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concede nothing in honour to any man。〃
〃Neither will I； Lord Fitzwater；〃 said Sir Ralph； 〃in that sense： but hear
me。 I was commissioned by the king to apprehend the Earl of
Huntingdon。 I brought with me a party of soldiers； picked and tried men；
knowing that he would not lightly yield。 I sent my lieutenant with a
detachment to surprise the earl's castle in his absence； and laid my
measures for intercepting him on the way to his intended nuptials； but he
seems to have had intimation of this part of my plan； for he brought with
him a large armed retinue； and took a circuitous route； which made him； I
believe； somewhat later than his appointed hour。 When the lapse of time
showed me that he had taken another track； I pursued him to the chapel；
and I would have awaited the close of the ceremony； if I had thought that
either yourself or your daughter would have felt desirous that she should
have been the bride of an outlaw。〃
〃Who said； sir；〃 cried the baron； 〃that we were desirous of any such
thing？ But truly； sir； if I had a mind to the devil for a son…in…law； I would
fain see the man that should venture to interfere。〃
〃That would I；〃 said the friar； 〃for I have undertaken to make her
renounce the devil。〃
〃She shall not renounce the devil；〃 said the baron； 〃unless I please。
You are very ready with your undertakings。 Will you undertake to make
her renounce the earl； who； I believe； is the devil incarnate？ Will you
undertake that？〃
〃Will I undertake；〃 said the friar； 〃to make Trent run westward； or to
make flame burn downward； or to make a tree grow with its head in the
earth and its root in the air？〃
〃So then；〃 said the baron； 〃a girl's mind is as hard to change as nature
and the elements； and it is easier to make her renounce the devil than a
lover。 Are you a match for the devil； and no match for a man？〃
〃My warfare；〃 said the friar； 〃is not of this world。 I am militant not
against man； but the devil； who goes about seeking what he may devour。〃
〃Oh！ does he so？〃 said the baron： 〃then I take it that makes you look
for him so often in my buttery。 Will you cast out the devil whose name is
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Maid Marian
Legion； when you cannot cast out the imp whose name is Love？〃
〃Marriages；〃 said the friar； 〃are made in heaven。 Love is God's work；
and therewith I meddle not。〃
〃God's work； indeed！〃 said the baron； 〃when the ceremony was cut
short in the church。 Could men have put them asunder； if God had joined
them together？ And the earl is now no earl； but plain Robert Fitz…Ooth：
therefore； I'll none of him。〃
〃He may atone；〃 said the friar； 〃and the king may mollify。 The earl is a
worthy peer； and the king is a courteous king。〃
〃He cannot atone；〃 said Sir Ralph。 〃He has killed the king's men； and
if the baron should aid and abet； he will lose his castle and land。〃
〃Will I？〃 said the baron； 〃not while I have a drop of blood in my veins。
He that comes to take them shall first serve me as the friar serves my
flasks of canary： he shall drain me dry as hay。 Am I not disparaged？
Am I not outraged？ Is not my daughter vilified； and made a mockery？ A
girl half…married？ There was my butler brought home with a broken head。
My butler； friar： there is that may move your sympathy。 Friar； the earl…
no…earl shall come no more to my daughter。〃
〃Very good；〃 said the friar。
〃It is not very good；〃 said the baron； 〃for I cannot get her to say so。〃
〃I fear；〃 said Sir Ralph； 〃the young lady must be much distressed and
discomposed。〃
〃Not a whit； sir；〃 said the baron。 〃She is； as usual； in a most
provoking imperturbability； and contradicts me so smilingly that it would
enrage you to see her。〃
〃I had hoped；〃 said Sir Ralph； 〃that I might have seen her； to make my
excuse in person for the hard necessity of my duty。〃
He had scarcely spoken； when the door opened； and the lady made her
appearance。
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CHAPTER IV
Are you mad； or what are you； that you squeak out your catches
without mitigation or remorse of voice？ Twelfth Night。
Matilda； not dreaming of visitors； tripped into the apartment in a
dress of forest green； with a small quiver by her side； and a bow and arrow
in her hand。 Her hair； black and glossy as the raven's wing； curled like
wandering clusters of dark ripe grapes under the edge of her round bonnet；
and a plume of black feathers fell back negligently above it； with an
almost horizontal inclination； that seemed the habitual effect of rapid
motion against the wind。 Her black eyes sparkled like sunbeams on a river：
a clear； deep； liquid radiance； the reflection of ethereal fire； tempered；
not subdued； in the medium of its living and gentle mirror。 Her lips were
half opened to speak as she entered the apartment； and with a smile of
recognition to the friar； and a courtesy to the stranger knight； she
approached the baron and said； 〃You are late at your breakfast； father。〃
〃I am not at breakfast；〃 said the baron。 〃I have been at supper： my
last night's supper； for I had none。〃
〃I am sorry；〃 said Matilda； 〃you should have gone to bed supperless。〃
〃I did not go to bed supperless；〃 said the baron： 〃I did not go to bed at
all： and what are you doing with that green dress and that bow and
arrow？〃
〃I am going a…hunting；〃 said Matilda。
〃A…hunting！〃 said the baron。 〃What； I warrant you； to meet with the
earl； and slip your neck into the same noose？〃
〃No；〃 said Matilda： 〃I am not going out of our own woods to…day。〃
〃How do I know that？〃 said the baron。 〃What surety have I of that？〃
〃Here is the friar；〃 said Matilda。 〃He will be surety。〃
〃Not he；〃 said the baron： 〃he will undertake nothing but where the
devil is a party concerned。〃
〃Yes； I will；〃 said the friar： 〃I will undertake any thing for the lady
Matilda。〃