CHAPTER XII. HOW ALLEYNE LEARNED MORE THAN HE COULD TEACH.

reditoverthelonelydownsatthetopoftheirspeedontheirhomewardcourse,foreveninghadfallenandtherewasmuchtobedone.Peterwasahard,wiry,brownfaced,country-bredladwholookedonthecomingwarastheschoolboylooksonhisholidays.Thisday,however,hehadbeensombreandmute,withscarceawordamiletobestowuponhiscomrade. “TellmeAlleyneEdricson,”hebrokeout,suddenly,astheyclatteredalongthewindingtrackwhichleadsovertheBournemouthhills,“hasitnotseemedtoyouthatoflatetheLadyMaudeispalerandmoresilentthanisherwont?” “Itmaybeso,”theotheransweredshortly. “Andwouldrathersitdistraitbyherorielthanridegaylytothechaseasofold.Methinks,Alleyne,itisthislearningwhichyouhavetaughtherthathastakenallthelifeandsapfromher.Itismorethanshecanmaster,likeaheavyspeartoalightrider.” “Herlady-motherhassoorderedit,”saidAlleyne. “ByourLady!andwithoutendisrespect,”quothTerlake,“itisinmymindthatherlady-motherismorefittedtoleadacompanytoastormingthantohavetheupbringingofthistenderandmilk-whitemaid.Harkye,ladAlleyne,towhatInevertoldmanorwomanyet.IlovethefairLadyMaude,andwouldgivethelastdropofmyheart'sbloodtoserveher.”Hespokewithagaspingvoice,andhisfaceflushedcrimsoninthemoonlight. Alleynesaidnothing,buthisheartseemedtoturntoalumpoficeinhisbosom. “Myfatherhasbroadacres,”theothercontinued,“fromFarehamCreektotheslopeofthePortsdownHill.Thereisfillingofgranges,hewingofwood,maltingofgrain,andherdingofsheepasmuchasheartcouldwish,andItheonlyson.SureamIthatSirNigelwouldbeblitheatsuchamatch.” “Buthowofthelady?”askedAlleyne,withdrylips. “Ah,lad,thereliesmytrouble.ItisatossoftheheadandadroopoftheeyesifIsayonewordofwhatisinmymind.'Twereaseasytowoothesnow-damethatweshapedlastwinterinourcastleyard.Ididbutaskheryesternightforhergreenveil,thatImightbearitasatokenorlambrequinuponmyhelmbutsheflashedoutatmethatshekeptitforabetterman,andthenallinabreathaskedpardonforthatshehadspokesorudely.Yetshewouldnottakebackthewordseither,norwouldshegranttheveil.Hasitseemedtothee,Alleyne,thatshelovesanyone?” “Nay,Icannotsay,”saidAlleyne,withawildthrobofsuddenhopeinhisheart. “Ihavethoughtso,andyetIcannotnametheman.Indeed,savemyself,andWalterFord,andyou,whoarehalfaclerk,andFatherChristopherofthePriory,andBertrandthepage,whoistherewhomshesees?” “Icannottell,”quothAlleyneshortlyandthetwosquiresrodeonagain,eachintentuponhisownthoughts. Nextdayatmorninglessontheteacherobservedthathispupilwasindeedlookingpaleandjaded,withlistlesseyesandawearymanner.Hewasheavy-heartedtonotethegrievouschangeinher. “Yourmistress,Ifear,isill,Agatha,”hesaidtothetire-woman,whentheLadyMaudehadsoughtherchamber. Themaidlookedaslantathimwithlaughingeyes.“Itisnotanillnessthatkills,”quothshe. “PrayGodnot!”hecried.“Buttellme,Agatha,whatitisthatailsher?” “MethinksthatIcouldlaymyhanduponanotherwhoissmittenwiththesametrouble,”saidshe,withthesamesidelonglook.“Canstnotgiveanametoit,andthousoskilledinleech-craft?” “Nay,savethatsheseemsaweary.” “Well,bethinkyouthatitisbutthreedaysereyouwillallbegone,andCastleTwynhambeasdullasthePriory.Istherenotenoughtheretocloudalady'sbrow?” “Insooth,yes,”heanswered“Ihadforgotthatsheisabouttoloseherfather.” “Herfather!”criedthetire-woman,withalittletrilloflaughter.“Ohsimple,simple!”Andshewasoffdownthepassagelikearrowfrombow,whileAlleynestoodgazingafterher,betwixthopeanddoubt,scarcedaringtoputfaithinthemeaningwhichseemedtounderlieherwords.