the blue flower-第5章

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seemed　in　haste　and　wore　weary　countenances；　until　I　came　to
the　house　where　I　had　lodged。　　There　was　a　little　basin　here
against　the　wall；　with　a　slender　stream　of　water　still　flowing
into　it；　and　a　group　of　children　standing　near　with　their
pitchers；　waiting　to　fill　them。

The　door　of　the　house　was　closed；　but　when　I　knocked；　it
opened　and　a　maiden　came　forth。　　She　was　pale　and　sad　in
aspect；　but　a　light　of　joy　dawned　over　the　snow　of　her　face；
and　I　knew　by　the　youth　in　her　eyes　that　it　was　Ruamie；　who
had　walked　with　me　through　the　vineyards　long　ago。

With　both　hands　she　welcomed　me；　saying：　　〃You　are
expected。　　Have　you　found　the　Blue　Flower？〃

〃Not　yet；〃　I　answered；　〃but　something　drew　me　back　to　you。
I　would　know　how　it　fares　with　you；　and　I　would　go　again　with
you　to　visit　the　Source。〃

At　this　her　face　grew　bright；　but　with　a　tender；　half…sad
brightness。

〃The　Source！〃　she　said。　　〃Ah；　yes；　I　was　sure　that　you　would
remember　it。　　And　this　is　the　hour　of　the　visitation。　　Come；　let
us　go　up　together。〃

Then　we　went　alone　through　the　busy　and　weary　multitudes
of　the　city　toward　the　mountain…path。　　So　forsaken　was　it　and
so　covered　with　stones　and　overgrown　with　wire…grass　that　I
could　not　have　found　it　but　for　her　guidance。　　But　as　we
climbed　upward　the　air　grew　clearer；　and　more　sweet；　and　I
questioned　her　of　the　things　that　had　come　to　pass　in　my
absence。　　I　asked　her　of　the　kind　old　man　who　had　taken　me
into　his　house　when　I　came　as　a　stranger。　　She　said；　softly；
〃He　is　dead。〃

〃And　where　are　the　men　and　women；　his　friends；　who　once
thronged　this　pathway？　　Are　they　also　dead？〃

〃They　also　are　dead。〃

〃But　where　are　the　younger　ones　who　sang　here　so　gladly　as
they　marched　upward？　　Surely　they；　are　living？〃

〃They　have　forgotten。〃

〃Where　then　are　the　young　children　whose　fathers　taught
them　this　way　and　bade　them　remember　it。　　Have　they　forgotten？〃

〃They　have　forgotten。〃

〃But　why　have　you　alone　kept　the　hour　of　visitation？　　Why
have　you　not　turned　back　with　your　companions？　　How　have　you
walked　here　solitary　day　after　day？〃

She　turned　to　me　with　a　divine　regard；　and　laying　her　hand
gently　over　mine；　she　said；　〃I　remember　always。〃

Then　I　saw　a　few　wild…flowers　blossoming　beside　the　path。

We　drew　near　to　the　Source；　and　entered　into　the　chamber
hewn　in　the　rock。　　She　kneeled　and　bent　over　the　sleeping
spring。　　She　murmured　again　and　again　the　beautiful　name　of
him　who　had　died　to　find　it。　　Her　voice　repeated　the　song　that
had　once　been　sung　by　many　voices。　　Her　tears　fell　softly　on
the　spring；　and　as　they　fell　it　seemed　as　if　the　water　stirred
and　rose　to　meet　her　bending　face；　and　when　she　looked　up　it
was　as　if　the　dew　had　fallen　on　a　flower。

We　came　very　slowly　down　the　path　along　the　river　Carita；
and　rested　often　beside　it；　for　surely；　I　thought；　the　rising
of　the　spring　had　sent　a‘little　more　water　down　its　dry　bed；　and
some　of　it　must　flow　on　to　the　city。　　So　it　was　almost　evening
when　we　came　back　to　the　streets。　　The　people　were　hurrying　to
and　fro；　for　it　was　the　day　before　the　choosing　of　new　Princes　of
Water；　and　there　was　much　dispute　about　them；　and　strife　over　the
building　of　new　cisterns　to　hold　the　stores　of　rain　which　might
fall　in　the　next　year。　　But　none　cared　for　us；　as　we　passed　by
like　strangers；　and　we　came　unnoticed　to　the　door　of　the　house。

Then　a　great　desire　of　love　and　sorrow　moved　within　my
breast；　and　I　said　to　Ruamie；　〃You　are　the　life　of　the　city；
for　you　alone　remember。　　Its　secret　is　in　your　heart；　and　your
faithful　keeping　of　the　hours　of　visitation　is　the　only　cause
why　the　river　has　not　failed　altogether　and　the　curse　of
desolation　returned。　　Let　me　stay　with　you；　sweet　soul　of　all
the　flowers　that　are　dead；　and　I　will　cherish　you　forever。
Together　we　will　visit　the　Source　every　day；　and　we　shall　turn
the　people；　by　our　lives　and　by　our　words；　back　to　that　which
they　have　forgotten。〃

There　was　a　smile　in　her　eyes　so　deep　that　its　meaning　cannot
be　spoken；　as　she　lifted　my　hand　to　her　lips；　and　answered；

〃Not　so；　dear　friend；　for　who　can　tell　whether　life　or
death　will　come　to　the　city；　whether　its　people　will　remember
at　last；　or　whether　they　will　forget　forever。　　Its　lot　is
mine；　for　I　was　born　here；　and　here　my　life　is　rooted。　　But
you　are　of　the　Children　of　the　Unquiet　Heart；　whose　feet　can
never　rest　until　their　task　of　errors　is　completed　and　their
lesson　of　wandering　is　learned　to　the　end。　　Until　then　go
forth；　and　do　not　forget　that　I　shall　remember　always。〃

Behind　her　quiet　voice　I　heard　the　silent　call　that
compels　us；　and　passed　down　the　street　as　one　walking　in　a
dream。　　At　the　place　where　the　path　turned　aside　to　the　ruined
vineyards　I　looked　back。　　The　low　sunset　made　a　circle　of
golden　rays　about　her　head　and　a　strange　twin　blossom　of
celestial　blue　seemed　to　shine　in　her　tranquil　eyes。

Since　then　I　know　not　what　has　befallen　the　city；　nor
whether　it　is　still　called　Saloma；　or　once　more　Ablis；　which
is　Forsaken。　　But　if　it　lives　at　all；　I　know　that　it　is
because　there　is　one　there　who　remembers；　and　keeps　the　hour　of
visitation；　and　treads　the　steep　way；　and　breathes　the　beautiful
name　over　the　spring；　and　sometimes　I　think　that　long　before　my
seeking　and　journeying　brings　me　to　the　Blue　Flower；　it　will
bloom　for　Ruamie　beside　the　still　waters　of　the　Source。



THE　　MILL

I

How　the　Young　Martimor　would　Become　a　Knight
and　Assay　Great　Adventure

When　Sir　Lancelot　was　come　out　of　the　Red　Launds　where　he　did
many　deeds　of　arms；　he　rested　him　long　with　play　and　game　in
a　land　that　is；　called　Beausejour。　　For　in　that　land　there　are
neither　castles　nor　enchantments；　but　many　fair　manors；　with
orchards　and　fields　lying　about　them；　and　the　people　that
dwell　therein　have　good　cheer　continually。

Of　the　wars　and　of　the　strange　quests　that　are　ever　afoot
in　Northgalis　and　Lionesse　and　the　Out　Isles；　they　hear
nothing；　but　are　well　content　to　till　the　earth　in　summer　when
the　world　is　green；　and　when　the　autumn　changes　green　to　gold
they　pitch　pavilions　among　the　fruit…trees　and　the　vineyards；
making　merry　with　song　and　dance　while　they　gather　harvest　of
corn　and　apples　and　grapes；　and　in　the　white　days　of　winter　for
pastime　they　have　music　of　divers　instruments　and　the　playing　of
pleasant　games。

But　of　the　telling　of　tales　in　that　land　there　is　little
skill；　neither　do　men　rightly　understand　the　singing　of
ballads　and　romaunts。　　For　one　year　there　is　like　another；　and
so　their　life　runs　away；　and　they　leave　the　world　to　God。

Then　Sir　Lancelot　had　great　ease　for　a　time　in　this　quiet
land；　and　often　he　lay　under　the　apple…trees　sleeping；　and
again　he　taught　the　people　new　games　and　feats　of　skill。　　For
into　what　place　soever　he　came　he　was　welcome；　though　the
inhabitants　knew　not　his　name　and　great　renown；　nor　the　famous
deeds　that　he　had　done　in　tournament　and　battle。　　Yet　for　his
own　sake；　because　he　was　a　very　gentle　knight；　fair…spoken　and
full　of　courtesy　and　a　good　man　of　his　hands　withal；　they
doted　upon　him。

So　he　began　to　tell　them　tales　of　many　things　that　have
been　done　in　the　world　by　clean　knights　and　faithful　squires。
Of　the　wars　against　the　Saracens　and　misbelieving　men；　of　the
discomfiture　of　the　Romans　when　they　came　to　take　truage　of　King
Arthur；　of　the　strife　with　the　eleven　kings　and　the　battle　that
was　ended　but　never　finished；　of　the　Questing　Beast　and　how　King
Pellinore　and　then　Sir　Palamides　followed　it；　of　Balin　that
gave　the　dolourous　stroke　unto　King　Pellam；　of　Sir　Tor　that
sought　the　lady's　brachet　and　by　the　way　overcame　two　knights
and　smote　off　the　head　of　the　outrageous　caitiff　Abelleus；of
these　and　many　like　matters　of　pith　and　moment；　full　of　blood
and　honour；　told　Sir　Lancelot；　and　the　people　had　marvel　of
his　words。

Now；　among　them　that　listened　to　him　gladly；　was　a　youth
of　good　blood　and　breeding；　very　fair　in　the　face　and　of　great
stature。　　His　name　was　Martimor。　　Strong　of　arm　was　he；　and
his　neck　was　like　a　pillar。　　His　legs　were　as　tough　as　beams
of　ash…wood；　and　in　his　heart　was　the　hunger　of　noble　tatches
and　deeds。　　So　when　he　heard　of　Sir　Lancelot　these