"Whither make you,damsel,in such haste?"she cried to me."Come,let me present you to this damsel,my friend--and one of your own country-women.Elliot,ma mie,"she said to my mistress,"here is this kind lass,a Scot like yourself,who has guided me all the way from the castle hither,and,faith,the way is hard to find.Do you thank her for me,and let her sit down in your house:she must be weary with the weight of her basket and her linen"--for these,when she spoke to me,I had laid on the ground.With this she led me up to Elliot by the hand,who began to show me very gracious countenance,and to thank me,my face burning all the while with confusion and fear of her anger.
Suddenly a new look,such as I had never seen before on her face in her light angers,came into her eyes,which grew hard and cold,her mouth also showing stiff;and so she stood,pale,gazing sternly,and as one unable to speak.Then -"Go out of my sight,"she said,very low,"and from my father's house!Forth with you for a mocker and a gangrel loon!"--speaking in our common Scots,--"and herd with the base thieves from whom you came,coward and mocking malapert!"The storm had fallen on my head,even as I feared it must,and Istood as one bereft of speech and reason.
The Maid knew no word of our speech,and this passion of Elliot's,and so sudden a change from kindness to wrath,were what she might not understand.
"Elliot,ma mie,"she said,very sweetly,"what mean you by this anger?The damsel has treated me with no little favour.Tell me,Ipray,in what she has offended."But Elliot,not looking at her,said to me again,and this time tears leaped up in her eyes--"Forth with you!begone,ere I call that archer to drag you before the judges of the good town."I was now desperate,for,clad as I was,the archer had me at an avail,and,if I were taken before the men of the law,all would be known,and my shrift would be short.
"Gracious Pucelle,"I said,in French,turning to the Maiden,"my life,and the fortune of one who would gladly fight to the death by your side,are in your hands.For the love of the blessed saints,your sisters,and of Him who sends you on your holy mission,pray this demoiselle to let me enter the house with you,and tell my tale to you and her.If I satisfy you not of my honour and good intent,I am ready,in this hour,to go before the men of law,and deliver myself up to their justice.For though my life is in jeopardy,Idread death less than the anger of this honourable demoiselle.And verily this is a matter of instant life or death."So saying,I clasped my hands in the manner of one in prayer,setting all my soul into my speech,as a man desperate.
The Maiden had listened very gravely,and sweetly she smiled when my prayer was ended.
"Verily,"she said to me,"here is deeper water than I can fathom.
Elliot,ma mie,you hear how gently,and in what distress,this fair lass beseeches us.""Fair lass!"cried Elliot:and then broke off between a sob and a laugh,her hand catching at her side.
"If you love me,"said the Maid,looking on her astonished,and not without anger--"if you love me,as you have said,you that are the first of my comforters,and,till this day,my only friend in your strange town,let the lass come in and tell us her tale.For,even if she be distraught,and beside herself,as I well deem,I am sent to be a friend of all them that suffer.Moreover,ma mie,I have glad tidings for you,which I am longing to speak,but speak it Iwill never,while the lass goes thus in terror and fear of death or shame."In saying these last words,the fashion of her countenance was changed to a sweet entreaty and command,such as few could have beheld and denied her what she craved,and she laid her hand lightly on Elliot's shoulder.
"Come,"said Elliot,"be it as you will;come in with me;and you"--turning to myself--"do you follow us."They passed into the house,I coming after,and the archer waiting at the door.
"Let none enter,"said the Maiden to her archer,"unless any come to me from the King,or unless it be the master of the house."We passed into the chamber where my master was wont to paint his missals and psalters when he would be alone.Then Elliot very graciously bade the Maiden be seated,but herself stood up,facing me.
"Gracious Maiden,and messenger of the holy saints,"she said,"this lass,as you deem her,is no woman,but a man,my father's apprentice,who has clad himself thus to make of you a mockery and a laughing-stock,because that you,being a maid,go attired as a man,by the will of Them who sent you to save France.Have I said enough,and do I well to be angry?"and her eyes shone as she spoke.