?you shall not follow the matter further. As to the men, I cannot say with certainty who they may have been. I had gone forth to visit Dame Clatworthy, who hath the tertian [Ссылки могут видеть только зарегистрированные пользователи. ] ague, and they did beset me on my return. Perchance they are some who are not of my [Ссылки могут видеть только зарегистрированные пользователи. ] grandfather?€™s way of thinking in affairs of State, and [Ссылки могут видеть только зарегистрированные пользователи. ] who struck at him through me. But ye have both been so kind that ye will not refuse me one other favour which I shall ask ye??€™
We protested that we could not, with our hands upon our sword-hilts.
?€?Nay, keep them for the Lord?€™s quarrel,?€™ said she, smiling at the action. ?€?All that I ask is that ye will say nothing if this matter to my grandsire. He is choleric, and a little matter doth set him in a flame, so old as he is. I would not have his mind turned from the public needs to a private trifle of this sort. Have I your promises??€™
?€?Mine,?€™ said I, bowing.
?€?And mine,?€™ said Lockarby.
?€?Thanks, good friends. Alack! I have dropped my gauntlet in the street. But it is of no import. I thank God that no harm has come to any one. My thanks once more, and may pleasant dreams await ye.?€™ She sprang up the steps and was gone in an instant.
Reuben and I unharnessed our horses and saw them cared for in silence. We then entered the house and ascended to our chambers, still without a word. Outside his room door my friend paused.
?€?I have heard that long man?€™s voice before, Micah,?€™ said he.
?€?And so have I,?€™ I answered. ?€?The old man must beware of his ?€?prentices. I have half a mind to go back for the little maiden?€™s gauntlet.?€™
A merry twinkle shot through the cloud which hid gathered on Reuben?€™s brow. He opened his left hand and showed me the doe-skin glove crumpled up in his palm.
?€?I would not barter it for all the gold in her grandsire?€™s coffers,?€™ said he, with a sudden outflame, and then half-laughing, half-blushing at his own heat, he whisked [Ссылки могут видеть только зарегистрированные пользователи. ] in and left me to my thoughts.
And so I learned for the first time, my dears, that my good comrade had been struck by the little god?€™s arrows. When a man?€™s years number one score, love springs up in him, as the gourd grew in the Scriptures, in a single night. I have told my story ill if I have not made you understand that my friend was a frank, warm-hearted lad of impulse, whose reason seldom stood sentry over his inclinations. Such a man can no more draw away from a winning maid than the needle can shun the magnet. He loves as the mavis sings or the kitten plays. Now, a slow-witted, heavy fellow like myself, in whose veins the blood has always flowed somewhat coolly and temperately, may go into love as a horse goes into a shelving stream, [Ссылки могут видеть только зарегистрированные пользователи. ] step by step, but a man like Reuben is kicking [Ссылки могут видеть только зарегистрированные пользователи. ] his heels upon the bank one moment, and is over ears in the deepest pool the nest.
Heaven only knows what match it was that had set the tow alight. I can but say that from that day on my comrade was sad and cloudy one [Ссылки могут видеть только зарегистрированные пользователи. ] hour, gay and blithesome the next. His even flow of good spirits had deserted him, and he became as di
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