Martin followed Swartz into the garden. The place was so wild and overgrown and tangled6 that no one troubled to enter it, save when there was a reason for lying concealed7. Swartz was waiting by the yews8 near the sundial, and Martin joined him.
“A word with you, man.”
His eyes were restless and alert.
“Come this way, under the nut trees. Those sluts are still at supper, and not looking for dark corners.”
They pushed into the tunnel of leaves and stood listening. Then Swartz began.
“The Forest is full of swine, and I go elsewhere. Look to yourself.”
He jerked a thumb toward the house.
“Swine! I know the nature of the beasts. If I stayed here a day longer I should have my throat slit9, just to make matters certain. Dead men need not be watched.”
He drew Martin close to him.
“Guard yourself, my friend; the pigs do not love you. If you are wise you will come with me and leave these gentry10 to be hunted by my Lord of Troy. Thunder, but what a man-at-arms I could make of you! In France and in Italy a good sword wins much gold; they offer you a gay life, plenty of wine, and honor to be won. These English have no souls; they are all butchers and brewers.”
He looked into Martin’s face.
“What say you? Would she come also? Three comrades in arms! I have money on me; you can buy any ship-master, and he will sail you to hell or heaven. Come—what do you say?”
Martin’s answer showed on his face.
“Swartz, no man has been more brotherly to me——”
“Damnation, man, I have a sort of foolish liking11 for you. Good men are rare, men who can fight, and throw the whole world over for a bit of honor. And here they are ready to play some foul12 trick on you.”
“Swartz—I cannot come.”
“And why not, man? If——”
“Try her.”
“No; the word would come from her—if it ever came. I stay here, on guard, her man-at-arms. I have set myself on this path, and I shall not leave it.”
Swartz knew his man, and that he was not to be persuaded.
“One word. I shall make for Gawdy Town; I shall lie there for seven days; if your mind changes you will find Swartz at a tavern14 near the harbor, at the sign of the ‘Crossed Keys.’ Much may happen in seven days.”
They gripped hands.
“Look to yourself, Martin.”
“There are things a man never forgets.”
“Tush! I have the soul of a soldier. Remember the ‘Crossed Keys.’ ”
When Martin Valliant went to his post that night outside the door of Mellis’s room he found a drunken man trying to open her door. It was barred on the inside, but the fellow was fumbling15 with the latch16, sottishly enraged17 and babbling18 oaths. Martin took him by the shoulder, sent him rolling down the stairs, and followed to see whether he betrayed any desire to return. The man went down the newel stairway with absurd contortions19, like a beetle20 rolling over and over and kicking as he rolled. He gathered himself up at the bottom, clasped his head between his hands, and disappeared unsteadily through the doorway.
Martin returned to the landing outside Mellis’s room, and stood listening.
“Mellis!”
Her voice answered him from the other side of the door.
“I am here. What has happened?”
“Nothing. A clown had lost his way, and I showed it to him with some briskness21. These knights22 and gentlemen keep but poor order among their men.”
He heard her sigh.
“Martin!”
“Dear lady!”
“What is there to fear?”
He spoke24 with calmness, but her voice had made him think of a wind blowing sadly in the distant woods at night, plaintive25 and forlorn. His own heart was heavy in him with deep foreboding, though he would not confess to it before her.
“Is John Falconer in the house?”
“I saw him an hour ago.”
“One friend, please God. Where is Swartz?”
Martin hesitated, and then gave her the truth.
“Escaped—or on the verge26 of it. He does not trust to promises—fears to be treated as a traitor27.”
“Ah! he is right. Martin, I have come by a most evil fear of my own people; their eyes do not look straight into mine. That man, Sir Gregory, is no friend of ours. Oh, I know; we women are quick. I feel a shadow over us.”
“The shadow is mine,” he said.
“No—no.”
There was passion in her voice.
“It is the evil in the hearts of other men. I feel it—feel it like a fog creeping into my window. And I loved this place; we were so happy, even though death was near; I was not afraid. But now—a dread29 of something seizes me.”
The bar was in her hands, and the door moved so that Martin saw a little streak30 of light. His heart seemed to stand still, and then beat like the heart of a man who is afraid.
“Martin!”
He did not answer her.
“There is danger for you—there. They might creep up while you are sleeping. Oh! what am I saying, what is this dread that makes me a coward? But I am not a coward, and I love you. See—you can sleep here, across my door, so that no one can touch you.”
She threw the door open, and the gray light from her room fell upon his face. She was all shadow, wrapped in a cloak that had been found for her—a vague, soft outline that seemed to yearn31 toward him, a dream begotten32 of the night, tender, mysterious.
He covered his face with his hands.
“Mellis!”
“Is there pride between us, and no sweet faith? Am I asking you to do a shameful33 thing? Why, this is no more than a simple room, where I breathe and move—and sleep. I have a great fear for you to-night; I want you near me.”
He was silent.
She caught his hands, and drew them from his face.
“Oh! I am wounded—if you have no faith!”
“Mellis!”
“Yes—wounded, to the heart! Oh! my dear love!”
He lifted her hands and kissed them almost fiercely.
He was over the threshold, and freeing a hand, she softly closed the door. Her breath came quickly, with a flutter of exultation37.
“Oh, my dear lord, my man, is this not a great sacrament between us? Now—you have made me happy; is it not strange? See—you will lie here; there is bracken, and I will spread it; and here—is a wallet for a pillow.”
“Set your sword there. Now, we are in our castle, and I have no fear. Shall we pray, kneel down like children?”
She caught his hand, and they knelt down side by side. Their prayers were said in silence, such prayers as save this world of ours from the doom that it has earned.
She started up suddenly, took his face between her hands, and kissed him.
“Dear heart, good-night!”
Mellis stretched herself on the bed, and Martin went to his couch of bracken by the door. Neither of them spoke again, but they lay awake for a long while, listening to each other’s breathing.
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收听单词发音
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1
casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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2
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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3
pegs
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| n.衣夹( peg的名词复数 )；挂钉；系帐篷的桩；弦钮v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的第三人称单数 )；使固定在某水平 | |
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lute
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| n.琵琶，鲁特琴 | |
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insolently
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| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
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6
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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7
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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8
yews
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| n.紫杉( yew的名词复数 ) | |
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9
slit
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| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
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10
gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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12
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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13
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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14
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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15
fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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16
latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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18
babbling
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| n.胡说，婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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19
contortions
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| n.扭歪，弯曲；扭曲，弄歪，歪曲( contortion的名词复数 ) | |
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20
beetle
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| n.甲虫，近视眼的人 | |
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briskness
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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22
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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23
ails
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| v.生病( ail的第三人称单数 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
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24
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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25
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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26
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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28
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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29
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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30
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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31
yearn
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| v.想念；怀念；渴望 | |
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32
begotten
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| v.为…之生父( beget的过去分词 )；产生，引起 | |
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33
shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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34
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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35
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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36
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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37
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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38
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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