the caged lion-第24章

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sacrilegious；　as　he　deemed　it。　　Restless；　ashamed；　rent　by　a　thousand　conflicting　feelings；　Malcolm　roamed　up　and　down　his　chamber；　writhed；　tried　to　sit　and　think；　then；　finding　his　thoughts　in　a　whirl；　renewed　his　frantic　pacings。　　And　when　dire　necessity　brought　him　again　into　the　ladies'　chamber；　he　was　silent；　blushing；　ungainly；　abstracted；　and　retreated　into　the　farthest　possible　corner　from　the　unconscious　Esclairmonde。

Then；　when　again　alone　with　the　King；　he　began　with　the　assertion；　'It　is　utterly　impossible；　Sir；'　and　James　smiled　to　see　his　poison　working。　　Not　that　he　viewed　it　as　poison。　　Monasticism　was　at　a　discount；　and　the　ranks　of　the　religious　orders　were　chiefly　filled；　the　old　Benedictine　and　Augustinian　foundations　by　gentlemen　of　good　family　who　wanted　the　easy　life　of　a　sort　of　bachelor　squire；　and　the　friaries　were　recruited　by　the　sort　of　men　who　would　in　modern　times　be　dissenting　teachers　of　the　lower　stamp。　　James　was　persuaded　that　Malcolm　was　fit　for　better　things　than　were　usually　to　be　seen　in　a　convent；　and　that　it　was　a　real　kindness　not　to　let　him　merely　retire　thither　out　of　faintness　of　heart；　mistaken　for　devotion；　and　he　also　felt　as　if　he　should　be　doing　good　service；　not　only　to　Malcolm；　but　to　Scotland；　if　he　could　obtain　for　him　a　wife　of　the　grand　character　of　Esclairmonde　de　Luxemburg。

He　even　risked　the　mention　of　the　project　to　the　Countess　of　Hainault；　without　whose　consent　nothing　could　be　effected。　　Jaqueline　laughed　long　and　loud　at　the　notion　of　her　stately　Esclairmonde　being　the　lady…love　of　King　James's　little　white…visaged　cousin；　but　if　he　could　bring　it　about　she　had　no　objection；　she　should　be　very　glad　that　the　demoiselle　should　come　down　from　the　height　and　be　like　other　people；　but　she　would　wager　the　King　of　Scots　her　emerald　carcanet　against　his　heron's　plume；　that　Esclairmonde　would　never　marry　unless　her　hands　were　held　for　her。　　Was　she　not　at　that　very　moment　visiting　some　foundation　of　bedeswomenthat　was　all　she　heard　of　at　yonder　feast　of　cats！

In　fact；　under　Dr。　Bennet's　escort；　Esclairmonde　and　Alice　were　in　a　barge　dropping　down　the　Thames　to　the　neighbourhood　of　the　frowning　fortress　of　the　Toweras　yet　unstained；　and　at　the　steps　leading　to　the　Hospitium　of　St。　Katharine　the　ladies　were　met；　not　only　by　their　friend　Mrs。　Bolt；　but　by　Sir　Richard　Whittington；　his　kindly　dame；　and　by　'Master　William　Kedbesby；'　a　grave　and　gentle…looking　old　man；　who　had　been　Master　of　St。　Katharine's　ever　since　the　first　year　of　King　Richard　II。；　and　delighted　to　tell　of　the　visits　'Good　Queen　Anne'　of　Bohemia　had　made　to　her　hospital；　and　the　kind　words　she　had　said　to　the　old　alms…folk　and　the　children　of　the　schools；　and　when　he　heard　that　the　Lady　Esclairmonde　was　of　the　same　princely　house　of　Luxemburg；　he　seemed　to　think　no　honour　sufficient　for　her。　　They　visited　the　two　houses；　one　for　old　men；　the　other　for　old　women；　each　with　a　common　apartment；　with　a　fire；　and　a　dining…table　in　the　midst；　and　sleeping　cells　screened　off　round　it；　and　with　a　paved　terrace　walk　overhanging　the　river；　where　the　old　people　could　sit　and　sun　themselves；　and　be　amused　by　the　gay　barges　and　the　swans　that　expatiated　there。　　The　bedeswomen；　ten　in　number；　had　a　house　arranged　like　an　ordinary　nunnery；　except　that　they　were　not　in　seclusion；　had　no　grating；　and　shared　the　quadrangle　with　the　alms…　folk　and　children。　　They　were　gentle　and　well…nurtured　women；　chiefly　belonging　to　the　city　and　country　families　that　furnished　servants　to　the　queens；　and　they　applied　themselves　to　various　offices　of　charity；　going　forth　into　the　city　to　tend　the　poor；　and　to　teach　the　women　and　children。　　The　appointments　of　alms…folk　and　admissions　to　the　school　were　chiefly　made　at　their　recommendation；　and　though　a　master　taught　all　the　book…learning　in　the　busy　hive　of　scholars　eighty　in　numberone　or　more　of　them　instructed　the　little　girls　in　spinning　and　in　stitchery；　to　say　nothing　of　gentle　and　modest　demeanour。　　There　was　a　great　look　of　happiness　and　good　order　about　all；　and　the　church；　fair　and　graceful；　seemed　well　to　complete　and　rule　the　institution。　　Esclairmonde　could　but　sigh　with　a　sort　of　regret　as　she　left　it；　and　let　herself　be　conducted　by　Sir　Richard　Whittington　to　a　refection　at　his　beautiful　house　in　Crutched　Friars；　built　round　a　square；　combining　warehouse　and　manor…house；　richly…　carved　shields；　with　the　arms　of　the　companies　of　London；　supporting　the　tier　of　first…floor　windows；　and　another　row　of　brackets　above　supporting　another　overhanging　story。　　A　fountain　was　in　the　centre　of　a　beautiful　greensward；　with　beds　of　roses；　pansies；　pinks；　stars　of　Bethlehem；　and　other　good　old　flowers；　among　which　a　monkey　was　chained　to　a　tree；　while　a　cat　roamed　about　at　a　safe　distance　from　him。

Alice　Montagu　raised　a　laugh　by　asking　if　it　were　THE　cat；　to　which　her　city　namesake　replied　that　'her　master'　never　could　abide　to　be　without　a　cat　in　memory　of　his　first　friend；　and　marshalled　them　into　the　beautiful　hall；　with　wainscot　lining　below；　surmounted　by　an　arcade　containing　statues；　and　above　a　beautiful　carved　ceiling。　Here　a　meal　was　served　to　them；　and　the　Lady　talked　with　Whittington　of　the　grand　town…halls　and　other　buildings　of　the　merchants　of　the　Low　Countries；　with　whom　he　was　a　trader　for　their　rich　stuffs；　and　the　visit　passed　off　with　no　small　satisfaction　to　both　parties。

Esclairmonde　sat　in　the　barge　on　her　return；　looking　out　on　the　gray　clear　water；　and　on　the　bright　gardens　that　sloped　down　to　it；　gay　with　roses　and　fruitful　with　mulberries；　apples；　and　strawberries；　and　the　mansions　and　churches　that　were　never　quite　out　of　sight；　though　there　were　some　open　fields　and　wild　country　ere　coming　to　Westminster；　all　as　if　she　did　not　see　them；　but　was　wrapped　in　deep　contemplation。

Alice　at　last；　weary　of　silence；　stole　her　arm　round　her　waist；　and　peeped　up　into　her　face。　　'May　I　guess　thy　thoughts；　sweet　Clairette？　Thou　wilt　found　such　a　hospice　thyself？'

'Say　not　I　WILL；　child；'　said　Esclairmonde；　with　a　crystal　drop　starting　in　each　dark　eye。　　'I　would　strive　and　hope；　but'

'Ah！　thou　wilt；　thou　wilt；'　cried　Alice；　'and　since　there　are　Beguines　enough　for　their　own　Netherlands；　thou　wilt　come　to　England　and　be　our　foundress　here。'

'Nay；　little　one；　here　are　the　bedeswomen　of　St。　Katharine's　in　London。'

'Ah！　but　we　have　other　cities。　　Good　Father；　have　we　not？　　Hull　Southamptonoh！　so　many；　where　poor　strangers　come　that　need　ghostly　tendance　as　well　as　bodily。　　EsclairmondeLight　of　the　Worldoh！　it　was　not　for　nothing　that　they　gave　thee　that　goodly　name。　　The　hospice　shall　bear　it！'

'Hush；　hush！　sweet　pyet；　mine　own　name　is　what　they　must　not　bear。'

'Ah！　but　the　people　will　give　it；　and　our　Holy　Father　the　Pope；　he　will　put　thee　into　the　canon　of　saints。　　Only　pity　that　I　cannot　live　to　hear　of　Ste。　Esclairmondenay；　but　then　I　must　overlive　thee；　mind　I　should　not　love　that。'

'Oh；　silence；　silence；　child；　these　are　no　thoughts　to　begin　a　work　with。　　Little　flatterer；　it　may　be　well　for　me　that　our　lives　must　needs　lie　so　far　apart　that　I　shall　not　oft　hear　that　fond　silly　tongue。'

'Nay；'　said　Alice；　in　the　luxury；　not　of　castle…building　but　of　convent…building；　'it　may　be　that　when　that　knight　over　there　sees　me　so　small　and　ill…favoured　he　will　none　of　me；　and　then　I'll　thank　him　so；　and　pray　my　father　to　let　him　have　all　my　lands　and　houses　except　just　enough　to　dower　me　to　follow　thee　with；　dear　Lady　Prioress。'

But　here　Alice　was　summarily　silenced。　　Such　talk；　both　priest　and　votaress　told　her；　was　not　meet　for　dutiful　daughter　or　betrothed　maiden。　　Her　lot　was　fixed；　and　she　must　do　her　duty　therein　as　the　good　wife　and　lady　of　the　castle；　the　noble　English　matron；　and　as　she　looked　half　disposed　to　pout；　Esclairmonde　drew　such　a　picture　of　the　beneficent　influence　of　the　good　baronial　dame；　ruling　her　castle；　bringing　up　her　children　and　the　daughters　of　her　vassals　in　good　and　pious　nurture；　making　'the　heart　of　her　husband　safely　trust　in　her；'　benefiting　the　poor；　and　fostering　holy　men；　wayfarers；　and　pilgrims；　that　the　girl's　eyes　filled　within　tears　as　she　looked　up　and　said；　'Ah！　lady；　this　is　the　life　fitted　for　the