The Prince and the Page: A Story of the Last Crusade

nobles that fe

Henrye, who fou

blow he receivd

r ever deprivd

Be

ard knelt on the stone floor outside the choir, intending after early mass to seek his brother; but to his surprise he found the blind man with his child at his feet in what was evidently his accustomed place, just within the door. His hair and beard

of his solicitude in a strange gibing voice; "c

," returned Richard, "thine

sture of his fingers. "A strapping lad like thee would be the r

broken words from his extreme surprise. "The King

worth, earl in all but the name? Thou mayst do

lessed father as he, and for his sake he hath been most kind lord to me; but thou art the head of my house, my b

," he added, retaining his hold of his brother, as if to feel whether Richard winced at this persistence in his strange profession. The little girl obeyed, and betook herself to the quiet sports of a lonely child, amusing herself with Leonillo, and sometimes returning to her father and obtaining his attention for a few moments, sometimes prattling to so

lling I should remain with him; she bade me do anything rather than join Simon and Guy; and verily, brot

efore-if such be his honour to him whom he slew and mutilated- art tho

me of Montfort; and the Prince, though overruling him in all that pertains to matters of state, is most dutiful in all lesser matters. I hoped at least to be called Fitz Simon, but some mumble of the

we armed him so courteously, and put him on his horse to meet the rebels at Evesham-how he durst n

ill done, and no good could come of seething the kid in the mother's milk? And verily, had not the Prince been car

other should think for himself. Yet this tone was so familiar to Richard's ears, that it absolutely encouraged him to a nearer step

, who was leaning against him, and holding up her face to his brothe

on my heart at once. Even the Princess remarked their resembla

man wistfully; "but no-thou wast a

ho

hand, and under his b

abe

of his brother's betrothal, when the two families of Montfort and M

me slain!" said Hen

as it?" asked

d flout and scorn my Isabel-they might not break her faith to me. Thou knowst, perhaps, Richard, since thou art hand and glove with our foes, that like a raven to the slaughter, the Lady Mortimer came as near the battle-

id Richard, choked;

he said, and bade them leave it with her. They deemed that it was for death that it beckoned. So mayhap did she. I wot Countess Maud had little grieved. But little dreamed they of her true purpose-my perfect jewel of constant love-namely, to restore the lopped hand to the poor corpse, that it might likewise have

enseless all

for a few moments, but only to darkness; and my effort to speak had bee

dst not blee

e not the wounds of a dead but of a living man. The old nurse knew it, when my sweet lady would needs unbind my wrist, to place my hand in its right place. An old crone such as Welsh Winny never sti

till Richard's que

stumble out of the chapel and gain shelter in the woods ere day; and I belie

f grief, more especially as they all disavowed the

us strange tales of the miracles wrought in the Mortimer household by my father's severed hand; nay, that it had so worked on Lord Mortimer's sister, that she had left the vanities of the world, and gone into a nunnery. He seemed so convinced of my father's saintliness, and so honest a fel

d! O Henry, th

all, a palmer need never hunger. My father always said no trade was so well paid as begging, under King Henry, and verily we found it s

had pardon not been

rth for

ghed his

t Simon with an elder brother whose

my mo

, it might be incredulity of our marriage? Though for that matter it is more unimpeachable than her own! Nay, nay, out of ken and out of reac

the lady

e cleaner gashes did, became more painful and troublesome. Holy wells did nothing for it; and she wasted with watching it, as though my pain had been hers. Naught would serve her but coming here, because she had been told that the Knights of St. John had better experience of old battle-wounds than any men in the realm. Much ado had we to get here-the young babe in her arms, and I well- nigh distraught with p

Richard; "never, never was lady o

p of his staff. "Come hither, Bessee," he added after a b

dishly clipped Latin, sounding, however, sweet and birdlike from the very liberties the little memory had taken in twisting its mellifluous w

rince owning all the past folly and want of faith that goaded our father into resistance. Wherefore not seek his wil

n the bagster, are better company than Pembroke and Gloucester, and I meet with more humours on Cheapside than I should at Winchester-more regard too. Why, they deem me threescore years old at least, and I am a very oracle of wisdom among them. Earl of Leicester, forsooth! he woul

elf," said Richard; "but for thy ch

at, when her Uncle Si

g J

ieve what thou sayest of Simon

y; "but I had rather not have it proved u

orfeit-Simon an

nd such a bait would be smelt out by Simon were he at the ends of the earth. Or if not, that poor child would be granted to any needy kinsma

how thou canst endure letting her grow up i

ichard, that pretty Bessee's marriage-portion shall be a heavier bag of gold than the Lady Elizabeth de M

uld be the

t the King's," answ

ment the cream-coloured elephant of a German horse was being led forth for his use, an

of the head of thine house. Had thy voice not become so stra

see thee

m enough to his pages for them to pay visits unknown," replied

can aid thee, swear to me

way with thee. I hear the horses impatient for thee; and what would be the lot of the beggar if he were seen chattering longer with a lordly young page than might suffice for his plaint?

ather, green and spar

none of it. Some toke

bo

lied Richard. "But keep it, oh, keep it, He

half its value from the Jews. No, no, take back thy jewel, Sir Page; I'

ion on Leonillo than on his brother, it became needful to mount and ride off, resolving to tell the Prince and Princess, what would be no fa

s possible with a man of such uncertain vagrant habits; and he likewise engaged to let him know, even in the Holy Land, of any change in the beggar's condition; and thi

te?" asked

, Fa

d to send thee a scroll, I'll take

cted the good effects of the admirable education provided for them at home, they had done little justice to their parentage, or to their tutor, the excellent Robert Grostete. Perhaps the Earl himself was too affectionate: perhaps his occupation in public affairs hindered him from enforcing family discipline. At any rate, neither of the elder three could have been naturally endowed with his largeness of mind, and high unselfish views. He was a man before his age; not only deeply pious, but with a devoted feeling for justice and mercy carried into

r defiance; his scornful smiles and keen cutting jests had mortally offended many a partizan; and when positive work was to be done, Simon with all his fierceness and cruelty was far more to be depended on than Henry, who might

apital to him, than in being hedged about with the restraints of his rank. Any way, it was impossible to interfere, even for the child's sake, and all Richard could do to console himself was to look forward to his return from the Crusade an esquire or even a knight, with exploits that Henry might respect-a standing in

tfort, and how vain had been her struggles against her doom. He lost himself in graceful romantic visions of the young knight whose love he would watch and foster, and whose marriage to his lovely niece should be securely