CHAPTER XXII--THE CITY OF BRIDGES
So for long hours sat Enid by her lord,
There in the naked hall, propping his head,
And chafing his pale hands, and calling to him.
And at the last he waken'd from his swoon.
TENNYSON, Enid.
The transit was happily effected, and closely hidden in wool, Leonard
Copeland was lifted out the boat, more than half unconscious, and
afterwards transferred to the vessel, and placed in wrappings as
softly and securely as Grisell and Clemence could arrange before King
Edward's men came to exact their poundage on the freight, but happily
did not concern themselves about the sick man.
He might almost be congratulated on his semi-insensibility, for
though he suffered, he would not retain the recollection of his
suffering, and the voyage was very miserable to every one, though the
weather was far from unfavourable, as the captain declared. Grisell
indeed was so entirely taken up with ministering to her knight that
she seemed impervious to sickness or discomfort. It was a great
relief to enter on the smooth waters of the great canal from Ostend,
and Lambert stood on the deck recognising old landmarks, and pointing
them out with the joy of homecoming to Clemence, who perhaps felt
less delight, since the joys of her life had only begun when she
turned her back on her unkind kinsfolk.
Nor did her face light up as his did while he pointed out to Grisell
the beauteous belfry, rising on high above the many-peaked gables,
though she did smile when a long-billed, long-legged stork flapped
his wings overhead, and her husband signed that it was in greeting.
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