Red Eve

is, the month of February of the year 1346, hard and bitter frost held Suffolk in its grip. The muddy stream of Blyth, it is true, was frozen only in places, since the tide, flowing up from the South

seemed swollen into feathery balls, the fur started on the backs of hares, and a four-horse wai

t marsh was utterly desolate, and this was why

the man broad shouldered, with grey eyes that were quick and almost fierce, long limbed, hard, agile, and healthy, one who had never known sickness, who looked as though the world were his own to ma

year. Yet from her who had been reared in the hard school of that cruel a

ood looking

an, in his clear voice, "why did your me

e answered boldly; "and the marsh being so cold and so lonesome

string, and God help him on whom Dic

" she replied, looking h

gh with the cold, a

red it," he muttered huskily, "but w

and you de Cressis, the nobler stock, took to merchandise. Now since those days you have grown rich with your fishing fleets, your wool mart, and your ferry dues at Walberswick and Southwold. We, too, are rich in manors and land, counting our acres by the thousand, but yet poor, lacking your gold, though

ll this to do wit

since your father lent money to mine, and that is why they suffered us to grow up side by side. But then they quarrelled about the ferry that we had set in pawn, and your father asked his gold back again, and, not getting it, took the ferry,

but twice in nine months." And he devoured her beautiful

veney up to Bungay town-ay, and beyond-and from his father, a whole county in Normandy. Five French knights ride behind his banner, and with them ten squires and I know not how many men-at-arms.

is this lo

he high and puissant Count of Noyon, and in Italy, near to the city of Venice-for there, t

e want you, too, as I have

ace, which by ill-fortune has pleased his lordship since first he saw it a month ago. At the least h

ou want h

on or the world from either. I want him in heave

ight shone in Hugh

st other things that he is a traitor come here to spy on England. But sho

up and down;

Hugh, Hugh!" she added bitterly, "cannot you understand that you are but a merchant's lad, though your blood be as noble as any in this realm-a merchant

a faring and go whimpering to the altar, and I am not one to see you led there while I stand upon my feet. We are made o

ll take some marrying against my w

of tha

e library of the Temple there he showed me an ancient roll, a copy of the ch

this writ

id of Dunwich can be forced to marry against th

l it hol

Andrew showed it to me, knowing something of our c

safe!" exclaimed Hugh,

rench chaplain in his train, has been warned to we

him out to-night and challenge him, Ev

ina, will find it honour to accept the challenge of Hugh de Cressi, the merchant's youngest

ng at the ground and biting his lips

do you lov

eartily as ever man and maid have kissed since the world began, so heartily, indeed, that

so, and for my part beyond it, if the priests speak true. For, whatever may be your case, I am not one to change my fancy. When I give, I give all, though it be of little worth. I

you yet. If God keeps me in breath you shall not blush for your man, Eve. Well, I am not great at words, so let us come to deeds. Will you away with me

r father give us pa

as no bottom, and if he refused, we would take one, for the captain is my

, as it chances, you are more to me than aught, and I hate this fine French lord. I tell you I sicken at his glance and shiver

rhaps before all is done we may often think it evil. And now le

st. Cavil not at my robe, Hugh, for it is the only dowry you will get with E

above Walberswick, for there they might know your red cloak even after dark, and I would not h

re," she answere

ke a peewit. That is his sign when

clumps like an otter, his head crouched down and his long bow pointed before him as though it were a spear. Half a minute more, and he was before them-a very strange man to see. His years were not so many, thirty perhaps, and yet his face looked quite old because of its lack of colouring, its thinness, and the hard lines that marked where the muscles ran down

his cap to Eve, the great lady of the Claverings-Red Eve, as they call

earth unless you mean to face them in the open," and th

ing, Dick? B

rs a white swan for a crest; three of the nights, his companions; and six-no seven-men-at-arms. Al

r?" he asked again. "Have th

nd knife on thigh," and he l

ve. I had words with my father this morning about the Frenchman and, I fear, let out the truth. He told me then that ere the Dunwich

aid the man, "

l, quite near to the lip of the stream, they came to a patch of reeds higher and thicker than the rest, in the centre of which was a little mound hid in a tangle of scrub and rushes. Once, perhaps a hundred or a thousand years before, some old

s that masked it, Dick bad

e reeds behind them, "unless they chance to have hou