The Caged LionYonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
History
The Caged Lion
Yonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
James I, King of Scotland, 1394-1437 -- Fiction; Scotland -- History -- James I, 1406-1437 -- Fiction
'There is no English, French, or Scot where he is gone!' cried Malcolm.
'No Babel! O Patie, I have been far fallen! I have done you in heart a
grievous wrong! but if I have turned back in time, it is his doing that
lies there.'
'His! what, Harry of Lancaster's?' demanded the bewildered Patrick. 'What
had he to do with you?'
'He has been my only true friend here!' cried Malcolm. 'Oh, if my hand
be free from actual spoil and bloodshed, it was his doing! Oh, that he
could hear me bless him for the chastisement I took so bitterly!'
'Chastisement!' demanded Patrick. 'The English King dared chastise
_you_! of Scots blood royal! 'Tis well he is dead!'
'The laddie's well-nigh beside himself!' said Baird. 'But he speaks
true. This king whom Heaven assolizie, kept a tight hand over the
youngsters; and falling on Lord Malcolm and some other callants making
free with a house at Meaux, dealt some blows, of which my young lord
found it hard to stomach his share; though I am glad to see he is come to
a better mind. Ay, 'tis pity of this King Harry! Brave and leal was he;
never spake an untrue word; never turned eye for fear, nor foot for
weariness, nor hand for toil, nor nose for ill savour. A man, look you,
to be trusted; never failing his word for good or ill! Right little love
has there been between him and me; but I could weep like my own lad in
there, to think I shall never see that knightly presence more, nor hear
those frank gladsome voices of the boys, as they used to shout up and
down Windsor Forest.'
'You too, Sir Nigel! and with a king like ours!'
'Ay, Sir Patrick! and if he be such a king as Scotland never had since
St. David, and maybe not then, I'm free to own as much of it is due to
King Harry as to his own noble self.--Did ye say they had streekit him in
the chapel, Lord Malcolm? I'd fain look on the bonnie face of him; I'll
ne'er look on his like again.'
No sooner had old Bairdsbrae gone, than Malcolm flung himself down before
his cousin, crying, 'Oh, Patrick, you will hear me! I cannot rest till
you know how changed I have been.'
'Changed!' said Patrick; 'ay, and for the better! Why, Malcolm, I never
durst hope to see you so sturdy and so heartsome. My father would have
been blithe to see you such a gallant young squire. Even the halt is
gone!'
'Nearly,' said Malcolm. 'But I would fain be puny and puling, to have
the clear heart that once I had. Oh, hear me! hear me! and pardon me,
Patie!'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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