thee and hear thee, the swords will go into their sheaths, and the spears + will hang on the wall again, and we shall have peace in Meadham, for all + will do thy bidding. Wherefore, Lady and Queen, I beseech thee to come to + us, and stave off the riot and ruin. What sayest thou?" + </p> + <p> + Goldilind made answer in a while: "Sir Guisebert, true it is that I long + to see my people, and to look once more on my father's house, and the + place where he was born and died. But how know I but this is some wile of + Earl Geoffrey, for he hath not been abounding in trustiness toward us?" + </p> + <p> + But Sir Guisebert swore on his salvation that there was no guile therein, + and they were undone save Goldilind came unto them. Then spake + Christopher: "Sir Knight, I am willing to pleasure my Lady, who, as I can + see, longeth to behold her own land and people; and also by thy voice and + thy face I deem that thou art not lying unto me, and that no harm will + befall the Lady; yet will I ask thee right out what thou and thy lord + would think thereof if she come into Meadham accompanied; to wit, if I + rode with her, and had five hundreds of good riders at my back, would ye + have guesting for so many and such stark lads?" + </p> + <p> + The Knight took up the word eagerly, and said: "Wilt thou but come, dear + lord, and bring a thousand or more, then the surer and the safer it would + be for us." + </p> + <p> + Said the King, smiling: "Well, it shall be thought on; and meantime be + thou merry with us; for indeed I deem of thee, that but for thy helping my + life had been cast away that morning in Littledale." + </p> + <p> + So they made much of the Meadham man for three days, and thereafter they + rode into Meadham and to Meadhamstead, Christopher, and Jack of the Tofts, + and Goldilind, in all honour and triumph, they and seven hundreds of + spears, and never were lords received with such joy and kindness as were + they, but it were on the day when Christopher and his entered Oakenham. + </p> + <p> + The Earl Geoffrey was not amongst them that met them; but whenas they sat + at the banquet in the hall, and Goldilind was in the high-seat, gloriously + clad and with the kingly crown on her head, there came a tall man up to + the dais, grey-headed and keen-eyed, and he was unarmed, without so much + as a sword by his side, and clad in simple black; and he knelt before + Goldilind, and laid his head on her lap, and spake: "Lady and Queen, here + is my head to do with as thou wilt; for I have been thy dastard, and I + crave thy pardon, if so it may be, for I am Geoffrey." + </p> + <p> + She looked kindly on him, and raised him up; and then she turned to the + chief of the serving-men, and said: "Fetch me a sword with its sheath and + its girdle, and see that it be a good blade, and all well-adorned, both + sword and sheath and girdle." Even so it was done; and when she had the + sword, she bade Sir Geoffrey kneel again before her, and she girt him with + the said sword and spake: "Sir Geoffrey, all the wrong which thou didest + to me, I forgive it thee and forget it; but wherein thou hast done well, I + will remember it, for thou hast given me a mighty King to be my man; nay, + the mightiest and the loveliest on earth; wherefore I bless thee, and will + make thee my Earl to rule all Meadham under me, if so be the folk gainsay + it not. Wherefore now let these folk fetch thee seemly garments and array + thee, and then come sit amongst us, and eat and drink on this high day; + for a happy day it is when once again I sit in my father's house, and see + the faces of my folk that loveth me." + </p> + <p> + She spake loud and clear, so that most folk in the hall heard her; and + they rejoiced at her words, for Sir Geoffrey was no ill ruler, but wise + and of great understanding, keen of wit and deft of word, and a mighty + warrior withal; only they might not away with it that their Lady and Queen + had become as alien to them. So when they heard her speak her will, they + shouted for joy of the peace and goodwill that was to be. + </p> + <p> + There then sat Geoffrey at the banquet; and Christopher smiled on him, and + said: "See now, lord, if I have not done as thou badest when thou gavest + me the treasure of Greenharbour, for I have brought the wolf-heads to thy + helping and not to thy scathing. Do thou as much for me, and be thou a + good earl to thy Lady and mine, and then shalt thou yet live and die a + happy man, and my friend. Or else—" + </p> + <p> + "There shall be no else, Lord King," quoth Geoffrey; "all men henceforth + shall tell of me as a true man." + </p> + <p> + So they were blithe and joyous together. But a seven days thence was the + Allmen's Mote gathered to the wood-side without Meadhamstead, and thronged + it was: and there Goldilind stood up before all the folk and named Sir + Geoffrey for Earl to rule the land under her, and none gainsaid it, for + they knew him meet thereto. Then she named from the baronage and + knighthood such men as she had been truly told were meet thereto to all + the offices of the kingdom, and there was none whom she named but was + well-pleasing to the folk; for she had taken counsel beforehand with all + the wisest men of all degrees. + </p> + <p> + As for herself, all loved and worshipped her; and this alone seemed hard + unto them, that she must needs go back to Oakenrealm in a few days: but + when she heard them murmur thereat, she behight them, that once in every + year she would come into Meadham and spend one whole month therein; and, + were it possible, ever should that be the month of May. So when they heard + that, they all praised her, and were the more content. This custom she + kept ever thereafter, and she lay in with her second son in the city of + Meadhamstead, so that he was born therein; and she named him to be King + after her, to the great joy of that folk; and he grew up strong and + well-liking, and came to the kingship while his mother was yet alive, and + was a good man and well-beloved of his folk. + </p> + <p> + Before she turned back with her man, she let seek out Aloyse, and when she + came before her, gave her gifts and bade her come back with her to + Oakenham and serve her there if she would: and the damsel was glad, for + there in Meadhamstead was she poor and not well seen to, whereas it was + rumoured of her that she had been one of the jailers of Goldilind. + </p> + <p> + When they came back to Oakenham, there they met Gandolf, Baron of + Brimside, now whole of his hurts, and the King greeted him kindly, and did + well to him all his life; and found him ever a true man. + </p> + <p> + Good thenceforward was the life of Child Christopher and Goldilind: whiles + indeed they happed on unpeace or other trouble; but never did fair love + and good worship depart from them, either of each unto each, or of the + whole folk unto them twain. + </p> + <p> + To no man did Christopher mete out worse than his deserts, nay, to most + far better he meted: no man he feared, nor hated any save the tormentors + of poor folk; and but a little while abided his hatred of those, for it + cut short their lives, so that they were speedily done with and forgotten. + And when he died a very old man but one year after Goldilind his dear, no + king that ever lived was so bewailed by his folk as was Child Christopher. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Child Christopher, by William Morris + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHILD CHRISTOPHER *** + +***** This file should be named 234-h.htm or 234-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/234/ + +Produced by John Hamm and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + </body> +</html> @@ -0,0 +1,5156 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Child Christopher, by William Morris + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Child Christopher + +Author: William Morris + +Release Date: July 1, 2008 [EBook #234] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHILD CHRISTOPHER *** + + + + +Produced by John Hamm + + + + + +CHILD CHRISTOPHER AND GOLDILIND THE FAIR + +by William Morris + +1895 + + + + +CHAPTER I. OF THE KING OF OAKENREALM, AND HIS WIFE AND HIS CHILD. + + +Of old there was a land which was so much a woodland, that a minstrel +thereof said it that a squirrel might go from end to end, and all about, +from tree to tree, and never touch the earth: therefore was that land +called Oakenrealm. + +The lord and king thereof was a stark man, and so great a warrior that +in his youth he took no delight in aught else save battle and tourneys. +But when he was hard on forty years old, he came across a daughter of +a certain lord, whom he had vanquished, and his eyes bewrayed him +into longing, so that he gave back to the said lord the havings he had +conquered of him that he might lay the maiden in his kingly bed. So he +brought her home with him to Oakenrealm and wedded her. + +Tells the tale that he rued not his bargain, but loved her so dearly +that for a year round he wore no armour, save when she bade him play in +the tilt-yard for her desport and pride. + +So wore the days till she went with child and was near her time, and +then it betid that three kings who marched on Oakenrealm banded them +together against him, and his lords and thanes cried out on him to lead +them to battle, and it behoved him to do as they would. + +So he sent out the tokens and bade an hosting at his chief city, and +when all was ready he said farewell to his wife and her babe unborn, and +went his ways to battle once more: but fierce was his heart against the +foemen, that they had dragged him away from his love and his joy. + +Even amidst of his land he joined battle with the host of the ravagers, +and the tale of them is short to tell, for they were as the wheat before +the hook. But as he followed up the chase, a mere thrall of the fleers +turned on him and cast his spear, and it reached him whereas his hawberk +was broken, and stood deep in, so that he fell to earth unmighty: and +when his lords and chieftains drew about him, and cunning men strove to +heal him, it was of no avail, and he knew that his soul was departing. +Then he sent for a priest, and for the Marshal of the host, who was a +great lord, and the son of his father's brother, and in few words bade +him look to the babe whom his wife bore about, and if it were a man, to +cherish him and do him to learn all that a king ought to know; and if it +were a maiden, that he should look to her wedding well and worthily: and +he let swear him on his sword, on the edges and the hilts, that he would +do even so, and be true unto his child if child there were: and he bade +him have rule, if so be the lords would, and all the people, till the +child were of age to be king: and the Marshal swore, and all the lords +who stood around bare witness to his swearing. Thereafter the priest +houselled the King, and he received his Creator, and a little while +after his soul departed. + +But the Marshal followed up the fleeing foe, and two battles more he +fought before he beat them flat to earth; and then they craved for +peace, and he went back to the city in mickle honour. + +But in the King's city of Oakenham he found but little joy; for both +the King was bemoaned, whereas he had been no hard man to his folk; and +also, when the tidings and the King's corpse came back to Oakenrealm, +his Lady and Queen took sick for sorrow and fear, and fell into labour +of her child, and in childing of a man-bairn she died, but the lad +lived, and was like to do well. + +So there was one funeral for the slain King and for her whom his slaying +had slain: and when that was done, the little king was borne to the +font, and at his christening he gat to name Christopher. + +Thereafter the Marshal summoned all them that were due thereto to come +and give homage to the new king, and even so did they, though he were +but a babe, yea, and who had but just now been a king lying in his +mother's womb. But when the homage was done, then the Marshal called +together the wise men, and told them how the King that was had given him +in charge his son as then unborn, and the ruling of the realm till the +said son were come to man's estate: but he bade them seek one worthier +if they had heart to gainsay the word of their dying lord. Then all they +said that he was worthy and mighty and the choice of their dear lord, +and that they would have none but he. + +So then was the great folk-mote called, and the same matter was laid +before all the people, and none said aught against it, whereas no man +was ready to name another to that charge and rule, even had it been his +own self. + +Now then by law was the Marshal, who hight Rolf, lord and earl of the +land of Oakenrealm. He ruled well and strongly, and was a fell warrior: +he was well befriended by many of the great; and the rest of them feared +him and his friends: as for the commonalty, they saw that he held the +realm in peace; and for the rest, they knew little and saw less of him, +and they paid to his bailiffs and sheriffs as little as they could, and +more than they would. But whereas that left them somewhat to grind their +teeth on, and they were not harried, they were not so ill content. So +the Marshal throve, and lacked nothing of a king's place save the bare +name. + + + + +CHAPTER II. OF THE KING'S SON. + + +As for the King's son, to whom the folk had of late done homage as king, +he was at first seen about a corner of the High House with his nurses; +and then in a while it was said, and the tale noted, but not much, that +he must needs go for his health's sake, and because he was puny, to some +stead amongst the fields, and folk heard say that he was gone to the +strong house of a knight somewhat stricken in years, who was called Lord +Richard the Lean. The said house was some twelve miles from Oakenham, +not far from the northern edge of the wild-wood. But in a while, scarce +more than a year, Lord Richard brake up house at the said castle, and +went southward through the forest. Of this departure was little said, +for he was not a man amongst the foremost. As for the King's little son, +if any remembered that he was in the hands of the said Lord Richard, +none said aught about it; for if any thought of the little babe at all, +they said to themselves, Never will he come to be king. + +Now as for Lord Richard the Lean, he went far through the wood, and +until he was come to another house of his, that stood in a clearing +somewhat near to where Oakenrealm marched on another country, which +hight Meadham; though the said wild-wood ended not where Oakenrealm +ended, but stretched a good way into Meadham; and betwixt one and the +other much rough country there was. + +It is to be said that amongst those who went to this stronghold of the +woods was the little King Christopher, no longer puny, but a stout +babe enough: so he was borne amongst the serving men and thralls to +the castle of the Outer March; and he was in no wise treated as a great +man's son; but there was more than one woman who was kind to him, and +as he waxed in strength and beauty month by month, both carle and +quean fell to noting him, and, for as little as he was, he began to be +well-beloved. + +As to the stead where he was nourished, though it were far away amongst +the woods, it was no such lonely or savage place: besides the castle and +the houses of it, there was a merry thorpe in the clearing, the houses +whereof were set down by the side of a clear and pleasant little stream. +Moreover the goodmen and swains of the said township were no ill folk, +but bold of heart, free of speech, and goodly of favour; and the women +of them fair, kind, and trusty. Whiles came folk journeying in to +Oakenrealm or out to Meadham, and of these some were minstrels, who had +with them tidings of what was astir whereas folk were thicker in the +world, and some chapmen, who chaffered with the thorpe-dwellers, and +took of them the woodland spoil for such outland goods as those woodmen +needed. + +So wore the years, and in Oakenham King Christopher was well nigh +forgotten, and in the wild-wood had never been known clearly for King's +son. At first, by command of Rolf the Marshal, a messenger came +every year from Lord Richard with a letter that told of how the lad +Christopher did. But when five years were worn, the Marshal bade send +him tidings thereof every three years; and by then it was come to the +twelfth year, and still the tidings were that the lad throve ever, and +meanwhile the Marshal sat fast in his seat with none to gainsay, the +word went to Lord Richard that he should send no more, for that he, the +Marshal, had heard enough of the boy; and if he throve it were well, and +if not, it was no worse. So wore the days and the years. + + + + +CHAPTER III. OF THE KING OF MEADHAM AND HIS DAUGHTER. + + +Tells the tale that in the country which lay south of Oakenrealm, and +was called Meadham, there was in these days a king whose wife was dead, +but had left him a fair daughter, who was born some four years after +King Christopher. A good man was this King Roland, mild, bounteous, and +no regarder of persons in his justice; and well-beloved he was of his +folk: yet could not their love keep him alive; for, whenas his daughter +was of the age of twelve years, he sickened unto death; and so, when he +knew that his end drew near, he sent for the wisest of his wise men, +and they came unto him sorrowing in the High House of his chiefest city, +which hight Meadhamstead. So he bade them sit down nigh unto his bed, +and took up the word and spake: + +"Masters, and my good lords, ye may see clearly that a sundering is at +hand, and that I must needs make a long journey, whence I shall come +back never; now I would, and am verily of duty bound thereto, that I +leave behind me some good order in the land. Furthermore, I would that +my daughter, when she is of age thereto, should be Queen in Meadham, and +rule the land; neither will it be many years before she shall be of ripe +age for ruling, if ever she may be; and I deem not that there shall be +any lack in her, whereas her mother could all courtesy, and was as wise +as a woman may be. But how say ye, my masters?" + +So they all with one consent said Yea, and they would ask for no better +king than their lady his daughter. Then said the King: + +"Hearken carefully, for my time is short: Yet is she young and a maiden, +though she be wise. Now therefore do I need some man well looked to of +the folk, who shall rule the land in her name till she be of eighteen +winters, and who shall be her good friend and counsellor into all wisdom +thereafter. Which of you, my masters, is meet for this matter?" + +Then they all looked one on the other, and spake not. And the King said: +"Speak, some one of you, without fear; this is no time for tarrying." + +Thereon spake an elder, the oldest of them, and said: "Lord, this is +the very truth, that none of us here present are meet for this office: +whereas, among other matters, we be all unmeet for battle; some of us +have never been warriors, and other some are past the age for leading an +host. To say the sooth, King, there is but one man in Meadham who may do +what thou wilt, and not fail; both for his wisdom, and his might afield, +and the account which is had of him amongst the people; and that man is +Earl Geoffrey, of the Southern Marches." + +"Ye say sooth," quoth the King; "but is he down in the South, or nigher +to hand?" + +Said the elder: "He is as now in Meadhamstead, and may be in this +chamber in scant half an hour." So the King bade send for him, and there +was silence in the chamber till he came in, clad in a scarlet kirtle and +a white cloak, and with his sword by his side. He was a tall man, +bigly made; somewhat pale of face, black and curly of hair; blue-eyed, +thin-lipped, and hook-nosed as an eagle; a man warrior-like, and +somewhat fierce of aspect. He knelt down by the King's bedside, and +asked him in a sorrowful voice what he would, and the King said: "I ask +a great matter of thee, and all these my wise men, and I myself, +withal, deem that thou canst do it, and thou alone--nay, hearken: I am +departing, and I would have thee hold my place, and do unto my people +even what I would do if I myself were living; and to my daughter as +nigh to that as may be. I say all this thou mayst do, if thou wilt be as +trusty and leal to me after I am dead, as thou hast seemed to all men's +eyes to have been while I was living. What sayest thou?" + +The Earl had hidden his face in the coverlet of the bed while the King +was speaking; but now he lifted up his face, weeping, and said: "Kinsman +and friend and King; this is nought hard to do; but if it were, yet +would I do it." + +"It is well," said the King: "my heart fails me and my voice; so give +heed, and set thine ear close to my mouth: hearken, belike my daughter +Goldilind shall be one of the fairest of women; I bid thee wed her to +the fairest of men and the strongest, and to none other." + +Thereat his voice failed him indeed, and he lay still; but he died not, +till presently the priest came to him, and, as he might, houselled him: +then he departed. + +As for Earl Geoffrey, when the King was buried, and the homages done to +the maiden Goldilind, he did no worse than those wise men deemed of him, +but bestirred him, and looked full sagely into all the matters of the +kingdom, and did so well therein that all men praised his rule perforce, +whether they loved him or not; and sooth to say he was not much beloved. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. OF THE MAIDEN GOLDILIND. + + +AMIDST of all his other business Earl Geoffrey bethought him in a while +of the dead King's daughter, and he gave her in charge to a gentlewoman, +somewhat stricken in years, a widow of high lineage, but not over +wealthy. She dwelt in her own house in a fair valley some twenty miles +from Meadhamstead: thereabode Goldilind till a year and a half was worn, +and had due observance, but little love, and not much kindness from +the said gentlewoman, who hight Dame Elinor Leashowe. Howbeit, time +and again came knights and ladies and lords to see the little lady, and +kissed her hand and did obeisance to her; yet more came to her in the +first three months of her sojourn at Leashowe than the second, and more +in the second than the third. + +At last, on a day when the said year and a half was fully worn, thither +came Earl Geoffrey with a company of knights and men-at-arms, and he did +obeisance, as due was, to his master's daughter, and then spake awhile +privily with Dame Elinor; and thereafter they went into the hall, he, +and she, and Goldilind, and there before all men he spake aloud and +said: + +"My Lady Goldilind, meseemeth ye dwell here all too straitly; for +neither is this house of Leashowe great enough for thy state, and the +entertainment of the knights and lords who shall have will to seek to +thee hither; nor is the wealth of thy liege dame and governante as great +as it should be, and as thou, meseemeth, wouldst have it. Wherefore I +have been considering thy desires herein, and if thou deem it meet to +give a gift to Dame Elinor, and live queenlier thyself than now thou +dost, then mayst thou give unto her the Castle of Greenharbour, and the +six manors appertaining thereto, and withal the rights of wild-wood and +fen and fell that lie thereabout. Also, if thou wilt, thou mayst honour +the said castle with abiding there awhile at thy pleasure; and I shall +see to it that thou have due meney to go with thee thither. How sayest +thou, my lady?" + +Amongst that company there were two or three who looked at each other +and half smiled; and two or three looked on the maiden, who was +goodly as of her years, as if with compassion; but the more part kept +countenance in full courtly wise. + +Then spake Goldilind in a quavering voice (for she was afraid and wise), +and she said: "Cousin and Earl, we will that all this be done; and it +likes me well to eke the wealth of this lady and my good friend Dame +Elinor." + +Quoth Earl Geoffrey: "Kneel before thy lady, Dame, and put thine hands +between hers and thank her for the gift." So Dame Elinor knelt down, and +did homage and obeisance for her new land; and Goldilind raised her +up and kissed her, and bade her sit down beside her, and spake to her +kindly; and all men praised the maiden for her gentle and courteous +ways; and Dame Elinor smiled upon her and them, what she could. + +She was small of body and sleek; but her cheeks somewhat flagging; brown +eyes she had, long, half opened; thin lips, and chin somewhat falling +away from her mouth; hard on fifty winters had she seen; yet there have +been those who were older and goodlier both. + + + + +CHAPTER V. GOLDILIND COMES TO GREENHARBOUR. + + +But a little while tarried the Earl Geoffrey at Leashowe, but departed +next morning and came to Meadhamstead. A month thereafter came folk from +him to Leashowe, to wit, the new meney for the new abode of Goldilind; +amongst whom was a goodly band of men-at-arms, led by an old lord +pinched and peevish of face, who kneeled to Goldilind as the new +burgreve of Greenharbour; and a chaplain, a black canon, young, +broad-cheeked and fresh-looking, but hard-faced and unlovely; three +new damsels withal were come for the young Queen, not young maids, but +stalworth women, well-grown, and two of them hard-featured; the third, +tall, black-haired, and a goodly-fashioned body. + +Now when these were come, who were all under the rule of Dame Elinor, +there was no gainsaying the departure to the new home; and in two days' +time they went their ways from Leashowe. But though Goldilind was young, +she was wise, and her heart misgave her, when she was amidst this new +meney, that she was not riding toward glory and honour, and a world of +worship and friends beloved. Howbeit, whatso might lie before her, she +put a good face upon it, and did to those about her queenly and with all +courtesy. + +Five days they rode from Leashowe north away, by thorpe and town and +mead and river, till the land became little peopled, and the sixth day +they rode the wild-wood ways, where was no folk, save now and again the +little cot of some forester or collier; but the seventh day, about +noon, they came into a clearing of the wood, a rugged little plain of +lea-land, mingled with marish, with a little deal of acre-land in barley +and rye, round about a score of poor frame-houses set down scattermeal +about the lea. But on a long ridge, at the northern end of the said +plain, was a grey castle, strong, and with big and high towers, yet +not so much greater than was Leashowe, deemed Goldilind, as for a +dwelling-house. + +Howbeit, they entered the said castle, and within, as without, it was +somewhat grim, though nought was lacking of plenishing due for folk +knightly. Long it were to tell of its walls and baileys and chambers; +but let this suffice, that on the north side, toward the thick forest, +was a garden of green-sward and flowers and potherbs; and a garth-wall +of grey stone, not very high, was the only defence thereof toward the +wood, but it was overlooked by a tall tower of the great wall, which +hight the Foresters' Tower. In the said outer garth-wall also was a +postern, whereby there was not seldom coming in and going out. + +Now when Goldilind had been in her chamber for a few days, she found out +for certain, what she had before misdoubted, that she had been brought +from Leashowe and the peopled parts near to Meadhamstead unto the +uttermost parts of the realm to be kept in prison there. + +Howbeit, it was in a way prison courteous; she was still served with +observance, and bowed before, and called my lady and queen, and so +forth: also she might go from chamber to hall and chapel, to and fro, +yet scarce alone; and into the garden she might go, yet not for the more +part unaccompanied; and even at whiles she went out a-gates, but then +ever with folk on the right hand and the left. Forsooth, whiles and +again, within the next two years of her abode at Greenharbour, out of +gates she went and alone; but that was as the prisoner who strives to be +free (although she had, forsooth, no thought or hope of escape), and as +the prisoner brought back was she chastised when she came within gates +again. + +Everywhere, to be short, within and about the Castle of Greenharbour, +did Goldilind meet the will and the tyranny of the little sleek widow, +Dame Elinor, to whom both carle and quean in that corner of the world +were but as servants and slaves to do her will; and the said Elinor, who +at first was but spiteful in word and look toward her lady, waxed worse +as time wore and as the blossom of the King's daughter's womanhood began +to unfold, till at last the she-jailer had scarce feasted any day +when she had not in some wise grieved and tormented her prisoner; and +whatever she did, none had might to say her nay. + +But Goldilind took all with a high heart, and her courage grew with +her years, nor would she bow the head before any grief, but took to her +whatsoever solace might come to her; as the pleasure of the sun and the +wind, and the beholding of the greenery of the wood, and the fowl and +the beasts playing, which oft she saw afar, and whiles anear, though +whiles, forsooth, she saw nought of it all, whereas she was shut up +betwixt four walls, and that not of her chamber, but of some bare and +foul prison of the Castle, which, with other griefs, must she needs +thole under the name and guise of penance. + +However, she waxed so exceeding fair and sweet and lovely, that the +loveliness of her pierced to the hearts of many of her jailers, so that +some of them, and specially of the squires and men-at-arms, would do her +some easement which they might do unrebuked, or not sorely rebuked; +as bringing her flowers in the spring, or whiles a singing-bird or a +squirrel; and an old man there was of the men-at-arms, who would ask +leave, and get it at whiles, to come to her in her chamber, or the +garden? and tell her minstrel tales and the like for her joyance. Sooth +to say, even the pinched heart of the old Burgreve was somewhat touched +by her; and he alone had any might to stand between her and Dame Elinor; +so that but for him it had gone much harder with her than it did. + +For the rest, none entered the Castle from the world without, nay not so +much as a travelling monk, or a friar on his wanderings, save and except +some messenger of Earl Geoffrey who had errand with Dame Elinor or the +Burgreve. + +So wore the days and the seasons, till it was now more than four years +since she had left Leashowe, and her eighteenth summer was beginning. + +But now the tale leaves telling of Goldilind, and goes back to +the matters of Oakenrealm, and therein to what has to do with King +Christopher and Rolf the Marshal. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. HOW ROLF THE MARSHAL DREAMS A DREAM AND COMES TO THE CASTLE +OF THE UTTERMOST MARCH. + + +Now this same summer, when King Christopher was of twenty years and +two, Rolf the Marshal, sleeping one noontide in the King's garden at +Oakenham, dreamed a dream. For himseemed that there came through the +garth-gate a woman fair and tall, and clad in nought but oaken-leaves, +who led by the hand an exceeding goodly young man of twenty summers, and +his visage like to the last battle-dead King of Oakenrealm when he was a +young man. And the said woman led the swain up to the Marshal, who asked +in his mind what these two were: and the woman answered his thought and +said: "I am the Woman of the Woods, and the Landwight of Oakenrealm; and +this lovely lad whose hand I hold is my King and thy King and the King +of Oakenrealm. Wake, fool--wake! and look to it what thou wilt do!" + +And therewith he woke up crying out, and drew forth his sword. But when +he was fully awakened, he was ashamed, and went into the hall, and sat +in his high-seat, and strove to think out of his troubled mind; but for +all he might do, he fell asleep again; and again in the hall he dreamed +as he had dreamed in the garden: and when he awoke from his dream he had +no thought in his head but how he might the speediest come to the house +of Lord Richard the Lean, and look to the matter of his lord's son and +see him with his eyes, and, if it might be, take some measure with the +threat which lay in the lad's life. Nought he tarried, but set off in an +hour's time with no more company than four men-at-arms and an old squire +of his, who was wont to do his bidding without question, whether it were +good or evil. + +So they went by frith and fell, by wood and fair ways, till in two days' +time they were come by undern within sight of the Castle of the Outer +March, and entered into the street of the thorpe aforesaid; and they saw +that there were no folk therein and at the house-doors save old carles +and carlines scarce wayworthy, and little children who might not go +afoot. But from the field anigh the thorpe came the sound of shouting +and glad voices, and through the lanes of the houses they saw on the +field many people in gay raiment going to and fro, as though there were +games and sports toward. + +Thereof Lord Rolf heeded nought, but went his ways straight to the +Castle, and was brought with all honour into the hall, and thither came +Lord Richard the Lean, hastening and half afeard, and did obeisance to +him; and there were but a few in the hall, and they stood out of earshot +of the two lords. + +The Marshal spoke graciously to Lord Richard, and made him sit beside +him, and said in a soft voice: "We have come to see thee, Lord, and how +the folk do in the Uttermost Marches. Also we would wot how it goes with +a lad whom we sent to thee when he was yet a babe, whereas he was some +byblow of the late King, our lord and master, and we deemed thee +both rich enough and kind enough to breed him into thriving without +increasing pride upon him: and, firstly, is the lad yet alive?" + +He knitted his brow as he spake, for carefulness of soul; but Lord +Richard smiled upon him, though as one somewhat troubled, and answered: +"Lord Marshal, I thank thee for visiting this poor house; and I shall +tell thee first that the lad lives, and hath thriven marvellously, +though he be somewhat unruly, and will abide no correction now these +last six years. Sooth to say, there is now no story of his being anywise +akin to our late Lord King; though true it is that the folk in this +faraway corner of the land call him King Christopher, but only in a +manner of jesting. But it is no jest wherein they say that they will +gainsay him nought, and that especially the young women. Yet I will say +of him that he is wise, and asketh not overmuch; the more is the sorrow +of many of the maidens. A fell woodsman he is, and exceeding stark, and +as yet heedeth more of valiance than of the love of woman." + +The Marshal looked no less troubled than before at these words; he said: +"I would see this young man speedily." + +"So shall it be, Lord," said Lord Richard. Therewith he called to him +a squire, and said: "Go thou down into the thorpe, and bring hither +Christopher, for that a great lord is here who would set him to do a +deed of woodcraft, such as is more than the wont of men." + +So the squire went his ways, and was gone a little while, and meantime +drew nigh to the hall a sound of triumphing songs and shouts, and right +up to the hall doors; then entered the squire, and by his side came a +tall young man, clad but in a white linen shirt and deerskin brogues, +his head crowned with a garland of flowers: him the squire brought up to +the lords on the dais, and louted to them, and said: "My lords, I bring +you Christopher, and he not overwilling, for now hath he been but just +crowned king of the games down yonder; but when the carles and queans +there said that they would come with him and bear him company to the +hall doors, then, forsooth, he yea-said the coming. It were not unmeet +that some shame were done him." + +"Peace, man!" said Lord Richard, "what hath this to do with thee? Seest +thou not the Lord Marshal here?" The Lord Rolf sat and gazed on the lad, +and scowled on him; but Christopher saw therein nought but the face of +a great lord burdened with many cares; so when he had made his obeisance +he stood up fearlessly and merrily before them. + +Sooth to say, he was full fair to look on: for all his strength, which, +as ye shall hear, was mighty, all the fashion of his limbs and his body +was light and clean done, and beauteous; and though his skin, where it +showed naked, was all tanned with the summer, it was fine and sleek and +kindly, every deal thereof: bright-eyed and round-cheeked he was, with +full lips and carven chin, and his hair golden brown of hue, and curling +crisp about the blossoms of his garland. + +So must we say that he was such an youngling as most might have been in +the world, had not man's malice been, and the mischief of grudging and +the marring of grasping. + +But now spake Lord Rolf: "Sir varlet, they tell me that thou art a +mighty hunter, and of mickle guile in woodcraft; wilt thou then hunt +somewhat for me, and bring me home a catch seldom seen?" + +"Yea, Lord King," said Christopher, "I will at least do my best, if thou +but tell me where to seek the quarry and when." + +"It is well," said the Marshal, "and to-morrow my squire, whom thou +seest yonder, and who hight Simon, shall tell thee where the hunt is up, +and thou shalt go with him. But hearken! thou shalt not call me king; +for to-day there is no king in Oakenrealm, and I am but Marshal, and +Earl of the king that shall be." + +The lad fell a-musing for a minute, and then he said: "Yea, Lord +Marshal, I shall do thy will: but meseemeth I have heard some tale of +one who was but of late king in Oakenrealm: is it not so, Lord?" + +"Stint thy talk, young man," cried the Marshal in a harsh voice, "and +abide to-morrow; who knoweth who shall be king, and whether thou or I +shall live to see him." + +But as he spake the words they seemed to his heart like a foretelling +of evil, and he turned pale and trembled, and said to Christopher: "Come +hither, lad; I will give thee a gift, and then shalt thou depart till +to-morrow." So Christopher drew near to him, and the Marshal pulled off +a ring from his finger and set it on the lad's, and said to him: "Now +depart in peace;" and Christopher bent the knee to him and thanked him +for the gracious gift of the ruler of Oakenrealm, and then went his ways +out of the hall, and the folk without gave a glad cry as he came amongst +them. + +But by then he was come to the door, Lord Rolf looked on his hand, and +saw that, instead of giving the youngling a finger-ring which he had +bought of a merchant for a price of five bezants, as he had meant to +do, he had given him a ring which the old King had had, whereon was the +first letter of his name (Christopher to wit), and a device of a crowned +rose, for this ring was a signet of his. Wherefore was the Marshal once +more sore troubled, and he arose, and was half minded to run down the +hall after Christopher; but he refrained him, and presently smiled +to himself, and then fell a-talking to Lord Richard, sweetly and +pleasantly. + +SO wore the day to evening; but, ere he went to bed, the Lord Rolf had +a privy talk, first with Lord Richard, and after with his squire Simon. +What followed of that talk ye may hear after. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. HOW CHRISTOPHER WENT A JOURNEY INTO THE WILD-WOOD. + + +Next morning Christopher, who slept in the little hall of the inner +court of the Castle, arose betimes, and came to the great gate; but, for +as early as he was, there he saw the squire Simon abiding him, standing +between two strong horses; to him he gave the sele of the day, and the +squire greeted him, but in somewhat surly wise. Then he said to him: +"Well, King Christopher, art thou ready for the road?" + +"Yea, as thou seest," said the youngling smiling. For, indeed, he had +breeches now beneath his shirt, and a surcoat of green woollen over it; +boots of deerskin had he withal, and spurs thereon: he was girt with a +short sword, and had a quiver of arrows at his back, and bare a great +bow in his hand. + +"Yea," quoth Simon, "thou deemest thee a gay swain belike; but thou +lookest likelier for a deerstealer than a rider, thou, hung up to thy +shooting-gear. Deemest thou we go a-hunting of the hind?" + +Quoth Christopher: "I wot not, squire; but the great lord who lieth +sleeping yonder, hath told me that thou shouldest give me his errand; +and of some hunting or feat of wood-craft he spake. Moreover, this +crooked stick can drive a shaft through matters harder than a hind's +side." + +Simon looked confused, and he reddened and stammered somewhat as he +answered: "Ah, yea: so it was; I mind me; I will tell thee anon." + +Said Christopher: "Withal, squire, if we are wending into the wood, as +needs we must, unless we ride round about this dale in a ring all day, +dost thou deem we shall go at a gallop many a mile? Nay, fair sir; the +horses shall wend a foot's pace oftenest, and we shall go a-foot not +unseldom through the thickets." + +Now was Simon come to himself again, and that self was surly, so he +said: "Ay, ay, little King, thou deemest thee exceeding wise in these +woods, dost thou not? and forsooth, thou mayst be. Yet have I tidings +for thee." + +"Yea, and what be they?" said Christopher. + +Simon grinned: "Even these," said he, "that Dr. Knowall was no man's +cousin while he lived, and that he died last week." + +Therewith he swung himself into his saddle, and Christopher laughed +merrily at his poor gibe and mounted in like wise. + +Wherewithal they rode their ways through the thorpe, and at the southern +end thereof Simon drew rein, and looked on Christopher as if he would +ask him something, but asked not. Then said Christopher: "Whither go we +now?" + +Said Simon: "It is partly for thee to say: hearken, I am bidden first to +ride the Redwater Wood with thee: knowest thou that?" + +"Yea," said the lad, "full well: but which way shall we ride it? Wilt +thou come out of it at Redwater Head, or Herne Moss, or the Long Pools?" + +Said Simon: "We shall make for the Long Pools, if thou canst bring me +there." + +Christopher laughed: "Aha!" said he, "then am I some faraway cousin +of Dr. Knowall when the whole tale is told: forsooth I can lead thee +thither; but tell me, what shall I do of valiant deeds at the Long +Pools? for there is no fire-drake nor effit, nay, nor no giant, nor +guileful dwarf, nought save mallard and coot, heron and bittern; yea, +and ague-shivers to boot." + +Simon looked sourly on him and said: "Thou are bidden to go with me, +young man, or gainsay the Marshal. Art thou mighty enough thereto? For +the rest, fear not but that the deed shall come to thee one day." + +"Nay," said Christopher, "it is all one to me, for I am at home in these +woods and wastes, I and my shafts. Tell me of the deeds when thou +wilt." But indeed he longed to know the deed, and fretted him because of +Simon's surliness and closeness. Then he said: "Well, Squire Simon, let +us to the road; for thou shalt know that to-night we must needs house us +under the naked heaven; in nowise can we come to the Long Pools before +to-morrow morning." + +"Yea, and why not?" said the squire; "I have lain in worse places." + +"Wilt thou tell me thereof?" said Christopher. + +"Mayhappen," said Simon, "if to-morrow comes and goes for both of us +twain." + +So they rode their ways through the wood, and baited at midday with what +Simon bare in his saddle-bags, and then went on till night fell on them; +then asked Simon how long they were from the Long Pools, and Christopher +told him that they were yet short of them some fifteen miles, and those +long ones, because of the marish grounds. So they tethered their horses +there and ate their supper; and lay down to sleep in the house of the +woods, by a fire-side which they lighted. + +But in the midnight Christopher, who was exceeding fine-eared, had an +inkling of someone moving afoot anigh him, and he awoke therewith, and +sprang up, his drawn short-sword in his hand, and found himself face to +face with Simon, and he also with his sword drawn. Simon sprang aback, +but held up his sword-point, and Christopher, not yet fully awake, cried +out: "What wouldst thou? What is it?" + +Simon answered, stammering and all abashed: "Didst thou not hear then? +it wakened me." + +"I heard nought," said Christopher; "what was it?" + +"Horses going in the wood," said Simon + +"Ah, yea," said Christopher, "it will have been the wild colts and the +mares; they harbour about these marsh-land parts. Go to sleep again, +neighbour, the night is not yet half worn; but I will watch a while." + +Then Simon sheathed his sword, and turned about and stood uneasily a +little while, and then cast him down as one who would sleep hastily; +but slept not forsooth, though he presently made semblance of it: as for +Christopher, he drew together the brands of the fire, and sat beside it +with his blade over his knees, until the first beginning of the summer +dawn was in the sky; then he began to nod, and presently lay aback and +slept soundly. Simon slept not, but durst not move. So they lay till it +was broad day, and the sunbeams came thrusting through the boughs of the +thicket. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. CHRISTOPHER COMES TO THE TOFTS. + + +When they arose in the sunshine, Simon went straightway to see to the +horses, while Christopher stayed by the fire to dight their victuals; +he was merry enough, and sang to himself the while; but when Simon came +back again, Christopher looked on him sharply, but for a while Simon +would not meet his eye, though he asked divers questions of him +concerning little matters, as though he were fain to hear Christopher's +voice; at last he raised his eyes, and looked on him steadily, and then +Christopher said: "Well, wayfarer mine, and whither away this morning?" + +Said Simon: "As thou wottest, to the Long Pools." + +Said the lad: "Well, thou keepest thy tidings so close, that I will ask +thee no more till we come to the Long Pools; since there, forsooth, +thou must needs tell me; unless we sunder company there, whereof I were +nought grieving." + +"Mayhappen thou shalt fare a long way to-day," muttered Simon. + +But the lad cried out aloud, while his eye glittered and his cheek +flushed: "Belike thou hadst well-nigh opened the door thereto last +night!" And therewith he leapt to his feet and drew his short-sword, and +with three deft strokes sheared asunder an overhanging beech-bough as +thick as a man's wrist, that it fell crashing down, and caught Simon +amongst the fall of its leafy twigs, while Christopher stood laughing +on him, but with a dangerous lofty look in his eyes: then he turned away +quietly toward the horses and mounted his nag, and Simon followed and +did the like, silently; crestfallen he looked, with brooding fierceness +in his face. + +So they rode their ways, and spake but little each to each till they +came to where the trees of the wood thinned speedily, and gave out at +last at the foot of a low stony slope but little grassed; and when they +had ridden up to the brow and could see below, Christopher stretched +out his hand, and said: "Lo thou the Long Pools, fellow wayfarer! and lo +some of the tramping; horses that woke thee and not me last night." + +Forsooth there lay below them a great stretch of grass, which whiles +ran into mere quagmire, and whiles was sound and better grassed; and +the said plain was seamed by three long shallow pools, with, as it were, +grassy causeways between them, grown over here and there with ancient +alder trees; but the stony slope whereon they had reined up bent round +the plain mostly to the east, as though it were the shore of a great +water; and far away to the south the hills of the forest rose up blue, +and not so low at the most, but that they were somewhat higher than +the crest of the White Horse as ye may see it from the little Berkshire +hills above the Thames. Down on the firm greensward there was indeed a +herd of wild horses feeding; mallard and coot swam about the waters; the +whimbrel laughed from the bent-sides, and three herons stood on the side +of the causeway seeking a good fishing-stead. + +Simon sat a-horseback looking askance from the marish to Christopher, +and said nothing a while; then he spake in a low croaking voice, and +said: "So, little King, we have come to the Long Pools; now I will ask +thee, hast thou been further southward than this marish land?" + +"That have I," said the lad, "a day's journey further; but according to +the tales of men it was at the peril of my life." + +Simon seemed as if he had not noted his last word; he said: "Well then, +since thou knowest the wild and the wood, knowest thou amidst of the +thickets there, two lumps of bare hills, like bowls turned bottom up, +that rise above the trees, and on each a tower, and betwixt them a long +house." + +"Save us, Allhallows!" quoth Christopher, "but thou wilt mean the Tofts! +Is it so, sir squire?" + +"Even so," said Simon. + +"And thou knowest what dwellest there, and wouldst have me lead thee +thither?" said the lad. + +"I am so bidden," said Simon; "if thou wilt not do my bidding, seek thou +some place to hide thee in from the hand of the Earl Marshal." + +Said the youngling: "Knowest thou not Jack of the Tofts and his seven +sons, and what he is, and that he dwelleth there?" + +Said Simon: "I know of him; yea, and himself I know, and that he +dwelleth there; and I wot that men call him an outlaw, and that many +rich men shall lack ere he lacks. What then?" + +"This," said Christopher, "that, as all tales tell, he will take my life +if I ride thither. And," said he, turning to Simon, "this is belike what +thou wouldest with me?" And therewith he drew out his sword, for his bow +was unstrung. + +But Simon sat still and let his sword abide, and said, sourly enough: +"Thou art a fool to think I am training thee to thy death by him; for I +have no will to die, and why shall he not slay me also? Now again I say +unto thee, thou hast the choice, either to lead me to the Tofts, where +shall be the deed for thee to do, or to hide thee in some hole, as I +said afore, from the vengeance of the Lord of Oakenrealm. But as for thy +sword, thou mayst put it up, for I will not fight with thee, but rather +let thee go with a string to thy leg, if thou wilt not be wise and do as +thy lords ordain for thee." + +Christopher sheathed his sword, and a smile came into his face, as if +some new thought were stirring in him, and he said: "Well, since thou +wilt not fight with me, and I but a lad, I will e'en do thy will and +thine errand to Jack of the Tofts. Maybe he is not so black as he is +painted, and not all tales told of him are true. But some of them I will +tell thee as we ride along." + +"And some thereof I know already, O woodland knight," said Simon, +as they rode down the bent, and Christopher led on toward the green +causeway betwixt the waters. "Tell me," quoth he, when they had ridden +awhile, "is this one of thy tales, how Jack of the Tofts went to the +Yule feast of a great baron in the guise of a minstrel, and, even as +they bore in the boar's head, smote the said baron on the neck, so that +his head lay by the head of the swine on the Christmas board?" + +"Yea," said Christopher, "and how Jack cried out: 'Two heads of swine, +one good to eat, one good to burn.' But, my master, thou shalt know that +this manslaying was not for nought: whereas the Baron of Greenlake had +erewhile slain Jack's father in felon wise, where he could strike no +stroke for life; and two of his brethren also had he slain, and made the +said Jack an outlaw, and he all sackless. In the Uttermost March we deem +that he had a case against the baron." + +"Hah!" said Simon. "Is this next tale true, that this Jack o' the Tofts +slew a good knight before the altar, so that the priest's mass-hackle +was all wet with his blood, whereas the said priest was in the act of +putting the holy body into the open mouth of the said knight?" + +Christopher said eagerly: "True was it, by the Rood! and well was it +done, for that same Sir Raoul was an ugly traitor, who had knelt down +where he died to wed the Body of the Lord to a foul lie in his mouth; +whereas the man who knelt beside him he had trained to his destruction, +and was even then doing the first deal of his treason by forswearing him +there." + +"And that man who knelt with him there," said Simon, "what betid to +him?" + +Said Christopher: "He went out of the church with Jack of the Tofts that +minute of the stroke; and to the Tofts he went with him, and abode with +him freely: and a valiant man he was...and is." + +"Hah!" said Simon again. "And then there is this: that the seven sons +of Jack of the Tofts bore off perforce four fair maidens of gentle blood +from the castle wherein they dwelt, serving a high dame in all honour; +and that moreover, they hanged the said dame over the battlements of her +own castle. Is this true, fair sir?" + +"True is it as the gospel," said Christopher: "yet many say that the +hanged dame had somewhat less than her deserts; for a foul & cruel whore +had she been; and had done many to be done to death, and stood by while +they were pined. And the like had she done with those four damsels, had +there not been the stout sons of Jack of the Tofts; so that the dear +maidens were somewhat more than willing to be borne away." + +Simon grinned: "Well, lad," said he, "I see that thou knowest Jack of +the Tofts even better than I do; so why in the devil's name thou art +loth to lead me to him, I wot not." + +Christopher reddened, and held his peace awhile; then he said: "Well +fellow-farer, at least I shall know something of him ere next midnight." + +"Yea," said Simon, "and shall we not come to the Tofts before +nightfall?" + +"Let us essay it," said Christopher, "and do our best, it yet lacketh +three hours of noon." Therewith he spurred on, for the greensward was +hard under the hooves, and they had yet some way to go before they +should come amongst the trees and thickets. + +Into the said wood they came, and rode all day diligently, but night +fell on them before they saw either house or man or devil; then said +Simon: "Why should we go any further before dawn? Will it not be best to +come to this perilous house by daylight?" + +Said Christopher: "There be perils in the wood as well as in the house. +If we lie down here, maybe Jack's folk may come upon us sleeping, and +some mischance may befall us. Withal, hereabout be no wild horses to +wake thee and warn thee of thy foeman anigh. Let us press on; there is +a moon, though she be somewhat hidden by clouds, and meseemeth the way +lieth clear before me; neither are we a great way from the Tofts." + +Then Simon rode close up to Christopher, and took his rein and stayed +him, and said to him, as one who prayeth: "Young man, willest thou my +death?" + +"That is as it may be," said Christopher; "willest thou mine?" + +Simon held his peace awhile, and Christopher might not see what was in +his face amidst the gathering dusk; but he twitched his rein out of the +squire's hand, as if he would hasten onward; then the squire said: "Nay, +I pray thee abide and hear a word of me." + +"Speak then," said Christopher, "but hasten, for I hunger, and I would +we were in the hall." And therewith he laughed. + +Said Simon: "Thus it is: if I go back to my lord and bear no token of +having done his errand to Jack of the Tofts, then am I in evil case; and +if I come to the Tofts, I wot well that Jack is a man fierce of heart, +and ready of hand: now, therefore, I pray thee give me thy word to be my +warrant, so far as thou mayst be, with this woodman and his sons." + +At that word Christopher brake out a-laughing loudly, till all the dusk +wood rang with the merry sound of his fresh voice; at last he said: +"Well, well, thou art but a craven to be a secret murderer: the Lord God +would have had an easy bargain of Cain, had he been such as thou. Come +on, and do thine errand to Jack of the Tofts, and I will hold thee +harmless, so far as I may. Though, sooth to say, I guessed what thine +errand was, after the horses waked thee and put a naked sword in thine +hand last night. Marry! I had no inkling of it when we left the Castle +yesterday morning, but deemed thy lord needed me to do him some service. +Come on then! or rather go thou on before me a pace; there, where thou +seest the glimmer betwixt the beech-trees yonder; if thou goest astray, +I am anigh thee for a guide. And I say that we shall not go far without +tidings." + +Simon went on perforce, as he was bidden, and they rode thus a while +slowly, Christopher now and then crying, as they went: "To the right, +squire! To the left! Straight on now!" and so on. But suddenly they +heard voices, and it was as if the wood had all burst out into fire, so +bright a light shone out. Christopher shouted, and hastened on to pass +Simon, going quite close to his right side thereby, and as he did so, he +saw steel flashing in his hand, and turned sidling to guard him, but +ere he could do aught Simon drave a broad dagger into his side, and then +turned about and fled the way they had come, so far as he knew how. + +Christopher fell from his horse at once as the stroke came home, but +straightway therewith were there men with torches round about him, a +dozen of them; men tall and wild-looking in the firelight; and one +of them, a slim young man with long red hair falling all about his +shoulders, knelt down by him, while the others held his horse and gat +his feet out of the stirrups. + +The red-head laid his hand on his breast, and raised his head up till +the light of a torch fell on it, and then he cried out: "Masters, here +hath been a felon; the man hath been sticked, and the deed hath to do +with us; for lo you, this is none other than little Christopher of the +Uttermost March, who stumbled on the Tofts last Yule, and with whom we +were so merry together. Here, thou Robert of Maisey, do thy leechdom on +him if he be yet living; but if he be dead, or dieth of his hurt, then +do I take the feud on me, to follow it to the utmost against the slayer; +even I, David the Red, though I be the youngest of the sons of Jack of +the Tofts. For this man I meant should be my fellow in field and fell, +ganging and galloping, in hall and high-place, in cot and in choir, +before woman and warrior, and priest and proud-prince. Now thou Robert, +how does he?" + +Said the man who had looked to Christopher's wound, and had put aside +his coat and shirt: "He is sore hurt, but meseemeth not deadly. Nay, +belike he may live as long as thou, or longer, whereas thou wilt ever be +shoving thy red head and lank body wheresoever knocks are going." + +David rose with a sigh of one who is lightened of a load, and said: +"Well Robert, when thou hast bound his wound let us have him into the +house: Ho lads! there is light enough to cut some boughs and make a +litter for him. But, ho again! has no one gone after the felon to take +him?" + +Robert grinned up from his job with the hurt man: "Nay, King David," +said he, "it is mostly thy business; mayhappen thou wilt lay thy heels +on thy neck and after him." + +The red-head stamped on the ground, and half drew his sax, and shoved +it back again unto the sheath, and then said angrily: "I marvel at thee, +Robert, that thou didst not send a man or two at once after the felon: +how may I leave my comrade and sweet board-fellow lying hurt in the +wild-wood? Art thou growing over old for our woodland ways, wherein +loitering bringeth louting?" + +Robert chuckled and said: "I thought thou wouldst take the fly in thy +mouth, foster-son: if the felon escape Ralph Longshanks and Anthony +Green, then hath he the devil's luck; and they be after him." + +"That is well," said the young man, "though I would I were with them." +And therewith he walked up and down impatiently, while the others were +getting ready the litter of boughs. + +At last it was done, and Christopher laid thereon, and they all went +on together through the woodland path, the torches still flaring about +them. Presently they came out into a clearing of the wood, and lo, +looming great and black before them against the sky, where the moon had +now broken out of the clouds somewhat, the masses of the tofts, and at +the top of the northernmost of them a light in the upper window of a +tall square tower. Withal the yellow-litten windows of a long house +showed on the plain below the tofts; but little else of the house might +be seen, save that, as they drew near, the walls brake out in doubtful +light here and there as the torches smote them. + +So came they to a deep porch, where they quenched all the torches save +one, and entered a great hall through it, David and two other tall young +men going first, and Robert Maisey going beside the bier. The said hall +was lighted with candles, but not very brightly, save at the upper end; +but amidmost a flickering heap of logs sent a thin line of blue smoke up +to the luffer. There were some sixty folk in the hall, scattered about +the end-long tables, a good few of whom were women, well grown and +comely enough, so far as could be seen under the scanty candle-light. +At the high-table, withal, were sitting both men and women, and as they +drew near to the greater light of it, there could be seen in the chief +seat a man, past middle age, tall, wide-shouldered and thin-flanked, +with a short peaked beard and close-cut grizzled hair; he was high of +cheekbones, thin-faced, with grey eyes, both big and gentle-looking; he +was clad in a green coat welted with gold. Beside him sat a woman, tall +and big-made, but very fair of face, though she were little younger, +belike, than the man. Out from these two sat four men and four women, +man by man and woman by woman, on either side of the high-seat. Of the +said men, one was of long red hair as David, and like to him in +all wise, but older; the others were of like fashion to him in the +high-seat. Shortly to say it, his sons they were, as David and the two +young men with him. The four women who sat with these men were all fair +and young, and one of them, she who drank out of the red-head's cup, so +fair, and with such a pleasant slim grace, that her like were not easy +to be found. + +Again, to shorten the tale, there in the hall before Christopher, who +lay unwotting, were Jack of the Tofts and his seven sons, and the four +wives of four of the same, whom they had won from the Wailful Castle, +when they, with their father, put an end to the evil woman, and the +great she-tyrant of the Land betwixt the Wood and the River. + +Now when David and his were come up to the dais, they stayed them, +and their father spake from his high-seat and said: "What is to do, ye +three? and what catch have ye?" + +Said David: "I would fain hope 'tis the catch of a life that or I love; +for here is come thy guest of last Yule, even little Christopher, who +wrestled with thee and threw thee after thou hadst thrown all of us, and +he lying along and hurt, smitten down by a felon hard on our very doors. +What will ye do with him?" + +"What," said Jack of the Tofts, "but tend him and heal him and cherish +him. And when he is well, then we shall see. But where is the felon who +smote him?" + +Said David: "He fled away a-horseback ere we came to the field of deed, +and Anthony Green and Ralph Longshanks are gone after him, and belike, +will take him." + +"Mayhappen not," said the master. "Now, forsooth, I have an inkling of +what this may mean; whereas there can be but one man whose business +may be the taking of our little guest's life. But let all be till he +be healed and may tell us his tale; and, if he telleth it as I deem +he will, then shall we seek further tidings. Meanwhile, if ye take the +felon, keep him heedfully till I may see him; for then may I have a true +tale out of him, even before Christopher is hale again." + +So therewith David and Robert, with two or three others, brought +Christopher to a chamber, and did what leechdoms to him they might; +but Jack of the Tofts, and his sons and their fair wives, and his other +folk, made merry in the hall of the Tofts. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. SQUIRE SIMON COMES BACK TO OAKENHAM. THE EARL MARSHAL TAKEN +TO KING IN OAKENREALM. + + +Now as to Squire Simon, whether the devil helped him, or his luck, or +were it his own cunning and his, horse's stoutness, we wot not; but in +any case he fell not in with Ralph Longshanks and Anthony Green, but +rode as far and as fast as his horse would go, and then lay down in the +wild-wood; and on the morrow arose and went his ways, and came in the +even to the Castle of the Uttermost March, and went on thence the morrow +after on a fresh horse to Oakenham. There he made no delay but went +straight to the High House, and had privy speech of the Earl Marshal; +and him he told how he had smitten Christopher, and, as he deemed, slain +him. The Earl Marshal looked on him grimly and said: "Where is the ring +then?" + +"I have it not," said Simon. "How might I light down to take it, when +the seven sons were hard on us?" And therewith he told him all the tale, +and how he had risen to slay Christopher the even before; and how he had +found out after that the youngling had become guest and fosterling of +the folk of the Tofts; and how warily Christopher had ridden, so that +he, Simon, had had to do his best at the last moment. "And now, Lord," +quoth he, "I see that it will be my luck to have grudging of thee, or +even worse it may be; yea, or thou wilt be presently telling me that +I am a liar and never struck the stroke: but I warrant me that by +this time Jack of the Tofts knoweth better, for I left my knife in the +youngling's breast, and belike he wotteth of my weapons. Well, then, if +thou wilt be quit of me, thou hast but to forbear upholding me against +the Toft folk, and then am I gone without any to-do of thee." + +Earl Rolf spake quietly in answer, though his face was somewhat +troubled: "Nay, Simon, I doubt thee not, not one word; for why shouldest +thou lie to me? nor do I deem thou wouldest, for thou art trusty and +worthy. Yet sore I doubt if the child be dead. Well, even so let it be, +for I am alive; and full surely I am mightier than Jack of the Tofts, +both to uphold thee against him (wherein I shall not fail), and +otherwise. But may God make me even as that young man if I be not +mightier yet in a few days. But now do thou go and eat and drink and +take thy disport; for thou hast served me well; and in a little while I +shall make thee knight and lord, and do all I can to pleasure thee." + +So then Simon knelt to the Earl and made obeisance to him, and arose and +went his ways, light-hearted and merry. + +But within the month it so befel that some of the lords and dukes came +to the Earl Marshal, and prayed him to call together a great Folk-mote +of all Oakenrealm; and he answered them graciously, and behight them to +do as they would; and even so did he. + +And that Mote was very great, and whenas it was hallowed, there arose +a great lord, grey and ancient, and bewailed him before the folk, that +they had no king over Oakenrealm to uphold the laws & ward the land; and +"Will ye live bare and kingless for ever?" said he at last. "Will ye +not choose you a king, and crown him, before I die, and we others of the +realm who are old and worn?" Then he sat down, and another arose, and in +plain terms he bade them take the Earl Marshal to king. And then arose +one after other, and each sang the same song, till the hearts of the +people grew warm with the big words, and at first many, and then more +cried out: "A King, a King! The Earl Marshal for King! Earl Rolf for +King!" So that at last the voices rose into a great roar, and sword +clashed on shield, and they who were about the Earl turned to him and +upraised him on a great war-shield, and he stood thereon above the folk +with a naked sword in his hand, and all the folk shouted about him. + +Thereafter the chiefs and all the mightiest came and did homage to him +for King of Oakenrealm as he sat on the Hill of the Folk-mote: and that +night there was once more a King of Oakenrealm, and Earl Rolf was no +more, but King Rolf ruled the people. + +But now the tale leaves telling of him, and turns again to Christopher +the woodman, who lay sick of his hurt in the House of the Tofts. + + + + +CHAPTER X. OF CHRISTOPHER AT THE TOFTS. + + +Christopher was six weeks ere he could come and go as he was wont; but +it was but a few days ere he was well enough to tell his tale to Jack of +the Tofts and his seven bold sons; and they cherished him and made +much of him, and so especially did David, the youngest son, to his +board-fellow and troth-brother. + +On a day when he was well-nigh whole, as he sat under an oak-tree nigh +the house, in the cool of the evening, Jack of the Tofts came to him and +sat beside him, and made him tell his tale to him once more, and when he +was done he said to him: "Foster-son, for so I would have thee deem of +thyself, what is the thing that thou rememberest earliest in thy days?" + +Said Christopher: "A cot without the Castle walls at the Uttermost +Marches, and a kind woman therein, big, sandy-haired, and freckled, and +a lad that was white-haired and sturdy, somewhat bigger than I. And +I mind me standing up against the door-post of the cot and seeing +men-at-arms riding by in white armour, and one of them throwing an apple +to me, and I raised my arm to throw it back at him, but my nurse (for +somehow I knew she was not my mother) caught my hand and drew me back +indoors, and I heard the men laughing behind me. And then a little after +my nurse took me into the Castle court, and there was again the man who +had thrown me the apple, sitting on a bench therein, clad in a scarlet +gown furred with brown fur; and she led me up to him, and he stooped +down and chucked me under the chin and put his hand on my head, and +looked at my nurse and said: 'Yea, he is a big lad, and groweth apace, +whereas he is but of six winters.' 'Nay, Lord,' said my nurse, 'he is +but scantly five.' He knit his brows and said: 'Nay, I tell thee he is +six.' She shook her head, but said nought, and the great man scowled on +her and said: 'Mistress, wilt thou set thy word against mine? Know now +that this child is of six years. Now then, how old is he?' She said +faintly: 'Six years.' Said he: 'Look to it that thy head and thy mouth +forget it not, else shall we make thy back remember it.' Then he put his +hand on my head again, and said: 'Well, I say thou art a big lad for six +years;' and therewith he gave me a silver penny; and even as he spake, +came up a grey-clad squire to him and looked on me curiously. Then I +went away with my nurse, and wondered why she was grown so pale, whereas +she was mostly red-cheeked and jolly. But when she had brought me into +the cot again, she kissed me and clipped me, weeping sorely the while; +wherefore I wept, though I knew not why. Sithence, I soon came to know +that the man was the lord and governor of the Castle, as ye may well +wot; but to this hour I know not what he meant by threatening my nurse." + +Said Jack: "And how old art thou now, Christopher mine?" + +Said the youngling, laughing: "By my lord the Castellan's reckoning I am +twenty and two years; but if thou wilt trow my good and kind nurse, that +yet liveth a kind dame, thou must take twelve months off the tale." + +Jack sat silent a little; then he laughed and said: "Well, thou art a +mickle babe, Christopher, and it may be that one day many a man shall +know it. But now tell me again; thou hadst said to me before that thou +hast known neither father nor mother, brother nor sisters: is it so, +verily?" + +Said Christopher: "Never a kinsman of blood have I, though many +well-wishers." + +Said Jack: "Well, now hast thou father and mother, brethren and sisters, +though they be of the sort of man-slayers and strong-thieves and +outlaws; yet they love thee, lad, and thou mayst one day find out how +far thou mayst trust them." + +Christopher nodded and smiled at him merrily; then he fell silent +awhile, and the outlaw sat looking on him; at last he said suddenly: +"Foster-father, tell me what I am, and of what kindred, I pray thee; +for, methinks, thou knowest thereof; and what wonder, wise man as thou +art." + +"Forsooth, son Christopher, I have a deeming thereof, or somewhat more, +and when it is waxen greater yet, I will tell it thee one day, but not +now. But hearken! for I have other tidings for thee. Thou art now whole +and strong, and in a few days thou mayst wend the wild-wood as stoutly +as e'er a one of us. Now, therefore, how sayest thou, if I bid thee fare +a two days' journey with David and Gilbert thy brethren, and thy sister +Joanna, till they bring thee to a fair little stead which I call mine +own, to dwell there awhile? For, meseemeth, lad, that the air of the +Tofts here may not be overwholesome unto thee." + +Christopher reddened, and he half rose up, and said: "What is this, +foster-father? Is it that there shall be battle at the Tofts, and that +thou wouldst have me away thence? Am I then such a weakling?" + +Said Jack, laughing: "Be still now, thou sticked one. The Tofts go down +to battle at some whiles; but seldom comet battle to the Tofts; and no +battle do I look for now. But do my bidding, sweet fosterling, and it +will be better for me and better for thee, and may, perchance, put off +battle for awhile; which to me as now were not unhandy. If thou wilt +but abide at Littledale for somewhile, there shall be going and coming +betwixt us, and thou shalt drink thy Yule at the Tofts, and go back +afterwards, and ever shalt thou have thy sweet fellows with thee; so be +wise, since thou goest not perforce." + +"Yea, yea," said Christopher, laughing; "thou puttest force on no man, +is it not so, foster-father? Wherefore I will go, and uncompelled." + +Therewith came up to them, from out of the wild-wood, David, and with +him Joanna, who was the wife of Gilbert, and one of those fair maidens +from the Wailful Castle, though not the fairest of them; they had been +a-hunting, for ever those three would willingly go together, Gilbert, +David, and Joanna; and now Gilbert had abided behind, to dight the +quarry for fetching home. Christopher looked on the two joyfully, as a +man getting whole after sickness smiles on goodly things; and Joanna was +fair to see in her hunter's attire, with brogues tied to her naked feet, +and the shapeliness of her legs bare to the knee beneath the trussing up +of her green skirts. + +They greeted Christopher kindly, and Joanna sat down by him to talk, +but Jack of the Tofts took his son by the arm, and went toward the house +with him in earnest speech. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. HOW CHRISTOPHER CAME TO LITTLEDALE TO ABIDE THERE A WHILE. + + +In about a week's time from this, those four fellows went their ways +southward from the Tofts, having with them four good nags and four +sumpter beasts laden with such things as they needed, whereof were +weapons enough, though they all, save Christopher, bare bows; and he +and the others were girt with swords, and a leash of good dogs followed +them. Two milch kine also they drave with them. + +Merry they were all as they went their ways through the woods, but the +gladness of Christopher was even past words; wherefore, after a little, +he spake scarce at all, but sat in his saddle hearkening the tales and +songs and jests of his fellows, who went close beside him, for more +often they went a-foot than rode. And, forsooth, as the sweet morning +wore, it seemed to him, so great was his joy, as if all the fair show +of the greenery, and the boles of the ancient oaks, and the squirrels +running from bough to bough, and the rabbits scuttling from under the +bracken, and the hind leaping in the wood-lawn, and the sun falling +through the rustling leaves, and the wind on his face, and the scent of +the forest, yea, and his fair companions and their loveliness & valiancy +and kindness, and the words and songs that came from their dear mouths, +all these seemed to him, as it were, one great show done for the behoof +and pleasure of him, the man come from the peril of death and the +sick-bed. + +They lay that night in all glee under the green boughs; and arose on the +morrow, and went all day, and again slept in the greenwood, and the +next morning came down into a fair valley, which was indeed Littledale, +through which ran a pleasant little river; and on a grassy knoll, but +a short way from its bank, was a long framed hall, somewhat narrow, +and nought high, whitherward they turned them straightway, and were +presently before the door; then Gilbert drew a key from out of his scrip +and unlocked the door, and they entered, and found within a fair little +hall, with shut-beds out from it on the further side, and kitchen, and +store-bowers at the end; all things duly appointed with plenishing, and +meal and wine; for it was but some three months since one of Jack of the +Tofts' allies, Sir Launcelot a'Green and his wife and two bairns, had +left it till their affair was made straight; whereas he had dwelt there +a whole year, for he had been made an outlaw of Meadham, and was a dear +friend of the said Jack. + +"Now," said David smiling, "here is now thy high house and thy castle, +little King Christopher; how doth it like thee?" + +"Right well," said Christopher; "and, to say sooth, I would almost that +it were night, or my bones do else, that I might lie naked in a bed." + +"Nay, lad," said Gilbert, "make it night now, and we will do all that +needs must be done, while thou liest lazy, as all kings use to do." + +"Nay," said Christopher, "I will be more a king than so, for I will do +neither this nor that; I will not work and I will not go to bed, but +will look on, till it is time for me to take to the crooked stick and +the grey-goose wing and seek venison." + +"That is better than well," said David; "for I can see by thine eyes, +that are dancing with pleasure, that in three or four days thou wilt be +about the thickets with us." + +"Meantime," said Joanna, "thou shalt pay for thy meat and drink by +telling us tales when we come home weary." + +"Yea," said Christopher laughing, "that ye may go to sleep before your +time." + +So they talked, and were joyous and blithe together, and between them +they made the house trim, and decked it with boughs and blossoms; and +though Christopher told them no tale that night, Joanna and David sang +both; and in a night or two it was Christopher that was the minstrel. So +when the morrow came there began their life of the woodland; but, save +for the changing of the year and the chances of the hunt, the time +passed on from day to day with little change, and it was but seldom that +any man came their way. When Yule was, they locked the house door behind +them and went their ways home to the Tofts; and now of all of these +wayfarers was Christopher by far the hardest and strongest, for his side +had utterly forgotten Simon's knife. At the Tofts they were welcomed +with all triumph, and they were about there in the best of cheer, till +it was wearing toward Candlemas, and then they took occasion of a bright +and sunny day to go back to Littledale once more, and there they abode +till spring was come and was wearing into summer, and messages had come +and gone betwixt them and the Tofts, and it was agreed that with the +first of autumn they should go back to the Tofts and see what should +betide. + +But now leave we Christopher and these good fellows of the Tofts and +turn to Goldilind, who is yet dwelling amid no very happy days in the +Castle of Greenharbour, on the northernmost marches of Meadham. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. OF GOLDILIND IN THE MAY MORNING AT GREENHARBOUR. + + +May was on the land now, and was come into its second week, and +Goldilind awoke on a morn in the Castle of Greenharbour; but little did +her eyes behold of the May, even when they were fully open; for she +was lying, not in her own chamber, which was proper, and even somewhat +stately, and from whence she could look on the sky and greenwood, but +in a chamber low down amidst the footings of the wall, little lighted, +unadorned, with nought in it for sport or pleasure; nought, forsooth, +save the pallet bed on which she lay, a joint stool and water ewer. +To be short, though it were called the Least Guard-chamber, it was a +prison, and she was there dreeing her penance, as Dame Elinor would +call the cruelty of her malice, which the chaplain, Dame Elinor's +led captain, had ordained her for some sin which the twain had forged +between them. + +She lay there naked in her smock, with no raiment anigh her, and this +was the third morning whereon she had awakened to the dusky bare walls, +and a long while had their emptiness made of the hours: but she lay +quiet and musing, not altogether without cheer now; for indeed she was +not wont to any longer penance than this she had but now tholed, so she +looked for release presently: and, moreover, there had grown in her mind +during those three days a certain purpose; to wit, that she would get +hold of the governor of the castle privily, and two or three others of +the squires who most regarded her, and bewail her case to them, so that +she might perchance get some relief. Forsooth, as she called to mind +this resolve, her heart beat and her cheek flushed, for well she knew +that there was peril in it, and she forecast what might be the worst +that would come thereof, while, on the other hand, the best that might +be seemed to her like a glimpse of Paradise. + +As she lay there and turned the matter over in her mind for this many an +hundred time, there came a key into the lock, and the door opened; +and thereby entered a tall woman, dark-haired, white-skinned, somewhat +young, and not ill-favoured: Goldilind still lay there, till the +new-comer said to her in a hard voice, wherein was both threatening and +mockery: "Rise up, our Lady! the Dame Elinor saith that it is enough, +and that thou art to go forth. Nay, hold a while; for I say unto thee +that it is yet early in the day, and that thy chamber is not yet dight +for thee, so thou must needs bestow thyself elsewhere till it be done." + +Goldilind rose up, and said smiling: "Yea, Aloyse, but thou hast not +brought my raiment: and thou seest!" + +The maid stood looking at her a moment somewhat evilly, and then said: +"Well, since it is but scant six o'clock, I may do that; but I bid thee +ask me not overmuch; for meseemeth Dame Elinor is not overwell pleased +with thee to-day, nor our chaplain either." + +Therewith she turned and went out, locking the door behind her, and came +back presently bearing on her arm a green gown and other raiment: she +laid them on the stool before the Lady, and said: "Hasten, my Lady, and +let me go to my place: sooth to say, it may well be double trouble to +thee to don thy clothes, for thou mayst have to doff them again before +long." + +Goldilind answered nought, but reddened and paled again as she clad her +under the waiting-maid's eyes. Then they went out together, and up a +short stone stair, till they were level with the greensward without. +Then the maid turned to Goldilind and said: "And now thou art clad and +out, my Lady, I wot not where thou art to go to, since to thy chamber +thou must not go. Nay, hold and hearken! here we be at the door which +opens on to the Foresters' Garth under the Foresters' Tower, thither +shalt thou abide till I come to fetch thee. How now, my Lady! what else +wouldst thou?" + +Goldilind looked on her with a smile, yet with eagereyes, and said: "O +good Aloyse, wouldst thou but give me a piece of bread? for I hunger; +thou wottest my queenly board hath not been overloaded these last days." + +"Ha!" said Aloyse; "if thou ask me overmuch I fear thou mayst pay for +it, my Lady; but this last asking thou shalt have, and then none other +till all thy penance thou hast dreed. Abide!" + +Therewith she went up the stairs, and Goldilind, who now was but weak +with her prison and the sudden light, and the hope and fear of her +purpose of bewailing her story, sat her down on the stair there, almost, +as it were, 'twixt home and hell, till her heart came back to her and +the tears began to flow from her eyes. Forthright came back Aloyse, +bearing a white loaf and a little pitcher of milk on a silver +serving-dish; she laid them down, unlocked the door into the garden, and +thrust Goldilind through by the shoulders; then she turned and took up +her serving-dish with the bread and milk, and handed it to Goldilind +through the door, and said: "Now is my Lady served. It were indeed well +that my Lady should strengthen herself this hour for the hour next to +come." + +Therewith she turned about, and shut and locked the door; and the King's +daughter fell to eagerly on her bread, and thought of little till +she had eaten and drunk, save that she felt the sweet scent of the +gilliflowers and eglantine as it were a part of her meal. + +Then she went slowly down the garden, treading the greensward beside the +flowers; and she looked on the hold, and the low sun gilded the walls +thereof and glittered in a window here and there, and though there was +on her a foreboding of the hours of that day, she did what she might +to make the best of the fragrant May morning and the song of birds and +rustle of leaves, though, indeed, at whiles the tears would gush out of +her eyes when she thought how young she was and how feeble, and the pity +of herself became sweet unto her. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. OF GOLDILIND IN THE GARTH. + + +Now, as she went in that garden with her face turned toward the postern +which led into the open space of the greenwood, which was but two +bow-shots from the thicket, she heard the clatter of horse-hoofs on the +loose stones of the path, and how they stopped at the said postern; and +presently there was a key in the lock, the door opened, and a man came +in walking stiffly, like a rider who has ridden far and fast. He was +clad in jack and sallet, and had a sword by his side, and on his sleeve +was done in green and gold a mountain aflame; so that Goldilind knew him +at once for a man of Earl Geoffrey's; and, indeed, she had seen the +man before, coming and going on errands that she knew nought of, and +on which nothing followed that was of import to her. Therefore, as +she watched him cross the garden and go straight up to the door of the +Foresters' Tower, and take out another key and enter, she heeded him but +little, nor did his coming increase her trouble a whit. + +She walked on toward the postern, and now she saw that the errand-bearer +had left it open behind him, and when she came close up to it, she saw +his horse tied to a ring in the wall, a strong and good bay nag. The +sight of him, and the glimpse of the free and open land, stirred in her +the misery of her days and the yearning for the loveliness of the world +without, converse of friends, hope of the sufficiency of desire, and the +sweetness of love returned. And so strong a wave of anguish swept over +her, that she bowed her down upon the grass and wept bitterly. Yet but +a little while it lasted; she rose up presently and looked warily all +round her, and up to the Castle, and saw none stirring; she drew up the +skirts of her green gown into her girdle, till the hem but just hid her +knees; then she stepped lightly through the half-open door with flushed +cheeks and glittering eyes, while her heart rose within her; then she +lifted her hand, unhitched the reins from the iron ring, and quietly +led the horse close under the garth-wall, and stole gently up the +slope which, as all roads from the Castle, went straightway toward the +thicket, but this was the straightest. So she went, till she came to the +corner of the garth-wall, and a little further; and the Castle on that +side was blind, save for the swale on the battlement, whereon in that +deep peace was little going; and, moreover, it was not even yet six +o'clock. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. GOLDILIND GOES FREE. + + +There then she stayed the horse, and, flushed and panting, got lightly +into the saddle and bestrode it, and, leaning over on the beast's neck, +smote his flanks with her heels; the horse was fresh, though his +master had been weary, whereas the said messenger had gotten him from +a forester some six miles away in the wood that morning, so the nag +answered to her call for speed, and she went a great gallop into the +wood, and was hidden in a twinkling from any eyes that might be looking +out of the Castle. + +Without checking the nag she sped along, half mad with joy at the +freedom of this happy morn. Nigh aimless she was, but had an inkling +that it were well with her if she could hold northward ever; for the old +man aforesaid had told her of Oakenrealm, and how it lay northward of +them; so that way she drifted as the thicket would suffer her. When she +had gone as much of a gallop as she might for some half hour, she drew +rein to breathe her nag, and hearkened; she turned in the saddle, but +heard nought to affright her, so she went on again, but some what more +soberly; and thuswise she rode for some two hours, and the day waxed +hot, and she was come to a clear pool amidst of a little clearing, +covered with fine greensward right down to the water's edge. + +There she made stay, and got off her horse, and stood awhile by him +as he cropped the sweet grass; and the birds sang at the edge of the +thicket, and the rabbits crept and gambolled on the other side of the +water; and from the pool's edge the moorhens cried. She stood half +leaning against the side of the horse till she became somewhat drowsy; +yea, and even dreamed a little, and that little but ill, it seemed, as +she gave a troubled cry and shrank together and turned pale. Then she +rubbed her eyes and smiled, and turned to the pool, where now a little +ripple was running over the face of it, and a thought came upon her, +and she set her hand to the clasp of her gown and undid it, and drew the +gown off her shoulders, and so did off all her raiment, and stood +naked a little on the warm sunny grass, and then bestirred her and went +lightly into the pool, and bathed and sported there, and then came on to +the grass again, and went to and fro to dry her in the air and sun. Then +she did on her raiment again, and laid her down under a thorn-bush +by the pool-side, and there, would she, would she not, went to sleep +soundly and dreamed not. And when she awoke she deemed her sleep had +been long, but it was not so, but scarce a score of minutes. Anyhow, she +sprang up now and went to her horse, and drew the girths tight (which +she had loosed erewhile,) and so bestrode the good horse, and shook the +reins, and rode away much comforted and enheartened. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. OF GOLDILIND IN THE WILD-WOOD. + + +Goldilind rode on, hastening yet to put as many miles as she might +betwixt her and Greenharbour. Within a three hours from her bathing she +fell a-hungering sore, and knew not what to do to eat, till she found a +pouch made fast to the saddle-bow, and therein a little white loaf, that +and no more, which she took and ate the half of with great joy, sitting +down by a brook-side, whence she had her drink. + +Then again she mounted, and rode on till dusk overtook her just as she +came to a little river running from the north from pool to shallow, and +shallow to pool. And whereas she was now exceeding weary, and the good +horse also much spent, and that the grass was very sweet and soft down +to the water's edge, and that there was a thick thorn-bush to cover her, +she made up her mind that this place should be her bed-chamber. So she +took saddle and bridle off the horse, as he must needs bite the grass, +and then when she had eaten the other half of her bread, she laid her +down on the green grass, with her head on the saddle, and when she had +lain listening to the horse cropping the grass close anigh her for +a minute or two, she fell fast asleep, and lay there long and had no +dreams. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. WHAT GOLDILIND FOUND IN THE WOOD. + + +When she awoke it was broad day and bright sun, and she rose up to her +feet and looked about, and saw the horse standing close by, and sharing +the shade with her, whisking his tail about lazily. Then she turned, +and saw the stream rippling out from the pool over the clean gravel, and +here and there a fish darting through the ripple, or making clean rings +on the pool as he quietly took a fly; the sky was blue and clear, there +was scarce a breath of air, and the morning was already hot; no worse +than yesterday sang the birds in the bushes; but as she looked across +the river, where, forsooth, the alders grew thick about the pool's edge, +a cock blackbird, and then another, flew out from the close boughs, +where they had been singing to their mates, with the sharp cry that they +use when they are frighted. Withal she saw the bush move, though, as +aforesaid, the morning was without wind. She had just stooped to do off +her foot-gear (for she was minded to bathe again), but now she stopped +with one shoe in her hand, and looked on the bushes keenly with beating +heart, and again she thought she saw the boughs shaken, and stood, not +daring to move a while; but they moved no more now when she had looked +steadily at them a space, and again a blackbird began singing loud just +where they had been shaken. So she gathered heart again, and presently +turned her hand once more to stripping her raiment off her, for she +would not be baulked of her bath; but when the stripping was done, +she loitered not naked on the bank as she had done the day before, but +walked swiftly into the shallow, and thence down into the pool, till +nothing but her head and the whiteness of her shoulders showed over the +dark water. Even then she turned her head about twice to look into the +over-side bushes, but when she saw nothing stir there she began to play +in the water, but not for long, but came splashing through the shallow +and hurried on her raiment. + +When she was clad again she went up to the horse, and patted and +caressed him, and did bridle and saddle on him, and was going to climb +upon him, when, of a sudden, she thought she would lead him across, lest +there should be a hole near the other bank and he might stumble into +it unwarily; so she bared her feet once more and trussed up her gown +skirts, and so took the ford, leading the beast; the water was nowhere +up to mid-leg of her, and she stepped ashore on to short and fine grass, +which spread like a meadow before her, with a big thorn or two scattered +about it, and a little grassy hill beset with tall elms toward the top, +coming down into the flat of the meadow and drawing round it nearly up +to the river on the north side. + +But now she stood staring in wonder and some deal of fear; for there +were three milch kine feeding on the meadow, and, moreover, under a +thorn, scarce a hundred yards from where she stood, was a tall man +standing gazing on her. So stricken was she that she might neither cry +out nor turn aside; neither did she think to pull her gown out of her +girdle to cover the nakedness of her legs. + +When they had thus stood a little while the man began to move toward +her very slowly, nor did she dare to flee any the more. But when he was +within half a dozen paces her face flushed red, and she did pull her +gown out of its trusses and let it flow down. But he spake to her in a +pleasant voice, and said: "May I speak to thee, maiden?" + +Fear was yet in her soul, so that she might not speak for a little, and +then she said: "O, I beseech thee, bring me not back to Greenharbour!" +And she paled sorely as she spake the word. + +But he said: "I wot not of Greenharbour, how to find the way thereto, +though we have heard of it. But comfort thyself, I pray thee, there is +nought to fear in me." + +The sound of his voice was full pleasant to her, and when she hearkened +him, how kind and frank it was, then she knew how much of terror was +blent with her joy in her newly-won freedom and the delight of the kind +and happy words. Yet still she spoke not, and was both shamefast and +still not altogether unafraid. Yet, sooth to say, though his attire was +but simple, he was nought wild or fierce to look on. From time to time +she looked on him, and then dropped her eyes again. In those glances she +saw that he was grey-eyed, and smooth-cheeked, and round-chinned, and +his hair curly and golden; and she must needs think that she had never +seen any face half so fair. He was clad but in a green coat that came +not down to his knees, and brogues were tied to his feet, and no more +raiment he had; and for hat he had made him a garland of white may +blossom, and well it sat there: and again she looked on him, and thought +him no worse than the running angel that goes before the throne of God +in the picture of the choir of Meadhamstead; and she looked on him and +marvelled. + +Now she hung her head before him and wished he would speak, and even so +did he, and said: "Maiden, when I first saw thee from amidst of the bush +by the river yonder, I deemed thou wert a wood-wight, or some one of the +she-Gods of the Gentiles come back hither. For this is a lonely place, +and some might deem that the Devil hath might here more than in other +places; and when I saw thee, that thou wouldst do off thy raiment to +bathe thee, though soothly I longed to lie hidden there, I feared thee, +lest thou shouldst be angry with me if I were to see thee unclad; so I +came away; yet I went not far, for I was above all things yearning to +see thee; and sooth it is, that hadst thou not crossed the water, I +should presently have crossed it myself to seek thee, wert thou Goddess, +or wood-wife, or whatever might have come of it. But now thou art come +to us, and I have heard thy voice beseeching me not to bring thee to +Greenharbour, I see that thou art a woman of the kindred of Adam. And +yet so it is, that even now I fear thee somewhat. Yet I will pray thee +not to be wroth if I ask thee whether I may do aught for thy need." + +Now she began somewhat to smile, and she looked him full in the face, +and said: "Forsooth, my need is simple, for I am hungry." + +He smote himself on the breast, and said: "See now, what a great fool I +am, not to have known it without telling, instead of making long-winded +talk about myself. Come quickly, dear maiden, and leave thine horse to +crop the grass." + +So he hurried on to the thorn-bush aforesaid, and she went foot to foot +with him, but he touched her not; and straightway she sat her down on +the root of the thorn, and smiled frankly on him, and said: + +"Nay, sir, and now thou hast made me go all this way I am out of breath +and weary, so I pray thee of the victual at once." + +But he had been busy with his scrip which he had left cast down there, +and therewithal reached out to her a mighty hunch of bread and a piece +of white cheese, and said: + +"Now shall I fetch thee milk." Wherewith he took up a bowl of aspen tree +that had lain by the scrip, and ran off to one of the kine and milked +the bowl full, and came back with it heedfully, and set it down beside +her and said: "This was the nighest thing to hand, but when thou hast +eaten and rested then shall we go to our house, if thou wilt be so kind +to me; for there have we better meat and wine to boot." + +She looked up at him smiling, but her pleasure of the meat and the +kindness was so exceeding, that she might not refrain from tears also, +but she spake not. + +As for him, he knelt beside her, looking on her wistfully; and at last +he said: "I shall tell thee, that I am glad that thou wert hungry and +that I have seen thee eating, else might I have deemed thee somewhat +other than a woman of mankind even yet." + +She said: "Yea, and why wouldst thou not believe my word thereto?" + +He said, reddening: "I almost fear to tell thee, lest thou think me +overbold and be angry with me." + +"Nay," she said, "tell me, for I would know." + +Said he: "The words are not easy in my rude mouth; but this is what +I mean: that though I be young I have seen fair women not a few, but +beside any of them thou art a wonder;....and loth I were if thou wert +not really of mankind, if it were but for the glory of the world." + +She hung her head and answered nought a while, and he also seemed +ashamed: but presently she spake: "Thou hast been kind to us, wouldst +thou tell us thy name? and then, if it like thee, what thou art?" + +"Lady," he said, "my name is easy to tell, I hight Christopher; and +whiles folk in merry mockery call me Christopher King; meseems because I +am of the least account of all carles. As for what else I am, a woodman +I am, an outlaw, and the friend of them: yet I tell thee I have never +by my will done any harm to any child of man; and those friends of mine, +who are outlaws also, are kind and loving with me, both man and woman, +though needs must they dwell aloof from kings' courts and barons' +halls." + +She looked at him wondering, and as if she did not altogether understand +him; and she said: "Where dost thou dwell?" + +He said: "To-day I dwell hard by; though where I shall dwell to-morrow, +who knows? And with me are dwelling three of my kind fellows; and the +dearest is a young man of mine own age, who is my fellow in all matters, +for us to live and die each for the other. Couldst thou have seen him, +thou wouldst love him I deem." + +"What name hath he?" said Goldilind. + +"He hight David," said Christopher. + +But therewith he fell silent and knit his brow, as though he were +thinking of some knotty point: but in a while his face cleared, and he +said: "If I durst, I would ask thee thy name, and what thou art?" + +"As to my name," said she, "I will not tell it thee as now. As to what I +am, I am a poor prisoner; and much have I been grieved and tormented, +so that my body hath been but a thing whereby I might suffer anguish. +Something else am I, but I may not tell thee what as yet." + +He looked on her long, and then arose and went his way along the very +track of their footsteps, and he took the horse and brought him back to +the thorn, and stood by the lady and reddened, and said: "I must tell +thee what I have been doing these last minutes." + +"Yea," said she, looking at him wonderingly, "hast thou not been +fetching my horse to me?" + +"So it is," said he; "but something else also. Ask me, or I cannot tell +thee." + +She laughed, and said: "What else, fair sir?" + +Said he: "Ask me what, or I cannot tell thee." + +"Well, what, then?" said she. + +He answered, stammering and blushing: "I have been looking at thy foot +prints, whereby thou camest up from the water, to see what new and +fairer blossoms have come up in the meadow where thy feet were set e'en +now." + +She answered him nothing, and he held his peace. But in a while she +said: "If thou wouldst have us come to thine house, thou shalt lead +us thither now." And therewith she took her foot-gear from out of her +girdle, as if she would do it on, and he turned his face away, but +sighed therewith. Then she reddened and put them back again, and rose +up lightly, and said: "I will go afoot; and wilt thou lead the horse for +me?" + +So did he, and led her by all the softest and most flowery ways, turning +about the end of a spur of the little hill that came close to the water, +and going close to the lip of the river. And when they had thus turned +about the hill there was a somewhat wider vale before them, grassy +and fair, and on a knoll, not far from the water, a long frame-house +thatched with reed. + +Then said Christopher: "Lady, this is now Littledale, and yonder the +house thereof." + +She said quietly: "Lovely is the dale, and fair the house by seeming, +and I would that they may be happy that dwell therein!" + +Said Christopher: "Wilt thou not speak that blessing within the house as +without?" + +"Fain were I thereof," she said. And therewith they came into the garth, +wherein the apple trees were blossoming, and Goldilind spread abroad +her hands and lifted up her head for joy of the sight and the scent, and +they stayed awhile before they went on to the door, which was half open, +for they feared none in that place, and looked for none whom they might +not deal with if he came as a foe. + +Christopher would have taken a hand of her to lead her in, but both +hands were in her gown to lift up the hem as she passed over the +threshold; so he durst not. + +Fair and bright now was the hall within, with its long and low windows +goodly glazed, a green halling on the walls of Adam and Eve and the +garden, and the good God walking therein; the sun shone bright through +the southern windows, and about the porch it was hot, but further toward +the dais cool and pleasant. + +So Goldilind sat down in the coolest of the place at the standing table; +but Christopher bestirred himself, and brought wine and white bread, and +venison and honey, and said: "I pray thee to dine, maiden, for it is +now hard on noon; and as for my fair fellows, I look not for them before +sunset for they were going far into the wood." + +She smiled on him, and ate and drank a little deal, and he with her. +Sooth to say, her heart was full, and though she had forgotten her fear, +she was troubled, because, for as glad as she was, she could not be as +glad as her gladness would have her, for the sake of some lack, she knew +not what. + +Now spake Christopher: "I would tell thee something strange, to wit, +though it is little more than three hours since I first saw thee beside +the river, yet I seem to know thee as if thou wert a part of my life." + +She looked on him shyly, and he went on: "This also is strange, and, +withal, it likes me not, that when I speak of my fair fellows here, +David, and Gilbert, and Joanna, they are half forgotten to my heart, +though their names are on my tongue; and this house, doth it like thee, +fair guest?" + +"Yea, much," she said; "it seems joyous to me: and I shall tell thee +that I have mostly dwelt in unmerry houses, though they were of greater +cost than this." + +Said Christopher: "To me it hath been merry and happy enough; but now it +seems to me as if it had all been made for thee and this meeting." + +"Is it therefore no longer merry to thee because of that?" she said, +smiling, yet flushing much red therewith. Now it was his turn not to +answer her, and she cast down her eyes before him, and there was silence +between them. + +Then she looked at him steadily, and said: "It is indeed grievous that +thou shouldest forget thine old friends for me, and that it should have +come into thy mind that this fair and merry house was not made for thy +fair fellows and thy delight with them, but for me, the chance-comer. +For, hearken, whereas thou saidst e'en now, that I was become a part of +thy life, how can that be? For if I become the poor captive again, how +canst thou get to me, thou who art thyself a castaway, as thou hast told +me? Yea, but even so, I shall be too low for thee to come down to me. +And if I become what I should be, then I must tell thee that I shall +be too high for thee to climb up to me; so that in one way or other we +shall be sundered, who have but met for an hour or two." + +He hung his head a while as they stood there face to face, for both of +them had arisen from the board; but presently he looked up to her with +glittering eyes, and said: "Yea, for an hour or two; why then do we +tarry and linger, and say what we have no will to say, and refrain from +what our hearts bid us?" + +Therewith he caught hold of her right wrist, and laid his hand on her +left shoulder, and this first time that he had touched her, it was as if +a fire ran through all his body and changed it into the essence of her: +neither was there any naysay in her eyes, nor any defence against him in +the yielding body of her. But even in that nick of time he drew back a +little, and turned his head, as a man listening, toward the door, and +said: "Hist! hist! Dost thou hear, maiden?" She turned deadly pale: "O +what is it? What is it? Yea, I hear; it is horses drawing nigh, and the +sound of hounds baying. But may it not be thy fellows coming back?" + +"Nay, nay," he said; "they rode not in armour. Hark to it! and these +hounds are deep-voiced sleuth-dogs! But come now, there may yet be +time." + +He turned, and caught up axe and shield from off the wall, and drew her +toward a window that looked to the north, and peered out of it warily; +but turned back straightway, and said: "Nay, it is too late that way, +they are all round about the house. Maiden, get thou up into the solar +by this stair, and thou wilt find hiding-place behind the traverse of +the bed; and if they go away, and my fellows come in due time, then art +thou safe. But if not, surely they shall do thee no hurt; for I think, +indeed, that thou art some great one." + +And he fell to striding down the hall toward the door; but she ran after +him, and caught his arm, and said: "Nay, nay, I will not hide, to be +dragged out of my refuge like a thief: thou sayest well that I am of the +great; I will stand by thee and command and forbid as a Queen. O go not +to the door! Stay by me, stay!" + +"Nay, nay," he said, "there is nought for it but the deed of arms. Look! +seest thou not steel by the porch?" + +And therewith he broke from her and ran to the door, and was met upon +the very threshold by all-armed men, upon whom he fell without more ado, +crying out: "For the Tofts! For the Tofts! The woodman to the rescue!" +And he hewed right and left on whatsoever was before him, so that what +fell not, gave back, and for a moment of time he cleared the porch; but +in that nick of time his axe brake on the basnet of a huge man-at-arms, +and they all thrust them on him together and drave him back into the +hall, and came bundling after him in a heap. But he drave his shield +at one, and then with his right hand smote another on the bare face, so +that he rolled over and stirred no more till the day of doom. Then was +there a weapon before him, might he have stooped to pick it up; but he +might not; so he caught hold of a sturdy but somewhat short man by the +collar and the lap of his leather surcoat, and drew aback, and with a +mighty heave cast him on the rout of them, who for their parts had drawn +back a little also, as if he had been a huge stone, and down went two +before that artillery; and they set up a great roar of wonder and fear. +But he followed them, and this time got an axe in his hand, so mazed +they were by his onset, and he hewed at them again and drave them aback +to the threshold of the door: but could get them no further, and they +began to handle long spears to thrust at him. + +But then came forward a knight, no mickle man, but clad in very goodly +armour, with a lion beaten in gold on his green surcoat; this man smote +up the spears, and made the men go back a little, while he stood on the +threshold; so Christopher saw that he would parley with him, and forbore +him, and the knight spake: "Thou youngling, art thou mad? What doest +thou falling on my folk?" + +"And what do ye," said Christopher fiercely, "besetting the houses of +folk with weapons? Now wilt thou take my life. But I shall yet slay one +or two before I die. Get thee back, lord, or thou shalt be the first." + +But the knight, who had no weapon in his hand, said: "We come but +to seek our own, and that is our Lady of Meadham, who dwelleth at +Greenharbour by her own will. And if thou wilt stand aside thou mayst go +free to the devil for us." + +Now would Christopher have shouted and fallen on, and gone to his death +there and then; but even therewith a voice, clear and sweet, spake at +the back of him, and said: "Thou kind host, do thou stand aside and let +us speak that which is needful." And therewith stepped forth Goldilind +and stood beside Christopher, and said: "Sir Burgreve, we rode forth to +drink the air yesterday, and went astray amidst the wild-wood, and were +belated, so that we must needs lie down under the bare heaven; but this +morning we happened on this kind forester, who gave us to eat, and took +us to his house and gave us meat and drink; for which it were seemlier +to reward him than threaten him. Now it is our pleasure that ye lead us +back to Greenharbour; but as for this youth, that ye do him no hurt, but +let him go free, according to thy word spoken e'en now, Sir Burgreve." + +She spake slowly and heavily, as one who hath a lesson to say, and it +was to be seen of her that all grief was in her heart, though her words +were queenly. Some of them that heard laughed; but the Burgreve spake, +and said: "Lady, we will do thy will in part, for we will lead thee to +Greenharbour in all honour; but as to this young man, if he will not be +slain here and now, needs must he with us. For he hath slain two of our +men outright, and hath hurt many, and, methinks, the devil of the woods +is in his body. So do thou bid him be quiet, if thou wouldst not see his +blood flow." + +She turned a pale unhappy face on Christopher, and said: "My friend, +we bid thee withstand them no more, but let them do with thee as they +will." + +Christopher stood aside therewith, and sat down on a bench and laughed, +and said in a high voice: "Stout men-at-arms, forsooth, to take a maid's +kirtle to their shield." + +But therewith the armed men poured into the hall, and a half dozen of +the stoutest came up unto Christopher where he sat, and bound his hands +with their girdles, and he withstood them no whit, but sat laughing in +their faces, and made as if it were all a Yule-tide game. But inwardly +his heart burned with anger, and with love of that sweet Lady. + +Then they made him stand up, and led him without the house, and set him +on a horse, and linked his feet together under the belly thereof. And +when that was done he saw them lead out the Lady, and they set her in a +horse litter, and then the whole troop rode off together, with two +men riding on either side of the said litter. In this wise they left +Littledale. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. GOLDILIND COMES BACK TO GREENHARBOUR. + + +They rode speedily, and had with them men who knew the woodland ways, +so that the journey was nought so long thence as Goldilind had made it +thither; and they stayed not for nightfall, since the moon was bright, +so that they came before the Castle-gate before midnight. Now Goldilind +looked to be cast into prison, whatever might befall her upon the +morrow; but so it went not, for she was led straight to her own chamber, +and one of her women, but not Aloyse, waited on her, and when she tried +to have some tidings of her, the woman spake to her no more than if she +were dumb. So all unhappily she laid her down in her bed, foreboding the +worst, which she deemed might well be death at the hand of her jailers. +As for Christopher, she saw the last of him as they entered the +Castle-gate, and knew not what they had done with him. So she lay in +dismal thoughts, but at last fell asleep for mere weariness. + +When she awoke it was broad day, and there was someone going about in +the chamber; she turned, and saw that it was Aloyse. She felt sick +at heart, and durst not move or ask of tidings; but presently Aloyse +turned, and came to the bed, and made an obeisance, but spake not. +Goldilind raised her head, and said wearily: "What is to be done, +Aloyse, wilt thou tell me? For my heart fails me, and meseems, unless +they have some mercy, I shall die to-day." + +"Nay," said the chambermaid, "keep thine heart up; for here is one at +hand who would see thee, when it is thy pleasure to be seen." + +"Yea," said Goldilind, "Dame Elinor to wit." And she moaned, and fear +and heart-sickness lay so heavy on her that she went nigh to swooning + +But Aloyse lifted up her head, and brought her wine and made her drink, +and when Goldilind was come to herself again the maid said: "I say, keep +up thine heart, for it is not Dame Elinor and the rods that would see +thee, but a mighty man; nay, the most mighty, to wit, Earl Geoffrey, who +is King of Meadham in all but the name." + +Goldilind did in sooth take heart at this tidings, and she said: "I +wonder what he may have to do here; all this while he hath not been to +Greenharbour, or, mayhappen, it might have been better for me." + +"I wot not," said Aloyse, "but even so it is. I shall tell thee, the +messenger, whose horse thou didst steal, brought no other word in his +mouth save this, that my Lord Earl was coming; and come he did; but +that was toward sunset, long after they had laid the blood-hounds on thy +slot, and I had been whipped for letting thee find the way out a-gates. +Now, our Lady, when thou hast seen the Earl, and hast become our Lady +and Mistress indeed, wilt thou bethink thee of the morn before yesterday +on my behalf?" + +"Yea," said Goldilind, "if ever it shall befall." + +"Befall it shall," said Aloyse; "I dreamed of thee three nights ago, and +thou sitting on thy throne commanding and forbidding the great men. But +at worst no harm hath happened save to my shoulders and sides, by thy +stealing thyself, since thou hast come back in the nick of time, and of +thine own will, as men say. But tell me now of thine holiday, and if it +were pleasant to thee?" + +Goldilind fell a-weeping at the word, bethinking her of yesterday +morning, and Aloyse stood looking on her, but saying nought. At last +spake Goldilind softly: "Tell me, Aloyse, didst thou hear any speaking +of that young man who was brought in hither last night? Have they slain +him?" + +Said Aloyse: "Soothly, my Lady, I deem they have done him no hurt, +though I wot not for sure. There hath been none headed or hanged in the +base-court to-day. I heard talk amongst the men-at-arms of one whom they +took; they said he was a wonder of sheer strength, and how that he cast +their men about as though he were playing at ball. Sooth to say, they +seemed to bear him no grudge therefor. But now I would counsel thee to +arise; and I am bidden to tire and array thee at the best. And now I +would say a word in thine ear, to wit, that Dame Elinor feareth thee +somewhat this morn." + +So Goldilind arose, and was arrayed like a very queen, and was served +of what she would by Aloyse and the other women, and sat in her chamber +awaiting the coming of the mighty Lord of Meadham. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. EARL GEOFFREY SPEAKS WITH GOLDILIND. + + +But a little while had she sat there, before footsteps a many came to +the door, which was thrown open, and straight it was as if the sun had +shone on a flower-bed, for there was come Earl Geoffrey and his lords +all arrayed most gloriously. Then came the Earl up the chamber to +Goldilind, and bent the knee before her, and said: "Lady and Queen, is +it thy pleasure that thy servant should kiss thine hand?" + +She made him little cheer, but reached out to him her lily hand in its +gold sleeve, and said: "Thou must do thy will." + +So he kissed the hand reverently, and said: "And these my lords, may +they enter and do obeisance and kiss hands, my Lady?" + +Said Goldilind: "I will not strive to gainsay their will, or thine, my +Lord." + +So they entered and knelt before her, and kissed her hand; and, to say +sooth, most of them had been fain to kiss both hands of her, yea, and +her cheeks and her lips; though but little cheer she made them, but +looked sternly on them. + +Then the Earl spake to her, and told her of her realm, and how folk +thrived, and of the deep peace that was upon the land, and of the merry +days of Meadham, and the praise of the people. And she answered him +nothing, but as he spake her bosom began to heave, and the tears came +into her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Then man looked on man, and +the Earl said: "My masters, I deem that my Lady hath will to speak to me +privily, as to one who is her chiefest friend and well-willer. Is it so, +my Lady?" + +She might not speak for the tears that welled out from her heart; but +she bowed her head and strove to smile on him. + +But the Earl waved his hand, and those lords, and the women also, voided +the chamber, and left those two alone, the Earl standing before her. +But ere he could speak, she arose from her throne and fell on her knees +before him, and joined hands palm to palm, and cried in a broken voice: +"Mercy! Mercy! Have pity on my young life, great Lord!" + +But he lifted her up, and set her on her throne again, and said: "Nay, +my Lady, this is unmeet; but if thou wouldst talk and tell with me I am +ready to hearken." + +She strove with her passion a while, and then she said: "Great Lord, I +pray thee to hearken, and to have patience with a woman's weak heart. +Prithee, sit down here beside me. + +"It were unfitting," he said; "I shall take a lowlier seat." Then he +drew a stool to him, and sat down before her, and said: "What aileth +thee? What wouldest thou?" + +Then she said: "Lord Earl, I am in prison; I would be free." + +Quoth he: "Yea, and is this a prison, then?" + +"Yea," she said, "since I may not so much as go out from it and come +back again unthreatened; yet have I been, and that unseldom, in a worser +prison than this: do thou go look on the Least Guard-chamber, and see if +it be a meet dwelling for thy master's daughter." + +He spake nought awhile; then he said: "And, yet if it grieveth thee, it +marreth thee nought; for when I look on thee mine eyes behold the beauty +of the world, and the body wherein is no lack." + +She reddened and said: "If it be so, it is God's work, and I praise him +therefor. But how long will it last? For grief slayeth beauty." + +He looked on her long, and said: "To thy friends I betook thee, and I +looked that they should cherish thee; where then is the wrong that I +have done thee?" + +She said: "Maybe no wrong wittingly; since now, belike, thou art come +to tell me that all this weary sojourn is at an end, and that thou wilt +take me to Meadhamstead, and set me on the throne there, and show my +father's daughter to all the people." + +He held his peace, and his face grew dark before her while she watched +it. At last he spake in a harsh voice: "Lady," he said, "it may not be; +here in Greenharbour must thou abide, or in some other castle apart from +the folk." + +"Yea," she said, "now I see it is true, that which I foreboded when +first I came hither: thou wouldst slay me, that thou mayest sit safely +in the seat of thy master's daughter; thou durst not send me a man with +a sword to thrust me through, therefore thou hast cast me into prison +amongst cruel jailers, who have been bidden by thee to take my life +slowly and with torments. Hitherto I have withstood their malice and +thine; but now am I overcome, and since I know that I must die, I have +now no fear, and this is why I am bold to tell thee this that I have +spoken, though I wot now I shall be presently slain. And now I tell thee +I repent it, that I have asked grace of a graceless face." + +Although she spake strong words, it was with a mild and steady voice. +But the Earl was sore troubled, and he rose up and walked to and fro +of the chamber, half drawing his sword and thrusting it back into the +scabbard from time to time. At last he came back to her, and sat down +before her and spake: + +"Maiden, thou art somewhat in error. True it is that I would sit firm in +my seat and rule the land of Meadham, as belike none other could. True +it is also that I would have thee, the rightful heir, dwell apart from +the turmoil for a while at least; for I would not have thy white hands +thrust me untimely from my place, or thy fair face held up as a banner +by my foemen. Yet nowise have I willed thy death or thine anguish; and +if all be true as thou sayest it, and thou art so lovely that I know not +how to doubt it, tell me then what these have done with thee." + +She said: "Sir, those friends to whom thou hast delivered me are my +foes, whether they were thy friends or not. Wilt thou compel me to tell +thee all my shame? They have treated me as a thrall who had whiles to +play a queen's part in a show. To wit, thy chaplain whom thou hast given +me has looked on me with lustful eyes, and has bidden me buy of him ease +and surcease of pain with my very body, and hath threatened me more evil +else, and kept his behest." + +Then leapt up the Earl and cried out: "Hah! did he so? Then I tell thee +his monk's hood shall not be stout enough to save his neck. Now, my +child, thou speakest; tell me more, since my hair is whitening." + +She said: "The sleek, smooth-spoken woman to whom thou gavest me, didst +thou bid her to torment me with stripes, and the dungeon, and the dark, +and solitude, and hunger?" + +"Nay, by Allhallows!" he said, "nor thought of it; trust me she shall +pay therefor if so she hath done." + +She said: "I crave no vengeance, but mercy I crave, and thou mayst give +it me." + +Then were they both silent, till he said: "Now I, for my part, will pray +thee bear what thou must bear, which shall be nought save this, that thy +queenship lie quiet for a while; nought else of evil shall betide thee +henceforth; but as much of pleasure and joy as may go with it. But tell +me, there is a story of thy snatching a holiday these two days, and of a +young man whom thou didst happen on. Tell me now, not as a maiden to +her father or warder, but as a great lady might tell a great lord, what +betid betwixt you two: for thou art not one on whom a young and doughty +man may look unmoved. By Allhallows! but thou art a firebrand, my Lady!" +And he laughed therewith. + +Goldilind flushed red exceeding; but she answered steadily: "Lord Earl, +this is the very sooth, that I might not fail to see it, how he thought +me worth looking on, but he treated me with all honour, as a brother +might a sister." + +"Tell me," said the Earl, "what like was this man?" + +Said she: "He was young, but strong beyond measure; and full doughty: +true it is that I saw him with mine eyes take and heave up one of our +men in his hands and cast him away as a man would a clod of earth." + +The Earl knit his brow: "Yea," said he, "and that story I have heard +from the men-at-arms also. But what was the man like of aspect?" + +She reddened: "He was of a most goodly body," she said, "fair-eyed, and +of a face well carven; his speech kind and gentle." And yet more she +reddened. + +Said the Earl: "Didst thou hear what he was, this man?" + +She said: "I deem from his own words that he was but a simple forester." + +"Yea," quoth the Earl, "a simple forester? Nay, but a woodman, an +outlaw, a waylayer; so say our men, that he fell on them with the cry: +A-Tofts! A-Tofts! Hast thou never heard of Jack of the Tofts?" + +"Nay, never," said she. + +Said the Earl: "He is the king of these good fellows; and a perilous +host they be. Now I fear me, if he be proven to be one of these, there +will be a gallows reared for him to-morrow, for as fair and as doughty +as he may be." + +She turned all pale, and her lips quivered: then she rose up, and fell +on her knees before the Earl, and cried out: "O sir, a grace, a grace, I +pray thee! Pardon this poor man who was so kind to me!" + +The Earl raised her up and smiled, and said: "Nay, my Lady Queen, +wouldst thou kneel to me? It is unmeet. And as for this woodman, it is +for thee to pardon him, and not for me; and since, by good luck, he is +not hanged yet, thy word hath saved his neck." She sat down in her chair +again, but still looked white and scared. But the Earl spake again, and +kindly: + +"Now to all these matters I shall give heed, my Lady; wherefore I will +ask leave of thee, and be gone; and to-morrow I will see thee again, and +lay some rede before thee. Meantime, be of good cheer, for thou shalt be +made as much of as may be, and live in mickle joy if thou wilt. And if +any so much as give thee a hard word, it shall be the worse for them." + +Therewith he arose, and made obeisance to her, and departed. And she +abode quiet, and looking straight before her, till the door shut, and +then she put her hands to her face and fell a-weeping, and scarce knew +what ailed her betwixt hope, and rest of body, and love, though that she +called not by its right name. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. EARL GEOFFREY SPEAKETH WITH CHRISTOPHER. + + +Now it is to be said that the Earl had had much tidings told him of +Christopher, and had no intent to put him to death, but rather meant to +take him into the company of his guard, to serve him in all honour; +and that which he said as to hanging him was but to try Goldilind; but +having heard and seen of her such as we have told, he now thought it +good to have a privy talk with this young man. So he bade a squire lead +him to where Christopher was held in ward, and went much pondering. + +So the squire brought him to the self-same Littlest Guardroom (in sooth +a prison) where Goldilind had lain that other morn; and he gave the +squire leave, and entered and shut the door behind him, so that he and +Christopher were alone together. The young man was lying on his back +on the pallet, with his hands behind his head, and his knees drawn up, +murmuring some fag-end of an old song; but when he heard the door shut +to he sat up, and, turning to the new-comer, said: "Art thou tidings? If +so, then tell me quickly which it is to be, the gallows or freedom?" + +"Friend," said the Earl sternly, "dost thou know who I am?" + +"Nay," said Christopher; "by thine attire thou shouldst be some great +man; but that is of little matter to me, since thou wilt neither bid +slay me, or let me go, for a heedless word." + +Quoth the Earl: "I am the master of the land of Meadham, so there is +no need to tell thee that I have thy life or death in my hand. Now thou +wilt not deny that thou art of the company of Jack o' the Tofts?" + +"It is sooth," said Christopher. + +"Well," said the Earl, "thou art bold then to have come hither, for +thou sayest it that thou art a wolf's-head and forfeit of thy life. Now, +again, thou didst take the Lady of Meadham home to thy house yesterday, +and wert with her alone a great while. Now according to thy dealings +with her thou dost merit either the most evil of deaths, or else it may +be a reward: hah! what sayest thou?" + +Christopher leapt up, and said in a loud voice: "Lord King, whatsoever I +may be, I am not each man's dastard; when I saw that pearl of all women, +I loved her indeed, as who should not, but it was even as I had loved +the Mother of God had she come down from the altar picture at the Church +of Middleham of the Wood. And whoso saith otherwise, I give him the lie +back in his teeth, and will meet him face to face if I may; and then, +meseems, it will go hard with him." + +Spake the Earl, laughing: "I will be no champion against thee, for I +hold my skin and my bones of too much price thereto. And, moreover, +though meseemeth the Blessed Virgin would have a hot lover in thee were +she to come down to earth anigh thy dwelling, yet trow I thy tale, that +thou hast dealt with my Lady in honour. Therefore, lad, what sayest +thou, wilt thou be a man of mine, and bear arms for me, and do my will?" + +Spake Christopher: "Lord, this is better than hanging." + +"Why, so it is, lad," said the Earl, laughing again, "and some would +say better by a good deal. But hearken! if thou take it, thou must abide +here in Greenharbour--a long while, maybe; yea, even so long as my Lady +dwelleth here." + +Christopher flushed and said: "Lord, thou art kind and gracious, and I +will take thy bidding." + +The Earl said: "Well, so it shall be then; and presently thou shalt go +out of this guard-room a free man. But abide a while." + +Therewith he drew a stool to him and sat down, and spake not for a long +while; and Christopher abode his pleasure; at last spake the Earl: "One +day, mayhappen, we may make a wedding for thee, and that no ill one." + +Christopher laughed: "Lord," said he, "what lady will wed me, a no man's +son?" + +Said the Earl: "Not if the Lord of Meadham be thy friend? Well then, how +if the Lady and Queen of Meadham make thee the wedding?" + +Said Christopher: "I were liefer to make mine own wedding, whenso I +need a woman in my bed: I will compel no woman, nor ask others to compel +her." + +The Earl rose up, and fell to pacing the prison to and fro; and at last +he stood over against Christopher, and said: "Hearken, forester: I will +foretell thy fortune; it is that thou shalt become great by wedding." + +Christopher held his peace; and the Earl spake again: "Now is the +shortest word best. We deem thee both goodly and doughty, and would wed +thee to a great lady, even that one to whom thou hast shown kindness in +the wilderness." + +Said Christopher: "It is the wont of great lords to mock poor folk, +therefore I must not show anger against thee." + +"I mock thee not," said the Earl; "I mean nought, but as my words say." + +"Nay then," said Christopher, "thou biddest me an evil deed, great Lord. +What I said was that I would compel no woman; and shall I compel her who +is the wonder of the world and my very own Lady?" + +"Hold thy peace, sir fool," said the Earl; "let me tell thee that she +is as like to compel thee as thou her. And as to her being thy Lady, she +shall be thy Lady and wife indeed; but not here, for above all things +will she get her away from Greenharbour, and thou shalt be her champion, +to lead her about the world like a knight errant." + +Now was Christopher so troubled that he knew not what countenance to +make, and scarce might he get a word out of his mouth a long while. At +last he said: "Lord, I see that I must needs do thy will if this be no +trap which thou hast set for me. But overwonderful it is, that a great +lady should be wedded to a gangrel churl." + +The Earl laughed: "Many a ferly fares to the fair-eyed," quoth he; "and +also I will tell thee in thine ear that this Lady may not be so great as +her name is great. Did she praise her life-days to thee?" + +"Nay," said Christopher; "I mind me well, she called herself the poor +captive." + +"She said but sooth," quoth the Earl; "and her going away from +Greenharbour is instead of her captivity; and I tell thee it is by that +only I may make her joyous. And now one word: thou that criest out For +the Tofts in battle art not altogether unfriended, meseemeth." + +Christopher looked up proudly and fiercely: he said: "Forsooth, Lord, my +friends are good, though thou callest them wolf-heads and gallows-meat." + +"Champion," said the Earl, laughing, "that may well be sooth; and there +are a many ups and downs in the world. Bethink thee that the time may +come when thou and thy friends may wend to my help, and may win the +names of knight and baron and earl: such hap hath been aforetime. And +now I crave of thee, when thou comest back to the Tofts, to bid Jack +fall upon other lands than Meadham when he rideth, because of the gift +and wedding that I give thee now. So, lad, I deem that thou hast chosen +thy part; but let not the tale thereof go out of thy mouth, or thou wilt +gab away thy wedding. Lo, thou, I leave this door open behind me; and +presently shall the smith come here to do away thine irons; and I shall +send a squire to thee to lead thee to a fair chamber, and to bring thee +goodly raiment, and do thou play amongst thy fellows as one of the +best of them; and show them, if thou wilt, some such feats in peace as +yesterday thou showedst them in battle. And to-morrow there will be new +tidings." And therewith he departed. + +No worse than his word he was, and anon came the smith and the squire; +and he was brought to a chamber, and raiment of fine linen and silk and +embroidery was brought to him: and when he was new clad he looked like +a king's son, whereas aforetime he looked like a God of the Gentiles of +old. All men praised his beauty and his courtesy, and after dinner was, +and they had rested, they bade him play with them and show them his +prowess, and he was nought loth thereto, and did what he might in +running and leaping, and casting of the bar, and shooting in the +bow. And in all these things he was so far before everyone, that they +marvelled at him, and said it was well indeed that he had not been slain +yesterday. As to wrestling, therein he might do but little; for all +forbore him after the first man had stood before him, a squire, well +learned in war, and long and tough, and deemed a very stark man; him +Christopher threw over his shoulder as though he had been a child of +twelve years. So wore the day at Greenharbour in merrier wise for all +good folk than for many a day had been the wont there. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. OF THE WEDDING OF CHRISTOPHER AND GOLDILIND. + + +Early on the morrow came the Earl unto Goldilind, and she received him +gladly, as one who had fashioned life anew for her. And when he had sat +down by her, he spake and said: "Lady, thou cravedst of me yesterday two +things; the first was freedom from the captivity of Greenharbour; and +the second, life and liberty for the varlet that cherished thee in the +wild-wood the other day. Now thy first asking grieved me, for that thou +hast been tyrannously done by; and thy second I wondered at; but since +I have seen the young man, I wonder the less; for he is both so goodly, +and so mighty of body, and of speech bold and free, yet gentle and of +all courtesy, that he is meet to be knight or earl, yea, or very king. +Now, therefore, in both these matters I will well to do thy pleasure, +and in one way it may be; and thou mayst then go forth from Greenharbour +as free as a bird, and thy varlet's life may be given unto him, and +mickle honour therewith. Art thou, then, willing to do after my rede and +my commandment, so that both these good things may betide thee?" + +"Right willing am I," she said, "to be free and happy and to save the +life of a fair youth and kind." + +"Then," said he, "there is one thing for thee to do: that this day +thou wed this fair and kind youth, and let him lead thee forth from +Greenharbour; and, belike, he will bring thee to no ill stead; for his +friends are mightier than mayhappen thou deemest." + +She turned as red as blood at his word; she knit her brows, and her eyes +flashed as she answered: "Is it seemly for a King's daughter to wed a +nameless churl? And now I know thee, Lord Earl, what thou wouldst do; +thou wouldst be King of Meadham and put thy master's daughter to the +road." And she was exceeding wroth. + +But he said, smiling somewhat: "Was it then seemly for the King's +daughter to kneel for this man's life, and go near to swooning for joy +when it was granted to her?" + +"Yea," she said, "for I love him with all my body and soul; and I +would have had him love me par amours, and then should I have been his +mistress and he my servant; but now shall he be my master and I his +servant." And still was she very wroth. + +Quoth the Earl: "As to the matter of my being King of Meadham, that will +I be, whatever befall, or die in the place else. So if thou wilt not do +my rede, then must the varlet whom thou lovest die, and at Greenharbour +must thou abide with Dame Elinor. There is no help for it." + +She shrieked out at that word of his, and well nigh swooned, lying back +in her chair: but presently fell a-weeping sorely. But the Earl said: +"Hearken, my Lady, I am not without warrant to do this. Tell me, hast +thou ever seen any fairer or doughtier than this youngling?" + +"Never," said she. + +"So say we all," he said. "Now I shall tell thee (and I can bring +witness to it) that in his last hour the King, thy father, when he gave +thee into my keeping, spake also this: that I should wed thee to none +save the fairest and doughtiest man that might be found: even so would I +do now. What then sayest thou?" + +She answered not, but still wept somewhat; then said the Earl: "Lady, +give me leave, and I shall send thy women to thee, and sit in the great +hall for an hour, and if within that while thou send a woman of thine +to say one word, Yes, unto me, then is all well. But if not, then do I +depart from Greenharbour straightway, and take the youngling with me to +hang him up on the first tree. Be wise, I pray thee." + +And therewith he went his ways. But Goldilind, being left alone a +little, rose up and paced the chamber to and fro, and her tears and +sobbing ceased; and a great and strange joy grew up in her heart, +mingled with the pain of longing, so that she might rest in nowise. Even +therewith the door opened, and her women entered, Aloyse first, and she +called to her at once, and bade her to find Earl Geoffrey in the great +hall, and say to him: Yes. So Aloyse went her ways, and Goldilind bade +her other women to array her in the best and goodliest wise that they +might. And the day was yet somewhat young. Now it must be said of Earl +Geoffrey that, in spite of his hard word, he had it not in his heart +either to slay Christopher or to leave Goldilind at Greenharbour to the +mercy of Dame Elinor. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. OF THE WEDDING OF THOSE TWAIN. + + +Now were folk gathered in the hall, and the Earl Geoffrey was standing +on the dais by the high-seat, and beside him a worthy clerk, the Abbot +of Meadhamstead, a monk of St. Benedict, and next to him the Burgreve +of Greenharbour, and then a score of knights all in brave raiment, and +squires withal, and sergeants; but down in the hall were the men-at-arms +and serving-men, and a half hundred of folk of the countryside, queans +as well as carles, who had been gathered for the show and bidden in. No +other women were there in the hall till Goldilind and her serving-women +entered. She went straight up the hall, and took her place in the +high-seat; and for all that her eyes seemed steady, she had noted +Christopher standing by the shot-window just below the dais. + +Now when she was set down, and there was silence in the hall, Earl +Geoffrey came forth and said: "Lords and knights, and ye good people, +the Lady Goldilind, daughter of the Lord King Roland that last was, is +now of age to wed; and be it known unto you, that the King, her father, +bade me, in the last words by him spoken, to wed her to none but the +loveliest and strongest that might be, as witness I can bring hereto. +Now such a man have I sought hereto in Meadhamstead and the much-peopled +land of Meadham, and none have I come on, however worthy he were of +deeds, or well-born of lineage, but that I doubted me if he were so fair +or so doughty as might be found; but here in this half-desert corner of +the land have I gotten a man than whom none is doughtier, as some of you +have found to your cost. And tell me all you, where have ye seen any as +fair as this man?" And therewith he made a sign with his hand, and +forth strode Christopher up on to the dais; and he was so clad, that +his kirtle was of white samite, girt with a girdle of goldsmith's work, +whereby hung a good sword of like fashion, and over his shoulders was +a mantle of red cloth-of-gold, furred with ermine, and lined with green +sendall; and on his golden curled locks sat a chaplet of pearls. + +Then to the lords and all the people he seemed so fair and fearless and +kind that they gave a great shout of welcome; and Goldilind came forth +from her chair, as fair as a June lily, and came to Christopher and +reached out her hand to him, but he refrained him a moment, so that all +they could see how sweet and lovely a hand it was, and then he took it, +and drew her to him, and kissed her mouth before them all; and still he +held her hand, till the Abbot of Meadhamstead aforetold came and stood +by them and blessed them. + +Then spake the Earl again: "Lo ye, here hath been due betrothal of these +twain, and ye may see how meet they be for each other in goodliness +and kindness. Now there lacketh nought but they should be wedded +straightway; and all is arrayed in the chapel; wherefore if this holy +man will come with us and do on his mass-hackle, our joy shall be +fulfilled; save that thereafter shall feast and merriment await all you +in this hall, and we shall be there to welcome all comers in this house +of Greenharbour, whereas this our gracious Lady has long abided so +happily." + +Man looked on man here and there, and smiled a little as he spake, but +none said aught, for there were none save the Earl's servants there, and +a sort of poor wretches. + +So therewithal they went their ways to the chapel where was the wedding +done as grandly as might be, considering they were in no grander place +than Greenharbour. And when all was done, and folk began to flow away +from the chapel, and Goldilind sat shamefaced but strangely happy in +a great stall of the choir, the Earl called Christopher unto him, and +said: "My lad, I deem that some great fortune shall betide thee since +already thou hast begun so luckily. But I beseech thee mar not thy +fortune by coming back with thy fair wife to the land of Meadham; or +else it may be thou shalt cast thy life away, and that will bring her +sorrow, as I can see well." + +He spake this grimly, though he smiled as he spake. But he went on more +gently: "I will not send you twain away empty-handed; when ye go out +a-gates into the wide world, ye shall find two fair horses for your +riding, well bedight, and one with a woman's saddle; and, moreover, +a sumpter beast, not very lightly burdened, for on one side of him he +beareth achest wherein is, first of all, the raiment of my Lady, and +beneath it some deal of silver and gold and gems; but on the other +side is victual and drink for the way for you, and raiment for thee, +youngling. How sayest thou, is it well?" + +"It is well, Lord," said Christopher; "yet would I have with me the +raiment wherewith I came hither, and my bow and my sax." + +"Yea and wherefore, carle?" said Earl Geoffrey. + +Said the youngling: "We be going to ride the wild-wood, and it might be +better for safety's sake that I be so clad as certain folk look to see +men ride there." + +But he reddened as he spake; and the Earl said: "By Allhallows! but it +is not ill thought of; and, belike, the same-like kind of attire might +be better to hide the queenship of the Lady from the wood-folk than that +which now she weareth?" + +"True is that, Lord," quoth Christopher. + +"Yet," said the Earl, "I will have you go forth from the Castle clad in +your lordly weed, lest folk of mine say that I have stripped my Lady and +cast her forth: don ye your poor raiment when in the wood ye be." + +Therewith he called to a squire, and bade him seek out that poor raiment +of the new-wedded youngling, and bow withal and shafts good store, and +do all on the sumpter; and, furthermore, he bade him tell one of my +Lady's women to set on the sumpter some of Goldilind's old and used +raiment. So the squire did the Earl's will, and both got Christopher's +gear and also found Aloyse and gave her the Earl's word. + +She smiled thereat, and went straightway and fetched the very same +raiment, green gown and all, which she had brought to Goldilind +in prison that other day, and in which Goldilind had fled from +Greenharbour. And when she had done them in the chest above all the +other gear, she stood yet beside the horses amidst of the varlets and +squires who were gathered there to see the new-wedded folk depart. + +Presently then came forth through the gate those two, hand in hand, and +Earl Geoffrey with them. And he set Goldilind on her horse himself, and +knelt before her to say farewell, and therewith was Christopher on his +horse, and him the Earl saluted debonairly. + +But just as they were about shaking their reins to depart, Aloyse fell +down on her knees before the Earl, who said: "What is toward, woman?" + +"A grace, my Lord, a grace," said she. + +"Stand up on thy feet," said the Earl, "and ye, my masters, draw out of +earshot." + +Even so did they; and the Earl bade her speak, and she said: "Lord, my +Lady is going away from Greenharbour, and anon thou wilt be going, and +I shall be left with the sleek she-devil yonder that thou hast set over +us, and here there will be hell for me without escape, now that my Lady +is gone. Wherefore I pray thee take me with thee to Meadhamstead, even +if it be to prison; for here I shall die the worst of deaths." + +Earl Geoffrey smiled on her sourly, and said: "If it be as I understand, +that thou hast lifted thine hand against my Lady, wert thou wending +with me, thou shouldst go just so far as the first tree. Thou mayst deem +thyself lucky if I leave thee behind here. Nor needest thou trouble +thee concerning Dame Elinor; little more shalt thou hear of her +henceforward." + +But Goldilind spake and said: "My Lord Earl, I would ask grace for this +one; for what she did to me she did compelled, and not of her free will, +and I forgive it her. And moreover, this last time she suffered in her +body for the helping of me; so if thou mightest do her asking I were the +better pleased." + +"It shall be as thou wilt, my Lady," said the Earl, "and I will have her +with me and keep her quiet in Meadhamstead; but, by Allhallows! had it +not been for thy word we would have had her whipped into the wild-wood, +and hanged up on to a tree thereafter." + +Then Aloyse knelt before Goldilind and kissed her feet, and wept, and +drew back pale and trembling. But Goldilind shook her rein once for +all now, and her apple-grey horse went forth with her; Christopher came +after, leading the sumpter beast, and forth they went, and passed over +the open green about the Castle, and came on to the woodland way whereby +Goldilind had fled that other time. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. OF THE WOODLAND BRIDE-CHAMBER. + + +They rode in silence a good way, and it was some three hours after noon, +and the day as fair and bright as might be. Christopher held his peace +for sweet shame that he was alone with a most fair maid, and she his +own, and without defence against him. But she amidst of her silence +turned, now red, and now somewhat pale, and now and again she looked +somewhat askance on him, and he deemed her looks were no kinder than +they should be. + +At last she spake, yet not looking on him, and said: "So, Forester, +now is done what I must needs do: thy life is saved, and I am quit of +Greenharbour, and its prison, and its torments: whither away then?" + +Quoth he, all dismayed, for her voice was the voice of anger: "I wot +not whither, save to the house thou hast blessed already with thy dear +body." + +At that word she turned quite pale, and trembled, and spake not for a +while, and smote her horse and hastened on the way, and he after her; +but when he was come up with her again, then she said, still not +looking at him: "A house of woodmen and wolf-heads. Is that a meet +dwelling-place for me? Didst thou hear men at Greenharbour say that I am +a Queen?" + +"Hear them I did," quoth he; "but meseemeth nought like a Queen had they +done with thee." + +She said: "And dost thou mock me with that? thou?" And she burst out +weeping. He answered not, for sore grief smote him, remembering her hand +in his but a little while ago. And again she hurried on, and he followed +her. + +When he came up with her she said: "And thou, didst thou woo me as a +Queen?" + +"Lady," he said, "I wooed thee not at all; I was given to thee, would I, +would I not: great joy was that to me." + +Then said she: "Thou sayest sooth, thou hast not wooed me, but taken +me." She laughed therewith, as one in bitterness. But presently she +turned to him, and he wondered, for in her face was longing and kindness +nought like to her words. But he durst not speak to her lest he should +anger her, and she turned her face from him again: and she said: "Wert +thou given to me? meseems I was given to thee, would I, would I not; the +Queen to the Churl, the Wood-man, the Wolf-head." And again she rode on, +and he followed, sick at heart and wondering sorely. + +When they were riding together again, they spake not to each other, +though she stole glances at him to see how he fared; but he rode on with +knit brows and a stern countenance. So in a while she began to speak to +him again, but as if there were nought but courtesy between them, and +neither love nor hatred. She fell to asking him of woodland matters, +concerning bird and beast and things creeping; and at first he would +scarce answer her at all, and then were his answers short; but at last, +despite of all, he began to forget both grief and anger, so much the +sweetness of her speech wound about his heart; and, withal, she fell to +asking him of his fellows and their life in the woods, and of Jack of +the Tofts and the like; and now he answered her questions fully, and +whiles she laughed at his words, and he laughed also; and all pleasure +had there been of this converse, if he had not beheld her from time to +time and longed for the fairness of her body, and feared her wrath at +his longing. + +So wore the day, and the sun was getting low, and they were come to +another woodland pool which was fed by a clear-running little brook, +and up from it went a low bank of greensward exceeding sweet, and +beyond that oak trees wide-branched and great, and still fair greensward +beneath them and hazel-thicket beyond them. There, then, Goldilind +reined up, and looked about her, but Christopher looked on her and +nought else. But she said: "Let to-morrow bring counsel; but now am I +weary to-night, and if we are not to ride night-long, we shall belike +find no better place to rest in. Wilt thou keep watch while I sleep?" + +"Yea," he said, bowing his head to her soberly; and therewith he got +off his horse, and would have helped her down from hers, but she slipped +lightly down and stood before him face to face, and they were very nigh +to each other, she standing close to her horse. Her face was pale to +his deeming and there was a piteous look in her eyes, so that he yearned +towards her in his bowels, and reached his hand toward her; but she +shrank aback, leaning against her horse, and said in a trembling voice, +looking full at him, and growing yet paler: "Forester, dost thou think +it seemly that thou shouldst ride with us, thou such as thou hast told +thyself to be, in this lordly raiment, which they gave thee yonder as +part of the price for thy leading us away into the wild-wood?" + +"Lady," said he, "whether it be seemly or not, I see that it is thy will +that I should go clad as a woodland churl; abide a little, and thy will +shall be done." + +Therewith he did off the burden from the sumpter horse, and set the +chests on the earth; then he took her horse gently, and led him with +the other two in under the oak trees, and there he tethered them so that +they could bite the grass; and came back thereafter, and took his old +raiment out of the chest, and said: "What thou wilt have me do, I +will do now; and this all the more as to-morrow I should have done it +unbidden, and should have prayed thee to do on garments less glorious +than now thou bearest; so that we may look the less strange in the +woodland if we chance to fall in with any man." + +Nought she answered as he turned toward the hazel copse; she had been +following him with her eyes while he was about that business, and when +his back was turned, she stood a moment till her bosom fell a-heaving, +and she wept; then she turned her about to the chest wherein was her +raiment, and went hastily and did off her glorious array, and did on the +green gown wherewith she had fled, and left her feet bare withal. +Then she looked up and saw Christopher, how he was coming from out the +hazel-thicket new clad in his old raiment, and she cried out aloud, and +ran toward him. But he doubted that some evil had betid, and that she +was chased; so he drew out his sword; but she ran up to him and cried +out: "Put up thy sword, here is none save me." + +But he stood still, gazing on her in wonderment, and now she was drawn +near to him she stood still before him, panting. Then he said: "Nay, +Lady, for this night there was no need of thy disguising thee, to-morrow +it had been soon enough." + +She said: "I were fain if thou wouldst take my hand, and lead me back to +our resting-place." + +Even so he did, and as their palms met he felt how her hand loved him, +and a flood of sweetness swept over his heart, and made an end of all +its soreness. But he led her quietly back again to their place. Then she +turned to him and said: "Now art thou the woodland god again, and the +courtier no more; so now will I worship thee." And she knelt down before +him, and embraced his knees and kissed them; but he drew her up to him, +and cast his arms about her, and kissed her face many times, and said: +"Now art thou the poor captive again." + +She said: "Now hast thou forgiven me; but I will tell thee that my +wilfulness and folly was not all utterly feigned; though when I was +about it I longed for thee to break it down with the fierceness of a +man, and bid me look to it how helpless I was, and thou how strong and +my only defence. Not utterly feigned it was: for I will say it, that +I was grieved to the heart when I bethought me of Meadhamstead and the +seat of my fathers. What sayest thou then? Shalt thou be ever a woodman +in these thickets, and a follower of Jack of the Tofts? If so thou wilt, +it is well." + +He took her by the shoulders and bent her backwards to kiss her, and +held her up above the earth in his arms, waving her this way and that, +till she felt how little and light she was in his grasp, though she was +no puny woman; then he set her on her feet again, and laughed in her +face, and said: "Sweetling, let to-morrow bring counsel. But now let it +all be: thou hast said it, thou art weary; so now will I dight thee a +bed of our mantles, and thou shalt lie thee down, and I shall watch thee +as thou badest me." + +Therewith he went about, and plucked armfuls of the young bracken, and +made a bed wide and soft, and spread the mantles thereover. + +But she stood awhile looking on him; then she said: "Dost thou think +to punish me for my wilful folly, and to shame me by making me speak to +thee?" + +"Nay," he said, "it is not so." + +She said: "I am not shamed in that I say to thee: if thou watch this +night, I will watch by thee; and if I lie down to rest this night, thou +shalt lie by me. For my foemen have given me to thee, and now shalt thou +give thyself to me." + +So he drew near to her shyly, like unto one who hath been forgiven. And +there was their bridal bed, and nought but the oak boughs betwixt them +and the bare heavens. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. THEY FALL IN WITH FRIENDS. + + +Now awoke Goldilind when the morning was young and fresh, and she drew +the mantle up over her shoulders; and as she did so, but half awake, she +deemed she heard other sounds than the singing of the black-birds and +throstles about the edge of the thicket, and she turned her eyes toward +the oak trees and the hazel-thicket, and saw at once three of mankind +coming on foot over the greensward toward her. She was afraid, so that +she durst not put out a hand to awaken Christopher, but sat gazing on +those three as they came toward her; she saw that two were tall men, +clad much as Christopher; but presently she saw that there was a woman +with them, and she took heart somewhat thereat; and she noted that one +of the men was short-haired and dark-haired, and the other had long red +hair falling about his shoulders; and as she put out her hand and laid +it on Christopher's shoulder, the red-haired one looked toward her a +moment under the sharp of his hand (for the sun was on their side), +and then set off running, giving out a great whoop therewithal. Even +therewith leapt up Christopher, still half awake, and the red-haired man +ran right up to him, and caught him by the shoulders, and kissed him on +both cheeks; so that Goldilind saw that these were the fellows whereof +Christopher had told, and she stood there shame-fast and smiling. + +Presently came up the others, to wit, Gilbert and Joanna, and they also +kissed and embraced Christopher, and all they were as full of joy as +might be. Then came Joanna to Goldilind, and said: "I wot not who this +may be, brother, yet meseems she will be someone who is dear to thee, +wherefore is she my sister." And therewith she kissed Goldilind; and she +was kind, and sweet of flesh, and goodly of body, and Goldilind rejoiced +in her. + +Joanna made much of her, and said to her: "Here is to do, whereas two +men have broken into a lady's chamber; come, sister, let us to the +thicket, and I will be thy tiring-maid, and while these others tell +their tales we shall tell ours." And she took her hand and they went +into the hazels; but the two new-come men seemed to find it hard to keep +their eyes off Goldilind, till the hazels had hidden her. + +Then turned David to Christopher, and said: "Thy pardon, little King, +that we have waked thee so early; but we wotted not that thou hadst been +amongst the wood-women; and, sooth to say, my lad, we had little ease +till we found thee, after we came home and saw all those hoof-marks +yonder." + +"Yea," said Gilbert, "if we had lost thee we had been finely holpen up, +for we could neither have gone back to the Tofts nor into the kingdom: +for I think my father would have hanged us if we had come back with a +'By the way, Christopher is slain.' But tell us, lad, what hath befallen +thee with yonder sweetling?" + +"Yea, tell us," said David, "and sit down here betwixt us, with thy back +to the hazel-thicket, or we shall get no tale out of thee--tush, man, +Joanna will bring her back, and that right soon, I hope." + +Christopher laughed, and sat down between them, and told all how it +had gone with him, and of Goldilind, who she was. The others hearkened +heedfully, and Gilbert said: "With all thou hast told us, brother, it +is clear we shall find it hard to dwell in Littledale; so soon as thy +loveling hath rested her at our house, we must go our ways to the Tofts, +and take counsel of our father." + +Christopher yea-said this, and therewithal was come Joanna leading +Goldilind duly arrayed (yet still in her green gown, for she would none +other), fresh, blushing, and all lovely; and David and Christopher +did obeisance before her as to a great lady; but she hailed them as +brothers, merrily and kindly, and bade them kiss her; and they kissed +her cheek, but shyly, and especially David. + +Thereafter they broke their fast under the oak trees, and spent a merry +hour, and then departed, the two women riding the horses, the others +afoot; so came they to the house of Littledale, some while before +sunset, and were merry and glad there. Young they were, troubles were +behind them, and many a joy before them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. THEY TAKE COUNSEL AT LITTLEDALE. + + +Ten days they abode in the house of Littledale in all good cheer, and +Joanna led Goldilind here and there about the woods, and made much of +her, so that the heart within her was full of joy, for the freedom +of the wild-woods and all the life thereof was well-nigh new to her; +whereas on the day of her flight from Greenharbour, and on two other +such times, deadly fear, as is aforesaid, was mingled with her joyance, +and would have drowned it utterly, but for the wilfulness which hardened +her heart against the punishment to come. But now she was indeed free, +and it seemed to her, as to Christopher when he was but new healed of +his hurt, as if all this bright beauty of tree and flower, and beast and +bird, was but made for her alone, and she wondered that her fellow could +be so calm and sedate amidst of all this pleasure. And now, forsooth, +was her queenhood forgotten, and better and better to her seemed +Christopher's valiant love; and the meeting in the hall of the eventide +was so sweet to her, that she might do little but stand trembling whiles +Christopher came up to her, and Joanna's trim feet were speeding her +over the floor to meet her man, that she might be a sharer in his deeds +of the day. + +Many tales withal Joanna told the Queen of the deeds of her husband and +his kindred, and of the freeing of her and the other three from their +captivity at Wailing Knowe, and of the evil days they wore there before +the coming of their lads, which must have been worser by far, thought +Goldilind, than the days of Greenharbour; so with all these tales, and +the happy days in the house of the wild-woods, Goldilind now began to +deem of this new life as if there had been none other fated for her, +so much a part was she now become of the days of those woodmen and +wolf-heads. + +But when the last of those ten days was wearing to an end and those five +were sitting happy in the hall (albeit David sat somewhat pensive, now +staring at Goldilind's beauty, now rising from his seat to pace the +floor restlessly), Gilbert spake and said: "Brethren, and thou, Queen +Goldilind, it may be that the time is drawing near for other deeds +than letting fly a few shafts at the dun deer, and eating our meat, and +singing old songs as we lie at our ladies' feet; for though we be at +peace here in the wild-wood, forgetting all things save those that are +worthy to be remembered, yet in the cities and the courts of kings guile +is not forgotten, and pride is alive, and tyranny, and the sword is +whetted for innocent lives, and the feud is eked by the destruction of +those who be sackless of its upheaving. Wherefore it behoveth to defend +us by the ready hand and the bold heart and the wise head. So, I say, +let us loiter here no longer, but go our ways to-morrow to the Tofts, +and take the rede of our elders. How say ye, brethren?" + +Quoth Christopher: "Time was, brother, when what thou sayest would have +been as a riddle to me, and I would have said: Here are we merry, though +we be few; and if ye lack more company, let me ride to the Tofts and +come back with a half score of lads and lasses, and thus let us eke our +mirth; and maybe they will tell us whitherward to ride. But now there is +a change, since I have gained a gift over-great for me, and I know that +they shall be some of the great ones who would be eager to take it from +me; and who knows what guile may be about the weaving even now, as on +the day when thou first sawest this hall, beloved." + +Goldilind spake and sighed withal: "Whither my lord will lead me, +thither will I go; but here is it fair and sweet and peaceful; neither +do I look for it that men will come hither to seek the Queen of +Meadham." + +David said: "Bethink thee, though, my Lady, that he who wedded thee to +the woodman may yet rue, and come hither to undo his deed, by slaying +the said woodman, and showing the Queen unto the folk." + +Goldilind turned pale; but Joanna spake: "Nay, brother David, why +wilt thou prick her heart with this fear? For my part, I think that, +chance-hap apart, we might dwell here for years in all safety, and +happily enough, maybe. Yet also I say that we of the Tofts may well be +eager to show this jewel to our kindred, and especially to our father +and mother of the Tofts; so to-morrow we will set about the business of +carrying her thither, will she, nill she." And therewith she threw her +arms about Goldilind, and clipped her and kissed her; and Goldilind +reddened for pleasure and for joy that she was so sore prized by them +all. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. NOW THEY ALL COME TO THE TOFTS. + + +Next morning, while the day was yet young, they rode together, all of +them, the nighest way to the Tofts, for they knew the wood right well. +Again they slept one night under the bare heavens, and, rising betimes +on the morrow, came out under the Tofts some four hours after high noon, +on as fair and calm a day of early summer as ever was seen. + +They rode up straight to the door of the great hall, and found but few +folk about, and those mostly women and children; Jack was ridden abroad, +they said, but they looked to see him back to supper, him and his sons, +for he was no great way gone. + +Meantime, when they got off their horses, the women and children +thronged round about them; and the children especially about +Christopher, whom they loved much. The maidens, also, would not have +him pass into the hall unkissed, though presently, after their faces had +felt his lips, they fell a-staring and wondering at Goldilind, and when +Christopher took her by the hand and gave her welcome to the House +of the Tofts, and they saw that she was his, they grew to be somewhat +afraid, or it might be shy, both of her and of him. + +Anyhow, folk came up to them in the hall, and made much of them, and +took them unto chambers and washed their feet, and crowned them with +flowers, and brought them into the hall again, and up on to the dais, +and gave them to eat and drink. Thither came to them also the Lady +Margaret, Jack's wedded wife, and made them the most cheer that she +might; and unto her did Christopher tell his story as unto his very +mother; and what there was in the house, both of carle and of quean, +gathered round about to hearken, and Christopher nothing loth. And +Goldilind's heart warmed toward that folk, and in sooth they were a +goodly people to look on, and frank and happy, and of good will, and +could well of courtesy, though it were not of the courts. + +Wore the bright day, and it drew toward sunset, and now the carles came +straight into the hall by twos and threes, till there were a many within +its walls. But to each one of these knots as they entered, someone, +carle or quean, spake a word or two, and straightway the new-comers went +up to the dais and greeted Christopher pleasantly, and made obeisance to +Goldilind. + +At last was the hall, so quiet erst, grown busy as a beehive, and amidst +the throng thereof came in the serving-folk, women and men, and set the +endlong boards up (for the high-table was a standing one of oak, right +thick and strong); and then they fell to bringing in the service, all +but what the fire was dealing with in the kitchen. And whiles this was +a-doing, the sun was sinking fast, and it was dusk in the hall by then +it was done, though without the sky was fair and golden, and about the +edges of the thicket were the nightingales singing loud and sweet, but +within was the turmoil of many voices, whereof few heeded if their words +were loud or soft. + +Amidst all this, from close to the hall, rang out the sound of many +horns winding a woodland tune. None was afeard or astonied, because +all knew it for the horns of Jack of the Tofts; but they stilled their +chattering talk somewhat, and abided his coming; and even therewith came +the sound of many feet and the clash of weapons, and men poured in, and +there was the gleam of steel, as folk fell back to the right and left, +and gave room to the new-comers. Then a loud, clear, and cheery voice +cried out from amidst of them: "Light in the hall, men and maids! +Candles, candles! Let see who is here before us!" + +Straightway then was there running hither and thither and light sprang +up over all the hall, and there could folk see Jack of the Tofts, and +a score and a half of his best, every man of them armed with shield and +helm and byrny, with green coats over their armour, and wreaths of young +oak about their basnets; there they stood amidst of the hall, and every +man with his naked sword in his fist. Jack stood before his folk clad in +like wise with them, save that his head was bare but for an oak wreath. +Men looked on a while and said nought, while Jack looked proudly and +keenly over the hall, and at last his eye caught Christopher's, but he +made the youngling no semblance of greeting. Christopher's heart fell, +and he misdoubted if something were not wrong; but he spake softly to +one who stood by him, and said: "Is aught amiss, Will Ashcroft? this is +not the wont here." + +Said the other: "Not in thy time; but for the last seven days it hath +been the wont, and then off weapons and to supper peaceably." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. OF THE KING OF OAKENREALM. + + +Even therewith, and while the last word had but come to Christopher's +ears, rang out the voice of Jack of the Tofts again, louder and clearer +than before: and he said: "Men in this hall, I bear you tidings! The +King of Oakenrealm is amongst us to-night." + +Then, forsooth, was the noise and the turmoil, and cries and shouts and +clatter, and fists raised in air and weapons caught down from the wall, +and the glitter of spear-points and gleam of fallow blades. For the name +of Rolf, King of Oakenrealm, was to those woodmen as the name of the +Great Devil of Hell, so much was he their unfriend and their dastard. +But Jack raised up his hand, and cried: "Silence ye! Blow up, horns, The +Hunt's Up!" + +Blared out the horns then, strong and fierce, under the hall-roof, and +when they were done, there was more silence in the hall than in the +summer night without; only the voice of the swords could not be utterly +still, but yet tinkled and rang as hard came against hard here and there +in the hush. + +Again spake Jack: "Let no man speak! Let no man move from his place! I +SEE THE KING! Ye shall see him!" + +Therewith he strode up the hall and on to the dais, and came up to +where stood Christopher holding Goldilind's hand, and she all pale +and trembling; but Jack took him by the shoulder, and turned him about +toward a seat which stood before the board, so that all men in the hall +could see it; then he set him down in it, and took his sword from his +girdle, and knelt down before the young man, and took his right hand, +and said in a loud voice: "I, Jack of the Tofts, a free man and a +sackless, wrongfully beguilted, am the man of King Christopher of +Oakenrealm, to live and die for him as need may be. Lo, Lord, my +father's blade! Wilt thou be good to me and gird me therewith, as thy +father girt him?" + +Now when Christopher heard him, at first he deemed that all this +was some sport or play done for his pastime and the pleasure of the +hall-folk in all kindness and honour. But when he looked in the eyes of +him, and saw him fierce and eager and true, he knew well it was no jest; +and as the shouts of men went up from the hall and beat against the +roof, himseemed that he remembered, as in a dream, folk talking a-nigh +him when he was too little to understand, of a king and his son, and +a mighty man turned thief and betrayer. Then his brow cleared, and his +eyes shone bright, and he leaned forward to Jack and girt him with the +sword, and kissed his mouth, and said: "Thou art indeed my man and my +thane and my earl, and I gird thee with thy sword as my father girded +thy father." + +Then stood up Jack o' the Tofts and said: "Men in this hall, happy is +the hour, and happy are ye! This man is the King of Oakenrealm, and he +yonder is but a thief of kings, a dastard!" + +And again great was the shouting, for carle and quean, young and old, +they loved Christopher well: and Jack of the Tofts was not only their +war-duke and alderman, but their wise man also, and none had any thought +of gainsaying him. But he spake again and said: "Is there here any old +man, or not so old, who hath of past days seen our King that was, King +Christopher to wit, who fell in battle on our behalf? If so there be, +let him come up hither." + +Then arose a greybeard from a bench nigh the high-table, and came up on +to the dais; a very tall man had he been, but was now somewhat bowed by +age. He now knelt before Christopher, and took his hand, and said: "I, +William of Whittenham, a free man, a knight, sackless of the guilt which +is laid on me, would be thy man, O my lord King, to serve thee in all +wise; if so be that I may live to strike one stroke for my master's son, +whom now I see, the very living image of the King whom I served in my +youth." + +Then Christopher bent down to him and kissed him, and said: "Thou art +indeed my man and my thane & my baron; and who knows but that thou mayst +have many a stroke to strike for me in the days that are nigh at hand." + +And again the people shouted: and then there came another and another, +and ten more squires and knights and men of estate, who were now indeed +woodmen and wolf-heads, but who, the worst of them, were sackless of +aught save slaying an unfriend, or a friend's unfriend, in fair fight; +and all these kneeled before him, and put their hands in his, and gave +themselves unto him. + +When this was done, there came thrusting through the throng of the hall +a tall woman, old, yet comely as for her age; she went right up on to +the dais, and came to where sat Christopher, and without more ado +cast her arms about him and kissed him, and then she held him by the +shoulders and cried out: "O, have I found thee at last, my loveling, +and my dear, and my nurse-chick? and thou grown so lovely and yet so big +that I may never more hold thee aloft in mine arms, as once I was wont; +though high enough belike thou shalt be lifted; and I say praise be to +God and to his Hallows that thou art grown so beauteous and mighty a +man!" + +Therewith she turned about toward the hall-throng and said: "Thou, duke +of these woodmen, and all ye in this hall, I have been brought hither +by one of you; and though I have well-nigh died of joy because of the +suddenness of this meeting, yet I thank him therefor. For who is +this goodly and gracious young man save the King's son of Oakenrealm, +Christopher that was; and that to my certain knowledge; for he is my +fosterling and my milk-child, and I took him from the hands of the +midwife in the High House of Oakenham a twenty-one years ago; and they +took him from Oakenham, and me with him to the house of Lord Richard the +Lean, at Longholms, and there we dwelt; but in a little while they took +him away from Longholms to I wot not whither, but would not suffer me +to go along with him, and ever sithence have I been wandering about and +hoping to see this lovely child again, and now I see him, what he is, +and again I thank God and Allhallows therefor." + +Once more then was there stir and glad tumult in the hall. But Goldilind +stood wondering, and fear entered into her soul; for she saw before her +a time of turmoil and unpeace, and there seemed too much between her and +the sweetness of her love. Withal it must be said, that for as little +as she knew of courts and war-hosts, she yet seemed to see lands without +that hall, and hosts marching, and mighty walls glittering with spears, +and the banners of a great King displayed; and Jack of the Tofts and his +champions and good fellows seemed but a frail defence against all that, +when once the hidden should be shown, and the scantiness of the woodland +should cry on the abundance of the kingdom to bow down. + +Now she came round the board and stood beside Christopher, and he turned +to her, and stood up and took her hand, in such wise that she felt the +caress of it; and joy filled her soul, as if she had been alone with him +in the wild-wood. + +But he spake and said: "All ye my friends: I see and wot well that ye +would have me sit in my father's seat and be the King of Oakenrealm, +and that ye will give me help and furtherance therein to the utmost; nor +will I cast back the gift upon you; and I will say this, that when I am +King indeed, it is my meaning and my will now, that then I shall be +no less one of you good fellows and kind friends than ye have known me +hitherto; and even so I deem that ye think of me. But, good friends, it +is not to be hidden that the road ye would have me wend with you is like +to be rough; and it may well be that we shall not come to be kings or +kings' friends but men hunted, and often, maybe, men taken and slain. +Therefore, till one thing or the other come, the kingship, or the +taking, I will try to be no less joyous than now I am, and so meseemeth +shall ye; and if ye be of this mind, then shall the coming days be no +worse than the days which have been; and God wot they have been happy +enough. Now again, ye see this most fair lady, whose hand I hold; she +is my beloved and my wife; and therewithal she is the true Queen of +Meadham, and a traitor sits in her place even as a traitor sits in mine. +But I must tell you that when she took me for her beloved, she knew not, +nor did I, that I was a King's son, but she took me as a woodman and +an outcast, and as a wood-man and outcast I wooed her, trusting in the +might that was in my body, and the love that was in my heart; and now +before all you, my friends, I thank her and worship her that my body and +my love was enough for her; as, God wot, the kingship of the whole earth +should not be overmuch for her, if it lay open to her to take. But, +sweet friends, here am I talking of myself as a King wedded unto a +Queen, whereas meseemeth the chiefest gift our twin kingship hath +brought you to-night is the gift of two most mighty unfriends for you; +to wit, her foeman and mine. See ye to it, then, if the wild-wood yonder +is not a meeter dwelling for us than this your goodly hall; and fear not +to put us to the door as a pair of make-bates and a peril to this goodly +company. Lo you, the sky without has not yet lost all memory of the sun, +and in a little while it will be yellowing again to the dawn. Nought +evil shall be the wild-wood for our summer dwelling; and what! ere the +winter come, we may have won us another house where erst my fathers +feasted. And thereto, my friends, do I bid you all." + +But when they heard his friendly words, and saw the beauty of the fair +woman whose hand he held, his face grew so well-beloved to them, that +they cried out with so great a voice of cheer, wordless for their very +joy, that the timbers of the hall quavered because of it, and it went +out into the wild-wood as though it had been the feastful roaring of the +ancient gods of the forest. + +But when the tumult sank a little, then cried out Jack of the Tofts: +"Bring now the mickle shield, and let us look upon our King." + +So men went and fetched in a huge ancient shield, plated with +berry-brown iron, inlaid with gold, and the four biggest men in the +hall took it on their shoulders and knelt down anigh the dais, before +Christopher, and Jack said aloud: "King! King! Stand up here! for this +war-board of old days is the castle and the burg alone due to thee, and +these four fellows here are the due mountains to upbear it." + +Then lightly strode Child Christopher on to the shield, and when he +stood firm thereon, they rose heedfully underneath him till they were +standing upright on their feet, and the King stood on the shield as if +he were grown there, and waved his naked sword to the four orts. + +Then cried out an old woman in a shrill voice: "Lo, how the hills rise +up into tall mountains; even so shall arise Child Christopher to the +kingship." + +Thereat all the folk laughed for joy and cried out: "Child Christopher! +Child Christopher, our King!" And for that word, when he came to the +crown indeed, and ruled wide lands, was he called Child Christopher; and +that name clave to him after he was dead, and but a name in the tale of +his kindred. + +Now the King spake and said: "Friends, now is it time to get to the +board, and the feast which hath been stayed this while; and I pray you +let it be as merry as if there were no striving and unpeace betwixt us +and the winning of peace. But to-morrow we will hallow-in the Mote, and +my earl and my barons and good men shall give counsel, and then shall it +be that the hand shall do what the heart biddeth." + +Therewith he leapt down from the shield, and went about the hall talking +to this one and that, till the board was full dight; then he took his +place in the high-seat, beside Jack of the Tofts; and David and Gilbert +and his other foster-brethren sat on either side of him, and their wives +with them; and men fell to feasting in great glee. + +But one thing there is yet to tell of this feast. When men had drunk a +cup or two, and drunk memories to good men dead, and healths to good men +living, amidst this arose a grey-head carle from the lower end of the +hall, and said: "Child Christopher, thy grace, that I may crave a boon +of thee on this day of leal service.' + +"Ask then," said Christopher, with a pleasant face. + +"King," quoth the carle, "here are we all gathered together, and we have +before us the most beautifullest woman of the world, who sitteth by thy +side; now to-night we be all dear friends, and there is no lack between +us; yet who can say how often we may meet and things be so? I do not say +that there shall enmity and dissension arise between us, though that may +betide; but it is not unlike that another time thou, King, and thy mate, +may be prouder than now ye be, since now ye are new to it. And if that +distance grow between us, it will avail nought to ask my boon then." + +"Well, well, ask it now, friend," said the King, laughing; "I were fain +of ending the day with a gift." + +"This it is then, King," said the carle: "since we are here set down +before the loveliest woman in the world, grant us this, that all we +men-folk may for this once kiss the face of her, if she will have it +so." + +Huge laughter and cheers arose at his word; but King Christopher arose +and said: "Friend, thy boon is granted with a good will; or how sayest +thou, Goldilind my beloved?" + +For all answer she stood up blushing like a rose, and held out her two +hands to the men in the hall. And straightway the old carle rose up and +went in haste to the high-table, before another man might stir, and took +Goldilind by the chin, and kissed her well-favouredly, and again men +laughed joyously. Then came before her Jack of the Tofts and all his +sons, one after other, and kissed her face, save only David, who knelt +humbly before her, and took her right hand and kissed it, while the +tears were in his eyes. Then came many of the men in the hall, and some +were bold, but many were shy, and when they came before her durst kiss +neither hand nor face of her, but their hearts were full of her when +they went to their places again; and all the assembly was praising her. + +So wore the time of that first night of the kingship of Child +Christopher. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. OF THE HUSTING OF THE TOFTS. + + +When morning was, there were horns sounding from the tower on the toft, +and all men hastening in their war-gear to the topmost of the other +toft, the bare one, whereon was no building; for thereon was ever the +mote-stead of these woodmen. But men came not only from the stead and +houses of the Tofts, but also from the woodland cots and dwellings +anigh, of which were no few. And they that came there first found King +Christopher sitting on the mound amid the mote-stead, and Jack of the +Tofts and his seven sons sitting by him, and all they well-weaponed +and with green coats over their hauberks; and they that came last found +three hundreds of good men and true gathered there, albeit this was but +the Husting of the Tofts. + +So when there were no more to come, then was the Mote hallowed, and the +talk began; but short and sharp was their rede, for well did all men wot +who had been in the hall the night before that there was now no time to +lose. For though nigh all the men that had been in the hall were well +known to each other, yet might there perchance have been some spy +unknown, who had edged him in as a guest to one of the good men. Withal, +as the saw saith: The word flieth, the wight dieth. And it were well if +they might gather a little host ere their foeman might gather a mickle. + +First therefore arose Jack of the Tofts, and began shortly to put forth +the sooth, that there was come the son of King Christopher the Old, and +that now he was seeking to his kingdom, not for lust of power and gain, +but that he might be the friend of good men and true, and uphold them +and be by them upholden. And saith he: "Look ye on the face of this man, +and tell me where ye shall find a friend friendlier than he, and more +single-hearted?" And therewith he laid his hand on Christopher's head, +and the young man rose up, blushing like a maid, and thereafter a long +time could no lord be heard for the tumult of gladness and the clashing +of weapons. + +But when it was a little hushed, then spake Jack again: "Now need no man +say more to man on this matter, for ye call this curly-headed lad the +King of Oakenrealm, even as some of ye did last night." + +Mighty was the shout of yea-say that arose at that word; and when it was +stilled, a grey-head stood up and said: "King Christopher, and thou, our +leader, whom we shall henceforth call Earl, it is now meet that we shear +up the war-arrow, and send it forth to whithersoever we deem our friends +dwell, and that this be done at once here in this Mote, and that the +hosting be after three nights' frist in the plain of Hazeldale, which +all ye know is twelve miles nigher to Oakenrealm than this." + +All men yea-said this, no one gainsaid it; and straightway was fire +kindled and the bull slain, for the said elder had brought him thither; +and the arrow was sheared and scorched and reddened, and the runners +were fetched, and the word given them, and they were sped on their +errand. + +Up rose then another, a young man, and spake: "Many stout fellows be +here, and some wise and well-ruled, and many also hot-head and wilful: +Child Christopher is King now, and we all know him that when he cometh +into the fray he is like to strike three strokes for two that any other +winneth; but as to his lore of captainship, if he hath any, he was born +with it, as is like enough, seeing who was his father; therefore we need +a captain well-proven, to bid us how to turn hither and thither, and +where to gather thickest, and where to spread thinnest; and when to fall +on fiercely and when to give way, and let the thicket cover us; for wise +in war shall our foemen be. Now therefore if anyone needeth a better +captain than our kin-father and war-father Jack of the Tofts, he must +needs go fetch him from otherwhere! How sayest thou, Christopher lad?" + +Great cheer there was at the word, and laughter no little therewith. But +Christopher stood up, and took Jack by the hand, and said: "Now say I, +that if none else follow this man into battle, yet will I; and if none +else obey him to go backward or forward to the right hand or to the left +as he biddeth, yet will I. Thou, Wilfrid Wellhead, look to it that thou +dost no less. But ye folk, what will ye herein?" + +So they all yea-said Jack of the Tofts for captain; and forsooth they +might do no less, for he was wary and wise, and had done many deeds, and +seen no little of warfare. + +Then again arose a man of some forty winters, strong built and not +ungoodly, but not merry of countenance, and he spake: "King and +war-leader, I have a word to say: We be wending to battle, we carles, +with spear in fist and sword by side; and if we die in the fray, of +the day's work is it; but what do we with our kinswomen, as mothers and +daughters and wives and she-friends, and the little ones they have borne +us? For, see ye! this warfare we are faring, maybe it shall not last +long, and yet maybe it shall; and then may the foeman go about us and +fall on this stead if we leave them behind here with none to guard them; +and if, on the other hand, we leave them men enough for their warding, +then we minish our host overmuch. What do we then?" + +Then spake Jack of the Tofts: "This is well thought of by Haward of +Whiteacre, and we must look to it. And, by my rede, we shall have our +women and little ones with us; and why not? For we shall then but be +moving Toftstead as we move; and ever to some of us hath it been as a +camp rather than an house. Moreover, ye know it, that our women be no +useless and soft queans, who durst not lie under the oak boughs for a +night or two, or wade a water over their ankles, but valiant they be, +and kind, and helpful; and many of them are there who can draw a bow +with the best, and, it may be, push a spear if need were. How say ye, +lads?" + +Now this also they yea-said gladly; forsooth they had scarce been fain +of leaving the women behind, at least the younger ones, even had they +been safe at the Tofts; for there is no time when a man would gladlier +have a fair woman in his arms than when battle and life-peril are +toward. + +Thereafter the Mote sundered, when the Captain had bidden his men this +and that matter that each should look to; and said that he, for his +part, with King Christopher and a chosen band, would set off for +Hazeldale on the morrow morn, whereas some deal of the gathering would +of a certainty be come thither by then; and that there was enough left +of that day to see to matters at the Tofts. + +So all men went about their business, which was, for the most part, +seeing to the victualling of the host. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. OF THE HOSTING IN HAZELDALE. + + +On the morrow early was Jack of the Tofts dight for departure, with +Christopher and David and Gilbert and five score of his best men. But +when they went out of the porch into the sweet morning, lo! there was +Goldilind before them, clad in her green gown, and as fresh and dear +as the early day itself. And Jack looked on her and said: "And thou, my +Lady and Queen, thou art dight as thou wouldst wend with us?" + +"Yea," she said, "and why not?" + +"What sayest thou, King Christopher?" said the Captain. + +"Nay," said King Christopher, reddening, "it is for thee to yea-say or +nay-say; though true it is that I have bidden her farewell for two days' +space." And the two stood looking on one another. + +But Jack laughed and said: "Well, then, so be it; but let us get to +the way, or else when the sweethearts of these lads know that we have a +woman with us we shall have them all at our backs." Thereat all laughed +who were within earshot, and were merry. + +So they wended the woodland ways, some afoot, some a-horseback, of +whom was Jack of the Tofts, but Christopher and David went afoot. And +Goldilind rode a fair white horse which the Captain had gotten her. + +As they went, and King Christopher ever by Goldilind's right hand, +and were merry and joyous, they two were alone in the woodland way; so +Christopher took her hand and kissed it, and said: "Sweetling, why +didst thou tell me nought of thy will to come along with us? Never had I +balked thee." + +She looked at him, blushing as a rose, and said: "Dear friend, I will +tell thee; I knew that thou wouldst make our parting piteous-sweet this +morning; and of that I would not be balked. See, then, how rich I am, +since I have both parted from thee and have thee." And therewith she +louted down from her saddle, and they kissed together sweetly, and so +thereafter wore the way. + +So came they to the plain of Hazeldale, which was a wide valley with a +middling river winding about it, the wild-wood at its back toward the +Tofts, and in front down-land nought wooded, save here and there a tree +nigh a homestead or cot; for that way the land was builded for a space. +Forsooth it was not easy for the folk thereabout to live quietly, but if +they were friends in some wise to Jack of the Tofts. + +So when the company of the Tofts came out into the dale about three +hours after noon, it was no wonder to them to see men riding and going +to and fro, and folk pitching tents and raising booths nigh to the cover +of the wood; and when the coming of the Toft-folk was seen, and the +winding of their horns heard, there was many a glad cry raised in +answer, and many an horn blown, and all men there came running together +toward where now was stayed Jack of the Tofts and Christopher and their +men. + +Then Goldilind bade Christopher help her light down; so he took her in +his arms, and was not over hasty in setting her down again. But when +she stood by him, she looked over the sunny field darkened by the folk +hastening over the greensward, and her eyes glittered and her cheek +flushed, and she said: "Lord King, be these some others of thy men?" + +"Yea, sweetling," said he, "to live and die with me." + +She looked on him, and said softly: "Maybe it were an ill wish to wish +that I were thou; yet if it might be for one hour!" + +Said he: "Shall it not be for more than one hour? Shall it not be for +evermore, since we twain are become one?" + +"Nay," she said, "this is but a word; I am but thine handmaid: and now I +can scarce refrain my body from falling before thy feet." + +He laughed in her face for joy, and said: "Abide a while, until these +men have looked on thee, and then shalt thou see how thou wilt be a +flame of war in their hearts that none shall withstand." + +Now were the dale-dwellers all come together in their weapons, and they +were glad of their King and his loveling; and stout men were they all, +albeit some were old, and some scarce of man's age. So they were ranked +and told over, and the tale of them was over six score who had obeyed +the war-arrow, and more and more, they said, would come in every hour. +But now the Captains of them bade the Toft-folk eat with them; and they +yea-said the bidding merrily, and word was given, and sacks and +baskets brought forth, and barrels to boot, and all men sat down on the +greensward, and high was the feast and much the merriment on the edge of +Hazeldale. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. TIDINGS COME TO HAZELDALE. + + +But they had not done their meat, and had scarce begun upon their drink, +ere they saw three men come riding on the spur over the crown of the +bent before them; these made no stay for aught, but rode straight +through the ford of the river, as men who knew well where it was, and +came on hastily toward the feasters by the wood-edge. Then would some +have run to meet them, but Jack of the Tofts bade them abide till he had +heard the tidings; whereas they needed not to run to their weapons, for, +all of them, they were fully dight for war, save, it might be, the doing +on of their sallets or basnets. But Jack and Christopher alone went +forward to meet those men; and the foremost of them cried out at once: +"I know thee, Jack of the Tofts! I know thee! Up and arm! up and arm! +for the foemen are upon thee; and so choose thee whether thou wilt fight +or flee." + +Quoth Jack, laughing: "I know thee also, Wat of Whiteend; and when thou +hast told me how many and who be the foemen, we will look either to +fighting or fleeing." + +Said Wat: "Thou knowest the blazon of the banner which we saw, three red +wolves running on a silver field?" + +"Yea, forsooth," said Jack; "'tis the Baron of Brimside that beareth +that shield ever; and the now Baron, hight the Lord Gandolf, how many +was he?" + +Said Wat: "Ten hundreds or more. But what say fellows?" + +Quoth the other twain: "More, more they were." + +Said Jack of the Tofts: "And when shall he be here, deem ye?" + +"In less than an hour," said Wat, "he will be on thee with great and +small; but his riders, some of them, in lesser space." + +Then turned Jack about and cried out for David, and when he came, he +said: "Put thy long legs over a good horse, and ride straight back to +the Tofts and gather whatever may bear spear and draw bow, and hither +with them, lad, by the nighest road; tarry not, speak no word, be gone!" + +So David turned, and was presently riding swiftly back through the +woodland paths. But Jack spake to the bearers of tidings: "Good fellows, +go ye yonder and bid them give you a morsel and a cup; and tell all +the tidings, and this, withal, that we have nought to flee from a good +fightstead for Gandolf of Brimside." Therewith he turned to Christopher +and said: "Thy pardon, King, but these matters must be seen to +straightway. Now do thou help me array our folk, for there is heart +enough in them as in thee and me; and mayhappen we may make an end to +this matter now and here. Moreover, the Baron of Brimside is a stout +carle, so fight we must, meseemeth." + +Then he called to them one of the captains of the Tofts and they three +spake together heedfully a little, and thereafter they fell to work +arraying the folk; and King Christopher did his part therein deftly and +swiftly, for quick of wit he was, and that the more whenso anything was +to be done. + +As to the array, the main of the folk that were spearmen and billmen but +moved forward somewhat from where they had dined to the hanging of the +bent, so that their foemen would have the hill against them or ever +they came on point and edge. But the bowmen, of whom were now some two +hundreds, for many men had come in after the first tally, were spread +abroad on the left hand of the spearmen toward the river, where the +ground was somewhat broken, and bushed with thorn-bushes. And a bight of +the water drew nearer to the Tofters, amidst of which was a flat eyot, +edged with willows and covered with firm and sound greensward, and was +some thirty yards endlong and twenty overthwart. So there they abode the +coming of the foe, and it was now hard on five o'clock. + +But Christopher went up to Goldilind where she stood amidst of the +spearmen, hand turning over hand, and her feet wandering to and fro +almost without her will; and when he came to her, she had much ado to +refrain her from falling on his bosom and weeping there. But he cried +to her gaily: "Now, my Lady and Queen, thou shalt see a fair play toward +even sooner than we looked for; and thine eyes shall follow me, if the +battle be thronged, by this token, that amongst all these good men and +true I only wear a forgilded basnet with a crown about it." + +"O!" she said, "if it were but over, and thou alive and free! I would +pay for that, I deem, if I might, by a sojourn in Greenharbour again." + +"What!" he said, "that I might have to thrust myself into the peril of +snatching thee forth again?" And he laughed merrily. "Nay," said he, +"this play must needs begin before it endeth; and by Saint Nicholas, I +deem that to-day it beginneth well." + +But she put her hands before her face, and her shoulders were shaken +with sobs. "Alas! sweetling," said he, "that my joy should be thy +sorrow! But, I pray thee, take not these stout-hearts for runaways. And +Oh! look, look!" + +She looked up, wondering and timorous, but all about her the men sprang +up and shouted, and tossed up bill and sword, and the echo of their +cries came back from the bowmen on the left, and Christopher's sword +came rattling out of the scabbard and went gleaming up aloft. Then words +came into the cry of the folk, and Goldilind heard it, that they cried +"Child Christopher! King Christopher!" Then over her head came a sound +of flapping and rending as the evening wind beat about the face of the +wood; and she heard folk cry about her: "The banner, the banner! Ho for +the Wood-wife of Oakenrealm!" + +Then her eyes cleared for what was aloof before her, and she saw a dark +mass come spreading down over the bent on the other side of the river, +and glittering points and broad gleams of white light amidst of it, and +noise came from it; and she knew that here were come the foemen. But +she thought to herself that they looked not so many after all; and she +looked at the great and deft bodies of their folk, and their big-headed +spears and wide-bladed glaves and bills, and strove with her heart and +refrained her fear, and thrust back the image which had arisen before +her of Greenharbour come back again, and she lonely and naked in the +Least Guard-chamber: and she stood firm, and waved her hand to greet the +folk. + +And lo! there was Christopher kneeling before her and kissing her hand, +and great shouts arising about her of "The Lady of Oakenrealm! The Lady +of Meadham! For the Lady! For the Lady!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. OF THE FIELD THAT WAS SET IN THE HOLM OF HAZELDALE. + + +Now thither cometh Jack o' the Tofts, and spake to Christopher: "See +thou, lad--Lord King, I should say; this looketh not like very present +battle, for they be stayed half way down the bent; and lo thou, some +half score are coming forth from the throng with a white shield raised +aloft. Do we in likewise, for they would talk with us." + +"Shall we trust them, father?" said Christopher. + +"Trust them we may, son," said Jack; "Gandolf is a violent man, and a +lifter of other men's goods, but I deem not so evil of him as that he +would bewray troth." + +So then they let do a white cloth over a shield and hoist it on a +long spear, and straightway they gat to horse, Jack of the Tofts, and +Christopher, and Haward of Whiteacre, and Gilbert, and a half score all +told; and they rode straight down to the ford, which was just below the +tail of the eyot aforesaid, and as they went, they saw the going of the +others, who were by now hard on the waterside; and said Jack: "See now, +King Christopher, he who rides first in a surcoat of his arms is +even the Baron, the black bullet-headed one; and the next to him, the +red-head, is his squire and man, Oliver Marson, a stout man, but fierce +and grim-hearted. Lo thou, they are taking the water, but they are +making for the eyot and not our shore: son mine, this will mean a +hazeled field in the long run; but now they will look for us to come +to them therein. Yea, now they are aland and have pitched their white +shield. And hearken, that is their horn; blow we an answer: ho, noise! +set thy lips to the brass." + +So then, when one horn had done its song, the other took it up, and +all men of both hosts knew well that the horns blew but for truce and +parley. + +Now come the Toft-folk to the ford, and take the water, which was very +shallow on their side, and when they come up on to the eyot, they find +the Baron and his folk off their horses, and lying on the green grass, +so they also lighted down and stood and hailed the new comers. Then +uprose the Lord Gandolf, and greeted the Toft-folk, and said: "Jack of +the Tofts, thou ridest many-manned to-day." + +"Yea, Lord," said Jack, "and thou also. What is thine errand?" + +"Nay," said the Baron, "what is thine? As for mine host here, there came +a bird to Brimside and did me to wit that I should be like to need a +throng if I came thy way; and sooth was that. Come now, tell us what is +toward, thou rank reiver, though I have an inkling thereof; for if this +were a mere lifting, thou wouldst not sit still here amidst thy friends +of Hazeldale." + +"Lord," said Jack o' the Tofts, "thou shalt hear mine errand, and then +give heed to what thou wilt do. Look to the bent under the wood, and +tell me, dost thou see the blazon of the banner under which be my men?" + +"That can I not," said the Lord Gandolf; "but I have seen the banner +of Oakenrealm, which beareth the wood-woman with loins garlanded with +oak-leaves, look much like to it at such a distance." + +Said Jack: "It is not ill guessed. Yonder banner is the King's banner, +and beareth on it the woman of Oakenrealm." + +The Lord bent his brows on him, and said: "Forsooth, rank reiver, I +wotted not that thou hadst King Rolf for thy guest." + +Quoth Jack of the Tofts: "Forsooth, Lord, no such guest as the Earl +Marshal Rolf would I have alive in my poor house." + +"Well, Jack," said the big Lord, grinning, "arede me the riddle, and +then we shall see what is to be done, as thou sayest." + +"Lord," said Jack, "dost thou see this young man standing by me?" + +"Yea," said the other, "he is big enough that I may see him better than +thy banner: if he but make old bones, as is scarce like, since he is of +thy flock, he shall one day make a pretty man; he is a gay rider now. +What else is he?" + +Quoth Jack of the Tofts: "He is my King and thy King, and the all-folk's +King, and the King of Oakenrealm: and now, hearken mine errand: it is to +make all folk name him King." + +Said the Lord: "This minstrel's tale goes with the song the bird sang +to me this morning; and therefore am I here thronging--to win thy head, +rank reiver, and this young man's head, since it may not better be, and +let the others go free for this time. Hah! what sayest thou? and thou, +youngling? 'Tis but the stroke of a sword, since thou hast fallen into +my hands, and not into the hangman's or the King's." + +"Thou must win them first, Lord," said Jack of the Tofts. "Therefore, +what sayest thou? Where shall we cast down the white shield and uprear +the red?" + +"Hot art thou, head, heart, and hand, rank reiver," said the Lord; "bide +a while." So he sat silent a little; then he said: "Thou seest, Jack +of the Tofts, that now thou hast thrust the torch into the tow; if I go +back to King Rolf without the heads of you twain, I am like to pay for +it with mine own. Therefore hearken. If we buckle together in fight +presently, it is most like that I shall come to my above, but thou art +so wily and stout that it is not unlike that thou, and perchance this +luckless youngling, may slip through my fingers into the wood; and then +it will avail me little with the King that I have slain a few score +nameless wolf-heads. So, look you! here is a fair field hazelled by God; +let us two use it to-day, and fight to the death here; and then if thou +win me, smite off my head, and let my men fight it out afterwards, as +best they may without me, and 'tis like they will be beaten then. But if +I win thee, then I win this youngling withal, and bear back both heads +to my Lord King, after I have scattered thy wolf-heads and slain as many +as I will; which shall surely befall, if thou be slain first." + +Then cried out Jack of the Tofts: "Hail to thy word, stout-heart! this +is well offered, and I take it for myself and my Lord King here." And +all that stood by and heard gave a glad sound with their voices, and +their armour rattled and rang as man turned to man to praise their +captains. + +But now spake Christopher: "Lord of Brimside, it is nought wondrous +though thou set me aside as of no account, whereas thou deemest me no +king or king's kindred; but thou, Lord Earl, who wert once Jack of the +Tofts, I marvel at thee, that thou hast forgotten thy King so soon. Ye +twain shall now wot that this is my quarrel, and that none but I shall +take this battle upon him. + +"Thou servant of Rolf, the traitor and murderer, hearken! I say that I +am King of Oakenrealm, and the very son of King Christopher the Old; and +that will I maintain with my body against every gainsayer. Thou Lord of +Brimside, wilt thou gainsay it? Then I say thou liest, and lo here, my +glove!" And he cast it down before the Lord. + +Again was there good rumour, and that from either side of the +bystanders; but Jack of the Tofts stood up silent and stiff, and the +Baron of Brimside laughed, and said: "Well, swain, if thou art weary of +life, so let it be, as for me; but how sayest thou, Jack of the Tofts? +Art thou content to give thine head away in this fashion, whereas thou +wottest that I shall presently slay this king of thine?" + +Said Jack: "The King of Oakenrealm must rule me as well as others of +his liege-men: he must fight if he will, and be slain if he will." Then +suddenly he fell a-laughing, and beat his hand on his thigh till +the armour rattled again, and then he cried out: "Lord Gandolf, Lord +Gandolf, have a care, I bid thee! Where wilt thou please to be buried, +Lord?" + +Said the other: "I wot not what thou wilt mean by thy fooling, rank +reiver. But here I take up this youngling's glove; and on his head be +his fate! Now as to this battle. My will is, that we two champions be +all alone and afoot on the eyot. How say ye?" + +"Even so be it," said Jack; "but I say that half a score on each side +shall be standing on their own bank to see the play, and the rest of the +host come no nigher than now we are." + +"I yea-say it," said the Baron; "and now do thou, rank reiver, go back +to thy fellowship and tell them what we have areded, and do thou, Oliver +Marson, do so much for our folk; and bid them wot this, that if any of +them break the troth, he shall lose nought more than his life for that +same." + +Therewith all went ashore to either bank, save the Baron of Brimside +and Christopher. And the Baron laid him down on the ground and fell to +whistling the tune of a merry Yule dance; but as for Christopher, he +looked on his foeman, and deemed he had seldom seen so big and stalwarth +a man; and withal he was of ripe age, and had seen some forty winters. +Then he also cast himself down on the grass, and fell into a kind of +dream, as he watched a pair of wagtails that came chirping up from the +sandy spit below the eyot; till suddenly great shouting broke out, first +from his own bent, and then from the foemen's, and Christopher knew that +the folk on either side had just heard of the battle that was to be on +the holm. The Baron arose at the sound and looked to his own men, whence +were now coming that half-score who were to look on the battle from the +bank; but Christopher stirred not, but lay quietly amongst the flowers +of the grass, till he heard the splash of horse-hoofs in the ford, and +there presently was come Jack of the Tofts bearing basnet and shield for +his lord. And he got off his horse and spake to Christopher: "If I may +not fight for thee, my son and King, yet at least it is the right of +thine Earl to play the squire to thee: but a word before thy basnet is +over thine ears; the man yonder is well-nigh a giant for stature and +strength; yet I think thou mayest deal with him, and be none the sorer +when thou liest down to-night. To be short, this is it: when thou hast +got a stroke in upon him, and he falters, then give him no time, but fly +at him in thy wild-cat manner and show what-like thews thou hast under +thy smooth skin; now thine helm, lad. So art thou dight; and something +tells me thou shalt do it off in victory." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. THE BATTLE ON THE HOLM. + + +So when Christopher was armed, Jack turned about speedily, and so gat +him back through the ford and stood there on the bank with the nine +other folk of the Tofts. And by this time was Gandolf of Brimside armed +also, and Oliver Marson, who had done his helm on him, was gone to his +side of the river. + +Drew the huge man-at-arms then toward Christopher, but his sword was yet +in the sheath: Christopher set his point to the earth and abode him; and +the Baron spake: "Lad, thou art fair and bold both, as I can see it, and +Jack of the Tofts is so much an old foe of mine that he is well-nigh a +friend: so what sayest thou? If thou wilt yield thee straightway, I will +have both thine head and the outlaw's with me to King Rolf, but yet on +your shoulders and ye two alive. Haps will go as haps will; and it +maybe that ye shall both live for another battle, and grow wiser, and +mayhappen abide in the wood with the reiver's men. Hah? What sayest +thou?" + +Christopher laughed and said: "Wouldst thou pardon one who is not yet +doomed, Baron? And yet thy word is pleasant to us; for we see that if we +win thee, thou shalt be good liegeman of us. Now, Baron, sword in fist!" + +Gandolf drew his sword, muttering: "Ah, hah! he is lordly and kingly +enough, yet may this learn him a lesson." Indeed the blade was huge and +brown and ancient, and sword and man had looked a very terror save to +one great-hearted. + +But Christopher said: "What sayest thou now, Baron, shall we cast down +our shields to earth? For why should we chop into wood and leather?" + +The Baron cast down his shield, and said: "Bold are thy words, lad; if +thy deeds go with them, it may be better for thee than for me. Now keep +thee." + +And therewith he leapt forward and swept his huge sword around; but +Christopher swerved speedily and enough, so that the blade touched him +not, and the huge man had over-reached himself, and ere he had his sword +well under sway again, Christopher had smitten him so sharply on the +shoulder that the mails were sundered & the blood ran; and withal the +Baron staggered with the mere weight of the stroke. Then Christopher +saw his time, and leapt aloft and dealt such a stroke on the side of his +head, that the Baron tottered yet more; but now was he taught by those +two terrible strokes, and he gathered all his heart to him, and all the +might of his thews, and leapt aback and mastered his sword, and came on +fierce but wary, shouting out for Brimside and the King. + +Christopher cried never a cry, but swung his sword well within his +sway, and the stroke came on Gandolf's fore-arm and brake the mails and +wounded him, and then as the Baron rushed forward, the wary lad gat his +blade under his foeman's nigh the hilts, and he gave it a wise twist and +forth flew the ancient iron away from its master. + +Gandolf seemed to heed not that he was swordless, but gave out a great +roar and rushed at Christopher to close with him, and the well-knit +lad gave back before him and turned from side to side, and kept the +sword-point before Gandolf's eyes ever, till suddenly, as the Baron was +running his fiercest, he made a mighty sweep at his right leg, since +he had no more to fear his sword, and the edge fell so strong and true, +that but for the byrny-hose he had smitten the limb asunder, and even +as it was it made him a grievous wound, so that the Lord of Brimside fell +clattering to the earth, and Christopher bestrode him and cried: "How +sayest thou, champion, is it enough?" + +"Yea, enough, and maybe more," said the Baron. "Wilt thou smite off mine +head? Or what wilt thou?" + +Said Christopher: "Here hath been enough smiting, meseemeth, save thy +lads and ours have a mind to buckle to; and lo thou! men are running +down from the bents towards us from both sides, yet not in any warlike +manner as yet. Now, Baron, here cometh thy grim squire that I heard +called Oliver, and if thou wilt keep the troth, thou shalt bid him order +thy men so that they fall not upon us till the battle be duly pitched. +Then shalt thou be borne home, since thou canst not go, with no +hindrance from us." + +Now was Oliver come indeed, and the other nine with him, and on the +other side was come Jack of the Tofts and four others. + +Then spake the Baron of Brimside: "I may do better than thou biddest me; +for now I verily trow herein, that thou art the son of Christopher the +Old; so valiant as thou art, and so sad a smiter, and withal that +thou fearest not to let thy foeman live. So hearken all ye, and thou +specially, Oliver Marson, my captain: I am now become the man of my lord +King Christopher, and will follow him whereso he will; and I deem that +will presently be to Oakenham, and the King's seat there. Now look to it +that thou, Oliver, order my men under King Christopher's banner, till +I be healed; and then if all be not over, I shall come forth myself, +shield on neck and spear in fist, to do battle for my liege lord; so +help me God and St. James of the Water!" + +Therewith speech failed him and his wit therewith; so betwixt them they +unarmed him and did him what leechdom they might do there and then; and +he was nowise hurt deadly: as for Child Christopher, he had no scratch +of steel on him. And Oliver knelt before him when he had dight his own +lord, and swore fealty to him then and there; and so departed, to order +the folk of Brimside and tell them the tidings, and swear them liege men +of King Christopher. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. OF GOLDILIND AND CHRISTOPHER. + + +Now Jack of the Tofts said a word to one of his men, and he rode +straightway up into the field under the wood, and spake to three of the +captains of the folk, and they ranked a hundred of the men, of those who +were best dight, and upraised amongst them the banner of Oakenrealm, +and led all them down to the river bank; and with these must needs go +Goldilind; and when they came down thither, Christopher and Jack were +there on the bank to hail them, and they raised a great shout when they +saw their King and their Earl standing there, and the shout was given +back from the wood-side; and then the men of Brimside took it up, for +they had heard the bidding of their Lord, and he was now in a pavilion +which they had raised for him on the mead, and the leeches were looking +to his hurts; and they feared him, but rather loved than hated him, and +he was more to them than the King in Oakenrealm and they were all ready +to do his will. + +But as to Goldilind, her mind it had been, as she was going down the +meadow, that she would throw herself upon Christopher's bosom and love +him with glad tears of love; but as she came and stood over against him, +she was abashed, and stood still looking on him, and spake no word; and +he also was ashamed before all that folk to say the words whereof his +heart was full, and longed for the night, that they might be alone +together. + +But at last he said: "Lady and Queen, thou seest that we be well-beloved +that they rejoice so much in a little deed of mine." And still she spake +nought, and held hand in hand. + +But Jack of the Tofts spake and said: "By St. Hubert! the deed may be +little, though there be men who would think no little of overcoming the +biggest man and the fellest fighter of Oakenrealm, but at least great +things shall come thereof. King, thy strokes of this day have won thee +Oakenrealm, or no man I know in field, and many a mother's son have they +saved from death. For look thou yonder over the river, Goldilind, my +Lady, and tell me what thou seest." She turned to him and said: "Lord +Earl, I see warriors a many." + +"Yea," said Jack, "and stout fellows be they for the more part; and hard +had been the hand-play had we met, ere they had turned their backs; but +now, see thou, we shall wend side by side toward Oakenrealm, for our +Lord there hath won them to his friends; and doubt thou not that when +they see him and thee anigh, they shall be friends indeed. What! dost +thou weep for this? Or is it because he hath done the deed and not thou? +or rather, because thine heart is full for the love of him?" + +She smiled kindly on Jack, but even therewith she felt two hands laid on +her shoulders, and Christopher kissed her without any word. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. A COUNCIL OF CAPTAINS: THE HOST COMES TO BROADLEES, AND +MAKES FOR WOODWALL. + + +That night, though there was some little coming and going between the +Tofters and the Brimsiders, yet either flock slept on their own side of +the river. Moreover, before the midst of the night, cometh David to +the wood-side, and had with him all men defensible of the Tofts and the +houses thereabout, and most of the women also many of whom bore spear or +bow, so that now by the wood-side, what with them of the Tofts and the +folk who joined them thereto from the country-side about Hazeldale, +there were well-nigh ten hundreds of folk under weapons; and yet more +came in the night through; for the tidings of the allegiance of Brimside +was spreading full fast. + +Betimes on the morrow was King Christopher afoot, and he and Jack and +David and Gilbert, and they twelve in company, went down to the banner +by the water-side; and to them presently came Oliver Marson and ten +other of the captains of Brimside, and did them to wit that the Baron +were fain if they would come to his pavilion and hold counsel therein, +for that he was not so sick but he might well speak his mind from where +he lay. So thither they went all, with good will, and the Baron greeted +them friendly, and made what reverence he might to Christopher, and bade +him say what was his mind and his will. But Christopher bade them who +were his elders in battle to speak; and the Baron laughed outright and +said: "Meseemeth, Lord King, thou didst grow old yesterday at my costs; +but since thou wilt have me to speak, I will even do so. And to make +matters the shorter, I will say that I wot well what ye have to do; and +that is, to fall upon the Earl Marshal's folk ere they fall upon us. Now +some folk deem we should fare to Brimside and have a hosting there; but +I say nay; whereas it lieth out of the road to Oakenham, and thereby is +our road, meseemeth; and it is but some six days' riding hence, save, as +is most like, two of those days be days of battle But if we go straight +forward with banners displayed, each day's faring shall be a day of +hosting and gathering; for I tell thee, Lord King, the fame of thee has +by now gone far in this country-side. Wherefore I say no more, since +I wax weary, than this: to the road this morning, and get we so far as +Broadlees ere night-fall, for there we shall get both victual and folk." + +There was good cheer made at his word, so Christopher spake: "Baron of +Brimside, thou hast spoken my very mind and will; and but if these lords +and captains gainsay it, let us tarry no longer, but array all our folk +in good order and take tale of them, and so for Broadlees. What say ye, +lords?" + +None nay-said it, so there was no more talk save as to the ordering of +this or the other company. And it was so areded that the Brimside men +should fare first at the head of the host with the banner of Brimside, +and that then should go the mingled folk of the country-side, and lastly +the folk of the Tofts with the banner of Oakenrealm; so that if the host +came upon foemen, they might be for a cloud to hide the intent of their +battles awhile till they might take their advantage. + +So went the captains to their companies, and the Tofters and their mates +crossed the river to the men of Brimside, who gave them good cheer when +they came amongst them; and it was hard to order the host for a while, +so did the upland folk throng about the King and the Queen; and happy +were they who had a full look on Goldilind; and yet were some so lucky +and so bold that they kissed a hand of her; and one there was, a very +tall young man, and a goodly, who stood there and craved to kiss her +cheek, and she did not gainsay him, and thereafter nought was good to +him save an occasion to die for her. + +As for Christopher, he spake to many, and said to them that wheresoever +his banner was, he at least should be at the forefront whenso they came +upon unpeace; and so soon as they gat to the road, he went from company +to company, speaking to many, and that so sweetly and friendly that all +praised him, and said that here forsooth was a king who was all good and +nothing bad, whereas hitherto men had deemed them lucky indeed if their +king were half good and half bad. + +Merry then was the road to Broadlees, and they came there before +night-fall; and it was a little cheaping town and unwalled, and if the +folk had had any will to ward them, they lacked might. But when they +found they were not to be robbed, and that it was but the proclaiming of +King Christopher in the market-place, and finding victual and house-room +for the host, and the Mayor taking a paper in payment thereof, none +stirred against them, and a many joined the host to fight for the fair +young King. Now nought as yet had they heard at Broadlees of any force +stirring against them. + +But in the morning when they went on their ways again, and were +bound for Cheaping Woodwall, which was a fenced town, they sent out +well-horsed riders to espy the road, who came back on the spur two +hours after noon, and did them to wit that there was a host abiding them +beneath the walls of Woodwall under the banner of Walter the White, an +old warrior and fell fighter; but what comfort he might have from them +of Woodwall they wotted not; but they said that the tidings of their +coming had gone abroad, and many folk were abiding the issue of this +battle ere they joined them to either host. Now on these tidings the +captains were of one mind, to wit, to fare on softly till they came to +a defensible place not far from the foemen, since they could scarce come +to Woodwall in good order before nightfall, and if they were unfoughten +before, to push forward to battle in the morning. + +Even so did they, and made a halt at sunset on a pleasant hill above a +river some three miles from Woodwall, and there they passed the night +unmeddled with. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. BATTLE BEFORE WOODWALL. + + +When morning was, the captains came to King Christopher to council: +but while they were amidst of their talk came the word that the foe was +anigh and come close to the river-bank; whereat was none abashed; but to +all it seemed wisdom to abide them on the vantage-ground. So then there +was girding of swords and doing on of helms; as for ordering of the +folk, it was already done, for all the host was ranked on the bent-side, +with the banner of Oakenrealm in the midst; on its left hand the banner +of the Tofts, and on the right the banner of Brimside. + +Now when Christopher was come to his place, he looked down and saw how +the foemen were pouring over the river, for it was nowhere deep, and +there were four quite shallow fords: many more were they than his folk, +but he deemed that they fared somewhat tumultuously; and when the bowmen +of the Tofts began shooting, the foemen, a many of them, stayed amidst +of the river to bend bow in their turn, and seemed to think that were +nigh enough already; nay, some went back again to the other bank, to +shoot thence the surer and the drier, and some went yet a little further +back on the field. So that when their sergeants and riders were come +on to the hither bank, they lacked about a fifth of all their host; +and they themselves, for all they were so many, had some ado to make up +their minds to go forward. + +Forsooth, when they looked up to the bent and saw the three banners of +Oakenrealm and the Tofts and Brimside all waving over the same ranks, +they knew not what to make of it. And Christopher's host, when they saw +them hang back, brake out into mocking whoops and shouts, and words were +heard in them: "Come and dine at Brimside, good fellows! Come up to the +Tofts for supper and bed! A Christopher! A Christopher!" and so forth. +Now all King Christopher's men were afoot, saving a band of the riders +of Brimside, who bestrode strong and tall horses, and bore jack and +sallet and spear, but no heavy armour. + +So Christopher heard and saw, and the heart rose high in him, and he +sent messengers to the right and the left, and bade the captains watch +till he waved his sword aloft, and then all down the bent together; and +he bade the Brimside riders edge a little outward and downward, and be +ready for the chase, and suffer not any of the foemen to gather together +when once they fell to running; for he knew in his heart that the folk +before him would never abide their onfall. And the day was yet young, +and it lacked four hours of noon. + +King Christopher abode ill he saw the foemen were come off the level +ground, and were mounting the bent slowly, and not in very good order +or in ranks closely serried. Then he strode forth three paces, and +waved his sword high above his head, and cried out: "A Christopher! A +Christopher! Forward, banner of the Realm!" And forth he went, steady +and strong, and a great shout arose behind him, and none shrank or +lagged, but spears and bills, and axes and swords, all came on like a +wall of steel, so that to the foemen the earth seemed alive with death, +and they made no show of abiding the onset, but all turned and ran, save +Walter the White and a score of his knights, who forsooth were borne +down in a trice, and were taken to mercy, those of them who were not +slain at the first crash of weapons. + +There then ye might have seen great clumps of men making no defence, but +casting down their weapons and crying mercy; and forsooth so great was +the throng, that no great many were slain; but on the other hand, but +few gat away across the water, and on them presently fell the Brimside +riders, and hewed down and slew and took few to mercy. And some few +besides the first laggards of the bowmen, it might be three hundreds in +all, escaped, and gat to Woodwall, but when they of the town saw them, +they made up their minds speedily, and shut their gates, and the poor +fleers found but the points of shafts and the heads of quarrels before +them. + +But on the field of deed those captives were somewhat fearful as to what +should be done with them, and they spake one to the other about it, that +they would be willing to serve the new King, since he was so mighty. +And amidst of their talk came the captains of King Christopher, and they +drew into a ring around them, and the lords bade them look to it whether +they would be the foemen of the King, the son of that King Christopher +the Old. "If so ye be," said they, "ye may escape this time; but ye see +how valiant a man he is, and how lucky withal, and happy shall they be +whom he calleth friends. Now what say ye, will ye take up your weapons +again, and be under the best of kings and a true one, or will ye depart +and take the chance of his wrath in the coming days? We say, how many of +you will serve King Christopher." + +Then arose from them a mighty shout: "All! All! One and All!" Albeit +some there were who slunk away and said nought; and none heeded them. + +So then all the sergeants and the common folk swore allegiance to King +Christopher; but of the knights who were left alive, some said Yea, and +some Nay; and these last were suffered to depart, but must needs ride +unarmed. + +Now by the time all was done, and the new men had dined along with the +rest of the host, and of the new-comers tale had been taken, the day was +wearing; so they set off for Woodwall, and on the way they met the Mayor +and Aldermen thereof, who came before King Christopher and knelt to him, +and gave him the keys of their town; so he was gracious to them, and +thanked them, and bade see to the victual and lodging of the host, and +that all should be paid thereafter. And they said that they had seen to +all this before they came forth of the town, and that if the Lord King +would ride forth, he would find fair lodging in the good town. So King +Christopher was pleased, and bade the burgesses ride beside him, and he +talked merrily with them on the way, so that their hearts rejoiced over +the kindness of their lord. + +So they came to the gate, and there the King made stay till Goldilind +was fetched to him, so that they might ride into the good town side +by side. And in the street was much people thronging, and the sun was +scarce set, so that the folk could see their King and Queen what they +were; and they who were nighest unto them, they let their shouts die +out, so were their hearts touched with the sight of them and the love of +their beauty. + +Thus rode they in triumph through the street till they were come to +their lodging, which was great and goodly as for a cheaping town; and so +the day was gone and the night was come, and the council and the banquet +were over; then were the King and Goldilind together again, like any +up-country lad and lass. But she stood before him and said: "O thou King +and mighty warrior, surely I ought to fear thee now, but it is not so, +so sore as I desire thee; but yet it maketh both laughter and tears come +to me when I think of the day we rode away from Greenharbour with thee, +and I seemed to myself a great lady, though I were unhappy; and though +I loved thy body, I feared lest the churl's blood in thee might shame me +perchance, and I was proud and unkind to thee, and I hurt thee sorely; +and now I will say it, and confess, that somewhat I joyed to see thine +anguish, for I knew that it meant thy love for me and thy desire to me. +Lo now, wilt thou forgive me this, or wilt thou punish me, O Lord King?" + +He laughed. "Sweetling," he said, "meseemeth now all day long I have +been fighting against raiment rather than men; no man withstood me in +the battle, for that they feared the crown on my helm and the banner +over my head; and when those good men of the town brought me the keys, +how should I have known them from borrel folk but for their scarlet +gowns and fur hoods? And meseemed that when they knelt to me, it was the +scarlet gowns kneeling to the kingly armour. Therefore, sweetheart, if +thou fearest that the King should punish thee for so wounding the poor +Christopher of those few days ago, as belike thou deservest it, bid the +King do off his raiment, and do thou in likewise, and then there shall +be no King to punish, and no King's scather to thole the punishment, but +only Christopher and Goldilind, even as they met erewhile on the dewy +grass of Littledale." + +She blushed blood-red; but ere his words were done, her hands were busy +with girdle and clasp, and her raiment fell from her to the earth, and +his kingly raiment was cast from him, and he took her by the hand and +led her to the bed of honour, that their love might have increase that +night also. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE AND AN EVIL DEED. + + +When morning was, and it was yet early, the town was all astir and the +gates were thrown open, and weaponed men thronged into it crying out for +Christopher the King. Then the King came forth, and Jack o' the Tofts +and his sons, and Oliver Marson, and the captains of Brimside; and the +host was blown together to the market-place, and there was a new tale of +them taken, and they were now hard on seventy hundreds of men. So then +were new captains appointed, and thereafter they tarried not save to eat +a morsel, but went out a-gates faring after the banners to Oakenrealm, +all folk blessing them as they went. + +Nought befell them of evil that day, but ever fresh companies joined +them on the road; and they gat harbour in another walled town, hight +Sevenham, and rested there in peace that night, and were now grown to +eighty hundreds. + +Again on the morrow they were on the road betimes, and again much folk +joined them, and they heard no tidings of any foeman faring against +them; whereat Jack o' the Tofts marvelled, for he and others had deemed +that now at last would Rolf the traitor come out against them. Forsooth, +when they had gone all day and night was at hand, it seemed most like to +the captains that he would fall upon them that night, whereas they were +now in a somewhat perilous pass; for they must needs rest at a little +thorpe amidst of great and thick woods, which lay all round about the +frank of Oakenham as a garland about a head. So there they kept watch +and ward more heedfully than their wont was; and King Christopher lodged +with Goldilind at the house of a good man of the thorpe. + +Now when it lacked but half an hour of midnight, and Jack o' the Tofts +and Oliver Marson and the Captain of Woodwall had just left him, after +they had settled the order of the next day's journey, and Goldilind lay +abed in the inner chamber, there entered one of the men of the watch +and said: "Lord King, here is a man hereby who would see thee; he is +weaponed, and he saith that he hath a gift for thee: what shall we do +with him?" + +Said Christopher: "Bring him in hither, good fellow." And the man went +back, and came in again leading a tall man, armed, but with a hood done +over his steel hat, so that his face was hidden, and he had a bag in his +hand with something therein. + +Then spake the King and said: "Thou man, since thy face is hidden, this +trusty man-at-arms shall stand by thee while we talk together." + +"Lord," said the man, "let there be a dozen to hear our talk I care not; +for I tell thee that I come to give thee a gift, and gift-bearers are +oftenest welcome." + +Quoth the King: "Maybe, yet before thou bring it forth I would see thy +face, for meseems I have an inkling of thy voice." + +So the man cast back his hood, and lo, it was Simon the squire. "Hah!" +said Christopher, "is it thou then! hast thou another knife to give me?" + +"Nay," said Simon, "only the work of the knife." And therewith he set +his hand to the bag and drew out by the hair a man's head, newly hacked +off and bleeding, and said: "Hast thou seen him before, Lord? He was a +great man yesterday, though not so great as thou shalt be to-morrow." + +"Once only I have seen him," said Christopher, "and then he gave me this +gift" (and he showed his father's ring on his finger): "thou hast slain +the Earl Marshal, who called himself the King of Oakenrealm: my traitor +and dastard he was but thy friend. Wherefore have I two evil deeds to +reward thee, Simon, the wounding of me and the slaying of him. Dost thou +not deem thee gallows-ripe?" + +"King," said Simon, "what wouldst thou have done with him hadst thou +caught him?" + +Said Christopher: "I had slain him had I met him with a weapon in his +fist; and if we had taken him I had let the folk judge him." + +Said Simon: "That is to say, that either thou hadst slain him thyself, +or bidden others to slay him. Now then I ask thee, King, for which +deed wilt thou slay me, for not slaying thee, or for doing thy work and +slaying thy foe?" + +Said Christopher to the guard: "Good fellow, fetch here a good horse +ready saddled and bridled, and be speedy." + +So the man went: and Christopher said to Simon: "For the knife in my +side, I forgive it thee; and as to the slaying of thy friend, it is not +for me to take up the feud. But this is no place for thee: if Jack of +the Tofts, or any of his sons, or one of the captains findeth thee, soon +art thou sped; wherefore I rede thee, when yonder lad hath brought thee +the horse, show me the breadth of thy back, and mount the beast, and put +the most miles thou canst betwixt me and my folk; for they love me." + +Said Simon: "Sorry payment for making thee a king!" + +Said Christopher: "Well, thou art in the right; I may well give gold for +getting rid of such as thou." And he put his hand into a pouch that hung +on his chair, and drew out thence a purse, and gave it unto Simon, who +took it and opened it and looked therein, and then flung it down on the +ground. + +Christopher looked on him wrathfully with reddened face, and cried out: +"Thou dog! wouldst thou be an earl and rule the folk? What more dost +thou want?" + +"This!" cried out Simon, and leapt upon him, knife aloft. Christopher +was unarmed utterly; but he caught hold of the felon's right arm with +his right hand, and gripped the wrist till he shrieked; then he raised +up his mighty left hand, and drave it down on Simon's head by the ear, +and all gave way before it, and the murderer fell crushed and dead to +earth. + +Therewith came in the man-at-arms to tell him that the horse was come; +but stared wild when he saw the dead man on the ground. But Christopher +said: "My lad, here hath been one who would have thrust a knife into +an unarmed man, wherefore I must needs give him his wages. But now thou +hast this to do: take thou this dead man and bind him so fast on the +horse thou hast brought that he will not come off till the bindings be +undone; and bind withal the head of this other, who was once a great man +and an evil, before the slayer of him, so that it also may be fast; then +get thee to horse and lead this beast and its burden till ye are well +on the highway to Oakenham, and then let him go and find his way to the +gate of the city if God will. And hearken, my lad; seest thou this +gold which lieth scattering on the floor here? this was mine, but is no +longer, since I have given it away to the dead man just before he lifted +his hand against me. Wherefore now I will keep it for thee against thou +comest back safe to me in the morning betimes, as I deem thou wilt, if +thou wilt behight to St. Julian the helping of some poor body on the +road. Go therefore, but send hither the guard; for I am weary now, and +would go to sleep without slaying any man else." + +So departed the man full of joy, and Christopher gathered his money +together again, and so fared to his bed peacefully. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. KING CHRISTOPHER COMES TO OAKENHAM. + + +But on the morrow the first man who came to the King was the man-at-arms +aforesaid; and he told that he had done the King's errand, and ridden a +five miles on the road to Oakenham before he had left the horse with his +felon load, and that he had found nought stirring all that way when he +had passed through their own out-guards, where folk knew him and let +him go freely. "And," quoth he, "it is like enough that this gift to +Oakenham, Lord King, has by now come to the gate thereof." Then the King +gave that man the gold which he had promised, and he kissed the King's +hand and went his ways a happy man. + +Thereafter sent Christopher for Jack of the Tofts, and told him in few +words what had betid, and that Rolf the traitor was dead. Then spake +Jack: "King and fosterling, never hath so mighty a warrior as thou waged +so easy a war for so goodly a kingdom as thou hast done; for surely thy +war was ended last night, wherefore will we straight to Oakenham, if so +thou wilt. But if it be thy pleasure I will send a chosen band of riders +to wend on the spur thereto, and bid them get ready thy kingly house, +and give word to the Barons and the Prelates, and the chiefs of the +Knighthood, and the Mayor and the Aldermen, and the Masters of the +Crafts, to show themselves of what mind they be towards thee. But I +doubt it not that they will deem of thee as thy father come back again +and grown young once more." + +Now was Christopher eager well nigh unto weeping to behold his people +that he should live amongst, and gladly he yea-said the word of Jack of +the Tofts. So were those riders sent forward; and the host was ordered, +and Christopher rode amidst it with Goldilind by his side; and the +sun was not yet gone down when they came within sight of the gate of +Oakenham, and there before the gate and in the fields on either side +of it was gathered a very great and goodly throng, and there went forth +from it to meet the King the Bishop of Oakenham, and the Abbot of St. +Mary's and the Priors of the other houses of religion, all fairly clad +in broidered copes, with the clerks and the monks dight full solemnly; +and they came singing to meet him, and the Bishop blessed him and gave +him the hallowed bread, and the King greeted him and craved his prayers. +Then came the Burgreve of Oakenham, and with him the Barons and the +Knights, and they knelt before him, and named him to king, and the +Burgreve gave him the keys of the city. Thereafter came the Mayor and +the Aldermen, and the Masters of the Crafts, and they craved his favour, +and warding of his mighty sword; and all these he greeted kindly and +meekly, rather as a friend than as a great lord. + +Thereafter were the gates opened, and King Christopher entered, and +there was no gainsaying, and none spake a word of the Traitor Rolf. + +But the bells of the minster and of all the churches rang merrily, and +songs were sung sweetly by fair women gloriously clad; and whereas King +Christopher and Queen Goldilind had lighted down from their horses and +went afoot through the street, roses and all kinds of sweet flowers were +cast down before the feet of them all the way from the city gate to the +King's High House of Oakenham. + +There then in the great hall of his father's house stood Christopher the +King on the dais, and Goldilind beside him. And Jack of the Tofts and +the chiefest of the Captains, and the Bishop, and the greatest lords +of the Barons, and the doughtiest of the Knights, and the Mayor and the +Aldermen, and the Masters of the Crafts, sat at the banquet with the +King and his mate; they brake bread together and drank cups of renown, +till the voidee cup was borne in. Then at last were the King & the Queen +brought to their chamber with string-play and songs and all kinds of +triumph; and that first night since he lay in his mother's womb did +Child Christopher fall asleep in the house which the fathers had builded +for him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. OF CHILD CHRISTOPHER'S DEALINGS WITH HIS FRIENDS & HIS +FOLK. + + +It was in the morning when King Christopher arose, and Goldilind stood +before him in the kingly chamber, that he clipped her and kissed her, +and said: "This is the very chamber whence my father departed when he +went to his last battle, and left my mother sickening with the coming +birth of me. And never came he back hither, nor did mine eyes behold him +ever. Here also lay my mother and gave birth to me, and died of sorrow, +and her also I never saw, save with eyes that noted nought that I might +remember. And my third kinsman was the traitor, that cast me forth of +mine heritage, and looked to it that I should wax up as a churl, and +lose all hope of high deeds; and at the last he strove to slay me. + +"Therefore, sweet, have I no kindred, and none that are bound to cherish +me, and it is for thee to take the place of them, and be unto me both +father and mother, and brother and sister, and all kindred." + +She said: "My mother I never saw, and I was but little when my father +died; and if I had any kindred thereafter they loved me not well enough +to strike one stroke for me, nay, or to speak a word even, when I was +thrust out of my place and delivered over to the hands of pitiless +people, and my captivity worsened on me as the years grew. Wherefore to +me also art thou in the stead of all kindred and affinity." + +Now Christopher took counsel with Jack of the Tofts and the great men +of the kingdom, and that same day, the first day of his kingship in +Oakenham, was summoned a great mote of the whole folk; and in half a +month was it holden, and thereat was Christopher taken to king with none +gainsaying. + +Began now fair life for the people of Oakenrealm; for Jack of the Tofts +abode about the King in Oakenham; and wise was his counsel, and there +was no greed in him, and yet he wotted of greed and guile in others, +and warned the King thereof when he saw it, and the tyrants were brought +low, and no poor and simple man had need to thieve. As for Christopher, +he loved better to give than to take; and the grief and sorrow of folk +irked him sorely; it was to him as if he had gotten a wound when he saw +so much as one unhappy face in a day; and all folk loved him, and the +fame of him went abroad through the lands and the roads of travel, so +that many were the wise and valiant folk that left their own land and +came into Oakenrealm to dwell there, because of the good peace and +the kindliness that there did abound; so that Oakenrealm became both +many-peopled and joyous. + +Though Jack of the Tofts abode with the King at Oakenham, his sons went +back to the Tofts, and Gilbert was deemed the head man of them; folk +gathered to them there, and the wilderness about them became builded in +many places, and the Tofts grew into a goodly cheaping town, for those +brethren looked to it that all roads in the woodland should be safe and +at peace, so that no chapman need to arm him or his folk; nay, a maiden +might go to and fro on the woodland ways, with a golden girdle about +her, without so much as the crumpling of a lap of her gown unless by her +own will. + +As to David, at first Christopher bade him strongly to abide with him +ever, for he loved him much. But David nay-said it, and would go home to +the Tofts; and when the King pressed him sore, at last he said: "Friend +and fellow, I must now tell thee the very sooth, and then shalt thou +suffer me to depart, though the sundering be but sorrow to me. For this +it is, that I love thy Lady and wife more than meet is, and here I find +it hard to thole my desire and my grief; but down in the thicket yonder +amongst my brethren of the woods, and man and maid, and wife and babe, +nay, the very deer of the forest, I shall become a man again, and be no +more a peevish and grudging fool; and as the years wear, shall sorrow +wear, and then, who knows but we may come together again." + +Then Christopher smiled kindly on him and embraced him, but they spake +no more of that matter, but sat talking a while, and then bade each +other farewell, and David went his ways to the Tofts. But a few months +thereafter, when a son had been born to Christopher, David came to +Oakenrealm, but stayed there no longer than to greet the King, and do +him to wit that he was boun for over-sea to seek adventure. Many gifts +the King gave him, and they sundered in all loving-kindness, and the +King said: "Farewell, friend, I shall remember thee and thy kindness +for ever." But David said: "By the roof in Littledale and by the hearth +thereof, thou shalt be ever in my mind." + +Thus they parted for that time; but five and twenty years afterwards, +when Child Christopher was in his most might and majesty, and Goldilind +was yet alive and lovely, and sons and daughters sat about their board, +it was the Yule feast in the King's Hall at Oakenham, and there came +a man into the hall that none knew, big of stature, grey-eyed and +hollow-cheeked, with red hair grizzled, and worn with the helm; a +weaponed man, chieftain-like and warrior-like. And when the serving-men +asked him of his name, and whence and whither, he said: "I have come +from over-seas to look upon the King, and when he seeth me he will know +my name." Then he put them all aside and would not be gainsaid, but +strode up the hall to the high-seat, and stood before the King and said: +"Hail, little King Christopher! Hail, stout babe of the woodland!" + +Then the King looked on him and knew him at once, and stood up at once +with a glad cry, and came round unto him, and took his arms about him +and kissed him, and led him into the high-seat, and set him betwixt him +and Goldilind, and she also greeted him and took him by the hand and +kissed him; and Jack of the Tofts, now a very old man, but yet hale +and stark, who sat on the left hand of the King, leaned toward him and +kissed him and blessed him; for lo! it was David of the Tofts. + +Spake he now and said: "Christopher, this is now a happy day!" + +Said the King: "David, whither away hence, and what is thine heart set +upon?" + +"On the renewal of our youth," said David, "and the abiding with thee. +By my will no further will I go than this thine house. How sayest thou?" + +"As thou dost," said Christopher, "that this is indeed a happy day; +drink out of my cup now, to our abiding together, and the end of +sundering till the last cometh." + +So they drank together, they two, and were happy amidst the folk of the +hall; and at last the King stood up and spake aloud, and did all to wit +that this was his friend and fellow of the old days; and he told of his +doughty deeds, whereof he had heard many a tale, and treasured them in +his heart while they were apart, and he bade men honour him, all such as +would be his friends. And all men rejoiced at the coming of this doughty +man and the friend of the King. + +So there abode David, holden in all honour, and in great love of Child +Christopher and Goldilind; and when his father died, his earldom did the +King give to David his friend, who never sundered from him again, but +was with him in peace and in war, in joy and in sorrow. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. OF MATTERS OF MEADHAM. + + +GOES the tale back now to the time when the kingship of Child +Christopher was scarce more than one month old; and tells that as +the King sat with his Queen in the cool of his garden on a morning of +August, there came to him a swain of service, who did him to wit that an +outland lord was come, and would see him and give him a message. + +So the King bade bring him in to the garden to him straight-way; so the +man went, and came back again leading in a knight somewhat stricken in +years, on whose green surcoat was beaten a golden lion. + +He came to those twain and did obeisance to them, but spake, as it +seemed, to Goldilind alone: "Lady, and Queen of Meadham," said he, "it +is unto thee, first of all, that mine errand is." + +Then she spoke and said: "Welcome to thee, Sir Castellan of +Greenharbour, we shall hear thy words gladly." + +Said the new-comer: "Lady, I am no longer the Burgreve of Greenharbour, +but Sir Guisebert, lord of the Green March, and thy true servant and a +suitor for thy grace and pardon." + +"I pardon thee not, but thank thee for what thou didst of good to me," +said Goldilind, "and I think that now thine errand shall be friendly." + +Then turned the Green Knight to the King, and he said: "Have I thy leave +to speak, Lord King?" and he smiled covertly. + +But Christopher looked on the face and coat-armour of him, and called +him to mind as the man who had stood betwixt him and present death +that morning in the porch of the Littledale house; so he looked on him +friendly, and said: "My leave thou hast, Sir Knight, to speak fully and +freely, and that the more as meseemeth I saw thee first when thou hadst +weaponed men at thy back, and wert turning their staves away from my +breast." + +"Even so it is, Lord King," said the Knight; "and to say sooth, I fear +thee less for thy kingship, than because I wot well that thou mayst +lightly take me up by the small of my back and cast me over thy shoulder +if thou have a mind therefor." + +Christopher laughed at his word, and bade him sit down upon the green +grass and tell his errand straightway; and the Knight tarried not, but +spake out: "Queen of Meadham, I am a friend and fellow, and in some sort +a servant, to Earl Geoffrey, Regent of Meadham, whom thou knowest; and +he hath put a word in my mouth which is both short and easy for me to +tell. All goes awry in Meadham now, and men are arming against each +other, and will presently be warring, but if thou look to it; because +all this is for lack of thee. But if thou wilt vouchsafe to come to +Meadhamstead, and sit on thy throne for a little while, commanding and +forbidding; and if thou wilt appoint one of the lords for thine Earl +there, and others for thy captains, and governors and burgreves and so +forth; then if the people see thee and hear thee, the swords will go +into their sheaths, and the spears will hang on the wall again, and we +shall have peace in Meadham, for all will do thy bidding. Wherefore, +Lady and Queen, I beseech thee to come to us, and stave off the riot and +ruin. What sayest thou?" + +Goldilind made answer in a while: "Sir Guisebert, true it is that I long +to see my people, and to look once more on my father's house, and the +place where he was born and died. But how know I but this is some wile +of Earl Geoffrey, for he hath not been abounding in trustiness toward +us?" + +But Sir Guisebert swore on his salvation that there was no guile +therein, and they were undone save Goldilind came unto them. Then spake +Christopher: "Sir Knight, I am willing to pleasure my Lady, who, as +I can see, longeth to behold her own land and people; and also by thy +voice and thy face I deem that thou art not lying unto me, and that no +harm will befall the Lady; yet will I ask thee right out what thou and +thy lord would think thereof if she come into Meadham accompanied; to +wit, if I rode with her, and had five hundreds of good riders at my +back, would ye have guesting for so many and such stark lads?" + +The Knight took up the word eagerly, and said: "Wilt thou but come, +dear lord, and bring a thousand or more, then the surer and the safer it +would be for us." + +Said the King, smiling: "Well, it shall be thought on; and meantime be +thou merry with us; for indeed I deem of thee, that but for thy helping +my life had been cast away that morning in Littledale." + +So they made much of the Meadham man for three days, and thereafter +they rode into Meadham and to Meadhamstead, Christopher, and Jack of the +Tofts, and Goldilind, in all honour and triumph, they and seven hundreds +of spears, and never were lords received with such joy and kindness +as were they, but it were on the day when Christopher and his entered +Oakenham. + +The Earl Geoffrey was not amongst them that met them; but whenas they +sat at the banquet in the hall, and Goldilind was in the high-seat, +gloriously clad and with the kingly crown on her head, there came a +tall man up to the dais, grey-headed and keen-eyed, and he was unarmed, +without so much as a sword by his side, and clad in simple black; and he +knelt before Goldilind, and laid his head on her lap, and spake: "Lady +and Queen, here is my head to do with as thou wilt; for I have been thy +dastard, and I crave thy pardon, if so it may be, for I am Geoffrey." + +She looked kindly on him, and raised him up; and then she turned to the +chief of the serving-men, and said: "Fetch me a sword with its sheath +and its girdle, and see that it be a good blade, and all well-adorned, +both sword and sheath and girdle." Even so it was done; and when she had +the sword, she bade Sir Geoffrey kneel again before her, and she girt +him with the said sword and spake: "Sir Geoffrey, all the wrong which +thou didest to me, I forgive it thee and forget it; but wherein thou +hast done well, I will remember it, for thou hast given me a mighty King +to be my man; nay, the mightiest and the loveliest on earth; wherefore I +bless thee, and will make thee my Earl to rule all Meadham under me, if +so be the folk gainsay it not. Wherefore now let these folk fetch thee +seemly garments and array thee, and then come sit amongst us, and eat +and drink on this high day; for a happy day it is when once again I sit +in my father's house, and see the faces of my folk that loveth me." + +She spake loud and clear, so that most folk in the hall heard her; and +they rejoiced at her words, for Sir Geoffrey was no ill ruler, but wise +and of great understanding, keen of wit and deft of word, and a mighty +warrior withal; only they might not away with it that their Lady and +Queen had become as alien to them. So when they heard her speak her +will, they shouted for joy of the peace and goodwill that was to be. + +There then sat Geoffrey at the banquet; and Christopher smiled on him, +and said: "See now, lord, if I have not done as thou badest when +thou gavest me the treasure of Greenharbour, for I have brought the +wolf-heads to thy helping and not to thy scathing. Do thou as much for +me, and be thou a good earl to thy Lady and mine, and then shalt thou +yet live and die a happy man, and my friend. Or else--" + +"There shall be no else, Lord King," quoth Geoffrey; "all men henceforth +shall tell of me as a true man." + +So they were blithe and joyous together. But a seven days thence was +the Allmen's Mote gathered to the wood-side without Meadhamstead, and +thronged it was: and there Goldilind stood up before all the folk +and named Sir Geoffrey for Earl to rule the land under her, and none +gainsaid it, for they knew him meet thereto. Then she named from the +baronage and knighthood such men as she had been truly told were meet +thereto to all the offices of the kingdom, and there was none whom +she named but was well-pleasing to the folk; for she had taken counsel +beforehand with all the wisest men of all degrees. + +As for herself, all loved and worshipped her; and this alone seemed hard +unto them, that she must needs go back to Oakenrealm in a few days: but +when she heard them murmur thereat, she behight them, that once in every +year she would come into Meadham and spend one whole month therein; and, +were it possible, ever should that be the month of May. So when they +heard that, they all praised her, and were the more content. This custom +she kept ever thereafter, and she lay in with her second son in the city +of Meadhamstead, so that he was born therein; and she named him to be +King after her, to the great joy of that folk; and he grew up strong and +well-liking, and came to the kingship while his mother was yet alive, +and was a good man and well-beloved of his folk. + +Before she turned back with her man, she let seek out Aloyse, and when +she came before her, gave her gifts and bade her come back with her to +Oakenham and serve her there if she would: and the damsel was glad, for +there in Meadhamstead was she poor and not well seen to, whereas it was +rumoured of her that she had been one of the jailers of Goldilind. + +When they came back to Oakenham, there they met Gandolf, Baron of +Brimside, now whole of his hurts, and the King greeted him kindly, and +did well to him all his life; and found him ever a true man. + +Good thenceforward was the life of Child Christopher and Goldilind: +whiles indeed they happed on unpeace or other trouble; but never did +fair love and good worship depart from them, either of each unto each, +or of the whole folk unto them twain. + +To no man did Christopher mete out worse than his deserts, nay, to most +far better he meted: no man he feared, nor hated any save the tormentors +of poor folk; and but a little while abided his hatred of those, for +it cut short their lives, so that they were speedily done with and +forgotten. And when he died a very old man but one year after Goldilind +his dear, no king that ever lived was so bewailed by his folk as was +Child Christopher. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Child Christopher, by William Morris + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHILD CHRISTOPHER *** + +***** This file should be named 234.txt or 234.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/234/ + +Produced by John Hamm + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. Binary files differdiff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6d1c873 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #234 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/234) diff --git a/old/chilc10.txt b/old/chilc10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cded70a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/chilc10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5802 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Etext of Child Christopher by William Morris + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. We need your donations. + + +Child Christopher, by William Morris + +March, 1995 [Etext #234] + +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Child Christopher by Morris +This file should be named chilc10.txt or chilc10.zip****** + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, chilc11.txt. +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, chilc10a.txt. + + + Prepared by John Hamm <John_Hamm@MindLink.bc.ca> + + Scanned with OmniPage Professional 5.0 OCR software + donated to Project Gutenberg by Caere Corporation. + + +We are now trying to release all our books one month in advance +of the official release dates, for time for better editing. + +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. To be sure you have an +up to date first edition [xxxxx10x.xxx] please check file sizes +in the first week of the next month. Since our ftp program has +a bug in it that scrambles the date [tried to fix and failed] a +look at the file size will have to do, but we will try to see a +new copy has at least one byte more or less. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +fifty hours is one conservative estimate for how long it we take +to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. This +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If our value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar, then we produce 2 +million dollars per hour this year we, will have to do four text +files per month: thus upping our productivity from one million. +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext +Files by the December 31, 2001. [10,000 x 100,000,000=Trillion] +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is 10% of the expected number of computer users by the end +of the year 2001. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +All donations should be made to "Project Gutenberg/IBC", and are +tax deductible to the extent allowable by law ("IBC" is Illinois +Benedictine College). (Subscriptions to our paper newsletter go +to IBC, too) + +For these and other matters, please mail to: + +Project Gutenberg +P. O. Box 2782 +Champaign, IL 61825 + +When all other email fails try our Michael S. Hart, Executive +Director: +hart@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu (internet) hart@uiucvmd (bitnet) + +We would prefer to send you this information by email +(Internet, Bitnet, Compuserve, ATTMAIL or MCImail). + +****** +If you have an FTP program (or emulator), please +FTP directly to the Project Gutenberg archives: +[Mac users, do NOT point and click. . .type] + +ftp mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu +login: anonymous +password: your@login +cd etext/etext91 +or cd etext92 +or cd etext93 [for new books] [now also in cd etext/etext93] +or cd etext/articles [get suggest gut for more information] +dir [to see files] +get or mget [to get files. . .set bin for zip files] +GET 0INDEX.GUT +for a list of books +and +GET NEW GUT for general information +and +MGET GUT* for newsletters. + +**Information prepared by the Project Gutenberg legal advisor** +(Three Pages) + + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you can distribute copies of this etext if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this etext on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG- +tm etexts, is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor +Michael S. Hart through the Project Gutenberg Association at +Illinois Benedictine College (the "Project"). Among other +things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext +under the Project's "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] the Project (and any other party you may receive this +etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold the Project, its directors, +officers, members and agents harmless from all liability, cost +and expense, including legal fees, that arise directly or +indirectly from any of the following that you do or cause: +[1] distribution of this etext, [2] alteration, modification, +or addition to the etext, or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + etext or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word pro- + cessing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the etext (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Project of 20% of the + net profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association / Illinois + Benedictine College" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Illinois Benedictine College". + +This "Small Print!" by Charles B. Kramer, Attorney +Internet (72600.2026@compuserve.com); TEL: (212-254-5093) +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + +Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair +by William Morris +1895 + + +CHAPTER I. + +OF THE KING OF OAKENREALM, AND HIS WIFE AND HIS CHILD. + + +Of old there was a land which was so much a woodland, that a +minstrel thereof said it that a squirrel might go from end +to end, and all about, from tree to tree, and never touch +the earth: therefore was that land called Oakenrealm. + +The lord and king thereof was a stark man, and so great a +warrior that in his youth he took no delight in aught else +save battle and tourneys. But when he was hard on forty +years old, he came across a daughter of a certain lord, whom +he had vanquished, and his eyes bewrayed him into longing, +so that he gave back to the said lord the havings he had +conquered of him that he might lay the maiden in his kingly +bed. So he brought her home with him to Oakenrealm and +wedded her. + +Tells the tale that he rued not his bargain, but loved her +so dearly that for a year round he wore no armour, save when +she bade him play in the tilt-yard for her desport and +pride. + +So wore the days till she went with child and was near her +time, and then it betid that three kings who marched on +Oakenrealm banded them together against him, and his lords +and thanes cried out on him to lead them to battle, and it +behoved him to do as they would. + +So he sent out the tokens and bade an hosting at his chief +city, and when all was ready he said farewell to his wife +and her babe unborn, and went his ways to battle once more: +but fierce was his heart against the foemen, that they had +dragged him away from his love and his joy. + +Even amidst of his land he joined battle with the host of +the ravagers, and the tale of them is short to tell, for +they were as the wheat before the hook. But as he followed +up the chase, a mere thrall of the fleers turned on him and +cast his spear, and it reached him whereas his hawberk was +broken, and stood deep in, so that he fell to earth +unmighty: and when his lords and chieftains drew about him, +and cunning men strove to heal him, it was of no avail, and +he knew that his soul was departing. Then he sent for a +priest, and for the Marshal of the host, who was a great +lord, and the son of his father's brother, and in few words +bade him look to the babe whom his wife bore about, and if +it were a man, to cherish him and do him to learn all that a +king ought to know; and if it were a maiden, that he should +look to her wedding well and worthily: and he let swear him +on his sword, on the edges and the hilts, that he would do +even so, and be true unto his child if child there were: +and he bade him have rule, if so be the lords would, and all +the people, till the child were of age to be king: and the +Marshal swore, and all the lords who stood around bare +witness to his swearing. Thereafter the priest houselled +the King, and he received his Creator, and a little while +after his soul departed. + +But the Marshal followed up the fleeing foe, and two battles +more he fought before he beat them flat to earth; and then +they craved for peace, and he went back to the city in +mickle honour. + +But in the King's city of Oakenham he found but little joy; +for both the King was bemoaned, whereas he had been no hard +man to his folk; and also, when the tidings and the King's +corpse came back to Oakenrealm, his Lady and Queen took sick +for sorrow and fear, and fell into labour of her child, and +in childing of a man-bairn she died, but the lad lived, and +was like to do well. + +So there was one funeral for the slain King and for her whom +his slaying had slain: and when that was done, the little +king was borne to the font, and at his christening he gat to +name Christopher. + +Thereafter the Marshal summoned all them that were due +thereto to come and give homage to the new king, and even so +did they, though he were but a babe, yea, and who had but +just now been a king lying in his mother's womb. But when +the homage was done, then the Marshal called together the +wise men, and told them how the King that was had given him +in charge his son as then unborn, and the ruling of the +realm till the said son were come to man's estate: but he +bade them seek one worthier if they had heart to gainsay the +word of their dying lord. Then all they said that he was +worthy and mighty and the choice of their dear lord, and +that they would have none but he. + +So then was the great folk-mote called, and the same matter +was laid before all the people, and none said aught against +it, whereas no man was ready to name another to that charge +and rule, even had it been his own self. + +Now then by law was the Marshal, who hight Rolf, lord and +earl of the land of Oakenrealm. He ruled well and strongly, +and was a fell warrior: he was well befriended by many of +the great; and the rest of them feared him and his friends: +as for the commonalty, they saw that he held the realm in +peace; and for the rest, they knew little and saw less of +him, and they paid to his bailiffs and sheriffs as little as +they could, and more than they would. But whereas that left +them somewhat to grind their teeth on, and they were not +harried, they were not so ill content. So the Marshal +throve, and lacked nothing of a king's place save the bare +name. + + + +CHAPTER II. + +OF THE KING'S SON. + + +As for the King's son, to whom the folk had of late done +homage as king, he was at first seen about a corner of the +High House with his nurses; and then in a while it was said, +and the tale noted, but not much, that he must needs go for +his health's sake, and because he was puny, to some stead +amongst the fields, and folk heard say that he was gone to +the strong house of a knight somewhat stricken in years, who +was called Lord Richard the Lean. The said house was some +twelve miles from Oakenham, not far from the northern edge +of the wild-wood. But in a while, scarce more than a year, +Lord Richard brake up house at the said castle, and went +southward through the forest. Of this departure was little +said, for he was not a man amongst the foremost. As for the +King's little son, if any remembered that he was in the +hands of the said Lord Richard, none said aught about it; +for if any thought of the little babe at all, they said to +themselves, Never will he come to be king. + +Now as for Lord Richard the Lean, he went far through the +wood, and until he was come to another house of his, that +stood in a clearing somewhat near to where Oakenrealm +marched on another country, which hight Meadham; though the +said wild-wood ended not where Oakenrealm ended, but +stretched a good way into Meadham; and betwixt one and the +other much rough country there was. + +It is to be said that amongst those who went to this +stronghold of the woods was the little King Christopher, no +longer puny, but a stout babe enough: so he was borne +amongst the serving men and thralls to the castle of the +Outer March; and he was in no wise treated as a great man's +son; but there was more than one woman who was kind to him, +and as he waxed in strength and beauty month by month, both +carle and quean fell to noting him, and, for as little as he +was, he began to be well-beloved. + +As to the stead where he was nourished, though it were far +away amongst the woods, it was no such lonely or savage +place: besides the castle and the houses of it, there was a +merry thorpe in the clearing, the houses whereof were set +down by the side of a clear and pleasant little stream. +Moreover the goodmen and swains of the said township were no +ill folk, but bold of heart, free of speech, and goodly of +favour; and the women of them fair, kind, and trusty. +Whiles came folk journeying in to Oakenrealm or out to +Meadham, and of these some were minstrels, who had with them +tidings of what was astir whereas folk were thicker in the +world, and some chapmen, who chaffered with the +thorpe-dwellers, and took of them the woodland spoil for +such outland goods as those woodmen needed. + +So wore the years, and in Oakenham King Christopher was well +nigh forgotten, and in the wild-wood had never been known +clearly for King's son. At first, by command of Rolf the +Marshal, a messenger came every year from Lord Richard with +a letter that told of how the lad Christopher did. But when +five years were worn, the Marshal bade send him tidings +thereof every three years; and by then it was come to the +twelfth year, and still the tidings were that the lad throve +ever, and meanwhile the Marshal sat fast in his seat with +none to gainsay, the word went to Lord Richard that he +should send no more, for that he, the Marshal, had heard +enough of the boy; and if he throve it were well, and if +not, it was no worse. So wore the days and the years. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +OF THE KING OF MEADHAM AND HIS DAUGHTER. + + +Tells the tale that in the country which lay south of +Oakenrealm, and was called Meadham, there was in these days +a king whose wife was dead, but had left him a fair +daughter, who was born some four years after King +Christopher. A good man was this King Roland, mild, +bounteous, and no regarder of persons in his justice; and +well-beloved he was of his folk: yet could not their love +keep him alive; for, whenas his daughter was of the age of +twelve years, he sickened unto death; and so, when he knew +that his end drew near, he sent for the wisest of his wise +men, and they came unto him sorrowing in the High House of +his chiefest city, which hight Meadhamstead. So he bade +them sit down nigh unto his bed, and took up the word and +spake: + +"Masters, and my good lords, ye may see clearly that a +sundering is at hand, and that I must needs make a long +journey, whence I shall come back never; now I would, and am +verily of duty bound thereto, that I leave behind me some +good order in the land. Furthermore, I would that my +daughter, when she is of age thereto, should be Queen in +Meadham, and rule the land; neither will it be many years +before she shall be of ripe age for ruling, if ever she may +be; and I deem not that there shall be any lack in her, +whereas her mother could all courtesy, and was as wise as a +woman may be. But how say ye, my masters?" + +So they all with one consent said Yea, and they would ask +for no better king than their lady his daughter. Then said +the King: + +"Hearken carefully, for my time is short: Yet is she young +and a maiden, though she be wise. Now therefore do I need +some man well looked to of the folk, who shall rule the land +in her name till she be of eighteen winters, and who shall +be her good friend and counsellor into all wisdom +thereafter. Which of you, my masters, is meet for this +matter?" + +Then they all looked one on the other, and spake not. And +the King said: "Speak, some one of you, without fear; this +is no time for tarrying." + +Thereon spake an elder, the oldest of them, and said: +"Lord, this is the very truth, that none of us here present +are meet for this office: whereas, among other matters, we +be all unmeet for battle; some of us have never been +warriors, and other some are past the age for leading an +host. To say the sooth, King, there is but one man in +Meadham who may do what thou wilt, and not fail; both for +his wisdom, and his might afield, and the account which is +had of him amongst the people; and that man is Earl +Geoffrey, of the Southern Marches." + +"Ye say sooth," quoth the King; "but is he down in the +South, or nigher to hand?" + +Said the elder: "He is as now in Meadhamstead, and may be +in this chamber in scant half an hour." So the King bade +send for him, and there was silence in the chamber till he +came in, clad in a scarlet kirtle and a white cloak, and +with his sword by his side. He was a tall man, bigly made; +somewhat pale of face, black and curly of hair; blue-eyed, +thin-lipped, and hook-nosed as an eagle; a man warrior-like, +and somewhat fierce of aspect. He knelt down by the King's +bedside, and asked him in a sorrowful voice what he would, +and the King said: "I ask a great matter of thee, and all +these my wise men, and I myself, withal, deem that thou +canst do it, and thou alone--nay, hearken: I am departing, +and I would have thee hold my place, and do unto my people +even what I would do if I myself were living; and to my +daughter as nigh to that as may be. I say all this thou +mayst do, if thou wilt be as trusty and leal to me after I +am dead, as thou hast seemed to all men's eyes to have been +while I was living. What sayest thou?" + +The Earl had hidden his face in the coverlet of the bed +while the King was speaking; but now he lifted up his face, +weeping, and said: "Kinsman and friend and King; this is +nought hard to do; but if it were, yet would I do it." + +"It is well," said the King: "my heart fails me and my +voice; so give heed, and set thine ear close to my mouth: +hearken, belike my daughter Goldilind shall be one of the +fairest of women; I bid thee wed her to the fairest of men +and the strongest, and to none other." + +Thereat his voice failed him indeed, and he lay still; but +he died not, till presently the priest came to him, and, as +he might, houselled him: then he departed. + +As for Earl Geoffrey, when the King was buried, and the +homages done to the maiden Goldilind, he did no worse than +those wise men deemed of him, but bestirred him, and looked +full sagely into all the matters of the kingdom, and did so +well therein that all men praised his rule perforce, whether +they loved him or not; and sooth to say he was not much +beloved. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +OF THE MAIDEN GOLDILIND. + + +AMIDST of all his other business Earl Geoffrey bethought him +in a while of the dead King's daughter, and he gave her in +charge to a gentlewoman, somewhat stricken in years, a widow +of high lineage, but not over wealthy. She dwelt in her own +house in a fair valley some twenty miles from Meadhamstead: +thereabode Goldilind till a year and a half was worn, and +had due observance, but little love, and not much kindness +from the said gentlewoman, who hight Dame Elinor Leashowe. +Howbeit, time and again came knights and ladies and lords to +see the little lady, and kissed her hand and did obeisance +to her; yet more came to her in the first three months of +her sojourn at Leashowe than the second, and more in the +second than the third. + +At last, on a day when the said year and a half was fully +worn, thither came Earl Geoffrey with a company of knights +and men-at-arms, and he did obeisance, as due was, to his +master's daughter, and then spake awhile privily with Dame +Elinor; and thereafter they went into the hall, he, and she, +and Goldilind, and there before all men he spake aloud and +said: + +"My Lady Goldilind, meseemeth ye dwell here all too +straitly; for neither is this house of Leashowe great enough +for thy state, and the entertainment of the knights and +lords who shall have will to seek to thee hither; nor is the +wealth of thy liege dame and governante as great as it +should be, and as thou, meseemeth, wouldst have it. +Wherefore I have been considering thy desires herein, and if +thou deem it meet to give a gift to Dame Elinor, and live +queenlier thyself than now thou dost, then mayst thou give +unto her the Castle of Greenharbour, and the six manors +appertaining thereto, and withal the rights of wild-wood and +fen and fell that lie thereabout. Also, if thou wilt, thou +mayst honour the said castle with abiding there awhile at +thy pleasure; and I shall see to it that thou have due meney +to go with thee thither. How sayest thou, my lady?" + +Amongst that company there were two or three who looked at +each other and half smiled; and two or three looked on the +maiden, who was goodly as of her years, as if with +compassion; but the more part kept countenance in full +courtly wise. + +Then spake Goldilind in a quavering voice (for she was +afraid and wise), and she said: "Cousin and Earl, we will +that all this be done; and it likes me well to eke the +wealth of this lady and my good friend Dame Elinor." + +Quoth Earl Geoffrey: "Kneel before thy lady, Dame, and put +thine hands between hers and thank her for the gift." So +Dame Elinor knelt down, and did homage and obeisance for her +new land; and Goldilind raised her up and kissed her, and +bade her sit down beside her, and spake to her kindly; and +all men praised the maiden for her gentle and courteous +ways; and Dame Elinor smiled upon her and them, what she +could. + +She was small of body and sleek; but her cheeks somewhat +flagging; brown eyes she had, long, half opened; thin lips, +and chin somewhat falling away from her mouth; hard on fifty +winters had she seen; yet there have been those who were +older and goodlier both. + + + +CHAPTER V. + +GOLDILIND COMES TO GREENHARBOUR. + + +But a little while tarried the Earl Geoffrey at Leashowe, +but departed next morning and came to Meadhamstead. A month +thereafter came folk from him to Leashowe, to wit, the new +meney for the new abode of Goldilind; amongst whom was a +goodly band of men-at-arms, led by an old lord pinched and +peevish of face, who kneeled to Goldilind as the new +burgreve of Greenharbour; and a chaplain, a black canon, +young, broad-cheeked and fresh-looking, but hard-faced and +unlovely; three new damsels withal were come for the young +Queen, not young maids, but stalworth women, well-grown, and +two of them hard-featured; the third, tall, black-haired, +and a goodly-fashioned body. + +Now when these were come, who were all under the rule of +Dame Elinor, there was no gainsaying the departure to the +new home; and in two days' time they went their ways from +Leashowe. But though Goldilind was young, she was wise, and +her heart misgave her, when she was amidst this new meney, +that she was not riding toward glory and honour, and a world +of worship and friends beloved. Howbeit, whatso might lie +before her, she put a good face upon it, and did to those +about her queenly and with all courtesy. + +Five days they rode from Leashowe north away, by thorpe and +town and mead and river, till the land became little +peopled, and the sixth day they rode the wild-wood ways, +where was no folk, save now and again the little cot of some +forester or collier; but the seventh day, about noon, they +came into a clearing of the wood, a rugged little plain of +lea-land, mingled with marish, with a little deal of +acre-land in barley and rye, round about a score of poor +frame-houses set down scattermeal about the lea. But on a +long ridge, at the northern end of the said plain, was a +grey castle, strong, and with big and high towers, yet not +so much greater than was Leashowe, deemed Goldilind, as for +a dwelling-house. + +Howbeit, they entered the said castle, and within, as +without, it was somewhat grim, though nought was lacking of +plenishing due for folk knightly. Long it were to tell of +its walls and baileys and chambers; but let this suffice, +that on the north side, toward the thick forest, was a +garden of green-sward and flowers and potherbs; and a +garth-wall of grey stone, not very high, was the only +defence thereof toward the wood, but it was overlooked by a +tall tower of the great wall, which hight the Foresters' +Tower. In the said outer garth-wall also was a postern, +whereby there was not seldom coming in and going out. + +Now when Goldilind had been in her chamber for a few days, +she found out for certain, what she had before misdoubted, +that she had been brought from Leashowe and the peopled +parts near to Meadhamstead unto the uttermost parts of the +realm to be kept in prison there. + +Howbeit, it was in a way prison courteous; she was still +served with observance, and bowed before, and called my lady +and queen, and so forth: also she might go from chamber to +hall and chapel, to and fro, yet scarce alone; and into the +garden she might go, yet not for the more part +unaccompanied; and even at whiles she went out a-gates, but +then ever with folk on the right hand and the left. +Forsooth, whiles and again, within the next two years of her +abode at Greenharbour, out of gates she went and alone; but +that was as the prisoner who strives to be free (although +she had, forsooth, no thought or hope of escape), and as the +prisoner brought back was she chastised when she came within +gates again. + +Everywhere, to be short, within and about the Castle of +Greenharbour, did Goldilind meet the will and the tyranny of +the little sleek widow, Dame Elinor, to whom both carle and +quean in that corner of the world were but as servants and +slaves to do her will; and the said Elinor, who at first was +but spiteful in word and look toward her lady, waxed worse +as time wore and as the blossom of the King's daughter's +womanhood began to unfold, till at last the she-jailer had +scarce feasted any day when she had not in some wise grieved +and tormented her prisoner; and whatever she did, none had +might to say her nay. + +But Goldilind took all with a high heart, and her courage +grew with her years, nor would she bow the head before any +grief, but took to her whatsoever solace might come to her; +as the pleasure of the sun and the wind, and the beholding +of the greenery of the wood, and the fowl and the beasts +playing, which oft she saw afar, and whiles anear, though +whiles, forsooth, she saw nought of it all, whereas she was +shut up betwixt four walls, and that not of her chamber, but +of some bare and foul prison of the Castle, which, with +other griefs, must she needs thole under the name and guise +of penance. + +However, she waxed so exceeding fair and sweet and lovely, +that the loveliness of her pierced to the hearts of many of +her jailers, so that some of them, and specially of the +squires and men-at-arms, would do her some easement which +they might do unrebuked, or not sorely rebuked; as bringing +her flowers in the spring, or whiles a singing-bird or a +squirrel; and an old man there was of the men-at-arms, who +would ask leave, and get it at whiles, to come to her in her +chamber, or the garden? and tell her minstrel tales and the +like for her joyance. Sooth to say, even the pinched heart +of the old Burgreve was somewhat touched by her; and he +alone had any might to stand between her and Dame Elinor; so +that but for him it had gone much harder with her than it +did. + +For the rest, none entered the Castle from the world +without, nay not so much as a travelling monk, or a friar on +his wanderings, save and except some messenger of Earl +Geoffrey who had errand with Dame Elinor or the Burgreve. + +So wore the days and the seasons, till it was now more than +four years since she had left Leashowe, and her eighteenth +summer was beginning. + +But now the tale leaves telling of Goldilind, and goes back +to the matters of Oakenrealm, and therein to what has to do +with King Christopher and Rolf the Marshal. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +HOW ROLF THE MARSHAL DREAMS A DREAM AND COMES TO THE CASTLE +OF THE UTTERMOST MARCH. + + +Now this same summer, when King Christopher was of twenty +years and two, Rolf the Marshal, sleeping one noontide in +the King's garden at Oakenham, dreamed a dream. For +himseemed that there came through the garth-gate a woman +fair and tall, and clad in nought but oaken-leaves, who led +by the hand an exceeding goodly young man of twenty summers, +and his visage like to the last battle-dead King of +Oakenrealm when he was a young man. And the said woman led +the swain up to the Marshal, who asked in his mind what +these two were: and the woman answered his thought and +said: "I am the Woman of the Woods, and the Landwight of +Oakenrealm; and this lovely lad whose hand I hold is my King +and thy King and the King of Oakenrealm. Wake, fool--wake! +and look to it what thou wilt do!" + +And therewith he woke up crying out, and drew forth his +sword. But when he was fully awakened, he was ashamed, and +went into the hall, and sat in his high-seat, and strove to +think out of his troubled mind; but for all he might do, he +fell asleep again; and again in the hall he dreamed as he +had dreamed in the garden: and when he awoke from his dream +he had no thought in his head but how he might the speediest +come to the house of Lord Richard the Lean, and look to the +matter of his lord's son and see him with his eyes, and, if +it might be, take some measure with the threat which lay in +the lad's life. Nought he tarried, but set off in an hour's +time with no more company than four men-at-arms and an old +squire of his, who was wont to do his bidding without +question, whether it were good or evil. + +So they went by frith and fell, by wood and fair ways, till +in two days' time they were come by undern within sight of +the Castle of the Outer March, and entered into the street +of the thorpe aforesaid; and they saw that there were no +folk therein and at the house-doors save old carles and +carlines scarce wayworthy, and little children who might not +go afoot. But from the field anigh the thorpe came the +sound of shouting and glad voices, and through the lanes of +the houses they saw on the field many people in gay raiment +going to and fro, as though there were games and sports +toward. + +Thereof Lord Rolf heeded nought, but went his ways straight +to the Castle, and was brought with all honour into the +hall, and thither came Lord Richard the Lean, hastening and +half afeard, and did obeisance to him; and there were but a +few in the hall, and they stood out of earshot of the two +lords. + +The Marshal spoke graciously to Lord Richard, and made him +sit beside him, and said in a soft voice: "We have come to +see thee, Lord, and how the folk do in the Uttermost +Marches. Also we would wot how it goes with a lad whom we +sent to thee when he was yet a babe, whereas he was some +byblow of the late King, our lord and master, and we deemed +thee both rich enough and kind enough to breed him into +thriving without increasing pride upon him: and, firstly, +is the lad yet alive?" + +He knitted his brow as he spake, for carefulness of soul; +but Lord Richard smiled upon him, though as one somewhat +troubled, and answered: "Lord Marshal, I thank thee for +visiting this poor house; and I shall tell thee first that +the lad lives, and hath thriven marvellously, though he be +somewhat unruly, and will abide no correction now these last +six years. Sooth to say, there is now no story of his being +anywise akin to our late Lord King; though true it is that +the folk in this faraway corner of the land call him King +Christopher, but only in a manner of jesting. But it is no +jest wherein they say that they will gainsay him nought, and +that especially the young women. Yet I will say of him that +he is wise, and asketh not overmuch; the more is the sorrow +of many of the maidens. A fell woodsman he is, and +exceeding stark, and as yet heedeth more of valiance than of +the love of woman." + +The Marshal looked no less troubled than before at these +words; he said: "I would see this young man speedily." + +"So shall it be, Lord," said Lord Richard. Therewith he +called to him a squire, and said: "Go thou down into the +thorpe, and bring hither Christopher, for that a great lord +is here who would set him to do a deed of woodcraft, such as +is more than the wont of men." + +So the squire went his ways, and was gone a little while, +and meantime drew nigh to the hall a sound of triumphing +songs and shouts, and right up to the hall doors; then +entered the squire, and by his side came a tall young man, +clad but in a white linen shirt and deerskin brogues, his +head crowned with a garland of flowers: him the squire +brought up to the lords on the dais, and louted to them, and +said: "My lords, I bring you Christopher, and he not +overwilling, for now hath he been but just crowned king of +the games down yonder; but when the carles and queans there +said that they would come with him and bear him company to +the hall doors, then, forsooth, he yea-said the coming. It +were not unmeet that some shame were done him." + +"Peace, man!" said Lord Richard, "what hath this to do with +thee? Seest thou not the Lord Marshal here?" The Lord Rolf +sat and gazed on the lad, and scowled on him; but +Christopher saw therein nought but the face of a great lord +burdened with many cares; so when he had made his obeisance +he stood up fearlessly and merrily before them. + +Sooth to say, he was full fair to look on: for all his +strength, which, as ye shall hear, was mighty, all the +fashion of his limbs and his body was light and clean done, +and beauteous; and though his skin, where it showed naked, +was all tanned with the summer, it was fine and sleek and +kindly, every deal thereof: bright-eyed and round-cheeked +he was, with full lips and carven chin, and his hair golden +brown of hue, and curling crisp about the blossoms of his +garland. + +So must we say that he was such an youngling as most might +have been in the world, had not man's malice been, and the +mischief of grudging and the marring of grasping. + +But now spake Lord Rolf: "Sir varlet, they tell me that +thou art a mighty hunter, and of mickle guile in woodcraft; +wilt thou then hunt somewhat for me, and bring me home a +catch seldom seen?" + +"Yea, Lord King," said Christopher, "I will at least do my +best, if thou but tell me where to seek the quarry and +when." + +"It is well," said the Marshal, "and to-morrow my squire, +whom thou seest yonder, and who hight Simon, shall tell thee +where the hunt is up, and thou shalt go with him. But +hearken! thou shalt not call me king; for to-day there is no +king in Oakenrealm, and I am but Marshal, and Earl of the +king that shall be." + +The lad fell a-musing for a minute, and then he said: "Yea, +Lord Marshal, I shall do thy will: but meseemeth I have +heard some tale of one who was but of late king in +Oakenrealm: is it not so, Lord?" + +"Stint thy talk, young man," cried the Marshal in a harsh +voice, "and abide to-morrow; who knoweth who shall be king, +and whether thou or I shall live to see him." + +But as he spake the words they seemed to his heart like a +foretelling of evil, and he turned pale and trembled, and +said to Christopher: "Come hither, lad; I will give thee a +gift, and then shalt thou depart till to-morrow." So +Christopher drew near to him, and the Marshal pulled off a +ring from his finger and set it on the lad's, and said to +him: "Now depart in peace;" and Christopher bent the knee to +him and thanked him for the gracious gift of the ruler of +Oakenrealm, and then went his ways out of the hall, and the +folk without gave a glad cry as he came amongst them. + +But by then he was come to the door, Lord Rolf looked on his +hand, and saw that, instead of giving the youngling a +finger-ring which he had bought of a merchant for a price of +five bezants, as he had meant to do, he had given him a ring +which the old King had had, whereon was the first letter of +his name (Christopher to wit), and a device of a crowned +rose, for this ring was a signet of his. Wherefore was the +Marshal once more sore troubled, and he arose, and was half +minded to run down the hall after Christopher; but he +refrained him, and presently smiled to himself, and then +fell a-talking to Lord Richard, sweetly and pleasantly. + +SO wore the day to evening; but, ere he went to bed, the +Lord Rolf had a privy talk, first with Lord Richard, and +after with his squire Simon. What followed of that talk ye +may hear after. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +HOW CHRISTOPHER WENT A JOURNEY INTO THE WILD-WOOD. + + +Next morning Christopher, who slept in the little hall of +the inner court of the Castle, arose betimes, and came to +the great gate; but, for as early as he was, there he saw +the squire Simon abiding him, standing between two strong +horses; to him he gave the sele of the day, and the squire +greeted him, but in somewhat surly wise. Then he said to +him: "Well, King Christopher, art thou ready for the road?" + +"Yea, as thou seest," said the youngling smiling. For, +indeed, he had breeches now beneath his shirt, and a surcoat +of green woollen over it; boots of deerskin had he withal, +and spurs thereon: he was girt with a short sword, and had +a quiver of arrows at his back, and bare a great bow in his +hand. + +"Yea," quoth Simon, "thou deemest thee a gay swain belike; +but thou lookest likelier for a deerstealer than a rider, +thou, hung up to thy shooting-gear. Deemest thou we go +a-hunting of the hind?" + +Quoth Christopher: "I wot not, squire; but the great lord +who lieth sleeping yonder, hath told me that thou shouldest +give me his errand; and of some hunting or feat of +wood-craft he spake. Moreover, this crooked stick can drive +a shaft through matters harder than a hind's side." + +Simon looked confused, and he reddened and stammered +somewhat as he answered: "Ah, yea: so it was; I mind me; +I will tell thee anon." + +Said Christopher: "Withal, squire, if we are wending into +the wood, as needs we must, unless we ride round about this +dale in a ring all day, dost thou deem we shall go at a +gallop many a mile? Nay, fair sir; the horses shall wend a +foot's pace oftenest, and we shall go a-foot not unseldom +through the thickets." + +Now was Simon come to himself again, and that self was +surly, so he said: "Ay, ay, little King, thou deemest thee +exceeding wise in these woods, dost thou not? and forsooth, +thou mayst be. Yet have I tidings for thee." + +"Yea, and what be they?" said Christopher. + +Simon grinned: "Even these," said he, "that Dr. Knowall was +no man's cousin while he lived, and that he died last week." + +Therewith he swung himself into his saddle, and Christopher +laughed merrily at his poor gibe and mounted in like wise. + +Wherewithal they rode their ways through the thorpe, and at +the southern end thereof Simon drew rein, and looked on +Christopher as if he would ask him something, but asked not. +Then said Christopher: "Whither go we now?" + +Said Simon: "It is partly for thee to say: hearken, I am +bidden first to ride the Redwater Wood with thee: knowest +thou that?" + +"Yea," said the lad, "full well: but which way shall we +ride it? Wilt thou come out of it at Redwater Head, or Herne +Moss, or the Long Pools?" + +Said Simon: "We shall make for the Long Pools, if thou +canst bring me there." + +Christopher laughed: "Aha!" said he, "then am I some +faraway cousin of Dr. Knowall when the whole tale is told: +forsooth I can lead thee thither; but tell me, what shall I +do of valiant deeds at the Long Pools? for there is no +fire-drake nor effit, nay, nor no giant, nor guileful dwarf, +nought save mallard and coot, heron and bittern; yea, and +ague-shivers to boot." + +Simon looked sourly on him and said: "Thou are bidden to go +with me, young man, or gainsay the Marshal. Art thou mighty +enough thereto? For the rest, fear not but that the deed +shall come to thee one day." + +"Nay," said Christopher, "it is all one to me, for I am at +home in these woods and wastes, I and my shafts. Tell me of +the deeds when thou wilt." But indeed he longed to know the +deed, and fretted him because of Simon's surliness and +closeness. Then he said: "Well, Squire Simon, let us to +the road; for thou shalt know that to-night we must needs +house us under the naked heaven; in nowise can we come to +the Long Pools before to-morrow morning." + +"Yea, and why not?" said the squire; "I have lain in worse +places." + +"Wilt thou tell me thereof?" said Christopher. + +"Mayhappen," said Simon, "if to-morrow comes and goes for +both of us twain." + +So they rode their ways through the wood, and baited at +midday with what Simon bare in his saddle-bags, and then +went on till night fell on them; then asked Simon how long +they were from the Long Pools, and Christopher told him that +they were yet short of them some fifteen miles, and those +long ones, because of the marish grounds. So they tethered +their horses there and ate their supper; and lay down to +sleep in the house of the woods, by a fire-side which they +lighted. + +But in the midnight Christopher, who was exceeding +fine-eared, had an inkling of someone moving afoot anigh +him, and he awoke therewith, and sprang up, his drawn +short-sword in his hand, and found himself face to face with +Simon, and he also with his sword drawn. Simon sprang +aback, but held up his sword-point, and Christopher, not yet +fully awake, cried out: "What wouldst thou? What is it?" + +Simon answered, stammering and all abashed: "Didst thou not +hear then? it wakened me." + +"I heard nought," said Christopher; "what was it?" + +"Horses going in the wood," said Simon + +"Ah, yea," said Christopher, "it will have been the wild +colts and the mares; they harbour about these marsh-land +parts. Go to sleep again, neighbour, the night is not yet +half worn; but I will watch a while." + +Then Simon sheathed his sword, and turned about and stood +uneasily a little while, and then cast him down as one who +would sleep hastily; but slept not forsooth, though he +presently made semblance of it: as for Christopher, he drew +together the brands of the fire, and sat beside it with his +blade over his knees, until the first beginning of the +summer dawn was in the sky; then he began to nod, and +presently lay aback and slept soundly. Simon slept not, but +durst not move. So they lay till it was broad day, and the +sunbeams came thrusting through the boughs of the thicket. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +CHRISTOPHER COMES TO THE TOFTS. + + +When they arose in the sunshine, Simon went straightway to +see to the horses, while Christopher stayed by the fire to +dight their victuals; he was merry enough, and sang to +himself the while; but when Simon came back again, +Christopher looked on him sharply, but for a while Simon +would not meet his eye, though he asked divers questions of +him concerning little matters, as though he were fain to +hear Christopher's voice; at last he raised his eyes, and +looked on him steadily, and then Christopher said: "Well, +wayfarer mine, and whither away this morning?" + +Said Simon: "As thou wottest, to the Long Pools." + +Said the lad: "Well, thou keepest thy tidings so close, +that I will ask thee no more till we come to the Long Pools; +since there, forsooth, thou must needs tell me; unless we +sunder company there, whereof I were nought grieving." + +"Mayhappen thou shalt fare a long way to-day," muttered +Simon. + +But the lad cried out aloud, while his eye glittered and his +cheek flushed: "Belike thou hadst well-nigh opened the door +thereto last night!" And therewith he leapt to his feet and +drew his short-sword, and with three deft strokes sheared +asunder an overhanging beech-bough as thick as a man's +wrist, that it fell crashing down, and caught Simon amongst +the fall of its leafy twigs, while Christopher stood +laughing on him, but with a dangerous lofty look in his +eyes: then he turned away quietly toward the horses and +mounted his nag, and Simon followed and did the like, +silently; crestfallen he looked, with brooding fierceness in +his face. + +So they rode their ways, and spake but little each to each +till they came to where the trees of the wood thinned +speedily, and gave out at last at the foot of a low stony +slope but little grassed; and when they had ridden up to the +brow and could see below, Christopher stretched out his +hand, and said: "Lo thou the Long Pools, fellow wayfarer! +and lo some of the tramping; horses that woke thee and not +me last night." + +Forsooth there lay below them a great stretch of grass, +which whiles ran into mere quagmire, and whiles was sound +and better grassed; and the said plain was seamed by three +long shallow pools, with, as it were, grassy causeways +between them, grown over here and there with ancient alder +trees; but the stony slope whereon they had reined up bent +round the plain mostly to the east, as though it were the +shore of a great water; and far away to the south the hills +of the forest rose up blue, and not so low at the most, but +that they were somewhat higher than the crest of the White +Horse as ye may see it from the little Berkshire hills above +the Thames. Down on the firm greensward there was indeed a +herd of wild horses feeding; mallard and coot swam about the +waters; the whimbrel laughed from the bent-sides, and three +herons stood on the side of the causeway seeking a good +fishing-stead. + +Simon sat a-horseback looking askance from the marish to +Christopher, and said nothing a while; then he spake in a +low croaking voice, and said: "So, little King, we have +come to the Long Pools; now I will ask thee, hast thou been +further southward than this marish land?" + +"That have I," said the lad, "a day's journey further; but +according to the tales of men it was at the peril of my +life." + +Simon seemed as if he had not noted his last word; he said: +"Well then, since thou knowest the wild and the wood, +knowest thou amidst of the thickets there, two lumps of bare +hills, like bowls turned bottom up, that rise above the +trees, and on each a tower, and betwixt them a long house." + +"Save us, Allhallows!" quoth Christopher, "but thou wilt +mean the Tofts! Is it so, sir squire?" + +"Even so," said Simon. + +"And thou knowest what dwellest there, and wouldst have me +lead thee thither?" said the lad. + +"I am so bidden," said Simon; "if thou wilt not do my +bidding, seek thou some place to hide thee in from the hand +of the Earl Marshal." + +Said the youngling: "Knowest thou not Jack of the Tofts and +his seven sons, and what he is, and that he dwelleth there?" + +Said Simon: "I know of him; yea, and himself I know, and +that he dwelleth there; and I wot that men call him an +outlaw, and that many rich men shall lack ere he lacks. +What then?" + +"This," said Christopher, "that, as all tales tell, he will +take my life if I ride thither. And," said he, turning to +Simon, "this is belike what thou wouldest with me?" And +therewith he drew out his sword, for his bow was unstrung. + +But Simon sat still and let his sword abide, and said, +sourly enough: "Thou art a fool to think I am training thee +to thy death by him; for I have no will to die, and why +shall he not slay me also? Now again I say unto thee, thou +hast the choice, either to lead me to the Tofts, where shall +be the deed for thee to do, or to hide thee in some hole, as +I said afore, from the vengeance of the Lord of Oakenrealm. +But as for thy sword, thou mayst put it up, for I will not +fight with thee, but rather let thee go with a string to thy +leg, if thou wilt not be wise and do as thy lords ordain for +thee." + +Christopher sheathed his sword, and a smile came into his +face, as if some new thought were stirring in him, and he +said: "Well, since thou wilt not fight with me, and I but a +lad, I will e'en do thy will and thine errand to Jack of the +Tofts. Maybe he is not so black as he is painted, and not +all tales told of him are true. But some of them I will +tell thee as we ride along." + +"And some thereof I know already, O woodland knight," said +Simon, as they rode down the bent, and Christopher led on +toward the green causeway betwixt the waters. "Tell me," +quoth he, when they had ridden awhile, "is this one of thy +tales, how Jack of the Tofts went to the Yule feast of a +great baron in the guise of a minstrel, and, even as they +bore in the boar's head, smote the said baron on the neck, +so that his head lay by the head of the swine on the +Christmas board?" + +"Yea," said Christopher, "and how Jack cried out: 'Two +heads of swine, one good to eat, one good to burn.' But, my +master, thou shalt know that this manslaying was not for +nought: whereas the Baron of Greenlake had erewhile slain +Jack's father in felon wise, where he could strike no stroke +for life; and two of his brethren also had he slain, and +made the said Jack an outlaw, and he all sackless. In the +Uttermost March we deem that he had a case against the +baron." + +"Hah!" said Simon. "Is this next tale true, that this Jack +o' the Tofts slew a good knight before the altar, so that +the priest's mass-hackle was all wet with his blood, whereas +the said priest was in the act of putting the holy body into +the open mouth of the said knight?" + +Christopher said eagerly: "True was it, by the Rood! and +well was it done, for that same Sir Raoul was an ugly +traitor, who had knelt down where he died to wed the Body of +the Lord to a foul lie in his mouth; whereas the man who +knelt beside him he had trained to his destruction, and was +even then doing the first deal of his treason by forswearing +him there." + +"And that man who knelt with him there," said Simon, "what +betid to him?" + +Said Christopher: "He went out of the church with Jack of +the Tofts that minute of the stroke; and to the Tofts he +went with him, and abode with him freely: and a valiant man +he was...and is." + +"Hah!" said Simon again. "And then there is this: that the +seven sons of Jack of the Tofts bore off perforce four fair +maidens of gentle blood from the castle wherein they dwelt, +serving a high dame in all honour; and that moreover, they +hanged the said dame over the battlements of her own castle. +Is this true, fair sir?" + +"True is it as the gospel," said Christopher: "yet many say +that the hanged dame had somewhat less than her deserts; for +a foul & cruel whore had she been; and had done many to be +done to death, and stood by while they were pined. And the +like had she done with those four damsels, had there not +been the stout sons of Jack of the Tofts; so that the dear +maidens were somewhat more than willing to be borne away." + +Simon grinned: "Well, lad," said he, "I see that thou +knowest Jack of the Tofts even better than I do; so why in +the devil's name thou art loth to lead me to him, I wot +not." + +Christopher reddened, and held his peace awhile; then he +said: "Well fellow-farer, at least I shall know something +of him ere next midnight." + +"Yea," said Simon, "and shall we not come to the Tofts +before nightfall?" + +"Let us essay it," said Christopher, "and do our best, it +yet lacketh three hours of noon." Therewith he spurred on, +for the greensward was hard under the hooves, and they had +yet some way to go before they should come amongst the trees +and thickets. + +Into the said wood they came, and rode all day diligently, +but night fell on them before they saw either house or man +or devil; then said Simon: "Why should we go any further +before dawn? Will it not be best to come to this perilous +house by daylight?" + +Said Christopher: "There be perils in the wood as well as +in the house. If we lie down here, maybe Jack's folk may +come upon us sleeping, and some mischance may befall us. +Withal, hereabout be no wild horses to wake thee and warn +thee of thy foeman anigh. Let us press on; there is a moon, +though she be somewhat hidden by clouds, and meseemeth the +way lieth clear before me; neither are we a great way from +the Tofts." + +Then Simon rode close up to Christopher, and took his rein +and stayed him, and said to him, as one who prayeth: "Young +man, willest thou my death?" + +"That is as it may be," said Christopher; "willest thou +mine?" + +Simon held his peace awhile, and Christopher might not see +what was in his face amidst the gathering dusk; but he +twitched his rein out of the squire's hand, as if he would +hasten onward; then the squire said: "Nay, I pray thee +abide and hear a word of me." + +"Speak then," said Christopher, "but hasten, for I hunger, +and I would we were in the hall." And therewith he laughed. + +Said Simon: "Thus it is: if I go back to my lord and bear +no token of having done his errand to Jack of the Tofts, +then am I in evil case; and if I come to the Tofts, I wot +well that Jack is a man fierce of heart, and ready of hand: +now, therefore, I pray thee give me thy word to be my +warrant, so far as thou mayst be, with this woodman and his +sons." + +At that word Christopher brake out a-laughing loudly, till +all the dusk wood rang with the merry sound of his fresh +voice; at last he said: "Well, well, thou art but a craven +to be a secret murderer: the Lord God would have had an +easy bargain of Cain, had he been such as thou. Come on, +and do thine errand to Jack of the Tofts, and I will hold +thee harmless, so far as I may. Though, sooth to say, I +guessed what thine errand was, after the horses waked thee +and put a naked sword in thine hand last night. Marry! I +had no inkling of it when we left the Castle yesterday +morning, but deemed thy lord needed me to do him some +service. Come on then! or rather go thou on before me a +pace; there, where thou seest the glimmer betwixt the +beech-trees yonder; if thou goest astray, I am anigh thee +for a guide. And I say that we shall not go far without +tidings." + +Simon went on perforce, as he was bidden, and they rode thus +a while slowly, Christopher now and then crying, as they +went: "To the right, squire! To the left! Straight on now!" +and so on. But suddenly they heard voices, and it was as if +the wood had all burst out into fire, so bright a light +shone out. Christopher shouted, and hastened on to pass +Simon, going quite close to his right side thereby, and as +he did so, he saw steel flashing in his hand, and turned +sidling to guard him, but ere he could do aught Simon drave +a broad dagger into his side, and then turned about and fled +the way they had come, so far as he knew how. + +Christopher fell from his horse at once as the stroke came +home, but straightway therewith were there men with torches +round about him, a dozen of them; men tall and wild-looking +in the firelight; and one of them, a slim young man with +long red hair falling all about his shoulders, knelt down by +him, while the others held his horse and gat his feet out of +the stirrups. + +The red-head laid his hand on his breast, and raised his +head up till the light of a torch fell on it, and then he +cried out: "Masters, here hath been a felon; the man hath +been sticked, and the deed hath to do with us; for lo you, +this is none other than little Christopher of the Uttermost +March, who stumbled on the Tofts last Yule, and with whom we +were so merry together. Here, thou Robert of Maisey, do thy +leechdom on him if he be yet living; but if he be dead, or +dieth of his hurt, then do I take the feud on me, to follow +it to the utmost against the slayer; even I, David the Red, +though I be the youngest of the sons of Jack of the Tofts. +For this man I meant should be my fellow in field and fell, +ganging and galloping, in hall and high-place, in cot and in +choir, before woman and warrior, and priest and +proud-prince. Now thou Robert, how does he?" + +Said the man who had looked to Christopher's wound, and had +put aside his coat and shirt: "He is sore hurt, but +meseemeth not deadly. Nay, belike he may live as long as +thou, or longer, whereas thou wilt ever be shoving thy red +head and lank body wheresoever knocks are going." + +David rose with a sigh of one who is lightened of a load, +and said: "Well Robert, when thou hast bound his wound let +us have him into the house: Ho lads! there is light enough +to cut some boughs and make a litter for him. But, ho +again! has no one gone after the felon to take him?" + +Robert grinned up from his job with the hurt man: "Nay, +King David," said he, "it is mostly thy business; mayhappen +thou wilt lay thy heels on thy neck and after him." + +The red-head stamped on the ground, and half drew his sax, +and shoved it back again unto the sheath, and then said +angrily: "I marvel at thee, Robert, that thou didst not +send a man or two at once after the felon: how may I leave +my comrade and sweet board-fellow lying hurt in the +wild-wood? Art thou growing over old for our woodland ways, +wherein loitering bringeth louting?" + +Robert chuckled and said: "I thought thou wouldst take the +fly in thy mouth, foster-son: if the felon escape Ralph +Longshanks and Anthony Green, then hath he the devil's luck; +and they be after him." + +"That is well," said the young man, "though I would I were +with them." And therewith he walked up and down +impatiently, while the others were getting ready the litter +of boughs. + +At last it was done, and Christopher laid thereon, and they +all went on together through the woodland path, the torches +still flaring about them. Presently they came out into a +clearing of the wood, and lo, looming great and black before +them against the sky, where the moon had now broken out of +the clouds somewhat, the masses of the tofts, and at the top +of the northernmost of them a light in the upper window of a +tall square tower. Withal the yellow-litten windows of a +long house showed on the plain below the tofts; but little +else of the house might be seen, save that, as they drew +near, the walls brake out in doubtful light here and there +as the torches smote them. + +So came they to a deep porch, where they quenched all the +torches save one, and entered a great hall through it, David +and two other tall young men going first, and Robert Maisey +going beside the bier. The said hall was lighted with +candles, but not very brightly, save at the upper end; but +amidmost a flickering heap of logs sent a thin line of blue +smoke up to the luffer. There were some sixty folk in the +hall, scattered about the end-long tables, a good few of +whom were women, well grown and comely enough, so far as +could be seen under the scanty candle-light. At the +high-table, withal, were sitting both men and women, and as +they drew near to the greater light of it, there could be +seen in the chief seat a man, past middle age, tall, +wide-shouldered and thin-flanked, with a short peaked beard +and close-cut grizzled hair; he was high of cheekbones, +thin-faced, with grey eyes, both big and gentle-looking; he +was clad in a green coat welted with gold. Beside him sat a +woman, tall and big-made, but very fair of face, though she +were little younger, belike, than the man. Out from these +two sat four men and four women, man by man and woman by +woman, on either side of the high-seat. Of the said men, +one was of long red hair as David, and like to him in all +wise, but older; the others were of like fashion to him in +the high-seat. Shortly to say it, his sons they were, as +David and the two young men with him. The four women who +sat with these men were all fair and young, and one of them, +she who drank out of the red-head's cup, so fair, and with +such a pleasant slim grace, that her like were not easy to +be found. + +Again, to shorten the tale, there in the hall before +Christopher, who lay unwotting, were Jack of the Tofts and +his seven sons, and the four wives of four of the same, whom +they had won from the Wailful Castle, when they, with their +father, put an end to the evil woman, and the great +she-tyrant of the Land betwixt the Wood and the River. + +Now when David and his were come up to the dais, they stayed +them, and their father spake from his high-seat and said: +"What is to do, ye three? and what catch have ye?" + +Said David: "I would fain hope 'tis the catch of a life +that or I love; for here is come thy guest of last Yule, +even little Christopher, who wrestled with thee and threw +thee after thou hadst thrown all of us, and he lying along +and hurt, smitten down by a felon hard on our very doors. +What will ye do with him?" + +"What," said Jack of the Tofts, "but tend him and heal him +and cherish him. And when he is well, then we shall see. +But where is the felon who smote him?" + +Said David: "He fled away a-horseback ere we came to the +field of deed, and Anthony Green and Ralph Longshanks are +gone after him, and belike, will take him." + +"Mayhappen not," said the master. "Now, forsooth, I have an +inkling of what this may mean; whereas there can be but one +man whose business may be the taking of our little guest's +life. But let all be till he be healed and may tell us his +tale; and, if he telleth it as I deem he will, then shall we +seek further tidings. Meanwhile, if ye take the felon, keep +him heedfully till I may see him; for then may I have a true +tale out of him, even before Christopher is hale again." + +So therewith David and Robert, with two or three others, +brought Christopher to a chamber, and did what leechdoms to +him they might; but Jack of the Tofts, and his sons and +their fair wives, and his other folk, made merry in the hall +of the Tofts. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +SQUIRE SIMON COMES BACK TO OAKENHAM. THE EARL MARSHAL TAKEN +TO KING IN OAKENREALM. + + +Now as to Squire Simon, whether the devil helped him, or his +luck, or were it his own cunning and his, horse's stoutness, +we wot not; but in any case he fell not in with Ralph +Longshanks and Anthony Green, but rode as far and as fast as +his horse would go, and then lay down in the wild-wood; and +on the morrow arose and went his ways, and came in the even +to the Castle of the Uttermost March, and went on thence the +morrow after on a fresh horse to Oakenham. There he made no +delay but went straight to the High House, and had privy +speech of the Earl Marshal; and him he told how he had +smitten Christopher, and, as he deemed, slain him. The Earl +Marshal looked on him grimly and said: "Where is the ring +then?" + +"I have it not," said Simon. "How might I light down to +take it, when the seven sons were hard on us?" And therewith +he told him all the tale, and how he had risen to slay +Christopher the even before; and how he had found out after +that the youngling had become guest and fosterling of the +folk of the Tofts; and how warily Christopher had ridden, so +that he, Simon, had had to do his best at the last moment. +"And now, Lord," quoth he, "I see that it will be my luck to +have grudging of thee, or even worse it may be; yea, or thou +wilt be presently telling me that I am a liar and never +struck the stroke: but I warrant me that by this time Jack +of the Tofts knoweth better, for I left my knife in the +youngling's breast, and belike he wotteth of my weapons. +Well, then, if thou wilt be quit of me, thou hast but to +forbear upholding me against the Toft folk, and then am I +gone without any to-do of thee." + +Earl Rolf spake quietly in answer, though his face was +somewhat troubled: "Nay, Simon, I doubt thee not, not one +word; for why shouldest thou lie to me? nor do I deem thou +wouldest, for thou art trusty and worthy. Yet sore I doubt +if the child be dead. Well, even so let it be, for I am +alive; and full surely I am mightier than Jack of the Tofts, +both to uphold thee against him (wherein I shall not fail), +and otherwise. But may God make me even as that young man +if I be not mightier yet in a few days. But now do thou go +and eat and drink and take thy disport; for thou hast served +me well; and in a little while I shall make thee knight and +lord, and do all I can to pleasure thee." + +So then Simon knelt to the Earl and made obeisance to him, +and arose and went his ways, light-hearted and merry. + +But within the month it so befel that some of the lords and +dukes came to the Earl Marshal, and prayed him to call +together a great Folk-mote of all Oakenrealm; and he +answered them graciously, and behight them to do as they +would; and even so did he. + +And that Mote was very great, and whenas it was hallowed, +there arose a great lord, grey and ancient, and bewailed him +before the folk, that they had no king over Oakenrealm to +uphold the laws & ward the land; and "Will ye live bare and +kingless for ever?" said he at last. "Will ye not choose +you a king, and crown him, before I die, and we others of +the realm who are old and worn?" Then he sat down, and +another arose, and in plain terms he bade them take the Earl +Marshal to king. And then arose one after other, and each +sang the same song, till the hearts of the people grew warm +with the big words, and at first many, and then more cried +out: "A King, a King! The Earl Marshal for King! Earl Rolf +for King!" So that at last the voices rose into a great +roar, and sword clashed on shield, and they who were about +the Earl turned to him and upraised him on a great +war-shield, and he stood thereon above the folk with a naked +sword in his hand, and all the folk shouted about him. + +Thereafter the chiefs and all the mightiest came and did +homage to him for King of Oakenrealm as he sat on the Hill +of the Folk-mote: and that night there was once more a King +of Oakenrealm, and Earl Rolf was no more, but King Rolf +ruled the people. + +But now the tale leaves telling of him, and turns again to +Christopher the woodman, who lay sick of his hurt in the +House of the Tofts. + + + +CHAPTER X. + +OF CHRISTOPHER AT THE TOFTS. + + +Christopher was six weeks ere he could come and go as he was +wont; but it was but a few days ere he was well enough to +tell his tale to Jack of the Tofts and his seven bold sons; +and they cherished him and made much of him, and so +especially did David, the youngest son, to his board-fellow +and troth-brother. + +On a day when he was well-nigh whole, as he sat under an +oak-tree nigh the house, in the cool of the evening, Jack of +the Tofts came to him and sat beside him, and made him tell +his tale to him once more, and when he was done he said to +him: "Foster-son, for so I would have thee deem of thyself, +what is the thing that thou rememberest earliest in thy +days?" + +Said Christopher: "A cot without the Castle walls at the +Uttermost Marches, and a kind woman therein, big, +sandy-haired, and freckled, and a lad that was white-haired +and sturdy, somewhat bigger than I. And I mind me standing +up against the door-post of the cot and seeing men-at-arms +riding by in white armour, and one of them throwing an apple +to me, and I raised my arm to throw it back at him, but my +nurse (for somehow I knew she was not my mother) caught my +hand and drew me back indoors, and I heard the men laughing +behind me. And then a little after my nurse took me into +the Castle court, and there was again the man who had thrown +me the apple, sitting on a bench therein, clad in a scarlet +gown furred with brown fur; and she led me up to him, and he +stooped down and chucked me under the chin and put his hand +on my head, and looked at my nurse and said: 'Yea, he is a +big lad, and groweth apace, whereas he is but of six +winters.' 'Nay, Lord,' said my nurse, 'he is but scantly +five.' He knit his brows and said: 'Nay, I tell thee he is +six.' She shook her head, but said nought, and the great +man scowled on her and said: 'Mistress, wilt thou set thy +word against mine? Know now that this child is of six years. +Now then, how old is he?' She said faintly: 'Six years.' +Said he: 'Look to it that thy head and thy mouth forget it +not, else shall we make thy back remember it.' Then he put +his hand on my head again, and said: 'Well, I say thou art +a big lad for six years;' and therewith he gave me a silver +penny; and even as he spake, came up a grey-clad squire to +him and looked on me curiously. Then I went away with my +nurse, and wondered why she was grown so pale, whereas she +was mostly red-cheeked and jolly. But when she had brought +me into the cot again, she kissed me and clipped me, weeping +sorely the while; wherefore I wept, though I knew not why. +Sithence, I soon came to know that the man was the lord and +governor of the Castle, as ye may well wot; but to this hour +I know not what he meant by threatening my nurse." + +Said Jack: "And how old art thou now, Christopher mine?" + +Said the youngling, laughing: "By my lord the Castellan's +reckoning I am twenty and two years; but if thou wilt trow +my good and kind nurse, that yet liveth a kind dame, thou +must take twelve months off the tale." + +Jack sat silent a little; then he laughed and said: "Well, +thou art a mickle babe, Christopher, and it may be that one +day many a man shall know it. But now tell me again; thou +hadst said to me before that thou hast known neither father +nor mother, brother nor sisters: is it so, verily?" + +Said Christopher: "Never a kinsman of blood have I, though +many well-wishers." + +Said Jack: "Well, now hast thou father and mother, brethren +and sisters, though they be of the sort of man-slayers and +strong-thieves and outlaws; yet they love thee, lad, and +thou mayst one day find out how far thou mayst trust them." + +Christopher nodded and smiled at him merrily; then he fell +silent awhile, and the outlaw sat looking on him; at last he +said suddenly: "Foster-father, tell me what I am, and of +what kindred, I pray thee; for, methinks, thou knowest +thereof; and what wonder, wise man as thou art." + +"Forsooth, son Christopher, I have a deeming thereof, or +somewhat more, and when it is waxen greater yet, I will tell +it thee one day, but not now. But hearken! for I have other +tidings for thee. Thou art now whole and strong, and in a +few days thou mayst wend the wild-wood as stoutly as e'er a +one of us. Now, therefore, how sayest thou, if I bid thee +fare a two days' journey with David and Gilbert thy +brethren, and thy sister Joanna, till they bring thee to a +fair little stead which I call mine own, to dwell there +awhile? For, meseemeth, lad, that the air of the Tofts here +may not be overwholesome unto thee." + +Christopher reddened, and he half rose up, and said: "What +is this, foster-father? Is it that there shall be battle at +the Tofts, and that thou wouldst have me away thence? Am I +then such a weakling?" + +Said Jack, laughing: "Be still now, thou sticked one. The +Tofts go down to battle at some whiles; but seldom comet +battle to the Tofts; and no battle do I look for now. But +do my bidding, sweet fosterling, and it will be better for +me and better for thee, and may, perchance, put off battle +for awhile; which to me as now were not unhandy. If thou +wilt but abide at Littledale for somewhile, there shall be +going and coming betwixt us, and thou shalt drink thy Yule +at the Tofts, and go back afterwards, and ever shalt thou +have thy sweet fellows with thee; so be wise, since thou +goest not perforce." + +"Yea, yea," said Christopher, laughing; "thou puttest force +on no man, is it not so, foster-father? Wherefore I will go, +and uncompelled." + +Therewith came up to them, from out of the wild-wood, David, +and with him Joanna, who was the wife of Gilbert, and one of +those fair maidens from the Wailful Castle, though not the +fairest of them; they had been a-hunting, for ever those +three would willingly go together, Gilbert, David, and +Joanna; and now Gilbert had abided behind, to dight the +quarry for fetching home. Christopher looked on the two +joyfully, as a man getting whole after sickness smiles on +goodly things; and Joanna was fair to see in her hunter's +attire, with brogues tied to her naked feet, and the +shapeliness of her legs bare to the knee beneath the +trussing up of her green skirts. + +They greeted Christopher kindly, and Joanna sat down by him +to talk, but Jack of the Tofts took his son by the arm, and +went toward the house with him in earnest speech. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +HOW CHRISTOPHER CAME TO LITTLEDALE TO ABIDE THERE A WHILE. + + +In about a week's time from this, those four fellows went +their ways southward from the Tofts, having with them four +good nags and four sumpter beasts laden with such things as +they needed, whereof were weapons enough, though they all, +save Christopher, bare bows; and he and the others were girt +with swords, and a leash of good dogs followed them. Two +milch kine also they drave with them. + +Merry they were all as they went their ways through the +woods, but the gladness of Christopher was even past words; +wherefore, after a little, he spake scarce at all, but sat +in his saddle hearkening the tales and songs and jests of +his fellows, who went close beside him, for more often they +went a-foot than rode. And, forsooth, as the sweet morning +wore, it seemed to him, so great was his joy, as if all the +fair show of the greenery, and the boles of the ancient +oaks, and the squirrels running from bough to bough, and the +rabbits scuttling from under the bracken, and the hind +leaping in the wood-lawn, and the sun falling through the +rustling leaves, and the wind on his face, and the scent of +the forest, yea, and his fair companions and their +loveliness & valiancy and kindness, and the words and songs +that came from their dear mouths, all these seemed to him, +as it were, one great show done for the behoof and pleasure +of him, the man come from the peril of death and the +sick-bed. + +They lay that night in all glee under the green boughs; and +arose on the morrow, and went all day, and again slept in +the greenwood, and the next morning came down into a fair +valley, which was indeed Littledale, through which ran a +pleasant little river; and on a grassy knoll, but a short +way from its bank, was a long framed hall, somewhat narrow, +and nought high, whitherward they turned them straightway, +and were presently before the door; then Gilbert drew a key +from out of his scrip and unlocked the door, and they +entered, and found within a fair little hall, with shut-beds +out from it on the further side, and kitchen, and +store-bowers at the end; all things duly appointed with +plenishing, and meal and wine; for it was but some three +months since one of Jack of the Tofts' allies, Sir Launcelot +a'Green and his wife and two bairns, had left it till their +affair was made straight; whereas he had dwelt there a whole +year, for he had been made an outlaw of Meadham, and was a +dear friend of the said Jack. + +"Now," said David smiling, "here is now thy high house and +thy castle, little King Christopher; how doth it like thee?" + +"Right well," said Christopher; "and, to say sooth, I would +almost that it were night, or my bones do else, that I might +lie naked in a bed." + +"Nay, lad," said Gilbert, "make it night now, and we will do +all that needs must be done, while thou liest lazy, as all +kings use to do." + +"Nay," said Christopher, "I will be more a king than so, for +I will do neither this nor that; I will not work and I will +not go to bed, but will look on, till it is time for me to +take to the crooked stick and the grey-goose wing and seek +venison." + +"That is better than well," said David; "for I can see by +thine eyes, that are dancing with pleasure, that in three or +four days thou wilt be about the thickets with us." + +"Meantime," said Joanna, "thou shalt pay for thy meat and +drink by telling us tales when we come home weary." + +"Yea," said Christopher laughing, "that ye may go to sleep +before your time." + +So they talked, and were joyous and blithe together, and +between them they made the house trim, and decked it with +boughs and blossoms; and though Christopher told them no +tale that night, Joanna and David sang both; and in a night +or two it was Christopher that was the minstrel. So when +the morrow came there began their life of the woodland; but, +save for the changing of the year and the chances of the +hunt, the time passed on from day to day with little change, +and it was but seldom that any man came their way. When Yule +was, they locked the house door behind them and went their +ways home to the Tofts; and now of all of these wayfarers +was Christopher by far the hardest and strongest, for his +side had utterly forgotten Simon's knife. At the Tofts they +were welcomed with all triumph, and they were about there in +the best of cheer, till it was wearing toward Candlemas, and +then they took occasion of a bright and sunny day to go back +to Littledale once more, and there they abode till spring +was come and was wearing into summer, and messages had come +and gone betwixt them and the Tofts, and it was agreed that +with the first of autumn they should go back to the Tofts +and see what should betide. + +But now leave we Christopher and these good fellows of the +Tofts and turn to Goldilind, who is yet dwelling amid no +very happy days in the Castle of Greenharbour, on the +northernmost marches of Meadham. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +OF GOLDILIND IN THE MAY MORNING AT GREENHARBOUR. + + +May was on the land now, and was come into its second week, +and Goldilind awoke on a morn in the Castle of Greenharbour; +but little did her eyes behold of the May, even when they +were fully open; for she was lying, not in her own chamber, +which was proper, and even somewhat stately, and from whence +she could look on the sky and greenwood, but in a chamber +low down amidst the footings of the wall, little lighted, +unadorned, with nought in it for sport or pleasure; nought, +forsooth, save the pallet bed on which she lay, a joint +stool and water ewer. To be short, though it were called +the Least Guard-chamber, it was a prison, and she was there +dreeing her penance, as Dame Elinor would call the cruelty +of her malice, which the chaplain, Dame Elinor's led +captain, had ordained her for some sin which the twain had +forged between them. + +She lay there naked in her smock, with no raiment anigh her, +and this was the third morning whereon she had awakened to +the dusky bare walls, and a long while had their emptiness +made of the hours: but she lay quiet and musing, not +altogether without cheer now; for indeed she was not wont to +any longer penance than this she had but now tholed, so she +looked for release presently: and, moreover, there had +grown in her mind during those three days a certain purpose; +to wit, that she would get hold of the governor of the +castle privily, and two or three others of the squires who +most regarded her, and bewail her case to them, so that she +might perchance get some relief. Forsooth, as she called to +mind this resolve, her heart beat and her cheek flushed, for +well she knew that there was peril in it, and she forecast +what might be the worst that would come thereof, while, on +the other hand, the best that might be seemed to her like a +glimpse of Paradise. + +As she lay there and turned the matter over in her mind for +this many an hundred time, there came a key into the lock, +and the door opened; and thereby entered a tall woman, +dark-haired, white-skinned, somewhat young, and not +ill-favoured: Goldilind still lay there, till the new-comer +said to her in a hard voice, wherein was both threatening +and mockery: "Rise up, our Lady! the Dame Elinor saith that +it is enough, and that thou art to go forth. Nay, hold a +while; for I say unto thee that it is yet early in the day, +and that thy chamber is not yet dight for thee, so thou must +needs bestow thyself elsewhere till it be done." + +Goldilind rose up, and said smiling: "Yea, Aloyse, but thou +hast not brought my raiment: and thou seest!" + +The maid stood looking at her a moment somewhat evilly, and +then said: "Well, since it is but scant six o'clock, I may +do that; but I bid thee ask me not overmuch; for meseemeth +Dame Elinor is not overwell pleased with thee to-day, nor +our chaplain either." + +Therewith she turned and went out, locking the door behind +her, and came back presently bearing on her arm a green gown +and other raiment: she laid them on the stool before the +Lady, and said: "Hasten, my Lady, and let me go to my +place: sooth to say, it may well be double trouble to thee +to don thy clothes, for thou mayst have to doff them again +before long." + +Goldilind answered nought, but reddened and paled again as +she clad her under the waiting-maid's eyes. Then they went +out together, and up a short stone stair, till they were +level with the greensward without. Then the maid turned to +Goldilind and said: "And now thou art clad and out, my Lady, +I wot not where thou art to go to, since to thy chamber thou +must not go. Nay, hold and hearken! here we be at the door +which opens on to the Foresters' Garth under the Foresters' +Tower, thither shalt thou abide till I come to fetch thee. +How now, my Lady! what else wouldst thou?" + +Goldilind looked on her with a smile, yet with eagereyes, +and said: "O good Aloyse, wouldst thou but give me a piece +of bread? for I hunger; thou wottest my queenly board hath +not been overloaded these last days." + +"Ha!" said Aloyse; "if thou ask me overmuch I fear thou +mayst pay for it, my Lady; but this last asking thou shalt +have, and then none other till all thy penance thou hast +dreed. Abide!" + +Therewith she went up the stairs, and Goldilind, who now was +but weak with her prison and the sudden light, and the hope +and fear of her purpose of bewailing her story, sat her down +on the stair there, almost, as it were, 'twixt home and +hell, till her heart came back to her and the tears began to +flow from her eyes. Forthright came back Aloyse, bearing a +white loaf and a little pitcher of milk on a silver +serving-dish; she laid them down, unlocked the door into the +garden, and thrust Goldilind through by the shoulders; then +she turned and took up her serving-dish with the bread and +milk, and handed it to Goldilind through the door, and said: +"Now is my Lady served. It were indeed well that my Lady +should strengthen herself this hour for the hour next to +come." + +Therewith she turned about, and shut and locked the door; +and the King's daughter fell to eagerly on her bread, and +thought of little till she had eaten and drunk, save that +she felt the sweet scent of the gilliflowers and eglantine +as it were a part of her meal. + +Then she went slowly down the garden, treading the +greensward beside the flowers; and she looked on the hold, +and the low sun gilded the walls thereof and glittered in a +window here and there, and though there was on her a +foreboding of the hours of that day, she did what she might +to make the best of the fragrant May morning and the song of +birds and rustle of leaves, though, indeed, at whiles the +tears would gush out of her eyes when she thought how young +she was and how feeble, and the pity of herself became sweet +unto her. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +OF GOLDILIND IN THE GARTH. + + +Now, as she went in that garden with her face turned toward +the postern which led into the open space of the greenwood, +which was but two bow-shots from the thicket, she heard the +clatter of horse-hoofs on the loose stones of the path, and +how they stopped at the said postern; and presently there +was a key in the lock, the door opened, and a man came in +walking stiffly, like a rider who has ridden far and fast. +He was clad in jack and sallet, and had a sword by his side, +and on his sleeve was done in green and gold a mountain +aflame; so that Goldilind knew him at once for a man of Earl +Geoffrey's; and, indeed, she had seen the man before, coming +and going on errands that she knew nought of, and on which +nothing followed that was of import to her. Therefore, as +she watched him cross the garden and go straight up to the +door of the Foresters' Tower, and take out another key and +enter, she heeded him but little, nor did his coming +increase her trouble a whit. + +She walked on toward the postern, and now she saw that the +errand-bearer had left it open behind him, and when she came +close up to it, she saw his horse tied to a ring in the +wall, a strong and good bay nag. The sight of him, and the +glimpse of the free and open land, stirred in her the misery +of her days and the yearning for the loveliness of the world +without, converse of friends, hope of the sufficiency of +desire, and the sweetness of love returned. And so strong a +wave of anguish swept over her, that she bowed her down upon +the grass and wept bitterly. Yet but a little while it +lasted; she rose up presently and looked warily all round +her, and up to the Castle, and saw none stirring; she drew +up the skirts of her green gown into her girdle, till the +hem but just hid her knees; then she stepped lightly through +the half-open door with flushed cheeks and glittering eyes, +while her heart rose within her; then she lifted her hand, +unhitched the reins from the iron ring, and quietly led the +horse close under the garth-wall, and stole gently up the +slope which, as all roads from the Castle, went straightway +toward the thicket, but this was the straightest. So she +went, till she came to the corner of the garth-wall, and a +little further; and the Castle on that side was blind, save +for the swale on the battlement, whereon in that deep peace +was little going; and, moreover, it was not even yet six +o'clock. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +GOLDILIND GOES FREE. + + +There then she stayed the horse, and, flushed and panting, +got lightly into the saddle and bestrode it, and, leaning +over on the beast's neck, smote his flanks with her heels; +the horse was fresh, though his master had been weary, +whereas the said messenger had gotten him from a forester +some six miles away in the wood that morning, so the nag +answered to her call for speed, and she went a great gallop +into the wood, and was hidden in a twinkling from any eyes +that might be looking out of the Castle. + +Without checking the nag she sped along, half mad with joy +at the freedom of this happy morn. Nigh aimless she was, +but had an inkling that it were well with her if she could +hold northward ever; for the old man aforesaid had told her +of Oakenrealm, and how it lay northward of them; so that way +she drifted as the thicket would suffer her. When she had +gone as much of a gallop as she might for some half hour, +she drew rein to breathe her nag, and hearkened; she turned +in the saddle, but heard nought to affright her, so she went +on again, but some what more soberly; and thuswise she rode +for some two hours, and the day waxed hot, and she was come +to a clear pool amidst of a little clearing, covered with +fine greensward right down to the water's edge. + +There she made stay, and got off her horse, and stood awhile +by him as he cropped the sweet grass; and the birds sang at +the edge of the thicket, and the rabbits crept and gambolled +on the other side of the water; and from the pool's edge the +moorhens cried. She stood half leaning against the side of +the horse till she became somewhat drowsy; yea, and even +dreamed a little, and that little but ill, it seemed, as she +gave a troubled cry and shrank together and turned pale. +Then she rubbed her eyes and smiled, and turned to the pool, +where now a little ripple was running over the face of it, +and a thought came upon her, and she set her hand to the +clasp of her gown and undid it, and drew the gown off her +shoulders, and so did off all her raiment, and stood naked a +little on the warm sunny grass, and then bestirred her and +went lightly into the pool, and bathed and sported there, +and then came on to the grass again, and went to and fro to +dry her in the air and sun. Then she did on her raiment +again, and laid her down under a thorn-bush by the +pool-side, and there, would she, would she not, went to +sleep soundly and dreamed not. And when she awoke she +deemed her sleep had been long, but it was not so, but +scarce a score of minutes. Anyhow, she sprang up now and +went to her horse, and drew the girths tight (which she had +loosed erewhile,) and so bestrode the good horse, and shook +the reins, and rode away much comforted and enheartened. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +OF GOLDILIND IN THE WILD-WOOD. + + +Goldilind rode on, hastening yet to put as many miles as she +might betwixt her and Greenharbour. Within a three hours +from her bathing she fell a-hungering sore, and knew not +what to do to eat, till she found a pouch made fast to the +saddle-bow, and therein a little white loaf, that and no +more, which she took and ate the half of with great joy, +sitting down by a brook-side, whence she had her drink. + +Then again she mounted, and rode on till dusk overtook her +just as she came to a little river running from the north +from pool to shallow, and shallow to pool. And whereas she +was now exceeding weary, and the good horse also much spent, +and that the grass was very sweet and soft down to the +water's edge, and that there was a thick thorn-bush to cover +her, she made up her mind that this place should be her +bed-chamber. So she took saddle and bridle off the horse, +as he must needs bite the grass, and then when she had eaten +the other half of her bread, she laid her down on the green +grass, with her head on the saddle, and when she had lain +listening to the horse cropping the grass close anigh her +for a minute or two, she fell fast asleep, and lay there +long and had no dreams. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +WHAT GOLDILIND FOUND IN THE WOOD. + + +When she awoke it was broad day and bright sun, and she rose +up to her feet and looked about, and saw the horse standing +close by, and sharing the shade with her, whisking his tail +about lazily. Then she turned, and saw the stream rippling +out from the pool over the clean gravel, and here and there +a fish darting through the ripple, or making clean rings on +the pool as he quietly took a fly; the sky was blue and +clear, there was scarce a breath of air, and the morning was +already hot; no worse than yesterday sang the birds in the +bushes; but as she looked across the river, where, forsooth, +the alders grew thick about the pool's edge, a cock +blackbird, and then another, flew out from the close boughs, +where they had been singing to their mates, with the sharp +cry that they use when they are frighted. Withal she saw +the bush move, though, as aforesaid, the morning was without +wind. She had just stooped to do off her foot-gear (for she +was minded to bathe again), but now she stopped with one +shoe in her hand, and looked on the bushes keenly with +beating heart, and again she thought she saw the boughs +shaken, and stood, not daring to move a while; but they +moved no more now when she had looked steadily at them a +space, and again a blackbird began singing loud just where +they had been shaken. So she gathered heart again, and +presently turned her hand once more to stripping her raiment +off her, for she would not be baulked of her bath; but when +the stripping was done, she loitered not naked on the bank +as she had done the day before, but walked swiftly into the +shallow, and thence down into the pool, till nothing but her +head and the whiteness of her shoulders showed over the dark +water. Even then she turned her head about twice to look +into the over-side bushes, but when she saw nothing stir +there she began to play in the water, but not for long, but +came splashing through the shallow and hurried on her +raiment. + +When she was clad again she went up to the horse, and patted +and caressed him, and did bridle and saddle on him, and was +going to climb upon him, when, of a sudden, she thought she +would lead him across, lest there should be a hole near the +other bank and he might stumble into it unwarily; so she +bared her feet once more and trussed up her gown skirts, and +so took the ford, leading the beast; the water was nowhere +up to mid-leg of her, and she stepped ashore on to short +and fine grass, which spread like a meadow before her, with +a big thorn or two scattered about it, and a little grassy +hill beset with tall elms toward the top, coming down into +the flat of the meadow and drawing round it nearly up to the +river on the north side. + +But now she stood staring in wonder and some deal of fear; +for there were three milch kine feeding on the meadow, and, +moreover, under a thorn, scarce a hundred yards from where +she stood, was a tall man standing gazing on her. So +stricken was she that she might neither cry out nor turn +aside; neither did she think to pull her gown out of her +girdle to cover the nakedness of her legs. + +When they had thus stood a little while the man began to +move toward her very slowly, nor did she dare to flee any +the more. But when he was within half a dozen paces her +face flushed red, and she did pull her gown out of its +trusses and let it flow down. But he spake to her in a +pleasant voice, and said: "May I speak to thee, maiden?" + +Fear was yet in her soul, so that she might not speak for a +little, and then she said: "O, I beseech thee, bring me not +back to Greenharbour!" And she paled sorely as she spake the +word. + +But he said: "I wot not of Greenharbour, how to find the +way thereto, though we have heard of it. But comfort +thyself, I pray thee, there is nought to fear in me." + +The sound of his voice was full pleasant to her, and when +she hearkened him, how kind and frank it was, then she knew +how much of terror was blent with her joy in her newly-won +freedom and the delight of the kind and happy words. Yet +still she spoke not, and was both shamefast and still not +altogether unafraid. Yet, sooth to say, though his attire +was but simple, he was nought wild or fierce to look on. +From time to time she looked on him, and then dropped her +eyes again. In those glances she saw that he was grey- +eyed, and smooth-cheeked, and round-chinned, and his hair +curly and golden; and she must needs think that she had +never seen any face half so fair. He was clad but in a +green coat that came not down to his knees, and brogues were +tied to his feet, and no more raiment he had; and for hat he +had made him a garland of white may blossom, and well it sat +there: and again she looked on him, and thought him no +worse than the running angel that goes before the throne of +God in the picture of the choir of Meadhamstead; and she +looked on him and marvelled. + +Now she hung her head before him and wished he would speak, +and even so did he, and said: "Maiden, when I first saw +thee from amidst of the bush by the river yonder, I deemed +thou wert a wood-wight, or some one of the she-Gods of the +Gentiles come back hither. For this is a lonely place, and +some might deem that the Devil hath might here more than in +other places; and when I saw thee, that thou wouldst do off +thy raiment to bathe thee, though soothly I longed to lie +hidden there, I feared thee, lest thou shouldst be angry +with me if I were to see thee unclad; so I came away; yet I +went not far, for I was above all things yearning to see +thee; and sooth it is, that hadst thou not crossed the +water, I should presently have crossed it myself to seek +thee, wert thou Goddess, or wood-wife, or whatever might +have come of it. But now thou art come to us, and I have +heard thy voice beseeching me not to bring thee to +Greenharbour, I see that thou art a woman of the kindred of +Adam. And yet so it is, that even now I fear thee somewhat. +Yet I will pray thee not to be wroth if I ask thee whether I +may do aught for thy need." + +Now she began somewhat to smile, and she looked him full in +the face, and said: "Forsooth, my need is simple, for I am +hungry." + +He smote himself on the breast, and said: "See now, what a +great fool I am, not to have known it without telling, +instead of making long-winded talk about myself. Come +quickly, dear maiden, and leave thine horse to crop the +grass." + +So he hurried on to the thorn-bush aforesaid, and she went +foot to foot with him, but he touched her not; and +straightway she sat her down on the root of the thorn, and +smiled frankly on him, and said: + +"Nay, sir, and now thou hast made me go all this way I am +out of breath and weary, so I pray thee of the victual at +once." + +But he had been busy with his scrip which he had left cast +down there, and therewithal reached out to her a mighty +hunch of bread and a piece of white cheese, and said: + +"Now shall I fetch thee milk." Wherewith he took up a bowl +of aspen tree that had lain by the scrip, and ran off to one +of the kine and milked the bowl full, and came back with it +heedfully, and set it down beside her and said: "This was +the nighest thing to hand, but when thou hast eaten and +rested then shall we go to our house, if thou wilt be so +kind to me; for there have we better meat and wine to boot." + +She looked up at him smiling, but her pleasure of the meat +and the kindness was so exceeding, that she might not +refrain from tears also, but she spake not. + +As for him, he knelt beside her, looking on her wistfully; +and at last he said: "I shall tell thee, that I am glad +that thou wert hungry and that I have seen thee eating, else +might I have deemed thee somewhat other than a woman of +mankind even yet." + +She said: "Yea, and why wouldst thou not believe my word +thereto?" + +He said, reddening: "I almost fear to tell thee, lest thou +think me overbold and be angry with me." + +"Nay," she said, "tell me, for I would know." + +Said he: "The words are not easy in my rude mouth; but this +is what I mean: that though I be young I have seen fair +women not a few, but beside any of them thou art a +wonder;....and loth I were if thou wert not really of +mankind, if it were but for the glory of the world." + +She hung her head and answered nought a while, and he also +seemed ashamed: but presently she spake: "Thou hast been +kind to us, wouldst thou tell us thy name? and then, if it +like thee, what thou art?" + +"Lady," he said, "my name is easy to tell, I hight +Christopher; and whiles folk in merry mockery call me +Christopher King; meseems because I am of the least account +of all carles. As for what else I am, a woodman I am, an +outlaw, and the friend of them: yet I tell thee I have +never by my will done any harm to any child of man; and +those friends of mine, who are outlaws also, are kind and +loving with me, both man and woman, though needs must they +dwell aloof from kings' courts and barons' halls." + +She looked at him wondering, and as if she did not +altogether understand him; and she said: "Where dost thou +dwell?" + +He said: "To-day I dwell hard by; though where I shall +dwell to-morrow, who knows? And with me are dwelling three +of my kind fellows; and the dearest is a young man of mine +own age, who is my fellow in all matters, for us to live and +die each for the other. Couldst thou have seen him, thou +wouldst love him I deem." + +"What name hath he?" said Goldilind. + +"He hight David," said Christopher. + +But therewith he fell silent and knit his brow, as though he +were thinking of some knotty point: but in a while his face +cleared, and he said: "If I durst, I would ask thee thy +name, and what thou art?" + +"As to my name," said she, "I will not tell it thee as now. +As to what I am, I am a poor prisoner; and much have I been +grieved and tormented, so that my body hath been but a thing +whereby I might suffer anguish. Something else am I, but I +may not tell thee what as yet." + +He looked on her long, and then arose and went his way along +the very track of their footsteps, and he took the horse and +brought him back to the thorn, and stood by the lady and +reddened, and said: "I must tell thee what I have been +doing these last minutes." + +"Yea," said she, looking at him wonderingly, "hast thou not +been fetching my horse to me?" + +"So it is," said he; "but something else also. Ask me, or I +cannot tell thee." + +She laughed, and said: "What else, fair sir?" + +Said he: "Ask me what, or I cannot tell thee." + +"Well, what, then?" said she. + +He answered, stammering and blushing: "I have been looking +at thy foot prints, whereby thou camest up from the water, +to see what new and fairer blossoms have come up in the +meadow where thy feet were set e'en now." + +She answered him nothing, and he held his peace. But in a +while she said: "If thou wouldst have us come to thine +house, thou shalt lead us thither now." And therewith she +took her foot-gear from out of her girdle, as if she would +do it on, and he turned his face away, but sighed therewith. +Then she reddened and put them back again, and rose up +lightly, and said: "I will go afoot; and wilt thou lead the +horse for me?" + +So did he, and led her by all the softest and most flowery +ways, turning about the end of a spur of the little hill +that came close to the water, and going close to the lip of +the river. And when they had thus turned about the hill +there was a somewhat wider vale before them, grassy and +fair, and on a knoll, not far from the water, a long +frame-house thatched with reed. + +Then said Christopher: "Lady, this is now Littledale, and +yonder the house thereof." + +She said quietly: "Lovely is the dale, and fair the house +by seeming, and I would that they may be happy that dwell +therein!" + +Said Christopher: "Wilt thou not speak that blessing within +the house as without?" + +"Fain were I thereof," she said. And therewith they came +into the garth, wherein the apple trees were blossoming, and +Goldilind spread abroad her hands and lifted up her head for +joy of the sight and the scent, and they stayed awhile +before they went on to the door, which was half open, for +they feared none in that place, and looked for none whom +they might not deal with if he came as a foe. + +Christopher would have taken a hand of her to lead her in, +but both hands were in her gown to lift up the hem as she +passed over the threshold; so he durst not. + +Fair and bright now was the hall within, with its long and +low windows goodly glazed, a green halling on the walls of +Adam and Eve and the garden, and the good God walking +therein; the sun shone bright through the southern windows, +and about the porch it was hot, but further toward the dais +cool and pleasant. + +So Goldilind sat down in the coolest of the place at the +standing table; but Christopher bestirred himself, and +brought wine and white bread, and venison and honey, and +said: "I pray thee to dine, maiden, for it is now hard on +noon; and as for my fair fellows, I look not for them before +sunset for they were going far into the wood." + +She smiled on him, and ate and drank a little deal, and he +with her. Sooth to say, her heart was full, and though she +had forgotten her fear, she was troubled, because, for as +glad as she was, she could not be as glad as her gladness +would have her, for the sake of some lack, she knew not +what. + +Now spake Christopher: "I would tell thee something +strange, to wit, though it is little more than three hours +since I first saw thee beside the river, yet I seem to know +thee as if thou wert a part of my life." + +She looked on him shyly, and he went on: "This also is +strange, and, withal, it likes me not, that when I speak of +my fair fellows here, David, and Gilbert, and Joanna, they +are half forgotten to my heart, though their names are on my +tongue; and this house, doth it like thee, fair guest?" + +"Yea, much," she said; "it seems joyous to me: and I shall +tell thee that I have mostly dwelt in unmerry houses, though +they were of greater cost than this." + +Said Christopher: "To me it hath been merry and happy +enough; but now it seems to me as if it had all been made +for thee and this meeting." + +"Is it therefore no longer merry to thee because of that?" +she said, smiling, yet flushing much red therewith. Now it +was his turn not to answer her, and she cast down her eyes +before him, and there was silence between them. + +Then she looked at him steadily, and said: "It is indeed +grievous that thou shouldest forget thine old friends for +me, and that it should have come into thy mind that this +fair and merry house was not made for thy fair fellows and +thy delight with them, but for me, the chance-comer. For, +hearken, whereas thou saidst e'en now, that I was become a +part of thy life, how can that be? For if I become the poor +captive again, how canst thou get to me, thou who art +thyself a castaway, as thou hast told me? Yea, but even so, +I shall be too low for thee to come down to me. And if I +become what I should be, then I must tell thee that I shall +be too high for thee to climb up to me; so that in one way +or other we shall be sundered, who have but met for an hour +or two." + +He hung his head a while as they stood there face to face, +for both of them had arisen from the board; but presently he +looked up to her with glittering eyes, and said: "Yea, for +an hour or two; why then do we tarry and linger, and say +what we have no will to say, and refrain from what our +hearts bid us?" + +Therewith he caught hold of her right wrist, and laid his +hand on her left shoulder, and this first time that he had +touched her, it was as if a fire ran through all his body +and changed it into the essence of her: neither was there +any naysay in her eyes, nor any defence against him in the +yielding body of her. But even in that nick of time he drew +back a little, and turned his head, as a man listening, +toward the door, and said: "Hist! hist! Dost thou hear, +maiden?" She turned deadly pale: "O what is it? What is it? +Yea, I hear; it is horses drawing nigh, and the sound of +hounds baying. But may it not be thy fellows coming back?" + +"Nay, nay," he said; "they rode not in armour. Hark to it! +and these hounds are deep-voiced sleuth-dogs! But come now, +there may yet be time." + +He turned, and caught up axe and shield from off the wall, +and drew her toward a window that looked to the north, and +peered out of it warily; but turned back straightway, and +said: "Nay, it is too late that way, they are all round +about the house. Maiden, get thou up into the solar by this +stair, and thou wilt find hiding-place behind the traverse +of the bed; and if they go away, and my fellows come in due +time, then art thou safe. But if not, surely they shall do +thee no hurt; for I think, indeed, that thou art some great +one." + +And he fell to striding down the hall toward the door; but +she ran after him, and caught his arm, and said: "Nay, nay, +I will not hide, to be dragged out of my refuge like a +thief: thou sayest well that I am of the great; I will stand +by thee and command and forbid as a Queen. O go not to the +door! Stay by me, stay!" + +"Nay, nay," he said, "there is nought for it but the deed of +arms. Look! seest thou not steel by the porch?" + +And therewith he broke from her and ran to the door, and was +met upon the very threshold by all-armed men, upon whom he +fell without more ado, crying out: "For the Tofts! For the +Tofts! The woodman to the rescue!" And he hewed right and +left on whatsoever was before him, so that what fell not, +gave back, and for a moment of time he cleared the porch; +but in that nick of time his axe brake on the basnet of a +huge man-at-arms, and they all thrust them on him together +and drave him back into the hall, and came bundling after +him in a heap. But he drave his shield at one, and then +with his right hand smote another on the bare face, so that +he rolled over and stirred no more till the day of doom. +Then was there a weapon before him, might he have stooped to +pick it up; but he might not; so he caught hold of a sturdy +but somewhat short man by the collar and the lap of his +leather surcoat, and drew aback, and with a mighty heave +cast him on the rout of them, who for their parts had drawn +back a little also, as if he had been a huge stone, and down +went two before that artillery; and they set up a great roar +of wonder and fear. But he followed them, and this time got +an axe in his hand, so mazed they were by his onset, and he +hewed at them again and drave them aback to the threshold of +the door: but could get them no further, and they began to +handle long spears to thrust at him. + +But then came forward a knight, no mickle man, but clad in +very goodly armour, with a lion beaten in gold on his green +surcoat; this man smote up the spears, and made the men go +back a little, while he stood on the threshold; so +Christopher saw that he would parley with him, and forbore +him, and the knight spake: "Thou youngling, art thou mad? +What doest thou falling on my folk?" + +"And what do ye," said Christopher fiercely, "besetting the +houses of folk with weapons? Now wilt thou take my life. +But I shall yet slay one or two before I die. Get thee +back, lord, or thou shalt be the first." + +But the knight, who had no weapon in his hand, said: "We +come but to seek our own, and that is our Lady of Meadham, +who dwelleth at Greenharbour by her own will. And if thou +wilt stand aside thou mayst go free to the devil for us." + +Now would Christopher have shouted and fallen on, and gone +to his death there and then; but even therewith a voice, +clear and sweet, spake at the back of him, and said: "Thou +kind host, do thou stand aside and let us speak that which +is needful." And therewith stepped forth Goldilind and +stood beside Christopher, and said: "Sir Burgreve, we rode +forth to drink the air yesterday, and went astray amidst the +wild-wood, and were belated, so that we must needs lie down +under the bare heaven; but this morning we happened on this +kind forester, who gave us to eat, and took us to his house +and gave us meat and drink; for which it were seemlier to +reward him than threaten him. Now it is our pleasure that +ye lead us back to Greenharbour; but as for this youth, that +ye do him no hurt, but let him go free, according to thy +word spoken e'en now, Sir Burgreve." + +She spake slowly and heavily, as one who hath a lesson to +say, and it was to be seen of her that all grief was in her +heart, though her words were queenly. Some of them that +heard laughed; but the Burgreve spake, and said: "Lady, we +will do thy will in part, for we will lead thee to +Greenharbour in all honour; but as to this young man, if he +will not be slain here and now, needs must he with us. For +he hath slain two of our men outright, and hath hurt many, +and, methinks, the devil of the woods is in his body. So do +thou bid him be quiet, if thou wouldst not see his blood +flow." + +She turned a pale unhappy face on Christopher, and said: +"My friend, we bid thee withstand them no more, but let them +do with thee as they will." + +Christopher stood aside therewith, and sat down on a bench +and laughed, and said in a high voice: "Stout men-at-arms, +forsooth, to take a maid's kirtle to their shield." + +But therewith the armed men poured into the hall, and a half +dozen of the stoutest came up unto Christopher where he sat, +and bound his hands with their girdles, and he withstood +them no whit, but sat laughing in their faces, and made as +if it were all a Yule-tide game. But inwardly his heart +burned with anger, and with love of that sweet Lady. + +Then they made him stand up, and led him without the house, +and set him on a horse, and linked his feet together under +the belly thereof. And when that was done he saw them lead +out the Lady, and they set her in a horse litter, and then +the whole troop rode off together, with two men riding on +either side of the said litter. In this wise they left +Littledale. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +GOLDILIND COMES BACK TO GREENHARBOUR. + + +They rode speedily, and had with them men who knew the +woodland ways, so that the journey was nought so long thence +as Goldilind had made it thither; and they stayed not for +nightfall, since the moon was bright, so that they came +before the Castle-gate before midnight. Now Goldilind +looked to be cast into prison, whatever might befall her +upon the morrow; but so it went not, for she was led +straight to her own chamber, and one of her women, but not +Aloyse, waited on her, and when she tried to have some +tidings of her, the woman spake to her no more than if she +were dumb. So all unhappily she laid her down in her bed, +foreboding the worst, which she deemed might well be death +at the hand of her jailers. As for Christopher, she saw the +last of him as they entered the Castle-gate, and knew not +what they had done with him. So she lay in dismal thoughts, +but at last fell asleep for mere weariness. + +When she awoke it was broad day, and there was someone going +about in the chamber; she turned, and saw that it was +Aloyse. She felt sick at heart, and durst not move or ask +of tidings; but presently Aloyse turned, and came to the +bed, and made an obeisance, but spake not. Goldilind raised +her head, and said wearily: "What is to be done, Aloyse, +wilt thou tell me? For my heart fails me, and meseems, +unless they have some mercy, I shall die to-day." + +"Nay," said the chambermaid, "keep thine heart up; for here +is one at hand who would see thee, when it is thy pleasure +to be seen." + +"Yea," said Goldilind, "Dame Elinor to wit." And she +moaned, and fear and heart-sickness lay so heavy on her +that she went nigh to swooning + +But Aloyse lifted up her head, and brought her wine and made +her drink, and when Goldilind was come to herself again the +maid said: "I say, keep up thine heart, for it is not Dame +Elinor and the rods that would see thee, but a mighty man; +nay, the most mighty, to wit, Earl Geoffrey, who is King of +Meadham in all but the name." + +Goldilind did in sooth take heart at this tidings, and she +said: "I wonder what he may have to do here; all this while +he hath not been to Greenharbour, or, mayhappen, it might +have been better for me." + +"I wot not," said Aloyse, "but even so it is. I shall tell +thee, the messenger, whose horse thou didst steal, brought +no other word in his mouth save this, that my Lord Earl was +coming; and come he did; but that was toward sunset, long +after they had laid the blood-hounds on thy slot, and I had +been whipped for letting thee find the way out a-gates. Now, +our Lady, when thou hast seen the Earl, and hast become our +Lady and Mistress indeed, wilt thou bethink thee of the morn +before yesterday on my behalf?" + +"Yea," said Goldilind, "if ever it shall befall." + +"Befall it shall," said Aloyse; "I dreamed of thee three +nights ago, and thou sitting on thy throne commanding and +forbidding the great men. But at worst no harm hath +happened save to my shoulders and sides, by thy stealing +thyself, since thou hast come back in the nick of time, and +of thine own will, as men say. But tell me now of thine +holiday, and if it were pleasant to thee?" + +Goldilind fell a-weeping at the word, bethinking her of +yesterday morning, and Aloyse stood looking on her, but +saying nought. At last spake Goldilind softly: "Tell me, +Aloyse, didst thou hear any speaking of that young man who +was brought in hither last night? Have they slain him?" + +Said Aloyse: "Soothly, my Lady, I deem they have done him +no hurt, though I wot not for sure. There hath been none +headed or hanged in the base-court to-day. I heard talk +amongst the men-at-arms of one whom they took; they said he +was a wonder of sheer strength, and how that he cast their +men about as though he were playing at ball. Sooth to say, +they seemed to bear him no grudge therefor. But now I would +counsel thee to arise; and I am bidden to tire and array +thee at the best. And now I would say a word in thine ear, +to wit, that Dame Elinor feareth thee somewhat this morn." + +So Goldilind arose, and was arrayed like a very queen, and +was served of what she would by Aloyse and the other women, +and sat in her chamber awaiting the coming of the mighty +Lord of Meadham. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +EARL GEOFFREY SPEAKS WITH GOLDILIND. + + +But a little while had she sat there, before footsteps a +many came to the door, which was thrown open, and straight +it was as if the sun had shone on a flower-bed, for there +was come Earl Geoffrey and his lords all arrayed most +gloriously. Then came the Earl up the chamber to Goldilind, +and bent the knee before her, and said: "Lady and Queen, is +it thy pleasure that thy servant should kiss thine hand?" + +She made him little cheer, but reached out to him her lily +hand in its gold sleeve, and said: "Thou must do thy will." + +So he kissed the hand reverently, and said: "And these my +lords, may they enter and do obeisance and kiss hands, my +Lady?" + +Said Goldilind: "I will not strive to gainsay their will, +or thine, my Lord." + +So they entered and knelt before her, and kissed her hand; +and, to say sooth, most of them had been fain to kiss both +hands of her, yea, and her cheeks and her lips; though but +little cheer she made them, but looked sternly on them. + +Then the Earl spake to her, and told her of her realm, and +how folk thrived, and of the deep peace that was upon the +land, and of the merry days of Meadham, and the praise of +the people. And she answered him nothing, but as he spake +her bosom began to heave, and the tears came into her eyes +and rolled down her cheeks. Then man looked on man, and the +Earl said: "My masters, I deem that my Lady hath will to +speak to me privily, as to one who is her chiefest friend +and well-willer. Is it so, my Lady?" + +She might not speak for the tears that welled out from her +heart; but she bowed her head and strove to smile on him. + +But the Earl waved his hand, and those lords, and the women +also, voided the chamber, and left those two alone, the Earl +standing before her. But ere he could speak, she arose from +her throne and fell on her knees before him, and joined +hands palm to palm, and cried in a broken voice: "Mercy! +Mercy! Have pity on my young life, great Lord!" + +But he lifted her up, and set her on her throne again, and +said: "Nay, my Lady, this is unmeet; but if thou wouldst +talk and tell with me I am ready to hearken." + +She strove with her passion a while, and then she said: +"Great Lord, I pray thee to hearken, and to have patience +with a woman's weak heart. Prithee, sit down here beside +me. + +"It were unfitting," he said; "I shall take a lowlier seat." +Then he drew a stool to him, and sat down before her, and +said: "What aileth thee? What wouldest thou?" + +Then she said: "Lord Earl, I am in prison; I would be +free." + +Quoth he: "Yea, and is this a prison, then?" + +"Yea," she said, "since I may not so much as go out from it +and come back again unthreatened; yet have I been, and that +unseldom, in a worser prison than this: do thou go look on +the Least Guard-chamber, and see if it be a meet dwelling +for thy master's daughter." + +He spake nought awhile; then he said: "And, yet if it +grieveth thee, it marreth thee nought; for when I look on +thee mine eyes behold the beauty of the world, and the body +wherein is no lack." + +She reddened and said: "If it be so, it is God's work, and +I praise him therefor. But how long will it last? For grief +slayeth beauty." + +He looked on her long, and said: "To thy friends I betook +thee, and I looked that they should cherish thee; where then +is the wrong that I have done thee?" + +She said: "Maybe no wrong wittingly; since now, belike, +thou art come to tell me that all this weary sojourn is at +an end, and that thou wilt take me to Meadhamstead, and set +me on the throne there, and show my father's daughter to all +the people." + +He held his peace, and his face grew dark before her while +she watched it. At last he spake in a harsh voice: "Lady," +he said, "it may not be; here in Greenharbour must thou +abide, or in some other castle apart from the folk." + +"Yea," she said, "now I see it is true, that which I +foreboded when first I came hither: thou wouldst slay me, +that thou mayest sit safely in the seat of thy master's +daughter; thou durst not send me a man with a sword to +thrust me through, therefore thou hast cast me into prison +amongst cruel jailers, who have been bidden by thee to take +my life slowly and with torments. Hitherto I have withstood +their malice and thine; but now am I overcome, and since I +know that I must die, I have now no fear, and this is why I +am bold to tell thee this that I have spoken, though I wot +now I shall be presently slain. And now I tell thee I repent +it, that I have asked grace of a graceless face." + +Although she spake strong words, it was with a mild and +steady voice. But the Earl was sore troubled, and he rose +up and walked to and fro of the chamber, half drawing his +sword and thrusting it back into the scabbard from time to +time. At last he came back to her, and sat down before her +and spake: + +"Maiden, thou art somewhat in error. True it is that I +would sit firm in my seat and rule the land of Meadham, as +belike none other could. True it is also that I would have +thee, the rightful heir, dwell apart from the turmoil for a +while at least; for I would not have thy white hands thrust +me untimely from my place, or thy fair face held up as a +banner by my foemen. Yet nowise have I willed thy death or +thine anguish; and if all be true as thou sayest it, and +thou art so lovely that I know not how to doubt it, tell me +then what these have done with thee." + +She said: "Sir, those friends to whom thou hast delivered +me are my foes, whether they were thy friends or not. Wilt +thou compel me to tell thee all my shame? They have treated +me as a thrall who had whiles to play a queen's part in a +show. To wit, thy chaplain whom thou hast given me has +looked on me with lustful eyes, and has bidden me buy of him +ease and surcease of pain with my very body, and hath +threatened me more evil else, and kept his behest." + +Then leapt up the Earl and cried out: "Hah! did he so? Then +I tell thee his monk's hood shall not be stout enough to +save his neck. Now, my child, thou speakest; tell me more, +since my hair is whitening." + +She said: "The sleek, smooth-spoken woman to whom thou +gavest me, didst thou bid her to torment me with stripes, +and the dungeon, and the dark, and solitude, and hunger?" + +"Nay, by Allhallows!" he said, "nor thought of it; trust me +she shall pay therefor if so she hath done." + +She said: "I crave no vengeance, but mercy I crave, and +thou mayst give it me." + +Then were they both silent, till he said: "Now I, for my +part, will pray thee bear what thou must bear, which shall +be nought save this, that thy queenship lie quiet for a +while; nought else of evil shall betide thee henceforth; but +as much of pleasure and joy as may go with it. But tell me, +there is a story of thy snatching a holiday these two days, +and of a young man whom thou didst happen on. Tell me now, +not as a maiden to her father or warder, but as a great lady +might tell a great lord, what betid betwixt you two: for +thou art not one on whom a young and doughty man may look +unmoved. By Allhallows! but thou art a firebrand, my Lady!" +And he laughed therewith. + +Goldilind flushed red exceeding; but she answered steadily: +"Lord Earl, this is the very sooth, that I might not fail to +see it, how he thought me worth looking on, but he treated +me with all honour, as a brother might a sister." + +"Tell me," said the Earl, "what like was this man?" + +Said she: "He was young, but strong beyond measure; and +full doughty: true it is that I saw him with mine eyes take +and heave up one of our men in his hands and cast him away +as a man would a clod of earth." + +The Earl knit his brow: "Yea," said he, "and that story I +have heard from the men-at-arms also. But what was the man +like of aspect?" + +She reddened: "He was of a most goodly body," she said, +"fair-eyed, and of a face well carven; his speech kind and +gentle." And yet more she reddened. + +Said the Earl: "Didst thou hear what he was, this man?" + +She said: "I deem from his own words that he was but a +simple forester." + +"Yea," quoth the Earl, "a simple forester? Nay, but a +woodman, an outlaw, a waylayer; so say our men, that he fell +on them with the cry: A-Tofts! A-Tofts! Hast thou never +heard of Jack of the Tofts?" + +"Nay, never," said she. + +Said the Earl: "He is the king of these good fellows; and a +perilous host they be. Now I fear me, if he be proven to be +one of these, there will be a gallows reared for him to- +morrow, for as fair and as doughty as he may be." + +She turned all pale, and her lips quivered: then she rose +up, and fell on her knees before the Earl, and cried out: +"O sir, a grace, a grace, I pray thee! Pardon this poor man +who was so kind to me!" + +The Earl raised her up and smiled, and said: "Nay, my Lady +Queen, wouldst thou kneel to me? It is unmeet. And as for +this woodman, it is for thee to pardon him, and not for me; +and since, by good luck, he is not hanged yet, thy word hath +saved his neck." She sat down in her chair again, but still +looked white and scared. But the Earl spake again, and +kindly: + +"Now to all these matters I shall give heed, my Lady; +wherefore I will ask leave of thee, and be gone; and +to-morrow I will see thee again, and lay some rede before +thee. Meantime, be of good cheer, for thou shalt be made as +much of as may be, and live in mickle joy if thou wilt. And +if any so much as give thee a hard word, it shall be the +worse for them." + +Therewith he arose, and made obeisance to her, and departed. +And she abode quiet, and looking straight before her, till +the door shut, and then she put her hands to her face and +fell a-weeping, and scarce knew what ailed her betwixt hope, +and rest of body, and love, though that she called not by +its right name. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +EARL GEOFFREY SPEAKETH WITH CHRISTOPHER. + + +Now it is to be said that the Earl had had much tidings told +him of Christopher, and had no intent to put him to death, +but rather meant to take him into the company of his guard, +to serve him in all honour; and that which he said as to +hanging him was but to try Goldilind; but having heard and +seen of her such as we have told, he now thought it good to +have a privy talk with this young man. So he bade a squire +lead him to where Christopher was held in ward, and went +much pondering. + +So the squire brought him to the self-same Littlest +Guardroom (in sooth a prison) where Goldilind had lain that +other morn; and he gave the squire leave, and entered and +shut the door behind him, so that he and Christopher were +alone together. The young man was lying on his back on the +pallet, with his hands behind his head, and his knees drawn +up, murmuring some fag-end of an old song; but when he heard +the door shut to he sat up, and, turning to the new-comer, +said: "Art thou tidings? If so, then tell me quickly which +it is to be, the gallows or freedom?" + +"Friend," said the Earl sternly, "dost thou know who I am?" + +"Nay," said Christopher; "by thine attire thou shouldst be +some great man; but that is of little matter to me, since +thou wilt neither bid slay me, or let me go, for a heedless +word. + +Quoth the Earl: "I am the master of the land of Meadham, so +there is no need to tell thee that I have thy life or death +in my hand. Now thou wilt not deny that thou art of the +company of Jack o' the Tofts?" + +"It is sooth," said Christopher. + +"Well," said the Earl, "thou art bold then to have come +hither, for thou sayest it that thou art a wolf's-head and +forfeit of thy life. Now, again, thou didst take the Lady +of Meadham home to thy house yesterday, and wert with her +alone a great while. Now according to thy dealings with her +thou dost merit either the most evil of deaths, or else it +may be a reward: hah! what sayest thou?" + +Christopher leapt up, and said in a loud voice: "Lord King, +whatsoever I may be, I am not each man's dastard; when I saw +that pearl of all women, I loved her indeed, as who should +not, but it was even as I had loved the Mother of God had +she come down from the altar picture at the Church of +Middleham of the Wood. And whoso saith otherwise, I give +him the lie back in his teeth, and will meet him face to +face if I may; and then, meseems, it will go hard with him." + +Spake the Earl, laughing: "I will be no champion against +thee, for I hold my skin and my bones of too much price +thereto. And, moreover, though meseemeth the Blessed Virgin +would have a hot lover in thee were she to come down to +earth anigh thy dwelling, yet trow I thy tale, that thou +hast dealt with my Lady in honour. Therefore, lad, what +sayest thou, wilt thou be a man of mine, and bear arms for +me, and do my will?" + +Spake Christopher: "Lord, this is better than hanging." + +"Why, so it is, lad," said the Earl, laughing again, "and +some would say better by a good deal. But hearken! if thou +take it, thou must abide here in Greenharbour--a long while, +maybe; yea, even so long as my Lady dwelleth here." + +Christopher flushed and said: "Lord, thou art kind and +gracious, and I will take thy bidding." + +The Earl said: "Well, so it shall be then; and presently +thou shalt go out of this guard-room a free man. But abide +a while." + +Therewith he drew a stool to him and sat down, and spake not +for a long while; and Christopher abode his pleasure; at +last spake the Earl: "One day, mayhappen, we may make a +wedding for thee, and that no ill one." + +Christopher laughed: "Lord," said he, "what lady will wed +me, a no man's son?" + +Said the Earl: "Not if the Lord of Meadham be thy friend? +Well then, how if the Lady and Queen of Meadham make thee +the wedding?" + +Said Christopher: "I were liefer to make mine own wedding, +whenso I need a woman in my bed: I will compel no woman, +nor ask others to compel her." + +The Earl rose up, and fell to pacing the prison to and fro; +and at last he stood over against Christopher, and said: +"Hearken, forester: I will foretell thy fortune; it is that +thou shalt become great by wedding." + +Christopher held his peace; and the Earl spake again: "Now +is the shortest word best. We deem thee both goodly and +doughty, and would wed thee to a great lady, even that one +to whom thou hast shown kindness in the wilderness." + +Said Christopher: "It is the wont of great lords to mock +poor folk, therefore I must not show anger against thee." + +"I mock thee not," said the Earl; "I mean nought, but as my +words say." + +"Nay then," said Christopher, "thou biddest me an evil deed, +great Lord. What I said was that I would compel no woman; +and shall I compel her who is the wonder of the world and my +very own Lady?" + +"Hold thy peace, sir fool," said the Earl; "let me tell thee +that she is as like to compel thee as thou her. And as to +her being thy Lady, she shall be thy Lady and wife indeed; +but not here, for above all things will she get her away +from Greenharbour, and thou shalt be her champion, to lead +her about the world like a knight errant." + +Now was Christopher so troubled that he knew not what +countenance to make, and scarce might he get a word out of +his mouth a long while. At last he said: "Lord, I see that +I must needs do thy will if this be no trap which thou hast +set for me. But overwonderful it is, that a great lady +should be wedded to a gangrel churl." + +The Earl laughed: "Many a ferly fares to the fair-eyed," +quoth he; "and also I will tell thee in thine ear that this +Lady may not be so great as her name is great. Did she +praise her life-days to thee?" + +"Nay," said Christopher; "I mind me well, she called herself +the poor captive." + +"She said but sooth," quoth the Earl; "and her going away +from Greenharbour is instead of her captivity; and I tell +thee it is by that only I may make her joyous. And now one +word: thou that criest out For the Tofts in battle art not +altogether unfriended, meseemeth." + +Christopher looked up proudly and fiercely: he said: +"Forsooth, Lord, my friends are good, though thou callest +them wolf-heads and gallows-meat." + +"Champion," said the Earl, laughing, "that may well be +sooth; and there are a many ups and downs in the world. +Bethink thee that the time may come when thou and thy +friends may wend to my help, and may win the names of knight +and baron and earl: such hap hath been aforetime. And now I +crave of thee, when thou comest back to the Tofts, to bid +Jack fall upon other lands than Meadham when he rideth, +because of the gift and wedding that I give thee now. So, +lad, I deem that thou hast chosen thy part; but let not the +tale thereof go out of thy mouth, or thou wilt gab away thy +wedding. Lo, thou, I leave this door open behind me; and +presently shall the smith come here to do away thine irons; +and I shall send a squire to thee to lead thee to a fair +chamber, and to bring thee goodly raiment, and do thou play +amongst thy fellows as one of the best of them; and show +them, if thou wilt, some such feats in peace as yesterday +thou showedst them in battle. And to-morrow there will be +new tidings." And therewith he departed. + +No worse than his word he was, and anon came the smith and +the squire; and he was brought to a chamber, and raiment of +fine linen and silk and embroidery was brought to him: and +when he was new clad he looked like a king's son, whereas +aforetime he looked like a God of the Gentiles of old. All +men praised his beauty and his courtesy, and after dinner +was, and they had rested, they bade him play with them and +show them his prowess, and he was nought loth thereto, and +did what he might in running and leaping, and casting of the +bar, and shooting in the bow. And in all these things he +was so far before everyone, that they marvelled at him, and +said it was well indeed that he had not been slain +yesterday. As to wrestling, therein he might do but little; +for all forbore him after the first man had stood before +him, a squire, well learned in war, and long and tough, and +deemed a very stark man; him Christopher threw over his +shoulder as though he had been a child of twelve years. So +wore the day at Greenharbour in merrier wise for all good +folk than for many a day had been the wont there. + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +OF THE WEDDING OF CHRISTOPHER AND GOLDILIND. + + +Early on the morrow came the Earl unto Goldilind, and she +received him gladly, as one who had fashioned life anew for +her. And when he had sat down by her, he spake and said: +"Lady, thou cravedst of me yesterday two things; the first +was freedom from the captivity of Greenharbour; and the +second, life and liberty for the varlet that cherished thee +in the wild-wood the other day. Now thy first asking +grieved me, for that thou hast been tyrannously done by; and +thy second I wondered at; but since I have seen the young +man, I wonder the less; for he is both so goodly, and so +mighty of body, and of speech bold and free, yet gentle and +of all courtesy, that he is meet to be knight or earl, yea, +or very king. Now, therefore, in both these matters I will +well to do thy pleasure, and in one way it may be; and thou +mayst then go forth from Greenharbour as free as a bird, and +thy varlet's life may be given unto him, and mickle honour +therewith. Art thou, then, willing to do after my rede and +my commandment, so that both these good things may betide +thee?" + +"Right willing am I," she said, "to be free and happy and to +save the life of a fair youth and kind." + +"Then," said he, "there is one thing for thee to do: that +this day thou wed this fair and kind youth, and let him lead +thee forth from Greenharbour; and, belike, he will bring +thee to no ill stead; for his friends are mightier than +mayhappen thou deemest." + +She turned as red as blood at his word; she knit her brows, +and her eyes flashed as she answered: "Is it seemly for a +King's daughter to wed a nameless churl? And now I know +thee, Lord Earl, what thou wouldst do; thou wouldst be King +of Meadham and put thy master's daughter to the road." And +she was exceeding wroth. + +But he said, smiling somewhat: "Was it then seemly for the +King's daughter to kneel for this man's life, and go near to +swooning for joy when it was granted to her?" + +"Yea," she said, "for I love him with all my body and soul; +and I would have had him love me par amours, and then should +I have been his mistress and he my servant; but now shall he +be my master and I his servant." And still was she very +wroth. + +Quoth the Earl: "As to the matter of my being King of +Meadham, that will I be, whatever befall, or die in the +place else. So if thou wilt not do my rede, then must the +varlet whom thou lovest die, and at Greenharbour must thou +abide with Dame Elinor. There is no help for it." + +She shrieked out at that word of his, and well nigh swooned, +lying back in her chair: but presently fell a-weeping +sorely. But the Earl said: "Hearken, my Lady, I am not +without warrant to do this. Tell me, hast thou ever seen +any fairer or doughtier than this youngling?" + +"Never," said she. + +"So say we all," he said. "Now I shall tell thee (and I can +bring witness to it) that in his last hour the King, thy +father, when he gave thee into my keeping, spake also this: +that I should wed thee to none save the fairest and +doughtiest man that might be found: even so would I do now. +What then sayest thou?" + +She answered not, but still wept somewhat; then said the +Earl: "Lady, give me leave, and I shall send thy women to +thee, and sit in the great hall for an hour, and if within +that while thou send a woman of thine to say one word, Yes, +unto me, then is all well. But if not, then do I depart from +Greenharbour straightway, and take the youngling with me to +hang him up on the first tree. Be wise, I pray thee." + +And therewith he went his ways. But Goldilind, being left +alone a little, rose up and paced the chamber to and fro, +and her tears and sobbing ceased; and a great and strange +joy grew up in her heart, mingled with the pain of longing, +so that she might rest in nowise. Even therewith the door +opened, and her women entered, Aloyse first, and she called +to her at once, and bade her to find Earl Geoffrey in the +great hall, and say to him: Yes. So Aloyse went her ways, +and Goldilind bade her other women to array her in the best +and goodliest wise that they might. And the day was yet +somewhat young. Now it must besaid of Earl Geoffrey that, in +spite of his hard word, he had it not in his heart either to +slay Christopher or to leave Goldilind at Greenharbour to +the mercy of Dame Elinor. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +OF THE WEDDING OF THOSE TWAIN. + + +Now were folk gathered in the hall, and the Earl Geoffrey +was standing on the dais by the high-seat, and beside him a +worthy clerk, the Abbot of Meadhamstead, a monk of St. +Benedict, and next to him the Burgreve of Greenharbour, and +then a score of knights all in brave raiment, and squires +withal, and sergeants; but down in the hall were the men- +at-arms and serving-men, and a half hundred of folk of the +countryside, queans as well as carles, who had been gathered +for the show and bidden in. No other women were there in +the hall till Goldilind and her serving-women entered. She +went straight up the hall, and took her place in the +high-seat; and for all that her eyes seemed steady, she had +noted Christopher standing by the shot-window just below the +dais. + +Now when she was set down, and there was silence in the +hall, Earl Geoffrey came forth and said: "Lords and +knights, and ye good people, the Lady Goldilind, daughter of +the Lord King Roland that last was, is now of age to wed; +and be it known unto you, that the King, her father, bade +me, in the last words by him spoken, to wed her to none but +the loveliest and strongest that might be, as witness I can +bring hereto. Now such a man have I sought hereto in +Meadhamstead and the much-peopled land of Meadham, and none +have I come on, however worthy he were of deeds, or +well-born of lineage, but that I doubted me if he were so +fair or so doughty as might be found; but here in this half- +desert corner of the land have I gotten a man than whom none +is doughtier, as some of you have found to your cost. And +tell me all you, where have ye seen any as fair as this +man?" And therewith he made a sign with his hand, and forth +strode Christopher up on to the dais; and he was so clad, +that his kirtle was of white samite, girt with a girdle of +goldsmith's work, whereby hung a good sword of like fashion, +and over his shoulders was a mantle of red cloth-of-gold, +furred with ermine, and lined with green sendall; and on his +golden curled locks sat a chaplet of pearls. + +Then to the lords and all the people he seemed so fair and +fearless and kind that they gave a great shout of welcome; +and Goldilind came forth from her chair, as fair as a June +lily, and came to Christopher and reached out her hand to +him, but he refrained him a moment, so that all they could +see how sweet and lovely a hand it was, and then he took it, +and drew her to him, and kissed her mouth before them all; +and still he held her hand, till the Abbot of Meadhamstead +aforetold came and stood by them and blessed them. + +Then spake the Earl again: "Lo ye, here hath been due +betrothal of these twain, and ye may see how meet they be +for each other in goodliness and kindness. Now there +lacketh nought but they should be wedded straightway; and +all is arrayed in the chapel; wherefore if this holy man +will come with us and do on his mass-hackle, our joy shall +be fulfilled; save that thereafter shall feast and merriment +await all you in this hall, and we shall be there to welcome +all comers in this house of Greenharbour, whereas this our +gracious Lady has long abided so happily." + +Man looked on man here and there, and smiled a little as he +spake, but none said aught, for there were none save the +Earl's servants there, and a sort of poor wretches. + +So therewithal they went their ways to the chapel where was +the wedding done as grandly as might be, considering they +were in no grander place than Greenharbour. And when all was +done, and folk began to flow away from the chapel, and +Goldilind sat shamefaced but strangely happy in a great +stall of the choir, the Earl called Christopher unto him, +and said: "My lad, I deem that some great fortune shall +betide thee since already thou hast begun so luckily. But I +beseech thee mar not thy fortune by coming back with thy +fair wife to the land of Meadham; or else it may be thou +shalt cast thy life away, and that will bring her sorrow, as +I can see well." + +He spake this grimly, though he smiled as he spake. But he +went on more gently: "I will not send you twain away +empty-handed; when ye go out a-gates into the wide world, ye +shall find two fair horses for your riding, well bedight, +and one with a woman's saddle; and, moreover, a sumpter +beast, not very lightly burdened, for on one side of him he +beareth achest wherein is, first of all, the raiment of my +Lady, and beneath it some deal of silver and gold and gems; +but on the other side is victual and drink for the way for +you, and raiment for thee, youngling. How sayest thou, is +it well?" + +"It is well, Lord," said Christopher; "yet would I have with +me the raiment wherewith I came hither, and my bow and my +sax." + +"Yea and wherefore, carle?" said Earl Geoffrey. + +Said the youngling: "We be going to ride the wild-wood, and +it might be better for safety's sake that I be so clad as +certain folk look to see men ride there." + +But he reddened as he spake; and the Earl said: "By +Allhallows! but it is not ill thought of; and, belike, the +same-like kind of attire might be better to hide the +queenship of the Lady from the wood-folk than that which now +she weareth?" + +"True is that, Lord," quoth Christopher. + +"Yet," said the Earl, "l will have you go forth from the +Castle clad in your lordly weed, lest folk of mine say that +I have stripped my Lady and cast her forth: don ye your +poor raiment when in the wood ye be." + +Therewith he called to a squire, and bade him seek out that +poor raiment of the new-wedded youngling, and bow withal +and shafts good store, and do all on the sumpter; and, +furthermore, he bade him tell one of my Lady's women to set +on the sumpter some of Goldilind's old and used raiment. So +the squire did the Earl's will, and both got Christopher's +gear and also found Aloyse and gave her the Earl's word. + +She smiled thereat, and went straightway and fetched the +very same raiment, green gown and all, which she had brought +to Goldilind in prison that other day, and in which +Goldilind had fled from Greenharbour. And when she had done +them in the chest above all the other gear, she stood yet +beside the horses amidst of the varlets and squires who were +gathered there to see the new-wedded folk depart. + +Presently then came forth through the gate those two, hand +in hand, and Earl Geoffrey with them. And he set Goldilind +on her horse himself, and knelt before her to say farewell, +and therewith was Christopher on his horse, and him the Earl +saluted debonairly. + +But just as they were about shaking their reins to depart, +Aloyse fell down on her knees before the Earl, who said: +"What is toward, woman?" + +"A grace, my Lord, a grace," said she. + +"Stand up on thy feet," said the Earl, "and ye, my masters, +draw out of earshot." + +Even so did they; and the Earl bade her speak, and she said: +"Lord, my Lady is going away from Greenharbour, and anon +thou wilt be going, and I shall be left with the sleek +she-devil yonder that thou hast set over us, and here there +will be hell for me without escape, now that my Lady is +gone. Wherefore I pray thee take me with thee to +Meadhamstead, even if it be to prison; for here I shall die +the worst of deaths." + +Earl Geoffrey smiled on her sourly, and said: "If it be as +I understand, that thou hast lifted thine hand against my +Lady, wert thou wending with me, thou shouldst go just so +far as the first tree. Thou mayst deem thyself lucky if I +leave thee behind here. Nor needest thou trouble thee +concerning Dame Elinor; little more shalt thou hear of her +henceforward." + +But Goldilind spake and said: "My Lord Earl, I would ask +grace for this one; for what she did to me she did +compelled, and not of her free will, and I forgive it her. +And moreover, this last time she suffered in her body for +the helping of me; so if thou mightest do her asking I were +the better pleased." + +"It shall be as thou wilt, my Lady," said the Earl, "and I +will have her with me and keep her quiet in Meadhamstead; +but, by Allhallows! had it not been for thy word we would +have had her whipped into the wild-wood, and hanged up on to +a tree thereafter." + +Then Aloyse knelt before Goldilind and kissed her feet, and +wept, and drew back pale and trembling. But Goldilind shook +her rein once for all now, and her apple-grey horse went +forth with her; Christopher came after, leading the sumpter +beast, and forth they went, and passed over the open green +about the Castle, and came on to the woodland way whereby +Goldilind had fled that other time. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +OF THE WOODLAND BRIDE-CHAMBER. + + +They rode in silence a good way, and it was some three hours +after noon, and the day as fair and bright as might be. +Christopher held his peace for sweet shame that he was alone +with a most fair maid, and she his own, and without defence +against him. But she amidst of her silence turned, now red, +and now somewhat pale, and now and again she looked somewhat +askance on him, and he deemed her looks were no kinder than +they should be. + +At last she spake, yet not looking on him, and said: "So, +Forester, now is done what I must needs do: thy life is +saved, and I am quit of Greenharbour, and its prison, and +its torments: whither away then?" + +Quoth he, all dismayed, for her voice was the voice of +anger: "I wot not whither, save to the house thou hast +blessed already with thy dear body." + +At that word she turned quite pale, and trembled, and spake +not for a while, and smote her horse and hastened on the +way, and he after her; but when he was come up with her +again, then she said, still not looking at him: "A house of +woodmen and wolf-heads. Is that a meet dwelling-place for +me? Didst thou hear men at Greenharbour say that I am a +Queen?" + +"Hear them I did," quoth he; "but meseemeth nought like a +Queen had they done with thee." + +She said: "And dost thou mock me with that? thou?" And she +burst out weeping. He answered not, for sore grief smote +him, remembering her hand in his but a little while ago. +And again she hurried on, and he followed her. + +When he came up with her she said: "And thou, didst thou +woo me as a Queen?" + +"Lady," he said, "I wooed thee not at all; I was given to +thee, would I, would I not: great joy was that to me." + +Then said she: "Thou sayest sooth, thou hast not wooed me, +but taken me." She laughed therewith, as one in bitterness. +But presently she turned to him, and he wondered, for in her +face was longing and kindness nought like to her words. But +he durst not speak to her lest he should anger her, and she +turned her face from him again: and she said: "Wert thou +given to me? meseems I was given to thee, would I, would I +not; the Queen to the Churl, the Wood-man, the Wolf-head." +And again she rode on, and he followed, sick at heart and +wondering sorely. + +When they were riding together again, they spake not to each +other, though she stole glances at him to see how he fared; +but he rode on with knit brows and a stern countenance. So +in a while she began to speak to him again, but as if there +were nought but courtesy between them, and neither love nor +hatred. She fell to asking him of woodland matters, +concerning bird and beast and things creeping; and at first +he would scarce answer her at all, and then were his answers +short; but at last, despite of all, he began to forget both +grief and anger, so much the sweetness of her speech wound +about his heart; and, withal, she fell to asking him of his +fellows and their life in the woods, and of Jack of the +Tofts and the like; and now he answered her questions fully, +and whiles she laughed at his words, and he laughed also; +and all pleasure had there been of this converse, if he had +not beheld her from time to time and longed for the fairness +of her body, and feared her wrath at his longing. + +So wore the day, and the sun was getting low, and they were +come to another woodland pool which was fed by a +clear-running little brook, and up from it went a low bank +of greensward exceeding sweet, and beyond that oak trees +wide-branched and great, and still fair greensward beneath +them and hazel-thicket beyond them. There, then, Goldilind +reined up, and looked about her, but Christopher looked on +her and nought else. But she said: "Let to-morrow bring +counsel; but now am I weary to-night, and if we are not to +ride night-long, we shall belike find no better place to +rest in. Wilt thou keep watch while I sleep?" + +"Yea," he said, bowing his head to her soberly; and +therewith he got off his horse, and would have helped her +down from hers, but she slipped lightly down and stood +before him face to face, and they were very nigh to each +other, she standing close to her horse. Her face was pale to +his deeming and there was a piteous look in her eyes, so +that he yearned towards her in his bowels, and reached his +hand toward her; but she shrank aback, leaning against her +horse, and said in a trembling voice, looking full at him, +and growing yet paler: "Forester, dost thou think it seemly +that thou shouldst ride with us, thou such as thou hast told +thyself to be, in this lordly raiment, which they gave thee +yonder as part of the price for thy leading us away into the +wild-wood?" + +"Lady," said he, "whether it be seemly or not, I see that it +is thy will that I should go clad as a woodland churl; abide +a little, and thy will shall be done." + +Therewith he did off the burden from the sumpter horse, and +set the chests on the earth; then he took her horse gently, +and led him with the other two in under the oak trees, and +there he tethered them so that they could bite the grass; +and came back thereafter, and took his old raiment out of +the chest, and said: "What thou wilt have me do, I will do +now; and this all the more as to-morrow I should have done +it unbidden, and should have prayed thee to do on garments +less glorious than now thou bearest; so that we may look the +less strange in the woodland if we chance to fall in with +any man. + +Nought she answered as he turned toward the hazel copse; she +had been following him with her eyes while he was about that +business, and when his back was turned, she stood a moment +till her bosom fell a-heaving, and she wept; then she turned +her about to the chest wherein was her raiment, and went +hastily and did off her glorious array, and did on the green +gown wherewith she had fled, and left her feet bare withal. +Then she looked up and saw Christopher, how he was coming +from out the hazel-thicket new clad in his old raiment, and +she cried out aloud, and ran toward him. But he doubted +that some evil had betid, and that she was chased; so he +drew out his sword; but she ran up to him and cried out: +"Put up thy sword, here is none save me." + +But he stood still, gazing on her in wonderment, and now she +was drawn near to him she stood still before him, panting. +Then he said: "Nay, Lady, for this night there was no need +of thy disguising thee, to-morrow it had been soon enough." + +She said: "I were fain if thou wouldst take my hand, and +lead me back to our resting-place." + +Even so he did, and as their palms met he felt how her hand +loved him, and a flood of sweetness swept over his heart, +and made an end of all its soreness. But he led her quietly +back again to their place. Then she turned to him and said: +"Now art thou the woodland god again, and the courtier no +more; so now will I worship thee." And she knelt down +before him, and embraced his knees and kissed them; but he +drew her up to him, and cast his arms about her, and kissed +her face many times, and said: "Now art thou the poor +captive again." + +She said: "Now hast thou forgiven me; but I will tell thee +that my wilfulness and folly was not all utterly feigned; +though when I was about it I longed for thee to break it +down with the fierceness of a man, and bid me look to it how +helpless I was, and thou how strong and my only defence. +Not utterly feigned it was: for I will say it, that I was +grieved to the heart when I bethought me of Meadhamstead and +the seat of my fathers. What sayest thou then? Shalt thou be +ever a woodman in these thickets, and a follower of Jack of +the Tofts? If so thou wilt, it is well." + +He took her by the shoulders and bent her backwards to kiss +her, and held her up above the earth in his arms, waving her +this way and that, till she felt how little and light she +was in his grasp, though she was no puny woman; then he set +her on her feet again, and laughed in her face, and said: +"Sweetling, let to-morrow bring counsel. But now let it all +be: thou hast said it, thou art weary; so now will I dight +thee a bed of our mantles, and thou shalt lie thee down, and +I shall watch thee as thou badest me." + +Therewith he went about, and plucked armfuls of the young +bracken, and made a bed wide and soft, and spread the +mantles thereover. + +But she stood awhile looking on him; then she said: "Dost +thou think to punish me for my wilful folly, and to shame me +by making me speak to thee?" + +"Nay," he said, "it is not so." + +She said: "I am not shamed in that I say to thee: if thou +watch this night, I will watch by thee; and if I lie down to +rest this night, thou shalt lie by me. For my foemen have +given me to thee, and now shalt thou give thyself to me." + +So he drew near to her shyly, like unto one who hath been +forgiven. And there was their bridal bed, and nought but +the oak boughs betwixt them and the bare heavens. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THEY FALL IN WITH FRIENDS. + + +Now awoke Goldilind when the morning was young and fresh, +and she drew the mantle up over her shoulders; and as she +did so, but half awake, she deemed she heard other sounds +than the singing of the black-birds and throstles about the +edge of the thicket, and she turned her eyes toward the oak +trees and the hazel-thicket, and saw at once three of +mankind coming on foot over the greensward toward her. She +was afraid, so that she durst not put out a hand to awaken +Christopher, but sat gazing on those three as they came +toward her; she saw that two were tall men, clad much as +Christopher; but presently she saw that there was a woman +with them, and she took heart somewhat thereat; and she +noted that one of the men was short-haired and dark-haired, +and the other had long red hair falling about his shoulders; +and as she put out her hand and laid it on Christopher's +shoulder, the red-haired one looked toward her a moment +under the sharp of his hand (for the sun was on their side), +and then set off running, giving out a great whoop +therewithal. Even therewith leapt up Christopher, still +half awake, and the red-haired man ran right up to him, and +caught him by the shoulders, and kissed him on both cheeks; +so that Goldilind saw that these were the fellows whereof +Christopher had told, and she stood there shame-fast and +smiling. + +Presently came up the others, to wit, Gilbert and Joanna, +and they also kissed and embraced Christopher, and all they +were as full of joy as might be. Then came Joanna to +Goldilind, and said: "I wot not who this may be, brother, +yet meseems she will be someone who is dear to thee, +wherefore is she my sister." And therewith she kissed +Goldilind; and she was kind, and sweet of flesh, and goodly +of body, and Goldilind rejoiced in her. + +Joanna made much of her, and said to her: "Here is to do, +whereas two men have broken into a lady's chamber; come, +sister, let us to the thicket, and I will be thy tiring- +maid, and while these others tell their tales we shall tell +ours." And she took her hand and they went into the hazels; +but the two new-come men seemed to find it hard to keep +their eyes off Goldilind, till the hazels had hidden her. + +Then turned David to Christopher, and said: "Thy pardon, +little King, that we have waked thee so early; but we wotted +not that thou hadst been amongst the wood-women; and, sooth +to say, my lad, we had little ease till we found thee, after +we came home and saw all those hoof-marks yonder." + +"Yea," said Gilbert, "if we had lost thee we had been finely +holpen up, for we could neither have gone back to the Tofts +nor into the kingdom: for I think my father would have +hanged us if we had come back with a 'By the way, +Christopher is slain.' But tell us, lad, what hath befallen +thee with yonder sweetling?" + +"Yea, tell us," said David, "and sit down here betwixt us, +with thy back to the hazel-thicket, or we shall get no tale +out of thee--tush, man, Joanna will bring her back, and that +right soon, I hope." + +Christopher laughed, and sat down between them, and told all +how it had gone with him, and of Goldilind, who she was. +The others hearkened heedfully, and Gilbert said: "With all +thou hast told us, brother, it is clear we shall find it +hard to dwell in Littledale; so soon as thy loveling hath +rested her at our house, we must go our ways to the Tofts, +and take counsel of our father." + +Christopher yea-said this, and therewithal was come Joanna +leading Goldilind duly arrayed (yet still in her green gown, +for she would none other), fresh, blushing, and all lovely; +and David and Christopher did obeisance before her as to a +great lady; but she hailed them as brothers, merrily and +kindly, and bade them kiss her; and they kissed her cheek, +but shyly, and especially David. + +Thereafter they broke their fast under the oak trees, and +spent a merry hour, and then departed, the two women riding +the horses, the others afoot; so came they to the house of +Littledale, some while before sunset, and were merry and +glad there. Young they were, troubles were behind them, and +many a joy before them. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THEY TAKE COUNSEL AT LITTLEDALE. + + +Ten days they abode in the house of Littledale in all good +cheer, and Joanna led Goldilind here and there about the +woods, and made much of her, so that the heart within her +was full of joy, for the freedom of the wild-woods and all +the life thereof was well-nigh new to her; whereas on the +day of her flight from Greenharbour, and on two other such +times, deadly fear, as is aforesaid, was mingled with her +joyance, and would have drowned it utterly, but for the +wilfulness which hardened her heart against the punishment +to come. But now she was indeed free, and it seemed to her, +as to Christopher when he was but new healed of his hurt, as +if all this bright beauty of tree and flower, and beast and +bird, was but made for her alone, and she wondered that her +fellow could be so calm and sedate amidst of all this +pleasure. And now, forsooth, was her queenhood forgotten, +and better and better to her seemed Christopher's valiant +love; and the meeting in the hall of the eventide was so +sweet to her, that she might do little but stand trembling +whiles Christopher came up to her, and Joanna's trim feet +were speeding her over the floor to meet her man, that she +might be a sharer in his deeds of the day. + +Many tales withal Joanna told the Queen of the deeds of her +husband and his kindred, and of the freeing of her and the +other three from their captivity at Wailing Knowe, and of +the evil days they wore there before the coming of their +lads, which must have been worser by far, thought Goldilind, +than the days of Greenharbour; so with all these tales, and +the happy days in the house of the wild-woods, Goldilind now +began to deem of this new life as if there had been none +other fated for her, so much a part was she now become of +the days of those woodmen and wolf-heads. + +But when the last of those ten days was wearing to an end +and those five were sitting happy in the hall (albeit David +sat somewhat pensive, now staring at Goldilind's beauty, now +rising from his seat to pace the floor restlessly), Gilbert +spake and said: "Brethren, and thou, Queen Goldilind, it +may be that the time is drawing near for other deeds than +letting fly a few shafts at the dun deer, and eating our +meat, and singing old songs as we lie at our ladies' feet; +for though we be at peace here in the wild-wood, forgetting +all things save those that are worthy to be remembered, yet +in the cities and the courts of kings guile is not +forgotten, and pride is alive, and tyranny, and the sword is +whetted for innocent lives, and the feud is eked by the +destruction of those who be sackless of its upheaving. +Wherefore it behoveth to defend us by the ready hand and the +bold heart and the wise head. So, I say, let us loiter here +no longer, but go our ways to-morrow to the Tofts, and take +the rede of our elders. How say ye, brethren?" + +Quoth Christopher: "Time was, brother, when what thou +sayest would have been as a riddle to me, and I would have +said: Here are we merry, though we be few; and if ye lack +more company, let me ride to the Tofts and come back with a +half score of lads and lasses, and thus let us eke our +mirth; and maybe they will tell us whitherward to ride. But +now there is a change, since I have gained a gift over-great +for me, and I know that they shall be some of the great ones +who would be eager to take it from me; and who knows what +guile may be about the weaving even now, as on the day when +thou first sawest this hall, beloved." + +Goldilind spake and sighed withal: "Whither my lord will +lead me, thither will I go; but here is it fair and sweet +and peaceful; neither do I look for it that men will come +hither to seek the Queen of Meadham." + +David said: "Bethink thee, though, my Lady, that he who +wedded thee to the woodman may yet rue, and come hither to +undo his deed, by slaying the said woodman, and showing the +Queen unto the folk." + +Goldilind turned pale; but Joanna spake: "Nay, brother +David, why wilt thou prick her heart with this fear? For my +part, I think that, chance-hap apart, we might dwell here +for years in all safety, and happily enough, maybe. Yet +also I say that we of the Tofts may well be eager to show +this jewel to our kindred, and especially to our father and +mother of the Tofts; so to-morrow we will set about the +business of carrying her thither, will she, nill she." And +therewith she threw her arms about Goldilind, and clipped +her and kissed her; and Goldilind reddened for pleasure and +for joy that she was so sore prized by them all. + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +NOW THEY ALL COME TO THE TOFTS. + + +Next morning, while the day was yet young, they rode +together, all of them, the nighest way to the Tofts, for +they knew the wood right well. Again they slept one night +under the bare heavens, and, rising betimes on the morrow, +came out under the Tofts some four hours after high noon, on +as fair and calm a day of early summer as ever was seen. + +They rode up straight to the door of the great hall, and +found but few folk about, and those mostly women and +children; Jack was ridden abroad, they said, but they looked +to see him back to supper, him and his sons, for he was no +great way gone. + +Meantime, when they got off their horses, the women and +children thronged round about them; and the children +especially about Christopher, whom they loved much. The +maidens, also, would not have him pass into the hall +unkissed, though presently, after their faces had felt his +lips, they fell a-staring and wondering at Goldilind, and +when Christopher took her by the hand and gave her welcome +to the House of the Tofts, and they saw that she was his, +they grew to be somewhat afraid, or it might be shy, both of +her and of him. + +Anyhow, folk came up to them in the hall, and made much of +them, and took them unto chambers and washed their feet, and +crowned them with flowers, and brought them into the hall +again, and up on to the dais, and gave them to eat and +drink. Thither came to them also the Lady Margaret, Jack's +wedded wife, and made them the most cheer that she might; +and unto her did Christopher tell his story as unto his very +mother; and what there was in the house, both of carle and +of quean, gathered round about to hearken, and Christopher +nothing loth. And Goldilind's heart warmed toward that +folk, and in sooth they were a goodly people to look on, and +frank and happy, and of good will, and could well of +courtesy, though it were not of the courts. + +Wore the bright day, and it drew toward sunset, and now the +carles came straight into the hall by twos and threes, till +there were a many within its walls. But to each one of +these knots as they entered, someone, carle or quean, spake +a word or two, and straightway the new-comers went up to the +dais and greeted Christopher pleasantly, and made obeisance +to Goldilind. + +At last was the hall, so quiet erst, grown busy as a +beehive, and amidst the throng thereof came in the +serving-folk, women and men, and set the endlong boards up +(for the high-table was a standing one of oak, right thick +and strong); and then they fell to bringing in the service, +all but what the fire was dealing with in the kitchen. And +whiles this was a-doing, the sun was sinking fast, and it +was dusk in the hall by then it was done, though without the +sky was fair and golden, and about the edges of the thicket +were the nightingales singing loud and sweet, but within was +the turmoil of many voices, whereof few heeded if their +words were loud or soft. + +Amidst all this, from close to the hall, rang out the sound +of many horns winding a woodland tune. None was afeard or +astonied, because all knew it for the horns of Jack of the +Tofts; but they stilled their chattering talk somewhat, and +abided his coming; and even therewith came the sound of many +feet and the clash of weapons, and men poured in, and there +was the gleam of steel, as folk fell back to the right and +left, and gave room to the new-comers. Then a loud, clear, +and cheery voice cried out from amidst of them: "Light in +the hall, men and maids! Candles, candles! Let see who is +here before us!" + +Straightway then was there running hither and thither and +light sprang up over all the hall, and there could folk see +Jack of the Tofts, and a score and a half of his best, every +man of them armed with shield and helm and byrny, with green +coats over their armour, and wreaths of young oak about +their basnets; there they stood amidst of the hall, and +every man with his naked sword in his fist. Jack stood +before his folk clad in like wise with them, save that his +head was bare but for an oak wreath. Men looked on a while +and said nought, while Jack looked proudly and keenly over +the hall, and at last his eye caught Christopher's, but he +made the youngling no semblance of greeting. Christopher's +heart fell, and he misdoubted if something were not wrong; +but he spake softly to one who stood by him, and said: "Is +aught amiss, Will Ashcroft? this is not the wont here." + +Said the other: "Not in thy time; but for the last seven +days it hath been the wont, and then off weapons and to +supper peaceably. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +OF THE KING OF OAKENREALM. + + +Even therewith, and while the last word had but come to +Christopher's ears, rang out the voice of Jack of the Tofts +again, louder and clearer than before: and he said: "Men +in this hall, I bear you tidings! The King of Oakenrealm is +amongst us to-night." + +Then, forsooth, was the noise and the turmoil, and cries and +shouts and clatter, and fists raised in air and weapons +caught down from the wall, and the glitter of spear-points +and gleam of fallow blades. For the name of Rolf, King of +Oakenrealm, was to those woodmen as the name of the Great +Devil of Hell, so much was he their unfriend and their +dastard. But Jack raised up his hand, and cried: "Silence +ye! Blow up, horns, The Hunt's Up!" + +Blared out the horns then, strong and fierce, under the +hall-roof, and when they were done, there was more silence +in the hall than in the summer night without; only the voice +of the swords could not be utterly still, but yet tinkled +and rang as hard came against hard here and there in the +hush. + +Again spake Jack: "Let no man speak! Let no man move from +his place! I SEE THE KING! Ye shall see him!" + +Therewith he strode up the hall and on to the dais, and came +up to where stood Christopher holding Goldilind's hand, and +she all pale and trembling; but Jack took him by the +shoulder, and turned him about toward a seat which stood +before the board, so that all men in the hall could see it; +then he set him down in it, and took his sword from his +girdle, and knelt down before the young man, and took his +right hand, and said in a loud voice: "I, Jack of the +Tofts, a free man and a sackless, wrongfully beguilted, am +the man of King Christopher of Oakenrealm, to live and die +for him as need may be. Lo, Lord, my father's blade! Wilt +thou be good to me and gird me therewith, as thy father girt +him?" + +Now when Christopher heard him, at first he deemed that all +this was some sport or play done for his pastime and the +pleasure of the hall-folk in all kindness and honour. But +when he looked in the eyes of him, and saw him fierce and +eager and true, he knew well it was no jest; and as the +shouts of men went up from the hall and beat against the +roof, himseemed that he remembered, as in a dream, folk +talking a-nigh him when he was too little to understand, of +a king and his son, and a mighty man turned thief and +betrayer. Then his brow cleared, and his eyes shone bright, +and he leaned forward to Jack and girt him with the sword, +and kissed his mouth, and said: "Thou art indeed my man and +my thane and my earl, and I gird thee with thy sword as my +father girded thy father." + +Then stood up Jack o' the Tofts and said: "Men in this +hall, happy is the hour, and happy are ye! This man is the +King of Oakenrealm, and he yonder is but a thief of kings, a +dastard!" + +And again great was the shouting, for carle and quean, young +and old, they loved Christopher well: and Jack of the Tofts +was not only their war-duke and alderman, but their wise man +also, and none had any thought of gainsaying him. But he +spake again and said: "Is there here any old man, or not so +old, who hath of past days seen our King that was, King +Christopher to wit, who fell in battle on our behalf? If so +there be, let him come up hither." + +Then arose a greybeard from a bench nigh the high-table, and +came up on to the dais; a very tall man had he been, but was +now somewhat bowed by age. He now knelt before Christopher, +and took his hand, and said: "I, William of Whittenham, a +free man, a knight, sackless of the guilt which is laid on +me, would be thy man, O my lord King, to serve thee in all +wise; if so be that I may live to strike one stroke for my +master's son, whom now I see, the very living image of the +King whom I served in my youth." + +Then Christopher bent down to him and kissed him, and said: +"Thou art indeed my man and my thane & my baron; and who +knows but that thou mayst have many a stroke to strike for +me in the days that are nigh at hand." + +And again the people shouted: and then there came another +and another, and ten more squires and knights and men of +estate, who were now indeed woodmen and wolf-heads, but who, +the worst of them, were sackless of aught save slaying an +unfriend, or a friend's unfriend, in fair fight; and all +these kneeled before him, and put their hands in his, and +gave themselves unto him. + +When this was done, there came thrusting through the throng +of the hall a tall woman, old, yet comely as for her age; +she went right up on to the dais, and came to where sat +Christopher, and without more ado cast her arms about him +and kissed him, and then she held him by the shoulders and +cried out: "O, have I found thee at last, my loveling, and +my dear, and my nurse-chick? and thou grown so lovely and +yet so big that I may never more hold thee aloft in mine +arms, as once I was wont; though high enough belike thou +shalt be lifted; and I say praise be to God and to his +Hallows that thou art grown so beauteous and mighty a man!" + +Therewith she turned about toward the hall-throng and said: +"Thou, duke of these woodmen, and all ye in this hall, I +have been brought hither by one of you; and though I have +well-nigh died of joy because of the suddenness of this +meeting, yet I thank him therefor. For who is this goodly +and gracious young man save the King's son of Oakenrealm, +Christopher that was; and that to my certain knowledge; for +he is my fosterling and my milk-child, and I took him from +the hands of the midwife in the High House of Oakenham a +twenty-one years ago; and they took him from Oakenham, and +me with him to the house of Lord Richard the Lean, at +Longholms, and there we dwelt; but in a little while they +took him away from Longholms to I wot not whither, but would +not suffer me to go along with him, and ever sithence have I +been wandering about and hoping to see this lovely child +again, and now I see him, what he is, and again I thank God +and Allhallows therefor." + +Once more then was there stir and glad tumult in the hall. +But Goldilind stood wondering, and fear entered into her +soul; for she saw before her a time of turmoil and unpeace, +and there seemed too much between her and the sweetness of +her love. Withal it must be said, that for as little as she +knew of courts and war-hosts, she yet seemed to see lands +without that hall, and hosts marching, and mighty walls +glittering with spears, and the banners of a great King +displayed; and Jack of the Tofts and his champions and good +fellows seemed but a frail defence against all that, when +once the hidden should be shown, and the scantiness of the +woodland should cry on the abundance of the kingdom to bow +down. + +Now she came round the board and stood beside Christopher, +and he turned to her, and stood up and took her hand, in +such wise that she felt the caress of it; and joy filled her +soul, as if she had been alone with him in the wild-wood. + +But he spake and said: "All ye my friends: I see and wot +well that ye would have me sit in my father's seat and be +the King of Oakenrealm, and that ye will give me help and +furtherance therein to the utmost; nor will I cast back the +gift upon you; and I will say this, that when I am King +indeed, it is my meaning and my will now, that then I shall +be no less one of you good fellows and kind friends than ye +have known me hitherto; and even so I deem that ye think of +me. But, good friends, it is not to be hidden that the road +ye would have me wend with you is like to be rough; and it +may well be that we shall not come to be kings or kings' +friends but men hunted, and often, maybe, men taken and +slain. Therefore, till one thing or the other come, the +kingship, or the taking, I will try to be no less joyous +than now I am, and so meseemeth shall ye; and if ye be of +this mind, then shall the coming days be no worse than the +days which have been; and God wot they have been happy +enough. Now again, ye see this most fair lady, whose hand I +hold; she is my beloved and my wife; and therewithal she is +the true Queen of Meadham, and a traitor sits in her place +even as a traitor sits in mine. But I must tell you that +when she took me for her beloved, she knew not, nor did I, +that I was a King's son, but she took me as a woodman and an +outcast, and as a wood-man and outcast I wooed her, trusting +in the might that was in my body, and the love that was in +my heart; and now before all you, my friends, I thank her +and worship her that my body and my love was enough for her; +as, God wot, the kingship of the whole earth should not be +overmuch for her, if it lay open to her to take. But, sweet +friends, here am I talking of myself as a King wedded unto a +Queen, whereas meseemeth the chiefest gift our twin kingship +hath brought you to-night is the gift of two most mighty +unfriends for you; to wit, her foeman and mine. See ye to +it, then, if the wild-wood yonder is not a meeter dwelling +for us than this your goodly hall; and fear not to put us to +the door as a pair of make-bates and a peril to this goodly +company. Lo you, the sky without has not yet lost all +memory of the sun, and in a little while it will be +yellowing again to the dawn. Nought evil shall be the +wild-wood for our summer dwelling; and what! ere the winter +come, we may have won us another house where erst my fathers +feasted. And thereto, my friends, do I bid you all." + +But when they heard his friendly words, and saw the beauty +of the fair woman whose hand he held, his face grew so +well-beloved to them, that they cried out with so great a +voice of cheer, wordless for their very joy, that the +timbers of the hall quavered because of it, and it went out +into the wild-wood as though it had been the feastful +roaring of the ancient gods of the forest. + +But when the tumult sank a little, then cried out Jack of +the Tofts: "Bring now the mickle shield, and let us look +upon our King." + +So men went and fetched in a huge ancient shield, plated +with berry-brown iron, inlaid with gold, and the four +biggest men in the hall took it on their shoulders and knelt +down anigh the dais, before Christopher, and Jack said +aloud: "King! King! Stand up here! for this war-board of +old days is the castle and the burg alone due to thee, and +these four fellows here are the due mountains to upbear it." + +Then lightly strode Child Christopher on to the shield, and +when he stood firm thereon, they rose heedfully underneath +him till they were standing upright on their feet, and the +King stood on the shield as if he were grown there, and +waved his naked sword to the four orts. + +Then cried out an old woman in a shrill voice: "Lo, how the +hills rise up into tall mountains; even so shall arise Child +Christopher to the kingship." + +Thereat all the folk laughed for joy and cried out: "Child +Christopher! Child Christopher, our King!" And for that +word, when he came to the crown indeed, and ruled wide +lands, was he called Child Christopher; and that name clave +to him after he was dead, and but a name in the tale of his +kindred. + +Now the King spake and said: "Friends, now is it time to +get to the board, and the feast which hath been stayed this +while; and I pray you let it be as merry as if there were no +striving and unpeace betwixt us and the winning of peace. +But to-morrow we will hallow-in the Mote, and my earl and my +barons and good men shall give counsel, and then shall it be +that the hand shall do what the heart biddeth." + +Therewith he leapt down from the shield, and went about the +hall talking to this one and that, till the board was full +dight; then he took his place in the high-seat, beside Jack +of the Tofts; and David and Gilbert and his other +foster-brethren sat on either side of him, and their wives +with them; and men fell to feasting in great glee. + +But one thing there is yet to tell of this feast. When men +had drunk a cup or two, and drunk memories to good men dead, +and healths to good men living, amidst this arose a +grey-head carle from the lower end of the hall, and said: +"Child Christopher, thy grace, that I may crave a boon of +thee on this day of leal service.' + +"Ask then," said Christopher, with a pleasant face. + +"King," quoth the carle, "here are we all gathered together, +and we have before us the most beautifullest woman of the +world, who sitteth by thy side; now to-night we be all dear +friends, and there is no lack between us; yet who can say +how often we may meet and things be so? I do not say that +there shall enmity and dissension arise between us, though +that may betide; but it is not unlike that another time +thou, King, and thy mate, may be prouder than now ye be, +since now ye are new to it. And if that distance grow +between us, it will avail nought to ask my boon then." + +"Well, well, ask it now, friend," said the King, laughing; +"I were fain of ending the day with a gift." + +"This it is then, King," said the carle: "since we are here +set down before the loveliest woman in the world, grant us +this, that all we men-folk may for this once kiss the face +of her, if she will have it so." + +Huge laughter and cheers arose at his word; but King +Christopher arose and said: "Friend, thy boon is granted +with a good will; or how sayest thou, Goldilind my beloved? + +For all answer she stood up blushing like a rose, and held +out her two hands to the men in the hall. And straightway +the old carle rose up and went in haste to the high-table, +before another man might stir, and took Goldilind by the +chin, and kissed her well-favouredly, and again men laughed +joyously. Then came before her Jack of the Tofts and all +his sons, one after other, and kissed her face, save only +David, who knelt humbly before her, and took her right hand +and kissed it, while the tears were in his eyes. Then came +many of the men in the hall, and some were bold, but many +were shy, and when they came before her durst kiss neither +hand nor face of her, but their hearts were full of her when +they went to their places again; and all the assembly was +praising her. + +So wore the time of that first night of the kingship of +Child Christopher. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +OF THE HUSTING OF THE TOFTS. + + +When morning was, there were horns sounding from the tower +on the toft, and all men hastening in their war-gear to the +topmost of the other toft, the bare one, whereon was no +building; for thereon was ever the mote-stead of these +woodmen. But men came not only from the stead and houses of +the Tofts, but also from the woodland cots and dwellings +anigh, of which were no few. And they that came there first +found King Christopher sitting on the mound amid the +mote-stead, and Jack of the Tofts and his seven sons sitting +by him, and all they well-weaponed and with green coats over +their hauberks; and they that came last found three hundreds +of good men and true gathered there, albeit this was but the +Husting of the Tofts. + +So when there were no more to come, then was the Mote +hallowed, and the talk began; but short and sharp was their +rede, for well did all men wot who had been in the hall the +night before that there was now no time to lose. For though +nigh all the men that had been in the hall were well known +to each other, yet might there perchance have been some spy +unknown, who had edged him in as a guest to one of the good +men. Withal, as the saw saith: The word flieth, the wight +dieth. And it were well if they might gather a little host +ere their foeman might gather a mickle. + +First therefore arose Jack of the Tofts, and began shortly +to put forth the sooth, that there was come the son of King +Christopher the Old, and that now he was seeking to his +kingdom, not for lust of power and gain, but that he might +be the friend of good men and true, and uphold them and be +by them upholden. And saith he: "Look ye on the face of +this man, and tell me where ye shall find a friend +friendlier than he, and more single-hearted?" And therewith +he laid his hand on Christopher's head, and the young man +rose up, blushing like a maid, and thereafter a long time +could no lord be heard for the tumult of gladness and the +clashing of weapons. + +But when it was a little hushed, then spake Jack again: +"Now need no man say more to man on this matter, for ye call +this curly-headed lad the King of Oakenrealm, even as some +of ye did last night." + +Mighty was the shout of yea-say that arose at that word; and +when it was stilled, a grey-head stood up and said: "King +Christopher, and thou, our leader, whom we shall henceforth +call Earl, it is now meet that we shear up the war-arrow, +and send it forth to whithersoever we deem our friends +dwell, and that this be done at once here in this Mote, and +that the hosting be after three nights' frist in the plain +of Hazeldale, which all ye know is twelve miles nigher to +Oakenrealm than this." + +All men yea-said this, no one gainsaid it; and straightway +was fire kindled and the bull slain, for the said elder had +brought him thither; and the arrow was sheared and scorched +and reddened, and the runners were fetched, and the word +given them, and they were sped on their errand. + +Up rose then another, a young man, and spake: "Many stout +fellows be here, and some wise and well-ruled, and many also +hot-head and wilful: Child Christopher is King now, and we +all know him that when he cometh into the fray he is like to +strike three strokes for two that any other winneth; but as +to his lore of captainship, if he hath any, he was born with +it, as is like enough, seeing who was his father; therefore +we need a captain well-proven, to bid us how to turn hither +and thither, and where to gather thickest, and where to +spread thinnest; and when to fall on fiercely and when to +give way, and let the thicket cover us; for wise in war +shall our foemen be. Now therefore if anyone needeth a +better captain than our kin-father and war-father Jack of +the Tofts, he must needs go fetch him from otherwhere! How +sayest thou, Christopher lad?" + +Great cheer there was at the word, and laughter no little +therewith. But Christopher stood up, and took Jack by the +hand, and said: "Now say I, that if none else follow this +man into battle, yet will I; and if none else obey him to go +backward or forward to the right hand or to the left as he +biddeth, yet will I. Thou, Wilfrid Wellhead, look to it +that thou dost no less. But ye folk, what will ye herein?" + +So they all yea-said Jack of the Tofts for captain; and +forsooth they might do no less, for he was wary and wise, +and had done many deeds, and seen no little of warfare. + +Then again arose a man of some forty winters, strong built +and not ungoodly, but not merry of countenance, and he +spake: "King and war-leader, I have a word to say: We be +wending to battle, we carles, with spear in fist and sword +by side; and if we die in the fray, of the day's work is it; +but what do we with our kinswomen, as mothers and daughters +and wives and she-friends, and the little ones they have +borne us? For, see ye! this warfare we are faring, maybe it +shall not last long, and yet maybe it shall; and then may +the foeman go about us and fall on this stead if we leave +them behind here with none to guard them; and if, on the +other hand, we leave them men enough for their warding, then +we minish our host overmuch. What do we then?" + +Then spake Jack of the Tofts: "This is well thought of by +Haward of Whiteacre, and we must look to it. And, by my +rede, we shall have our women and little ones with us; and +why not? For we shall then but be moving Toftstead as we +move; and ever to some of us hath it been as a camp rather +than an house. Moreover, ye know it, that our women be no +useless and soft queans, who durst not lie under the oak +boughs for a night or two, or wade a water over their +ankles, but valiant they be, and kind, and helpful; and many +of them are there who can draw a bow with the best, and, it +may be, push a spear if need were. How say ye, lads?" + +Now this also they yea-said gladly; forsooth they had scarce +been fain of leaving the women behind, at least the younger +ones, even had they been safe at the Tofts; for there is no +time when a man would gladlier have a fair woman in his arms +than when battle and life-peril are toward. + +Thereafter the Mote sundered, when the Captain had bidden +his men this and that matter that each should look to; and +said that he, for his part, with King Christopher and a +chosen band, would set off for Hazeldale on the morrow morn, +whereas some deal of the gathering would of a certainty be +come thither by then; and that there was enough left of that +day to see to matters at the Tofts. + +So all men went about their business, which was, for the +most part, seeing to the victualling of the host. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +OF THE HOSTING IN HAZELDALE. + + +On the morrow early was Jack of the Tofts dight for +departure, with Christopher and David and Gilbert and five +score of his best men. But when they went out of the porch +into the sweet morning, lo! there was Goldilind before them, +clad in her green gown, and as fresh and dear as the early +day itself. And Jack looked on her and said: "And thou, my +Lady and Queen, thou art dight as thou wouldst wend with +us?" + +"Yea," she said, "and why not?" + +"What sayest thou, King Christopher?" said the Captain. + +"Nay," said King Christopher, reddening, "it is for thee to +yea-say or nay-say; though true it is that I have bidden her +farewell for two days' space." And the two stood looking on +one another. + +But Jack laughed and said: "Well, then, so be it; but let +us get to the way, or else when the sweethearts of these +lads know that we have a woman with us we shall have them +all at our backs." Thereat all laughed who were within +earshot, and were merry. + +So they wended the woodland ways, some afoot, some +a-horseback, of whom was Jack of the Tofts, but Christopher +and David went afoot. And Goldilind rode a fair white horse +which the Captain had gotten her. + +As they went, and King Christopher ever by Goldilind's right +hand, and were merry and joyous, they two were alone in the +woodland way; so Christopher took her hand and kissed it, +and said: "Sweetling, why didst thou tell me nought of thy +will to come along with us? Never had I balked thee." + +She looked at him, blushing as a rose, and said: "Dear +friend, I will tell thee; I knew that thou wouldst make our +parting piteous-sweet this morning; and of that I would not +be balked. See, then, how rich I am, since I have both +parted from thee and have thee." And therewith she louted +down from her saddle, and they kissed together sweetly, and +so thereafter wore the way. + +So came they to the plain of Hazeldale, which was a wide +valley with a middling river winding about it, the wild-wood +at its back toward the Tofts, and in front down-land nought +wooded, save here and there a tree nigh a homestead or cot; +for that way the land was builded for a space. Forsooth it +was not easy for the folk thereabout to live quietly, but if +they were friends in some wise to Jack of the Tofts. + +So when the company of the Tofts came out into the dale +about three hours after noon, it was no wonder to them to +see men riding and going to and fro, and folk pitching tents +and raising booths nigh to the cover of the wood; and when +the coming of the Toft-folk was seen, and the winding of +their horns heard, there was many a glad cry raised in +answer, and many an horn blown, and all men there came +running together toward where now was stayed Jack of the +Tofts and Christopher and their men. + +Then Goldilind bade Christopher help her light down; so he +took her in his arms, and was not over hasty in setting her +down again. But when she stood by him, she looked over the +sunny field darkened by the folk hastening over the +greensward, and her eyes glittered and her cheek flushed, +and she said: "Lord King, be these some others of thy men?" + +"Yea, sweetling," said he, "to live and die with me." + +She looked on him, and said softly: "Maybe it were an ill +wish to wish that I were thou; yet if it might be for one +hour!" + +Said he: "Shall it not be for more than one hour? Shall it +not be for evermore, since we twain are become one?" + +"Nay," she said, "this is but a word; I am but thine +handmaid: and now I can scarce refrain my body from falling +before thy feet." + +He laughed in her face for joy, and said: "Abide a while, +until these men have looked on thee, and then shalt thou see +how thou wilt be a flame of war in their hearts that none +shall withstand." + +Now were the dale-dwellers all come together in their +weapons, and they were glad of their King and his loveling; +and stout men were they all, albeit some were old, and some +scarce of man's age. So they were ranked and told over, and +the tale of them was over six score who had obeyed the +war-arrow, and more and more, they said, would come in every +hour. But now the Captains of them bade the Toft-folk eat +with them; and they yea-said the bidding merrily, and word +was given, and sacks and baskets brought forth, and barrels +to boot, and all men sat down on the greensward, and high +was the feast and much the merriment on the edge of +Hazeldale. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +TIDINGS COME TO HAZELDALE. + + +But they had not done their meat, and had scarce begun upon +their drink, ere they saw three men come riding on the spur +over the crown of the bent before them; these made no stay +for aught, but rode straight through the ford of the river, +as men who knew well where it was, and came on hastily +toward the feasters by the wood-edge. Then would some have +run to meet them, but Jack of the Tofts bade them abide till +he had heard the tidings; whereas they needed not to run to +their weapons, for, all of them, they were fully dight for +war, save, it might be, the doing on of their sallets or +basnets. But Jack and Christopher alone went forward to +meet those men; and the foremost of them cried out at once: +"I know thee, Jack of the Tofts! I know thee! Up and arm! up +and arm! for the foemen are upon thee; and so choose thee +whether thou wilt fight or flee." + +Quoth Jack, laughing: "I know thee also, Wat of Whiteend; +and when thou hast told me how many and who be the foemen, +we will look either to fighting or fleeing." + +Said Wat: "Thou knowest the blazon of the banner which we +saw, three red wolves running on a silver field?" + +"Yea, forsooth," said Jack; "'tis the Baron of Brimside that +beareth that shield ever; and the now Baron, hight the Lord +Gandolf, how many was he?" + +Said Wat: "Ten hundreds or more. But what say fellows?" + +Quoth the other twain: "More, more they were." + +Said Jack of the Tofts: "And when shall he be here, deem +ye?" + +"In less than an hour," said Wat, "he will be on thee with +great and small; but his riders, some of them, in lesser +space." + +Then turned Jack about and cried out for David, and when he +came, he said: "Put thy long legs over a good horse, and +ride straight back to the Tofts and gather whatever may bear +spear and draw bow, and hither with them, lad, by the +nighest road; tarry not, speak no word, be gone!" + +So David turned, and was presently riding swiftly back +through the woodland paths. But Jack spake to the bearers of +tidings: "Good fellows, go ye yonder and bid them give you +a morsel and a cup; and tell all the tidings, and this, +withal, that we have nought to flee from a good fightstead +for Gandolf of Brimside." Therewith he turned to +Christopher and said: "Thy pardon, King, but these matters +must be seen to straightway. Now do thou help me array our +folk, for there is heart enough in them as in thee and me; +and mayhappen we may make an end to this matter now and +here. Moreover, the Baron of Brimside is a stout carle, so +fight we must, meseemeth." + +Then he called to them one of the captains of the Tofts and +they three spake together heedfully a little, and thereafter +they fell to work arraying the folk; and King Christopher +did his part therein deftly and swiftly, for quick of wit he +was, and that the more whenso anything was to be done. + +As to the array, the main of the folk that were spearmen and +billmen but moved forward somewhat from where they had dined +to the hanging of the bent, so that their foemen would have +the hill against them or ever they came on point and edge. +But the bowmen, of whom were now some two hundreds, for many +men had come in after the first tally, were spread abroad on +the left hand of the spearmen toward the river, where the +ground was somewhat broken, and bushed with thorn-bushes. +And a bight of the water drew nearer to the Tofters, amidst +of which was a flat eyot, edged with willows and covered +with firm and sound greensward, and was some thirty yards +endlong and twenty overthwart. So there they abode the +coming of the foe, and it was now hard on five o'clock. + +But Christopher went up to Goldilind where she stood amidst +of the spearmen, hand turning over hand, and her feet +wandering to and fro almost without her will; and when he +came to her, she had much ado to refrain her from falling on +his bosom and weeping there. But he cried to her gaily: +"Now, my Lady and Queen, thou shalt see a fair play toward +even sooner than we looked for; and thine eyes shall follow +me, if the battle be thronged, by this token, that amongst +all these good men and true I only wear a forgilded basnet +with a crown about it." + +"O!" she said, "if it were but over, and thou alive and +free! I would pay for that, I deem, if I might, by a sojourn +in Greenharbour again." + +"What!" he said, "that I might have to thrust myself into +the peril of snatching thee forth again?" And he laughed +merrily. "Nay," said he, "this play must needs begin before +it endeth; and by Saint Nicholas, I deem that to-day it +beginneth well." + +But she put her hands before her face, and her shoulders +were shaken with sobs. "Alas! sweetling," said he, "that my +joy should be thy sorrow! But, I pray thee, take not these +stout-hearts for runaways. And Oh! look, look!" + +She looked up, wondering and timorous, but all about her the +men sprang up and shouted, and tossed up bill and sword, and +the echo of their cries came back from the bowmen on the +left, and Christopher's sword came rattling out of the +scabbard and went gleaming up aloft. Then words came into +the cry of the folk, and Goldilind heard it, that they cried +"Child Christopher! King Christopher!" Then over her head +came a sound of flapping and rending as the evening wind +beat about the face of the wood; and she heard folk cry +about her: "The banner, the banner! Ho for the Wood-wife of +Oakenrealm!" + +Then her eyes cleared for what was aloof before her, and she +saw a dark mass come spreading down over the bent on the +other side of the river, and glittering points and broad +gleams of white light amidst of it, and noise came from it; +and she knew that here were come the foemen. But she +thought to herself that they looked not so many after all; +and she looked at the great and deft bodies of their folk, +and their big-headed spears and wide-bladed glaves and +bills, and strove with her heart and refrained her fear, and +thrust back the image which had arisen before her of +Greenharbour come back again, and she lonely and naked in +the Least Guard-chamber: and she stood firm, and waved her +hand to greet the folk. + +And lo! there was Christopher kneeling before her and +kissing her hand, and great shouts arising about her of "The +Lady of Oakenrealm! The Lady of Meadham! For the Lady! For +the Lady!" + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +OF THE FIELD THAT WAS SET IN THE HOLM OF HAZELDALE. + + +Now thither cometh Jack o' the Tofts, and spake to +Christopher: "See thou, lad--Lord King, I should say; this +looketh not like very present battle, for they be stayed +half way down the bent; and lo thou, some half score are +coming forth from the throng with a white shield raised +aloft. Do we in likewise, for they would talk with us." + +"Shall we trust them, father?" said Christopher. + +"Trust them we may, son," said Jack; "Gandolf is a violent +man, and a lifter of other men's goods, but I deem not so +evil of him as that he would bewray troth." + +So then they let do a white cloth over a shield and hoist it +on a long spear, and straightway they gat to horse, Jack of +the Tofts, and Christopher, and Haward of Whiteacre, and +Gilbert, and a half score all told; and they rode straight +down to the ford, which was just below the tail of the eyot +aforesaid, and as they went, they saw the going of the +others, who were by now hard on the waterside; and said +Jack: "See now, King Christopher, he who rides first in a +surcoat of his arms is even the Baron, the black +bullet-headed one; and the next to him, the red-head, is his +squire and man, Oliver Marson, a stout man, but fierce and +grim-hearted. Lo thou, they are taking the water, but they +are making for the eyot and not our shore: son mine, this +will mean a hazeled field in the long run; but now they will +look for us to come to them therein. Yea, now they are +aland and have pitched their white shield. And hearken, +that is their horn; blow we an answer: ho, noise! set thy +lips to the brass." + +So then, when one horn had done its song, the other took it +up, and all men of both hosts knew well that the horns blew +but for truce and parley. + +Now come the Toft-folk to the ford, and take the water, +which was very shallow on their side, and when they come up +on to the eyot, they find the Baron and his folk off their +horses, and lying on the green grass, so they also lighted +down and stood and hailed the new comers. Then uprose the +Lord Gandolf, and greeted the Toft-folk, and said: "Jack of +the Tofts, thou ridest many-manned to-day." + +"Yea, Lord," said Jack, "and thou also. What is thine +errand?" + +"Nay," said the Baron, "what is thine? As for mine host +here, there came a bird to Brimside and did me to wit that I +should be like to need a throng if I came thy way; and sooth +was that. Come now, tell us what is toward, thou rank +reiver, though I have an inkling thereof; for if this were a +mere lifting, thou wouldst not sit still here amidst thy +friends of Hazeldale." + +"Lord," said Jack o' the Tofts, "thou shalt hear mine +errand, and then give heed to what thou wilt do. Look to +the bent under the wood, and tell me, dost thou see the +blazon of the banner under which be my men?" + +"That can I not," said the Lord Gandolf; "but I have seen +the banner of Oakenrealm, which beareth the wood-woman with +loins garlanded with oak-leaves, look much like to it at +such a distance." + +Said Jack: "It is not ill guessed. Yonder banner is the +King's banner, and beareth on it the woman of Oakenrealm ." + +The Lord bent his brows on him, and said: "Forsooth, rank +reiver, I wotted not that thou hadst King Rolf for thy +guest." + +Quoth Jack of the Tofts: "Forsooth, Lord, no such guest as +the Earl Marshal Rolf would I have alive in my poor house." + +"Well, Jack," said the big Lord, grinning, "arede me the +riddle, and then we shall see what is to be done, as thou +sayest." + +"Lord," said Jack, "dost thou see this young man standing by +me?" + +"Yea," said the other, "he is big enough that I may see him +better than thy banner: if he but make old bones, as is +scarce like, since he is of thy flock, he shall one day make +a pretty man; he is a gay rider now. What else is he?" + +Quoth Jack of the Tofts: "He is my King and thy King, and +the all-folk's King, and the King of Oakenrealm: and now, +hearken mine errand: it is to make all folk name him King." + +Said the Lord: "This minstrel's tale goes with the song the +bird sang to me this morning; and therefore am I here +thronging--to win thy head, rank reiver, and this young +man's head, since it may not better be, and let the others +go free for this time. Hah! what sayest thou? and thou, +youngling? 'Tis but the stroke of a sword, since thou hast +fallen into my hands, and not into the hangman's or the +King's." + +"Thou must win them first, Lord," said Jack of the Tofts. +"Therefore, what sayest thou? Where shall we cast down the +white shield and uprear the red?" + +"Hot art thou, head, heart, and hand, rank reiver," said the +Lord; "bide a while." So he sat silent a little; then he +said: "Thou seest, Jack of the Tofts, that now thou hast +thrust the torch into the tow; if I go back to King Rolf +without the heads of you twain, I am like to pay for it with +mine own. Therefore hearken. If we buckle together in +fight presently, it is most like that I shall come to my +above, but thou art so wily and stout that it is not unlike +that thou, and perchance this luckless youngling, may slip +through my fingers into the wood; and then it will avail me +little with the King that I have slain a few score nameless +wolf-heads. So, look you! here is a fair field hazelled by +God; let us two use it to-day, and fight to the death here; +and then if thou win me, smite off my head, and let my men +fight it out afterwards, as best they may without me, and +'tis like they will be beaten then. But if I win thee, then +I win this youngling withal, and bear back both heads to my +Lord King, after I have scattered thy wolf-heads and slain +as many as I will; which shall surely befall, if thou be +slain first." + +Then cried out Jack of the Tofts: "Hail to thy word, +stout-heart! this is well offered, and I take it for myself +and my Lord King here." And all that stood by and heard +gave a glad sound with their voices, and their armour +rattled and rang as man turned to man to praise their +captains. + +But now spake Christopher: "Lord of Brimside, it is nought +wondrous though thou set me aside as of no account, whereas +thou deemest me no king or king's kindred; but thou, Lord +Earl, who wert once Jack of the Tofts, I marvel at thee, +that thou hast forgotten thy King so soon. Ye twain shall +now wot that this is my quarrel, and that none but I shall +take this battle upon him. + +"Thou servant of Rolf, the traitor and murderer, hearken! I +say that I am King of Oakenrealm, and the very son of King +Christopher the Old; and that will I maintain with my body +against every gainsayer. Thou Lord of Brimside, wilt thou +gainsay it? Then I say thou liest, and lo here, my glove!" +And he cast it down before the Lord. + +Again was there good rumour, and that from either side of +the bystanders; but Jack of the Tofts stood up silent and +stiff, and the Baron of Brimside laughed, and said: "Well, +swain, if thou art weary of life, so let it be, as for me; +but how sayest thou, Jack of the Tofts? Art thou content to +give thine head away in this fashion, whereas thou wottest +that I shall presently slay this king of thine?" + +Said Jack: "The King of Oakenrealm must rule me as well as +others of his liege-men: he must fight if he will, and be +slain if he will." Then suddenly he fell a-laughing, and +beat his hand on his thigh till the armour rattled again, +and then he cried out: "Lord Gandolf, Lord Gandolf, have a +care, I bid thee! Where wilt thou please to be buried, +Lord?" + +Said the other: "I wot not what thou wilt mean by thy +fooling, rank reiver. But here I take up this youngling's +glove; and on his head be his fate! Now as to this battle. +My will is, that we two champions be all alone and afoot on +the eyot. How say ye?" + +"Even so be it," said Jack; "but I say that half a score on +each side shall be standing on their own bank to see the +play, and the rest of the host come no nigher than now we +are." + +"I yea-say it," said the Baron; "and now do thou, rank +reiver, go back to thy fellowship and tell them what we have +areded, and do thou, Oliver Marson, do so much for our folk; +and bid them wot this, that if any of them break the troth, +he shall lose nought more than his life for that same." + +Therewith all went ashore to either bank, save the Baron of +Brimside and Christopher. And the Baron laid him down on the +ground and fell to whistling the tune of a merry Yule dance; +but as for Christopher, he looked on his foeman, and deemed +he had seldom seen so big and stalwarth a man; and withal he +was of ripe age, and had seen some forty winters. Then he +also cast himself down on the grass, and fell into a kind of +dream, as he watched a pair of wagtails that came chirping +up from the sandy spit below the eyot; till suddenly great +shouting broke out, first from his own bent, and then from +the foemen's, and Christopher knew that the folk on either +side had just heard of the battle that was to be on the +holm. The Baron arose at the sound and looked to his own +men, whence were now coming that half-score who were to look +on the battle from the bank; but Christopher stirred not, +but lay quietly amongst the flowers of the grass, till he +heard the splash of horse-hoofs in the ford, and there +presently was come Jack of the Tofts bearing basnet and +shield for his lord. And he got off his horse and spake to +Christopher: "If I may not fight for thee, my son and King, +yet at least it is the right of thine Earl to play the +squire to thee: but a word before thy basnet is over thine +ears; the man yonder is well-nigh a giant for stature and +strength; yet I think thou mayest deal with him, and be none +the sorer when thou liest down to-night. To be short, this +is it: when thou hast got a stroke in upon him, and he +falters, then give him no time, but fly at him in thy +wild-cat manner and show what-like thews thou hast under thy +smooth skin; now thine helm, lad. So art thou dight; and +something tells me thou shalt do it off in victory." + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE BATTLE ON THE HOLM. + + +So when Christopher was armed, Jack turned about speedily, +and so gat him back through the ford and stood there on the +bank with the nine other folk of the Tofts. And by this +time was Gandolf of Brimside armed also, and Oliver Marson, +who had done his helm on him, was gone to his side of the +river. + +Drew the huge man-at-arms then toward Christopher, but his +sword was yet in the sheath: Christopher set his point to +the earth and abode him; and the Baron spake: "Lad, thou art +fair and bold both, as I can see it, and Jack of the Tofts +is so much an old foe of mine that he is well-nigh a friend: +so what sayest thou? If thou wilt yield thee straightway, I +will have both thine head and the outlaw's with me to King +Rolf, but yet on your shoulders and ye two alive. Haps will +go as haps will; and it maybe that ye shall both live for +another battle, and grow wiser, and mayhappen abide in the +wood with the reiver's men. Hah? What sayest thou?" + +Christopher laughed and said: "Wouldst thou pardon one who +is not yet doomed, Baron? And yet thy word is pleasant to +us; for we see that if we win thee, thou shalt be good +liegeman of us. Now, Baron, sword in fist!" + +Gandolf drew his sword, muttering: "Ah, hah! he is lordly +and kingly enough, yet may this learn him a lesson. "Indeed +the blade was huge and brown and ancient, and sword and man +had looked a very terror save to one great-hearted. + +But Christopher said: "What sayest thou now, Baron, shall +we cast down our shields to earth? For why should we chop +into wood and leather?" + +The Baron cast down his shield, and said: "Bold are thy +words, lad; if thy deeds go with them, it may be better for +thee than for me. Now keep thee." + +And therewith he leapt forward and swept his huge sword +around; but Christopher swerved speedily and enough, so that +the blade touched him not, and the huge man had over-reached +himself, and ere he had his sword well under sway again, +Christopher had smitten him so sharply on the shoulder that +the mails were sundered & the blood ran; and withal the +Baron staggered with the mere weight of the stroke. Then +Christopher saw his time, and leapt aloft and dealt such a +stroke on the side of his head, that the Baron tottered yet +more; but now was he taught by those two terrible strokes, +and he gathered all his heart to him, and all the might of +his thews, and leapt aback and mastered his sword, and came +on fierce but wary, shouting out for Brimside and the King. + +Christopher cried never a cry, but swung his sword well +within his sway, and the stroke came on Gandolf's fore-arm +and brake the mails and wounded him, and then as the Baron +rushed forward, the wary lad gat his blade under his +foeman's nigh the hilts, and he gave it a wise twist and +forth flew the ancient iron away from its master. + +Gandolf seemed to heed not that he was swordless, but gave +out a great roar and rushed at Christopher to close with +him, and the well-knit lad gave back before him and turned +from side to side, and kept the sword-point before Gandolf's +eyes ever, till suddenly, as the Baron was running his +fiercest, he made a mighty sweep at his right leg, since he +had no more to fear his sword, and the edge fell so strong +and true, that but for the byrny-hose he had smitten the +limb asunder, and even as it was it made him agrievous +wound, so that the Lord of Brimside fell clattering to the +earth, and Christopher bestrode him and cried: "How sayest +thou, champion, is it enough?" + +"Yea, enough, and maybe more," said the Baron. "Wilt thou +smite off mine head? Or what wilt thou?" + +Said Christopher: "Here hath been enough smiting, +meseemeth, save thy lads and ours have a mind to buckle to; +and lo thou! men are running down from the bents towards us +from both sides, yet not in any warlike manner as yet. Now, +Baron, here cometh thy grim squire that I heard called +Oliver, and if thou wilt keep the troth, thou shalt bid him +order thy men so that they fall not upon us till the battle +be duly pitched. Then shalt thou be borne home, since thou +canst not go, with no hindrance from us." + +Now was Oliver come indeed, and the other nine with him, and +on the other side was come Jack of the Tofts and four +others. + +Then spake the Baron of Brimside: "I may do better than +thou biddest me; for now I verily trow herein, that thou art +the son of Christopher the Old; so valiant as thou art, and +so sad a smiter, and withal that thou fearest not to let thy +foeman live. So hearken all ye, and thou specially, Oliver +Marson, my captain: I am now become the man of my lord King +Christopher, and will follow him whereso he will; and I deem +that will presently be to Oakenham, and the King's seat +there. Now look to it that thou, Oliver, order my men under +King Christopher's banner, till I be healed; and then if all +be not over, I shall come forth myself, shield on neck and +spear in fist, to do battle for my liege lord; so help me +God and St. James of the Water!" + +Therewith speech failed him and his wit therewith; so +betwixt them they unarmed him and did him what leechdom they +might do there and then; and he was nowise hurt deadly: as +for Child Christopher, he had no scratch of steel on him. +And Oliver knelt before him when he had dight his own lord, +and swore fealty to him then and there; and so departed, to +order the folk of Brimside and tell them the tidings, and +swear them liege men of King Christopher. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +OF GOLDILIND AND CHRISTOPHER. + + +Now Jack of the Tofts said a word to one of his men, and he +rode straightway up into the field under the wood, and spake +to three of the captains of the folk, and they ranked a +hundred of the men, of those who were best dight, and +upraised amongst them the banner of Oakenrealm, and led all +them down to the river bank; and with these must needs go +Goldilind; and when they came down thither, Christopher and +Jack were there on the bank to hail them, and they raised a +great shout when they saw their King and their Earl standing +there, and the shout was given back from the wood-side; and +then the men of Brimside took it up, for they had heard the +bidding of their Lord, and he was now in a pavilion which +they had raised for him on the mead, and the leeches were +looking to his hurts; and they feared him, but rather loved +than hated him, and he was more to them than the King in +Oakenrealm and they were all ready to do his will. + +But as to Goldilind, her mind it had been, as she was going +down the meadow, that she would throw herself upon +Christopher's bosom and love him with glad tears of love; +but as she came and stood over against him, she was abashed, +and stood still looking on him, and spake no word; and he +also was ashamed before all that folk to say the words +whereof his heart was full, and longed for the night, that +they might be alone together. + +But at last he said: "Lady and Queen, thou seest that we be +well-beloved that they rejoice so much in a little deed of +mine." And still she spake nought, and held hand in hand. + +But Jack of the Tofts spake and said: "By St. Hubert! the +deed may be little, though there be men who would think no +little of overcoming the biggest man and the fellest fighter +of Oakenrealm, but at least great things shall come thereof. +King, thy strokes of this day have won thee Oakenrealm, or +no man I know in field, and many a mother's son have they +saved from death. For look thou yonder over the river, +Goldilind, my Lady, and tell me what thou seest." She +turned to him and said: "Lord Earl, I see warriors a many." + +"Yea," said Jack, "and stout fellows be they for the more +part; and hard had been the hand-play had we met, ere they +had turned their backs; but now, see thou, we shall wend +side by side toward Oakenrealm, for our Lord there hath won +them to his friends; and doubt thou not that when they see +him and thee anigh, they shall be friends indeed. What! dost +thou weep for this? Or is it because he hath done the deed +and not thou? or rather, because thine heart is full for the +love of him?" + +She smiled kindly on Jack, but even therewith she felt two +hands laid on her shoulders, and Christopher kissed her +without any word. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +A COUNCIL OF CAPTAINS: THE HOST COMES TO BROADLEES, AND +MAKES FOR WOODWALL. + + +That night, though there was some little coming and going +between the Tofters and the Brimsiders, yet either flock +slept on their own side of the river. Moreover, before the +midst of the night, cometh David to the wood-side, and had +with him all men defensible of the Tofts and the houses +thereabout, and most of the women also many of whom bore +spear or bow, so that now by the wood-side, what with them +of the Tofts and the folk who joined them thereto from the +country-side about Hazeldale, there were well-nigh ten +hundreds of folk under weapons; and yet more came in the +night through; for the tidings of the allegiance of Brimside +was spreading full fast. + +Betimes on the morrow was King Christopher afoot, and he and +Jack and David and Gilbert, and they twelve in company, went +down to the banner by the water-side; and to them presently +came Oliver Marson and ten other of the captains of +Brimside, and did them to wit that the Baron were fain if +they would come to his pavilion and hold counsel therein, +for that he was not so sick but he might well speak his mind +from where he lay. So thither they went all, with good will, +and the Baron greeted them friendly, and made what reverence +he might to Christopher, and bade him say what was his mind +and his will. But Christopher bade them who were his elders +in battle to speak; and the Baron laughed outright and said: +"Meseemeth, Lord King, thou didst grow old yesterday at my +costs; but since thou wilt have me to speak, I will even do +so. And to make matters the shorter, I will say that I wot +well what ye have to do; and that is, to fall upon the Earl +Marshal's folk ere they fall upon us. Now some folk deem we +should fare to Brimside and have a hosting there; but I say +nay; whereas it lieth out of the road to Oakenham, and +thereby is our road, meseemeth; and it is but some six days' +riding hence, save, as is most like, two of those days be +days of battle But if we go straight forward with banners +displayed, each day's faring shall be a day of hosting and +gathering; for I tell thee, Lord King, the fame of thee has +by now gone far in this country-side. Wherefore I say no +more, since I wax weary, than this: to the road this +morning, and get we so far as Broadlees ere night-fall, for +there we shall get both victual and folk." + +There was good cheer made at his word, so Christopher spake: +"Baron of Brimside, thou hast spoken my very mind and will; +and but if these lords and captains gainsay it, let us tarry +no longer, but array all our folk in good order and take +tale of them, and so for Broadlees. What say ye, lords?" + +None nay-said it, so there was no more talk save as to the +ordering of this or the other company. And it was so areded +that the Brimside men should fare first at the head of the +host with the banner of Brimside, and that then should go +the mingled folk of the country-side, and lastly the folk of +the Tofts with the banner of Oakenrealm; so that if the host +came upon foemen, they might be for a cloud to hide the +intent of their battles awhile till they might take their +advantage. + +So went the captains to their companies, and the Tofters and +their mates crossed the river to the men of Brimside, who +gave them good cheer when they came amongst them; and it was +hard to order the host for a while, so did the upland folk +throng about the King and the Queen; and happy were they who +had a full look on Goldilind; and yet were some so lucky and +so bold that they kissed a hand of her; and one there was, a +very tall young man, and a goodly, who stood there and +craved to kiss her cheek, and she did not gainsay him, and +thereafter nought was good to him save an occasion to die +for her. + +As for Christopher, he spake to many, and said to them that +wheresoever his banner was, he at least should be at the +forefront whenso they came upon unpeace; and so soon as they +gat to the road, he went from company to company, speaking +to many, and that so sweetly and friendly that all praised +him, and said that here forsooth was a king who was all good +and nothing bad, whereas hitherto men had deemed them lucky +indeed if their king were half good and half bad. + +Merry then was the road to Broadlees, and they came there +before night-fall; and it was a little cheaping town and +unwalled, and if the folk had had any will to ward them, +they lacked might. But when they found they were not to be +robbed, and that it was but the proclaiming of King +Christopher in the market-place, and finding victual and +house-room for the host, and the Mayor taking a paper in +payment thereof, none stirred against them, and a many +joined the host to fight for the fair young King. Now +nought as yet had they heard at Broadlees of any force +stirring against them. + +But in the morning when they went on their ways again, and +were bound for Cheaping Woodwall, which was a fenced town, +they sent out well-horsed riders to espy the road, who came +back on the spur two hours after noon, and did them to wit +that there was a host abiding them beneath the walls of +Woodwall under the banner of Walter the White, an old +warrior and fell fighter; but what comfort he might have +from them of Woodwall they wotted not; but they said that +the tidings of their coming had gone abroad, and many folk +were abiding the issue of this battle ere they joined them +to either host. Now on these tidings the captains were of +one mind, to wit, to fare on softly till they came to a +defensible place not far from the foemen, since they could +scarce come to Woodwall in good order before nightfall, and +if they were unfoughten before, to push forward to battle in +the morning. + +Even so did they, and made a halt at sunset on a pleasant +hill above a river some three miles from Woodwall, and there +they passed the night unmeddled with. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +BATTLE BEFORE WOODWALL. + + +When morning was, the captains came to King Christopher to +council: but while they were amidst of their talk came the +word that the foe was anigh and come close to the +river-bank; whereat was none abashed; but to all it seemed +wisdom to abide them on the vantage-ground. So then there +was girding of swords and doing on of helms; as for ordering +of the folk, it was already done, for all the host was +ranked on the bent-side, with the banner of Oakenrealm in +the midst; on its left hand the banner of the Tofts, and on +the right the banner of Brimside. + +Now when Christopher was come to his place, he looked down +and saw how the foemen were pouring over the river, for it +was nowhere deep, and there were four quite shallow fords: +many more were they than his folk, but he deemed that they +fared somewhat tumultuously; and when the bowmen of the +Tofts began shooting, the foemen, a many of them, stayed +amidst of the river to bend bow in their turn, and seemed to +think that were nigh enough already; nay, some went back +again to the other bank, to shoot thence the surer and the +drier, and some went yet a little further back on the field. +So that when their sergeants and riders were come on to the +hither bank, they lacked about a fifth of all their host; +and they themselves, for all they were so many, had some ado +to make up their minds to go forward. + +Forsooth, when they looked up to the bent and saw the three +banners of Oakenrealm and the Tofts and Brimside all waving +over the same ranks, they knew not what to make of it. And +Christopher's host, when they saw them hang back, brake out +into mocking whoops and shouts, and words were heard in +them: "Come and dine at Brimside, good fellows! Come up to +the Tofts for supper and bed! A Christopher! A Christopher!" +and so forth. Now all King Christopher's men were afoot, +saving a band of the riders of Brimside, who bestrode strong +and tall horses, and bore jack and sallet and spear, but no +heavy armour. + +So Christopher heard and saw, and the heart rose high in +him, and he sent messengers to the right and the left, and +bade the captains watch till he waved his sword aloft, and +then all down the bent together; and he bade the Brimside +riders edge a little outward and downward, and be ready for +the chase, and suffer not any of the foemen to gather +together when once they fell to running; for he knew in his +heart that the folk before him would never abide their +onfall. And the day was yet young, and it lacked four hours +of noon. + +King Christopher abode ill he saw the foemen were come off +the level ground, and were mounting the bent slowly, and not +in very good order or in ranks closely serried. Then he +strode forth three paces, and waved his sword high above his +head, and cried out: "A Christopher! A Christopher! +Forward, banner of the Realm!" And forth he went, steady and +strong, and a great shout arose behind him, and none shrank +or lagged, but spears and bills, and axes and swords, all +came on like a wall of steel, so that to the foemen the +earth seemed alive with death, and they made no show of +abiding the onset, but all turned and ran, save Walter the +White and a score of his knights, who forsooth were borne +down in a trice, and were taken to mercy, those of them who +were not slain at the first crash of weapons. + +There then ye might have seen great clumps of men making no +defence, but casting down their weapons and crying mercy; +and forsooth so great was the throng, that no great many +were slain; but on the other hand, but few gat away across +the water, and on them presently fell the Brimside riders, +and hewed down and slew and took few to mercy. And some few +besides the first laggards of the bowmen, it might be three +hundreds in all, escaped, and gat to Woodwall, but when they +of the town saw them, they made up their minds speedily, and +shut their gates, and the poor fleers found but the points +of shafts and the heads of quarrels before them. + +But on the field of deed those captives were somewhat +fearful as to what should be done with them, and they spake +one to the other about it, that they would be willing to +serve the new King, since he was so mighty. And amidst of +their talk came the captains of King Christopher, and they +drew into a ring around them, and the lords bade them look +to it whether they would be the foemen of the King, the son +of that King Christopher the Old. "If so ye be," said they, +"ye may escape this time; but ye see how valiant a man he +is, and how lucky withal, and happy shall they be whom he +calleth friends. Now what say ye, will ye take up your +weapons again, and be under the best of kings and a true +one, or will ye depart and take the chance of his wrath in +the coming days? We say, how many of you will serve King +Christopher. + +Then arose from them a mighty shout: "All! All! One and +All!" Albeit some there were who slunk away and said nought; +and none heeded them. + +So then all the sergeants and the common folk swore +allegiance to King Christopher; but of the knights who were +left alive, some said Yea, and some Nay; and these last were +suffered to depart, but must needs ride unarmed. + +Now by the time all was done, and the new men had dined +along with the rest of the host, and of the new-comers tale +had been taken, the day was wearing; so they set off for +Woodwall, and on the way they met the Mayor and Aldermen +thereof, who came before King Christopher and knelt to him, +and gave him the keys of their town; so he was gracious to +them, and thanked them, and bade see to the victual and +lodging of the host, and that all should be paid thereafter. +And they said that they had seen to all this before they +came forth of the town, and that if the Lord King would ride +forth, he would find fair lodging in the good town. So King +Christopher was pleased, and bade the burgesses ride beside +him, and he talked merrily with them on the way, so that +their hearts rejoiced over the kindness of their lord. + +So they came to the gate, and there the King made stay till +Goldilind was fetched to him, so that they might ride into +the good town side by side. And in the street was much +people thronging, and the sun was scarce set, so that the +folk could see their King and Queen what they were; and they +who were nighest unto them, they let their shouts die out, +so were their hearts touched with the sight of them and the +love of their beauty. + +Thus rode they in triumph through the street till they were +come to their lodging, which was great and goodly as for a +cheaping town; and so the day was gone and the night was +come, and the council and the banquet were over; then were +the King and Goldilind together again, like any up-country +lad and lass. But she stood before him and said: "O thou +King and mighty warrior, surely I ought to fear thee now, +but it is not so, so sore as I desire thee; but yet it +maketh both laughter and tears come to me when I think of +the day we rode away from Greenharbour with thee, and I +seemed to myself a great lady, though I were unhappy; and +though I loved thy body, I feared lest the churl's blood in +thee might shame me perchance, and I was proud and unkind to +thee, and I hurt thee sorely; and now I will say it, and +confess, that somewhat I joyed to see thine anguish, for I +knew that it meant thy love for me and thy desire to me. Lo +now, wilt thou forgive me this, or wilt thou punish me, O +Lord King?" + +He laughed. "Sweetling," he said, "meseemeth now all day +long I have been fighting against raiment rather than men; +no man withstood me in the battle, for that they feared the +crown on my helm and the banner over my head; and when those +good men of the town brought me the keys, how should I have +known them from borrel folk but for their scarlet gowns and +fur hoods? And meseemed that when they knelt to me, it was +the scarlet gowns kneeling to the kingly armour. Therefore, +sweetheart, if thou fearest that the King should punish thee +for so wounding the poor Christopher of those few days ago, +as belike thou deservest it, bid the King do off his +raiment, and do thou in likewise, and then there shall be no +King to punish, and no King's scather to thole the +punishment, but only Christopher and Goldilind, even as they +met erewhile on the dewy grass of Littledale." + +She blushed blood-red; but ere his words were done, her +hands were busy with girdle and clasp, and her raiment fell +from her to the earth, and his kingly raiment was cast from +him, and he took her by the hand and led her to the bed of +honour, that their love might have increase that night also. + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE AND AN EVIL DEED. + + +When morning was, and it was yet early, the town was all +astir and the gates were thrown open, and weaponed men +thronged into it crying out for Christopher the King. Then +the King came forth, and Jack o' the Tofts and his sons, and +Oliver Marson, and the captains of Brimside; and the host +was blown together to the market-place, and there was a new +tale of them taken, and they were now hard on seventy +hundreds of men. So then were new captains appointed, and +thereafter they tarried not save to eat a morsel, but went +out a-gates faring after the banners to Oakenrealm, all folk +blessing them as they went. + +Nought befell them of evil that day, but ever fresh +companies joined them on the road; and they gat harbour in +another walled town, hight Sevenham, and rested there in +peace that night, and were now grown to eighty hundreds. + +Again on the morrow they were on the road betimes, and again +much folk joined them, and they heard no tidings of any +foeman faring against them; whereat Jack o' the Tofts +marvelled, for he and others had deemed that now at last +would Rolf the traitor come out against them. Forsooth, +when they had gone all day and night was at hand, it seemed +most like to the captains that he would fall upon them that +night, whereas they were now in a somewhat perilous pass; +for they must needs rest at a little thorpe amidst of great +and thick woods, which lay all round about the frank of +Oakenham as a garland about a head. So there they kept +watch and ward more heedfully than their wont was; and King +Christopher lodged with Goldilind at the house of a good man +of the thorpe. + +Now when it lacked but half an hour of midnight, and Jack o' +the Tofts and Oliver Marson and the Captain of Woodwall had +just left him, after they had settled the order of the next +day's journey, and Goldilind lay abed in the inner chamber, +there entered one of the men of the watch and said: "Lord +King, here is a man hereby who would see thee; he is +weaponed, and he saith that he hath a gift for thee: what +shall we do with him?" + +Said Christopher: "Bring him in hither, good fellow." And +the man went back, and came in again leading a tall man, +armed, but with a hood done over his steel hat, so that his +face was hidden, and he had a bag in his hand with something +therein. + +Then spake the King and said: "Thou man, since thy face is +hidden, this trusty man-at-arms shall stand by thee while +we talk together." + +"Lord," said the man, "let there be a dozen to hear our talk +I care not; for I tell thee that I come to give thee a gift, +and gift-bearers are oftenest welcome." + +Quoth the King: "Maybe, yet before thou bring it forth I +would see thy face, for meseems I have an inkling of thy +voice." + +So the man cast back his hood, and lo, it was Simon the +squire. "Hah!" said Christopher, "is it thou then! hast +thou another knife to give me?" + +"Nay," said Simon, "only the work of the knife." And +therewith he set his hand to the bag and drew out by the +hair a man's head, newly hacked off and bleeding, and said: +"Hast thou seen him before, Lord? He was a great man +yesterday, though not so great as thou shalt be to-morrow." + +"Once only I have seen him, "said Christopher," and then he +gave me this gift" (and he showed his father's ring on his +finger): "thou hast slain the Earl Marshal, who called +himself the King of Oakenrealm: my traitor and dastard he +was but thy friend. Wherefore have I two evil deeds to +reward thee, Simon, the wounding of me and the slaying of +him. Dost thou not deem thee gallows-ripe?" + +"King," said Simon, "what wouldst thou have done with him +hadst thou caught him?" + +Said Christopher: "I had slain him had I met him with a +weapon in his fist; and if we had taken him I had let the +folk judge him." + +Said Simon: "That is to say, that either thou hadst slain +him thyself, or bidden others to slay him. Now then I ask +thee, King, for which deed wilt thou slay me, for not +slaying thee, or for doing thy work and slaying thy foe?" + +Said Christopher to the guard: "Good fellow, fetch here a +good horse ready saddled and bridled, and be speedy." + +So the man went: and Christopher said to Simon: "For the +knife in my side, I forgive it thee; and as to the slaying +of thy friend, it is not for me to take up the feud. But +this is no place for thee: if Jack of the Tofts, or any of +his sons, or one of the captains findeth thee, soon art thou +sped; wherefore I rede thee, when yonder lad hath brought +thee the horse, show me the breadth of thy back, and mount +the beast, and put the most miles thou canst betwixt me and +my folk; for they love me." + +Said Simon: "Sorry payment for making thee a king!" + +Said Christopher: "Well, thou art in the right; I may well +give gold for getting rid of such as thou." And he put his +hand into a pouch that hung on his chair, and drew out +thence a purse, and gave it unto Simon, who took it and +opened it and looked therein, and then flung it down on the +ground. + +Christopher looked on him wrathfully with reddened face, and +cried out: "Thou dog! wouldst thou be an earl and rule the +folk? What more dost thou want?" + +"This!" cried out Simon, and leapt upon him, knife aloft. +Christopher was unarmed utterly; but he caught hold of the +felon's right arm with his right hand, and gripped the wrist +till he shrieked; then he raised up his mighty left hand, +and drave it down on Simon's head by the ear, and all gave +way before it, and the murderer fell crushed and dead to +earth. + +Therewith came in the man-at-arms to tell him that the horse +was come; but stared wild when he saw the dead man on the +ground. But Christopher said: "My lad, here hath been one +who would have thrust a knife into an unarmed man, wherefore +I must needs give him his wages. But now thou hast this to +do: take thou this dead man and bind him so fast on the +horse thou hast brought that he will not come off till the +bindings be undone; and bind withal the head of this other, +who was once a great man and an evil, before the slayer of +him, so that it also may be fast; then get thee to horse and +lead this beast and its burden till ye are well on the +highway to Oakenham, and then let him go and find his way to +the gate of the city if God will. And hearken, my lad; +seest thou this gold which lieth scattering on the floor +here? this was mine, but is no longer, since I have given it +away to the dead man just before he lifted his hand against +me. Wherefore now I will keep it for thee against thou +comest back safe to me in the morning betimes, as I deem +thou wilt, if thou wilt behight to St. Julian the helping of +some poor body on the road. Go therefore, but send hither +the guard; for I am weary now, and would go to sleep without +slaying any man else." + +So departed the man full of joy, and Christopher gathered +his money together again, and so fared to his bed +peacefully. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +KING CHRISTOPHER COMES TO OAKENHAM. + + +But on the morrow the first man who came to the King was the +man-at-arms aforesaid; and he told that he had done the +King's errand, and ridden a five miles on the road to +Oakenham before he had left the horse with his felon load, +and that he had found nought stirring all that way when he +had passed through their own out-guards, where folk knew him +and let him go freely. "And," quoth he, "it is like enough +that this gift to Oakenham, Lord King, has by now come to +the gate thereof." Then the King gave that man the gold +which he had promised, and he kissed the King's hand and +went his ways a happy man. + +Thereafter sent Christopher for Jack of the Tofts, and told +him in few words what had betid, and that Rolf the traitor +was dead. Then spake Jack: "King and fosterling, never +hath so mighty a warrior as thou waged so easy a war for so +goodly a kingdom as thou hast done; for surely thy war was +ended last night, wherefore will we straight to Oakenham, if +so thou wilt. But if it be thy pleasure I will send a +chosen band of riders to wend on the spur thereto, and bid +them get ready thy kingly house, and give word to the Barons +and the Prelates, and the chiefs of the Knighthood, and the +Mayor and the Aldermen, and the Masters of the Crafts, to +show themselves of what mind they be towards thee. But I +doubt it not that they will deem of thee as thy father come +back again and grown young once more." + +Now was Christopher eager well nigh unto weeping to behold +his people that he should live amongst, and gladly he +yea-said the word of Jack of the Tofts. So were those +riders sent forward; and the host was ordered, and +Christopher rode amidst it with Goldilind by his side; and +the sun was not yet gone down when they came within sight of +the gate of Oakenham, and there before the gate and in the +fields on either side of it was gathered a very great and +goodly throng, and there went forth from it to meet the King +the Bishop of Oakenham, and the Abbot of St. Mary's and the +Priors of the other houses of religion, all fairly clad in +broidered copes, with the clerks and the monks dight full +solemnly; and they came singing to meet him, and the Bishop +blessed him and gave him the hallowed bread, and the King +greeted him and craved his prayers. Then came the Burgreve +of Oakenham, and with him the Barons and the Knights, and +they knelt before him, and named him to king, and the +Burgreve gave him the keys of the city. Thereafter came the +Mayor and the Aldermen, and the Masters of the Crafts, and +they craved his favour, and warding of his mighty sword; and +all these he greeted kindly and meekly, rather as a friend +than as a great lord. + +Thereafter were the gates opened, and King Christopher +entered, and there was no gainsaying, and none spake a word +of the Traitor Rolf. + +But the bells of the minster and of all the churches rang +merrily, and songs were sung sweetly by fair women +gloriously clad; and whereas King Christopher and Queen +Goldilind had lighted down from their horses and went afoot +through the street, roses and all kinds of sweet flowers +were cast down before the feet of them all the way from the +city gate to the King's High House of Oakenham. + +There then in the great hall of his father's house stood +Christopher the King on the dais, and Goldilind beside him. +And Jack of the Tofts and the chiefest of the Captains, and +the Bishop, and the greatest lords of the Barons, and the +doughtiest of the Knights, and the Mayor and the Aldermen, +and the Masters of the Crafts, sat at the banquet with the +King and his mate; they brake bread together and drank cups +of renown, till the voidee cup was borne in. Then at last +were the King & the Queen brought to their chamber with +string-play and songs and all kinds of triumph; and that +first night since he lay in his mother's womb did Child +Christopher fall asleep in the house which the fathers had +builded for him. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +OF CHILD CHRISTOPHER'S DEALINGS WITH HIS FRIENDS & HIS FOLK. + + +It was in the morning when King Christopher arose, and +Goldilind stood before him in the kingly chamber, that he +clipped her and kissed her, and said: "This is the very +chamber whence my father departed when he went to his last +battle, and left my mother sickening with the coming birth +of me. And never came he back hither, nor did mine eyes +behold him ever. Here also lay my mother and gave birth to +me, and died of sorrow, and her also I never saw, save with +eyes that noted nought that I might remember. And my third +kinsman was the traitor, that cast me forth of mine +heritage, and looked to it that I should wax up as a churl, +and lose all hope of high deeds; and at the last he strove +to slay me. + +"Therefore, sweet, have I no kindred, and none that are +bound to cherish me, and it is for thee to take the place of +them, and be unto me both father and mother, and brother and +sister, and all kindred." + +She said: "My mother I never saw, and I was but little when +my father died; and if I had any kindred thereafter they +loved me not well enough to strike one stroke for me, nay, +or to speak a word even, when I was thrust out of my place +and delivered over to the hands of pitiless people, and my +captivity worsened on me as the years grew. Wherefore to me +also art thou in the stead of all kindred and affinity." + +Now Christopher took counsel with Jack of the Tofts and the +great men of the kingdom, and that same day, the first day +of his kingship in Oakenham, was summoned a great mote of +the whole folk; and in half a month was it holden, and +thereat was Christopher taken to king with none gainsaying. + +Began now fair life for the people of Oakenrealm; for Jack +of the Tofts abode about the King in Oakenham; and wise was +his counsel, and there was no greed in him, and yet he +wotted of greed and guile in others, and warned the King +thereof when he saw it, and the tyrants were brought low, +and no poor and simple man had need to thieve. As for +Christopher, he loved better to give than to take; and the +grief and sorrow of folk irked him sorely; it was to him as +if he had gotten a wound when he saw so much as one unhappy +face in a day; and all folk loved him, and the fame of him +went abroad through the lands and the roads of travel, so +that many were the wise and valiant folk that left their own +land and came into Oakenrealm to dwell there, because of the +good peace and the kindliness that there did abound; so that +Oakenrealm became both many-peopled and joyous. + +Though Jack of the Tofts abode with the King at Oakenham, +his sons went back to the Tofts, and Gilbert was deemed the +head man of them; folk gathered to them there, and the +wilderness about them became builded in many places, and the +Tofts grew into a goodly cheaping town, for those brethren +looked to it that all roads in the woodland should be safe +and at peace, so that no chapman need to arm him or his +folk; nay, a maiden might go to and fro on the woodland +ways, with a golden girdle about her, without so much as the +crumpling of a lap of her gown unless by her own will. + +As to David, at first Christopher bade him strongly to abide +with him ever, for he loved him much. But David nay-said +it, and would go home to the Tofts; and when the King +pressed him sore, at last he said: "Friend and fellow, I +must now tell thee the very sooth, and then shalt thou +suffer me to depart, though the sundering be but sorrow to +me. For this it is, that I love thy Lady and wife more than +meet is, and here I find it hard to thole my desire and my +grief; but down in the thicket yonder amongst my brethren of +the woods, and man and maid, and wife and babe, nay, the +very deer of the forest, I shall become a man again, and be +no more a peevish and grudging fool; and as the years wear, +shall sorrow wear, and then, who knows but we may come +together again." + +Then Christopher smiled kindly on him and embraced him, but +they spake no more of that matter, but sat talking a while, +and then bade each other farewell, and David went his ways +to the Tofts. But a few months thereafter, when a son had +been born to Christopher, David came to Oakenrealm, but +stayed there no longer than to greet the King, and do him to +wit that he was boun for over-sea to seek adventure. Many +gifts the King gave him, and they sundered in all +loving-kindness, and the King said: "Farewell, friend, I +shall remember thee and thy kindness for ever." But David +said: "By the roof in Littledale and by the hearth thereof, +thou shalt be ever in my mind." + +Thus they parted for that time; but five and twenty years +afterwards, when Child Christopher was in his most might and +majesty, and Goldilind was yet alive and lovely, and sons +and daughters sat about their board, it was the Yule feast +in the King's Hall at Oakenham, and there came a man into +the hall that none knew, big of stature, grey-eyed and +hollow-cheeked, with red hair grizzled, and worn with the +helm; a weaponed man, chieftain-like and warrior-like. And +when the serving-men asked him of his name, and whence and +whither, he said: "I have come from over-seas to look upon +the King, and when he seeth me he will know my name." Then +he put them all aside and would not be gainsaid, but strode +up the hall to the high-seat, and stood before the King and +said: "Hail, little King Christopher! Hail, stout babe of +the woodland!" + +Then the King looked on him and knew him at once, and stood +up at once with a glad cry, and came round unto him, and +took his arms about him and kissed him, and led him into the +high-seat, and set him betwixt him and Goldilind, and she +also greeted him and took him by the hand and kissed him; +and Jack of the Tofts, now a very old man, but yet hale and +stark, who sat on the left hand of the King, leaned toward +him and kissed him and blessed him; for lo! it was David of +the Tofts. + +Spake he now and said: "Christopher, this is now a happy +day!" + +Said the King: "David, whither away hence, and what is +thine heart set upon?" + +"On the renewal of our youth," said David, "and the abiding +with thee. By my will no further will I go than this thine +house. How sayest thou?" + +"As thou dost," said Christopher, "that this is indeed a +happy day; drink out of my cup now, to our abiding together, +and the end of sundering till the last cometh." + +So they drank together, they two, and were happy amidst the +folk of the hall; and at last the King stood up and spake +aloud, and did all to wit that this was his friend and +fellow of the old days; and he told of his doughty deeds, +whereof he had heard many a tale, and treasured them in his +heart while they were apart, and he bade men honour him, all +such as would be his friends. And all men rejoiced at the +coming of this doughty man and the friend of the King. + +So there abode David, holden in all honour, and in great +love of Child Christopher and Goldilind; and when his father +died, his earldom did the King give to David his friend, who +never sundered from him again, but was with him in peace and +in war, in joy and in sorrow. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +OF MATTERS OF MEADHAM. + + +GOES the tale back now to the time when the kingship of +Child Christopher was scarce more than one month old; and +tells that as the King sat with his Queen in the cool of his +garden on a morning of August, there came to him a swain of +service, who did him to wit that an outland lord was come, +and would see him and give him a message. + +So the King bade bring him in to the garden to him +straight-way; so the man went, and came back again leading +in a knight somewhat stricken in years, on whose green +surcoat was beaten a golden lion. + +He came to those twain and did obeisance to them, but spake, +as it seemed, to Goldilind alone: "Lady, and Queen of +Meadham," said he, "it is unto thee, first of all, that mine +errand is." + +Then she spoke and said: "Welcome to thee, Sir Castellan of +Greenharbour, we shall hear thy words gladly." + +Said the new-comer: "Lady, I am no longer the Burgreve of +Greenharbour, but Sir Guisebert, lord of the Green March, +and thy true servant and a suitor for thy grace and pardon." + +"I pardon thee not, but thank thee for what thou didst of +good to me," said Goldilind, "and I think that now thine +errand shall be friendly." + +Then turned the Green Knight to the King, and he said: +"Have I thy leave to speak, Lord King?" and he smiled +covertly. + +But Christopher looked on the face and coat-armour of him, +and called him to mind as the man who had stood betwixt him +and present death that morning in the porch of the +Littledale house; so he looked on him friendly, and said: +"My leave thou hast, Sir Knight, to speak fully and freely, +and that the more as meseemeth I saw thee first when thou +hadst weaponed men at thy back, and wert turning their +staves away from my breast." + +"Even so it is, Lord King," said the Knight; "and to say +sooth, I fear thee less for thy kingship, than because I wot +well that thou mayst lightly take me up by the small of my +back and cast me over thy shoulder if thou have a mind +therefor." + +Christopher laughed at his word, and bade him sit down upon +the green grass and tell his errand straightway; and the +Knight tarried not, but spake out: "Queen of Meadham, I am +a friend and fellow, and in some sort a servant, to Earl +Geoffrey, Regent of Meadham, whom thou knowest; and he hath +put a word in my mouth which is both short and easy for me +to tell. All goes awry in Meadham now, and men are arming +against each other, and will presently be warring, but if +thou look to it; because all this is for lack of thee. But +if thou wilt vouchsafe to come to Meadhamstead, and sit on +thy throne for a little while, commanding and forbidding; +and if thou wilt appoint one of the lords for thine Earl +there, and others for thy captains, and governors and +burgreves and so forth; then if the people see thee and hear +thee, the swords will go into their sheaths, and the spears +will hang on the wall again, and we shall have peace in +Meadham, for all will do thy bidding. Wherefore, Lady and +Queen, I beseech thee to come to us, and stave off the riot +and ruin. What sayest thou?" + +Goldilind made answer in a while: "Sir Guisebert, true it +is that I long to see my people, and to look once more on my +father's house, and the place where he was born and died. +But how know I but this is some wile of Earl Geoffrey, for +he hath not been abounding in trustiness toward us?" + +But Sir Guisebert swore on his salvation that there was no +guile therein, and they were undone save Goldilind came unto +them. Then spake Christopher: "Sir Knight, I am willing to +pleasure my Lady, who, as I can see, longeth to behold her +own land and people; and also by thy voice and thy face I +deem that thou art not lying unto me, and that no harm will +befall the Lady; yet will I ask thee right out what thou and +thy lord would think thereof if she come into Meadham +accompanied; to wit, if I rode with her, and had five +hundreds of good riders at my back, would ye have guesting +for so many and such stark lads?" + +The Knight took up the word eagerly, and said: "Wilt thou +but come, dearlord, and bring a thousand or more, then the +surer and the safer it would be for us." + +Said the King, smiling: "Well, it shall be thought on; and +meantime be thou merry with us; for indeed I deem of thee, +that but for thy helping my life had been cast away that +morning in Littledale." + +So they made much of the Meadham man for three days, and +thereafter they rode into Meadham and to Meadhamstead, +Christopher, and Jack of the Tofts, and Goldilind, in all +honour and triumph, they and seven hundreds of spears, and +never were lords received with such joy and kindness as were +they, but it were on the day when Christopher and his +entered Oakenham. + +The Earl Geoffrey was not amongst them that met them; but +whenas they sat at the banquet in the hall, and Goldilind +was in the high-seat, gloriously clad and with the kingly +crown on her head, there came a tall man up to the dais, +grey-headed and keen-eyed, and he was unarmed, without so +much as a sword by his side, and clad in simple black; and +he knelt before Goldilind, and laid his head on her lap, and +spake: "Lady and Queen, here is my head to do with as thou +wilt; for I have been thy dastard, and I crave thy pardon, +if so it may be, for I am Geoffrey." + +She looked kindly on him, and raised him up; and then she +turned to the chief of the serving-men, and said: "Fetch me +a sword with its sheath and its girdle, and see that it be a +good blade, and all well-adorned, both sword and sheath and +girdle." Even so it was done; and when she had the sword, +she bade Sir Geoffrey kneel again before her, and she girt +him with the said sword and spake: "Sir Geoffrey, all the +wrong which thou didest to me, I forgive it thee and forget +it; but wherein thou hast done well, I will remember it, for +thou hast given me a mighty King to be my man; nay, the +mightiest and the loveliest on earth; wherefore I bless +thee, and will make thee my Earl to rule all Meadham under +me, if so be the folk gainsay it not. Wherefore now let +these folk fetch thee seemly garments and array thee, and +then come sit amongst us, and eat and drink on this high +day; for a happy day it is when once again I sit in my +father's house, and see the faces of my folk that loveth +me." + +She spake loud and clear, so that most folk in the hall +heard her; and they rejoiced at her words, for Sir Geoffrey +was no ill ruler, but wise and of great understanding, keen +of wit and deft of word, and a mighty warrior withal; only +they might not away with it that their Lady and Queen had +become as alien to them. So when they heard her speak her +will, they shouted for joy of the peace and goodwill that +was to be. + +There then sat Geoffrey at the banquet; and Christopher +smiled on him, and said: "See now, lord, if I have not done +as thou badest when thou gavest me the treasure of +Greenharbour, for I have brought the wolf-heads to thy +helping and not to thy scathing. Do thou as much for me, and +be thou a good earl to thy Lady and mine, and then shalt +thou yet live and die a happy man, and my friend. Or +else--" + +"There shall be no else, Lord King," quoth Geoffrey; "all +men henceforth shall tell of me as a true man." + +So they were blithe and joyous together. But a seven days +thence was the Allmen's Mote gathered to the wood-side +without Meadhamstead, and thronged it was: and there +Goldilind stood up before all the folk and named Sir +Geoffrey for Earl to rule the land under her, and none +gainsaid it, for they knew him meet thereto. Then she named +from the baronage and knighthood such men as she had been +truly told were meet thereto to all the offices of the +kingdom, and there was none whom she named but was well- +pleasing to the folk; for she had taken counsel beforehand +with all the wisest men of all degrees. + +As for herself, all loved and worshipped her; and this alone +seemed hard unto them, that she must needs go back to +Oakenrealm in a few days: but when she heard them murmur +thereat, she behight them, that once in every year she would +come into Meadham and spend one whole month therein; and, +were it possible, ever should that be the month of May. So +when they heard that, they all praised her, and were the +more content. This custom she kept ever thereafter, and she +lay in with her second son in the city of Meadhamstead, so +that he was born therein; and she named him to be King after +her, to the great joy of that folk; and he grew up strong +and well-liking, and came to the kingship while his mother +was yet alive, and was a good man and well-beloved of his +folk. + +Before she turned back with her man, she let seek out +Aloyse, and when she came before her, gave her gifts and +bade her come back with her to Oakenham and serve her there +if she would: and the damsel was glad, for there in +Meadhamstead was she poor and not well seen to, whereas it +was rumoured of her that she had been one of the jailers of +Goldilind. + +When they came back to Oakenham, there they met Gandolf, +Baron of Brimside, now whole of his hurts, and the King +greeted him kindly, and did well to him all his life; and +found him ever a true man. + +Good thenceforward was the life of Child Christopher and +Goldilind: whiles indeed they happed on unpeace or other +trouble; but never did fair love and good worship depart +from them, either of each unto each, or of the whole folk +unto them twain. + +To no man did Christopher mete out worse than his deserts, +nay, to most far better he meted: no man he feared, nor +hated any save the tormentors of poor folk; and but a little +while abided his hatred of those, for it cut short their +lives, so that they were speedily done with and forgotten. +And when he died a very old man but one year after Goldilind +his dear, no king that ever lived was so bewailed by his +folk as was Child Christopher. + + + + +The end of Project Gutenberg etext of Child Christopher by +William Morris. + + + + + + diff --git a/old/chilc10.zip b/old/chilc10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..41123e1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/chilc10.zip |