And he trembled again, but spoke out bravely: "My wife yet lives. It was
she who bound thy wounds."
Now at this I thought to see my lady swoon; but she only smiled, though
better had one seen her weep than smile in such wise. And she saith, "I
have known that these many days;" and she leaned towards him, and placed
both hands upon his head, saying, "Weep not. I hold thee guiltless. Do
not weep."
But he sobbed, clasping her knees, as one whose heart is broken, saying
now and again below his breath, "O God! O God!"
If there be this side the stars a more awful sight than the sight of a
strong man in tears, God grant I may ne'er behold it, for surely I
should die of pity. Doth it please God that I resemble Abraham in the
matter of age, if in none other, ne'er will that scene fade from my
memory--my lady, so wan and white and narrow, like a tall lily over
which a rude wind hath swept, and at her knee the strong man, bowed as a
little lad that saith his prayers, clasping her kirtle and her hands, as
though one sinking in deep waters were to grasp at a floating stem of
flowers for support. And after a while, when the violence of his grief
was spent, he saith unto her,
"I sail for Spain with Essex on the morrow, as thou knowest; but it doth
remain for me to tell thee why I go. It is for that I think the lad, thy
brother, hath been a prisoner of war these many years, and I go to bring
him to thee."
And she sat and looked at him as though her heart had leaped from her
breast into his body; but she spake no words save only, "God keep thee;
God go with thee."
And suddenly he saith unto her, as though the words would forth,
"I loved thee from the moment that I saw thee. Let me but tell thee
that."
She whispered, saying, "It was even so with me." And he lifted his eyes
and looked at her. Then fled I, as though I had drawn away the veil from
the sanctuary, for I thought that God would surely smite me for having
beheld that look.
* * * * *
So Lord Denbeigh sailed with the Earl of Essex for the war in Spain, and
my lady's soul left her body and went with him; for surely 'twas but her
body that remained at Amhurste. All day long would she sit silent, nor
move, nor look, and her hands the one upon the other before her, as who
should say, "I am done with all things, whether of work or of play." So
passed the months, and ever and anon some report would reach the village
of the wild earl's deeds in Spain, and of how he would fight ten men
with one arm wounded and the blood in his eyes, and such like tales. But
no word came direct, either through letters or friends. So passed the
months, and it was nigh to August, and the fighting was over for the
time, when one day, with a clattering as of a horsed army, there comes
dashing into the court two cavaliers on horseback, and one of them was
my Lord of Denbeigh. Ere I could look at the other he had leaped to the
ground, and had me about the neck a-kissing me as roundly as ever a
wench in the market-place. And lo! when I looked, it was Lord Robert in
very truth. He was grown out of all knowledge, and as brown as a nut,
but as big and as bonny a lad as ever clapped hand to sword.
When I could turn my eyes from him upon the earl, I saw that he was
waxed as pale as death, and wore his arm in a kerchief, and that there
was a great red streak adown his temple, clean through his right
eyebrow. And his splendid flanks and chest were hollow, like those of a
good steed that lacketh fodder. But when he stood and leaned against his
horse's neck and smiled at us, methought he was by far the goodliest man
that ever I had looked upon. His teeth were as white as the foam on his
horse's bit, and there was a deep nick at the corner of his mouth, like
that at the mouth of a girl.
Then must I call Marian, and send her to break the news to my lady. So
in a moment she comes rushing down along the stair-way, like a branch
that is blown suddenly from the top o' a tall tree, and so into Lord
Robert's arms; and he catches her to his heart, and so stands holding
her; and they make no motion nor any sound whatever. Then turns the earl
away, and leaves them together. But I marked that his eyes were
brimming, and that there was a quiver in his lip.
Ere night all is known to us: how Lord Robert had been a prisoner in
Spain all these years, yet was he treated with courtesy at the behest o'
some wench. But he did not love her, God be praised! And 'tis in my mind
to this day how he might have wed her, and how the earl did relate to
him his bitter experiences with a Spanish wife. Ay, that is my firm
opinion. All this and more did we hear, laughing and weeping by turns.
But it was not until Lord Robert saw my lady alone that she heard of how
the earl had saved him at the risk of his own life, all but bearing him
in his arms through the enemy, hewing his way right and left. And,
moreover, Lord Robert did tell how that the blood from that cut on the
earl's temple did in truth run down into his eyes and blind him, but how
that he dashed it back and slew the man who wounded him, and so they
escaped.
The next morning, as I did sally forth with my cross-bow to have a shot
at a screech-owl which for some nights past had disturbed Marian's
slumbers, she in her turn having disturbed mine, I did see Lord Denbeigh
come out upon the terrace and throw himself down along the grass,
beneath a tulip-tree, with a book. But he read not, lying very quiet,
with his head raised up upon one hand and his elbow sunk in the soft
turf. And as the sunlight struck through the leaves upon his glittering
hair, and his face like marble, I could not but pause to gaze on him, so
noble looked he. But his eyes were far away, and his thoughts with them.
It was for this that he did not hear my lady coming until she stood
beside him, and her white gown brushed his cheek. But seeing her, he
leaped to his feet, and the blood ran along his face, and then seemed
all to settle in the long wound, leaving him more pale than before. And
she said to him,
"Nay, do not rise, for thou art weak yet;" but he would not be seated,
so they stood there, side by side in the fair morning light. And
presently she puts out her hand (no one ere reached out their hand as
did my lady), and she just lays it on his sleeve, and saith she, "I am
come to thank you--to thank you with all my heart and soul--" and there
a sob chokes her, and she can say no more.
Again the blood swept up across his brow; and he said, "For God's love,
say no more."
But she answered, saying, "Nay, I have so much to say." And she came
nearer to him for a little space; and her head drooped downward, like a
flower full of rain. And she did knit and unknit her white fingers as
they hung before her. And she saith, "There is no guerdon worthy such a
knight, but if an thou--"
Then all on a sudden did she reach out both arms towards him, and her
fair hands, palms upward, and the scarlet leaped to her very brow; but
she lifted her little head proudly, albeit her eyes were dropped
downward, and she said unto him, "Take me, for I am thine."
And he trembled from head to foot, and parting his lips as though to
speak, reached out his arms and clasped her.
And when I realized what I had done, I did drop my cross-bow and took to
my heels, like one followed by goblins.
Now, even as I hope to be saved, I but just come to recognize that this
was my second eavesdropping. So be it. I have vowed, and must keep my
vow.
It was all made clear to me that night, when Marian did relate to me how
that the Spanish woman had slain herself by swallowing flame. At which
(though mightily pleased, God forgive me, on account of my lady and the
earl) I was more than ever thankful that Lord Robert had escaped alive
and unwed out o' th' clutches o' th' Spanish wench. And here it
occurreth to me that I have not yet told that Marian did know from the
first of my lady's going up to town dressed as her brother. This I
record more on account of its being a marvellous instance of a woman's
keeping her tongue than to shame Marian, who hath often read how that
wives should submit themselves unto their husbands as unto the Lord.
Howbeit, all ended so happily that I had not the heart to scold her.
With the first frosts of October my lady and the earl were wed.
Methought the queen herself could not have had a finer wedding, and
certes no woman could have had a nobler spouse. He was yet pale from his
wounds, but most soldierly of bearing and proud of carriage. He was clad
all in white, like my lady. A more beauteous apparel I have never seen.
His doublet was of cloth of silver, with a close jerkin of white satin
embroidered in silver and little pearls. His girdle and the scabbard of
his sword were of cloth of silver, with golden buckles. His poniard and
sword were hilted and mounted in gold, together with many blazing orders
and richer devices that I know not how to enumerate.
My lady's gown was all of white satin, sewn down the front with little
pearls, like those on my lord's jerkin, and her ruff was of soft lace,
not stiff, as was the fashion, but falling about her bosom most modestly
and becomingly. Lord Robert, methinks, was eke as goodly, after his way,
as either his sister or Lord Denbeigh, being close clad from head to
foot in crimson sarcenet, slashed all with cloth of gold. My lady had
given me some suiting clothes for the occasion; and as for Marian,
methought in her new gown of sea-green taffeta, with her new ruff and
head-gear, that she looked as fair a matron as any mother of fine lads
in all England.