按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
place for you！'
'Let me alone！' entreated Malcolm； as he saw Percy's amazed look and whistle of scorn。 'They don't want me。'
'You will never have your place if you do not take it；' said the old gentleman； and leading the trembling； shrinking boy up to the door； he continued； 'For the honour of Scotland； Sir！' and then announcing Malcolm by his rank and title； he almost thrust him in。
Fancying he detected a laugh on Ralf Percy's face； and a sneer on that of the stout English porter； Malcolm felt doubly wretched as he was ushered into the hall and the buzz of talk and the confusion made by the attendance of the worthy knight and his many sons； one of whom； waiting with better will than skill； had nearly run down the shy limping Scotsman； who looked wildly for refuge at some table。 In his height of distress； a kindly gesture of invitation beckoned to him； and he found himself seated and addressed； first in French； and then in careful foreign English； by the same lady whom he had yesterday taken for Joan of Somerset； namely； Esclairmonde de Luxemburg。
He was too much confused to look up till the piece of pasty and the wine with which the lady had caused him to be supplied were almost consumed； and it was not till she had made some observations on the journey that he became at ease enough to hazard any sort of answer； and then it was in his sweet low Scottish voice； with that irresistibly attractive look of shy wistful gratitude in his great soft brown eyes； while his un…English accent caused her to say； 'I am a stranger here； like yourself； my Lord；' and at the same moment he first raised his eyes to behold what seemed to him perfect beauty and dignity； an oval face； richly…tinted olive complexion； dark pensive eyes； a sweet grave mouth smiling with encouraging kindness； and a lofty brow that gave the whole face a magnificent air； not so much stately as above and beyond this world。 It might have befitted St。 Barbara or St。 Katherine； the great intellectual virgin visions of purity and holiness of the middle ages； but the kindness of the smile went to Malcolm's heart； and emboldened him to answer in his best French； 'You are from Holland； lady？'
'Not from the fens；' she answered。 'My home lies in the borders of the forest of Ardennes。'
And then they found that they understood each other best when she spoke French； and Malcolm English； or rather Scotch； and their acquaintance made so much progress； that when the signal was again given to mount； the Lady Esclairmonde permitted Malcolm to assist her to her saddle； and as he rode beside her he felt pleased with himself； and as if Ralf Percy were welcome to look at him now。
On Esclairmonde's other hand there rode a small； slight girl； whom Malcolm took for quite a child； and paid no attention to； but presently old Sir Lewis Robsart rode back with a message that my Lady of Westmoreland wished to know where the Lady Alice Montagu was。 A gentle； timid voice answered； 'O Sir； I am well here with Lady Esclairmonde。 Pray tell my good lady so。'
And therewith Sir Lewis smiled； and said； 'You could scarcely be in better hands； fair damsel；' and rode back again； while Alice was still entreating； 'May I stay with you； dear lady？ It is all so strange and new！'
Esclairmonde smiled； and said； 'You make me at home here； Mademoiselle。 It is I who am the stranger！'
'Ah！ but you have been in Courts before。 I never lived anywhere but at Middleham Castle till they fetched me away to meet the Queen。'
For the gentle little maiden； a slender； fair…haired； childish…faced creature； in her sixteenth year； was the motherless child and heiress of the stout Earl of Salisbury； the last of the Montacutes； or Montagues； who was at present fighting the King's battles in France； but had sent his commands that she should be brought to Court； in preparation for fulfilling the long…arranged contract between her and Sir Richard Nevil； one of the twenty…two children of the Earl of Westmoreland。
She was under the charge of the Countessa stately dame； with all the Beaufort pride； and much afraid of her she was； as everything that was shy or forlorn seemed to turn towards the maiden whose countenance not only promised kindness but protection。
Presently the cavalcade passed a gray building in the midst of green fields and orchards； where； under the trees； some black…veiled figures sat spinning。
'A nunnery！' quoth Esclairmonde； looking eagerly after it as she rode past。
'A nunnery！' said Malcolm； encouraged into the simple confidingness of a young boy。 'How unlike the one where my sister is！ Not a tree is near it； it is perched upon a wild crag overhanging the angry sea； and the winds roar； and the gulls and eagles scream； and the waves thunder round it！'
'Yet it is not the less a haven of peace；' replied Esclairmonde。
'Verily；' said Malcolm； 'one knows what peace is under that cloister； where all is calm while the winds rave without。'
'You know how to love a cloister；' said the lady； as she heard his soft； sad tones。
'I had promised myself to make my home in one；' said Malcolm； 'but my King will have me make trial of the world first。 And so please you；' he added； recollecting himself； 'he forbade me to make my purpose known； so pray； lady； be so good as to forget what I have said。'
'I will be silent；' said Esclairmonde； 'but I will not forget； for I look on you as one like myself； my young lord。 I too am dedicated； and only longing to reach my cloistered haven。'
She spoke it out with the ease of those days when the monastic was as recognized a profession as any other calling； and yet with something of the desire to make it evident on what ground she stood。
Lady Alice uttered an exclamation of surprise。
'Yes；' said Esclairmonde； 'I was dedicated his my infancy； and promised myself in the nunnery at Dijon when I was seven years old。'
Then； as if to turn the conversation from herself； she asked of Malcolm if he too had made any vow。
'Only to myself；' said Malcolm。 'Neither my Tutor nor the Prior of Coldingham would hear my vows。' And he was soon drawn into telling his whole story； to which the ladies both listened with great interest and kindness； Esclairmonde commending his resolution to leave the care of his lands and vassals to one whom he represented as so much better fitted to bear them as Patrick Drummond； and only regretting the silence King James had enjoined； saying she felt that there was safety and protection in being avowed as a destined religious。
'And you are one；' said Lady Alice； looking at her in wonder。 'And yet you are with THAT lady' And the girl's innocent face expressed a certain wonder and disgust that no one could marvel at who had heard the Flemish Countess talk in the loudest； broadest； most hoydenish style。
'She has been my very good lady；' said Esclairmonde； 'she has； under the saints； saved me from much。'
'Oh； I entreat you； tell us； dear lady！' entreated Alice。 It was not a reticent age。 Malcolm Stewart had already avowed himself in his own estimation pledged to a monastic life； and Esclairmonde of Luxemburg had reasons for wishing her position and intentions to be distinctly understood by all with whom