“Well might thy fancy call him up in such a presence,” said Edward. “They twain had hearts in the same place above, though they saw the world below on different sides, and knew each other little, and loved each other less, in life. That’s all at an end now! Well, back to our camp to make the best of the world they have left behind them!” And then in a tone that Richard was not meant to hear, “While mi dona Leonor remains to me there is something saintly and softening still in this world! Heaven help me—ay, and all my foes—were she gone from it too!”
CHAPTER VIII
RICHARD’S WRAITH
“No distance breaks the tie of blood;
Brothers are brothers evermore;
Nor wrong, nor wrath of deadliest mood,
That magic may o’erpower.”—Christian Year.
It was nearly dark when the Prince and the Page landed on the island, and found the tents already set up in their due order and rank, according to the discipline that no one durst transgress where Edward was the commander.
Richard attended him to his pavilion, and being there dismissed until supper-time, crossed the square space which was always left around the royal banner, to the tent at the southern corner, which was regularly appropriated to the pages’ use. On lifting its curtain he was, however, dismayed to see a kirtle there, and imagining that he must have fallen upon the ladies’ quarters, he was retreating with an apology; when the sharp voice of Dame Idonea called out, “Oh yes, Master Page! ’tis you that are at home here. I was merely tarrying till ’twas the will of one of you to come in and look to the poor child.”
And little John of Dunster called from a couch of mantles, “Richard, oh! is it he at last?”
“It is I,” said Richard, advancing into the light of a brass lamp, hung by chains from the top of the tent. “This is kind indeed, Lady! But is he indeed so ill at ease?”
“How should he be otherwise, with none of you idle-pated pages casting a thought to him?”
“I was grieved to leave him—but the Prince summoned me,” began Richard.
“Beshrew thee! Tell me not of princes, as though there were no one whom thou couldst bid to have a care of the little lad!”