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On such an eve； with snow threatening； the great marsh was utterly
desolate； and this was why these two had chosen it for their meeting
place。
To look on they were a goodly pairthe girl； who was clothed in the
red she always wore； tall； dark； well shaped； with large black eyes
and a determined face； one who would make a very stately woman； the
man broad shouldered； with grey eyes that were quick and almost
fierce； long limbed； hard； agile； and healthy； one who had never known
sickness； who looked as though the world were his own to master。 He
was young； but three…and…twenty that day； and his simple dress； a
tunic of thick wool fastened round him with a leathern belt； to which
hung a short sword； showed that his degree was modest。
The girl； although she seemed his elder； in fact was only in her
twentieth year。 Yet from her who had been reared in the hard school of
that cruel age childhood had long departed； leaving her a ripened
woman before her time。
This pair stood looking at each other。
〃Well； Cousin Eve Clavering；〃 said the man； in his clear voice； 〃why
did your message bid me meet you in this cold place？〃
〃Because I had a word to say to you； Cousin Hugh de Cressi；〃 she
answered boldly； 〃and the marsh being so cold and so lonesome I
thought it suited to my purpose。 Does Grey Dick watch yonder？〃
〃Ay； behind those willows； arrow on string； and God help him on whom
Dick draws！ But what was that word； Eve？〃
〃One easy to understand；〃 she replied； looking him in the eyes
〃Farewell！〃
He shivered as though with the cold； and his face changed。
〃An ill birthday greeting； yet I feared it；〃 he muttered huskily； 〃but
why more now than at any other time？〃
〃Would you know； Hugh？ Well； the story is short； so I'll let it out。
Our great…grandmother； the heiress of the de Cheneys； married twice；
did she not； and from the first husband came the de Cressis； and from
the second the Claverings。 But in this way or in that we Claverings
got the lands； or most of them； and you de Cressis； the nobler stock；
took to merchandise。 Now since those days you have grown rich with
your fishing fleets； your wool mart； and your ferry dues at
Walberswick and Southwold。 We； too； are rich in manors and land；
counting our acres by the thousand； but yet poor； lacking your gold；
though yonder manor〃and she pointed to some towers which rose far
away above the trees upon the high land〃has many mouths to feed。
Also the sea has robbed us at Dunwich； where I was born； taking our
great house and sundry streets that paid us rent； and your market of
Southwold has starved out ours at Blythburgh。〃
〃Well； what has all this to do with you and me； Eve？〃
〃Much； Hugh； as you should know who have been bred to trade；〃 and she
glanced at his merchant's dress。 〃Between de Cressi and Clavering
there has been rivalry and feud for three long generations。 When we
were children it abated for a while； since your father lent money to
mine； and that is why they suffered us to grow up side by side。 But
then they quarrelled about the ferry that we had set in pawn； and your
father asked his gold back again； and； not getting it； took the ferry；
which I have always held a foolish and strife…breeding deed； since
from that day forward the war was open。 Therefore； Hugh； if we meet at
all it must be in these frozen reeds or behind the cover of a thicket；
like a village slut and her man。〃
〃I know that well enough； Eve； who have spoken with you but twice in
nine months。〃 And he devoured her beautiful face with hungry eyes。
〃But of that word； 'Farewell'〃
〃Of that ill word； this； Hugh： I have a new suitor up yonder； a fine
French suitor； a very great lord indeed； whose wealth； I am told； none
can number。 From his mother he has the Valley of the Waveney up to
Bungay townay； and beyondand from his father； a whole county in
Normandy。 Five French knights ride behind his banner； and with them
ten squires and I know not how many men…at…arms。 There is feasting
yonder at the manor； I can tell you。 Ere his train leaves us our
winter provender will be done； and we'll have to drink small beer till
the wine ships come from France in spring。〃
〃And what is this lord's name？〃
〃God's truth； he has several；〃 she answered。 〃Sir Edmund Acour in
England； and in France the high and puissant Count of Noyon； and in
Italy； near to the city of Venicefor there； too； he has possessions
which came to him through his grandmotherthe Seigneur of Cattrina。〃
〃And having so much； does he want you； too； as I have heard； Eve？ And
if so； why？〃
〃So he swears；〃 she answered slowly； 〃and as for the reason； why； I
suppose you must seek it in my face； which by ill…fortune has pleased
his lordship since first he saw it a month ago。 At the least he has
asked me in marriage of my father； who jumped at him like a winter
pike； and so I'm betrothed。〃
〃And do you want him； Eve？〃
〃Ay； I want him as far as the sun is from the moon or the world from
either。 I want him in heaven or beneath the earth； or anywhere away
from me。〃
At these words a light shone in Hugh's keen grey eyes。
〃I'm glad of that； Eve； for I've been told much of this fine fellow
amongst other things that he is a traitor come here to spy on England。
But should I be a match for him； man to man； Eve？〃 he asked after a
little pause。
She looked him up and down； then answered：
〃I think so； though he is no weakling； but not for him and the five
knights and the ten squires； and my noble father； and my brother； and
the rest。 Oh； Hugh； Hugh！〃 she added bitterly； 〃cannot you understand
that you are but a merchant's lad； though your blood be as noble as
any in this realma merchant's lad； the last of five brothers？ Why
were you not born the first of them if you wished for Eve Clavering；
for then your red gold might have bought me。〃
〃Ask that of those who begot me；〃 said Hugh。 〃Come now； what's in your
mind？ You're not one to be sold like a heifer at a faring and go
whimpering to the altar； and I am not one to see you led there while I
stand upon my feet。 We are made of a clay too stiff for a French
lord's fingers； Eve； though it is true that they may drag you whither
you would not walk。〃
〃No；〃 she answered； 〃I think I shall take some marrying against my
wish。 Moreover； I am Dunwich born。〃
〃What of that； Eve？〃
〃Go ask your godsire and my friend； Sir Andrew Arnold； the old priest。
In the library of the Temple there he showed me an ancient roll； a
copy of the charter granted by John and other kings of England to the
citizens of Dunwich。〃
〃What said this writing； Eve？〃
〃It said； among other things； that no man or maid of Dunwich can be
forced to marry against their will； even in the lifetime of their
parents。〃
〃But will it hold to…day？〃
〃Ay； I think so。 I think that is why the holy Sir Andrew showed it to
me； knowing something of our case； for he is my confessor when I can
get to him。〃
〃Then； sweet； you are safe！〃 exclaimed Hugh； with a sigh of relief。
〃Ay； so safe that to…morrow Father Nicholas； the French chaplain in
his train； has been warned to wed me to my lord Acourthat is； if I'm
there to wed。〃
〃And if this Acour is here； I'll seek him out to…night and challenge
him； Eve；〃 and Hugh laid hand upon his sword。
〃Doubtless；〃 she replied sarcastically； 〃Sir Edmund Acour； Count of
Noyon； Seigneur of Cattrina； will find it honour to accept the
challenge of Hugh de Cressi； the merchant's youngest son。 Oh； Hugh；
Hugh！ are your wits frozen like this winter marsh？ Not thus can you
save me。〃
The young man thought a while； staring at the ground and biting his
lips。 Then he looked up suddenly and said：
〃How much do you love me； Eve？〃
With a slow smile； she opened her arms； and next moment they were
kissing each other as heartily as ever man and maid have kissed since
the world began； so heartily； indeed； that when at length she pushed
him from her； her lovely face was as red as the cloak she wore。
〃You know well that I love you； to my sorrow and undoing；〃 she said；
in a broken voice。 〃From childhood it has been so between us； and till
the grave takes one or both it will be so； and for my part beyond it；
if the priests speak true。 For； whatever may be your case； I am not
one to change my fancy。 When I give； I give all； though it be of
little worth。 In truth； Hugh； if I could I would marry you to…night；
though you are naught but a merchant's son； or even〃 And she
paused； wiping her eyes with the back of her slim； strong hand。
〃I thank you；〃 he answered； trembling with joy。 〃So it is with me。 For
you and no other woman I live and die； and though I am so humble I'll
be worthy of you yet。 If God keeps me in breath you shall not blush
for your man； Eve。 Well； I am not great at words； so let us come to
deeds。 Will you away with me now？ I think that Father Arnold would
find you lodging for the night and an altar to be wed at； and
to…morrow our ship sails for Flanders and for France。〃
〃Yes； but would your father give us passage in it； Hugh？〃
〃Why not？ It could not deepen the feud between our Houses； which
already has no bottom； and if he refused； we would take one； for the
captain is my friend。 An