men of iron(铁人)-第32章
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thee gone； think well over all these matters； and prepare thyself by next
Monday。 But stay； sirrah；〃 he added； as Myles； dazed and bewildered；
turned to obey； 〃breathe to no living soul what I ha' told theethat my
Lord is thy friendneither speak of anything concerning him。 Such is his
own heavy command laid upon thee。〃
Then Myles turned again without a word to leave the room。 But as he
reached the door Sir James stopped him a second time。
〃Stay！〃 he called。 〃I had nigh missed telling thee somewhat else。 My
Lord hath made thee a present this morning that thou wottest not of。 It is〃…
…then he stopped for a few moments； perhaps to enjoy the full flavor of
what he had to say〃it is a great Flemish horse of true breed and right
mettle； a horse such as a knight of the noblest strain might be proud to call
his own。 Myles Falworth； thou wert born upon a lucky day！〃
〃Sir；〃 cried Myles； and then stopped short。 Then； 〃Sir；〃 he cried again；
〃didst thou say itthe horsewas to be mine？〃
〃Aye； it is to be thine。〃
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〃My very own？〃
〃Thy very own。〃
How Myles Falworth left that place he never knew。 He was like one in
some strange； some wonderful dream。 He walked upon air； and his heart
was so full of joy and wonder and amazement that it thrilled almost to
agony。 Of course his first thought was of Gascoyne。 How he ever found
him he never could tell； but find him he did。
〃Come； Francis！〃 he cried； 〃I have that to tell thee so marvellous that
had it come upon me from paradise it could not be more strange。〃
Then he dragged him away to their Eyryit had been many a long day
since they had been thereand to all his friend's speeches； to all his
wondering questions； he answered never a word until they had climbed the
stairs； and so come to their old haunt。 Then he spoke。
〃Sit thee down； Francis；〃 said he； 〃till I tell thee that which passeth
wonder。〃 As Gascoyne obeyed； he himself stood looking about him。 〃This
is the last time I shall ever come hither；〃 said he。 And thereupon he poured
out his heart to his listening friend in the murmuring solitude of the airy
height。 He did not speak of the Earl； but of the wonderful new life that had
thus suddenly opened before him； with its golden future of limitless hopes；
of dazzling possibilities； of heroic ambitions。 He told everything； walking
up and down the whilefor he could not remain quiethis cheeks glowing
and his eyes sparkling。
Gascoyne sat quite still； staring straight before him。 He knew that his
friend was ruffling eagle pinions for a flight in which he could never hope
to follow； and somehow his heart ached； for he knew that this must be the
beginning of the end of the dear； delightful friendship of the year past。
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CHAPTER 22
And so ended Myles Falworth's boyhood。 Three years followed；
during which he passed through that state which immediately follows
boyhood in all men's livesa time when they are neither lads nor grown
men； but youths passing from the one to the other period through what is
often an uncouth and uncomfortable age。
He had fancied； when he talked with Gascoyne in the Eyry that time；
that he was to become a man all at once； he felt just then that he had
forever done with boyish things。 But that is not the way it happens in
men's lives。 Changes do not come so suddenly and swiftly as that； but by
little and little。 For three or four days； maybe； he went his new way of life
big with the great change that had come upon him； and then； now in this
and now in that； he drifted back very much into his old ways of boyish
doings。 As was said； one's young days do not end all at once； even when
they be so suddenly and sharply shaken； and Myles was not different from
others。 He had been stirred to the core by that first wonderful sight of the
great and glorious life of manhood opening before him； but he had yet
many a sport to enjoy； many a game to play； many a boisterous romp to
riot in the dormitory； many an expedition to make to copse and spinney
and river on days when he was off duty； and when permission had been
granted。
Nevertheless； there was a great and vital change in his life； a change
which he hardly felt or realized。 Even in resuming his old life there was no
longer the same vitality； the same zest； the same enjoyment in all these
things。 It seemed as though they were no longer a part of himself。 The
savor had gone from them； and by…and…by it was pleasanter to sit looking
on at the sports and the games of the younger lads than to take active part
in them。
These three years of his life that had thus passed had been very full；
full mostly of work； grinding and monotonous； of training dull； dry；
laborious。 For Sir James Lee was a taskmaster as hard as iron and
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seemingly as cold as a stone。 For two； perhaps for three； weeks Myles
entered into his new exercises with all the enthusiasm that novelty brings；
but these exercises hardly varied a tittle from day to day； and soon became
a duty； and finally a hard and grinding task。 He used； in the earlier days of
his castle life； to hate the dull monotony of the tri…weekly hacking at the
pels with a heavy broadsword as he hated nothing else； but now； though he
still had that exercise to perform； it was almost a relief from the heavy
dulness of riding； riding； riding in the tilt…yard with shield and lance
couchrecoveren passant。
But though he had nowadays but little time for boyish plays and
escapades； his life was not altogether without relaxation。 Now and then he
was permitted to drive in mock battle with other of the younger knights
and bachelors in the paddock near the outer walls。 It was a still more
welcome change in the routine of his life when； occasionally； he would
break a light lance in the tilting…court with Sir Everard Willoughby； Lord
George； perhaps； and maybe one or two others of the Hall folk； looking
on。
Then one gilded day； when Lord Dudleigh was visiting at Devlen；
Myles ran a course with a heavier lance in the presence of the Earl； who
came down to the tilt…yard with his guest to see the young novitiate ride
against Sir Everard。 He did his best； and did it well。 Lord Dudleigh praised
his poise and carriage； and Lord George； who was present； gave him an
approving smile and nod。 But the Earl of Mackworth only sat stroking his
beard impassively； as was his custom。 Myles would have given much to
know his thoughts。
In all these years Sir James Lee almost never gave any expression
either of approbation or disapprovalexcepting when Myles exhibited
some carelessness or oversight。 Then his words were sharp and harsh
enough。 More than once Myles's heart failed him； and bitter
discouragement took possession of him； then nothing but his bull…dog
