Here, then, about seven in the morning, Dick arrived. It was as cold as ever; the earth was all grey and silver with the hoarfrost, and the day began to break in the east with many colours of purple and orange.
Dick set him down upon the lowest step of the cross, wrapped himself well in his tabard, and looked vigilantly5 upon all sides. He had not long to wait. Down the road from Holywood a gentleman in very rich and bright armour6, and wearing over that a surcoat of the rarest furs, came pacing on a splendid charger. Twenty yards behind him followed a clump7 of lances; but these halted as soon as they came in view of the trysting-place, while the gentleman in the fur surcoat continued to advance alone.
His visor was raised, and showed a countenance8 of great command and dignity, answerable to the richness of his attire9 and arms. And it was with some confusion of manner that Dick arose from the cross and stepped down the bank to meet his prisoner.
“I thank you, my lord, for your exactitude,” he said, louting very low. “Will it please your lordship to set foot to earth?”
“Are ye here alone, young man?” inquired the other.
“I was not so simple,” answered Dick; “and, to be plain with your lordship, the woods upon either hand of this cross lie full of mine honest fellows lying on their weapons.”
“Y’ ’ave done wisely,” said the lord. “It pleaseth me the rather, since last night ye fought foolhardily, and more like a salvage10 Saracen lunatic than any Christian11 warrior12. But it becomes not me to complain that had the undermost.”
“Ye had the undermost indeed, my lord, since ye so fell,” returned Dick; “but had the waves not holpen me, it was I that should have had the worst. Ye were pleased to make me yours with several dagger13 marks, which I still carry. And in fine, my lord, methinks I had all the danger, as well as all the profit, of that little blind-man’s mellay on the beach.”
“Y’ are shrewd enough to make light of it, I see,” returned the stranger.
“Nay, my lord, not shrewd,” replied Dick, “in that I shoot at no advantage to myself. But when, by the light of this new day, I see how stout14 a knight15 hath yielded, not to my arms alone, but to fortune, and the darkness, and the surf—and how easily the battle had gone otherwise, with a soldier so untried and rustic16 as myself—think it not strange, my lord, if I feel confounded with my victory.”
“Ye speak well,” said the stranger. “Your name?”
“My name, an’t like you, is Shelton,” answered Dick.
“Men call me the Lord Foxham,” added the other.
“Then, my lord, and under your good favour, ye are guardian17 to the sweetest maid in England,” replied Dick; “and for your ransom18, and the ransom of such as were taken with you on the beach, there will be no uncertainty19 of terms. I pray you, my lord, of your goodwill20 and charity, yield me the hand of my mistress, Joan Sedley; and take ye, upon the other part, your liberty, the liberty of these your followers21, and (if ye will have it) my gratitude22 and service till I die.”
“But are ye not ward23 to Sir Daniel? Methought, if y’ are Harry24 Shelton’s son, that I had heard it so reported,” said Lord Foxham.
“Will it please you, my lord, to alight? I would fain tell you fully25 who I am, how situate, and why so bold in my demands. Beseech26 you, my lord, take place upon these steps, hear me to a full end, and judge me with allowance.”
And so saying, Dick lent a hand to Lord Foxham to dismount; led him up the knoll to the cross; installed him in the place where he had himself been sitting; and standing27 respectfully before his noble prisoner, related the story of his fortunes up to the events of the evening before.
Lord Foxham listened gravely, and when Dick had done, “Master Shelton,” he said, “ye are a most fortunate-unfortunate young gentleman; but what fortune y’ ’ave had, that ye have amply merited; and what unfortune, ye have noways deserved. Be of a good cheer; for ye have made a friend who is devoid28 neither of power nor favour. For yourself, although it fits not for a person of your birth to herd29 with outlaws30, I must own ye are both brave and honourable31; very dangerous in battle, right courteous32 in peace; a youth of excellent disposition33 and brave bearing. For your estates, ye will never see them till the world shall change again; so long as Lancaster hath the strong hand, so long shall Sir Daniel enjoy them for his own. For my ward, it is another matter; I had promised her before to a gentleman, a kinsman34 of my house, one Hamley; the promise is old—”
“Ay, my lord, and now Sir Daniel hath promised her to my Lord Shoreby,” interrupted Dick. “And his promise, for all it is but young, is still the likelier to be made good.”
“’Tis the plain truth,” returned his lordship. “And considering, moreover, that I am your prisoner, upon no better composition than my bare life, and over and above that, that the maiden35 is unhappily in other hands, I will so far consent. Aid me with your good fellows”—
“My lord,” cried Dick, “they are these same outlaws that ye blame me for consorting36 with.”
“Let them be what they will, they can fight,” returned Lord Foxham. “Help me, then; and if between us we regain37 the maid, upon my knightly38 honour, she shall marry you!”
Dick bent39 his knee before his prisoner; but he, leaping up lightly from the cross, caught the lad up and embraced him like a son.
“Come,” he said, “an y’ are to marry Joan, we must be early friends.”
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1
wrecks
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| n.沉船( wreck的名词复数 )；（事故中）遭严重毁坏的汽车（或飞机等）；（身体或精神上）受到严重损伤的人；状况非常糟糕的车辆（或建筑物等）v.毁坏[毁灭]某物( wreck的第三人称单数 )；使（船舶）失事，使遇难，使下沉 | |
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2
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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3
junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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4
knoll
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| n.小山，小丘 | |
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5
vigilantly
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| adv.警觉地，警惕地 | |
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6
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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7
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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8
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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9
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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10
salvage
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| v.救助，营救，援救；n.救助，营救 | |
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11
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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12
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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13
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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15
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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16
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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17
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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18
ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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19
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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20
goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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21
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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22
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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23
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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24
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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25
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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26
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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27
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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28
devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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29
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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30
outlaws
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| 歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯 | |
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31
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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32
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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33
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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34
kinsman
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| n.男亲属 | |
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35
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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36
consorting
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| v.结伴( consort的现在分词 )；交往；相称；调和 | |
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37
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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38
knightly
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| adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地 | |
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39
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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