按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ng in which he had been brought up； to rule his temper； and； above all； to say his prayers constantly； never leaving out one； as the beads of his rosary reminded him of their order。 As to her own grandson； anxiety for him seemed almost lost in her fears for Richard； and the chief things she said to him； when he came to take leave of her； were directions as to the care he was to take of the child； telling him the honour he now received was one which would make his name forever esteemed if he did but fulfil his trust； the most precious that Norman had ever yet received。
〃I will； grandmother； to the very best of my power；〃 said Osmond； 〃I may die in his cause； but never will I be faithless！〃
〃Alberic！〃 said Richard； 〃are you glad to be going back to Montemar？〃
〃Yes； my Lord；〃 answered Alberic； sturdily； 〃as glad as you will be to come back to Rouen。〃
〃Then I shall send for you directly； Alberic； for I shall never love the Princes Carloman and Lothaire half as well as you！〃
〃My Lord the King is waiting for the Duke；〃 said a Frenchman； coming forward。
〃Farewell then； Fru Astrida。 Do not weep。 I shall soon come back。 Farewell； Alberic。 Take the bar…tailed falcon back to Montemar； and keep him for my sake。 Farewell； Sir EricFarewell； Count Bernard。 When the Normans come to conquer Arnulf you will lead them。 O dear； dear Fru Astrida； farewell again。〃
〃Farewell； my own darling。 The blessing of Heaven go with you； and bring you safe home！ Farewell； Osmond。 Heaven guard you and strengthen you to be his shield and his defence！〃
CHAPTER VI
Away from the tall narrow gateway of Rollo's Tower； with the cluster of friendly； sorrowful faces looking forth from it； away from the booth…like shops of Rouen； and the stout burghers shouting with all the power of their lungs； 〃Long live Duke Richard！ Long live King Louis！ Death to the Fleming！〃away from the broad Seineaway from home and friends； rode the young Duke of Normandy； by the side of the palfrey of the King of France。
The King took much notice of him； kept him by his side； talked to him； admired the beautiful cattle grazing in security in the green pastures； and； as he looked at the rich dark brown earth of the fields； the Castles towering above the woods； the Convents looking like great farms； the many villages round the rude Churches； and the numerous population who came out to gaze at the party； and repeat the cry of 〃Long live the King！ Blessings on the little Duke！〃 he told Richard； again and again； that his was the most goodly duchy in France and Germany to boot。
When they crossed the Epte； the King would have Richard in the same boat with him； and sitting close to Louis； and talking eagerly about falcons and hounds； the little Duke passed the boundary of his own dukedom。
The country beyond was not like Normandy。 First they came to a great forest； which seemed to have no path through it。 The King ordered that one of the men； who had rowed them across； should be made to serve as guide； and two of the men…at…arms took him between them； and forced him to lead the way； while others； with their swords and battle…axes； cut down and cleared away the tangled branches and briars that nearly choked the path。 All the time； every one was sharply on the look…out for robbers； and the weapons were all held ready for use at a moment's notice。 On getting beyond the forest a Castle rose before them； and； though it was not yet late in the day； they resolved to rest there； as a marsh lay not far before them； which it would not have been safe to traverse in the evening twilight。
The Baron of the Castle received them with great respect to the King； but without paying much attention to the Duke of Normandy； and Richard did not find the second place left for him at the board。 He coloured violently； and looked first at the King； and then at Osmond； but Osmond held up his finger in warning； he remembered how he had lost his temper before； and what had come of it； and resolved to try to bear it better； and just then the Baron's daughter； a gentle… looking maiden of fifteen or sixteen； came and spoke to him； and entertained him so well； that he did not think much more of his offended dignity。When they set off on their journey again； the Baron and several of his followers came with them to show the only safe way across the morass； and a very slippery； treacherous； quaking road it was； where the horses' feet left pools of water wherever they trod。 The King and the Baron rode together； and the other French Nobles closed round them； Richard was left quite in the background； and though the French men…at…arms took care not to lose sight of him； no one offered him any assistance； excepting Osmond； who； giving his own horse to Sybald； one of the two Norman grooms who accompanied him； led Richard's horse by the bridle along the whole distance of the marshy path； a business that could scarcely have been pleasant； as Osmond wore his heavy hauberk； and his pointed； iron…guarded boots sunk deep at every step into the bog。 He spoke little； but seemed to be taking good heed of every stump of willow or stepping…stone that might serve as a note of remembrance of the path。
At the other end of the morass began a long tract of dreary…looking； heathy waste； without a sign of life。 The Baron took leave of the King； only sending three men…at…arms； to show him the way to a monastery； which was to be the next halting…place。 He sent three； because it was not safe for one； even fully armed； to ride alone； for fear of the attacks of the followers of a certain marauding Baron； who was at deadly feud with him； and made all that border a most perilous region。 Richard might well observe that he did not like the Vexin half as well as Normandy； and that the people ought to learn Fru Astrida's story of the golden bracelets； which； in his grandfather's time； had hung untouched for a year； in a tree in a forest。
It was pretty much the same through the whole journey； waste lands； marshes； and forests alternated。 The Castles stood on high mounds frowning on the country round； and villages were clustered round them； where the people either fled away； driving off their cattle with them at the first sight of an armed band； or else； if they remained； proved to be thin； wretched…looking creatures； with wasted limbs； aguish faces； and often iron collars round their necks。 Wherever there was anything of more prosperous appearance； such as a few cornfields； vineyards on the slopes of the hills； fat cattle； and peasantry looking healthy and secure； there was sure to be seen a range of long low stone buildings； surmounted with crosses； with a short square Church tower rising in the midst； and interspersed with gnarled hoary old apple…trees； or with gardens of pot…herbs spreading before them to the meadows。 If； instead of two or three men…at…arms from a Castle； or of some trembling serf pressed into the service； and beaten； threatened； and watched to prevent treachery； the King asked for a guide at a Convent； some lay brother would take his staff； or else mount an ass； and proceed in perfect confidence and security as to his return homewards； sure that his poverty and his sacred character wo