Part 8 (2/2)
”Which?” asked Wulf, but G.o.dwin shook his head.
”Sir Andrew bids me say that he would speak with you both,” said the woman, and went her way.
”By the saints, I believe it's neither!” exclaimed Wulf, with a little laugh.
”It may be thus,” said G.o.dwin, ”and perhaps that would be best for all.”
”I don't think so,” answered Wulf, as he followed him up the steps of the solar.
Now they had pa.s.sed the pa.s.sage and closed the door, and before them was Sir Andrew seated in his chair by the fire, but not alone, for at his side, her hand resting upon his shoulder, stood Rosamund. They noted that she was clad in her richest robes, and a bitter thought came into their minds that this might be to show them how beautiful was the woman whom both of them must lose. As they advanced they bowed first to her and then to their uncle, while, lifting her eyes from the ground, she smiled a little in greeting.
”Speak, Rosamund,” said her father. ”These knights are in doubt and pain.”
”Now for the coup de grace,” muttered Wulf.
”My cousins,” began Rosamund in a low, quiet voice, as though she were saying a lesson, ”as to the matter of which you spoke to me yesterday, I have taken counsel with my father and with my own heart. You did me great honour, both of you, in asking me to be the wife of such worthy knights, with whom I have been brought up and have loved since childhood as a sister loves her brothers.
I will be brief as I may. Alas! I can give to neither of you the answer which you wish.”
”Coup de grace indeed,” muttered Wulf, ”through hauberk, gambeson, and s.h.i.+rt, right home to the heart.”
But G.o.dwin only turned a trifle paler and said nothing.
Now there was silence for a little s.p.a.ce, while from beneath his bushy eyebrows the old knight watched their faces, on which the light of the tapers fell.
Then G.o.dwin spoke: ”We thank you, Cousin. Come, Wulf, we have our answer; let us be going.”
”Not all of it,” broke in Rosamund hastily, and they seemed to breathe again.
”Listen,” she said; ”for if it pleases you, I am willing to make a promise which my father has approved. Come to me this time two years, and if we all three live, should both of you still wish for me to wife, that there may be no further s.p.a.ce of pain or waiting, I will name the man whom I shall choose, and marry him at once.”
”And if one of us is dead?” asked G.o.dwin.
”Then,” replied Rosamund, ”if his name be untarnished, and he has done no deed that is not knightly, will forthwith wed the other.”
”Pardon me--” broke in Wulf.
She held up her hand and stopped him, saying: ”You think this a strange saying, and so, perhaps, it is; but the matter is also strange, and for me the case is hard. Remember, all my life is at stake, and I may desire more time wherein to make my choice, that between two such men no maiden would find easy. We are all of us still young for marriage, for which, if G.o.d guards our lives, there will be time and to spare. Also in two years I may learn which of you is in truth the worthier knight, who to-day both seem so worthy.”
”Then is neither of us more to you than the other?” asked Wulf outright.
Rosamund turned red, and her bosom heaved as she replied:
”I will not answer that question.”
”And Wulf should not have asked it,” said G.o.dwin. ”Brother, I read Rosamund's saying thus: Between us she finds not much to choose, or if she does in her secret heart, out of her kindness--since she is determined not to marry for a while--she will not suffer us to see it and thereby bring grief on one of us. So she says, 'Go forth, you knights, and do deeds worthy of such a lady, and perchance he who does the highest deeds shall receive the great reward.' For my part, I find this judgment wise and just, and I am content to abide its issue. Nay, I am even glad of it, since it gives us time and opportunity to show our sweet cousin here, and all our fellows, the mettle whereof we are made, and strive to outs.h.i.+ne each other in the achievement of great feats which, as always, we shall attempt side by side.”
”Well spoken,” said Sir Andrew. ”And you, Wulf?”
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