CHAPTER XVIII.
LOVE IS STRONGER THAN HATE.
"True love's the gift which God has given To man alone beneath the heaven:
* * * * *
It is the secret sympathy, The silver link, the silken tie, Which heart to heart, and mind to mind, In body and in soul can bind."
Scott.
It is a lovely morning in August; the hush of perfect restfulness is inthe air. The cattle have retired from the heat and glare of the sun, andare quietly chewing the cud beneath the sheltering foliage of theplantain trees; whilst here and there, through the long vistas betweenthe trees, may be seen a tall stag with two or three hinds at his heels,venturing within sight of the haunts of men, as though timidly invitingman's protection against the foes of the forest. This lovely morning hastempted forth from the castle the two females who are directing theirsteps to a rustic house on the banks of the river, where there arehoused a couple of boats. One boat is of delicate trim and daintyworkmanship. The oars are small and carefully made, the handles having arich silken covering, showing they are intended for delicate hands towield.
This is Alice's favourite recreation, and dearly she loves to have aquiet hour on the still bosom of the river, with Jeannette to row, andshe, book in hand, to sit and read or sit and muse in quiet rapture asshe gazes on the noble scenery around. The dip and plash of the oars, asJeannette beats up against the current, is as the soothing tones ofdelicate music. Then to float slowly and in perfect stillness downstream, beneath the tall trees that line the banks, where busy insectsdance and sing, and where the trout leap to catch their prey; to catchthe scents from the wooded bank, where breathing shrub, and plant, andflower, and tree, load the air with their perfumed exhalations. Truly tothe lover of Nature the smell of a wood is "as the smell of a fieldwhich the Lord hath blessed!" On this day everything seems exceptionallylovely, and, slowly as Jeannette is pulling, the confines of the parkare quickly overpassed, and the castle is cut off from view byembowering woods.
"We are already past the limits of the park, my lady," said Jeannette."Shall I put the boat about now, and drift back with the stream?"
"Oh, no, not just yet, Jeannette. Let us go a little farther to-day. Itis such a charming morning, and I have been longing for a great while toexplore a little more of this delightful river."
"But you are forgetting the Count's express commands, my lady. You knowhe bade us be very careful not to go beyond sight of the castle."
"Never fear, Jeannette. I think we may safely venture a little farther.You know we have never so much as seen any human being in theseexcursions."
"No, my lady; but you know what horrid, wild people these Saxons are;and they may be lurking in the woods and shoot their arrows at us, andwound or kill us before the least help could reach us."
"I don't think we have any enemies amongst the Saxons, Jeannette. Youand I, at least, do not merit their vengeance, and I am quite preparedto trust them."
"But it is really dangerous, my lady," remonstrated the maid. "And PaulLazaire has told me that they really kill and eat people, do thesehorrid Saxons!"
"Fie, fie, Jeannette! What a coward you are, and a simpleton to boot, tobelieve all the silly tales you hear about the Saxons! Look howexquisitely lovely the river is ahead of us. Pull a little farther upstream."
Truly it was as Alice said, exquisitely lovely. The huge mountains oneither side spread out their bases down to the water's edge, whilstdeep, dense woods clothed the river's brink with well-nigh impenetrabledepths of undergrowths and foliage. The huge trees on either side spreadout their long arms across the river as though anxious to shake handswith their giant neighbours on the opposite bank. Ahead, each bend ofthe river through the tortuous hills was obscured from view; and itlooked in the distance as though it was issuing from the bowels of themountain promontory in front, through a thick bower of foliage, whilsthere and there, as they voyaged on, the bare and frowning limestonecrags jutted out through the slender covering of the green fir-tree topswhich vainly strove to hide them--lonesome, fearsome, and grand, thesolitude all around. The strange wildness and grandeur of the scenestirred the soul of Alice to its very depths, and it is needless to sayshe was perfectly oblivious to everything save the sweet voice ofNature.
As the boat and its occupants moved slowly up stream, numbers ofwater-hens rushed off into the impenetrable recesses of foliage andundergrowths, or dived hurriedly beneath the roots of trees oroverhanging embankment.
Yonder in the distance, in the bared and tortuous roots of a huge treeoverhanging the water, an otter is sitting, warily watching his finnyprey disporting themselves beneath; but at sight of these unwelcomevisitors he drops from the root of the tree on which he sits, with hastyplunge, leaving no trace of his whereabouts saving the streamingheadline in the water indicating the direction in which he hastes forsafety.
Fearlessly also, ahead, a flock of wild-duck are floating regally on thelimpid waters, unconscious of danger, and gabbling in utmost glee andcontent; but at this unlooked-for intrusion they set up a startled cry,take hurriedly to wing, and are quickly lost in the distance.
Looking carefully, also, at the entrance of yon water-course, whichcomes tumbling over its rocky bed from the hills, a heron standspensively watching for any incautious trout that, quitting the deepwaters, comes to the lips of the mountain stream for food; but,disturbed, he utters a scream, and spreading out his long wings, withlow and measured beat mounts into the air, probably to rest not untilthe far-away sea-coast is reached.
Kingfishers too--haunters of quiet river-stretches--in coats of theloveliest green and gold, flit over the bosom of the water with quietassurance. Snipe, also, in goodly numbers, with swift, arrow-likeflight, dart ahead up stream, or, rising high over the tops of thetrees, circle back again to the rear of the boat.
Alice is in raptures, and Jeannette's cautions and remonstrances alike,fall on ears which are preoccupied with other sounds, and are quite deafto everything but the peaceful harmonies of nature.
"Look, Jeannette, at those fine hazel nuts, which hang in ripe and ruddyclusters there! Pull to the side at once, and let us gather them!"
Jeannette's caution is completely upset at this tempting sight, and theorder is scarcely given ere it is executed. Eagerly the pair stand up inthe boat to reach the brown clusters, totally oblivious and regardlessof danger and molestation. Presently, with increasing boldness, theyfasten the boat's chain round the bole of a tree, and clamber upon thebank. With nimble feet and nimble fingers they rush from tree to tree,stripping them of their dainty burden, and coming again and again withtheir hands full of nuts, and showering them into the bottom of theboat.
But they would not have been so content and composed had they but knownthat two pairs of Saxon eyes had been watching intently the progress upstream of the frail bark, and the fair Norman women who occupied it.One, at least, has determined, if chance offers, he will have a word ofthanks with them for his deliverance. These Saxons are Oswald and hisalmost inseparable comrade, Wulfhere. So the two slowly push aside thefoliage and, unnoticed, emerge in close proximity to the eager nutters.Jeannette utters a scream, and narrowly escapes an attack of hysterics.
"Calm your fears, ladies," said Oswald. "We are too much your debtors towish you ill. Allow me, fair lady, to tender to you on this, the firstopportunity I have had, my undying gratitude for the life you somagnanimously gave me a while ago. Though we Saxons, I am afraid, mustappear to you as rude and uncivilised islanders, I assure you we are notinsensible to, or ungrateful for, any favours bestowed upon us--muchless such favours as you have conferred on myself."
"Sir Knight," said Alice, much assured by the sincere and courteous tonein which the valiant and virtuous Saxon chieftain had addressed her, "wedid but do what pity and admiration combined moved us to. Heaven made ustwo weak women, and we played a woman's part. But we have not repentedin that we did an act prompted by those intuitions of mercy which areour
woman's heritage."
"I am made a life-long debtor, fair lady, for that womanly act, and Itrust I may find opportunity to repay so generous a loan."
"I am glad we have met a Saxon who is our debtor, or we should havefared badly for our boldness this morning."
"My people, lady, will not injure a hair of your head, nor permit anyone else to do so. You may roam at will; far or near, you are perfectlysafe."
"This river scenery is perfectly enchanting, Sir Knight. If I maypresume upon the friendship and goodwill of your people, I should liketo explore it thoroughly?"
"The river, lady, becomes even finer as you push into the solitudes. Ifthat craft were not so frail, we two would give you a merry spin for amile or two. Indeed, if you dare trust yourself with a Saxon, let mepull you up stream. I think I can promise you a rare treat. Wulfhere, mycomrade, will take care of your maid until we return."
"I dare venture. It would not be knightly conduct to betray a woman'sconfidence. But will it be safe to leave Jeannette?"
"Perfectly! Wulfhere and the hound are a pair of faithful and valiantdefenders."
"No, no!" almost shrieked Jeannette. "You must not go! You will bekilled and eaten! I have heard for certain that these horrid Saxons eatpeople!"
"Nonsense, Jeannette! Don't be foolish, and don't listen to such sillytales!"
"Oh, dear! I shall be eaten if you aren't! Holy Mother protect me!" saidshe, crossing herself; and, pulling her rosary out of her bosom, shebegan counting her beads most violently.
"Come, my pretty," said Wulfhere, in his blandest tones. "If I were acannibal I wouldn't eat you. Sit on this fallen tree; I and the houndwill keep a respectful distance." So saying, he retreated half a dozenpaces from her, and began putting the dog through some capers.
"If you eat Jeannette, Wulfhere, I shall call you to account when I comeback," said Oswald laughingly, as the boat sped away.
In the meantime, Jeannette sat rocking herself in great distress,watching the receding boat, and telling her beads at a great pace,whilst Wulfhere continued his play with the hound, quite oblivious--orapparently oblivious--of the tearful maiden. But nothing to this prettyFrenchwoman was so insupportable as to be ignored. So, after bemoaningher distressing circumstances without finding any special calamityhappening, she began casting furtive glances at her Saxon comrade, andshe gradually dropped her cries and tears, at his nonchalant behaviour,and her beads began to pass much more slowly through her fingers. To hercoquettish fancy there was something piquant in the indifference of thisstalwart Saxon. Her curiosity was excited, and this speedily passed intoadmiration for the muscular limbs and well-developed frame of Wulfhere.For it is not in the disposition of many daughters of Eve--much less insuch as this coquettish Frenchwoman was--to look upon such a fine pieceof muscular anatomy as Wulfhere's, without falling into admiration ofit. This did not pass unmarked by him, despite the hypocriticalindifference which he had assumed. Presently he turned his gaze uponJeannette, and a good-humoured grin spread over his features, developinginto a broad smile, as he ventured to break the silence.
"I say, pretty one, you'll not run away whilst I'm gathering a fewsticks to make the fire with, will you, eh?"
"Fire!" exclaimed Jeannette, clutching her beads, which had dropped intoher lap. "What do you want a fire for?"
"Want a fire for! Why, I couldn't think of eating you raw!" and hetwirled on his heel, to laugh.
Jeannette uttered an inimitable little scream. "You horrid man, I shalljump into the water if you stir! I'm sure I shall!" Then, bursting intoa little laugh, all the more bewitching as it came, rainbow-like,betwixt smiles and tears, she said, "You are trying to frighten me, Iknow; but all the same you Saxons do eat people. I've heard it saidhundreds of times. And once, as we came along, we saw a pile of bones,and Paul Lazaire said they were the bones of people whom the Saxons hadeaten. So you see we know all about you."
"Oh, but that's all fudge, pretty one. You shall be my sweetheart, andthen you'll soon learn quite different."
"But I'm not going to be your sweetheart. So you see. I wouldn't haveany one for a sweetheart with hair and beard as long as yours. Normanshave more sense than to wear horrid beards."
"Oh, but you shall cut my hair, and trim my beard; and I would try tolook like a little Norman ninny of five feet six. Then you wouldn't befrightened in the least, would you?"
Jeannette thought to herself she would rather take him as he was, thoughshe kept the matter to herself. The upshot of the whole was this:Wulfhere found himself sitting by her side on the fallen tree, with thehound in front, and neither party very anxious for the return of theboat and its occupants.
"So they say we eat such as you, do they, sweetheart?"
"Yes, they do. And they don't call me 'Sweetheart,' either. And don'tyou think I don't know you, for I saw you fighting on that wall."
"Well, don't be offended now; but what do they call you?"
"They call me Jeannette--and that's nothing to you."
"Oh dear, no! nothing whatever. And do they really say that we eat suchas you?"
"Yes, they do! And it's quite true besides! for everybody says so."
"Well, that's dreadful, anyhow. And how many do you suppose I shall haveeaten like you?"
"You wouldn't have to eat _one_ like me. If you did, Paul Lazaire wouldkill you for it."
"Paul Lazaire? Oh, I suppose Paul Lazaire will be a sweetheart of yours.Is that so, Jeannette dear?"
"Yes, he is my sweetheart. But I'm not going to marry him for all that!So you see."
"No, I wouldn't have _him_, I'm sure. Tell him you have got a betternow--a Saxon."
"Fancy! That is fine, to be sure! Don't you think it! I'm not going tohave a husband at all. They are horrid things, for they are never happybut when they are swilling ale. Just to think of my marrying a Saxon!That would be fine indeed!"
"Really now, my pretty Jeannette, I really am over head and ears in lovewith you; and if you were my wife, why, I should take great care ofyou."
"Wife, to be sure! The wife of a Saxon? Just think of it! I suppose Ishould have to run about in the woods all day, clothed in sheepskins;then I suppose I should have to creep into a hole in the earth at night.That would be nice, wouldn't it?"
Wulfhere burst into a horse-laugh. "Perhaps you would prefer sleeping upa tree to creeping into a hole, would you?"
"I'm not going to do either. Besides, I daresay you have got a Saxonwife somewhere, for you are all deceitful--Norman and Saxon alike."
"Nonsense, Jeannette! I have no wife, or sweetheart either, and I havemade up my mind now, that my wife shall be Norman--just such a wife asyourself, Jeannette."
"Why, what would such a giant as you want a wife like me for?"
"Why? Well, I can hardly answer that question, I declare. But somethingmust be put down to your pretty face, something to your slender waist,and a good deal to something I can't explain; but I never felt anythinglike it before, for no sooner did I set eyes upon that pretty face ofyours than I felt I should like to kiss it."
"Oh, you horrid, naughty man!" said Jeannette, slipping her slender handinto Wulfhere's huge paw, and unconsciously hitching closer to him onthe log, "to try and deceive me with such nonsense! I know you aredeceiving me! Why, where should we live? I don't know where _you_ livenow. I should die if I had to live in the woods, and had no home. Ishould like a home of my own, where I could play my guitar and spin mywool, and make you some better garments than those coarse ones youwear."
"Oh, you shall not be my wife until I can find you a home, and protectyou! We shall probably have to teach the Normans another lesson or two.Then they will listen to reason. When we have got a settlement of ourown, then you shall be my wife, Jeannette."
"Oh, but I dare not! I should be frightened to live amongst the Saxons.But you wouldn't harm a little woman like me? That would be cowardly."
"I think it would, Jeannette," said Wulfhere, passing his arm around herslim waist, drawing her to him, and planting a kiss
on her sunny cheek."When I go to war I should like a sturdier foe to wreak my vengeanceon."
"But would you be a serf, and wear one of those horrid iron collars theserfs wear? I shouldn't like a husband who was a bondman."
"No, my pretty one, I have never been a bondman; and, what is more, Inever shall. I am a Saxon freeman."
"A 'freeman'? What is a 'freeman'?"
"A freeman is one who tills his own land, and is no man's vassal orbondman. I shall remain a freeman, and my sons shall be freemen afterme."
At this juncture the hound gave a start, and threw back his head, at thesame time giving utterance to a low, fierce growl. Presently a footstepis heard, not approaching stealthily, but crashing through the trees andunderwood. Wulfhere springs to his feet; his bow is unslung, and anarrow affixed in a moment. The hound also starts to his feet, hiseyeballs glitter, and the veins of his neck and body are distendedalmost to bursting. The low branches are put aside, and the burly formof Sigurd, the dispossessed viking chieftain, emerges before them. Hislowering brow and impetuous manner tell but too plainly that there is atempest raging within him.
"Wulfhere," said he, "what does this mean?"
"What does what mean, my lord?"
"Why, the drivelling folly I have witnessed for the last half hour ormore! Fitter stuff for a Norman libertine than for a Saxon freeman, andone who makes pretence of valour!"
"I am at a loss to know what you mean, my lord."
"I mean? Why, I mean that whilst I and others of thy countrymen arelurking near the haunts of these French dogs, that we may have revengeupon them, thou and thy master are toying and fooling with their women.But enough of this! Make an end of this woman, and an end of thy follyat a blow, and thou hast then made amends."
"Indeed I shall do no such thing. This maiden and her noble mistressgave my chief his life, and it will be woe to the man who dares injureeither the one or the other."
"What care I for thy master's scruples? These Normans owe ussatisfaction for a thousand Saxon lives they have taken. So stand aside;I'll do my own business."
"Indeed you will do no such thing, until you have disposed of me;" andWulfhere threw himself boldly in front of Sigurd.
"Ah, art thou insolent into the bargain, dog? I will chastise thybravado out of thee if thou stand not aside;" and he grasped the hilt ofhis sword.
Wulfhere, seeing the movement, and having no sword, sprang upon him anddealt him a stinging blow with his clenched fist. So violently was thisgiven that, sturdy as he was, Sigurd reeled back several paces.
"Ah, is that it, my buck? Then I'll have thee with thine own weapon, forI do not need to take any advantage of a varlet like thyself!"
So saying, he rushed on Wulfhere, with intent to come to close quarters.But Wulfhere knew well the great personal strength of his bulkyantagonist, so he dodged with great agility every effort Sigurd made tograpple with him. And he did not fail to deal him repeatedly heavy blowswith his clenched fists. This so exasperated Sigurd that he was asfurious as a mad bull, and for a considerable time it seemed to be abattle between brute force and agility, the balance being much in favourof the more agile. Unfortunately, a trip on the part of Wulfhere, overthe root of a tree, gave Sigurd the chance he had been vainly strivingfor. Ere he could recover himself, Sigurd gripped him in his powerfulembrace, and gathering him up as though he were a child, he hurled himto the ground, exclaiming, "Now I will kill thee, churl!" and he graspedhim by the throat. The hound, which had been dancing round thecombatants during the fray, with many furious and irresolute darts atSigurd, seeing Wulfhere in such desperate straits, sprang upon Sigurd,and buried his teeth in the fleshy part of his arm.