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Page 16
'"In some sort," said Hugh shamefacedly; "at least, it was true half a
year ago. My Saxons would not harm Richard now. I think they know
him--but I judged it best to make sure."
'Look, children, what that man had done--and I had never guessed it!
Night after night had he lain down among my men-at-arms, knowing that if
one Saxon had lifted knife against me, his life would have answered for
mine.
'"Yes," said De Aquila. "And he is a swordless man." He pointed to
Hugh's belt, for Hugh had put away his sword--did I tell you?--the day
after it flew from his hand at Santlache. He carried only the short
knife and the long-bow. "Swordless and landless art thou, Hugh; and they
call thee kin to Earl Godwin." (Hugh was indeed of Godwin's blood.) "The
Manor that was thine is given to this boy and to his children for ever.
Sit up and beg, for he can turn thee out like a dog, Hugh."
'Hugh said nothing, but I heard his teeth grind, and I bade De Aquila,
my own overlord, hold his peace, or I would stuff his words down his
throat. Then De Aquila laughed till the tears ran down his face.
'"I warned the King," said he, "what would come of giving England to us
Norman thieves. Here art thou, Richard, less than two days confirmed in
thy Manor, and already thou hast risen against thy overlord. What shall
we do to him, _Sir_ Hugh?"
'"I am a swordless man," said Hugh. "Do not jest with me," and he laid
his head on his knees and groaned.
'"The greater fool thou," said De Aquila, and all his voice changed;
"for I have given thee the Manor of Dallington up the hill this
half-hour since," and he yerked at Hugh with his scabbard across the
straw.
'"To me?" said Hugh. "I am a Saxon, and, except that I love Richard
here, I have not sworn fealty to any Norman."
'"In God's good time, which because of my sins I shall not live to see,
there will be neither Saxon nor Norman in England," said De Aquila. "If
I know men, thou art more faithful unsworn than a score of Normans I
could name. Take Dallington, and join Sir Richard to fight me tomorrow,
if it please thee!"
'"Nay," said Hugh. "I am no child. Where I take a gift, there I render
service"; and he put his hands between De Aquila's, and swore to be
faithful, and, as I remember, I kissed him, and De Aquila kissed us
both.
'We sat afterwards outside the hut while the sun rose, and De Aquila
marked our churls going to their work in the fields, and talked of holy
things, and how we should govern our Manors in time to come, and of
hunting and of horse-breeding, and of the King's wisdom and unwisdom;
for he spoke to us as though we were in all sorts now his brothers. Anon
a churl stole up to me--he was one of the three I had not hanged a year
ago--and he bellowed--which is the Saxon for whispering--that the Lady
�lueva would speak to me at the Great House. She walked abroad daily in
the Manor, and it was her custom to send me word whither she went, that
I might set an archer or two behind and in front to guard her. Very
often I myself lay up in the woods and watched on her also.
'I went swiftly, and as I passed the great door it opened from within,
and there stood my Lady �lueva, and she said to me: "Sir Richard, will
it please you enter your Great Hall?" Then she wept, but we were alone.'
The knight was silent for a long time, his face turned across the
valley, smiling.
'Oh, well done!' said Una, and clapped her hands very softly. 'She was
sorry, and she said so.'
'Aye, she was sorry, and she said so,' said Sir Richard, coming back
with a little start. 'Very soon--but _he_ said it was two full hours
later--De Aquila rode to the door, with his shield new scoured (Hugh had
cleansed it), and demanded entertainment, and called me a false knight,
that would starve his overlord to death. Then Hugh cried out that no man
should work in the valley that day, and our Saxons blew horns, and set
about feasting and drinking, and running of races, and dancing and
singing; and De Aquila climbed upon a horse-block and spoke to them in
what he swore was good Saxon, but no man understood it. At night we
feasted in the Great Hall, and when the harpers and the singers were
gone we four sat late at the high table. As I remember, it was a warm
night with a full moon, and De Aquila bade Hugh take down his sword from
the wall again, for the honour of the Manor of Dallington, and Hugh took
it gladly enough. Dust lay on the hilt, for I saw him blow it off.
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