第38章

Peacewiththyscurriljests！’’answeredEdith，colouringdeeply-Thinkrather，thatfortheindulgenceofthymoodthouhastloppedfromthisgreatenterpriseonegoodlylimb，deprivedtheCrossofoneofitsmostbravesupporters，andplacedaservantofthetrueGodinthehandsoftheheathen；hastgiven，too，tomindsassuspiciousasthouhastshownthineowninthismatter，somerighttosaythatRichardCurdeLionbanishedthebravestsoldierinhiscamp，lesthisnameinbattlemightmatchhisown。’’

I-I！’’exclaimedRichard，nowindeedgreatlymoved-

amIonetobejealousofrenown？-Iwouldhewereheretoprofesssuchequality！Iwouldwaivemyrankandmycrown，andmeethim，man-like，inthelists，thatitmightappearwhetherRichardPlantagenethadroomtofearortoenvytheprowessofmortalman。Come，Edith，thouthink’stnotasthousay’st。Letnotangerorgrieffortheabsenceofthylovermaketheeunjusttothykinsman，who，notwithstandingallthytetchiness，valuesthygoodreportashighasthatofanyoneliving。’’

Theabsenceofmylover？’’saidtheLadyEdith。Butyes-hemaybewelltermedmylover，whohathpaidsodearforthetitle。UnworthyasImightbeofsuchhomage，Iwastohimlikealight，leadinghimforwardinthenoblepathofchivalry；butthatIforgotmyrank，orthathepresumedbeyondhis，isfalse，wereakingtospeakit。’’

Myfaircousin，’’saidRichard，donotputwordsinmymouthwhichIhavenotspoken。Isaidnotyouhadgracedthismanbeyondthefavourwhichagoodknightmayearn，evenfromaprincess，whateverbehisnativecondition。But，byOurLady，Iknowsomethingofthislove-gear-itbeginswithmuterespectanddistantreverence；but，whenopportunitiesoccur，familiarityincreases，andso-Butitskillsnottalkingwithonewhothinksherselfwiserthanalltheworld。’’

Mykinsman’scounselsIwillinglylistento，whentheyaresuch，’’saidEdith，asconveynoinsulttomyrankandcharacter。’’

Kings，myfaircousin，donotcounsel，butrathercommand，’’

saidRichard。

Soldansdoindeedcommand，’’saidEdith，butitisbecausetheyhaveslavestogovern。’’

Come，youmightlearntolayasidethisscornofSoldanrie，whenyouholdsohighofaScot，’’saidtheKing。IholdSaladintobetruertohiswordthanthisWilliamofScotland，whomustneedsbecalledaLion，forsooth-hehathfoullyfaultedtowardsme，infailingtosendtheauxiliaryaidhepromised。

Letmetellthee，Edith，thoumay’stlivetopreferatrueTurktoafalseScot。’’

No-never！’’answeredEdith-notshouldRichardhimselfembracethefalsereligion，whichhecrossedtheseastoexpelfromPalestine。’’

Thouwilthavethelastword，’’saidRichard，andthoushalthaveit。Eventhinkofmewhatthouwilt，prettyEdith。

Ishallnotforgetthatwearenearanddearcousins。’’

Sosaying，hetookhisleaveinfairfashion，butverylittlesatisfiedwiththeresultofhisvisit。

ItwasthefourthdayafterSirKennethhadbeendismissedfromthecamp；andKingRichardsatinhispavilion，enjoyinganeveningbreezefromthewest，which，withunusualcoolnessonherwings，seemedbreathedfrommerryEnglandfortherefreshmentofheradventurousmonarch，ashewasgraduallyrecoveringthefullstrengthwhichwasnecessarytocarryonhisgiganticprojects。Therewasnoonewithhim，DeVauxhavingbeensenttoAscalontobringupreinforcementsandsuppliesofmilitarymunition，andmostofhisotherattendantsbeingoccupiedindifferentdepartments，allpreparingforthere-openingofhostilities，andforagrandpreparatoryreviewofthearmyoftheCrusaders，whichwastotakeplacethenextday。TheKingsat，listeningtothebusyhumamongthesoldiery，theclatterfromtheforges，wherehorse-shoeswerepreparing，andfromthetentsofthearmourers，whowererepairingharness-thevoiceofthesoldiers，too，astheypassedandrepassed，wasloudandcheerful，carryingwithitsverytoneanassuranceofhighandexcitedcourage，andanomenofapproachingvictory。WhileRichard’seardrankinthesesoundswithdelight，andwhileheyieldedhimselftothevisionsofconquestandofglorywhichtheysuggested，anequerrytoldhimthatamessengerfromSaladinwaitedwithout。

Admithiminstantly，’’saidtheKing，andwithduehonour，Josceline。’’

TheEnglis

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