CHAPTER THE SECOND.
_Rosalind_. Well, this is the Forest of Arden. _Touchstone_. Ay, now am I in Arden; the more fool I. When Iwas at home I was in a better place; but travellers must be content. _Rosalind_. Ay, be so, good Touchstone. Look you, who comeshere; a young man and an old, in solemn talk. As You Like It. _Scene IV. Act 2_.
As the travellers spoke together, they reached a turn of the path whichpresented a more extensive prospect than the broken face of the countryhad yet shown them. A valley, through which flowed a small tributarystream, exhibited the wild, but not unpleasant, features of "a lonevale of green braken;" here and there besprinkled with groups ofalder-trees, of hazels, and of copse-oakwood, which had maintainedtheir stations in the recesses of the valley, although they hadvanished from the loftier and more exposed sides of the hills. Thefarm-house or mansion-house, (for, from its size and appearance, itmight have been the one or the other,) was a large but low building,and the walls of the out-houses were sufficiently strong to resist anyband of casual depredators. There was nothing, however, which couldwithstand a more powerful force; for, in a country laid waste by war,the farmer was then, as now, obliged to take his chance of the greatevils attendant upon that state of things; and his condition, never avery eligible one, was rendered considerably worse by the insecurityattending it. About half a mile farther was seen a Gothic building ofvery small extent, having a half dismantled chapel, which the minstrelpronounced to be the Abbey of Saint Bride. "The place," he said, "Iunderstand, is allowed to subsist, as two or three old monks and asmany nuns, whom it contains, are permitted by the English to serve Godthere, and sometimes to give relief to Scottish travellers; and whohave accordingly taken assurance with Sir John de Walton, and acceptedas their superior a churchman on whom he thinks he can depend. But ifthese guests happen to reveal any secrets, they are, by some means orother, believed to fly towards the English governor; and therefore,unless your ladyship's commands be positive, I think we had best nottrust ourselves to their hospitality."
"Of a surety, no," said the lady, "if thou canst provide me withlodgings where we shall have more prudent hosts."
At this moment, two human forms were seen to approach the farm-house ina different direction from the travellers, and speaking so high, in atone apparently of dispute, that the minstrel and his companion coulddistinguish their voices though the distance was considerable. Havingscreened his eyes with his hand for some minutes, Bertram at lengthexclaimed, "By our Lady, it is my old friend, Tom Dickson, sureenough!--What can make him in such bad humour with the lad, who, Ithink, may be the little wild boy, his son Charles, who used to runabout and plait rushes some twenty years ago? It is lucky, however, wehave found our friends astir; for I warrant, Tom hath a hearty piece ofbeef in the pot ere he goes to bed, and he must have changed his wontif an old friend hath not his share; and who knows, had we come later,at what hour they may now find it convenient to drop latch and drawbolt so near a hostile garrison; for if we call things by their rightnames, such is the proper term for an English garrison in the castle ofa Scottish nobleman."
"Foolish man," answered the lady, "thou judgest of Sir John de Waltonas thou wouldst of some rude boor, to whom the opportunity of doingwhat he wills is a temptation and license to exercise cruelty andoppression. Now, I could plight you my word, that, setting apart thequarrel of the kingdoms, which, of course, will be fought out in fairbattles on both sides, you will find that English and Scottish, withinthis domain, and within the reach of Sir John de Walton's influence,live together as that same flock of sheep and goats do with theshepherd's dog; a foe from whom they fly upon certain occasions, butaround whom they nevertheless eagerly gather for protection should awolf happen to show himself."
"It is not to your ladyship," answered Bertram, "that I should ventureto state my opinion of such matters; but the young knight, when he issheathed in armour, is a different being from him who feasts in hallsamong press of ladies; and he that feeds by another man's fireside, andwhen his landlord, of all men in the world, chances to be the BlackDouglas, has reason to keep his eyes about him as he makes hismeal:--but it were better I looked after our own evening refreshment,than that I stood here gaping and talking about other folk's matters."So saying, he called out in a thundering tone of voice, "Dickson!--whatho, Thomas Dickson!--will you not acknowledge an old friend who is muchdisposed to trust his supper and night's lodging to your hospitality?"
The Scotchman, attracted by the call, looked first along the banks ofthe river, then upward to the bare side of the hill, and at length casthis eyes upon the two figures who were descending from it.
As if he felt the night colder while he advanced from the moresheltered part of the valley to meet them, the Douglas Dale farmerwrapped closer around him the grey plaid, which, from an early period,has been used by the shepherds of the south of Scotland, and theappearance of which gives a romantic air to the peasantry and middleclasses; and which, although less brilliant and gaudy in its colours,is as picturesque in its arrangement as the more military tartan mantleof the Highlands. When they approached near to each other, the ladymight observe that this friend of her guide was a stout athletic man,somewhat past the middle of life, and already showing marks of theapproach, but none of the infirmities, of age, upon a countenance whichhad been exposed to many a storm. Sharp eyes, too, and a quickobservation, exhibited signs of vigilance, acquired by one who hadlived long in a country where he had constant occasion for lookingaround him with caution. His features were still swollen withdispleasure; and the handsome young man who attended him seemed to bediscontented, like one who had undergone no gentle marks of hisfather's indignation, and who, from the sullen expression which mingledwith an appearance of shame on his countenance, seemed at once affectedby anger and remorse.
"Do you not remember me, old friend?" said Bertram, as they approachedwithin a distance for communing; "or have the twenty years which havemarched over us since we met, carried along with them all remembranceof Bertram, the English minstrel?"
"In troth," answered the Scot, "it is not for want of plenty of yourcountrymen to keep you in my remembrance, and I have hardly heard oneof them so much as whistle
'Hey, now the day dawns,'
but it has recalled some note of your blythe rebeck; and yet, suchanimals are we, that I had forgot the mien of my old friend, andscarcely knew him at a distance. But we have had trouble lately; thereare a thousand of your countrymen that keep garrison in the PerilousCastle of Douglas yonder, as well as in other places through the vale,and that is but a woful sight for a true Scotchman--even my own poorhouse has not escaped the dignity of a garrison of a man-at-arms,besides two or three archer knaves, and one or two slips of mischievousboys called pages, and so forth, who will not let a man say, 'this ismy own,' by his own fireside. Do not, therefore, think hardly of me,old comrade, if I show you a welcome something colder than you mightexpect from a friend of other days; for, by Saint Bride of Douglas, Ihave scarcely anything left to which I can say welcome."
"Small welcome will serve," said Bertram. "My son, make thy reverenceto thy father's old friend. Augustine is learning my joyous trade, buthe will need some practice ere he can endure its fatigues. If you couldgive him some little matter of food, and a quiet bed for the night,there's no fear but that we shall both do well enough; for I dare say,when you travel with my friend Charles there,--if that tall youthchance to be my old acquaintance Charles,--you will find yourselfaccommodated when his wants are once well provided for."
"Nay, the foul fiend take me if I do," answered the Scottishhusbandman. "I know not what the lads of this day are made of--not ofthe same clay as their fathers, to be sure--not sprung from theirheather, which fears neither wind nor rain, but from some delicateplant of a foreign country, which will not thrive unless it benourished under glass, with a murrain to it. The good Lord ofDouglas--I have been his henchman, and can vouch for it--did not in hispagehood desire such food and lodging as, in
the present day, willhardly satisfy such a lad as your friend Charles."
"Nay," said Bertram, "it is not that my Augustine is over nice; but,for other reasons, I must request of you a bed to himself; he hath oflate been unwell."
"Ay, I understand," said Dickson, "your son hath had a touch of thatillness which terminates so frequently in the black death you Englishfolk die of? We hear much of the havoc it has made to the southward.Comes it hitherward?"
Bertram nodded.
"Well, my father's house," continued the farmer, "hath more rooms thanone, and your son shall have one well-aired and comfortable; and forsupper, ye shall have a part of what is prepared for your countrymen,though I would rather have their room than their company. Since I ambound to feed a score of them, they will not dispute the claim of sucha skilful minstrel as thou art to a night's hospitality. I am ashamedto say that I must do their bidding even in my own house, Well-a-day,if my good lord were in possession of his own, I have heart and handenough to turn the whole of them out of my house, like--like"----
"To speak plainly," said Bertram, "like a southern strolling gang fromRedesdale, whom I have seen you fling out of your house like a litterof blind puppies, when not one of them looked behind to see who haddone him the courtesy until he was half-way to Cairntable."
"Ay," answered the Scotchman, drawing himself up at least six inchestaller than before; "then I had a house of my own, and a cause and anarm to keep it. Now I am--what signifies it what I am?--the noblestlord in Scotland is little better."
"Truly, friend," said Bertram, "now you view this matter in a rationallight. I do not say that the wisest, the richest, or the strongest manin this world has any right to tyrannize over his neighbour, because heis the more weak, ignorant, and the poorer; but yet if he does enterinto such a controversy, he must submit to the course of nature, andthat will always give the advantage in the tide of battle to wealth,strength, and health."
"With permission, however," answered Dickson, "the weaker party, if heuse his facilities to the utmost, may, in the long run, obtain revengeupon the author of his sufferings, which would be at least compensationfor his temporary submission; and he acts simply as a man, and mostfoolishly as a Scotchman, whether he sustain these wrongs with theinsensibility of an idiot, or whether he endeavour to revenge thembefore Heaven's appointed time has arrived.--But if I talk thus I shallscare you, as I have scared some of your countrymen, from accepting ameal of meat and a night's lodging, in a house where you might becalled with the morning to a bloody settlement of a national quarrel."
"Never mind," said Bertram, "we have been known to each other of old;and I am no more afraid of meeting unkindness in your house, than youexpect me to come here for the purpose of adding to the injuries ofwhich you complain."
"So be it," said Dickson; "and you, my old friend, are as welcome to myabode as when it never held any guest, save of my own inviting.--Andyou, my young friend, Master Augustine, shall be looked after as wellas if you came with a gay brow and a light cheek, such as best becomesthe _gay science_."
"But wherefore, may I ask," said Bertram, "so much displeased but nowat my young friend Charles?"
The youth answered before his father had time to speak. "My father,good sir, may put what show upon it he will, but shrewd and wise menwax weak in the brain these troublous times. He saw two or three wolvesseize upon three of our choicest wethers; and because I shouted to givethe alarm to the English garrison, he was angry as if he could havemurdered me---just for saving the sheep from the jaws that would havedevoured them."
"This is a strange account of thee, old friend," said Bertram. "Dostthou connive with the wolves in robbing thine own fold?"
"Why, let it pass, if thou lovest me," answered the countryman;"Charles could tell thee something nearer the truth if he had a mind;but for the present let it pass."
The minstrel, perceiving that the Scotchman was fretted and embarrassedwith the subject, pressed it no farther.
At this moment, in crossing the threshold of Thomas Dickson's house,they were greeted with sounds from two English soldiers within. "Quiet,Anthony," said one voice,--"quiet, man!--for the sake of common sense,if not common manners;--Robin Hood himself never sat down to his boardere the roast was ready."
"Ready!" quoth another rough voice; "It is roasting to rags, and smallhad been the knave Dickson's share, even of these rags, had it not beenthe express orders of the worshipful Sir John de Walton, that thesoldiers who lie at outposts should afford to the inmates suchprovisions as are not necessary for their own subsistence."
"Hush, Anthony,--hush, for shame!" replied his fellow-soldier, "if everI heard our host's step, I heard it this instant; so give over thygrumbling, since our captain, as we all know, hath prohibited, understrict penalties, all quarrels between his followers and the people ofthe country."
"I am sure," replied Anthony, "that I have ministered occasion to none;but I would I were equally certain of the good meaning of thissullen-browed Thomas Dickson towards the English soldiers, for I seldomgo to bed in this dungeon of a house, but I expect my throat will gapeas wide as a thirsty oyster before I awaken. Here he comes, however,"added Anthony, sinking his sharp tones as he spoke; "and I hope to beexcommunicated if he has not brought with him that mad animal, his sonCharles, and two other strangers, hungry enough, I'll be sworn, to eatup the whole supper, if they do us no other injury."
"Shame of thyself, Anthony," repeated his comrade; "a good archer thouas ever wore Kendal green, and yet affect to be frightened for twotired travellers, and alarmed for the inroad their hunger may make onthe night's meal. There are four or five of us here--we have our bowsand our bills within reach, and scorn to be chased from our supper, orcheated out of our share of it by a dozen Scotchmen, whether stationaryor strollers. How say'st thou?" he added, turning to Dickson--"How sayye, quartermaster? it is no secret, that by the directions given to ourpost, we must enquire into the occupations of such guests as you mayreceive besides ourselves, your unwilling inmates; you are as ready forsupper, I warrant, as supper is for you, and I will only delay you andmy friend Anthony,--who becomes dreadfully impatient, until you answertwo or three questions which you wot of."
"Bend-the-Bow," answered Dickson, "thou art a civil fellow; andalthough it is something hard to be constrained to give an account ofone's friends, because they chance to quarter in one's own house for anight or two, yet I must submit to the times, and make no vainopposition. You may mark down in your breviary there, that upon thefourteenth day before Palm Sunday, Thomas Dickson brought to his houseof Hazelside, in which you hold garrison, by orders from the Englishgovernor, Sir John de Walton, two strangers, to whom the said ThomasDickson had promised refreshment, and a bed for the evening, if it belawful at this time and place."
"But what are they, these strangers?" said Anthony, somewhat sharply.
"A fine world the while," murmured Thomas Dickson, "that an honest manshould be forced to answer the questions of every paltrycompanion!"--But he mitigated his voice and proceeded. "The eldest ofmy guests is Bertram, an ancient English minstrel, who is bound on hisown errand to the Castle of Douglas, and will communicate what he hasto say of news to Sir John de Walton himself. I have known him fortwenty years, and never heard any thing of him save that he was goodman and true. The younger stranger is his son, a lad recovering fromthe English disorder, which has been raging far and wide inWestmoreland and Cumberland."
"Tell me," said Bend-the-Bow, "this same Bertram,--was he not about ayear since in the service of some noble lady in our own country?"
"I have heard so," answered Dickson.
"We shall, in that case, I think, incur little danger," repliedBend-the-Bow, "by allowing this old man and his son to proceed on theirjourney to the castle."
"You are my elder and my better," answered Anthony; "but I may remindyou that it is not so clearly our duty to give free passage, into agarrison of a thousand men of all ranks, to a youth who has been solately attacked by a contagious disorder; an
d I question if ourcommander would not rather hear that the Black Douglas, with a hundreddevils as black as himself, since such is his colour, had takenpossession of the outposts of Hazelside with sword and battle-axe, thanthat one person suffering under this fell sickness had enteredpeaceably, and by the open wicket of the castle."
"There is something in what thou sayest, Anthony," replied his comrade;"and considering that our governor, since he has undertaken thetroublesome job of keeping a castle which is esteemed so much moredangerous than any other within Scotland, has become one of the mostcautious and jealous men in the world, we had better, I think, informhim of the circumstance, and take his commands how the stripling is tobe dealt with."
"Content am I," said the archer; "and first, methinks, I would just, inorder to show that we know what belongs to such a case, ask thestripling a few questions, as how long he has been ill, by whatphysicians he has been attended, when he was cured, and how his cure iscertified, &e."
"True, brother," said Bend-the-Bow. "Thou hearest, minstrel, we wouldask thy son some questions--What has become of him?--he was in thisapartment but now."
"So please you," answered Bertram, "he did but pass through theapartment. Mr. Thomas Dickson, at my entreaty, as well as in respectfulreverence to your honour's health, carried him through the room withouttarriance, judging his own bed-chamber the fittest place for a youngman recovering from a severe illness, and after a day of no smallfatigue."
"Well," answered the elder archer, "though it is uncommon for men who,like us, live by bow-string and quiver, to meddle with interrogationsand examinations; yet, as the case stands, we must make some enquiriesof your son, ere we permit him to set forth to the Castle of Douglas,where you say his errand leads him."
"Rather my errand, noble sir," said the minstrel, "than that of theyoung man himself."
"If such be the case," answered Bend-the-Bow, "we may sufficiently doour duty by sending yourself, with the first grey light of dawn, to thecastle, and letting your son remain in bed, which I warrant is thefittest place for him, until we shall receive Sir John de Walton'scommands whether he is to be brought onward or not."
"And we may as well," said Anthony, "since we are to have this man'scompany at supper, make him acquainted with the rules of theout-garrison stationed here for the time." So saying, he pulled ascroll from his leathern pouch, and said, "Minstrel, canst thou read?"
"It becomes my calling," said the minstrel.
"It has nothing to do with mine, though," answered the archer, "andtherefore do thou read these regulations aloud; for since I do notcomprehend these characters by sight, I lose no chance of having themread over to me as often as I can, that I may fix their sense in mymemory. So beware that thou readest the words letter for letter as theyare set down; for thou dost so at thy peril, Sir Minstrel, if thoureadest not like a true man."
"On my minstrel word," said Bertram, and began to read excessivelyslow; for he wished to gain a little time for consideration, which heforesaw would be necessary to prevent his being separated from hismistress, which was likely to occasion her much anxiety and distress.He therefore began thus:--"'Outpost at Hazelside, the steading ofGoodman Thomas Dickson'--Ay, Thomas, and is thy house so called?"
"It is the ancient name of the steading," said the Scot, "beingsurrounded by a hazel-shaw, or thicket."
"Hold your chattering tongue, minstrel," said Anthony, "and proceed, asyou value your ears, which you seem disposed to make less use of."
"'His garrison'" proceeded the minstrel, reading, "'consists of a lancewith its furniture.' What, then, a lance, in other words, a beltedknight, commands this party?"
"'Tis no concern of thine," said the archer.
"But it is," answered the minstrel; "we have a right to be examined bythe highest person in presence."
"I will show thee, thou rascal," said the archer, starting up, "that Iam lance enough for thee to reply to, and I will break thy head if thousay'st a word more."
"Take care, brother Anthony," said his comrade, "we are to usetravellers courteously--and, with your leave, those travellers best whocome from our native land."
"It is even so stated here," said the minstrel, and he proceeded toread:--"'The watch at this outpost of Hazelside [Footnote: HazelsidePlace, the fief granted to Thomas Dickson by William the Hardy, seventhLord Douglas, is still pointed out about two miles to the southwest ofthe Castle Dangerous. Dickson was sixty years of age at the time whenLord James first appeared in Douglasdale. His heirs kept possession ofthe fief for centuries; and some respectable gentlemen's families inLanarkshire still trace themselves to this ancestor.--_From Notes byMr. Haddow_.] shall stop and examine all travellers passing by the saidstation, suffering such to pass onward to the town of Douglas or toDouglas Castle, always interrogating them with civility, and detainingand turning them back if there arise matter of suspicion; butconducting themselves in all matters civilly and courteously to thepeople of the country, and to those who travel in it.' You see, mostexcellent and valiant archer," added the commentator Bertram, "thatcourtesy and civility are, above all, recommended to your worship inyour conduct towards the inhabitants, and those passengers who, likeus, may chance to fall under your rules in such matters."
"I am not to be told at this time of day," said the archer, "how toconduct myself in the discharge of my duties. Let me advise you, SirMinstrel, to be frank and open in your answers to our enquiries, andyou shall have no reason to complain."
"I hope at all events," said the minstrel, "to have your favour for myson, who is a delicate stripling, and not accustomed to play his partamong the crew which inhabit this wild world."
"Well," continued the elder and more civil of the two archers, "if thyson be a novice in this terrestrial navigation, I warrant that thou, myfriend, from thy look and manner of speech, hast enough of skill to usethy compass. To comfort thee, although thou must thyself answer thequestions of our governor or deputy-governor, in order that he may seethere is no offence in thee, I think there may be permission grantedfor thy son's residing here in the convent hard by, (where the nuns, bythe way, are as old as the monks, and have nearly as long beards, sothou mayst be easy about thy son's morals,) until thou hast done thybusiness at Douglas Castle, and art ready to resume thy journey."
"If such permission," said the minstrel, "can be obtained, I should bebetter pleased to leave him at the abbey, and go myself, in the firstplace, to take the directions of your commanding officer."
"Certainly," answered the archer, "that will be the safest and bestway; and with a piece or two of money, thou mayst secure the protectionof the abbot."
"Thou say'st well," answered the minstrel; "I have known life, I haveknown every stile, gap, pathway, and pass of this wilderness of oursfor some thirty years; and he that cannot steer his course fairlythrough it like an able seaman, after having served such anapprenticeship, can hardly ever be taught, were a century to be givenhim to learn it in."
"Since thou art so expert a mariner," answered the archer Anthony,"thou hast, I warrant me, met in thy wanderings a potation called amorning's draught, which they who are conducted by others, where theythemselves lack experience, are used to bestow upon those who undertakethe task of guide upon such an occasion?"
"I understand you, sir," quoth the minstrel; "and although money, or_drink-geld_, as the Fleming calls it, is rather a scarce commodity inthe purse of one of my calling, yet according to my feeble ability,thou shalt have no cause to complain that thine eyes or those of thycomrades have been damaged by a Scottish mist, while we can find anEnglish coin to pay for the good liquor which would wash them clear."
"Content," said the archer; "we now understand each other; and ifdifficulties arise on the road, thou shalt not want the countenance ofAnthony to sail triumphantly through them. But thou hadst better letthy son know soon of the early visit to the abbot to-morrow, for thoumayst guess that we cannot and dare not delay our departure for theconvent a minute after the eastern sky is ruddy; and, with otherinfirm
ities, young men often are prone to laziness and a love of ease."
"Thou shalt have no reason to think so," answered the minstrel; "notthe lark himself, when waked by the first ray peeping over the blackcloud, springs more lightly to the sky, than will my Augustine answerthe same brilliant summons. And now we understand each other, I wouldonly further pray you to forbear light talk while my son is in yourcompany,--a boy of innocent life, and timid in conversation."
"Nay, jolly minstrel," said the elder archer, "thou givest us here toogross an example of Satan reproving sin. If thou hast followed thycraft for twenty years, as thou pretendest, thy son, having kept theecompany since childhood, must by this time be fit to open a school toteach even devils the practice of the seven deadly sins, of which noneknow the theory if those of the _gay science_ are lacking."
"Truly, comrade, thou speakest well," answered Bertram, "and Iacknowledge that we minstrels are too much to blame in this matter.Nevertheless, in good sooth, the fault is not one of which I myself amparticularly guilty; on the contrary, I think that he who would wish tohave his own hair honoured when time has strewed it with silver, shouldso rein his mirth when in the presence of the young, as may show inwhat respect he holds innocence. I will, therefore, with yourpermission, speak a word to Augustine, that to-morrow we must be onfoot early."
"Do so, my friend," said the English soldier; "and do the same the morespeedily that our poor supper is still awaiting until thou art ready topartake of it."
"To which, I promise thee," said Bertram, "I am disposed to entertain,no delay."
"Follow me, then," said Dickson, "and I will show thee where this youngbird of thine has his nest."
Their host accordingly tripped up the wooden stair, and tapped at adoor, which he thus indicated was that of his younger guest.
"Your father," continued he, as the door opened, "would speak with you,Master Augustine."
"Excuse me, my host," answered Augustine, "the truth is, that this roombeing directly above your eating-chamber, and the flooring not in thebest possible repair, I have been compelled to the unhandsome practiceof eavesdropping, and not a word has escaped me that passed concerningmy proposed residence at the abbey, our journey to-morrow, and thesomewhat early hour at which I must shake off sloth, and, according tothy expression, fly down from the roost."
"And how dost thou relish," said Dickson, "being left with the Abbot ofSaint Bride's little flock here."
"Why, well," said the youth, "if the abbot is a man of respectabilitybecoming his vocation, and not one of those swaggering churchmen, whostretch out the sword, and bear themselves like rank soldiers in thesetroublous times."
"For that, young master," said Dickson, "if you let him put his handdeep enough into your purse, he will hardly quarrel with any thing.""Then I will leave him to my father," replied Augustine, "who will notgrudge him any thing he asks in reason."
"In that case," replied the Scotchman, "you may trust to our abbot forgood accommodation--and so both sides are pleased."
"It is well, my son," said Bertram, who now joined in the conversation;"and that thou mayst be ready for early travelling, I shall presentlyget our host to send thee some food, after partaking of which thoushouldst go to bed and sleep off the fatigue of to-day, since to-morrowwill bring work for itself."
"And as for thy engagement to these honest archers," answeredAugustine, "I hope you will be able to do what will give pleasure toour guides, if they are disposed to be civil and true men."
"God bless thee, my child!" answered Bertram; "thou knowest alreadywhat would drag after thy beck all the English archers that were everon this side of the Solway. There is no fear of a grey goose shaft, ifyou sing a _reveillez_ like to that which chimed even now from thatsilken nest of dainty young goldfinches."
"Hold me as in readiness, then," said the seeming youth, "when youdepart to-morrow morning. I am within hearing, I suppose, of the bellsof Saint Bride's chapel, and have no fear, through my sloth, of keepingyou or your company waiting."
"Good night, and God bless thee, my child!" again said the minstrel;"remember that your father sleeps not far distant, and on the slightestalarm will not fail to be with you. I need scarce bid thee recommendthyself, meantime, to the great Being, who is the friend and father ofus all."
The pilgrim thanked his supposed father for his evening blessing, andthe visitors withdrew without farther speech at the time, leaving theyoung lady to those engrossing fears, which, the novelty of hersituation, and the native delicacy of her sex being considered,naturally thronged upon her.
The tramp of a horse's foot was not long after heard at the house ofHazelside, and the rider was welcomed by its garrison with marks ofrespect. Bertram understood so much as to discover from theconversation of the warders that this late arrival was Aymer deValence, the knight who commanded the little party, and to thefurniture of whose lance, as it was technically called, belonged thearchers with whom we have already been acquainted, a man-at-arms ortwo, a certain proportion of pages or grooms, and, in short, thecommand and guidance of the garrison at Thomas Dickson's, while in rankhe was Deputy-governor of Douglas Castle.
To prevent all suspicion respecting himself and his companion, as wellas the risk of the latter being disturbed, the minstrel thought itproper to present himself to the inspection of this knight, the greatauthority of the little place. He found him with as little scruple asthe archers heretofore, making a supper of the relics of the roast beef.
Before this young knight Bertram underwent an examination, while an oldsoldier took down in writing such items of information as the examinatethought proper to express in his replies, both with regard to theminutiae of his present journey, his business at Castle Douglas, andhis route when that business should be accomplished; a much more minuteexamination, in a word, than he had hitherto undergone by the archers,or perhaps than was quite agreeable to him, being encumbered with atleast the knowledge of one secret, whatever more. Not that this newexaminator had any thing stern or severe in his looks or his questions.As to the first, he was mild, gentle, and "meek as a maid," andpossessed exactly of the courteous manners ascribed by our fatherChaucer to the pattern of chivalry whom he describes upon hispilgrimage to Canterbury. But with all his gentleness, De Valenceshowed a great degree of acuteness and accuracy in his queries; andwell pleased was Bertram that the young knight did not insist uponseeing his supposed son, although even in that case his ready wit hadresolved, like a seaman in a tempest, to sacrifice one part to preservethe rest. He was not, however, driven to this extremity, being treatedby Sir Aymer with that degree of courtesy which in that age men of songwere in general thought entitled to. The knight kindly and liberallyconsented to the lad's remaining in the convent, as a fit and quietresidence for a stripling and an invalid, until Sir John de Waltonshould express his pleasure on the subject; and Sir Aymer consented tothis arrangement the more willingly, as it averted all possible dangerof bringing disease into the English garrison.
By the young knight's order, all in Dickson's house were despatchedearlier to rest than usual; the matin bell of the neighbouring chapelbeing the signal for their assembly by daybreak. They rendezvousedaccordingly, and proceeded to Saint Bride's, where they heard mass,after which an interview took place between the abbot Jerome and theminstrel, in which the former undertook, with the permission of DeValence, to receive Augustine into his abbey as a guest for a few days,less or more, and for which Bertram promised an acknowledgment in nameof alms, which was amply satisfactory.
"So be it," said Bertram, taking leave of his supposed son; "rely on itI will not tarry a day longer at Douglas Castle than shall suffice fortransacting my business there, which is to look after the old books youwot of, and I will speedily return for thee to the Abbey of SaintBride, to resume in company our journey homeward."
"O father," replied the youth, with a smile, "I fear if you get amongromances and chronicles, you will be so earnest in your researches,that you will forget poor Augustine and his concerns."
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"Never fear me, Augustine," said the old man, making the motion ofthrowing a kiss towards the boy; "thou art good and virtuous, andHeaven will not neglect thee, were thy father unnatural enough to doso. Believe me, all the old songs since Merlin's day shall not make meforget thee."
Thus they separated, the minstrel, with the English knight and hisretinue, to move towards the castle, and the youth in dutifulattendance on the venerable abbot, who was delighted to find that hisguest's thoughts turned rather upon spiritual things than on themorning repast, of the approach of which he could not help beinghimself sensible.