Now it could not be but that Elliot and I must meet,when her father was in town about his affairs,or busy in the painting-room,and much work he had then on his hands.But Elliot was right coy,hiding herself from me,who watched warily,till one day,when my master was abroad,I had the fortune to find her alone in the chamber,putting spring flowers in a very fair vessel of glass.Imade no more ado,but coming in stealthily,I caught her boldly about the body,saying -"Yield you,rescue or no rescue,and strive not against me,lest you slay a wounded man-at-arms."For very fear,as I believe,lest she might stir my wound again,she was still as a bird that lies in your hands when once you have caught it.And all that passes of kiss and kind word between happy lovers passed between us,till I prayed of her grace,that I might tell her father how things stood,for well I had seen by his words and deeds that he cherished me as a son.So she granted this,and we fell to devising as to what was to be in days to come.Lackland was I,and penniless,save for my pay,if I got it;but we looked to the common fortune of young men-at-arms,namely,spoil of war and the ransom of prisoners of England or Burgundy.For I had set up my resolve either to die gloriously,or to win great wealth and honour,which,to a young man and a lover,seem things easily come by.Nor could my master look for a great fortune in marriage,seeing that,despite his gentle birth,he lived but as a burgess,and by the work of his hands.
As we thus devised,she told me how matters now were in the country,of which,indeed,I still knew but little,for,to a man sick and nigh upon death,nothing imports greatly that betides beyond the walls of his chamber.What I heard was this:namely,that,about Orleans,the English ever pressed the good town more closely,building new bastilles and other great works,so as to close the way from Blois against any that came thence of our party with victual and men-at-arms.And daily there was fighting without the walls,wherein now one side had the better,now the other;but food was scant in Orleans,and many were slain by cannon-shots.Yet much was spoken of a new cannonier,lately come to aid the men of Orleans,and how he and John of Lorraine slew many of the hardiest of the English with their couleuvrines.
At this telling I bethought me of Brother Thomas,but spoke no word concerning him,for my mistress began very gladly to devise of her dear Maid,concerning whom,indeed,she could never long be silent.
"Faithless heart and fickle,"I said in a jest,"I believe you love that Maid more than you love me,and as she wears sword at side,like a man,I must even challenge her to fight in the island."Here she stayed my speech in the best manner and the most gracious,laughing low,so that,verily,I was clean besotted with love,and marvelled that any could be so fair as she,and how I could have won such a lady.
"Beware how you challenge my Maid,"said she at last,"for she fights but on horseback,with lance and sperthe,{20}and the Duc d'Alencon has seen her tilt at the ring,and has given her the best steed in his stables,whereon she shall soon lead her army to Orleans.""Then I must lay by my quarrel,for who am I to challenge my captain?But,tell me,hath she heard any word of thee and me?"Elliot waxed rosy,and whispered -"We had spoken together about thee,ere she went to Poictiers to be examined and questioned by the doctors of law and learning,after thou wert wounded."Concerning this journey to Poictiers I knew nothing,but I was more concerned to hear what the Maid had said about Elliot and me.For seeing that the Maid herself was vowed (as men deemed)to virginity,it passed into my mind that she might think holy matrimony but a low estate,and might try to set my mistress's heart on following her own example.And then,I thought,but foolishly,Elliot's love for me might be weaker than her love for the Maid.
"Yes,"my lady went on,"I could not but open my heart about thee and me,to one who is of my own age,and so wise,unlike other girls.Moreover,I scarce knew well whether your heart was like disposed with my heart.Therefore I devised with her more than once or twice."Hiding her face on my breast,she spoke very low;and as my fancy had once seen the children,the dark head and the golden,bowed together in prayer for France and the Dauphin,so now I saw them again,held close together in converse,and that strange Maid and Prophetess listening,like any girl,to a girl's tale of the secrets of her heart.
"And what counsel gave the Maid?"I said;"or had she any prophecy of our fortune?""Nay,on such matters she knows no more than you or I,or knows but seldom,nor seeks to learn from her counsel.Only she is bidden that she must rescue Orleans,and lead the Dauphin to his sacring at Rheims.But she wished me well,and comforted me that your heart was even as my own,as she saw on that day when you wore woman's gear and slew him that blasphemed her.And of you she spoke the best words,for that you,who knew her not,took her part against her enemy.And for your wound she sorrowed much,not knowing,more than I who am simple,whether it would turn to life or death.And if to life,then,if she could but persuade the doctor and clergy and the King's counsellors to let her go,she said that you should follow with her to the wars,and she,if so the saints pleased,would be the making of your fortune,you and I being her first friends.""The saints fight for her!"I said,"for we have done our part thus far,and I would that I may be well ere she raises her standard."But here Elliot turned right pale,at the thought of my going to the wars,she holding my face off and gazing steadily upon me with wistful eyes.
