Mellis did not have to wake him that morning, for he was up before the birds had begun their orisons, his heart full of the great adventure that life had thrust upon him. He had taken it solemnly, like a young man before his knighthood, or a soldier setting forth2 on a Crusade, and all that he did that morning in the gray of the dawn betrayed the symbolical3 passion of the lover. He was to enter upon a new state before he touched that white harness, and so he went to the mere4, stripped off his clothes, and bathed in the water. Then he knelt awhile, grave-eyed and strong, watching the sun rise on the new day, while the birds were a choir5 invisible.
When Mellis came down from her chamber6 she found him in the garden with the harness spread out upon the leather sack, so that the wet grass should not tarnish7 it. He had cut his cassock short above the knees, and was holding the salade in his hands and staring at it like a crystal gazer.
He flushed, and glanced at her with an air of bafflement.
“These iron clothes are new to me.”
Mellis did not smile at his predicament, though she guessed that he had no knowledge of how to arm himself.
“You must try the feel of it,” she said, “for a man should test himself with the weight of his harness. Four hands are needed for such a toilet. When we have eaten I will play the page to you.”
She was as good as her word, and the arming of Martin Valliant was an event in the life of the garden. Mellis made him seat himself upon the bench, while she picked up the pieces one by one and taught him his lesson by buckling8 them on with her own hands. First came the breast- and back-plates, the pauldrons and gorget, the vam-braces and rear-braces. Then she made him stand up.
“You may call that half-harness; a man can move lightly and fight on foot, but when bowmen are about, a man-at-arms should be sheathed9 from top to toe.”
Next she buckled10 on tassets, loin-guard, cuishes, greaves and solerets, set the salade on his head, and slung11 the green shield by its strap12 about his neck.
“Now, man of the sword!”
She stood back and surveyed him.
“Yes, it is better than I had hoped. You are a bigger man than my poor brother, but the harness covers you. Of course you should be wearing a wadded coat to save all chafing13, and hose of good wool.”
Her eyes lit up as she looked him over, and she held her head proudly.
“I have no spear to give you, though I doubt not that you will make a better beginning with the sword—if needs be. Try the joints14, Martin.”
He walked up and down before her, raised his arms, spread them wide, folded them over his chest. He seemed made for such heavy harness; the strong, sweeping15 movements of his limbs were not crabbed16 or clogged17 by it.
“The thing is like an iron skin.”
“Ah! it was made by a fine armorer. The joints are perfect. And the weight of it?”
“I’ll swear I could run or leap.”
“You are fresh as yet. A man must wear such harness for a day to learn where it irks him. And so I am thinking that I will leave you to master it. There is work for me in the Forest.”
He unhelmed himself, and his blue eyes looked at her questioningly.
“What! You are venturing abroad?”
“Yes; I shall take the horse, and your wallet full of food.”
“Why must you go?”
“Why, brother-in-arms, because we are not the only people on God’s earth who thirst to humble18 the Lord of Troy. We have friends in the Forest, and I must see them—take counsel, and plan what can be done. They were waiting for friends from France, and for poor Gilbert to give the word.”
He answered her with sudden fire.
“I carry your brother’s sword and wear his harness. It is my right to go.”
She smiled at him with quiet eyes.
“Dear man, that would not help us; you could not prove, as yet, that you are in the secret. Besides, all the wheels of it are in my head. I shall ride to Badger19 Hill and see John Falconer; he holds the reins20 in the Forest.”
“But what of the Lord of Troy? Those dead men——”
“What does he know as yet? He may send out riders, but I know the Forest better than any man that Roger Bland21 can count on. I shall not be caught in a snare22. Moreover, Martin Valliant, I leave you to guard our stronghold and the precious gear in that cellar.”
He was very loth to let her go alone, and bitterly against it, though he saw the wisdom of her argument.
“My heart mislikes this venture.”
“You run to meet a ghost,” she said. “I shall come to no harm, believe me.”
She had her way, and he went to open the gate and lower the bridge while she put on a cloak and hood1, and filled the wallet with food. She joined him on the causeway, where he stood scanning the woods mistrustfully.
“I would to God I might go with you.”
Her eyes looked into his.
“Your heart goes with me. Bear with that harness, for your bones will ache not a little. And keep good guard.”
He watched her cross the grassland23 toward the thicket24 where they had hidden the horse. Woodmere seemed to lack sunlight of a sudden, and his heart felt heavy when the trees hid her.
Nor were Martin’s fears for her safety the mere idle qualms25 of a man in love. There was a saddling of horses at Troy Castle, and Fulk de Lisle, Roger Bland’s bravo, was shut up with him in my lord’s closet.
Vance’s archer26 man, who had escaped Martin Valliant’s spade, had come in the night before, after losing his way in the Forest. His tale lost nothing in the telling. Mellis Dale had stabbed the Forest Warden27 with her poniard, and her paramour, the priest, had then beaten him, and John Bunce, to death. If my lord doubted it, let him send men to the Black Moor28, and they would find the bodies.
So Fulk de Lisle had his orders. He was a gay, swashbuckling devil, very handsome, very debonair29, a great man with his weapons. He stood before the Lord of Troy, leaning on his sword, his black hair curled under his flat red hat, his sword belt bossed with gold. He wore no armor save a cuirass, and light greaves; the blue sleeves of his doublet were puffed30 with crimson31; his hose were striped red and blue.
“Take thirty men; let them ride in three troops. Go yourself with one troop to the Black Moor; send Peter Rich with ten men to Badger Hill, and Swartz with the rest to Woodmere. I have sent messengers to Gawdy Town. I want the wench and the priest, both of them. And Vance’s body had better be brought in.”
Fulk de Lisle turned to go. This was work that pleased him. The Forest had been dull and law-abiding for many months.
“Wait!”
Fulk faced about.
“My lord?”
“How do you think to know the girl when you see her?”
“They say she is dark and vixenish, with eyes that bid a man stand back, a well-favored wench.”
“Oldham, the archer, can recognize them both.”
“He cannot be in three places at once, Sir Fulk de Lisle.”
“He shall go with me. Swartz and Rich shall have orders to take and bring in any likely looking damsel.”
“Yes, leave it at that. Waste no time. I am not patient when such tricks are played me.”
So Fulk de Lisle and his men rode out from Troy Castle. They were lightly armed for fast riding, and ten of them shouldered cross-bows instead of spears. They kept together till they reached Red Heath, where Peter Rich and Swartz broke off with their two troops with guides for Woodmere and Badger Hill.
Meanwhile Mellis was on her way to John Falconer’s house at Badger Hill. She sighted it about nine o’clock, a great, low, black-beamed, white-plastered place, walled around with gray stone, on the side of a sandy hill. Fir woods, dark as midnight, climbed skywards behind it; the farm lands lay in the valley to the south, but elsewhere the soil was poor, and grew nothing but gorse and heather.
Mellis rode over the heath and up the hill to the house. A gawk of a boy, who was cleaning harness outside the stable doorway33, stared at her with a face like sodden34 dough35. She reined36 up in the courtyard and called to him.
“Is Master Falconer here?”
“Sure!”
“Tell Master Falconer that I am waiting.”
“Who be—I?”
He vanished down a slope that led under one wing of the house, and in half a minute John Falconer came out to her. He was like the hill he lived on—a gray badger of a man, grim, reticent39, yet kindly40. His short neck made the breadth of his shoulders more apparent. His legs were bowed and immensely strong. John Falconer was a piece of the Forest. His hair and beard were the color of beech41 mast, sanded with gray.
“Do you know me?”
His eyes brightened like a dog’s.
“God’s death! Is it you?”
“My own and very self. And poor Gilbert—you have heard?”
He looked grim.
“God hearten you, child! But what has happened?”
The boy reappeared, and proceeded to stare at them, while he picked his teeth with a straw. Nor was John Falconer aware of the youngster’s presence until he saw Mellis’s eyes prompting him to turn his head.
The man of Badger Hill gave a kind of growl42, and the child disappeared with a flutter of brown legs.
“I had to find you, John, but I am loth to be seen here by any stray fool.”
“The men are in the fields.”
“But that boy?”
“He has no tongue when it pleases me.”
She glanced at the pine woods.
“If your dinner can wait I will talk to you up there.”
He nodded.
“Wise wench!”
Mellis fastened her horse to a tree, and she and John Falconer walked to and fro along one of the black aisles43. She had much to tell him, and he seemed to grow grimmer the longer he listened. His comments were short, gruff growls44 and an occasional terse45 judgment46.
“Vance dead! May he burn like pitch! The priest turned outlaw47! What next? You have made him your man? Nay—I mislike that. A black Benedictine! Lord, but we are in for a storm!”
John Falconer frightened most people, but he did not frighten Mellis. She had known him since she was a toddler of three, to be picked up and carried on his shoulder.
“Whether you like it or not, John, these things cannot be helped. Vance has made us run when we would have walked. As to Martin Valliant, I would stake my right hand on his keeping faith with us. And now—will you rally to us? We can hold Woodmere till the whole Forest flaunts48 the Red Rose.”
“I would we had word from France.”
“It cannot be helped. If our people are loth to move—well, I will disappear, go and live in one of those old quarry49 holes by the Rondel.”
“No. I am with you, if I lose my old head for it. I am not so young as I was, and I would get my blow in at Roger Bland before I am stiff in the back. I will ride out to-night and warn our friends, and by to-morrow we shall be able to throw a garrison51 into Woodmere.”
“Stubborn, trusty oak!”
Falconer smiled grimly.
“There are many men who lust52 to feel their poniards in Roger Bland’s throat. I pray that mine may have that honor.”
Mellis did not tarry there much longer. Her work was done for the day; she could leave the Forest folk to John Falconer. She chose a different track for her homeward ride—a way that plunged53 through the pine woods and turned south again by Witch’s Cross. And she was saved by her caution, for half an hour after she had left Badger Hill Peter Rich and his men came riding along the track she had used in the morning.
They found John Falconer at his dinner, and well warned as to their business. He was bluff54 and easy with Peter Rich, had ale drawn55 for the men and water for their horses.
Rich did not beat about his business.
“Tut, man! She has been in France these seven years.”
“That is a good bit of brag57, John Falconer. Come, now; I have no wish to ride the high horse; the girl has been here; let us have the truth.”
Falconer told his lie with square-faced hardihood.
“I have not seen Mellis Dale for seven years. You can search the house.”
Rich had it searched to salve his conscience. His men found nothing—not even the stable boy, who was shut up in the venison hutch in a dark corner of the larder58, and far too much in terror of John Falconer to betray himself.
Peter Rich drank ale while his men were at work. He took his failure philosophically59, and got back into the saddle.
“It has saved me pulling you by the beard, John Falconer.”
“My beard may be at your service—some day.”
They grinned at each other like fierce dogs, and Peter Rich rode off. But he left two men in the woods to watch the place, which was a trick of no great moment, for John Falconer guessed that he would be watched.
“Thank God the girl left betimes, and by the other road. And God grant she may not find a trap at Woodmere House.”
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1
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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symbolical
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| a.象征性的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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tarnish
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| n.晦暗，污点；vt.使失去光泽；玷污 | |
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8
buckling
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| 扣住 | |
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sheathed
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| adj.雕塑像下半身包在鞘中的；覆盖的；铠装的；装鞘了的v.将（刀、剑等）插入鞘( sheathe的过去式和过去分词 )；包，覆盖 | |
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buckled
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| a. 有带扣的 | |
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slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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13
chafing
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| n.皮肤发炎v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的现在分词 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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crabbed
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| adj.脾气坏的；易怒的；（指字迹）难辨认的；（字迹等）难辨认的v.捕蟹( crab的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
clogged
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| （使）阻碍( clog的过去式和过去分词 )； 淤滞 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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23
grassland
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| n.牧场，草地，草原 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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qualms
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| n.不安；内疚 | |
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archer
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| n.射手，弓箭手 | |
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warden
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| n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人 | |
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moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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debonair
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| adj.殷勤的，快乐的 | |
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30
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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jade
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| n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠 | |
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33
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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sodden
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| adj.浑身湿透的；v.使浸透；使呆头呆脑 | |
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35
dough
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| n.生面团；钱，现款 | |
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36
reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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37
budged
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| v.（使）稍微移动( budge的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）改变主意，（使）让步 | |
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38
dolt
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| n.傻瓜 | |
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39
reticent
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| adj.沉默寡言的；言不如意的 | |
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40
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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41
beech
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| n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的 | |
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42
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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43
aisles
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| n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊 | |
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44
growls
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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45
terse
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| adj.(说话，文笔)精炼的，简明的 | |
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46
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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47
outlaw
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| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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48
flaunts
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| v.炫耀，夸耀( flaunt的第三人称单数 )；有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
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49
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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50
doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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51
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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52
lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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53
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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54
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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55
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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56
meddles
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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57
brag
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| v./n.吹牛，自夸；adj.第一流的 | |
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58
larder
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| n.食物贮藏室，食品橱 | |
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59
philosophically
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| adv.哲学上；富有哲理性地；贤明地；冷静地 | |
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