登陆注册
5390600000034

第34章 CHAPTER XX: (2)

So Walter came his ways to the high-seat, and the Lady rose and greeted him, and took him by the hands, and kissed him on either cheek, and sat him down beside her. So they fell to their meat, and the Maid served them; but the Lady took no more heed of her than if she were one of the pillars of the hall; but Walter she caressed oft with sweet words, and the touch of her hand, making him drink out of her cup and eat out of her dish. As to him, he was bashful by seeming, but verily fearful; he took the Lady's caresses with what grace he might, and durst not so much as glance at her Maid. Long indeed seemed that banquet to him, and longer yet endured the weariness of his abiding there, kind to his foe and unkind to his friend; for after the banquet they still sat a while, and the Lady talked much to Walter about many things of the ways of the world, and he answered what he might, distraught as he was with the thought of those two trysts which he had to deal with.

At last spake the Lady and said: "Now must I leave thee for a little, and thou wottest where and how we shall meet next; and meanwhile disport thee as thou wilt, so that thou weary not thyself, for I love to see thee joyous."

Then she arose stately and grand; but she kissed Walter on the mouth ere she turned to go out of the hall. The Maid followed her; but or ever she was quite gone, she stooped and made that sign, and looked over her shoulder at Walter, as if in entreaty to him, and there was fear and anguish in her face; but he nodded his head to her in yea- say of the tryst in the hazel-copse, and in a trice she was gone.

Walter went down the hall, and forth into the early night; but in the jaws of the porch he came up against the King's Son, who, gazing at his attire glittering with all its gems in the moonlight, laughed out, and said: "Now may it be seen how thou art risen in degree above me, whereas I am but a king's son, and that a king of a far country; whereas thou art a king of kings, or shalt be this night, yea, and of this very country wherein we both are."

Now Walter saw the mock which lay under his words; but he kept back his wrath, and answered: "Fair sir, art thou as well contented with thy lot as when the sun went down? Hast thou no doubt or fear?

Will the Maid verily keep tryst with thee, or hath she given thee yea-say but to escape thee this time? Or, again, may she not turn to the Lady and appeal to her against thee?"

Now when he had spoken these words, he repented thereof, and feared for himself and the Maid, lest he had stirred some misgiving in that young man's foolish heart. But the King's Son did but laugh, and answered nought but to Walter's last words, and said: "Yea, yea! this word of thine showeth how little thou wottest of that which lieth betwixt my darling and thine. Doth the lamb appeal from the shepherd to the wolf? Even so shall the Maid appeal from me to thy Lady. What! ask thy Lady at thy leisure what her wont hath been with her thrall; she shall think it a fair tale to tell thee thereof. But thereof is my Maid all whole now by reason of her wisdom in leechcraft, or somewhat more. And now I tell thee again, that the beforesaid Maid must needs do my will; for if I be the deep sea, and I deem not so ill of myself, that other one is the devil; as belike thou shalt find out for thyself later on. Yea, all is well with me, and more than well."

And therewith he swung merrily into the litten hall. But Walter went out into the moonlit night, and wandered about for an hour or more, and stole warily into the hall and thence into his own chamber. There he did off that royal array, and did his own raiment upon him; he girt him with sword and knife, took his bow and quiver, and stole down and out again, even as he had come in. Then he fetched a compass, and came down into the hazel-coppice from the north, and lay hidden there while the night wore, till he deemed it would lack but little of midnight.

同类推荐
  • 洞真太上青芽始生经

    洞真太上青芽始生经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说德护长者经

    佛说德护长者经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 净土警语

    净土警语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 离峰老人集

    离峰老人集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 异辞录

    异辞录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 家庭春季生活小常识(最实用的居家小书)

    家庭春季生活小常识(最实用的居家小书)

    春天的天气变化最为反复无常,使人出现种种不适症状,患上种种疾病,因此,春天也是“百草发芽,百病发作”的季节,应注意保健养生。本书从按摩、睡眠、饮食、排毒等方面提醒读者春季生活中的小常识,只要我们多了解一些生活的小常识,那么春天里的日子肯定是阳光灿烂,风和日丽的。
  • 明伦汇编人事典鼻部

    明伦汇编人事典鼻部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 老舍经典

    老舍经典

    本书精选了著名作家老舍的经典篇目50篇,涵盖作者自述、散文以及小说,作为新版部编教材的补充,有利于青少年读者进一步深入理解名家名篇,激发课外阅读的兴趣。老舍的作品多从普通人的视角出发,用亲切的口头语言传达普通人的喜怒哀乐。
  • 重生之大设计师

    重生之大设计师

    不是所有的重生都那么完美,不是每个重生的人都能记住那么多小说和歌曲。一个普普通通的室内设计师,回到十年前刚上大学的时候,挽回着不能挽回的遗憾,追求着以前不能追求的梦想!作者友情提示,书中案例,切勿模仿,如若模仿,死的很惨!!新书《设计鬼才》发布,喜欢设计类小说的同学可以来看看……
  • 永无宁日

    永无宁日

    一个在愚昧闭塞的环境中成长的少年,因偶然看到的一幕特殊场面而震颤而迷乱。战乱的时代又把一杆枪放在他无知的手中,从此他便知道了用枪去解决自己古怪的愿望。他一次次地杀了自己的亲人,也杀了自己所谓的敌人,欲望吞噬着他的灵魂,令人永无安生之日。
  • 张恨水经典作品系列:金粉世家(上)

    张恨水经典作品系列:金粉世家(上)

    小说以北洋军阀内阁总理金铨封建大家族为背景,以金铨之子金燕西与平民女子冷清秋由恋爱、结婚到反目、离异的婚姻为主线,揭露了封建官僚及其妻妾子女空虚、堕落的精神世界和没落腐朽的生活,为豪门贵族描写了一部活生生的兴衰史。
  • 反叛的大魔王

    反叛的大魔王

    文艺版:不朽已提前进场,带着宁静的馥郁与芬芳。除了破裂黑暗的聚光灯、不可恕的原罪、荆棘王冠。我出场的时候还需要令群星颤抖的BGM、让白夜褪尽的微风以及鲜血凝结的威严之花。通俗版:绝症少年成默,获得父亲的神秘遗物,一路求生,一路成长,从高二病到大魔王,被温暖,被融化,并逐渐接近了关于这个世界真相.。(VIP群:564919797)
  • 我在最好的时光等你

    我在最好的时光等你

    闵寒因为父母忙于生意并且把很少的关心都放在弟弟闵瑞身上而导致心理上有些失衡,对父母和弟弟都很疏远,和邻居林海笑一家很亲近。直到韩国转学生姜智英的到来,林海笑的关注点转移,闵寒不能接受林海笑放在自己身上的关心全部给了另外一个女生,开始有些偏执,成绩下滑。闵瑞看在眼里,便去离间姜智英和林海笑,加上一直被妈妈拿来比较的学神孟小琥邀请她组队参加青少年电子竞技大赛,期间不断开导和感染她,闵寒终于努力找回了活泼开朗、积极进取、热爱生活的自己。
  • 妖王宠邪妃

    妖王宠邪妃

    “来人啊,快点把四皇子和六公子救起来。”某丫鬟欲哭无泪的看着在水池中扑腾着的两小孩童。一边的侍卫,纷纷侧目看着身边一个如天使一般的孩童。孩童很是无辜的道:“你们都看着本郡主做什么?没看到四皇子和六公主还在水里吗?这两人要是丢了命,你们赔得起吗?”众侍卫暗自扁嘴,人可是郡主您亲自踢下水的!腹诽归腹诽,既然郡主发了话,这代表着,人是可以救起来了!【片段二:】“父王,歌儿把丽贵妃娘娘给揍了。”“为什么?”“丽贵妃娘娘说要送歌儿去天圣国和亲。”“那歌儿真的只是揍了丽贵妃这么简单?”某女童嘴角一勾,甜甜笑道:“当时桌子上有把剪刀,歌儿很顺手,然后一不小心剪刀就飞了出去,父王若是不信,可以问青衣。”身后的侍卫不由冒了冷汗,郡主的剪刀一不小心飞出去就能刚刚好在丽贵妃脸上画了个大叉叉,那要是郡主小心的话,岂不是…
  • 管人的30个绝招

    管人的30个绝招

    一切活跃着的组织最迫在眉睫的问题,正是我们即将阐述的如何管理的问题。管理就是让下属明白什么是最重要的;管理不谈对错,只是面对事实、解决问题;管理就是让组织目标和个人目标合二为一。本书以开阔的视野、广博的积累、深入的研究为读者展现出一个个精彩纷呈、发人深省的管理绝招。在两位作者精辟的观点、超脱的视角、诙谐幽默的语言中,让读者体会到一种醍醐灌顶般的阅读快感。