The Candlemass Road by Fraser George MacDonald

Author:Fraser, George MacDonald [Fraser, George MacDonald]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2011-02-09T16:00:00+00:00

Master Lightfoot being gone about his affairs, and we three alone in the hall, came the bailiff bidding Wattie to bed, and Waitabout also for whom there was a place prepared in the armoury, “a right bed chamber for a man-at-arms”, says Hodgson heartily, and clapped him on the shoulder saying he had earned his rest, aye, and four-fold for the Nixons, and had my old lord been there he had given him feathers to lie on for his good service.

Waitabout thanked him, but said he was for the road, having naught to stay for, and would be away on the moment. I marvelled at this, and the bailiff also that gaped and then laughed, clapping him again and saying he should by no means leave so suddenly, “and thou but half-fed and sleepless, go to! Nay, man, for our credit and thy good shalt bide at ease in Askerton a twelvemonth an ye list, for my lady would not have it other! Also she will look to hear from thee of Triermain, and do thee service in turn.”

Waitabout said she would hear of it well enough, and for himself he had better away, “for the bargain’s kept, and the day risen, nor am I comfortable indoors, for myself and others.” He looked on me a moment smiling, and asked was it not so, “for you, Father Lewis, have had little comfort of me, and Master Lightfoot even less, and for my lady who can tell?”

Now at this my heart smote me, for though he had much angered me, and given me grief on his behalf and mine own, yet I would not be the cause of his going off so poorly requited, that had done good service in his fashion, which if cruel and beastly to his foes yet had he perilled his life and kept Triermain secure, and this on his word given that he need not have kept being wrung from him on fatal compulsion by my lady. He might have fled away, yet had done his devoir, as they say, and I was loth to see him depart without notice.

So I said he should stay for my part, and I doubted not for my lady’s also, and the bailiff swore it was a daft start, surely, for “but wait you upon my lady’s coming down, I warrant there’ll be a pound or two for thee in this, aye, good money, man, think on!”

Waitabout laughed and said there had been no talk of more fee than the door open and a clear road over the fell, “and so that I keep the steel bonnet and sword it is enough, master bailiff, that and Black Dod’s hobbler at the barnekin gate.”

Seeing him resolved against all persuasion, the bailiff said he would see to the horse, but it was a folly, for sure my lady would reward him if he stayed. Hodgson being gone, I said as much again, and bade Waitabout bethink it were scant courtesy to my lady to be away without a word.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.