第43章

I’llwooherasthelionwooshisbride。

_Douglas。_

Whilethesceneswehavedescribedwerepassinginotherpartsofthecastle，theJewessRebeccaawaitedherfateinadistantandsequesteredturret。

Hithershehadbeenledbytwoofherdisguisedravishers，andonbeingthrustintothelittlecell，shefoundherselfinthepresenceofanoldsibyl，whokeptmurmuringtoherselfaSaxonrhyme，asiftobeattimetotherevolvingdancewhichherspindlewasperforminguponthefloor。

ThehagraisedherheadasRebeccaentered，andscowledatthefairJewesswiththemalignantenvywithwhicholdageandugliness，whenunitedwithevilconditions，areapttolookuponyouthandbeauty。

``Thoumustupandaway，oldhouse-cricket，’’

saidoneofthemen；``ournoblemastercommandsit——Thoumuste’enleavethischambertoafairerguest。’’

``Ay，’’grumbledthehag，``eventhusisservicerequited。Ihaveknownwhenmybarewordwouldhavecastthebestman-at-armsamongyeoutofsaddleandoutofservice；andnowmustI

upandawayatthecommandofeverygroomsuchasthou。’’

``GoodDameUrfried，’’saidtheotherman，``standnottoreasononit，butupandaway。

Lords’hestsmustbelistenedtowithaquickear。

Thouhasthadthyday，olddame，butthysunhaslongbeenset。Thouartnowtheveryemblemofanoldwar-horseturnedoutonthebarrenheath——

thouhasthadthypacesinthytime，butnowabrokenambleisthebestofthem——Come，ambleoffwiththee。’’

``Illomensdogyeboth！’’saidtheoldwoman；

``andakennelbeyourburying-place！MaytheevildemonZernebocktearmelimbfromlimb，ifI

leavemyowncellereIhavespunoutthehemponmydistaff！’’

``Answerittoourlord，then，oldhousefiend，’’

saidtheman，andretired；leavingRebeccaincompanywiththeoldwoman，uponwhosepresenceshehadbeenthusunwillinglyforced。

``Whatdevil’sdeedhavetheynowinthewind?’’

saidtheoldhag，murmuringtoherself，yetfromtimetotimecastingasidelongandmalignantglanceatRebecca；``butitiseasytoguess——

Brighteyes，blacklocks，andaskinlikepaper，eretheprieststainsitwithhisblackunguent——Ay，itiseasytoguesswhytheysendhertothisloneturret，whenceashriekcouldnomorebeheardthanatthedepthoffivehundredfathomsbeneaththeearth——Thouwilthaveowlsforthyneighbours，fairone；andtheirscreamswillbeheardasfar，andasmuchregarded，asthineown。Outlandish，too，’’shesaid，markingthedressandturbanofRebecca——``Whatcountryartthouof?——aSaracen?

oranEgyptian?——Whydostnotanswer?——

thoucanstweep，canstthounotspeak?’’

``Benotangry，goodmother，’’saidRebecca。

``Thouneedstsaynomore，’’repliedUrfried``menknowafoxbythetrain，andaJewessbyhertongue。’’

``Forthesakeofmercy，’’saidRebecca，``tellmewhatIamtoexpectastheconclusionoftheviolencewhichhathdraggedmehither！Isitmylifetheyseek，toatoneformyreligion?Iwilllayitdowncheerfully。’’

``Thylife，minion?’’answeredthesibyl；``whatwouldtakingthylifepleasurethem?——Trustme，thylifeisinnoperil。SuchusageshaltthouhaveaswasoncethoughtgoodenoughforanobleSaxonmaiden。AndshallaJewess，likethee，repinebecauseshehathnobetter?Lookatme——Iwasasyoungandtwiceas