“I 'll bid her stay,” cried Richard; “and I 'm the King.”
“The King is a truthteller, my lord; he may not give his word and take it again. The King is pattern to his people and servant likewise; doth not the Vision say this?”
“I 'm sick of the Vision,” whined Richard, and clung more close to his squire. “Thou 'lt not go! Say thou 'lt not go! How alone shall I be, and unloved, if thou go. Etienne, I want thee to stay with me.”
“And how alone will she be, that peasant maid that I have chose to make my lady,‘ said Stephen. ’Think, sire! a kingdom is no plaything. Be sure Christ Jesus, of all men the Judge, will not let thee off of thy devoir to the least man or maid born in England,—when the last day cometh. And when thou and Calote stand face to face, and the great angel a-blowing his trump, and all the world rising up fearful out of its grave, wilt thou say to the Judge: 'Christ, King of Heaven, this was a maid that went out to do me service. My kingdom was full of a quarrel 'twixt peasant and noblesse, 'twixt monk and friar, and merchant. There was no man but had a grievance against his brother. And this maid said, I will bring love out of this hate, and truth out of this lying; the King and the peasant shall kiss the kiss of peace.' And wilt thou say again, 'I had knights and nobles in my court to guard me well and to do my will, O Christ! but I would not give one of all these to go follow the maid and shield her from peril in her lonely pilgrimage. I would not let go even a squire to be her body-guard. If she hath come to harm, it is by me, and in my cause.'”
“No, no, no!” whispered Richard very piteous; “I will not do so.” He had ceased his weeping, but now and again a sob shook him. “Etienne, I will be a true King. Ah, who will learn me to be true when thou art gone!”
“The wisest men in the kingdom are at thy bidding, King Richard,” Stephen answered him gravely.
“But they are too wise,” the boy complained. “They weary me. I love thee best.”
“Natheless, 't were scarce fitting that Master John Wyclif, or Lord Percy of Northumberland, be sent to follow Calote in my stead,” quoth Stephen, half-mischievous.
The King laughed a tearful little laugh. But presently he said:—
“Calote flouteth thee. She will not let thee go with her.”