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At these words a light shone in Hugh's keen grey eyes。
〃I'm glad of that； Eve； for I've been told much of this fine fellow
amongst other things that he is a traitor come here to spy on England。
But should I be a match for him； man to man； Eve？〃 he asked after a
little pause。
She looked him up and down； then answered：
〃I think so； though he is no weakling； but not for him and the five
knights and the ten squires； and my noble father； and my brother； and
the rest。 Oh； Hugh； Hugh！〃 she added bitterly； 〃cannot you understand
that you are but a merchant's lad； though your blood be as noble as
any in this realma merchant's lad； the last of five brothers？ Why
were you not born the first of them if you wished for Eve Clavering；
for then your red gold might have bought me。〃
〃Ask that of those who begot me；〃 said Hugh。 〃Come now； what's in your
mind？ You're not one to be sold like a heifer at a faring and go
whimpering to the altar； and I am not one to see you led there while I
stand upon my feet。 We are made of a clay too stiff for a French
lord's fingers； Eve； though it is true that they may drag you whither
you would not walk。〃
〃No；〃 she answered； 〃I think I shall take some marrying against my
wish。 Moreover； I am Dunwich born。〃
〃What of that； Eve？〃
〃Go ask your godsire and my friend； Sir Andrew Arnold； the old priest。
In the library of the Temple there he showed me an ancient roll； a
copy of the charter granted by John and other kings of England to the
citizens of Dunwich。〃
〃What said this writing； Eve？〃
〃It said； among other things； that no man or maid of Dunwich can be
forced to marry against their will； even in the lifetime of their
parents。〃
〃But will it hold to…day？〃
〃Ay； I think so。 I think that is why the holy Sir Andrew showed it to
me； knowing something of our case； for he is my confessor when I can
get to him。〃
〃Then； sweet； you are safe！〃 exclaimed Hugh； with a sigh of relief。
〃Ay； so safe that to…morrow Father Nicholas； the French chaplain in
his train； has been warned to wed me to my lord Acourthat is； if I'm
there to wed。〃
〃And if this Acour is here； I'll seek him out to…night and challenge
him； Eve；〃 and Hugh laid hand upon his sword。
〃Doubtless；〃 she replied sarcastically； 〃Sir Edmund Acour； Count of
Noyon； Seigneur of Cattrina； will find it honour to accept the
challenge of Hugh de Cressi； the merchant's youngest son。 Oh； Hugh；
Hugh！ are your wits frozen like this winter marsh？ Not thus can you
save me。〃
The young man thought a while； staring at the ground and biting his
lips。 Then he looked up suddenly and said：
〃How much do you love me； Eve？〃
With a slow smile； she opened her arms； and next moment they were
kissing each other as heartily as ever man and maid have kissed since
the world began； so heartily； indeed； that when at length she pushed
him from her； her lovely face was as red as the cloak she wore。
〃You know well that I love you； to my sorrow and undoing；〃 she said；
in a broken voice。 〃From childhood it has been so between us； and till
the grave takes one or both it will be so； and for my part beyond it；
if the priests speak true。 For； whatever may be your case； I am not
one to change my fancy。 When I give； I give all； though it be of
little worth。 In truth； Hugh； if I could I would marry you to…night；
though you are naught but a merchant's son； or even〃 And she
paused； wiping her eyes with the back of her slim； strong hand。
〃I thank you；〃 he answered； trembling with joy。 〃So it is with me。 For
you and no other woman I live and die； and though I am so humble I'll
be worthy of you yet。 If God keeps me in breath you shall not blush
for your man； Eve。 Well； I am not great at words； so let us come to
deeds。 Will you away with me now？ I think that Father Arnold would
find you lodging for the night and an altar to be wed at； and
to…morrow our ship sails for Flanders and for France。〃
〃Yes； but would your father give us passage in it； Hugh？〃
〃Why not？ It could not deepen the feud between our Houses； which
already has no bottom； and if he refused； we would take one； for the
captain is my friend。 And I have some little store set by； it came to
me from my mother。〃
〃You ask much；〃 she said； 〃all a woman has； my life； perchance； as
well。 Yet there it is； I'll go because I'm a fool； Hugh； and； as it
chances； you are more to me than aught； and I hate this fine French
lord。 I tell you I sicken at his glance and shiver when he touches me。
Why； if he came too near I should murder him and be hanged。 I'll go；
though God alone knows the end of it。〃
〃Our purpose being honest； the end will be good； Eve； though perhaps
before all is done we may often think it evil。 And now let's away；
though I wish that you were dressed in another colour。〃
〃Red Eve they name me； and red is my badge； because it suits my dark
face best。 Cavil not at my robe； Hugh； for it is the only dowry you
will get with Eve Clavering。 How shall we go？ By the Walberswick
ferry？ You have no horses。〃
〃Nay； but I have a skiff hidden in the reeds five miles furlongs off。
We must keep to the heath above Walberswick； for there they might know
your red cloak even after dark； and I would not have you seen till we
are safe with Sir Arnold in the Preceptory。 Mother of Heaven！ what is
that？〃
〃A peewit； no more；〃 she answered indifferently。
〃Nay； it is my man Dick； calling like a peewit。 That is his sign when
trouble is afoot。 Ah； here he comes。〃
As he spoke a tall； gaunt man appeared； advancing towards them。 His
gait was a shambling trot that seemed slow； although； in truth； he was
covering the ground with extraordinary swiftness。 Moreover； he moved
so silently that even on the frost…held soil his step could not be
heard； and so carefully that not a reed stirred as he threaded in and
out among their clumps like an otter； his head crouched down and his
long bow pointed before him as though it were a spear。 Half a minute
more； and he was before thema very strange man to see。 His years
were not so many； thirty perhaps； and yet his face looked quite old
because of its lack of colouring； its thinness； and the hard lines
that marked where the muscles ran down to the tight； straight mouth
and up to the big forehead； over which hung hair so light that at a
little distance he seemed ashen…grey。 Only in this cold； rocky face；
set very far apart； were two pale…blue eyes； which just now； when he
chose to lift their lids that generally kept near together； as though
he were half asleep； were full of fire and quick cunning。
Reaching the pair； this strange fellow dropped to his knee and raised
his cap to Eve； the great lady of the ClaveringsRed Eve； as they
called her through that country…side。 Then he spoke； in a low； husky
voice：
〃They're coming； master！ You and your mistress must to earth unless
you mean to face them in the open；〃 and the pale eyes glittered as he
tapped his great black bow。
〃Who are coming； Dick？ Be plain； man！〃
〃Sir John Clavering； my lady's father； young John； my lady's brother；
the fine French lord who wears a white swan for a crest； three of the
nights； his companions； and sixno sevenm