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! \

THE SPAEWIFE.

£<•

t \

EDINBURGH:

PRINTEn BY OLIVER & BOYD.
TWEBDDALE-COUHT.

THE

SPAEWIFE;

A TALE OF

THE SCOTTISH CHRONICLES.

((

BY THE AUTHOR OF
ANNALS OF THE PARISH,'' " RINGAN
GILHAIZE," &c.

" Cfjep gaj?.-(au5at itej? tbt^ ? %tt tUm ^$/

ABERDEEN.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

EDINBURGH :

PUBLISHED BY

OLIVER & BOYD, TWEEDDALE-COURT ;

AND G. & W. B. WHITTAKER, AVE-MARIA.

LANE, LONDON.

1823.

€!?&*'

?Rlj,-}o2

G,?.S

^^iZBt

THE SPAEWIFE.

CHAP. I.

In the meantime, Bishop Finlay, who had
fled with the Lord James toXarrickfergus in
Ireland, having been seized witli a sore ma-
lady, departed this life; and the young Lord
had, after his obsequies, passed over the sea
to the castle of the Macdonald in Skye, to
seek the aid of his help and means against
their common enemy the King ; for so they
both wrothfully accounted his Majesty.—
TheXord James, because of the dreadful de-
vastation which his austere justice had brought
upon his father's house, and Macdonald, not
only as an adherent of the faction of the AI-

VOL. II.

(ft

8 THE SPAEWIFE.

banies, but for the prejudice which his daugh-
ter, the Lady Sibilla, had suffered in the
frustration of her betrothment.

The Lord James, on reaching the shores of
Skye, was informed, by certain persons who
had come from the mainland, that Macdonald
was then at Inverlochy with his kith, kin,
and allies, having returned thither from an
expedition which he had taken to avenge the
fate of his old friend, Duke Murdoch. In
which inroad, finding himself none succoui-ed
by those on whose swords he had reckoned,
for they were of the party for whom Sir Ro-
bert Graeme had so unprofitably made him-
self spokesman, he was fain to profess contri-
tion to the King for his rashness, in order
that he might be clemently permitted, as he in
the end was, to return scaithless home.

On hearing these tidings, the Lord James
forthwith ordered the bark wherein he had
come from Ireland to make for Inverlochy,
where he was welcomed by the Macdonald, as

lis daugh-
d in the

shores of
sons who
lacdonald
kith, kin,
• from an
venge the
ioch. In
succourcd
reckoned,
in Sir Ro-
lade him-
ess contri-
, in order
d, as he in
me.

3rd James
jin he had
nverlochy,
idonald, as

THE SPAEWIFE. 3

if the rites and benediction of holy church had
made him indeed his son-in-law. Nor was it
long till they had concerted a new enterprise;
to the which the Lord of the Isles was the
ixiore easily incited, by the assurances which
he received from his guest, that the mutations
of fortune had none changed the sincerity of
the love and devotion which he had professed
for the Lady Sibilla.

" Could we,^' said the Lord James, ** but
drive this tyrant King back to England, I
doubt not the estates of the realm would
speedily reverse my attainder, and restore me
to the rights and rank of my family. Then
should I prove before the world with what
unimpaired affection I am in heart wedded to
Sibilla; or if we meet in battle, and he be

slam or taken, shall I not be king, and Sibilla
share with me the dignity royai ?^

These sanguine anticipations of youthful
adventure, together with his own sense of
baffled enterprise, and the native turbulence

THE SPAEWIFE.

■i

of his temper, so worked upon Macdonald,
that next morning he marched with his clans-
men, accompanied by the lord James, for
Inverness ; where, no later than the third day
after having received the King's clement per-
mission to return home unmolested, he arriv-
ed, and where, to shew how resolute he was
to set at nought the royal authority, the first
thing he did was to burn the town and lay
siege to the castle.

Now it had so chanced, that the Lady Si-
billa, by the exhortations of her aunt, the
discreet Countess of Ross, with the sisterly
solicitations of her royal mistress, about this
time came back to the court, and was then
abiding with the Queen in the Abbey of
Holyrood at Edinburgh, where, in the judg-
ment of all the gallants, her beauty, albeit
faded in its virgin bloom, had received new
lustre by the virtue of her endeavouring to
avert the doom of the ill-fated princes.—To
no eye did it shine so bright and fair as to

lacdonald,
I his clans-
rames, for
third day
emcnt per-
, he arriv-
ite he was
^, the first
n and lay

J Lady Si-
aunt, the
lie sisterly
about this

was then
Abbev of

the judg-
ity, albeit
eived new
^ouring to
nces.—To
fair as to

THE SPAEWIFE. 5

that of Stuart, who was become her openly
professed lover — seconded in his suit by the
gentle rcconnnendations both of the King and
Queen, and by many a laudatory advertise-
ment of his worth and knighthood iVoni the
Countess of Ross, who was won to favour
him by the courtesies which he administered,
as it were with the left hand, to the weak side
of her vanities.

Sibilla, however, heeded not the fond ad-
miration with which she was followed, but
abandoned herself to bitter ruminations on
the disappointment of her early affection, and
the ruined fortunes of her first lover. For
though she shunned not the pastimes of the
court, yet was her spirit, amidst the most Joy-
ful revels, ever far away ; and her eyes won-
dered with a cold and aimless restlessness,
that often touched the observer with the sym-
pathy of a melancholy wonder and sorrow.
She had plainly no pleasure in any kind of
companionship ; but, as often as she could

I li i!

I'll

THE SPAEWIFE.

pass forth unheeded, she chose her solitary
vralks among the lonely places of the neigh-
l3o-ring mountain ; sitting sometimes on the
perilous brink of the precipices, like the white
sea-bird th^it perches on the ocean cliffs, at
others hovering in the still of the evening
twilight amidst the shadows and lowering
rocks that overhang the chapel of St Anthony.
It came to pass one morning, as she went
forth from the Abbey to indulge her mourn-
ful cogitations in that manner in the King's
Park, that she saw Anniple of Dunblane
standing at a little distance on the green
sward, resting her hands on the top of the
rough sapling, which, though a burden, she
had long used as a staff.— She was leaning
forward, and her eyes were cast down, ear-
nestly commercing with something that she
contemplated on tue ground.

" Good morrow, Anniple," said the pale
and pensive Sibilla ; " what seest thou on the
grass to make thee read it so earnestly .?"

er solitary
the neigh-
les on the
3 the white
I cHffs, at
e evening
lowering
Anthony,
she went
IV mourn-
he King's
Dunblane
he green
op of the
rden, she
IS leaning
3wn, ear-
that she

the pale
m on the

ly ?" .

THE SPAEWIFE. 7

The Spaewife, without raising her eyes,
gave a quick and impatient intimation with
her hand, that she did not wish to be dis-
turbed.

" I would give a merk for thy fancies/'
said the lady.

Anniple, without making any reply, or
changing her position, held out her hand to
accept the gift.

" Nay, that may not be— no work, no wage,
Anniple— and if you will not teU me, I shall
at once say again, good morrow."

The fantastical creature still made no reply;
but, looking up, she beckoned with her finger
to die Lady SibiUa to draw near. She then
pointed to the ground, and said—

'' See ye that, Lady SibiUa .?— see ye that
there .?"

'' I see nothing, Anniple, but a beetle
crawling."

" It's a clok-Ieddy in her scarlet cardinal."
" What then .?"

; 1

THE SPAEWIFE.

" Is't no a sinful injustice, SibiUa Macdo-
nald, that the hand o' Heaven sliould have
ta'en such pains to mak and adorn that loath-
some thing, and let the fairies make the like
of me out o' a ben-weed, that the very kine
have more sense than to taste ?"

"All things," replied SibiUa, "are by
permission of Heaven, and done in wisdom
and with justice.''

Annple eyed her askance with a bright
and piercing look, and then said, in a sharp
and sarcastic accent, —

" Wha did the wrang that ye yearn to re-
venge, and gave leave for the dule that ye
dree ?"— -And she added, laughingly, " and
so ye thought I was marvelling at the red
mantle o' the leddy-launners ?"— but grubs
and worms are nae marvels to me, ever since
I sleepit, the night of the four burials, in the
old Leddy o' Limmerton's coffin in Cambus-
kenneth kirk-yard :— She was buriet wi' her
wedding-ring, and the betherel howkit her up

la Macdo-
ould have
hat loath-
:e the like
very kine

" are by
1 wisdom

a bright
n a sharp

arn to re-
e that ye
y, " and

the red
ut grubs
!ver since
Is, in the
Cambus-

wi' her
t her up

THE SPAEWIFE. 9

to take it off. I saw frae ahint a headstane
what the loon was doing; and when he was
whitling wi' her finger, I gaed such a skraike
like a howlit, that it gar't him take leg-bail.
See, there's the ring on niyain mid-finger, wi'
a garnet stano like a blob o' blood. When the
bethcrel ran aAvay I herryt the corpse myseP,
and harPt it out by the hg and the winding-
sheet, and lay cosily doun in the coffin till the
morning.— Eh ! What a fright, I trow. Fa.
ther Andrews got, when he saw me sleeping
there, and the poor auld Leddy o' Limmerton
lying in her dead-claes on the grass ; but I
wish ne'er to dream as I did that night ; for
I dreamt I was dead, and buried in a tomb ;
and that cloks and worms were crawhng and
coiling O'er my heart and aneath my back—

And a black toad— he sat on my chin,
Watching my mouth, that he nn^ht loup in."

Sibilla shuddered, and moved to go away •
but Anniple took hold of her mantle, and saidll

TKE SPAEWIFE.

'« But I have na told you what I was look-
ing at."

" What was it ?" inquired Sibilla, pale and
apprehensive of some still more hideous re-
hearsal.

" I saw Lord Athol," replied Anniple,
" as I came through the park yestreen, on
this spot ; and just now, when I was coming by
again, I had a glimmering glimpse of his like-
ness on the grass, with the look of one that
would do ill, yet was afraid. I hae a thought
he would fain be King."

" You speak maliciously, Anniple,'' said
Sibilla, at once surprised and struck with the
remark. " Go to, else you may have cause
to repent such slander; the Earl of Athol
is an honest man, albeit no friend nor favour-
ite with me."

" When the King dies, he'll be crown't for

a' that."

" Duke Murdoch's son, the Lord James,
though under the ban of outlawry and forfei-

THE SPAEWIFE.

vas

look-

pale and
leous re-

Anniple,
treen, on
oming by
f his like-
one that
a thought

>i*

pie,'** said
i with the I
lave cause ' 1
of Athol
or favour-

;rown*t for

ird James,
and forfei-

ture, is nearer to the throne," replied Sibilla
seriously, forgetting, in the emotion of the
moment, the irrational character of the Spae-
wife.

" Near or far off," said Anniple, " it's his
doom, and I'll say no more. But what need
I care — nae good will come o't to me. I
would I could forget the looks o' him as I
saw him here. Maybe it was the de'il in his
likeness, come to molest me.— Do ye ken, Si-
billa Macdonald, that I ne'er forgather with
Lord Athol himself, but some dule or da-
mage ever befalls me. I wish ye would put
your hand to the work, and help to shove him
out o' the world — and ye should too, for he's
a cross in your own fortune."

" How ! what do you mean ?" cried Si-
billa, shaken with a strange horror.

" That ye're no to be married while he's to
the fore."

« Why do you think so .?" replied Sibilla,
recft'ering her wonted self-possession, advert-

THE SPAEWIFE-

! t m

ing, at the same time, in her mind to the assi-
duous suit of the EarFs nephew, the young
Lord Stuart. Anniple, however, made no
answer ; but looking shrewdly from the cor-
ner of her eye, and with her head bent aside,
sang —

" Fair Magdalene sat at the window high,

And she looked far o'er the sea ;
And she saw a bark frae a foreign land

Coming sailing merrilie.
It is, it is my own true knight,

And he comes from Palestine,
So hie you hence, Sir Reginald,

For I'll never now be thine.'*

She then hastened away, and Sibilla, instead
of pursuing her wonted walk towards the cliffs
of Arthur's Seat, went back to the Abbey,
where she was not long entered, when messen-
gers from divers parts of the north came with
accounts to the King of the sudden rebellion
of the Lord of the Isles, her father, the de-
struction of Inverness by his clansmen, and

THE SPAEWIFE.

> the assi-
le young
made no
the cor-
;nt aside,

the rumour of the Lord James being with
him from Ireland. The latter occurrence
seemed to her very wonderfully predicated in
the rude strain with which the Spaewife had
parted from her in the park.

;h,

, instead

the cliffs

Abbey,

messen-

ime with

rebellion

the de-

len, and

THE SPAEWIFE.

CHAP. II.

I Hi

I (

i lillih

When the King heard how Macdonald, after
having accepted his grace and permission to
return home, liad so soon of a sudden come
hack with his clansmen, and done such da-
mage and molestation to the town of Inver-
ness, he was exceedingly wroth, and not only
called on his armourer to equip him for battle,
but issued his royal mandate and order for all
the knights and gallants of the court to pre-
pare with horse and panoply to accompany
him to the field. For in the wisdom of that
noble prince, speed was esteemed the better
part of the equipage of war ; and it was ever
his declared opinion, that only ill could come
of the evil of delay, from whatsoever consider-
ations it might be pretermitted to arise.

/I'

1 1

I i

THE SPAEWIFE.

laid, after
nission to
den come
such da-
of Inver-
i not only
or battle,
ler for all
rt to pre-
company
n of that
he better
was ever
uld come
consider-
se.

m
''m

In the first alacrity, with which his royal
commands were received by the youthful
wai-riors of the Scottish court, none seeming.
ly obeyed them with a more joyful intrepi-
dity than did the Lord Robert Stuart, who,
in the ardour of his loyalty, and the thirst of
valiant deeds wherewith the tidings had in-
spired him, forgot that the bold rebel he was
summoned to quell was no other than the
father of his beloved Sibilla. And thus it
happened, when at the accustomed hour that
young and unfortunate lady went to give her
wonted tendence on the Queen, that she met
him in the gallery proudly harnessed for war,
and gay with the generous arrogance of youth-
ful soldiership eager for adventure.

On first seeing him, she was none diffi-
culted to discern for what purpose he was
armed ; but, with a firm step and a lofty air,
she proceeded along the gallery as if she not-
ed him not ; her heart however swelled, and
throbbed as if it had been wounded with

THE SPAEWIFE.

mai)y arrows, whose barbs of agony were yet
<liiivcring in its core.

Her proud demeanour, and the fixed un-
recognising eye with which she passed him,
soon instructed Stuart cf his error, and he
perceived that she resented the readiness with
winch he had put on his armour to march
with the King against her fatlier. For a mo-
ment he was awed by her majestic look, and
troubled with the thought of his own haste,
and he would fain have retired from her pre-
sence, could he have believed, as she affected,
that he was indeed unobserved. But before
she had half-way passed up the room, he re-
covered from his surprise, and ran quickly
after her. The rattling of his mail and sword
was too audible not to strike her ear in such a
manner as to cause her to look back. In the
act of so doing, he caught her by the hand,
and with a gentle violence held her or the spot.
" I would speak with you. Lady," said he ;
" I implore you to listen but for a moment."

•^

THE SPAEWIFE.

^ were yet

fixed un-
3sed him,
', and he
ness with
to march
^'or a mo-
ook, and
vn haste,
L her pre-
afFected,
It before
n, he re-
i quickly
ad sword
in such a
In the
he hand,
the spot,
said he ;
oment."

" Is it to t?ll me, after your manifold pro-
testations of affection," replied Sibilla, « that
you are prepared to slay my unfortunate fa-
ther?"

Stuart dropped her hand, and recoiled to
some distance : he looked at her with amaze-
ment tinged with contrition ; and he beheld
her lip curl with scorn, and her eyes lighten
with indignation.

" I have never. Lady," said he humbly,
" had any reason to esteem my protestations
acceptable."

" Oh I then, it is because you have not yet
been acknowledged as an accepted suitor, that
you have thus so very alertly put yourself in
steel. Truly, my Lord, you give me good
reason to persevere in the maiden diffidence
that so much ardour in your protestations
compelled me to assume, since it would seem
you accounted me so easily to be won that
you had only to profess love to be accepted.
I have ever been taught, that the ^-- -J^afFec-

I HI'i

'!ir

THE WAHWlFii.

tion was seJf-denial ; but tliut, no doubt, was
in the olden time, when ladies had no cause
to question the truth and fealty of their
knights."

" The King, Lady SibiJla," replied Stuart,
advancing towards her, " has ordered all his
friends now in Edinburgh to be ready to ad-
vance with him to the north. I deplore the
service he has called me to, but loyalty and
knighthood claim my attendance.''

" And justly," said Sibilla ; « it would be
a strange thing if you should not be found
by the King's side in danger. The Earl of
Athol is now too old a man to endure the
hardships of the field, else, as present heir to
the crown, he should be at his Majesty's right
hand,— but you are next to him, being heir
to the Earl, and the evil-tonffued world mio-ht
think, were y(^u not to be with the King,
that some sir'sier ait.ction towards the succes-
sion governed your loyalty."

" I never thought of such opinions," re-

THE S^^AEWIFE.

no doubt, was
had no cause
alty of their

eplied Stuart,
•rdereH all his
' ready to acl-
1 deplore the
t loyalty and

* it would be
not be found

The Earl of
) endure the
resent heir to
ajesty's right
1, being heir

world might
h the King,
Is the succes-

pinions, ' re

pli d Stuart; "I was commanded, and I
obeyed ; and glad I am, Lady Sibilla, in hav-
ing done so, as it must prove to you, as well
as to all men, that my loyalty is not blemish-
ed by any sordid respect for my own particu-
lar advantage ; but I grieve almost to weep-
ing, tliat the service I am called to is against
your father."

" Verily, it is indeed, my Lord,'' said the
lady; <* a strange way to thrive in your woo-
mg with a daughter, to go to war so gallant-
ly against her father."

" If you will but say that you wish I
should not go, I will brave the King's dis-
pleasure, and even the contumelious opinion
of the world, by remaining with you."

" Lord Robert Stuart !" exclaimed Sibilla
haughtily, « let me end this vain importu-
nity. I was, I am betrothed to the Lord
James, your cousin ;— when he was but third
son to the Duke his father, and his two
princely brothers stood between him and all

20 THE SPAEWIFE.

chance of succeeding to the throne, I was al-
lured even then, by the ambition of my own
heart, to entertain his suit with a willing af-
fection. Think you that now, when he is
with my father, and next of kin to ihe crown,
and the chance of being king hanging on the
event of a battle, that I will hearken to the
protestations of any meaner lover ?"

Scuart stepped back a pace, astonished at
so unmaidenly a speech, and for a moment
thought her peerless beauty overcast with a
sullen cloud, the shadow whereof fell upcm
his heart with a cold and ungenial darkness.
She looked at him, and, as if she repented of
being so harsh, she softened her accents, and
added —

" But, my Lord, this surely is no time to
lU'ge any protestation with me? I cannot
but know that the Kings's power is greater
than my father''s, and fear that I am destined
to endure for him a keener sorrow than I
have even suff'ered for the unfortunate family

I was al-
f my own
willing af-
hen he is
.he crown,
ing; on the
ken to the

Dnished at
a moment
ast with a
fell upon
darkness,
epcnted of
;cents, and

no time to
I caimot
is greater
11 destined
3W than I
late family

THE SPAEM'IFE.

of Albany. Nor can I conceal from myself,
that perhaps my own fate is involved with
my father's— what the king will do, if by the
chance of war he is thrown into his handsj
requires no seer to foretell ; and then shall
I abide here, in the hateful servitude of ho-
nouring the destroyer of my father and so
many friends.""

'* Heavens ! Lady,'' cried Stuart, " what
dreadful task would you lay upon me ?"

*' On you, my Lord, I would lay none ;—
what are you to me ? It is true, a professed
lover ; but in that respect you boast no
better claim (o a return, than the basest hind
that might dare to affect a similar passion."

" Would it please you then, were I to ask
the King's leave to stay behind ?"

" You have urged as much before ; — can
you doubt that I do not desire the ruin of
my father .?•"

" But if he succeed in his rebellion, what
may ensue ?'''

THE SPAEWIFE.

<* That may not be answered, — but the
Lord James it is said is with him, and doubt-
less he counts, at least in the event of suc-
cess, on our union. What other advantage
may ensue it were not wise of me even to
imagine.''

Stuart cast down his eyes, and touched
his forehead with his hand thoughtfully.
Sibilla looked at him with a watchful and
inquisitorial eye, and then said —

I beseech you to bear in mind that I am
a daughter, trembling for the fate of my fa-
ther, and in no condition to speak with tem-
perance of the dangers that impend over
him. I think but of my father— all other
cares and thoughts, however dear, are locked
up in my heart, and shall have no license to
mingle with my feelings, till he is safe."

At these words she burst into tears, and
cried passionately aloud, " I shall not out-
live another tragedy on the hill of Stirling."
'* While they were thus vehemently dis-

,\,

THE SPAEWIFE.

coursing, the King himself came into the
gallery, and seeing them together, stepped
eagerly towards them ; but Sibilla, hearing
steps approaching, looked quickly round, and
on seeing his Majesty, gathered up her robe
abruptly, and darted away.

£4

THE SPAEWIFE.

CHAP. III.

When the King saw that the Lady Sibilla
desired to avoid his presence, he abated his
speed, and walked leisurely towards Stuart,
who at the same time advanced to meet
him.

*' I should," said his Majesty, in a grave
but jocular manner, " have laid my interdict
at this time on our fair and eloquent cousin ;
for I doubt not, that, if she is permitted to be
at large among our friends, she will achieve
as good as a victory for her father before we
march. But, Stuart, as I doubt not some
such event was the endeavour of her discourse
with you, I shall not repine, if, on conditions,
you submit to abide her prisoner."

" I have now no hope," replied Stuart,
" that she will ever consent to be mine."

THE SPAEWIFE. gg

" "'"^■'" «^"» the King; « what new
thing has come to pass, to make you think

so?"

" It is not in my power to show, by any
act or deed, that my proffered affection is of
that purity which the cruelty of ladies in these
times requires to be avouched by proof and
sacrifice. The time was, as I have heard say
that ladies were to be won by the gentle sym!
^ pathy of heaven-inspired love, but the Lady
I sibiUa would inflict tests."

« Let her have none, cousin," replied the

Kmg;" for if she be such a bargainer, beshrew
me If she ,s worth the having. But truly, of
late, she hath been an altered creature in her
'l-eanour, and no more like the gay and
blooming rose she once was, than the root is like
the flover." And his Majesty added, with a
slight inflection of sadness in his voice, « yet

'''°rr'"'''""*^"»"'-'''^"'Ihad
hope by this time that your lowly servitude
would have earned some httle grace at her

VOL. II.

I kllliU

25 THE SPAEWIFE.

hands. To what tests would she subject

you-"

" Such as honour and knighthood will not
permit ; she would have me to forego the du-
ties of my loyalty and allegiance."

« I thought so-and verily, it is but an un-
civil way of thriving in a lady's love to fight
with her father. However, Stuart, as I have
said, if by remaining here you may hope to
prosper in your suit, I give you free leave."

« By that your Majesty only augments the
strength of the motive which obliges me to
go "if I felt that I could not, without a sa-
crifice of honour and a blemi ' to knight-
hood, remain behind, how .an I do so, when
to the claims of allegiance, honour, propm-
quity, and knighthood, your Majesty adds
the stronger tie of gratitude for such a
gracious disposition to advance my happi-

iiess ?

"I see not the matter in that light," re-
plied the King, as if he pondered with him-

THE SPAEWIFE.

self. " I alone have a right to your service
— and if it stand with my pleasure and con-
venience to say you shall abide here, I see
not what cause either honour, knighthood,
propinquity, or loyalty, have to remonstrate
against your obedience to the command."

" It is rumoured, that the Lord James of
Albany is with Macdonald," said Stuart.

" What then ? what of that ? I should
thmk it a reason why you ought the more to
remain with Sibilla, as her affection for him is
the greatest impediment to your suit.""

" I doubt," replied Stuart, « if it is so
much her affection as her ambition, and it is
that which makes me despair of ever succeed-
ing; but just now, she plainly told me, that she
considered him dearer than ever, since, by the
fate of his father and brothers, he stood so
much nearer to the crown."

" Can she be so sordid ?" exclaimed the
King ; " then is there no faithful love in wo-
mankind ; for of all ladies I have ever seen,

gg THE SPAEWIFE.

I did think Sibilla Macdonald the most ro-
mantic in her attachment; besides, his sen-
tence of outlawry and forfeiture has cut him
off from the succession. But, how is it that
all of you seem so to count upon an early death
for me ? Is not our turbulent cousin my
senior? and I surely am not so much older
than yourself, Stuart, that you should be
reckoned my successor, to say nothing of the
present maternal condition of the Queen."

His Majesty said this in a sharp objurgato-
ry manner ; then, speedily recovering his wont-
ed urbanity, he added, " But after .11, Stuart
not to make too much ado about who shall
have his head bound with a wreath of briers,
as thi. very conversation of ours sufficiently
shows the crown to be, I think you ought to
remain. If love be not the entire sentiment
that binds Sibilla to the outlaw, we can hard-
ly question that ambition is not the sole mo-
tive which makes her father espouse his for-
tunes ; and therefore, were you to remain

THE SPAEWIFE.

most ro-
his sen-
5 cut hini
is it that
irly death
ousin my
uch older
should be
ing of the

•n

lueen.
objurgato-
ighiswont-
d\, Stuart,
t who shall
ti of briers,
sufficiently
)U ought to
e sentiment
re can hard-
the sole mo-
mse his for-
1 to remain

■I

behind, upon the pretext and plea of your
devotion to Sibilla, perhaps, out of the policy
of that devic?, some way might be found so
to work on the avarice of Macdonald, as to
make him abandon our guilty cousin to his
own destiny ; — without, therefore, entering
more curiously into your particular case, I
lay my commands upon you to abide here
with the Queen and her ladies, and it shall be
made known that I have done so, because of
your love and devotion for the daughter of
the rebellious chieftain, things as familiar as
scandal to every tongue in the court."

Stuart would have a second time solicited
his Majesty not so to restrain him from tak-
ing the field, albeit in his heart none dissatis-
fied that he had been so peremptory ; but
the King said with a smile, '« Honour, knight-
hood, propinquity, and loyalty, must now
hush their remonstrances, and prove them-
selves the soldiers and vassals of obedience.
Your post and duty in the war is here in

li* ■'

THE SP.^EWIFE.

Holyrood-house.'^ And with these words he
parted from h.m, leaving him in the middle of
the allery, where he stood ruminating for
some time ; in which situation he was found hy
the Earl of Athol, as that nobleman came with
Sir William Chrichton, and others in the
King's confidence, to attend the council.

« What has befallen you ?'' said the Earl
to him, pausing as he passed leaning on the
arm of Sir William Chrichton, the others
with them passing on to the council-cham-
ber.

" His Majesty," replied Stuart, " has dealt
unkindly by me. He denies me the honour
of going with him against Macdonald, and
enjoins me to remain here."

The Earl of Athol, somewhat surprised to
hear this, dropped his hold of the Chancellor's
arm, as he said —

«' Why has his Majesty done so ? Did he

assign no reason ?"

Sir William Chrichton looked observantly

THE SPAEWIFE.

ords he
liddle of
ting for
bund by
ime with
in the
icil.

the Earl
T on the
e others
cil-cham-

has dealt
e honour
laid, and

•prised to
lancellor's

at the Earl while he said this ; for there was a
degree of haste and anxiety, in the manner of
his question, which struck him both as strange
and singular.

" He thinks,'' replied Stuart, " that, con-
sidering how openly I have professed myself
to the Lady Sibilla, it would not accord well
with that profession to be engaged in adven-
tures of warfare against her father.

" Then it was not," said the Earl, inter-
rupting him, " out of respect to the relation-
ship in which you stand to the succession .?"

" I doubt not," interposed Sir William
Chrichton, " that his Majesty has determined
wisely in this matter, though he may not have
been governed by any regard to the succes-
sion — especially as the Queen has declared
herself in the honoured condition of increas-
ing their happiness."

" How !" exclaimed the Earl, with a look
in which there was much of the eagerness of
alarm ; " is it as you say ? When did the Queen

THE SPAEWIFE.

■ H

announce it ? I have not heard of it before.
It surprises me to hear at this time of such
an event.''

" The King himself told me," said Stuart.
«* Then it is true," replied the Earl, ad-
dressing himself to Sir William Chrichton ;
** why should an occurrence so interesting to
me have been concealed from me P"

" There is no concealment," said the Cham-
berlain; " not many minutes have passed
since I heard it. It has been believed for
some time, but not declared till this morn-
ing."

" Should the birth prove a daughter, of
course she will succeed if she outlive her fa-
ther. No change was made in the order of
succession with respect to females by my fa-
ther's settlement. It is very odd — I cannot
think how it may be consistent with what I
liave been told."

" What have you been told, my Lord .?"
said Sir William Chrichton, looking with some

THE SPAEWIFE.

le Cham-
3 passed
eved for
is morn-

^hter, of
her fa-
Drder of
f my fa-
' cannot
what I

Lord ?"
ith some

'■f^'C

degree of amaze at the voice and manner with
which Lord Athol spoke ; but the question,
instead of obtaining an answer, recalled the
Earl to himself, and he rejoined—

** The news cannot fail to he joyful to the
kingdom, at a time when the minds of many
are disturbed with doubts respecting the suc-
cession ; for there are those who think, that no
sentence of outlawry or forfeiture can attaint
the right to the crown, and that James of Al-
bany must of necessity succeed, were the
throne to become vacant, even though no re-
versal of his attainder were to take place ; so
much does the royal dignity itself transcend
all procef 'in^s that have issued from its own
processes."

" I had not heard,'' replied the Chancellor
sedately, « that there was any such question-
ing or controversy on the subject among the
people. But I am not surprised that you,
my Lord, should be somewhat affected by
these things, considering how very nearly

B 2

iWMIHIM

M 'J

i34

THE SPAEWIFE.

they touch upon your own immediate con-
dition."

" It cannot be," said the Earl, " that Sir
William Chrichton thinks I would, for any
affection of my own, take more heed of those
things than becomes a faithful subject and a
true counsellor. All the world knows, that
I am a man far declined into the vale of
years, and, by course of nature, cannot look
to outlive the King, whom Heaven preserve
in long life to administer the affairs of this
poor country with great increase of prospe-
rity to her people, and imperishable renown
to himself But to Stuart there, the Issue
of the Queen's maternity may be considered
as a blight and disappointment ; for I ques-
tion not, that, like other young men, he has
nourished the vanity of high chances, and
may have counted something on his near re-
lationship to the crown."

" His Majesty," interposed Stuart, " ob-
served to me, that it was a strange thing

THE SPAEWIFE.

ite con-
that Sir
for any
of those
3t and a
ws, that
vale of
not look
preserve
i of this
prospe-
renown
lie issue
nsidered
I ques-
, he has
3es, and
near re-

;, « ob-
je thing

so many should regard him as fated to die
early, and be even cogitating of the succes-
sion."

" Think you, Sir William Chrichton, that
there is any thing in such forebodings ?" said
the Earl.

The Chancellor smiled, and, looking sharp-
ly, replied, " You do not think so, my Lord,
for I have heard you repeatedly deride all
prognostications as vain superstition. But
our time is up, and his Majesty will present-
ly be in the council-chamber."

With which words they departed ; the Earl
and the Chancellor walking up the gallery
to the door by which the King had retired,
and Stuart, slowly and thoughtfully, passing
to the stairs which led down into the court
below, where many young knights and gal-
lants were assembled, armed and feathered
for the expedition, all eager and glorying
in their might and manhood, like eaglets in
the morning, when they stand on the brink of

I i

THE SPAEWIFE.

their eyries, champing their beaks and flap-
ping their pinions, impatient for the sun, that
they may swoop to their quarry.

THE SPAEWIFE.

CHAP. IV.

,'M

Among other events that came to pass, about
the epoch of these things whereof recital has
been made, was the voluntary departure of
the disconsolate Duchess of Albany from
Tantallon, to the summer lodge on Inch-
murrin in Lochlomond, the only pendicle
that she could be moved to accept of all the
princely earldom of her ancestors. There,
with the aged Lady Glenjuckie, who had
come with her from Falkland and patiently
partaken of her captivity and sorrow, she
was minded to pass the mournful remainder
of her days, like some sequestered nun, de-
voted to abstinence and mourning.

By the King's preparations to suppress
the rebellion of Macdonald, of whose en-
terprise she had heard the rumour, though

il:i

THE SPAEWIFE.

\i'

Itt

not of licr son the Lord James being with
him, her journey to Lennox was rendered
slow and tardy ; for horses were difficult to
be had, save such as were accounted of no
worth either for road or raid ; and her vener-
able gentlewoman, being afflicted with a sci-
atica, could not abide the oscillations of any
other carriage than a litter. On the morn-
ing, however, of the ninth day of her depar-
ture from Tantallon, the Duchess reached the
margent of the lake, having travelled all the
preceding night by a lone and moorland
path, that she might eschew the dismal sight
of the towers of Stirling, near to which she
was constrained to pass, by reason of the
great lack of horses in the towns and hostels
on the roads.

When she had reached the place where
she intended to embark, no boat was at hand,
and she was, in consequence, obligated to
remain on the shore till a messenger could
procure one from some distance. Fain would

THE SPAEWIFE.

Leddy Glenjuckie have persuaded her to go to
die Castle of Balloch, and to take up her
abode there for a season ; but the Duchess
remembered that it was the scene of her
joyful childhood, and a woful train of terri-
ble reminiscences, that came with the thought
of what had befallen her since she had left
it, caused her tears to flow. The anguish
of that grief, however, soon subsided into
the melancholy calm which had become al-
most the habitude of her mind, and she sat
down on a rock close by the brim of the lake,
and, resting her cheek on her hand, awaited
the return of her errander. There was in-
deed a soft and consolatory spirit abroad over
all nature at that time, and its soundless
tranquillity was in unison with the medita-
tions of the weary heart.

The day was grey, still, sober, and mild,
without sunshine or shower ; — the winds were
asleep, and almost also the waters ; — the birds
were mute, but not with suUenness, and they

THE SPAEWIFE.

shook the crystalhne drops from the im-
pearled leaves, as they busily pruned their
wines, like gentle villagers preparing for
di; ' f n the holiness of the Sabbath morn-
ing. The skies were not darkened with any
cloud, but the mountain tops were hid in
a resting mist, that hung like a canopy,
lowered almost to the tufty hills of the little
islands in the lake. It was a morning, when
the lowing of cows and the bleating of lambs
heard afar off, mingling with the bark of the
shepherd's dog, seem tuned and musical ; —
when doves coo on the window-sills of the so-
litary maiden, who never listened to any other
note of love, and who feeds them with crumbs
treasured from her frugal supper;— when
daisies lift not their golden eyes, but hang
their heads, as if drowsy with some delicious
excess;— when bees pass from bloom to bios-
som in silence ;— when the dumb butterfly,
that never spreads his wing but to the sun,
rests as quiet as the pea-flower on its stalk

THE SPAEWIFE.

he im-
1 their
ng for
I morn-
ith any

hid in
canopy,
le little
y, when
f lambs
c of the
sical ; —
fthe So-
ny other

crumbs
; — when
ut hang
ielicious

to bios-
lutterfly,
the sun,
its stalk

under the leaf that he has made his canopy ;
— and when the voiceless snail, in his satin
doublet, stretches his eyehorns from side to
side on the dewy sward, as if he wist not
where to taste first, like a sable-vestured
clerk at a banquet: in sooth, a season of
quietude and calm, when wary grimalkin, look-
ing out at the cottage door, and fain to pass
to her lair beneath the bushes, often puts
forth her foot to feel if indeed the soft air be
too moist for her furred delicacy.

'* Sowlls and podies ! will it pe te Laidie
Tooches. And is't a to-be-surely that ye'U
pe a coose o** te water, sitting on te stone
ai py yoursel lanerly, mi Laidie Tooches —
Oomph."

The Duchess, surprised by this salutation,
rose suddenly, and on looking, beheld Glenfru-
in and several of his clansmen, who had come
out of a birch and hazel wood that fringed
the border of the lake, close to the spot
where she was sitting.

-if

THE SPAEWIFE.

J I t

Her Grace had known him in her youth,
and she recognised his clansmen by their tar-
tan ; but their appearance at that time, and
the salutation of Glenfruin, whom she quickly
recollected could not know her person so as
to justify the wonder he affected at seeing her
there, caused her to suspect, from his notour
character, that he had come for no good.
She, however, at once addressed him by name,
and begged that he would send some of his
men to assist the person whom she had al-
ready missioned to procure a boat to carry
her to the island.

*' And we will pe tooing tat, curse taik me
put we will, my Laidie Tooches," rephed
Glenfruin; " and te laad Nigel, hur nain
lawful pegotten, a praw craiter is te laad
Nigel ; will na he pring te boat frae te ferry,
—oomph. Put, sowUs and podies ! mi Laidie
Tooches, and what for pe your Grace come
here ? Ah, te King's judifications !— oomph.
Aye, aye, mi Laidie Tooches, tere pe te cold

THE SPAEWIFE.

youth, !

iiT tar-

e, and

quickly

n so as

ing her

notour

good.

/ name,

of his

had al-

carry

taik me

rephed

Lir nain

te laad

;e ferry, A

i Laidie S

ce come fl

-oomph. fl

1 te cold 1

hearth in te towers o' Palloch tis plesset morn-
ing. — Ye'll no pe a travel tere ?"

While Glenfruin was thus rasping the
quickened griefs of the Duchess, the sound
of oars was heard approaching, and soon
a large and lumbering black boat, wherein
stood his son together with her Grace's er-
rander, was thereafter seen coming from be-
hind the boughs of the adjacent birch and

hazel.

" Pe pleasured, mi Laidie Tooches, to
make your commodity in te poat. Nigel, I
say Nigel, ye ashypet teevil, will ye no pe
spreading your plaid for her Grace, and tis
oold madam, her maiden ?"

The young chieftain instantly took off
his plaid, and spread it for their reception,
while his father, brushing the grass with his
bonnet, went bowing towards the Duchess
to assist her into the boat.

Misfortune had so subdued her Grace's
mmd, as almost to extinguish every appre-

THE SPAEWIFE.

hension of personal danger; and perhaps
she would, without hesitation, have allowed
Glenfruin to place her aboard, but for the
Leddy Glenjuckie, who had hitherto stood
marvelhng and mute, exclaiming-—

" But shall we be taken to Inchmurrin ?''

" Py and py, in te coote time, mi laidie
madam — Oomph ! But her Grace will pe plea-
sured to come first wi me on a veesitation to
the shieling of Glenfruin — caz you see, mi
Laidie Tooches, tat ter pe ploody repellions o^
te Mactonald and te Lord Hamies, wha pe
come hame frae te outlaw, for a tribulation —
Put te King — Oomph.

" Alas !" cried the Duchess, clasping her
hands and casting her eyes hopelessly to
heaven, " and is my son embarked with the
rash Macdonald in his wild enterprise ?''

Youns: Glenfruin, from the moment that
he beheld her Grrace, was touched with admi-
ration and awe ; and seeing her tears faUing,
and her august struggle to control her renew-

THK SPAEWIFE.

her

ed sorrow, spoke apnrt to bis father, but t}ie
(loure old man knit his brows and shook his
head, saying —

" Sowlls and podies ! and what would te
King speech, if te pird in te air or te adver-
sities o' Gknfruin were to tell him in his
preevy counsel?— Oomph. When she'll pe
come here, sowlls and podies, is't no a sun and
tay-light ! — to mak a repellion in Lennox —
Oomph ? Te sheep and te cow pe te wisdom
creatures, Nigel. Gof s curse, Nigel Glen-
fruin, you peast. — Oomph.

The Duchess soon discerned, by what slie
overheard of their discourse, that Glenfruin
had made her his prisoner; — and her gentle-
woman began to make audible lament at this
new misfortune, and to bewail the mischance
which had thrown them into such rude custo-
dy, till her mistress chided her unavailing and
bootless complaint, by saying—

" We are in your power, Glenfruin ; two
poor old defenceless women, with these few

THE SPAEWIFE.

simple and unarmed serving-men ; we could
make no resistance to your force were we
even so minded. Help me into the boat ; and,
I pray you, let your men be gentle with my
aged friend there. Alas ! it was not so that
I thought her old age would have passed with
me. But it doth please the irresponsible
Heavens, to fill my cup with salt, salt tears.
There is, however, a sweet mercy in store,
that, I trust, will hereafter make me forget
the bitterness of my earthly fortune."

Glenfruin, with ^jme endeavour at cour-
tesy, proffered his arm to the Duchess; where-
upon his son, beckoning to one of the men to
draw near, went with tenderness to the afflict-
ed Lady Glenjuckie, and invited her to lean
upon them as she stepped from the rock into

the boat.

" Laads,'' said Glenfruin to the menials
who had come with the Duchess, and who
were still standing beside their horses, " ye'U
pe pringing toon to te poat a) te lappetrics o'

THE SPAEWIFE.

te Laidie Tooches, and yc'll be o' a discretion
wi tc horses to te Glenfruins — so we'll let you
depart wi' a civility. — Oomph.""

The serving-men, when they saw their
mistress and the lady seated in the boat,
looked at one another, and all suddenly, with
one accord, vaulted into the saddles and gal-
loped away.

" Sowlls and podies,*" cried Glenfruin, ris-
ing, and looking at the speed with which they
scoured along the hill-side. " Got's curse !
Oomph." He then sat down beside the
Duchess ; for seeing it was impossible to over-
take the fugitives, he submitted to the disap-
pointment, and calmly ordered the boatmen
to push off from the shore.

THE SPAEWIFE.

CHAP, V.

While the realm was shaken by the rumours
and tidings, that came hourly rushing from
Inverness concerning the rebellion of the Lord
of the Isles, Sir Robert Gramme, who, on his
banishment, had, instead of going forth the
kingdom, taken refuge among the wilds and
fastnesses of Perthshire, on hearing what had
happened, went to join the rebels, and reach-
ed the tent of Macdonald on the evening of
the day on which the rews arrived of the
King's approach, and of the young Lord Ro-
bert Stuart having remained at the court, be-
cause of the marriage which his Majesty had
settled to take place between him and the
Lady Sibilla.

There, when he entered, he found Macdo-
nald and the Lord James in an eager and sharp

THE SPAEWIFE.

controversy. The Lord of the Isles being
seemingly much moved and disturbed by the
report of the great force which the King was
bringing against them, while the friendless
outlaw suspected that he was only desirous of
a pretext to return home, because of the ru-
moured match which had been formed for his
daughter,--the which match, considering the
then forlorn condition of her first lover, was
plain, to all capacities, a thing which the Mac-
donald would likely approve and prefer.

Accordingly, after the first salutations and
welcomings were over, they addressed them-
selves to Graeme as an umpire in their debate,
the Lord James beginning by inquiring, if hi
had, in the course of his journey, heard any
account of the army which the King was
bringing. « We are told," said he, " that
it trebles ours, and Macdonald has become
afraid, and thinks we ought to retreat.^'

" I wish, my Lord," interrupted the chief-
tain, « that you would measure your words

VOL. II.

I' ft;

r,\.

50 THE SPAiiWIFE.

more according to the meaning of your
mind. I am not afraid,— but seeing how
slenderly we are supported, and the little dis-
position shewn by any of the old friends of
the Albanies to take part with us, I doubt if
it be wise to wait till King James come up."
" There are no such men as friends of
the Albanies in Scotland," rephed Gr^me,
sternly, remembering in what manner they
had failed and faltered when he laid violent
hands on the King in parliament :— " Every
one now seeks his own particular advantage,
and not the least grievance of the parchment
laws of our English tyrant, for I account him
no Scot albeit he was born in the land, is that
they supersede the virtue of standing by one
another, and reducing us all to be the thralls
of his judicatory and officers."

u You speak worthily. Sir Robert," said the
Lord James, " and it was to restore the liber-
ties of former times that Macdonald took up
arms ; but since he heard that his faithless

THE SPAEWIFE. 51

daughter is to be wedded to Stuart, whose
chance of inheriting the crown he accounts
better than an outlaw's, he sees the King's
forces through the mist, and would persuade
me that they are all giants, which he dare
not encounter."

" I beseech you both," exclaimed Gr^me,

to sp these revilings._rt„,,be discreet,
7 I'-d. "Ot to adventure too much at this

■me; a retreat is sometimes better than a Vic

tory -and since you have been so balked in

he hopes you had formed of those who were

he f ds „f your family,_friends, while it
ada th „^;,^^_^^^^^^^^^^

m Macdonald avoiding the Kinc^o

-o-.po.ng that\e is twi: S
hy any sm,ster consideration on his daughter's

c ared rebel, and when you think of the fate

f your own house, you cannot but know tt
the rem.ss,on of his offence will „ever b
granted by King Ja„,es." '

52 THE SPAEWIFE.

Macdonald, during this speech, drew him-
self back from the hght that was on the table
before them, and, folding his arms, listened
as an auditor who had no part in their collo-
quy, but with gathered brows and scowling
eyes,— which shewed how deeply it shook his

spirit.

'' It is reported," replied the Lord James
to Graeme, when he paused, '' that the King
has abated in his severity, -and, indeed, you
are yourself, after wnat you attempted, evi-
dence of the truth of the report."'

'' How !" cried Graeme, with a hoarse and
wrathful voice, of which however the rage was
rather the expression of some agency of the
memory than of anger at the young Lord ;
" call ye it an abatement of severity, to be
degraded below the basest condition of man ?
To live the life of a hunted beast, that hears,
in every rustle of the bramble-bush where he
couches, the dogs of his pursuer. Recollect
what I was, and think what I am now !-I am

THE SPAEWIFE. 53

here as a skulking and companionless poach-
er,— call you that to me an abatement of se-
venty ? The time was, when only my whistle
could, hke the invocation of a wizard, change
the heather and the fern into crested warriors ;
but the mocking of the invisible echo is all
the answer that I should now receive, if I
were to venture, on the hills that were my own,
to try the sound of my voice !"

" If;' said the Lord James, looking round
to Macdonald,^- if the Lord of the Isles can
endure to be such a thing, let him make his
peace when he pleases with the King. I
have no claim upon his friendship,— Sibilla's
faithlessness has dissolved our league.''

" Your own taunts, my Lord, have done
so,'' exclaimed Macdonald, rising with scorn
on his lips, and quitting the tent. The Lord
James, resenting the manner of his look, laid
his hand on the hilt of his dagger; but Gr^me
caught him firmly by the wrist, and said-
" ^' '' ^^"' ^3^ quarrelling with your friend.

THE SPAEWIFfi.

1'' '

that you hope to avenge your wrongs. But
come, we are both too Jong here, — Macdo-
nald's enterprise is plainly at an end,— and
though, as his guests, we may be safe, yet if
it be that he wishes to make his peace with
the King, who knows in what way he may be
worked upon to give us up.'*

The Lord James felt the full force of what
Gra?me meant to convey, and quitting his
seat hastily, they left the tent together, and
made for the hills. They had not, however,
proceeded far, when the young Lord began
to repine at his precipitation, and his uncour-
teous manner of thus abandoning several brave
gentlemen who had joined the Macdonald
with their clansmen on his own account, and
he urged Graeme to return with him, that he
might take such leave of them as their spirit
and devotion to his cause deserved, or perhaps
induce them still to adhere to his desperate
fortunes.

Graeme, however, strongly remonstrated

THE SPAEWIFE.

against this disposition. " If hereafter," said
he, « circumstances arise wherein you may
ask again their service, the equivocal conduct
of Macdonald will serve as a good excuse for
your unceremonious departure to-night. But
It were to throw yoqrself into the very teeth
of destruction, after having come away, leav-
ing Macdonald in the temper we did, were we
to return into his power. It may be, that he
truly is disposed to make his peace with the
King on account of this new match for his
daughter ; if so, then you may rely upon it,
you were no sooner beyond the circle of his
encampment, than his hospitality ended, and
orders given to consider you as his enemy."

While they were thus discoursing, some-
times halting and looking behind, they reach-
ed the brow of a steep bank, shaggy with
brushes and brambles. The night was far ad-
vanced, but the stars so shone out, that the
dark outlines of the ruins of the town were vi-
sible below, amidst which a few feeble lights.

> i

THE SPAEWIFE.

ilii

as ineffectual as the lamps of the glow-worms,
were seen here and there sprinkled. The
castle, in the sullenness of its strength, rose
gloomily in the distance, and the bartizans
and battlements of the towers seemed, by the
upcast glare of the camp-fires of the besiegers,
like the frowning eyes and gathered foreheads
of wrath, jealousy, and scorn.

It was a scene that well accorded with the
hostile spirit of Graeme, and he stopped to
look at it with a fierce enjoyment of malignant
satisfaction.

" Aye, ye may gloom and glower, Robin
Graeme," cried a voice at his feet from amidst
the bushes on the steep ; " but ye'll ne'er get
your will nor your dues, till you have hum-
bled yourself to your enemy." And with
these words the Spaewife scrambled up the
bank, and, with her rude staff in her arms,
stood before him.

" Anniple," said the Lord James to her,
for she was well known over all the country^

THE SPAEWIPE. 57

both in hall and hostel,—" where have you

ccme from to-night P"

" I have nothing to say nor to spae to you,
Lord James,— when the skein of your for-
tune's ravelled, ye'll hear tell o' me. Robin
Graeme, I redde ye to part frae him, or ye'll
wrang yourseP of what yeVe weel worthy, and
eke a marriage mar, —

'^ So come ye wi' me, and let him bide,
And think nae what shall then betide,
And ye'll blithen the heart o' a bonny bride,
That sighs in her bower alone, Robin."

Neither Graeme nor the Lord James had
any inordinate faith in freats ; but the veraci-
ty of Anniple's foreknowledge had gained
great renown far and near, and in that crisis
of their adventures, especially as they at the
time wist not well which way to take, they
were disposed to give her more credit than
perhaps they would have done on any other
occasion.

c 2

■! •

■I I

i !

^® THE SPAEWIFB.

** Shall I then be sa^e to return to Inver-
ness,'' said the Lord James.

" If ye're to be hang't, my Lord, yell ne'er
be drown't," replied the Spaewife.

" But whither would ye, Anniple, that I
should go r interrupted Grseme.

" Up the hill, and down the hill, r.nd o'er
the water; and up the hill, and down the
hill, and o'er the water ; and up the hill, and
down the hill, and o'er the water ;— and there
ye'll meet wi' a man that has the key of a
castle,—

" And when in that keep ye're warded in,
Nor prince nor power m Christendie
Frae you that keep shall win."

" She promises you fair, Sir Robert," said
the Lord James ; " take her advice, and here
let us separate; for, notwithstanding Mac-
donald's sordid perfidy, I shall return to In-
verness, where I doubt not still to find
friends."

THE SPAEWIFE.

Graeme again attempted to dissuade him
from returning, and even began to jeer at
Anniple's predictions ; but she suddenly inter-
rupted him by laying her hand on his mouth,
saying,

" Hush ! I hear Macdonald breathing in
the wind,^Listen, hark, he's passing afar off
in the valley."

It was even so ; for, when the Lord James
went back to tiie camp, he was informed that
the chieftain had set off alone to throw him-
self on the King's mercy, and he found all
the clansmen preparing to retire to their re-
spective regions in the isles and among the
hills. Thus were his hopes again blasted, '
while the anguish caused by the constancy of
his ill fortune was sharpened by the tliouo-ht
of Sibilla's broken faith. Meanwhile, Sir
Robert Graeme, pursuing his course south-
ward, parted from the Spaewife, who, as
her nature led, wandered purposeless away.

THE SPAEWIFEv

CHAP. VI.

Many things were in the meantime growing
to fruit at the Court, where the Lady Si-
billa, on parting from Stuart in the gallery,
as set forth, went straight to her aunt, the
Countess of Ross, and told her, that until
her father's enterprise was resolved and
determined, she would give no farther tend-
ance on the Queen. In vain did that discreet
lady exhort her to the contrary, and repre-
sent, that, by being in companionship with
her Majesty, she might find means and op.
portunities to mitigate the King's ire. But
Sibilla was not to be moved by any stress of
elocution, so that she continued to abide with
the Countess while the royal preparations for
the suppression of the rebellious raid were in

THE SPAEWIFE.

process, seldom appearing al)road but in a se.
questrated and lanerly manner.

It came however to pass that the King,
being instructed how none of the great barons
and chiefs of the nortli, of whose clans and
preparations he stood most in apprehension,
had joined the rebels, but that in many parts
where the Lord James and Macdonald count-
ed on friends, the only demo.istration made
was for the royal cause, his Majesty resolved
only to send forward the vanguard of his
power, and to direct the Lords and Earls on
whom he could rely, to repair to their castles,
and with their respective clans there await his
summons. Thus it happened that the Earl
of Athol went to his strong-hold in the Blair,
or plain of his country, and there arrived with
a great host of Highlanders, about the time
when Sir Robert Graeme, under the influence
and incitement of the Spaewife, bent his
course southward. But the young gallant,
his nephew, Stuart, went not with him, being,

THE SPAEWIPE.

i' I)

in furtherance of the King's politic device,

detained at Edinburgh, nothing loath, in the

hope of acliieving the conquest of the Lady

Sibilla's true and invincible heart. In that

adventure, liowever, he made but small pro.

gress; for when, by the connivance of the

Countess of Ross, he sometimes gained access

to her otherwise inaccessible sequestration,

she gave little heed to his loving and fond

professions.

" You wage," said she to him one day,
" a bootless war with me. My heart is pledg-
ed to a prince of a royal nature and heroic
daring ;— to the heir of the kingdom, yea, to
the open challenger of the King, and think
you that I will stoop to hear the dainty pro-
testations of any meaner iiian .?"

" You amaze me. Lady," replied Stuart.
" I am the equal of my rash cousin in every
thing but his treasons."

" And you are only not equal to him in them,
because you lack the spirit to assert your own

THE SPAEWIFE. gg

rights. Think you that he would so meekly
endure to be cut off from Im inheritance by
any ordinance of sordid time-servers, such as
those were that gave the crown to the bastard
progeny of Elizabeth Mure, and defrauded
the lawful issue of King Robert the Second
of their birthright ?"

Stuart was a. ,azed to hear her speak so
boldly; and her taunts entered into the
•inick of his soul, for he had ever felt as
his uncle the Earl of Athol felt, that the
posthumous law of the succession was a
grievous injury to all the descendants of
the marriage with Euphemia of Ross-
which marriage, till the enactment of the
law, had been accounted the only lawful
matrimony which that King had really con-
tracted, notwithstanding the general commi-
seration with which the fate of the fair Eliza
beth Mure had been lamented. He stood in
consequence some time struck with wonder
which Sibilla perceiving, added scornfully-'

THE SPAEWIFE.

" I doubt not there is treason in my words
—my father and my betrothed husband are
in rebellion— why should not I too think and
feel as a rebel ? But go,— complete the loyal-
ty of tamely submitting to be shut out from
your own rights, by accusing me of treason.
Why, man, if you had half the manhood that's
in the left hand of your unfortunate cousin,
the Earl of Athol would long ere now have
been King, and yourself the heir to the throne."

Stuart trembled to see that the Lady Sibilla,
while she thus spoke, was pale and dreadful,
her eyes flashing fire, and the beauty of her
countenance haggard with rage and contempt.

" I pray you, sweetest lady,'" said he soft-
ly, " let not such perilous thoughts escape
you. Why should the Earl of Athol or my-
self shake the kingdom from its propriety
with such old stories, seeing that we are
placed by Providence, despite all human con-
trivance to the contrary, so very near the
throne.*"

ill

THE SPAEWIFE.

" You mistake me," replied Sibilla, with a
haughty air ; « I would not invite you to any
undertaking. I but spoke of that humility of
spirit, — Christian it is, — which so patiently
holds up the cheek to the smiter. Deeds
shew the man, and I esteem you by what you
have proved yourself. The only daring thing
you have ever done has been to offer yourself
to me as ti^e rival of your brave kinsman, and
that,— very prudently, my Lord, has been
most valorously adventured behind his back.''
Stuart felt as if his passion was entirely
quenched, and he gazed at the flashing fren-
zy of her eye, and the haggard energy of her
colourless cheek and quivering lip, with al-
most irrepressible aversion ; but the feminine
fit was spent, and while he stood contemplat-
ing her with astonishment, and marvelling
that he should ever have thought her lovely,
or deserving to be loved, the gentle spirit of
her nature returned, and she sat down and
began to weep.

THE SPAEWIFE.

\\ n

■n:

:'!.!

Why, my Lord," said she, and her tears
were fast flowing, " do you break in upon my
forlorn estate ? Am I not betrothed to your
ill-fated cousin ? Have I not shewn to all the
world with what sincerity I hold myself to be
his bride ? Is it not then as an insult to a
chaste wife to speak to me with professions of
love ? Let there be, from this time, an end to
all hope and protestations on your part, else
I must regard you as indeed meriting those
reproaches which, in my distraction, I have
too bitterly expressed. Go, my Lord, and if
it may be accepted as any atonement for my
rash words, believe that I feel proud of the
preference wherewith I have been honoured,
but that your courtesies have always been as
wormwood to my spirit, shewing as if you
thought I could be false and inconstant to
the strongest promises that ever maiden
pledged with man. If not ordaired to be the
wife of your cousin, I shall never be bride to
any other man.""

THE SPAEWIFE. 67

The sadness of her voice, and the soft soli-
citation with which her eloquent eyes aided
the wish that he would desist from his impor-
tunate devotion, renewed with redoubled
tenderness the admiration which she had so
long inspired. But the firmness with which
she declared her determination to accept only
the Lord James, taught him that his passion
was without hope. Twice he essayed to
speak, and to tell her something of the emo-
tions wherewith his bosom wss agitated, but
his tongue could find no words, and he quit-
ted her presence, torn with the conflicts of re-
jected love, contemned manhood, baffled de-
sires, and protestations scorned.

In the whirlwind of this storm within, he
hurried to the King's chamber to ask that he
might have leave to quit the court, never to
return while Sibilla was there ; but in going
thither he saw a great concourse of people as-
sembled at the gate, the guards, and halbar-
diers, and archers, all drawn out. On hastily

THE SPAEWIFE.

inquiring what had chanced, a confused re-
sponse by many tongues informed him, that
the Lord of the Isles had suddenly appeared
before the King, while his Majesty was at his
orisons in the chapel, — some said he had at-
tempted the King's life, — and all agreed that
he had been seized on the spot, and was then
in the Abbey.

So strange an accident made Iiim at the
moment forget his own cares, and, rushing
through the guards, he ascended the stairs to
learn the circumstances of so singular an oc-
currence as that the rebel should, in such a
place, and at such a time, have presented
himself before the King.

if!

THE SPAEWIFE.

CHAP. VII.

When Stuart came into the King's presence,
his Majesty was walking to and fro in the
chamber, plainly in great molestation of mind ;
and the Queen was standing apart by herself
m the bower window, seemingly deterred from
breaking in upon his cogitations by the vio-
lent battle of thought wherewith he was agi-
tated. On observing them in this state, Stuart
would have retired ; but he perceived, that on
his entrance the King had glanced his eye to-
wards liim, so that he was in a manner con-
strained to remain ; and while he stood at the
door. Sir William Chrichton, with others of
the council, came in, upon whose appearance
his Majesty mastered his feelings, and resum-
ed his natural equanimity.

" Sir William,'' said the King, on seeing the

THE SPA E WIFE.

Mil'

Chancellor, « I send for you to determine
respecting this bold action of Macdonald.
He has thrown himself on my honour and
mercy, and yet how well we know he is not
to be trusted—the cause of his doing so suf-
ficiently verifies. We had given him permis.
sion to return unmolested home, and to abide
in his island in peace, but no sooner did an
occasion arise whereby he thought to advance
himself, reckless of the damage he might
cause to others, than he again took the field.
But he has placed himself defenceless in my
power, and truly I pray Heaven to instruct
me what I ought to do, that my honour may
be safe, and the commonweal protected.*"

The Chancellor went respectfully up to the
King, and said —

" Macdonald, in so casting himself into the
hands of your Majesty, if we may judge by
his heretofore actions, has not done so from
that nobility of motive which entitles him to
appeal to the judicature of honour, but has

THE SPAEWIFE. 7J

been compelled by some constraint of circum-
stance which he could not master, or is actu-
ated by what with him is a no less forcible
argument, some view of advantage. In either
case he merits but the same treatment, and
the law and the commonweal claim the first
consideration.''

" I know all that," replied the King quick-
ly~" I discern all that,-but then he has

thrown himself into my own hands, and I am
forced to consider, not only what as a King I
must do, but likewise what, to preserve my
knighthood unstained, I ought to do. Is it
thmk you, possible that there may be any
duty of the monarch inconsistent with the ho-
nour of the man ?"

« I should think not," replied Sir William
<-nrichton sedately.

" Then what the King's part is," said his
Majesty, " I have long studied to know, and
perhaps not altogether in vain; for I have
never considered royalty by its trappings-

THE SPAEWIFE.

'I ii i
'i • ■

liWU'

The doffed bonnet, the bended knee, macers
and heralds, and golden baubles, with the
butterflies of fortune's summer, and the
shouts of the brute multit ide, whose plaudits
are often loudest when it's coarse appetite is
served with offal, these make nothing in my
estimate of the dignity royal. — No : Sir Wil-
liam, there is no King but he who dares to do
every thing save wrong — who fears nothing
mortal, but to be unjust — whose spirit is in-
accessible to the inflations of sycophan y —
whose throne is the fortitude of his own mind,
■—his sceptre a benevolent will — and the jew-
els of his diadem precious opinions bought
from the wise and good. Of this empire every
man may be possessed that is worth his soul,
and he that has not attained to -^uch sove-
reignty is but a slave, though he were adorn-
ed by til the East, and served by ten times
the submission of all the millions that crawled
before the worst of the Caesars."

" Your Majesty," replied the Chancellor,

THE SPAEW'IFE.

"ha, but ,o follow the Jight of you, ,„,„
wisdom in this matter."

" '^'"■'"'" int'Trupted the Kino, « ^ i,^
has thrown hi. life into ,„y ,,,.„^ j,, ^j,,^
have ,t ; but you, a„d others who ,,re the
Kmg's officers, look wellthat no mischief e„
sue; for he iH hourly count on some remis
s.on of whatever you n,ay determine concern-
ing himself or hi estate, if his daughter ac
cept our CO, „, Stuart-the renown of which
match, and not contrition a. he professes, has
alone, I question not, brought him hither"
Stuart at these words stept forward and

-d," Let him not then reckon any longer on
that, nor his sentence be measur. I by any
ciiance of his cvu^^hter becoming n,y wife_
The hope of that is quenched."

" How r cried the King, = What is this r
When was thm ?"

"It is so, and please your Afajesty ten

kingdoms would not bribe ,ne to .ddis my.
self again to the Lady Sibilla."

VOL. II.

'''* THE SPAEWIPE.

The King looked at him. for a moment
K>-avely, an,! then, with pleasantry, saidJ
" But one smile may."

" ^°' ""'"•''• • *^ i« not what I thought she
»as. I have been blind to her defects, albeit
X must still do homage to her beauty."

" Pv, Stuart; to .lisparagc a lady whom
you have so long worshipped, is to aeknow.
ledge some defect in yourself. It augurs but
httle for your .valour to be daunted by a
maiden's frown,"

Sir WilHam Chrichton, and those who had
come with him, seeing his Majesty f Uii.- .
i»to th.s easy vein, withdrew; and the Queen
oommg forward, also began to jeer Stuart on
being so faint-hearted. But the .scorn with
which Sibilla had spoken of his tameness
nia<le his temperas it were skinless to raillery
'■' «. much, that the King seeing him so
oasdy teased, yielded to the sportive malice
which his querulousness provoked, and gall-
ed him with jibes.

THE SPAEWIFE. 75

" ^"y." said his Majesty, « if th„.. hast
ost not only thy heart, thy suit, but even
% temper, truly ... .„,,, ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^

havng co„e out of this adventure poorly
eed. Beshre. „., if .„, .,„„,,, f„ ^J

furnaee of a gossip's tongue .ill choose thee
tor her champion :

He that wouM thrive with lady bright

'''""'■'■'"''""-'f"' an points a knight, ■

Boastful ami brave, and ready to tight."

" I entreat a parley," said Stuart sharplv.

W Majesty does not impute to me „y
diffidence wuh respect to fighting" ^

- Jf ' ^^'"S '™g'"ng to see him so chafed

;,t'f"^^'"'"'^«'-p^^^^«-tiH „.;:!'

^y» u IS a pleasanter thinff to ?.. o • 1 ,

yv.

THE SPAEWIFE.

cli amber, than to abide the dissonance of

blows and bagpipes amid the bleak winds of

the Highland hills."

'' Did your Majesty," exclaimed Stuart,

with some lack of his usual homage, " but

command me to remain here that I might be

afterwards so scoffed at ?"

The King perceiving that he had touched

him nearer the quick than he intended, and
being disturbed thereat, said, " But a truce
with oiu' controversy. I would not have you
so abruptly renounce Sibilla, merely because
you may have found her to-day in an ungra-
cious mood." —

His Majesty would have added something
more, but Stuart cried abruptly, trembling
with passion, " Why am I to be ruled in
my affections? In the^e your subjects may
be left free."

The King looked at him with surprise,
and, taking the Queen's hand, turned away,
as he said, with a smile —

THE SPAEWIFJJ.

" By supper-time, perhaps, you may have
recovered one of your losses,-the greatest,
'f 't be not found, cousin, I mean your
wonted good humour."

So saying, he led the Queen away, leaving
Stuart alone, who thereupon began to pace
the floor, clenching his hands, and using
those vehement gestures which betray vin
dictive meditations, while, from time to time,
he exclaimed

" He kept me with himself-made me his
companion-lulled me by a show of friend-
«lnp,-and while the world saw the cunning
of his pohcy, I have Leen despised for con-
tinumgsolongblind._Yes: I have deserv
ed both his taunts and the contempt of Si-
'""'•• But I am not a worm, to be ever
trod upon ; nor a snail, always to shut my
eyes at the approach of danger and let it come
He would not have dared to treat me as he
•as done to-day, were not Maedonald, the
last fnend of the unfortunate Albanies, in his

THE SPAEWIFE.

i I

power ; but now he ventures openly to shew
what he intends. The condition of the Queen
gives him the pron^ise of heirs from himself.
He is afraid of my elder rights, so unjustly
set aside by our common grandfather. He
seeks a pretext to make his other kindred
take the road of poor old Murdoch and his
sons, but I will match his cunning with cun-
ning; and haply when he least expects it,
I may find a way to realize his fears. Yes'
Sibilla, I thank thee at least for that favour ;'
in telling me what I ought to have been,'
thou hast taught me what I am ; what I am
destined to be time will sliew. But my fate
hangs liy a maiden's Jionesty ; so said the
Spaewife ; and that prediction was the sha-
dow of my hope with Sibilla-but shadow
and substance I am now sick of as to her,
and my spirit is the lighter, for still when
she seemed inclined to favour my suit, I
thought of her first betrothment, and the
love that she continued to cherish for the

THE SPAE'TIFE.

outW often damped the ardour of my pas-

"™- ^"' ""^^ I am free; her influence
over my fortune is ended, and I thank her
tor the taunts that have roused me to the
^ense ot my rights, and shamed away the
base lethargy that has so long withheld n^e
irom asserting them."

Jn this manner, sometimes with vows of
vengeance for the contumely with winch he
supposed the King h,a treated him ; at
others, with complaints against his own su-
pmeness, in being restrained from vindicating
h.s birthright, by the false loyalty he had
learnt from the Earl of Athol, did he c„„-
tmue to pace the chamber for a season, and
ever and anon he rejoiced that he was no

longer the thrall of hopeless love; and that

.fh.sdest,ny was indeed subject to a maiden's
honesty, .t was not by Sibilla he would re

nortbt'r: ^'^^•'P°-y-th,heW

not that by the upbraidings wherewuh she
had chafed his spirit the impulse had been

! il

-II

Iff

THE SPAEWIFE.

given which was then hurrying him on to the
consummation of his destiny. But it is ever
so with us all — children of fate ! — to whom
it surely is ruled, that the things most fatal
should ever seem the fairest ; for in nothing
which affects our particular selves can we
discern either the springs or the issues of
the influences that govern fortune.

THE SPAEWIFE.

CHAP. VIII.

Sir Robert Gr^me had, in the meantime,
after parting from the Spaewife, pursued his
course southward, by moorland tracks and
mountain paths, far remote from tlie highways.
Her words dwelt in his spirit, as he waded
alone the solitude of the heath, and he felt
that the rocks might become as the morass,
and the flexible windlestrae as the stubborn
pine, but that he could never humble himself
before the man who had driven him to such
perdition of honour, and substance, and ser-
vitude, all that made life to him worth the
having— so he accounted the Kino-.

For three days, with but such casual fare
as the sheilins of the shepherds on the hills
could afford, he kept his soUtary way. When
his limbs were weary, and his feet torn with
the harsh roots of the heather, and the sharp

D 2

lill

^^ THE SPAEWIFE.

.splinters of rifted stones in his untrodden
path, he would sit down on the bare corner
of some diffy rock, and scowl around on the
deserts of heather that covered all the expanse
in view; and when peradventure he some-
times saw the wolf skulking below, and
glancing towards him a hungry eye, he grudg-
ingly thought of the bondage entailed on the
condition of man— and the cruelty in his
blood thickened.

At night he chose his lair in the hollow of the
hills, and often, when gathered in his plaid, a
stone his pillow, as he saw the moon and the
stars hurrying over him, like fugitives through
the clouds, and heard the winds passing
around, and the roar of waters sullenly rising
From atar, he has started from the ground,
and grasped the hilt of his dirk to draw it
against his own fierce heart; but still the
thought of dying unrevenged checked his
purpose, and nerved him to endure the misery
of unsatisfied hatred a little longer. Then

i^f

THE SPAEWIFE. 83

he would lay himself down again, and after
a short pause, sleep would suddenly descend
upon him, like a vulture on her quarry, and
devour him in dreams. The wolf that track-
ed him all day has been scared by the inward
rage of his visionary revenge.

The morning to him brought no light, but
only the blackness of fate ; for, as he approach-
ed towards the glens that lead into the Low-
lands, he expected to meet some of the royal
army then streaming in from the south, by
all the divers passes, to surround the rebels at
Inverness ; and the apprehension of falling
into their hands was as dreadful as the fan-
tasies which superstition creates in the dark-
ness of night. It would baffle his remorse-
less intent ; the fear of which made him
lurk m glens and woods by day, and move in
the mght, in the moonshine on the hill like
some dark demon to the execution of lome
gmlty purpose.

" Sowlls and podies ! ye'll be te tevil wi'

lil'l

i-li

^^ THE SPAEWIFE.

te foots o' ti cow-Oomph !" was the sudden
salutation whidi he received, when, under the
shadow of a cloud, in passing the third night
round the corner of a rock in Badenoch, he
stumbled over Glenfruin, who, with a numer-
ous company of his clansmen, ^^ as so far ad-
vanced towards the appointed head-quarters
of the royal army, and had there laid them-
selves down to rest, without ward or sentinel,
having no dread of an enemy in that place.

In the same moment that the chief so
spoke, the Glenfruins started from their beds
of fern, and Gramme was pinioned by the
arms, and a prisoner.

" Laads," said Glenfruin, " ye'll tak te
sword and te dirk frae te man— tat's what
ye will— Oomph ;— and ye'll mak te rives o's
plaid, and a tie on te hands pehind te pack
and wi' te twa legs, for a salvation— Oomph.''
He then addressed himself to the prisoner.
'' Aye ? al py yourselph, and a nopody at
al— oomph. Wha will ye pe, and what will

THE SPAEWIFE. 83

pe your pleasantries here ? Got's curse, ye
liad te foot on Iiur powel— Oomph."

Gra!me, surprised, but not ovcrwhelm-

«!, by this sudden mischance, replied, as

the clansmen were tearing his plaid and

twistmg the stripes into ropes to bind his

hands and feet

" You will learn betimes to-morrow what
it is to seize in this manner a messeno-er to
the King."

" SowUs and podies ! and is a' to-be-surely
that ye pe te message for te King .?-Oomph
Aye I te message for te King-tat's a cogi-
tation—Sowlls and podies, he has te fea
ther w te bonnet !-Oomph._Put wha can
see't wi' te moon !-Oomph._Laads, straik
hmi a ped, for he pe the King's message, and
te morn we'll male a congee, every n.other's
son of us, tat's what we will. Will te King's
message pe pleasured to he toon for a com
modity o' te sleep ? Caz you sec, we pe come
o'er te hills, far awa."

TIIK SPAE^VIFE.

■

I ■

1 ■■ ; >

" 1 can have no objection to rest, In ;
myself tired ; but, I pray you, let me h;
the freedom of my hands and feet."

" Aye ! will na te King's message pe rest,
ing without te foots ? Te foots pe in te stable
for te night — Oomph."

Grncme seeing that it would be of no avail
to controvert his condition at that seas(m,
threw himself on the ground, and two of
the clansmen, one at each shoulder, sat down
to watch and to ward beside him. Glenfruin
stretched himself also, wrapt in his plaid,
again in the lea of the rock, where he con-
tinued some time without, however, falling
asleep. At last he turned himself round,
and haJf rising on his arm, said,

" Will te King's message pe pleasured.?"
'' Well," said Graeme gruffly, « What do
you want.?"

" Just a civility. What pe te news te
message will tak to te Kin<r .?"
" Macdonald has left Inverness."

I: .•

ti.

TifE SPAEWIFE. §7

'' SowlJs and podies !-.Ooni ,h.^ Ve ac

aom- no %ht.-.Ayef and te rebellion pe
> i te leaf o' te tree tat^s made in a teal
for a toor ?— -Oompli.''

GJenfruin again laid himself back on the
ground, and after continuing some time si-
lent, he raised himself a second time.

' ^ill le King^s message pe pleasured to
speech a word r Te Mactonald-he will pe
te man wi' tc pig purse py 'tis lifting. Will
tere no pe te wee town for a .judification, tat
te goot subject may rewart himsel for te re-
pellion .^— -Oomph."

" The good subject," repHed Gr^me,
" i^ad better think well before he rewards
himself; for the King's justice is not to be
trifled witli."

" Sowlls and pwlies, te King's justice !—
Oompl,. Is't a justice to travel away te foots
o' te goot subject for a noting at al."

Sir Robert Gramme never having before
met Glenfruin, and not being acquainted with

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THE SPAEMaFE.

!'.

the depth of his devices, was so far thrown
off his guard by this observation, that he
said, from the smarting of his own punish-
ment, —

" Justice and suffering now a days, in Scot-
land, are nearly the same thing, and law is the
disguise of tyranny."

Glenfruin pricked up his ears, but Graeme
felt that he had said too much, and to lessen
the impression, added, " So say the King's
enemies ; but this rebellion being over, as I
doubt not it is by this time, we shall hereaf-
ter hear less of such disloyalty.'

" Aye," rephed Glenfruin. " O put tat's
moving. We'll pe going home te morn, tat's
what we will— Oomph ! What pe laa; put
a pogie in a pook !"

Gra3me was, however, now on his guard; and
Glenfruin perceiving, after divers other en-
deavours to draw him farther on, that it would
be of no avail, composed himself for the re-
mainder of the night.

Ill

• thrown
that he
punish-
in Scot-

aw is the

Graeme
to lessen

King's
er, as I

hereaf-

)ut tat's
L'n, tat's
a; put

"d; and
ber en-
: would
the re-

THE SPAEWIFE.

In the meantime the Earl of Athol, as re-
hearsed, had come to the castle of Blair, and
had tliere gathered the main power of his vas-
sals to be in readiness to join the King when his
Majesty would come up with the Lowlanders.
But more exact information having reached
Edinburgh of the strength of the rebels than
the magnified wonderment of the first rumour,
the King had resolved not to head the army
himself, but to send forward the warlike Earl
of Angus. Accordingly it came to pass, as
told in the foregoing chapter, that his Ma-
jesty was still at Holyrood when Macdo-
nald arrived to cast himself on his mercy. Of
this event the Earl of Athol received the
first intimation from Stuart his nephew, who,
on the same night that Graeme so clianced to
fall into the hands of Glenfruin, came sud-
denly to the castle, having, in the afternoon
of the day wherein he was so chafed both by
the Lady Sibilla and the King, obtained his
Majesty's permission to go thither. The King

rii !

THE SPAEWIFE.

had indeed, with sorrow, observed the inebri-
ation of chagrin wherewith the Lady Sibilla's
irreversible refusal had infected his brain,
and holding him in great affection on account
of his many knightly qualities, and hitherto
unblemished fidelity as a kinsman and true
subject, was right well content to give him
leave to retire into Athol till the sore of his
heart was salved by the molhfying ministra-
tions of time.

THE SPAEWIFE.

CHAP. IX.

Now it came to pass, that the same night,
after the Lady Athol had retired to her
chamber, the Earl, with his nephew, remained
sitting together by themselves in a turret-room
discoursing of divers matters, wiierem Stuart
from time to time breathed his discontent
against the King; for, though standing in
awe of his uncle's renown for loyalty, he was
fearful to give utterance to the impoisoned
thought which his Majesty's free nature had
so innocently bred ; yet was he not altogether
able to repress the adder, nor to keep the fas-
cinations of its eye from attracting the fated
spirit of the Earl.

" He has no respect," said Stuart, " as we
have seen, even for the dignity of his own
blood ; but, like the Ottoman, considers high

t I !

THE SPAEWIFE.

1 ,t\'

and iow as if we were all slavcs-courageless
t'unuchs bought in a market."

" Hush !" replied the Earl, " and set a
guard on your tongue ; for though it must
be confessed that he does lack the accustomed
discrimination of the Scottish Kings, yet is he
singularly endowed with many princely vir-
tues; in sooth a just man— a very Solon in
the inditing of laws.-But I implore you to
be wise ; for have you not observed how much
more cruelly his justice went against our
kinsmen, the Albanies, than any other of.
fenders ?"

" Aye, Graeme, who laid hands upon him
even on the throne, in parliament, when ar-
rayed with crown and sceptre, was allo-ed to
go with his life,- replied Stuart ; - x have
often thought of that.''

" Besides," rejoined the Earl, " think in
what dubiety we stand with respect to the
crown. But for the settlement of my father.
King Robert the Second, I should this day

THE SPAEWIFE.

have been of right King of Scotland. I be-
seech you to consider that, and how much we
both, you as my rightful heir, are plaxred
within the scope of his jealousy, especially
now that the Queen is in the way to be a
mother."

" How is it, my Lord, that you have so
quietly endured that great injustice ?''

" You are too young to remember the
boundless domination of the Regent Robert,
poor Duke Murdoch^s father, else you woulcl
not ask that question. And wherefore should
I, a childless old man, stir in any rash una-
vailing pretension ; for, to do the King justice,
since his restoration he has greatly caused good
order and security to abound, albeit too
harsh in his ministry towards many of the no
bility."

" O, there was a time !" exclaimed Stuart,
" when any sovereign to have breathed against
the old free prerogatives of the Scottish nobles
but a moiety of what the King has done, by his

'f "I

■ •!:
ill

'Hi

!!i I

}yw

THE SPAEWIFE.

slights of law and judicature, would have rais-
ed the whole land like a whirlwind."

** You give your anger too wide a license,
nephew," replied the Earl ; " I must not
suffer you to fall into such habits of discourse,
especially now when the whole realm is again
submissive to his dominion."

" But the world," said Stuart, « thinks
our submission — mine at least — to come of a
tame spirit ; I cannot brook to have myself
longer so unworthily considered."

" Hush ! these are rash words, nephew,
what would you do ?"

" Have you not told me, that but for the
treble injustice which gave the crown to the
bastards of Elizabeth Mure, you should have
this day been King of Scotland ?"

" I charge you talk not of such things in
that way. Rash young man ! I would but
do my duty were I to give you up for shew-
ing so much of a seditious spirit."
Stuart was somewhat rebuked by the warmth

MB!

ave rais-

THE SPAEWIFE.

"It is current among the com„,o„aUy,th,t
>t has been prophesied you will be King "

"So I have heard ; and when it is consi
dered that there is but the Kingnowbetwl:

-e and the throne, it is no improbable evem
notwithstanding my years." '

" ^»-Pl« of Dunblane," rejoined Stuart
'ong ago told me that my fate hangs-" '

^Anniple of Dunblane ."interrupted the
t-arl, surely you set no store by the rav

'"^^"^'J— -y What man fnt';^:
-.on of a sober mind would give heed to
ner jargon?" ^^

" But many of her sajdngs, I have often
heard, have come to pass. She has a sh"

-;» very sing„lar discernment of what pas
nthemmdsofthosetowhomshespeak'fo

" "^ "'f "^"^ f- 'hat she will hold any r
course. ' -^ "^^"

The complexion of the Earl went a little at

!'!

THE SPAEWIFE.

this remark, and he looked around uncon-
sciously, as if somewhat alarmed ; and then
said—

*« If it is ordained that I am to come to the
crown, and but one life now stands in the
way, the event will come to pass without any
ministry thereto on my part. But, nephew,
let not your thoughts run upon such malcon-
tent fancies. Seek rather to earn, as I have
all my life done, the esteem of the wise and
the good. It will better pave the way to a
quiet succession, when the time may come,
than any stratagem of human artifice in which
you can engage, I pray you also never to
break this matter again to me. I am an old
ixian— this grey head can ill bear the burden
of a helmet — and any other way than the
course of Providence needs the mediation of

arms."

" Think you then, my Lord," exclaimed
Stuart, " that I can patiently abide the taunts
of a usurper ; for such I will think he is, bat-

;i!!?

THESPAEWIFE. 9*7

Jgalithat parchment can sa,to,.eeo„tr„,
Ir'^-^P^™" '"""'" possess your nghtl

'hat .s your own concern, n,y l.„rd-btt he
^as -„d,, „^ p^^^ ^,, _ ^ ^^ Jt

salt into the wound."

The Ear), on seeing Stuart rushing into

ears than nnne to breath your
treasons to. U |„^ u -^ "^

hT« • u , ^ ^''"''"'' ^« a subject so

Se dream of setting aside King Jam,,

icrea, has been in fh^ f j

"t^en m the freedom w th which

y«u have this night ventured to .

a Quernlo ^^'^t^Jred to express to me

naT; h TtT^''"^'- '^''-'^y— Iffortu-
n e th.^I do not forthwith send you to the

Tl ''"* ^"^ '^'"^•"''er, and ponder

onjhatyouhavesotraiterousiyspokeL.

vo" " ""'"'*'"^'^ ^^'--d' b"t

•mmmmnmm

''ill!

THE SPAEWIFE.

the Earl remained, evidently in great agita-
tion. He moved several paces from the spot
where he waw standing ; and clasped his
hands, and looked very wild and woe-begone.
Then he again sat down, and bent his head
upon his hand, resting on the table ; and con-
tinued for some time like a marble image of
cogitation. Suddenly he started up, and
moved round the chamber many times with
perturbed steps — often raising his hands and
shaking them, as one that eschews the pre-
sence of some very dreadful sight. Anon
he would touch his aged locks, and look at
his shrivelled hands, and fold them together,
and remain with a melancholy air, and sigh,
and almost weep.

But these fond struggles did not last long ;
for ever and anon his evil angel would come
upon him, and nerve him with pride, making
his age seem less, and brightening his coim-
tenance with a royal arrogance ; which soon,
however, changed into a dark and cruel look :

•at agita-
the spot
sped his
E}-l)egone.
his head
and con-
image of
up, and
rnes with
inds and
the pre-
Anon
i look at
together,
md sigh,

ist long ;
lid come
, making
lis coun-
ch soon,
uel look :

THE SPAEWIFE. gg

-Then he would stalk hurriedly and stealthi.

' ''7 '''' '•--' ^^"I^ling his hand as if he

rasped a murderous knife. But in that

^e feU upon his knees, and with hitter te J
cned woefully to the Heavens.

J I We not made a compact with perdi-
-d, which wi.h the halo of g4,.,,;l'

ed w.th the benedictions of good men, more
P-ously than the unction could hav don

-h which the P.ophet Samuel consecrated
David against Saul."

-i-hen, having thus prayed, he rose, and as
' earful to trust hi.self „ieh the a.ful

=r,irrv"-^'^' '' '-'y

ne nght that stood upon the table
and without callin,. u- '

^ ut calimg, as his custom was, for

ill ■'<

100

THE SPAEWIFE.

CHAP. X.

mil

Next morning, being duly advertised that
the rebellion of the Macdonald was at an
end, ind the different clans engaged therein
:^.ispersed, and retired to their respective
countries, the Earl sent home likewise his
vassals, and prepared to return to his lodg-
ing in Perth ; the court being minded to come
to Scoone, where the King expected his at-
tendance. But, in the course of the day, it
came to pass that Glenfruin, having with him
Sir Robert Graeme, arrived at the castle, and
being taken to the Earl, narrated in what
manner the prisoner had fallen into his hands,
and that he much doubted if he was, as he
had pretended to be, the bearer of tidings to

the King.

" For you see, mi Lord Eerl," said Glen-

THE SPAEWIFE. IQl

fruin, " what would te King's message pe
taking to tell te grouse and the ptarmigan on
te hills?— oomph / and ten, mi Lord and Eerl,
he pe in te chief's does, an te tartan pe o' te
Gra^me—Sowlls and podies ! is't a to-be-sure-
^yy tat were al a tream and veesion—and he
pe te Sir Robert tat was panished.— Sowlls
and podies ! it was a lamb and a lion, mi Lord
and Eerl, te fal in te sleep wi' tat traitor man
—put he had na te sword nor te tirk— oomph f
Aye, aye, tat was a goot poleesee— oomph »
The Earl commended the discernment and
dexterity of Glenfruin, and lauded the alert
loyalty with which he had obeyed the first
summons of the King to rendezvous with his
clansmen at the place appointed— telhng him,
that he would not faU to report his great
merits to his Majesty.

" And ye'll pe pleasured, mi Lord and
Eerl," repHed Glenfruin, « to count to te
King al te cost and te monies for the tribula-
tions o' te Laidie Tooches-tat's noo in te

• ii

f ^: I

lilt

102

THE SPAEWIFE.

sheilin o' Glenfruin, taking her pleasantries
in a custodie— oomph ! Put ye'll no forget
tat we'll pe seeking no monies at al, nor te
pay o' te mark or te crown ;— no, no, mi Lord
and Eerl, Glenfruin's paith a loyaltie and a
liberallie ; an if te King will, in a smal way,
just alloo tat bit shaping o' te land o' Lennox,
it's just a loof and a palm, mi Lord and Eerl,
atween te Leven water and te purn o' Glen-
fruin, we'll mak al our servitudes, paith for
te taking o' te Laidie Tooches, and te traitor
man tat's noo in te hal of mi Lord and Eerl,
we'll mak it al a free gratos— a nothing at
al."

The Earl did not exactly understand what
Glenfruin meant in allusion to the Duchess
of Albany being his prisoner, but he was so
far informed with respect to the forfeited
estate, as to know that the hand's-breadth of
land whereof Glenfruin spoke so lightly was
one of the best domains in the earldom of
Lennox. But as it had long been the Earl's

THE SPAEWIFE. 103

endeavour to stand well with all men, he
spoke fair, and with sweet words, to the old
chieftain; at the same time, giving him no
encouragement to expect that the King would
consider his services at so high a price as he
had himself put upon them.

" For you know, Glenfruin," said he, " that
among the English, where the King was so
long bred, true subjects are expected to do
their duty without reward ; albeit their kings
sometimes bestow small marks of favour where
the merit is very singular. I do not, however,
say, that his Majesty will not discern the
merits of your services, and reward them even
with much more than the lands whereof you
have spoken ; but there may be persons about
the King who may represent those lands as of
more value than you think they are ; and you
know his Majesty is, in all matters touching
the property of the crown, guided by the de-
terminations of his council."
• " SowUs and podies ! mi Lord and Eerl, it

I' t

I ':

il 1

ilHIl

,^l

i , !

104

THE SPAEWIFE.

would be a judification o' te honest man, and
al his clan, to let te Laidie Tooches mak him
an eatible, forpye te travail to te repellion,
tat was al a tead loss — and ten te traitor man,

oomph ! Cal ye tis a government, oomph,

mi Lord and Eerl— if tat's te way o' te laas,
we'll al pe traitor mans, every mother's son of
us — oomph r'

" No doubt, Glenfruin," replied the Earl,
" it would be much more according to our
good old Scottish customs, if less were de-
manded for the public, and"—

" Te public ! mi Lord and Eerl," interrupt-
ed Glenfruin, giving an angry hotch in his
chair, " what's te public, an what pe te goot
o' Le public to me ? oomph ! Sowlls and po-
dies ! it was te petter time for te honest man
pefore tis public was porne."

" Yes," replied the Earl, « this same thing
the public keeps many an honest man from his
own out of respect to it— but, as true and leal
subjects of the King, we must all forget our

THE SPAEWIFE.

105

particular grievances. I am sure there is no
man in the realm who has more reason to com-
plain of the laws than I have."

" It's an och-hone, mi Lord and Eerl, tat
ye were na te king yoursel."

" Glenfruin !" exclaimed the Earl, « Glen-
fruin ! Do you mean to insult me, and en-
danger yourself by such language, in this
house ?"

" My goot Lord and Eerl, weVe no a se-
dition at al. Sowlls and podies ! mi Lord and
Eerl, would na ye hear a glorification, just
m the way o' a congee— tat's al— Oomph."

" Well," said the Earl, not affecting to ob-
serve the apology, " but what does Glenfruin
mean by the Duchess of Albany being in
custody ?"

" Oo aye, will mi goot Lord and Eerl mak
a cognition o' te Laidie Tooches ? You see,
when te Glenfruins were al come to te shore—
al, every mother's son of us,— tere was a man,
a laad fi-ae mi Laidie ^^ ^oches,— and te man,

E 2

^^^ THE SPAEWIFE.

he would tak te poat. Teevils in hell ! ye'll no
tak te poat,— curse tak me if you will. Put, for
al tat, he was a speech, and so we came pe te
wood o' te tree, and Nigel-he's a praw laad
and prave laad, Nigel-he came in te poat-
and here was mi Laidie Tooches al py her-
self, and a laidie likewise on te stane, and so
we made a captivitie ; and Nigel, wi' te Laidie
Tooches and her oold maiden madam, you
see, mi Lord and Eerl, sailt in te poat to
Glenfruin."

" Surely you have not seized the unfortu-
nate Duchess without authority," exclaimed
the Earl. « Know you not that the King
has offered to restore her all the earldom of
Lennox, which, however"

" Al the eerldom !— oomph. Sowlls and
podies I Is't te King a man wi' a sholder
on a head? and will my Laidie Tooches
pe making a lifting pack again o' te cows and
te catties, tat te Macfarlane— oomph. Got
tamn te Macfarlane; he took te cows and

THE SPAEWIFE. 107

cattle when te King made his judifications-
oomph/'

" Of course, Glenfruin," said the EarJ,
" you were too faithful a subject to herry the
lands of Lennox at the time of the forfeiture.
But if the Macfarlane has done so, let him
look to the consequences, unless he has a
friend to appease the King.""

" Glenfruin was not quite easy in his
mind at hearing the Earl speak in this man-
ner, and, not well knowing what answer to
make, he said—

** Put will na mi Lord and Eerl pe plea-
sured to see te King's message tat pe in te
hal?"

" If he be, as you seem to suppose, Sir
Robert Graeme, I am almost sorry," replied
the Earl, "that he has been brought hither;
as it was by my interference that his life
was spared, and he ought not now to have
been within the realm of Scotland."

" Sowlls and podies ! where pe te goot ser-

Ill

!•' !!■

108 THE SPAEWIFB.

vice o' Glenfruin to get te King's penedic-

tions in a palm o' land or te mark o' monies?

— Oomph — oomph."

" Nevertheless," replied the Earl, " since he

is now in custody, I will keep him a prisoner

till I have the King's orders concerning him."
" And what will Glenfruin pe doing wi'

te Laidie Tooches ? — Sowlls and podies ! —

Oomph."

The Earl paused for a moment. He

thought, if he advised the chieftain to restore
her at once to liberty, the veteran would
thereby pacify his Majesty's displeasure at
the manner in which he had treated that dis-
consolate lady, Imt otherwise his sordid loy-
alty might be changed ; and, as the thought
presented itself, he turned away from Glen-
fruin and walked to the upper end of the gal-
lery, where they held this discourse, saying in
bitterness of heart to himself —

" Oh ! cruel fate, hurry me not so fast ;
let me take time to breathe."

THE SPAEWIFE.

109

He then returned with quick steps to Glen-
fruin, and said —

" Sir Robert Graeme is well known to all
in my household, and I was already informed
that he was your prisoner before you were
admitted."

" Oomph," replied Glenfruin looking cu-
riously from under his brows.

"Yes," rejoined the Earl; "but I do
not wish to embroil myself further in the
affairs of Graeme. I give you leave to let
him be held in custody here till the King's
pleasure concerning him be known."

Graeme had not, however, in the meantime
been idle in his thoughts, and knowing the
jeopardy wherein he stood, he had so ad-
dressed himself to Stuart, who on his being
brought to the castle had gone to see him in
the hall, as not only to move him to compas-
sionate his condition, in the distemperature
wherewith that ill-fated youth was at the time

f I

l;|ji

110 THE SPAEM'IFE.

afflicted, but to make hira cleave to the re-
beUious daring of his spirit.

The fancies of the outlaw were still tinged
with the predictions of the Spaewife, and in his
ruminations on entering the castle, he recollect-
ed that, from the time he had parted from her,
three rivers he had crossed, and ascended and
descended the hills between them; and he
said to himself, " Athol is the man bv whom
my lands are to be restored ; his power with
the King is the key of my castle, which, when
I again possess, will indeed remain mine."

These reflections so wrought with him,
that, while he was discoursing with Stuart,
he beseeched him to ask the Earl, his uncle,
to present a petition from him to the King.
" I do not expect the restoration of my
lands, nor shall I petition for that, but only
remission of the banishment, that I may be
free to enter into the vassalage of some ge-
nerous patron.'^

ILad

THE SPAEWIFE. m

There was no man of that time who could
«> eloquently enforce his argument as Sir
Robert Gr*mc, and the elocution with which
I"; set forth this seeming lowly request ob-
tained a ready concurrence from Stuart, who
not only assisted him in forthwith preparing

the memorial ofhis professions of contrition
for past offences, but in carrying it to the

tarl ; he added many things in the prisoner',
^ehalf, expressing, however, his doubt if the
Kmg would grant any part of the humble
•'-n solicited, and reverting, with sharp

-ords, to the contumely, as he felt it, of thT
K>"gs treatment of himself. The Farl

l-vever, in taking the paper, said nothing.'
but h.s countenance was pale, and his lipl
qmvered ; and hastily putting it into his bo
»ni, he retired into another apartment to con-
-al the agitafon with which he was so very
strangely affected. •'

113

THE SPAEWIFE.

CHAP. XL

While Macdonald and his hasty adventure,
so suddenly abandoned, was causing such
molestation throughout the realm, and bring-
ing so many fatal circumstances to a conflu-
ence, the Duchess of Albany, with her faith-
ful companion, the aged Leddy Glenjuckie,
was patiently wearing the time away in the
castle of Glenfruin as a prisoner, under the
watch and ward of Nigel and a party of the
clansmen.

The Lady of Glenfruin and her two daugh-
ters, with many gentle ministrations, endea-
voured to sweeten her captivity ; but to her
Grace all things and all places were alike.
Her prison-house was life ; and if at times she
stfenied to be touched with any sense of mor-

THE SPAEWIFE.

118

venture,
ng such
id bring-
i conflu.
ler faith-
jnjuckie,
y in the
ider the
;y of the

) daugh-
, endea-
!fc to her
re alike,
imes she
of mor-

tal sympathy, it was in the still of the golden
evening, when she sat on the brow of the
castle-hiJI, looking abroad on the tranquillity
of the lake below, and listening to the mourn-
ful melody of some Highland sonnet and wail-
ing coronach chanted by old Norah, as she
teased her wool or twirled her distaff on the
stone seat at the castle gate.

But Leddy Glenjuckie, who suffered no
grief save that of pity for the misfortunes of
her mistress, the which, like the sorrows of
other waiting gentlewomen, was yielding to
the balm of time, and save the occasional an-
guish of her own sciatica, passed the day with
more variety. Having from her youth been
habituated to the silken courtesies of a court-
ly life, she could ill abide the mountain fare
and heather couches of Glenfruin's tower,
and the offence which the yellow necks and
bare red arms of his long and lean daughters
gave to her delicate eyes at her arrival, was
scarcely extenuated by the unmitigated civi-

! :

i t

ill

;

114

THE SPAEWIFE.

lities of their Highland kindness. For several
days slie fretted at tlieir endeavours to be
urbane and debonnaire, notwitiistandin^ the
manifest great j)ains which the efforts cost
them ; and she often peevishly repulsed the
condolence with which they brought frequent
decoctions and many an arcanum of Celtic
pharmacy, to appease the anguish of her scia-
tica.

Custom, however, began at last to reconcile
her to their defects and kindiiess ; and, in the
end, the deference which they paid to her
superiority was rewarded by affable tales con-
cerning the revels and the banquets which she
had formerly adorned. Then would she des-
cant of the caskets of pearls and garnets, and
the glittering robes, which she had left in the
castle of Falkland ; telling them of things
whereof they had not heard even the names,
such as damask diapered with lilies, enamelled
chainlets, pomelles, and purple palls; and
how, when she was a maid of h<mour to the

'^^ ,

THE SPAKWIFE.

115

[)r several
ITS to be
mdin^ the
forts cost
iilsed the
frequent
of Celtic
' lier scia-

reconcile
id, in the
d to her
tales con-
vhich she
she des-
tiets, and
3ft in the
»f things
e names,
namelled
lis ; and
w to the

■i

Regent Robert'. Duchess, Duke Murdoch's
mother, she had a milk-white Spanish jennet
trapped to the ground with velvet and cloth
"fgold; nor did she forget the pretty page
"1 1"» gay attire, that went with her when she
took the pastime of hawking witli the ladies
"f the court, carrying on his arm her eagle-
horn and merlyon, with their silver bells.
" ^"'' '^'^I'-'^day !" she would often in those
pleasant rehearsals say with a sigh, « the de-
'^y of the world is plain to be seen.-Sir
Penny has become the king of the earth ;"
and then she would recite with good emphasis,
tnppmgly on the tongue, certain pithy nior-
«els of the lay wherein his domination is cele-
orated, sayiiig —

Popes, kings, and euiperours,
Bishops, abbots, and priours,

Parson, priest, and knight,
Dukes, earls, and ilk baroun,
To serve him are they all boun,

Both by day and night.

t!t'

«ili

116 THE SPAE WIFE.

In the king's court it is no boot
Against Sir Penny for to moot,

So meikle is he of might ;
He is so witty and so strong,
That be it never so mikle wrong,

He wiU make it right.

Sir Penny over all gets the gree,
Both in borough and in citie,
* In castle and in tower :

Withouten either spear or shield,
He is the beat in frith or field,
And stalwarthest in stour."

On these occasions the daughters of Glen-
fruin would beseech her to repeat the same
till they got the rhymes by rote, it not being
the custom iii those days for young ladies of
their degree, even of many degrees higher, to
read the minstrelsy of books.

But Leddy Glenjuckie did not always seek
to move her admiring auditors by instructive
descants in the vein of Prince Achilles' com-
plaint, to the which so many laureates in after-

THE SPAEWIFE.

117

times have played the mumbling echo, some
for mockery and some for moan, taking their
text from those sad rhymes of the longest lay
of the learned Lydgate :

" For like it is that all the gentle blood
Throughout the world shall destroyed be,
And rural folk (and that were great pitie)
Shall have lordship and whole governance :
And churles eke, with sorrow and mischance,
In every land shall lordis be alone.
And gentlemen be slain, all, every one."

Changing the key of her humour, and run -
ning the diapason of a livelier mood, she would
then rehearse the adventures of ladies and
gallants, and other tenderlings, and quaintly
tell of what mischanced to a fair damsel—

When she rose, that lady dear.

To take her leave of her squyere,

All so naked as she was born,
She stood her chamber -door beforn.

" Then," said she, « was the time when it
was worth something to be fair. I was not

I i

. 1; i I

"^ THE SPAEWIFE.

always gnawed by the sciatica. Time, that
has since, with his cruel fingers, scratched so
many furrows in these cheeks, was not alway
my foe. Well do I remember, when, as a
champion, he challenged to prove my beauty
without a marrow, on a day that was to come.
And It did come, and many a stricken knight
with a bleeding heart lay at my feet."

Then would she ever and anon give these
«mple damsels, who much marvelled to hear
an ancient dame with a shaking head dis-
course with such juvenility, much sage coun-
sel how to comport themselves in what she
called the maiden's war ; telling them how the
loathly woman won Sir Florent; citing many
a delectable sentence from that pleasant ro-
inaunt, the which in those days was as fami-
liar m the Lowland halls and bowers as ever

the poesie of mightier minstrels hath since
been.

But, albeit, that antique gentlewoman so
vaunted of her victorious beauty, and so dis-

THE SPAEWIFE.

119

coursed of stratagems of love, to these moun-
tain maidens, yet was she in all points touch-
ing the moralities of demeanour singularly de-
licate, yea, most dainty and circumspect, else
would not the Duchess of Albany have en-
dured her services. There had chanced,
however, a certain accident in her life, before
she was married to the first of her four hus-
bands, and by it, as an epoch, she was wont
to date the occurrence of events, saying, that
such and such things had come to pass so
long before or after her misfortune; which
misfortune was a damage that she met with
by the fall of a gallery, wherein she was sit-
ting with other ladies of the court to see the
joustings held at Perth, on the occasion of the
coronation of King Robert the Second, and
by which she was ever after crippled from
dancing, to the great grief, according to her
own rehearsal, of the King and all his nobles,
so much did she excel in the art.

In this manner the time passed away with

1 i ■ ' T

I ;

H !

„.'!

■'■ 1

■ 1

M ;

120

THE SPA E WIFE.

Leddy Glenjuckie till Glenfruin returned
home ; and a very wrothful and irascible man
he was when he came, not only because he
had found no rebellious town to indemnify
his clansmen for the brisk loyalty with which
they had obeyed the King's mandate to go
against Macdonald, but also in consequence
of the Earl of AthoPs doubts if his Majesty
would be content to hear that the unfortunate
Duchess was held as a prisoner in his castle.
The consideration, also, with which the Earl
and his nephew treated Sir Robert Graeme did
not content him ; he not only expected that
immediate execution would have been done on
the outlaw, but had cherished the hope, that,
for ..le notable service he had himself render-
ed to the State in bringing him in, no question
would be made about granting the pendicle
of the earldom of Lennox, which lay so con-
veniently to augment his estate.

" Sowlls and podies, Nigel !" said he to his
son, in relating the adventure, « Isn't a shame

1i^

THE SPAE\. IFE.

-d a f,e tat we will pe come pack wi' te

meal for te forty davs «] •

•'J' aays, al m our pellies

B"tNige], instead of sympathizing with his
a.^pp„t.e„t,orthei.p„.eri.shJntwhi

exped:t,on, began to speak in very tender and
«>mpass,onate terms of the Duchess 1
suggest, that as her detention migt „: :

tocmry her, as soon as possible, in a befit
'-g manner, to the summer bower i„ r„t"
mumn. ^ncn-

!::;;"- -'-"^ »— ./.dtr

Laidie Tooch

Oomph. Has she
ransom ?— -Oomph

VOL. II.

les wi' a

gallantrie-^
rings or te gold for te

aii;^

:i !'

122

THE SPAEWIFE.

At this juncture of their conversation, Led-
dy Glenjuckie, who had been forth an airing
on the castle-hill when he returned, came into
the hall, leaning, because of her sciatica, on
the arms of his daughters. As she passed
towards the stair to ascend into the apartment
where the Duchess was silting alone, — the
Lady of Glenfruin being busy with Norah in
another apartment, seething worsted with
chips of oak and rusty swords for a blue dye,
— Glenfruin turned round on the bench in
the chimney-corner where he was sitting, and

said—

" Mi oold Laidie-matam, and will te pen-
alties in your pack no pe petter at al? —
Oomph;'

Leddy Glenjuckie, who had never been af-
flicted with such a salutation, dropped the
arms of her supporters, and looked as if she
beheld some shaggy boar, or other uncouth
felon of the woods. Glenfruin however in-
tended to be courteous, in order that no com-

THESPAEWIFE. jg

p.abtmi,htaf«sbe«adeb,theprisoI
ers to his prejudice, and he added—

" It's an och-hon, «i Laidie-niatam, to see

tat yeVe al a crook h-ke te hoop o-te „^
moon— Oomph."

At these words, Leddy Glenjuekie tartly

^' ": •'''"^•'^- a^- by the arms, and
-th short quick steps, tottled as fast a^ she
eoud to the foot of the stairs. Glenfr^
quneuncoascious of any offence, rose aiid^d
vanced to proffer his gallant assistance to hS

tilJh- •V'™''■"^'^°™-^-~-
.onfh,sc:vlhty,she,ookedoverhershouI.
aer, trembliiiff at oncp wifK

and exclaimed- "="" '"' '^'

" ^^r "''"■ ^" '" ™"'t^d «inee I had
my misfortune !" '^ nm

" SowlIs,podies! misfortune .--oomph - was
"asonorataughter.P-Oomph"

What might have ensued it were vain to

^agine, or at that moment the shrill Tund
<^ a bugle.horn at the castle-gate drowned

' !

i !

'I !

:! I

lU i

1 ji i' t

ill-

iir

124

THE SPAEWIFE.

her scream ; and Glenfruin, with Nigel and
all the sorners in the hall, hastened to see
what stranger so chivalai usly demanded
entrance.

THE SPAEWIFK.

CHAP. XII.

In the meantime the Lord James, after the
breaking up of Ma<3donald's enterprise, he-
came very despondent of his fortunes,' and
was grieved, even tc that sickness of the heart
which is of a keener pang than the anguish of
wound., by the reported inconstancy of the
Lady Sibilla.

In the morning, when he saw the clansman
of the Isles departing homeward, and all the
array that had come to maintain his cause
meltmg away, he stood alone on the side of
Craig Phatric, and, meditating on the eclipse
of his father's house, resolved to leave the
Scottish strand for ever, and to sail to the
isle of Rhodes, there to seek admission into
the brotherhood of the knights of St John.
And it chanced that, while he was in this

I'j

h r

126 THE 8PAEWIFE.

forlorn and disconsolate state, Celestine of
Loch Aw, a kinsman of his own, suddenly ap-
peared coming from the bottom of the hill.

The mother of this Celestine, being the
daughter of the Regent Robert, was aunt to
the outlaw, and her son had inherited from her
the partialities and affections of the Albanies ;
but his father, Sir Duncan Campbell, was a
warrior of renowned loyalty, and in all things
a firm upholder of the King's administration.
It chanced, that when the tidings of the Lord
James' arrival at Inverlochy from Ireland
reached Celestine, that he was hunting the red
deer r»n Ben Cruachan, with but a few fol-
lowers ; and on the pretext of still pursuing
the chase, he passed the mountains at the
head of Loch Rannoch,and, skirring the coun-
try to the north of Loch Erich, had only that
morning come from Dalwhinnie to the camp;
so that the Lord James, on being told his
name, though he joined hands with him as a
kinsman, knew not in what way his affections

THE SPAEWIFE. I27

leant ; and he was the more disposed to dig.
trust him, seeing him alone and in the garb of
a hunter, because of the notour devotion to
the King which his father. Sir Duncan Camp,
bell, cherished. He would therefore have
gMly avoided him ; but the melancholiou,
manner in which Celestine had seen him stand-
'ng alone, leaning on the hilt of his broad-
sword, much moved the young chieftain of
the Campbells, and he not only tried to cheer
h<ra with many exhortations to constancy of
mmd, but with anticipations of better chance,
m the affection of undivulged friends.

" I see not," said he, "your condition in so
dismal a plight. Come with me to Kilchurn
Castle, for my father is now with the King at
Edinburgh. There, as you are unknown,
you may for a time abide in security, till we
hear what good fortune is yet in store for
you."

But the Lord James replied, " How may
I trust myself in the hands of the Campbells,

If -;

fii

it!

I I ;

!l ■ !

HI'

li i

1:!

1
i

■p

>- if

1' 1

)
i

128

THE SPAli\riF£.

whose chief, your father, is well known to be
as it were a very part of the King himself ?
No, truly,, my kind cousin, it were now a mad
and vain thing of me to attempt any enter-
prise in Scotland ; I feel that I am indeed
an outlaw — the curse of excommunication has
taken effect upon me. I am a shunned thing,
and no one prospers that shares in the chances
<Jtf my fortune."

" I do not invite you," said Celestine, " to
any adventure, but only to take shelter in
Kilchurn till the blast and the shower have a
little abated ; and safely you may so do, for
there is not a man of our name that will be-
tray you, if I but say that you place yourself
friendless in their friendly hands."

With these words, he blew a silver whistle,
that hung by a small chain from his baldric,
and some dozen or a score of young men, fol-
lowed by a number of dogs, made their ap-
pearance. These were all the train that Ce-
lestine had with him, and he briefly told them

^.^

THE SPAEWIFE.

129

iiow they were to comport themselves towards
the Prince~to die in his defence, and to put
to death whomever they suspected of meditat-
mg any wrong against him.

They made no response, but looked at the
Lord James; and then each taking the other
by the hand, they enclosed liim around, there-
by intimating that they were as one, and as
such would defend him.

The cloud that had fallen upon the spirit
of the Lord James was cleared away bv this
courageous demonstration, and he took his
kmsman by the hand, saying—

" ^ ^^"^^ "^y^elf, Celestine, upon you and
the honour of your clan--carry -e whereso-
ever you please."

Thus it came to pass, that on the same day
on which Sir Robert Gr^me was taken by
Glenfruin to the Earl of Athol, the Lord
James, in the company of his kinsman,
arrived at Kilchurn, on Loch Aw side
whore, under the name of Sir Aulay Macau! '

F 2

If ff^r-'

':!

■ 1 ); "

ll; i||!

! ill'!

130

THE SPAEWIFE.

lay of Cairndhue, a famous hunter in those
days, he was introduced to the seneschal and
other of the officers.

But the Lady had no sooner cast her eyes
upon him, than she discovered the swarthy
lineaments of her father's race, and at once sus-
pected his name and degree ; but she repressed
her surprise and emotion, not knowing whe-
ther her son had any suspicion of the rank of
his guest, of whom he spoke as having fallen
in with at the chase, and had brought to taste
the apples of Froach Elain, and to prove the
good cheer of Kilchurn for a night.

" I trust, however,'''' said Celestine, " that
it will fare ill with us if we cannot tempt him
to abide a little longer ; for there are deer in
Knapdale of a bolder breed than any he has
yet driven in Cowal or Lorn."

This speech made the Lady of Loch Aw
still more suspect that Celestine had no ima-
gination of who his guest was, while the sus-
picion, which the appearance of the Lord

THE SPAEWIFE. 131

James had at the first sight inspired, was con-
firmed by the sound of his voice, when he re-

joined in a seeming simple manner—

" I shall gladly partake of your pastime

for a day or two,-and had I my own hounds

here, I doubt not we should have good

sport.**

" Then you have left your dogs in Len-
nox ?- said the Lady ; and she looked signifi-
cantly, as if she wished he might divine the
equivocal sense of her question ; nor was he
dull of discerninf' what she meant.

" Yes, Lady," said he, « the best I have are
th^e, I should say had, for they are no
longer mine."

Celestine, without having observed the ear-
nestness with which his mother had regarded
their guest, and not particularly noting the
strain of this discourse, here interposed, say-
ing—

" But we account our dogs better than
those of Lennox ; and I will show you in the

132

THE SPAEWIFE.

morning five brace that may not be matched
between the Clyde and Lochness."

The Lady of Loch Aw then led them to
her bower-chamber, where she said to the
stranger—

"It has been rumoured, that the King has
restored the earldom of Lennox to the Duchess
of Albany/"*

The Lord James, who had not till that mo-
ment heard aught of this intention, started,
and had almost forgotten the part of Sir
Aulay Macaulay; but the Lady suddenly
and secretly touched him on the arm, and
with a look that made him on the instant dis-
trust the honesty of his friend Celestine, put
him on his guard.

" The King," said he, " could do nothing

more gracious. The Duchess''

He would have added some commiserative
sentiment on the woful and dejected condition
of his mother, but the remembrance of the
fate of his father and brothers rushed upon

m m

■■■ri' '."lii

THE SPAEWIFE.

133

him, and he was obliged to turn aside to con-
ceal his agitation and sorrow.

Celestine saw his emotion, and would have
immediately disclosed the secret to his mother,
but at that moment a messenger came into the
chamber with letters from Sir Duncan, saying
how much he took it to heart to hear it report-
ed that their son Celestine had joined Macdo-
nald at Inverness, and praying it might not
be so ; telling her, at the same time, in what
manner the rebellious chieftain had come se-
cretly to Holy rood-house, and had there thrown
himself upon the King's mercy.

Seeing her son then present, and having re-
ceived no sign nor intimation from him to
make her think he had embarked in the re-
bellion, at the same time fearful lest th^ stran-
ger should be indeed Sir Aulay Macaulay,
she did not venture to say or do any thing
that might bring on a disclosure from Celes-
tine ; for the rebellion being ended by the
manner in which Macdonald had surrendered

134

THE SPAEWIFE.

himself, it became necessary to keep the se-
crets of those who had engaged in it ; and she
knew not how Sir Aulay Macaulay stood af-
fected, either with rey \} the King or to
the Albanies. All this .used a sudden air
of restraint and embarrassment to become vi-
sible in her demeanour, and she gave the
letter to Celestine in so particular a manner,
that he retired towards a window to read it
apart.

The Loiv^ James remarked what was pass-
ing, and seeing mystery and the interchange
of expressive looks between the Lady and her
son, became uneasy, and doubted the safety
that he had been promised ; and his appre-
hensions were augmented almost to alarm by
the Lady, while Celestine was reading the
letter in the window-bower, coming to him,
and saying softly, that she might not be over-
heard— '

" You knovr. Sir Aulay, that Duke Mur-
d<x;h was my brother, and therefore I beseech

THE SPAEWIFE.

135

you, if you have heard any tidings of the
Lord James, to let me know what you have
heard ?"

These words she accompanied with so much
of tenderness and grief in her voice, and a
look so much more pregnant than her words,
that he could not but discern she had dis-
covered him ; while, by what he had noted, he
was led to think she desired it might still be
thought that she knew him not. Instead
therefore, of making any reply, he took her
hastily by the hand, and, glancing with alarm
towards Celestine, said to her in a whisper,
" Save me !"

Knowing how much her son leant to her
affections for the relics of her fiither's family,
she would have assured the Lord James that
he was safe to trust himself with Celestine,
whom she now supposed entirely ignorant of
his true name and condition ; but the rebel-
lion being over, and the rigour of the King's
justice having taught her to dread the conse-

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1J36

THE SPAEWIFE.

quences that might ensue to those who had
taken any part in it, and anxious to keep Celes-
tine free from all suspicion of blame, believing
that the rumour of his having been at Inver-
ness was unfounded, she deemed it prudent
to allow him to remain in his supposed igno-
rance, and still to affect to treat her nephew
as Sir Aulay Macaulay. Accordingly, when
she perceived that Celestine had made an end
of reading his father's letter, she said to
him —

" I beseech you to call home your bro-
thers, Colin and Galespic, whom I see yon-
der in a boat on the loch by themselves. Go,
I beg, for they are yet but mere boys, and
the wind is strong and their sail broad."

Celestine looked from the window and saw
his brothers, but in no such jeopardy as his
mother seemed to fear. She, however, feign-
ed to be still more alarmed, in so much, that
he was obliged to go hastily, leaving the
Lord James alone with her. Her anxiety

THE SPAEWIFE.

137

was however but a device, to procure an
opportunity of conferring with her nephew in
secret, and also to remove her son from the
danger of being accused of abetting in any
manner his outlawed and sentenced kins-
man.

" This house," said she, the moment they
were by themselves, " is no place for you."
And then, with a hasty summons, she called
Father Donich, her confessor and chaplain,
whom, with a brief injunction, she desired to
convey him, unobserved if possible, to his cell
on Inish Ail, one of the small islands in the
lake. « He will remain with you there till
I have time, before the evening, to devise
some way of conducting him to a place of
greater security."

The weight of his misfortunes so pressed
upon the spirit of the Lord James, when he
found himself betrayed, as he thought, by the
perfidy of his kinsman, into a place of danger,
that he parted listlessly from the Lady of

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THE SPAEWIFE.

Loch Aw, and followed the old monk out of
the castle, heedless and almost unconscious
of the way he went. But they had not pro-
ceeded far, till indignation against his treacher-
ous kinsman, as he deemed Celestine, roused
his spirit, and perceiving that there was faith
and truth in the character of Father Donich,
he disclosed himself to him ; and after some
controversy, wherein the chaplain urged him
to trust to the Lady of Loch Aw, it was
agreed that they should travel into Lennox-
shire together,

THE SPAEWIFE.

139

CHAP. XIII.

The King's counsellors, with Sir William
Chrichton the Chancellor, having, in the
meanwhile, determined that Macdonald should
be held in durance, he wa'i sent a close pri-
soner to the fortalice of Tantallon ; and the
court thereafter moved from Edinburgh to
Scoone, where the clergy in great numbers,
with Bishop Wardlaw at their head, came
flocking to congratulate his Majesty on the
speedy dissolution of the rebellion.

" All temporal concerns,'' said the Bishop,
** are flourishing with a great prosperity under
the benign influence of your Majesty's foster-
ing wisdom, but things of eternal import are
perishing without succour. The abbeys, that
were plundered in the misrule which so long
afflicted this poor realm, are still in ruins;

Ill

140 THE 8PAEWIFE.

and in the roofless churches the owl still wor-
ships desolation on those altars where holy
men should serve the mass. Alas! many
houses of piety, reared by that blessed mcj-
narch, your sainted ancestor King David the
First, have become the habitations of doleful
creatures,"

" Yes," replied his Majesty, " that same
blessed monarch was a costly saint to the
crown ; he scarcely left his sinful successors
wherewithal to purchase a pardon."

Many of the churchmen, hearing his Ma-
jesty speak with this seeming irreverence of
the holiest of all his royal ancestors, lifted
up their hands and rolled their eyes, and some
among them were in great ire. The which
being observed by the King, he added—

" My good Bishop Wardlaw, I say not
this out of any lack of respect towards the
church ; for there is not one of all your breth-
ren, whether he wear mitre or cowl, that
more truly reveres the blissful tidings of re-

THE SPAEWIFE.

141

ligion, than docs the sinner that now speaks
to you ; but to pierce the heavens with gold-
en pinnacles, like our holy ancestor, is not, in
my }X)or judgment, the best way to gain ad-
mission ; yet something is due from me, in
token of gratitude for the success which has
hitherto crowned my endeavours to resusci-
tate justice and the renovation of law in
Scotland ; and I shall speedily evince the
sincerity of my desire to prove that this is no
profession of idle courtesy."

These words were comfortable in the ears
of the churchmen, and so emboldened the
Superior of the Black Friars of Dumbarton,
that he ettled forward, and said—

" But it is not enough for your Majesty to
consider only the condition of the religious
houses ; we beseech you to look at the great
molestation which we sustain in our goods
and persons. Many laics meddle with things
ecclesiastical in a way never before heard of
in any Christian land. There was a pious

142

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THE SPAEWIFE.

brotlicr of my house, by name Father Mungo

— O ! he was a precious vessel, a light and

an ornament to all the church/'
« What of him ?" said the King.
" On the very same night in which your

Majesty so happily rescued the town of Dum-
barton from the Lord James, an uncircumcis-
ed Highland schore put him to death. Whe-
ther his martyrdom was by tree or liy steel, by
flood or by fire, we have never learnt, being
in no condition to bring the criminal to jus-
tice."

" On that night !'' said his Majpsty thought-
fully. — « Did the friar of whom you speak
belong to Bishop Finlay's friends ? for you
know, Father, that it has been quite as much
the custom for ecclesiastics to meddle with
things secular, as for laics to meddle with
things ecclesiastical."

" O, no !" replied the Prior of the Black
Friars—*' Father Mungo was a guileless saint.
He was not a man that would have ioined

THE SPAEWIFE.

143

liimself to any plot of such a traitor as Bishop
Finlay."

" Then perhaps he was on our side ? and
the chieftain — what was his name ?''

*" Glenfniin."

" Glenfruin ! — was he engaged in that re-
bellion ? — Surely I have heard this story be-
fore/'

" Tliat were a hard thing to say ; for, at
least, he took no open part in the work.''

The King made no remark on this; but
for a short space communed with himself, and
then said —

" But, however it may have been with
Glenfruin, it is not fit that such irresponsible
justice should be executed on any man, far
less on a reverend churchman. We shall
give orders to sift this matter, and Glenfruin
shall be made to account for what he has
done."

His Majesty then taking Bishop Wardlaw
aside, while those who had come into the

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144

THE SPAEWIFE.

presence with him were retiring, informed
him, that he was minded to found a house to
the glory of God in the city of Perth, and
commanded him to remain at Scoone until the
needful preparations were made.

Now it came to pass, as they were dis-
coursing of this matter together, that the
Earl of Athol came into the chamber with
the petition of Sir Robert Graeme in his
hand, and went towards the King to present
it. His Majesty observing him, said, with his
freest urbanity —

" What great favour would our good un-
cle, that he comes to us with such elaboration
of homage ? This is something, my Lord,
that you either fear will not be granted, or
think should not." With these words his
Majesty took the paper from the Earl ; but
when, at the first glance, he saw it was a pe-
tition for the remission of a punishment, he
folded it up, and said gravely —

" I am grieved, my Lord, to refuse any

THE SPAEWIFE. [^

solicitation preferred by you; but the time

«ay be rescnded i„ Scotland. Here have
C^^r^f-^^-f the church, compil

mg of what they still suffer from the „Lle

and tyrannyofthose to whom power hasren
u"-se.y delegated. Take back the pap^r

I have not even looked at the name of thi
petitioner." ^"^

" My gracious Liege," exclaimed the
Earl, movmg, as if averse to r» • T
petition. '""^•^'^ the

"I am not to be entreated in such things"
md the King severely : « I have t„.^

that til, X have search^ed those :yttC:
-rce, wluch have made this unhappy kW

<' m one constant theatre of crimfl shall
esteem myself, even with all endeavour to th
contrary, but as a candidate on prob
t<>^g.eat office to whichProvideneehascalS

^' From whom is the petition ..'said Bishop

!■' ■!

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146

THE SPAEWIFE.

Wardlaw apart; for his Majesty in so speak-

nghad turned away.

" From my kinsmain, Sir Robert Graeme/'
" Do you, my Lord," exclaimed the Bishop,

amazed to hear this,—" do you petition for

a pardon to him ?"

The King having partly overheard the

Bishop's words, turned quickly round, and

said—

« Who is the petitioner ?"

" A bold and dangerous man," rephed the
Earl, scarcely aware of what he said, so
much had the sharp speech and keen look of
Bishop Wardlaw disturbed the resolution
wherewith he had prepared himself for the

interview.

" And for these quahties," exclmmed his
Majesty, " would you ask his pardon ? Tell
me at once that he is the King of Scotland,
and that we are but permitted to hold the
crown through his forbearance. Let me ne-
' ver hear such words again. Eighteen years.

THE SPAEWIFE. 147

with the name of prisoner, I was exiled from
my nghts, and in that time crimes were al
lowed to grow to customs among you.-How
am I aided in the endeavour to lessen such
misery, when great and good men like you
Lord Athol, set yourselves forward as the
advocates of bold and dangerous offenders.
It chafes my very heart, to think that there is
never to be an end to the habitude of mis-
rule, wh.ch has made the name of the wild
Scot a proverb for shame throughout Chris-
tendorn. But what is your friend called ?"

« He is no friend of mine," replied the
Earl diffidently; "the petition is from Sir
Robert Grasme."

" Sir Kobert Gr^me ! I have ever repent-
ed the indulgence shown to that man. It
haunts me," said the King, " hke the memory
of a foul deed in a troubled conscience- it
comes upon my spirit at times like the fear
that is said to follow guilt. And you, my
Lord, who were so opposed to that indul-

I ill

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148

THE 8PAEWIFE.

gence, how is it that you now would sue for
his pardon ? I have no taint of superstition,
hut such accidents seem almost portentous."

Bishop Wardlaw, who had stood surprised
to observe the King in this mood, turned to
the Earl, and added—

" It was an evil hour, and under some ma-
lignant planet, when you ravelled yourself
with the knotted yarn of that bad man's des-
tiny."

The Earl trembled, and became pale, and
could not for some time master the perturba-
tion into which he was thrown by these chid-
ings.

The King, seeing his agitation, softened
his voice, and said to him in a soothing man-
ner—

" But I doubt not that, in all things, you
have ever considered what at the time was
best ; and though no good has come, or can
come, from the lenity shown to Sir Robert
Graeme, yet I do acquit you, my Lord, of all

THE SPAEWIFE. 149

Wame with respect to u. Not so, however,
w.th respect to this; though to say truly,
I know not well wherefore, and, with as little
~ .t is perhaps, that I say I wish you
''«d not singled the honours and merits of
your own unblemished life with the devices
and crimes of that stubborn traitor."

" How is it," .aid the Earl composedly,
that, whde your Majesty says my life y^
'•een unblemished, occasion is taken from the
case of an unfortunate kinsman to subject me
'o a degree of reproof, as if I had myself in
-me way offended. My Lord Bishop here
«ap,ousandanhonestman. I should have
felt contntion, could I have, even in thought
questioned his integrity. He is building a
7 ^"^ ^*^'«ly college at St Andrews- he

chants and attends mass; not a priest of the
church is more exemplary; I have never
heard that the merits of his virtues and en
devours have laid him open to any suspi.

150

THE SPAEWIFE.

i i

« My Lord— Lord Athol," said the King,
raising his left hand, as if he would have
delivered a rebuke or an admonition; but
suddenly dropping it, he added—" Surely
I cannot have incurred the displeasure of my
good uncle, whom, ever since I came into
this kingdom, which I do verily think holds
one continued earthquake from the border
to the utmost cape of the north, I have found
the most discreet and freest spoken of all my
friends. But my choler was moved at hear-
ing the saucy complaints of those churchmen
against the meddling of the laity, even in
a case of treason, wherein an audacious priest,
I mean Bishop Finlay, was the chief instiga-
tor and mainspring of rebellion. If I have
spoken hastily, my Lord, beshrew me if I
shall not be most eager to manifest my con-
trition. But, Sir Robert Graeme— why have
you come to me with any cause of his ? why
rather, I should say, have you taken such an
infection from his seditious spirit, as to ask

i i'li!

even in

THE SPAEWIFB. 151

me to remit his sentence,— a sentence which,
at the time, neither mj own mind, nor the
judgment of the wisest of my council, ap-
proved, for it went upon the notion that he
might become an honest man ? However, to "
say no more of that, as it is impossible for
the King's arms, long as they may be, to
reach to every quarter, I wish you, and such
noblemen as are of unquestionable fidelity,
to repair again to your several castles, and
each, within his own province, emulate the
administration which we intend to exercise
m ours. Know you any thing of a chieftain
m Lennox called Glenfruin ?"

" I have heard of him," replied the Earl,
" and it is said that he holds the unfortunate
Duchess of Albany prisoner, in order to
extort a ransom for her deliv ranee."

" When did you hear this ? why was not I
sooner told ?" exclaimed tie King. « Could
you come here to petition for a traitor like
Sir Robert Graeme, and know that so noble a

lii

\59l

THE SPAEWIFE.

lady was in the reverence of such a barba-
rian ? for nothing less can I account this Glen-
fruin, who, out of his own caprice, committed
martyrdom on an innocent, holy, and blame-
less friar. You ought, my Lord, to have
told me of this first. I will listen to no ques-
tion till orders are sent for the deliverance of
the Duchess of Albany."

" I beseech your Majesty for one word,''
replied the Earl ; «« Glenfruin is a staunch
and true subject.''''

" Then let it be shown that he respects
justice— justice, which, to the sacrifice of my
own sentiments as a man, I have so strenu-
ously endeavoured to revive. I have, my
Lord, not spared, in that endeavour, the
greatest and the most honoured of my own
kinsmen; and the principle that made me
bring them to the scaffold is not impaired,
nor, while I retain that sense of my royal
office with which I returned into this realm,
will I allow it to suffer any occultation,"

THE SPAEWIF^. 153

The Earl, though awed by the vehemence
of his Majesty, yet retained his self-posses-
sion, and said

" It belongs not to me lo execute whatever
may be your Majesty's pleasure upon Glen-
tru.n, or upon any other of the untractable
ch>eftams, but in my own country I shall not
he found wanting in ray duty."

« Then go to your own country," said the
King abruptly, " and see that it is so." But
m a moment his Majesty felt that he had
dealt hardly towards so venerable and esteem-
ed a person as the Earl of Athol, and he
added-" I ^ould, my Lord, that I could
endure these things more patiently. But
g»od Bishop Wardiaw here knows, that the
mamfold complaints with which I am beset
and they are all just, gall my very spirit ; for'
I am a young man, and the old are too prone
to their own sordid intents to lend me that
true help, by which alone I can hope to over
come the difficulties wherewith my royal e,-

Uv.

. (I

il<tr"^

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154

THE SPAEWIFE.

tate is environed. Yet I will put no harder
task upon you, than this simple request,— Go
to your own castle, and be there the same
discreet, wise, and just man that I have ever
thought and found you, but have no more
dealings or correspondence with Sir Robert
Grteme."

The Earl, without making any answer,
humbly retired ; and when he was gone, the
King said to Bishop Wardlaw—

" I know not wherefore it is that I have
been so moved by this matter ; but the mo-
ment that the Earl presented yon paper, I
felt as if an irresistible influence caused some
hidden antipathy of my nature to awake,
and I became, as it were, wroth towards him,
not having any sufficient cause to be so; for,
after all, what he did was but in Christian
charity. I pray that no harm come to him
from Sir Robert Graeme.""

" Amen !" responded the Bishop piously.
The King, however, instead of continuing

■11

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^^^^^IHbH

(

HB '

THE SPAEWIFE. I55

the conversation, moved thoughtfully towards
the door which led into his privy-chamber;
but before going in he turned round and
said—

« That busiv.ess of Glenfruin and the monk
shall be speedily investigated. I now remem-
ber, ,t was the Lady Sibilla who told me some-
thing of the affair, but not as the prior has
stated u. But, truly, I am more disturbed that
he should h»,ve dared to touch the Duchess,
than for th. offence he has given to the church.
But we shail know the truth without loss of
t'me; for this very night I will summon him
before us."

So saying his Majesty withdrew; and the
same evening a herald, with horn and mantle,
-va-s sent to the castle of Glenfruin to brin.
that chief before the King in council.

156

THE SPAEWIFE.

■fill I

ill

CHAP. XIV.

When the Lady Sibilia heard that tlie King's
council had sent her father to Tantallon, she
supphcated the Countess of Ross to retire
from the court ; to the which that lady was
the more inclined, by the failure of divers en-
deavours on her part to obtain some remission
of the sentence entered against her brother
Macdonald. But though consent was readi-
ly given by the Queen to their retreat, not,
however, without sorrow at parting with Si-
bilia, it was thought prudent by many of the
council, that these ladies should not at that
time be permitted to go either into the north
or to the Isles.

This prudence proceeded from two causes ;
first, because the Countess of Ross was vehe-
mently attached to her brother, and so loudly

THE SPAEWIFE.

357

malcontent at tlie severity with which she
considered him treated, in contempt as it
were of the frankness of his surrender and
homage to the King, that it was feared she
might again stir up the rebelhon, whereof,
though the flame was out, the embers were
still aHve ; and, secondly, on account of the
bruit spread abroad, that after the .reaking
up of the camp at Inverness, the Lord Jamet
had retired into the Western Highlands,
where he was lurking for another opportunity
to molest the peace of the kingdom, and,
where it was thought, if the Lady Sibilla
went to her father's country, she would, from
the known spirit of her character, not fail to
do all in her power to forward the cause of
her betrothed lover. Accordingly, instead of
being permitted to go either into the north or
to Skye, those disconsolate ladies had only
leave to retire from court to the nunnery of
Inch Colm, in the frith of Forth, where for
a time they remained in peaceful sequestration,

158

THE SPAEWIFE.

while those events were fast coming on, in
the rehearsal whereof it is now expedient to
proceed with a free and fluent pen.

The chivalarous horn, which was heard at
the gate of Glenfruin when he so unwitting-
ly offended the dainty ears of Leddy Glen-
juckie, was the summons of the herald sent
by the King to bring that chieftain to answer
for the charge preferred against him for the
death of Father Mungo, and for holding the
Duchess of Albany prisoner.

On seeing the approach of the herald and
his retinue towards the castle, the warders,
according to custom on the appearance of
strangers, had shut the gate ; and Glenfruin,
when he left the leddy with his daughters^
went to the top of the embattled wall over
the entrance to parley with the summoner.

Keith, the herald, in due form, having de-
clared his office, demanded admission— a re-
quest which the chieftain did not very well
know how to refuse, but which, somehow, he

THE SPAEWIFE. 159

knew not wherefore, he was not much indin-
ed to grant. He was not conscious of having
done any thing to bring upon him the royal
displeasure ; but what he had heard from the
Earl o? Athol with respect to the Duchess,
and the little encouragement that he had re-
ceived for seizing Sir Robert Graeme, made
him uneasy and apprehensive, and these feel-
ings led him to say, without affe-^ting to have
heard the demand of admission,

" Aye, and so ye'U pe te King's herald—
it's a praw ting to pe te King's herald, tat we
al must alloo — oomph ! and was her Majestic
in te goot hell, and te Queen hersel too?—
for te Glenfruins wish tem paith, al every
mother's son of 'em very well, and in te goot
hell — oomph."

" But," replied the herald, « this is no
place for such discourse; I must execute
my commission, and therefore I pray you to
order the gates to be opened."

" Sowlls and podies ! laads below tere, will

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THE SPAEWIFE.

ye no pe opening te doors ?^' At the same time,
looking down at the men who were standing
in the gateway, he gave them a sign to be in
no hurry, and turning round to the herald,
he said —

" Aye, and so ye'll pe with te King's or-
der and commeeshion, and what will te order
pe apout ?"

" Do you know any thing of a monk," re-
plied the herald, " that was seen in this neigh-
bourhood about the time of the burning of
Dumbarton ?"

" Ooh, aye !" exclaimed the innocent-heart-
ed Glenfruin, « there came one o' tose tings till
us tat night, put we kilt her."

Keith, the herald, looked aghast, as did also
those who were of his retinue, at hearing the
stalwart chieftain speak in that manner of the
martyrdom of a churchman— so they were
taught to believe the fate of Father Mungo
had been, and they wished that the gates
might not be opened. Glenfruin observing

c
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THE SPAEWIFjB. 161

that they were in some degree daunted,
though he knew not the cause, added—

An is't a to-be-surely, tat te King's
herald will pe come for te caaz o' Faider
Mungo ? Ah ! he was te lamb in te wolf's
clothing."

" But you are also summoned," replied the
herald, mustering all his courage, « to answer
for the detention of the noble Duchess of
Albany."

" Sowlls and podies f for mi Laidie Tooches '
-^mph I Nigel, I say, Nigel, will ye no
pring her Grace to te King's herald ? She s
a free-my Got, she's a pird in te air, and a
fish in te sea— oomph."

On hearing that the Duchess was in the
castle, the herald's fears in some measure
abated, and he became again a little more
peremptory in his accent.

" So much the better it will be for you,
Glenfruin, that her Grace is but as your
guest," said he. " However, as my orders

162

THE SPAEWIFE.

are to carry you before his Majesty, where
you will explain these things, to save all far-
ther trouble, order the gates to be immedi-
ately opened ; for if I am kept much longer
here, I shall return at once, and report you
as contumacious, and a resister of the King's
authority."

" SowUs and podies ! and will ye pe caling
Glenfrui'i n repel, wha is te honest man, and
al his clan too ? — oomph ! a repel, tafs a pe-
nediction and a rewart for our servitudes in
te repellion — oomph ! will ye pe taking our
lands? will ye pe cutting our heads ?— oomph I
a repel, isn't a repel a traitor man ? — Sowlls
and podies ! Glenfruin a repel ! — Oomph !"

" I demand admittance in the King's
name," cried the herald with a loud and so-
norous voice that startled the echoes around,
and made the heart of Glenfruin quake.

In the meantime, the ladies within the
castle had mounted to the battlements of the
tower, and standing there, heard the latter part

THE SPAEWIFE.

163

of this colloquy. The chieftain ^erc * ving the
risk he ran of being reported as a resister of
the King's authority if he longer refused ad-
mission, hastily turned round, and ordered
his men in the court to open the gates. At
the same time casting his eyes towards the
battlements where the ladies were standing,
and seeing Leddy denjuckie, in order to
conceal his uneasiness, he affected to be gal-
lantly facetious, and said to her—

" And is't a to-be-surely, my goot Laidie
Lamelegs, tat ye'll pe tere a pigeon dove.
SowUs and podies ! I took you al tis time for
a wee winking witch o' a hoolet."

« You're a hobgoblin, a Mahound!" exclaim-
ed the indignant Leddy Glenjuckie; " and now
you shall know what it is to insult ladies."

By this time the gate had been opened,
and Keith, having come into the court of the
castle, heard the lady's complaint ; but Glen^
fruin, with a significant glance of his eye up-
wards, and touching at the same time his fore-

'ih

n't

I ! !P

164 THE SPAeWIFE.

head with his finger, said, intending, by the
look and gesture, to imply that she was not
in her right mind, —

" It's a sore och hon, poor oold cat of de-
feeciencies.''

Nor was his insinuation ill-timed ; for at
that moment Leddy Glenjuckie uttered a
shrill and strange shriek, partly of joy and
partly of amazement ; and the Duchess, who
was then at some distance on the battlements
apart, was so surprised thereat, that she rush-
ed towards her in alarm, waving at the same
time her hand towards two strangers, who
were seen ascending the castle-hill from the
side opposite to that Jby which the herald with
his retinue had come.

" Te King's herald will see," said Glen-
fruin, as he led the way. not without trepida-
tion, to the hall, " tat te laidie matam, mi
Laidie Tooches' maiten, matam, will pe in a
whirlyhoo — oomph !''

THE SPAEWIFE.

165

CHAP. XV

•M

When Celestine Campbell came back from
his brothers to his mother, the Lady of Loch
Aw, and found in what temerarious man-
ner the Lord James had been sent from
Kilchurn with Bather Donich, he was much
troubled, and gave but little heed to all
that she would have said concerning the
guard which the jealous spirit of the times
required he should set upon his own con-
duct ; albeit she was none displeasured
by the ardour of his generous regret at
being so hampered in his intended hospi.
tality.

" It will be wise," said the Lady, « that
you know your cousin only as Sir Aulay
Macaulay; and whatever I may do in his

16o

THE SPAEWIFK.

Ixihalf it wil] tic as woll that you know it not.
We have not now to think of upholding any
cause of his, or of my family, but only to
save him from the hands and machinations of
his enemies till he can be conveyed to some
place of security beyond the seas.*"

But her words fell without effect on the
ear of the young chieftain, who replied—

** He has placetl himself in my hands. I
am pledged to my honour for his safety, even
though he were neither of ouriiith nor kin, and
I cannot abide the thought that he should
have left this house in any distrust. The of-
fence of sheltering him, outlawed and forfeit-
ed as he is, will not be called rebelli(m ; and
something from the stern justice of the King
will be conceded to the affection of a kins-
man, for succouring a poor fugitive. But
whether it may be so or not, I will perform
the task I have undertaken, and let hereafter
provide for the issue.*"

" But bring him not back to this house,*"

m I

THE SPAEWIFE.

167

replied the Lady. « The pow-r of your fa-
ther's vassals is such, that the King may well
be jealous wtre he to hear of his bein^ with
us; for to keep him openly in Kilchurn, w uld
be to contemn the royal edicts ; and to con-
ceal him among us would betray a secret af-
fection for his fortunes, that your fath^ could
not easily ext mate, even in so far as affected
himself, notwithntandi. g his long and t led
devotion to the King.''

" Then,'' said Celestine, with a sigh, " he
has nothing to hope for in Scotland. I found
him on the utmost verge of adversity ; — ^he
was then mindea to pass to the Isle of Rhodes;
and in submission tohisil! fate, and the faith-
less inconstancy of the daughter of JVacdo-
naM, he purposed to oeek admission into tiiC
order oi St John. I cheered the despair of
that resolut a with the assurance that so
dark an hour as then blackened over him
could not be far from the midnigit of his
misfortunes. Bu if the clan Campbell may

168

THE SPAEWIFE.

*^'

not, or date not, give shelter to a poor stran-
ger who has not where to lay his head, they
answer not to the opinion I would hold of
their hospitality. For it is entertainment only
as a guest that I pledged myself to bestow,
nor would I be so disloyal to my father as to
tamper with the fidelity of his vassals, know-
ing, as I do, how freely he has undertaken to
the King to maintain good order and fealty
among them. But not to debate when I
should be doing, I will follow the Lord
James to Inish-Ail, and concert with him
what, in this extremity, should be done.''

So saying, he parted from the Lady, and
went to the creek below the castle, where the
boat was lying wherein his two younger bro-
thers had been sailing, and stepping on board,
called to him four young men by name who were
reclining on the banks of the lake, listening to
the harpings of an aged bard who was re-
hearsing to them the song of Bera ; and the
thrush, which sings mellowest at the going

THE SPAEWIFE. l(jQ

down of the sun, ever and anon, from amidst
the boughs of a neighbouring tree, sent forth
to them her swt^t symphony in melodies not
more artless ; for it was then the elose of the
day, and all things around seemed composed
to harmony and rest.

On the northern side, the hills and woody
«k.rts of the lake were darkened with their
own shadows, and lumg over the elear depths
of the stillness of the sleeping waters below
wherein the glories of the evening sky Jay
reflected, as if they had been clouds envious-
i/ drawn between the world and some mar
vellous apocalypse of brightness and beauty
But on the southern shore, the green hills
with their rocks and cliffs tufted with trees
and hazel-the rugged ravines where the sil
very waterfalls here and there glance out
upon the brighter scen^and the mountain-
ash, that holds up his ruby berries amidst the
fadmg woods and the falhng leaves, like a
young hero who has dyed his sword for the

VOL. II.

170 THE SPAEWIFE.

first time in the blood of some renowned
warrior, were all still glittering to the set-
ting sun ; and the islets on the bosom of the
lake seemed like argosies in a calm ; while
from the tower of Macnaughton, on Fraoch
Elain, the smoke of the evening hearth
streamed afar through the serene air, like the
wreath of the sounding galley that is yet
destined to waken the slumbering waters, and
the silent echoes of Loch Aw, the loneliest
and the loveliest of all the Highland lakes in
the still of an autumnal evening, such as that
on which the young Chief of the Campbells
embarked with his four clansmen to follow the
Lord James and Father Donich to the chantry

on Inish-Ail.

Thinking they had taken the road along
the banks of the lake, he had leapt into the
boat, and ordered the men to ply their oars
vigorously, that he might reach the island be-
fore them. But after his arrival there, and
having waited long, patiently expecting their

their

THE SPAEWIPE. j^j

r?' ''^ b^g- to fear that surely so.e
-cancehadbeMenthe™. Stili Jue Z

t'sfied, he sent two of th^ ^u ^

for them Th • """" '" ^^^^h

less Id , '""''^"'^' ■'—. was fruit.
' J , '''^"' '"■''''■g'". -hen they came
•-ek wuhout tiding, he returned i S
churn, where his lady mother .as 1 !
"-turbed than himself with fears ad!
fes for their safety. ^"■"'^■

The first thought that came both to her
- ncl and to his, was to send out servants i^
all directions to search the hills and t u
>-%enee wheresoever it ^ 1 c rb!

obtamed; but when they considered th-
derment that such solLtude w ^u "°"-
th-.hout the country, and the a gerZ
"«ght thereby arise to the fugitive tb
suited together and it '^ '°"-

the.thafceiX^rrr'""'^^^"
-----o^win;,:::^:::

«i clay make fowanU T «

-owaids Lennox, whither, in

V If

J : il

ill

172 THE SPAEWIFE.

the course of the journey from Inverness to
Kilchurn, the Lord James had often spoke
of going to raise, among the friends of his mo-
therm's family, the means of bidding adieu to
Scotland for ever.

Father Donich, however, instead of keeping
the regular road, being well acquainted with
the mountain-paths and unfrequented tracks,
conducted his charge by a different course to
that which Celestine took, who passed through
Glencroe, and reached Loch Long head before
he heard any tidings of his friends. It was
not indeed until he had claimed entertain-
ment from Macfarlane, in the castle of Arro-
char, on the second night after his departure
from home, that he obtained any information
to guide his search.

It chanced on that night, as he was sitting
at supper discoursing with Macfarlane of his
exploits as a hunter, that he recounted to
him how, in returning from his late excursion
beyond Ben Cruachan, he had fallen in with

Jii

'HE SPAEWIFE. I73

Sir Aulay Macaulay. For the Macfarlane,
notwithstanding the insinuations of Glenfruin
to the contrary, happened then to be one of
the most orderly and loyal of all the western
chieftains, and on that account Celestine did
not choose to tell him that he had been even
so far as Loch Rannochside. Whether there
was any thing particular in the sound of his
voice, or in his look, when he spoke of this
adventure, it was certainly not remarked ei-
ther by Macfarlane himself, nor by any of the
kinsmen then seated at the table with them ;
but while he was speaking, he was startled by
the apparition of two bright and ghttering
eyes shining in an obscure corner in the hall
over against him ; and in a moment after, the
voice of the Spaewife was heard chanting
from the same place

" Sir Aulay Macaulay, the Laird of Cairndhue,
Bailie of Dumbarton, and Provost of the Rhue."

O, never mind her !" said Macfarlane ;

174

THE SPA E WIFE.

" it is that poor wandering creature, Anniple
of Dumblane ; she came into the hall a short
time before yourself. They say she knows
something by common ; but whether it be so
or not, she's a harmless thing, and is ay free
x}j a night's lodging here."

" Aye,'' interposed Anniple, dragging her-
self forward without rising ; it's well known
that I ken something.—

I li !l

•' Sir Aulay Macaulay, the Laird of Caimdhue,
Bailie of Dumbarton, and Provost of the Rhue."

" Well !" said Celestine, " and what know
you of him ? Have you seen him lately ?
How was it with him ?"

She, however, made no answer, but sang —

" This night beneath the greenwood tree

My love has laid him down,
And the bells will ring, ring merrilie,

Or they wile him to the towu."

" Who is your love ?" said Celestine eager-

THE SPAEWIFE. 17S

ly, struck by something peculiar in her

man-

ner.

" Sir AuUy MacauUy, the Laird of Cairndhue,
BaUic of Dumbarton, and Provost of the Rhue."

Celestine perceived that she had some no-
tion of the anxiety with which he had asked
the question; but afraid of being too curious
lest he might attract observation, he smiled
to Macfarlane, as if at Anniple's rhap-
sody, and, casting a slight glance towards
her, resumed the conversation whicli she had
.nterrupted. Some time after he attempted to
draw her into conversation; but the forlorn
creature had fallen asleep, and when it was
attempted to rouse her, she complained hke
an untimely awakened child, crying-" The
hare at night gets leave to rest, and the bird
may sleep on the tree, but the poor ta'en-
away, that's hated by all living things, 'cause
she's no o' God s .naking, her life's a stream
without a pool."

4;
1

• n

,.t»fB

".^IH

i'^^H

'<'|^H

■•t' ^ 'H|

l«

V^l

-fiBi

in t

i;'i JB

>t^ s

Vf^l

'laB

■:4

r^H

■ ||<,

';'* i|

176

THE SPAEWIFE.

Celestine seeing her in that state, requested
that she might not be disturbed ; and next
morning he was early afoot, hoping to gather
from her something more intelUgible, but she
was gone. However, after leaving Arrochar,
and passing towards Tarbet, on Lochlomond
side, he discovered her at a distance sitting on
the trunk of a fallen tree ; and as soon as she
saw him she rose and ran forward, looking
occasionally behind, and indicating, by her
gestures, that she wished him to follow. In
this way she led him to Glenfruin, and to the
bottom of the castle-hill, where he arrived
soon after the Lord James and Father Do-
nich, who were the strangers that the Duchess
and Leddy Glenjuckie saw from the tower ;
just indeed after the chaplain, who had ad-
vanced to the castle, leaving his companion
behind, obtained admission into the hall,
where Glenfruin was endeavouring to ma-
nifest his loyalty by the exuberance of his at-
tentions to the herald. But, before reciting

THE SPAEWIFE. 177

what ensued there, it is expedient for a season
to resume the rehearsal of what had in the
meantime fallen out between the Earl of
Athol and Sir Robert Grseme.

I' 'tS

178

THE SPAEWIFE.

CHAP. XVI.

The Earl, after the King had refused to re-
ceive the petition, went next morning from
Scoone to his castle in the Blair of his country,
where he had left his nephew with Graeme. He
was malcontent, not only with himself, but
with what had passed, and the aspect of all
things. He spoke not with any of his at-
tendants in the course of the journey ; and,
when he crossed the Tay at Dunkeld, it
was observed by them that he neither made
obeisance nor presented gift, as his wonted
custom had ever before been, to the image
of St Cololn, which stood, with a lamp ever
burning before it, fronting the landing-place
of the ferry.

They, however, remarked, that from the
time he passed Dunkeld his manner changed.

THE SPAEWIFE. I7y

now afFable and free towards the occasional
traveUer that halted to render homage to him
as he passed, but, for the most part, abrupt
and peevish, and sometimes abstract and
gloomy, signs which denoted how ill he was
at ease with himself.

On arriving at the castle, he rode straight
into the inner court without returning the
salutation of his officers. Stuart, who had been
apprised of his coming, met him at the door •
but even to him also he said nothing, though
in alighting he pressed his hand, and took
his arm as he moved to pass into the hall.
He had not, however, stepped many paces
from his horse, when he turned round and
said to one of the officers, who had advanced ^

to assist him to alight,

« See that no stranger, of whatsoever rank
or degree, be admitted without my orders,—
save only the King himself."

Many vassals and retainers were then
standing around in that ward of the castle.

I'' - ^r

f m

iff 1'- 4|

w .

180

THE SPAEWIFE.

and heard what he said. They had hefore
learnt how Stuart had left the court in anger,
and they remembered the doom of Duke
Murdoch and his sons with concern and si-
lence, when they saw how much their own
aged master was chafed and troubled : for
the Earl of Athol had ever been the most
kind of Lords, and was much beloved by all
bound to his servitude, whether by tenure or
fee.

After he had given that order to guard
the gate so vigilantly, he went, leaning on his
nephew, into the hall, where he said to him,
with some degree of tremor in his voice,—

" I would see Sir Robert Graeme, — send
him to me "

Stuart made no reply ; but with buoyant
steps went to the tower, where Graeme was
held, seemingly, in the strictest custody, and
bade him come to the Earl. No words passed
between them, but they exchanged looks preg-
nant with a mutual understanding of each

THE SPAEWIFE. 181

oi . thoughts, die fi • t of their communion
am iniLTcourse dwrv t th absence of the
Earl.

(M reaching the chamber where the Earl
was alone, tl y found him pacing the floor
with wide strides. His eyes were bent upon
the ground, his brows knotted with cogita-
tion, and he walked a. his hands behind,
the left firmly grasping his right arm oy the
wrist.

He observed them come in together, and,
without appearing to notice Graeme, he signi-
fied to his nephew, with a look and a brief
and abrupt wave of his hand, that he wished
him to retire. Stuart immediately withdrew
to the outside of the door, which Gramme held
half open.

" It was your pleasure, my Lord," said
Graeme, after a short pause, « to send for
me."

" I have been insulted on your account. Sir
Robert Graeme," said the Earl. " Your peti-

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182

THE SPAEWIFE.

tion has been rejected with scorn. I have en-
dured unexampled contumely."

Graeme smiled, and without changing his
position, but only taking his hand from the
door, which he emphatically closed, said —

" When you are King, will you give me
back my lands ?"

*' Sir Robert Graeme, what do you mean ?"
exclaimed the Earl, pausing, and looking stead-
fastly at him.

*' The man,"" replied Graeme, *• that has so
insulted you is my enemy — the common op-
pressor of every freeman in the realm. Our
causes are now joined. My life, which is a
trifle that I have often hazarded, I have
sworn to give for revenge — it is all I have
to give. In a word, my Lord, my heart and
my dagger are alike thirsty ; but they are epi-
cures, and will not be satisfied with less than
royal blood."

** Hush, hush, Sir Robert Graeme,*" cried
the Earl, going hastily towards him.

THE SPAEWIFE.

183

" I am calm," replied Graeme. « I ask a
simple question— give me a plain answer.
Will you restore my lands if you are made
king ?"

" Surely,'^ said the Earl, « the wild condi-
tion to which you have been condemned must
have impaired your wonted discretion. You
have so long lived a banished man, been
housed in caves, and in fellowship with savage
beasts, that surely you have lost all reckoning
with the world. Have you not heard that
the Queen was lately delivered of two princes,
and though one died, the other thrives well—
a lively and promising prince .?''

" My Lord," said Graeme, « in this your
own castle, within these your own walls, and
beyond all chance of escape, save with your
consent, you hear me openly propose trea-
son—why am I not arrested ? Is it not be-
cause you like the proposition ? Between you
and the throne— the baby I count as nothing
—stood Duke Murdoch and his sons. Thanks

184

THE SPAEWIFE.

to that justice which has no respect for kith
or kin — they are i-emoved.'"

" Your words, your purposes appal me,
hke the prophecies of an oracle. I may not
listen to such things,"" exclaimed the Earl ;
" but you are a banished and an oppressed
man, and I can pity you.""

" Will you assist me ?"

" In what would you have my assistance ?
Have I not carried your petition to the King ?
Have I not been all but spurned for present-
ing it ?"

" Well, well — ^but will you help me to re-
dress yours, and my own wrongs ?"

" How ?''

" Why, my Lord, need you so much
explanation? Briefly then: If I master
the tyrant, and place you in his seat, will
you reverse the sentence under which I
suffer ?"

" Sir Robert Graeme, it is easy to promise
much, but the chances of my ever being call-

THE SPAEWIFE.

185

ed to the performance is now hopeless. Have
I not told you of the Prmce ?''

" How very merciful^ in such a business as
this, to think of a helpless and harmless
baby !"

The Earl, finding himself as it were over-
powered by the demon who so openly tempt-
ed him, replied slowly and hesitatingly —

" Be not so headstrong — ^let me have time
to consider of what you would undert'^ke-—
the hazards — the risks of the failure— the
guilt of the success— the long preparations—
the horrible death.'"*

Grseme, after a momentary pause, said—

" As to heads stuck on pikes over the city
gate, and limbs tainting the air from the four
quarters of the kingdom, — I shudder but with
the thought of the vile mortalities, worse than
maggots, which such things engender among
louts and clowns as they drive their sheep and
kine to market. My Lord, if my honesty of-
fends you, let me go forth from the castle. You

186

THE SPAEWIFE.

may permit so much to be done to help you
to the throne. You do not bid me go. The
worst thing that can befall us is but to die—
and when that which is the man hath quitted
the clay let the carcass rot. Do the cooks
and carvers in your hall inflict anguish in
their vocations ? and if we are destined to
die the death of traitors, will the afterwork
of the hangman make us feel more .?"

" These peals of terror ma}' amuse your
fancy, Sir Robert Graeme," replied the Earl
firmly, and with something of his accustomed
lordliness, " but I have all my life been a
man averse to blood, nor do I sec that to re-
gain my natural rights, so wrongfully abrogat-
ed, there is any necessity to take the King's
life. Had we his person in our power here,
or could by any device carry him off from
the midst of his government, I would ask
no more, — nor to more will I lend myself,
if even to so much, when I may have sifted
the risks of the matter more thoroughly."

THE SPAEWIFE,

187

" My Lord," said Graeme with undaunted

coolness, « it is plain to me that this is not

the first time you have thought of this matter

— I doubt not you have long considered it
well."

" To slay the King," replied the Earl, dis-
mayed by his familiar boldness, " is a crime
to which I can never be consenting. But I
have a tower that stands far in the sea, upon
a steep and almost inaccessible rock— no sail
is ever seen from its narrow windows by the
melancholy warders, save the solitary ferry-
boat in the sununer calms, or in the wintry
mornings after a tempest, some unfortunate
vessel, with her crew all dead, clinging and
frozen to the rigging."

" The safest prison for a King," rephed
Graeme with a sneer, « is the grave— there is
no key, bolt, nor jailor, that can be safely
trusted with such a charge but the spade."

" I will never," cried the Earl, " stain my
hands with blood."

T*^»

188

THE SPAEWIFE.

" Very well, let it be so," replied Graeme ;
" there are apothecaries and skilful cooks ;
Cannot you procure leave for one to spice his
Majesty's supper. But, no ; that will not do ;
I should thereby not satisfy my revenge : I
must feel his blood, and have sensation of its
warmth !"

" He has never injured me," said the Earl
mournfully.

** I do not expect," cried Graeme impatient-
ly, " that you with your own hands will use
the knife ; I would but have you privy to the
design, that I may know what shall betide
me if we succeed."

The Earl wildly clasped his hands, and
with a sad and piercing voice, exclaimed—

" Oh, 1 am as one that swims in a river,
and feels the force of some great cataract
drawing him down ! Louder and louder rises
the roaring of the fall."

Graeme laughed.

But the good angel of the Earl was then

THE SPAEWIFE.

189

contending with the fiend, and the ambitious,
miserable, poor, infirm, grey-haired old man
rushed in horror from the room.

190

THE SPAEWIFE.

CHAP. XVII.

Glenfruin having in the meantime exhaust-
ed all his blandishments, in the hope of induc-
ing the herald to forego the execution of his
warrant, had at last recourse to expostulation,
and began to doubt if it was possible that he
could be summoned before the King and coun-
cil to answer any accusation. To this, how-
ever, Keith replied by reading the summons,
wherein it was rehearsed that his Majesty
" Greeting," and so forth, required and com-
manded him to appear.

" Sowlls and podies !" cried the chieftain,
" and is't not a shame and a fye, tat te King,
a pig man, will pe greeting like te smal shild ?
—Oomph.''

All, however, was of no avail ; Keith still
insisted that he must come with him, and be-

you
and

THE SPAEWIFE.

191

came so peremptory, that the ire of Glenfruin
began to kindle.

*« Aye ! aye r said he, " and you will pe
going away — and you will pe taking Glen«
fruin pe te horn, like te pull or te ram. Aye !

put Glenfruin he'll no pe going at al curse

tak me if he'll— Oomph.''

" I see," replied the herald, << that you do
not understand the importance of my office,
and in consideration of your ignorance of the
laws "

" Laas !" interrupted Glenfruin, " what pe
laas ? Tere be no laas in te Hielands, put te
free will and te judiiication ; and te free will,
you see, he'll no pe for Glenfruin to go—
and te judification — Oomph ! May pe ye'll
no pe liking te judification at al.— Oomph —
Oomph."

Keith felt somewhat uneasy at the contu-
macious spirit which Glenfruin was again be-
ginning to manifest, and glancing anxiously
around, saving his own three attendants and

192

THE SPAEWIFE.

father Donich, he beheld only hempen-haired
vassals and shaggy sorners, that questioned
no hest of their chieftain, mustering from
without, and standing, row behind /ow, to
the utmost obscurity of the hall, their fierce
eyes glaring like red and ominous stars
through the gloom of the night. Still, not
altogether daunted, he said —

" You will but make your condition worse
by thus resisting the King's authority. If
you do not submit yourself quietly, I will re-
tire, and a sufficient force will soon compel
your obedience."

" SowUs and podies ! and will tat be te re-
wart for al te total loss o' te Macdonald's re-
pellion ? — Oomph ; and for catching te panisht
man ?— Oomph. And for mi Laidie Tooches ?
—Oomph."

" Ah !" said the herald, induced by many
visible reasons rather to persuade than to
command, " it is to be regretted that you
ever troubled yourself with her Grace."

THE SPAEWIFE.

193

" -ier Craze !" cried Glenfruin, *« her
Craze !— it's al a false and a lie, tat she pe here
in a constipation."

" I doubt not, Glenfruin," replied Keith,
" that you will be able to prove it so to the
satisfaction of the King; I, however, have
no power to determine any thing in the mat-
ter, but only to carry you with me."

" And is't a to-be-surely, King's herald,
tat ye'll no have an eye and a veesion .?
Nigel, I say, Nigel, pe pringing te Laidie
Tooches, and lead her wi' a congee to te
castle-hill, for te demonstrations o libertee—
Oomph."

" I entreat you, Glenfruin, for your own
<ake," exclaimed Keith, *' not to make me
and those with me witnesses to the contumely
with which you treat that most noble and un-
fortunate Lady. In one word, you are my
prisoner, and you must go with me."

" Sowlls and podies ! and will ye be calling
me preesoner in te sheiling o' Glenfruin?

VOL. II.

194

THE SPAEWIFE.

Laads, tcre will pe a judification— yell pe

catch al le four."

In an instant the three attendants and the
terrified herald were seized, and lifted upon
the shoulders of the clansmen. But Father
Donicii, who had hitherto remained a silent
spectator, ran to the ciiieftain, who was
grumbling Uke an earthquake, his gathering
wralli being no longer repressive— and lay-
ing his hand on his shoulder, said—

^'^ For goodness and mercy, Glenfruin, be

not so rash ! surely you will not hang them r

*' Och put she will, every moter's son o^

tern, — oomph"

*^ Consider the sin of such a crime ;— though
you should escape the vengeance of an earthly
king, think of the dreadful condemnation
that' the shedding of innocent blood will
l,rir.g on you hereafter ! O think of the wo-
ful purgatory cf f^re !"

" Contemnation, Faider Donich !— tere will
be two words about te contemnaUon o' Glen-

s
c
n
a
ti
tl

fru

m— te

THE SPAEWIFE. 195

phe,eFa.derDo„ieh.Laads, takeout,!

Lat;:;''^^'^^"'^^"'^'''--^--^.

At Gle„fr„i„'s gate hung a crooked and

onorousp,ece of iron, .,,0.,, .hen none „f
the warders chanced to be at hnr,^ ■ ■
Hp.i,:„ J " ue at tiand, visitors

de^nng admutance struck against the wall

and .ade it thereb, send forth a loud and

ong-reverberating sound. At this crisis, all

he clansmen and sorners being i„ the hall

e -„d of the iron was heard, and with

«ueh a peal as announced no ordinary vi^i '
tor. •

Glenfruin looked as if i„ doubt wiiether it

-as theiron he had heard; Father Donich

s. K.d aghast, terrified b, his blasphemy; the
cWmen, who had lifted the herald and h

-« on their shoulders, and were .ovi g

-y, halted, and looked back for instruc

—nd for the space of about a «i;::
"'ore was a pause and .iJence in the hall.

196

THE SPAEWIFE.

The iron was again sounded more loudly
than before. *' Laads/' said Glenfruin, " yell
lay te King's herald and his men on tere foots,
and see wha will pe coming wi' a bang and a
boong like tat — oomph."

" It was Celestine Campbell with his train,
led thither by Anniple ; and, as at that time
Loch Aw's clan and Glenfruin's were at peace
with one another, he was readily admitt^.
But no sooner was he come into the hall than
the herald demanded his aid and protection,
in the King's name,— which, after a brief ex-
planation of what had passed, the young
chieftain, to the great amaze and consterna-
tion of Glenfruin, at once promised.

" Sowlls and podies !" said he, " and if His
be te laas and te justice, a chief's put a fe-

lonee."

Celestine, however, having assured him that
the King always dealt clemently with those
who willingly obeyed his authority, persuaded
liim to submit peaceably to the herald ; and

THE SPxVEWIFE.

197

Keith havi

: promised to make no com.
plaint of his discourteous treatment, he, in
the end, not only consented to desist from all
farther opposition, but promised that he would
next morning freely go to Perth, where the
summons required him to appear.

Meanwhile Celestine, observing Father Do-
nich in the hall, was much afflicted in mind,
thinking the Lord James was also in the cas-
tle, and that he might be discovered by the
herald. At the same time, knowing that
Glenfruin had not engaged in the Lennox-
shire rebellion, and was considered adverse to
the Albanies, he thought, to a surety, if he was
there, he must have come under his assumed
name. Accordingly, after some light and pre-
liminary overtures, which served to instruct
Father Donich of what he meant without be-
ing understood by those around, he inquired
if he had seen any thing of Sir Aulay Mac-
aulay in the course of the journey.

Glenfruin raised his ear, and looking a-

^98 THE SPAEWIFE.

skance witli liis eye, eagerly watched the an-
swer.

'' I parted from him," replied Father Do-
nich, " at the foot of the hill. He spoke of
crossing the moors to his own castle at Arden-
kaple."

" Sowllsandpodies !" exclaimed Glenfruin,
" and is't a to-be-surely, that Sir Aulay Mac-
aulay would pe a tod-lowrie among te lambs
o' Glenfruin. — Laads, laads ! Nigel, Nigel !
get your swords and your bows, al, every mo-
ther's son of you."

In a few minutes all the clansmen, with
Nigel at their head, were ready.

" What do you mean .?" exclaimed the
young chieftain of Loch Aw, alarmed at their
alacrity ; '• what is that you would do ? are
you not friends with the Macaulays ? Surely
you will not molest a defenceless hunter ?"

" Al in goot time, Celestine Campbell, my
very goot young friend, and we will pe tell-
ing you al. Do you know. King's herald, tat te

THE SPAEWIFE. 199

Macau y— ah he's te false and te traitor too
—oomph ! was na he wi' te Lord Hameis and
tat Peeshop o' Pelzeebub, te Peeshop o' Lis-
more, ijAven tey prunt te town o' Dumbarton
—And te Macfarlane— Got tarn te Macfar-
lane— he lifted al te catties from te lands o'
Lennox, and teGlenfruinswere na left tehalph
of a two score— oomph ! and would na it be
a pail and a ransom for Glenfruin to te King's
Majestic ? Got pless te King's Majestic— to
catch te Macaulay — oomph !"

Celestine was still more distressed and per-
plexed by this information, so portentous to
the safety of his ill-fated cousin ; but Father
Donich perceiving his inward grief, said—

" Then, Glenfruin, you know Sir Aulay
Macaulay ?"

" Will we no have a head in our eye to
know te Macaulay ? Laads ! Nigel, you snail
in te shell, will ye no pe catching te traitor
man ?"

" Stop, I beseech you,^^ -ried Celestine,

200

THE SPAEWIFE.

II !

" let us consider what may be the consequence.
If Sir Aulay has made his peace with the
King, it will only aggravate the offence where-
with you are accused, if you attempt to mo-
lest him."

" Sow.Is and podies ! is na he a pird on
te hills, a cock o' te wood, tat has na a nest
for his foot ? Te toad's on te hearth in his hal."

Here the herald interposed, and said, that
certainly Sir Aulay Macaulay had not made
his submission, and that Glenfruin, perhaps,
could do nothing more acceptable than to
bring him in.

*« Perhaps,'' said Father Donich, " I may
have been in error ; and on second thoughts,
it is not likely that he would have ventured so
near the castle of such a loyal chieftain as
Glenfruin.*"

" Tafs a speech like a wisdom, Faider
Donich ; Glenfruin's te loyal man, and te
lionest man too. Put, laads, see wha will pe
in te woods."

THE SPA^WIFE.

201

" Not yet, not yet/' cried Celestine ; " in
your situation, it will be better that my men
should ffo."

" Did Glenfruin," said Father Donich,
" see the Lord James when he was in Len-
nox ?"

" Te Lord Hamies, Faider Donich ! would
a loyaltee pe seeing a repel ?— oomph !"

" O ! he does not mean to say that you had
any correspondence with him,'' cried Celes-
tine briskly, perceiving the drift of the chief-
tain's question, " but only asks if you know
him by sight."

" He will have a horn, and a tail, and
a hoof, for Glenfruin."

Celestine divined from this answer, that
Glenfruin had never seien the person of the
Lord James, and perceived that the only risk
he ran of discovery in being brought into the
castle was from the herald ; he therefore re-
solved to prevent him from coming in, by
going in search of him. Accordingly, leav.

202

THE SPAEWIFE.

ing Father Donich with Keith and Glen-
fruin, and taking out Nigel, whose simple air
and prepossessing physiognomy had drawn
his attention, he left the hall attended by
only his own clansmen.

Meanwhile the Duchess, from the moment
she had discovered her son from the battle-
ment, was overwhelmed with fears and feehngs
to which she could give no utterance, nor with
all her fortitude conceal. Fain would she have
rushed to him ; but the dread of endangering
his safety repressed her maternal love. Eager
she was to let him know of her beinsr there,
that they might exchange, though afar off,
some little signal of sympathy. But the ar-
rival of Celestine Campbell sharpened her
anxieties ; for, though she recognised in him
a kinsman by his garb, his appearance so im-
mediately after the herald seemed to augur
no consolation to her, his father being, as she
well knew, one of the firmest adversaries of
the Albanies. During the long controversy in

THE SPAE\VIF£.

203

the hall, her wishes and afFections, however,
so far overcame her fears, that she resolved to
send her gentlewoman to request him to come
to her, that she might learn what his visit
portended; and it happened, that as he
quitted the hall the aged lady came down
stairs, and passed towards the door after
him. Glenfruin seeing her, said something
that he intended to be jocose and gallant ; bm
she tartly glanced at him over her shoulder,
and walked loftily away.

204

THE SPAEWIFE.

CHAP. XVIII.

As soon as Celestine Campbell had passed
beyond the threshold of the hall, seeing his
own clansmen around, and none of the Glen-
fruins nigh, he addressed himself to Nigel,
saying—

" In these times one knows not well what
course to take. Your father has ever been
reputed a leal and true subject ; mine as
such no one can doubt; and yet, to deal
frankly with you, being half an Albany by
my mother, my heart does not altogether
lie to my father's policy, if that can be called
craft, which in him I doubt not is the fruit
of honesty."

" I did think," said Nigel, won by the
openness of his companion, " that there
could be no higher duty than that of obe-
dience to the King; not for the advantage

THE SPAEWIFE.

205

that might thence arise, though my father
considered the King^s cause ever the most
advantageous service, but,"— and he hesitated,
fearing he might have said too much ; for he
was an artless youth, and his affections easiJy
governed by the admiration of his eye, or the
flattery of his ear; albeit he lacked not a just
discernment of what was true and kind.

" But what," replied Celestine, " what
would you have said ? I trust you may speak
freely to me. I have told you how much I
am myself an Albany, and I will say more
to you, for I do esteem you by your face as
a friend. Though I would pause to consider
whether I should, in any way or form, assist
the cause of my cousin, the Lord James ;
yet I would not, for all the forfeitures that
the crown has gained by the fate of my kins-
men, betray or injure the basest or the most
lukewarm of his followers."

" I meant but to have observed,'' said
Nigel, « that, after seeing the sad plight into

■J

206

THE SPAEWIFE.

'Hi'

fin I

Hfii

which so sweet and so fair a maiden as the
Lady Sibilla Macdonald was cast on the
night of the burning of Dumbarton, and the
majestical sorrow of the Duchess of Albany
since, that I can think no more of the King's
authority, but only of the anguish of spirit
and the broken hearts which his terrible jus-
tice has made. Yet will I at no man's solicita-
tion go against his Majesty ; for those suf-
ferings and griefs come more of the misrule
of times past, than from any cruelty in that
which he so strives to establish and fortify as
law."

" Then you would not," said Celestine,
" surrender even the Lord James himself,
were he, by any accident, thrown into your
power .?"

** I could hold my hand in the fire till it is
burnt to the stump," replied the courageous
youth proudly ; " and it is not much to say,
I may withstand any temptation that would
make me despise myself."

.'C'

THE SPAEWIFE.

207

.»^

'' If this stranger then," said Celestine,
" should prove to be indeed Sir Aulay Mac
aulay, will you not take him on your father's
account, seeing, as the herald says, it would
wrighmuch in his favour with the King?"

" If we take him in the pursuit I will
hold him as a fair prisoner. He has not
trusted me; he has no claim on my pro-
mise ; and I shall not therefore do any wrong,
treat him as I may, if not discourteously,'
should he ever come into my hands."

" Let us be friends," said Celestine. " In
whatsoever you trust me with I shall be
faithful— be you so with me. I have some
cause to believe that this stranger is no other
than my distressed cousin. He is now in
your power. You have but to return to the
hall, and to repeat what I have said, and in
a few minutes your clansmen will make him
yours. Your father will then be able to
carry with him one worth twenty Sir Aulay
Macaulays,— a ransom indeed that will re-

SOS

THE SPAEWIFE.

'!ii

deem him from the displeasure of the King,
were it ten times greater than it is."

The young chieftain looked douhtingly
at Celestine. " Surely," said he, " I am
not so soon called to such honour, as to be
trusted with the life and fortunes of that
noble Prince, who may one day be my
King!"

" You have it in your power," replied
Celestine, " to insure your father's pardon."

" If the King be that just man, which he
is said to Iw," replied Nigel, " he will not be
bribotl to pardon my father should he be
found to have offended."

" But at least you may increase your
lands."

" When you offered to me your friend-
ship, Celestine Campbell," said the simple
and enthusiastic youth, " I was afraid that
I was not worthy of so great an honour ;
but you make me almost doubt if you be
worthy of mine."

THE SPAEWIFE. 209

Celestine smiled for a moment at his ro-
mantic ardour ; but the simple air and moun-
tain garb of Nigel, the calm and mild enthu-
siasm of his countenance, beaming like radi-
ance from within, changed his feelings to a
higher mood, and the tear of admiration
shot into his eye. But the young chieftain
wanted words to express what lie felt in re-
turn for the feelings that he had awakened
111 Celestine, and he turned away to hide the
contrition which he suffered for having spoken
so proudly to so generous a friend.

At that moment Leddy Glenjuckie, who
had tottered after them as fast as her sciatica
would permit, called to Celestine; and, on
his going towards her, she told him the mes-
sage from the Duchess. He had not before
heard that her Grace was in the castle, and
he stood amazed. Nigel, while they were
speaking, joined them ; and seeing his won-
derment, rehearsed in what manner his father
had seized the Duchess.

■.!".*;i

210

THE SPAEWIFE.

" I will leave you," said Celestine, " to dis-
cover the stranger, and will instantly attend
her Grace." But the old lady uttered a pierc-
ing shriek at the idea of the Lord James
falling into the hands of the Glenfruins. Con-
troUing however her terror in a moment,
she pretended that it was the anguish of her
sciatica only which caused her to cry, and
Celestine left her and went back to the castle.
As soon as he was gone she began to speak
loudly and shrill, in the hope, that if the
Lord James heard her, as she was then near
the underwood into which he had dived on
being left by Father Donich, it would put
him on his guard ; complaining, at the same
time, bitterly to Nigel of the insults which
she had endured from his father.

Her stratagem so far succeeded, that the
outlaw, who had overheard, in his conceal-
ment, part of what passed between Celestine
and Nigel, recognising her voice, suddenly
appeared before them.

THE SPAEWIFE.

211

Danger and adversity are quick teachers of
expedients. The outlaw knew he was in the
utmost peril of discovery; and before the
Leddy Glenjuckie had time to fetch her
breath from the astonishment into which he
had thrown her, he told her that they must
excliange clothes. To this proposition, so
unseemly to her courtly manners, she could
only lift her hands and look her horror.
Nigel said but two words to Celestine's clans^
men, and on the instant one of them, with all
that romantic delicacy towards the gentle sex,
for which the Celts in those days were re- '^
nowned, stuffed a plaid into her mouth, and
held her fast, while his companions stripped
her almost to the skin. The Loid James
in the meantime doffed his upper habiliments,
and putting on her feminine and fantastical
gear, the Highlanders dressed her in his
clothes.

Nothing from the time of her misfortune
had equalled this; but the Lord James, to

212

THE SPAEWIFE.

Iir

lis

whom she bore the affection of a nurse, hav-
ing often fondled him when a baby in her
arms, and Nigel, who had ingratiated him-
self into her favour by the respectful modesty
of his demeanour, soon succeeded in calming
her perturbation, and in reconciling her to
the metamorphosis. Nor was it long till
they had occasion to applaud the celerity of
the change; for, even while they were soothing
her with their best persuasion, Glenfruin
himself, accompanied by the herald and Fa-
ther Donich, came forth from the castle-gate
to taste the freshness of the evening air before
supper, and to see what success had attended
the search for the stranger.

As soon as Nigel saw his father, he went
towards him to prevent him from coming so
near as to discover what had taken placv,
and told him, pointing to the Leddy in the
garb of the Lord James, that he would see it
was not the Macaulay.

Glenfruin required no instructor as to that ;

THE SPAEWIFE.

213

but observing the Lord James moving rapid-
ly, in the dress of the lady, down the hill,
he exclaimed—

*' Sowlls and podies ! is't a ghost or
weezzard ? Will te oold cat pe coing to die ?
and will yon pe her wraith ? Te spirits no
hae te pains in te pack — oomph ! Nigel,
I say, Nigel, will ye no pe seeing yon troll
ostentation. Sowlls and podies ! we're al a
fear and a quake.""

Father Donich had also noticed the phe-
nomenon, and, while Glenfruin was speaking,
lie went so near to the lady as to discover the
transformation; but, being no less anxious
than Nigel to conceal what had happened,
he hastily returned, just as the fugitive dis-
appeared among the underwood, and said,
with great solemnity —

*' It is a very awful apj)arition ! I doubt
not we shall hear news of this hereafter. It
betokens no good to the one wlio saw it first.
I hope, Glenfruin, it was not you ?'"

214

THE SPAEWIFE.

I hope it was yoursels, Faider Donich,"
replied the chieftain, turning sharply away
from him, malcontent that such an ominous
question should have been put to him in his
circumstances.

" What think you it was ?'' said the Fa-
ther Donich in a superstitious manner to the
herald.

" What it is," replied Keith'drily ; « some
varlet in the old lady's apparel ; but it docs
not concern me/"

Glenfruin hearing this, halted, and looked
back.

" A farlet, oomph !— and will te oold laidie
pe tead in t purn .?— Kilt and plundert and
al .'—King's herald, you see tat Glenfruin's
te lamb and te dove— oomph. Put, Nigel,
you saint on a tomb, will ye no pe taking
te laads, and seek for te bodie ? Oh ! King's
herald, tis pe an och-hone, and she had te
praw ear-rings. Tey were te robberee."

But, before any answer could be given, the

THE SPAEWIFE.

HIS

leddy, not accustomed to walk in trews, in en-
deavouring to turn round, happened to stum-
ble, by which she gave her sciatica such a
wrench, that she screamed with pain, and
almost fell to the ground."

" Sowlls and podies !" exclaimed Glen-
fruin, " we're al in a tream and a veesion ;
is it te laidie matam hersels ?'' and, advanc-
ing towards her, he took her by the arm
and turned her round, saying, " and she pe
no have a petticoat at al— oomph. Tis is a
mysterec — oomph !'' And, without uttering
ano^^her word, he walked with wide and stern
str'i js towards the castle-gate, followed by all
those who were then on the castle-hill.

216

THE SPAEWIFE.

CHAP. XIX.

In returning to the gate, Keith tlie herald
lingered behind with Leddy Glenjuckie, and
from time to time narrowly examined lier
garb. He, however, made no remark ; but
when they reached the castle, he followed
Glenfruin into the hall, and sat down at the
table at the upper end, seemingly thoughtful
and much troubled.

" King's herald," said Glenfruin, taking
his own seat, " we'll pe making a terroriga-
tion when te oold laidie matam will pe com-

ing m.

" I think," replied Keith, " it is quite un-
necessary to affect any concealment. The
best thing you can now do, for your own
?«ake, is at once to come with me to Dumbar-
ton, and leave Celestine Campbell to conduct

THE SPAEWiFE. 217

the Duchess to Inchmurrin in the morning.
What I may suspect I am not bound to re-
port, and I shall be glad how soon you ena-
ble me to leave this wild country, that I may
not become a witness to things I fain would
not discover."

" Sowlls and podies ! King's herald, and
what will ye pe speeching ? Te wild country
-oomph I And whar pe te tanie-^mph !
And te concealment— and te Campbells get
te sheilling o' Glenfruin? Aye! tis pe te
wage o' te goot subject— Oomph !"

" I am grieved, Glenfruin, to be obliged to
remind you, that I have no power nor autho-
rity to determine any thing concerning you ;
but if the unfortunate Lord James of Albany
be in this neighbourhood, I am most anxious
to avoid him. My duty has already called
me too often to perform a painful part to-
wards his house."

" Te Lord Hamies in tis neighbourhood !"

VOL. II.

218

THE SPAEWIFE.

exclaimed Glenfruin, looking anxiously at
Keith ; " and will te wee green fairies pe
making a phantasee? Put, King's herald,
will we no cal doun Celestine Campbell, and
pring te oold laidie matam to her testificai-
tions ? Nigel ! whar's Nigel, and Faider Do-
nich, too ? — Oomph !""

" I doubt not, Glenfruin, to be plain with
you, that you very well know why they have
not followed us into the hall. I am amazed
that you will not see how willing I am to shut
my eyes, but will force me to say what may
endanger myself/'

" And is't a to-be-surely, King's herald,
tat ye will pe a spial o' te Lord Hamies in te
wraith o' te oold laidie matam ? — Oomph !
SowUs and podies ! tat would pe a crown and
a jewel for Glenfruin. — Nigel, Nigel ! al ye
Glenfruins, every mother's son of you !" ex-
claimed the old chieftain, starting from his
seat, and calling out with the utmost vehe-

M I

THE SPAEWIFE.

219

mence of his voice,-" Te pow and te sword
te sword and te pow. Nigel, Nigel ! whar
are ye, Nigel ?"

The din and dissonance of his cries, and
the rattling of the weapons wherewith the
clansmen and sorners began to arm them-
selves, alarmed the whole castle, and brought
down Celestine Campbell from the Duchess-
whde Father Donich, assisting in the meto-'
morphosed Leddy Glenjuckie, at the same
t.me entered the hall from without.

Celestine suspected the extent of the disco-
very that had been made, and divined the ob-
ject of the uproar and the arming. He perceiv-
ed that his unfortunate kinsman would not fail
to be presently taken, and that nothing but
a bold stratagem could avert the fate which
would mevitably await him.

"Glenfruin!" he exclaimed aloud, and
with a voice so tuned to authority, that it
mstantly silenced the noise; « Glenfruin I
am grieved to say, that the fealty I owe to the

■IM

iIlM

il^l

«20

THE SPAEWIFE.

King compels me to deal with seeming harsh-
ness towards you. The herald has failed in
his duty by consenting to remain even for an
hour here. The manner in which you have
seized the Duchess of Albany, and continue
to hold her as your prisoner, though with a
ahow of liberty, is an offence that can admit
of no extenuation. Keith, unless he consent
to go with you at once, you must be responsi-
ble for the consequences. I have pledged
myself to support your authority. I now
tell you, that as a prisoner it is not safe to let
him remain here ; and I know not how I may
excuse to my father the jeopardy into which I
have led so many of his bravest men."

Glenfruin looked for some time as if he
felt the world tumbling into pieces around
him, and then he turned to Keith and said—

" King's herald, and what will Glenfruin
pe doing ?''"'

« I have indeed done wrong," replied
Keith, glad of any pretext to get away from

THE SPAEWIFE.

221

the castle, and to carry his prisoner with
him, " and I now call upon Celestine Camp-
bell to conduct us in safety to Dumbarton."

" Sowlls and podies ! and will ye pe leaving
te Lord Hamies, tat is te traitor man, al in
his potencee ?"

" The Lord James ! what of him ?" cried
Celetsine, almost afraid to hear the answer.

" There is some cause," replied Keith, " to
suspect that he is lurking in this neighbour-
hood ; and it is plain," he added, aside, " not-
withstanding all Glenfruin's artifice, that he
is in the secret. That old lady is in a dress,
which, from the ornaments, I know to be the
outlaw's: I doubt not that the f change was
made to enable him to escape, for she is one
of his mother's attendants."
- " If that be the case," said Celestine,
" the story of her Grace's detention has been
concerted between her and Glenfruin, to con-
ceal their secret treasons. Nothing is more
likely than that my guilty cousin should

Hill

il22

TUE SPAEWIFE.

he near Iiis mother, whose influence in this
country has, probahly, been rathe^ increased
tlian lessened by the misfortunes of her fa-
mily."

" Sowlls and podies ! will lis pe Glenfruin's
hall? will you pe te Hving mans? is tat a
hand of my own ? Nigel ! vvhar pe Nigel ?"

** I have met with nothing like this," said
the herald to Celestine ; " but I was warned
of his depth and cunning."

" O !" replied Celestine aloud, " it is all
quite evident ; Nigel his son is gone to warn
the outlaw of this discovery."

Glenfruin sat down in his scat, and began
to touch the table and to pinch his flesh, and
to half unsheath his dirk, as if to ascertain
the reality of the scene and of his own identity.

" Do you go with me ?" said the herald to
him after a short pause.

" And will ye pe Pelzeepub teevil, and tia
your delusions and purgatoree ? — Oomph !"

" I doubt," said Celestine sorrowfully.

v.^

THE SPAEWIFE,

22ii

" that appearances ore too strong against yon,
my old friund. Unhappy chat I am, to Ik»
brought so accidentally into such a situation a«
this. Spare me, I entreat you, from the hard
necessity of making a prisoner of my own
kinsman. But if the Lord James be seized,
he must be taken with you."

*« Glenfruin," said the herald to Celestine,
" affects to be ignorant of the Lord James be-
ing in this neighbourhood. I hope he speaks
truly— but if he is here, and here taken, it
will go hard with Glenfruin, for how will he
be able to explain so strange a thing ? Here
IS the Duchess, in circumstances so singular,
that it was thought by all who heard cf her
situation, that she was held by constraint.
But there is now reason to believe that her
outlawed son is also here, and that on seeing
a force appear to aid the King's authority, he
changed his dress with one of her ladies, the
better to facilitate his escape. In that junc-
ture, the son and heir of Glenfruin is seen

.If I

■ii

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i 1
ii

!
1

1 i

''• i

,i\ '

i!i

ilh

224.

THE SPAEWIFE.

speaking with the fugitive, and suffers him to
depart."

Celestine Campbell looked at the amazed
and confounded chieftain, and mournfully
»h(K)k his head.

" Sowlls and podies !" exclaimed Glenfru-

in, with the sad accent of helplessness, " and

will tis j)e what you cal laa ? But, laads !"

he continued, rising and moving towards the

d(X)r, " Glenfruin will pe te honest man,

curse tak me put he will, and we'll no have a

Campbell, nor te smal toe of a Campbell, to

mak him a custodee. But we'll pe going our

own selph, and for a congee to te King's

herald, come twenty pretty mans, te flower

()' you al, for tis night we will pe a free will

in Dumbarton. When will King's herald,

pe ready to go ? O ! is't an och-hon, and a

shame, and a fye too — Oomph."

Glenfruin was cons('it)UR of his own inno-
cence with respect to tlie Lord James, nor
was he at all sensible that he had connnitted

THE SPAEWIFE.

225

any great wrong towards the Duchess of Al-
bany, whom he had hitherto considered as
under the cloud of the King's displeasure.
With regard to Sir Robert Graeme, he still
thought, notwithstanding the Earl of AthoPs
coldness, that he liad done some notable ser-
vice ; and he considered, that both for his ab-
stinence in the Lennoxshire rebellion, and the
alacrity with which he had obeyed the pro-
clamation to march against Macdonald, he
stood in no peril of much suffering. At
the same time he felt himself so environed
with such an array of questionable circum-
stances, that he wot not well what to do;
and therefore it was, that in utter inability to
comprehend the situation into which he was
thrown by so many casualties, he resolved at
once to go with the herald. Accordingly,
after again expressing his wonder, with some
degree of sharpness, at the absence of his son,
who had in all this time not returned into the

hall, he said to Celestine Campbell

l!ii !

Ullll

,,.,,

226

THE SPAEWIFE.

** Ye'll tak your men al pefore you, Ccles-
tinc Campbell, and ye'll pe going away, caz
you see, Celestine Cai]i{)l)ell, you see tat tere
will no pe a face on a nose coming into tis hal,
till we our own selph pe coming pack wi' a
glorification."

The reasonableness of this request could
not well be controverted ; so Celestine, with-
out farther parley, went out from the castle
followed by his clansmen, and apparently with
the design of going to the Colquhoun of Luss
for the night, he parted with Glenfruin on
the castle-hill ; whence, with the herald, and
accompanied by twenty of his own clansmen,
the chieftain was conducted to the road leading
to Dumbarton.

THE SPAEWIFE.

227

CHAP. XX.

The Earl of Atliol was in the meantime
greatly disturbed in his thoughts, by reason
chiefly of the freedom wherewith Sir Robert
Graeme, in the intrepidity of his revenge, had
proposed to undertake the assassination of the
King. He had not, however, virtue to with-
stand temptation, nor courage enough, if so
good a name may be given to so bad a pur-
pose, to embark openly in the avowed trea-
son ; neither had he the firmness to lay such
an interdict on the resentment by which his
nephew was borne away from his fealty, as to
prevent him from surrendering himself up to
the machinations of the traitor. Still the de-
sire not to part with the honour he enjoyed
was so lively within his heart, that, the same
night, after Graeme had so fearfully inform-

i iijlil

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228

THE SPAEWIFE.

eel him of his regicidal determination, he or-
dered him to be sent forth from the castle,
and never again to present himself at the

gates.

Graeme so little heeded th^ command,
which was delivered to him by Stuart, that,
before going away, he indited a paper, in
which he set forth his determination never to
desist from his hostility against the King,
till he had vindicated his wrongs and satisfied
his revenge.

" Give it," said he, " to the Earl, and
we shall see what the bravery of his loyalty
will do after so open a proclamation of trea-

son.

1")

Stuart, however, did not that night deliver
the paper, but conducted Gra?me to the gate,
where, in the hearing of many of the vassals,
be bade him adieu, bitterly grieving that the
King should so little esteem such a courageous
soldier as to drive him forth into the wild
woods, and so despitefuUy repulse the pitying

THE SPAEWIFE.

229

friends that petitioned only for some mitiga-
tion in the rigour of his punishment.

To this condolence the outlaw made no re-
ply, but that an avenging hour was coming,
when perhaps even the Earl of Athol would
repent of having so far lent himself to the
cruelty of the King.

" The Earl," replied Stuart, «* is not so
much your enemy as you think. In banish-
ing you from his house, I believe he acts
from the compulsion of duty, and the dread
of danger to himself ; for even he is no longer
safe.*"

" What do you mean ?" said Graeme, " what
danger does he dread ? and why is it that you
account him no longer safe ?''

" He endured," replied Stuart, " yester-
day such insult, merely because he presented
your humble petition, that the King cannot
but know as a man that he must suffer under
it, and will tremble lest as a man he should
revenge it."

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5230

THE SPAEWIFE.

The vassals, hearing them discoursing thus
openly of the grievances which their Lord
had endured, gathered around, and the taint
of sedition soon infected them all. But the
overthrow of an anointed King, whose power
was beginning to be everywhere obeyed, and
the genial shade of whose protecting go-
vernment afforded asylum and refuge to all
his wronged and long-afflicted subjects, was
an enterprise not to be hastily undertaken.
In this manner, however, the crafty policy
which Graeme had breathed into the spirit of
Stuart was made to take effect ; and the vas-
sals of the Earl of Athol were corrupted from
their loyalty even before he was himself en-
tirely subdued.

In the morning, Stuart went forth from
the castle-gate, and at a short distance there-
from affected to find, on the grass, the de-
fiance which Graeme had penned. He im-
mediately returned, and began to .question the
warders concerning it ; and he read it aloud

THE SPAEWIFE.

231

to them, deploring the doom that had worked
so brave a spirit into such frantic ecstasy.
He then carried it to the Earl, and eagerly
watched his looks as he read. But though
the fated old man grew pale, and his hands
trembled, he made no remark. He looked
not however at Stuart, but turned away his
face, as if he had something to hide from the
piercing inquisition of his eyes.

Three several times did Stuart endeavour
to draw him into discourse concerning the
paper, but he made him no answer. He
held it however still in his hand ; sometimes
he looked at it, and at others laid it down on
the table, and walked to and fro communing
with himself. "

Stuart waited with silence and patience to
see the issue of this secret controversy, and
was awed and confounded, when, after a sea-
son, the Earl called one of his trustiest officers,
and bade him ride forthwith to the King,
at Scone, with the rebellious proclamation.

232

THE SPAEWIFE.

and to assure his Majesty, that no means
should be left untried by him to bring in
the traitor.

Scarcely had this messenger departed on
his journey when kindly letters to the Earl
came from the King, wherein his Majesty
described the great contrition which he suf-
fered at having so hastily parted with him ;
and praying him, by the name of his kind
friend and true uncle, to come back to assist
in the solemnity of laying the foundation
of the stately abbey which he was minded to
build at Perth. He also entreated him to
bring Stuart with him, and said many gra-
cious things, all meant to appease the sense of
the heat wherewith he had expressed himself
for so espousing the cause of Sir Robert
Graeme.

When the Earl read these courteous letters
to Stuart, that vindictive youth exclaimed —

" I will never again revisit the court, but
to

THE SPAEWIFE.

29S

The look which the Earl gave him stopped
what he would have said; and he retired
abashed and overawed, when he beheld the
tears shoot into the old man's eye, as he read
the letters a second time.

" It cannot be," said the momentary peni-
tent, " that any wrong can come from me
to so good and so generous a heart;" and
he added emphatically, " I beseech you, my
dearest nephew, to hold no correspondence
nor communion with Sir Robert Grseme.
Let us return to the court, and with such an
exhibition as befits our birth and the high
ceremony which the King intends to hold;
forget the countenance that we have both,
unfortunately for ourselves, given in this
house to that implacable adversary of all that
is good and fair in the princely nature of our
royal kinsman."

Stuart again made another attempt to re-
vert to the contumely with which he conceiv-
ed the King had treated him, and to pray

234

THE SPAEWIFE.

ill

ilillii

that his presence might be dispensed with,
but the Earl was peremptory. " I am not
safe here," said he with a sigh ; « neither of
us are safe in this place."

" By whom are we endangered?" cried
Stuai't proudly.

" By ourselves," replied the old man ; and
he turned aside his face, and retired from the
room with slow and thoughtful steps.

Hitherto the indignation with which Stuart
had received the King's innocent jocularity,
made him see nothing but justice and the vin-
dication of wrong in the treasons which he
meditated ; but the sad voice, and the mourn-
ful look of his uncle, made him stand gazing
towards the door by which the Earl had re-
tired, and feel a strange and before unfelt sen-
timent of sorrow mingled with fear.

As he was standing thus dejected, the Lady
Atliol came into the room, and he was start-
led when he beheld her very wo-begone, and
seemingly touched with apprehensions of hor-

THE SPAEWIFE.

235

ror and alarm. « Surely,^ said he to himself,
" the weak old man cannot have told her of
what has passed between him and Graeme/'

" She however soon relieved his fears, by
coming towards him and saying—-" I am
glad that Sir Robert Graeme was sent from
this house, for every night that he remained
here, my sleep was made hideous with the
most terrible fancies. I have had no whole-
some rest, but only strange snatches of slum-
ber, that have been more full of disease than
the entire lack of sleep. This very morning
I have been afflicted with such a sight, that
I can hardly yet persuade myself it was
not some actual deed which I beheld, and
not the fantastical imagery cf a distempered
dream."

" What was it that you saw ?'' said Stuart,
participating in the horror with which she
was aftected.

" Oh, do not inquire ! It was of such things
as I may not without great sin venture to re-

S36

THE SPAEWIFE.

:!;!

!l|it.'!

Hi'

late. There was blood, and ashes, and a
kingly crown, and bleaching bones, and the
birds of the air !"

The Earl returned at that moment ; and
that she might not be questioned by him con-
cerning the mysterious cause of her grief, she
stooped behind, to clear as it were some en-
tanglement of her robe, and then quitted the
room, to conceal that she was in tears.

THE SPAEWIFE.

237

CHAP. XXI.

When Nigel Glenfruin saw that his fa-
ther was aware of the sex of the Lord
James, in the disguise of the Leddy Glen-
juckie**s garments, he feared that an imme-
diate search would be ordered; and, alarm-
ed for the issue, instead of returning to
the hall, where his absence was so soon re-
marked by the herald, he followed the track
which the fugitive had taken, in order to ap-
prise him of his danger, and to aid his escape.
But it was some time before he came up with
him ; indeed, not until the Lord James had
reached the skirts of the wood along the mar-
gent of the lake, and was standing there dis-
consolate and breathless, not knowing what
course to choose.
The jeopardy into which that ill-fated prince

Ill
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^^S THE SPA E WIFE.

had fallen was too imminent to admit of much
time for parley, and Nigel was hot a youth
given to unnecessary talk. Having briefly

proffered his services, he added

" There is a boat hard by, come with me
to the place, get on board, and make what
speed you can to the other side of the lake, or
to some one of the islands, where, in the morn-
ing, you will kindle a fire to let us know
where you are, and Celestine Campbell or my-
self will find means to come to your assist-
ance."

" Celestine Campbell !'' exclaimed the Lord
James, and was proceeding to inveigh against
his treachery, when Nigel assured him that
he had no truer friend, and that he believed
Celestine had come to Glenfruin only in quest
of him, and to do him service, shortly re-
hearsing what had passed between them on
the castle-hill.

While they were thus speaking, as they
walked hastily towards the boat, they heard

THE SPAEWIFE.

239

a voice singing cheerily, but with a wild and
strange melody, ever and anon changing.
They halted ; and Nigel, going to the edge of
the shore, knelt down and listened with his
ear close to the water.

" It is but the voice of Anniple of Dum-
blane,'' said he rising.

They then quickened their steps forward,
and soon came in sight of the little creek
where the boat was lying, fastened by a cable
of hair to the bough of a doddered tree
which overhung the water, and at the foot
of which the Spaewife was sitting.

" What do you there, Anniple?'' said
Nigel to her.

" I'm waiting for a braw bridegroom
that's coming to take me o'er the water ;" and
in making this answer she threw her eyes
quickly about, and seeing the Lord James in
the apparel of the Lady Glenjuckie, she
started up, and began to laugh and clap her
hands, tripping around him like one danc-

ii III

240

THE SPAEWIFE.

ing the Volta, and singing as if she swept the
ground with a long and spacious train :—

I'll gar our gudeman trew,

That I'll tak' the fling strings,

Gif he winna ouy to me

Twelve bonny gold rings :—

Ane for ilka finger,

An' twa for ilka thumb ;

An' stand about, ye saucy quean,

An' gie my gown room.

I'll gar our gudeman trew,

That I'll sell the ladle,

Gif he winna buy to me

A braw riding saddle.

To ride t' the kirk and frae the kirk,

And up and down the town ;

And stand about, you saucy queun,

An gie my gown room.

While she was thus leaping and singing,
Nigel unmoored the boat, and pushing it in-
to deeper water, the Lord Jaraes sprung on
board, and Anniple followed him.

THE SPAEWIFB.

241

How is this, Anniple ?" said Nigel • « I
thought you were waiting for a bridegroom to

take

you over ?
And is he not

side ?" was her
fruin,

come,
answer. '

and down by my
But, Nigel Glen-
gang your ways home and count your
cows, for yonder's a score o' them driven away
m broad daylight."

" Both Nigel and the Lord James looked
around; but save the water, and the woods
that overhung the boat, they could see no-
thing.

" Where do you see what you say >- in

quired the Lord James, while Nigel appeared

awestruck and alarmed; for he had great
»a.th m her predictions, and doubted not that

>t was a vision of the second-sight in which
she had seen the cattle driven away.

" Is it the Macfarianes, or the Macgre<.ors
or the Colquhouns, or the Macaulays, "thai
you see lifting the cows?" said Nigel seri
ously.

VOL. II.

THE Si'AEWIFiJ.

<■< Open ports ! open ports ! we're the King's
soldiers ;" replied Anniple triumphantly, flou-
rishing her hands and swinging her head, while
the Lord James, plying the oars, rowed the
boat from the shore ; for his anxiety to be be-
yond reach made him but little heed her
rhapsodies.

" Ye need na stress your strength,'' she
added, observing him.

«' Tell me," cried Nigel from the shore,
" what did you see ?"

" I saw, and I see,

A rope on a tree,

Swing swang, swing swan g" —

was however all the answer he obtained. Nor
was it more coiisolatory than the predictions
respecting the cattle ; for h seemed ominous
of some dreadful catastrophe to his father,
the thought of which for an instant made him
repent that he had not held possession of the
Lord James.

" Eh ! Nigel Glenfruin, cross yoursel, cross

THE SPAEWIFE. 243

yourseV exclaimed Anniple ; « wha's that be-
hind you ?"

The sough of horror with which she ut-
tered this, made not only Nigel look behind
"1 great alarm, but the Lord James suspend
the oars.

** It's vveel for you, Nigel Glenfruin," re-
sumed Anniple, giving a sigh as if it were of
relief;' that ye re so guarded, for yon was a
gnm and a stalwart carl. I saw him rax his
muckle hand to tak' you. It was a' bones,
and no of an earthly hue, but a silver dove
flew in between and dabbit him away. O, I'm
fear't, for I doubt he was the Auld V 111
Thing."

Nigel crossed himself, and shuddering that
a kind thought should have tempted him to a
dishonourable desire, wished the Lord James
J<afe from his enemies.

" I trow," said Anniple as the boat moved
away, « that he'll ne'er think such a thought
again."

i 11

244

THE SPAEWIFE.

The Lord James then, dipping the oars into
the water, began to row, and Anniple sang—

" Lord Seton's only daughter

Is sitting in her bower,

And aye the sigh breaks frae her heart,

And her tears are like the shower ;

' But the westlin' winds are blowing,

And the ship is on the sea,

And he's coming from a far, far land.

My own true love to be.' "

" I think, Anniple,'' said the Lord James,
when he had rowed to the skirts of Inch-
mo-an, " that it would have been as well for
you to have staid on the shore. I know not
how it is that I have so simply taken you
with me.""

" Ye could na do else ; ye could na help
it ; and I am none in your bethank for the
courtesie. But yell no fare the waur with
Anniple o' Dumblane, and I'll spae your
fortune ; — or a' be done, ye'll no ha'e to say
that I did na pay the ferry-fee."

THE SPAEWIFE. 245

" And what is my fortune to be ?" replied
the Lord James, resting his arms on the oars.
'* Without seer or prophecy, this much of it
I can read myself,-we shall not reach the
other shore to-night, and must find our haven
m one of these islands."

" Be thankful,- said Anniple ; - the beagle
loses scent at the waterside;" and she again
began to sing, and he to row.

The darkness of the night was then fast
closmg around, the blast came in fits from the
hills, and the skies had for some time been
overcast. The dampness of the air betokened
rain ; but, when it came on, it was a moisture
that rather oozed to wetness on the sense than
fell with any palpable annoyance. Anniple,
however, refrained from singing, and cowered
down into the bottom of the boat, where she
remained silent; but ever and anon she raised
her head, and bared her ear to th wind, and
listened— while the rising blast and drifting
waters sent a coldness upon the spirit of the

V ''li

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THE SPAEWIFE.

81 i

T-.ord James, that made him sometimes al-
most resolve to abandon the oars and allow
the boat to be driven to her fate.

In one of these despondent moods he said —

" You have not yet told me what my for-
tune is to be. I doubt, Anniple, 'tis some-
thing that you fear to tell/'

" Hush, hush, the warst peril of your life's
no far off," was her reply ; and she raised her
head and peered along the waves, and listen-
ed.

" What shall we do ?" said the Lord James,
somewhat impressed by the evident anxiety
and eae-erness of her manner. " Row with the

oars and plash in the water,— »"

'* Tide whatever may betide,

They're no to be born that maun be your bride.

I see a sight and I hear a sound, and now I'll
pay the ferry-fee."

Immediately thereupon she resumed the
place on the bench where she was first seated,

THE SPA E WIFE.

5^47

rii

and began to sing with a loud and clear voice,
and so continued to do for some time, at the
end of every overcome of tlie ditty saying, in a
whisper,

" They're coming ! they Ve coming .' theyVe
cominnf !"

The spirit of the Lord James was in uni-
son with the despair of his fortunes, and he
looked around on the dark-heaving waters
and to the starless sky. His hands, unused
tr> the hard labour which he had long plied,
were then glowing almost to burning, and
his face chilled with the mist of the night : he
felt that he had sounded the depths of ad-
versity.

" TheyVe coming ! they're coming ! they're
coming!" said Anniple again, in a still more so-
lemn whisper, at the close of a verse which she
had hilariously sung, and her words seemed to
be the more fearful because of the mirth of her
song, which she resumed in a moment after
with still greater glee. In the middle, how-

■iM

248

THE SPAEWIFE.

ever, of the music, she suddenly paused, and
said —

" I see them yonder, black atween the
water and the sky/^

The Lord James looked along the water,
and she continued to sing with a still blither
note. It was not, however, till she had again
repeated in the same strange and oracular
manner — " They're coming! they're coming !
they're coming !" that he at last discerned a
large boat, with a wide sail spread, sailing
before the wind, and holding such a course
as would bring her within a short distance.
Then it was that he discovered the craft
of the loud and mirtliful ballad which
she \vas singing ; for the boat soon drawing
near, one on board hailed them, and inquired
where, they were going.

Tlie Lord James would have answered,
but Annipie laid her hand on his lips, and re-
plied in the words of the old song of the Kim-
mer's Craik—

THE SPAEWIFE.

249

*' And we toom't the bowie,
O ho, O ho— Trie, trow, trie ;
And the bride was fou, and coupit o'er,
As fou as a sow was she."

"What! Anniple, is it you? and what
wedding have you come from ?'' cried another
of those who were in the boat, which l)y this
time was close at hand.

" ril no tell, till I ken whare yeVe going,"
was her answer.

" Ask her,'' said the voice who had first
spolcen ; and then a third person said—

" Have you heard any thing of the Lord
James of Albany, the rebel ?"

" O aye," was her answer ; " the provost of
Dumbarton catched him on the hills of Glen-
fruin, and has ta'en him away, they say, to be
hang't."

" Who have you in the boat with you .?"
" The miller of Luss's deaf and dumb
dochter. I wish she was blin' likewise ; for
seeing you she has stopped the oa,vs, and I

L 2

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■1.51

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ills

Rilii

:i: i

THE SPAEWIFE.

may as well think to gar Ben Lomond dance
La Volta to my singing, as bid her row till
ye'*re awa. A very good night I wish you."

To this no answer was made, but only a
shout of laughter ; and Anniple resuming her
song, die boat sailed away.

'' I trow, said Anniple, " that I have well
paid my ferry-fee, and now may ye shape
your course what way you will ; your moon's
changed, and the mirkcst hour of your night
past ; and she began to laugh and chatter
curiously with her teeth, saying — " They'll
hae three een that'll see through me."

The wonderment of the Lord James was
very great, at the simplicity wherewith she
had answered, and beguiled the officers in the
boat. — " Truly," said he, '' thou hast indeed
well paid thy ferry-fee ; but whither shall I now
fijOjfo?' all the country will soon be a-foot to take
me, and those in that boat will speedily suspect
what has been when they learn how I am dis-
guised in Leddy Gknjuckie's apparel."

THE SPAEWIFE.

251

Anniple, however, had no power nor capa-
city to advise, but she replied, —

" Gang as ye will, ye have but one road,
and that ye maun travel or sail, happen what
will."

So he, being wearied with his labcnir, and
his hands very sore, made for Inch-nio-an,
where they landed.

lit

)>'''IHIW>

252

THE SPAEWIFE.

CHAP. XXII.

The time was now drawing near, which the
King had set for laying the foundation of the
grand al)hey of the Charturaris at Perth, ac-
cording as he had secretly vowed to do, when-
ever peace and good order were estabhshed
tliroughout the realm; and he sent letters to all
liis great lords and puissant barons, inviting
thcin to be witnesses of the solemnity ; order-
ing manifold preparations to be made for the
entertainment of the commonalty, who from all
])arts were flocking to behold the pomp of such
a ceremony as had not been seen in Scot-
land since the prosperous days of King David
the yirst. And the better to celebrate this
epoch of blessed peace in a Christian man-
ner, all prisoners, who were not accused of the
four great crimes, were to be forgiven of their

•1(1

THE SPAEWIFE.

253

transgressions and set free. The Queen her-
self, who had never ceased to lament the ab-
sence of her beloved Lady Sibilla, wrote kind
letters to her, earnestly entreating her to come
again to court, and exhorting her, with all
the pith and marrow of sweet eloquence, to
do her so signal a favour at that time ; for
without her the King's pious pageantry would
lack in the satisfaction whkh she desired
thereat to enjoy.

For a time the Lady Sibilla withstood all
these royal entreaties, and passed the slow
and melancholious hours in the peaceful nun-
nery of Inch-Colm, tasting, however, of no
pleasure from the pityful ministrations of the
holy sisterhood, scarcely even soothed by their
orisons, in which, though she bore a part,
and mingled her voice with the requiems to
Heave n, the ties of youthful lovo, and the
weight of fond anxieties, held her f>rlorn
s|>irit in captivity on the earth. Her only so-
lace was in wandering round the cliffs of the

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THE SPAEWIFE.

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island ; and often, after the vesper-song, she
retired alone to the western summit of the
hill that overlooks the bay of Aberdour, and
there, with her cheek resting on her hand,
would sit listening to the breaking of the hol-
low waves below — the only delight she tasted
in all her sequestration being from the mur-
muring of their sullen harmonies.

It happened, soon after the adventures
whereof rt::ital has been made, that one night,
as she sat in that dismal condition, she ob-
served, by the obscure light of the stars, a
lx>at coming near to the rocks under the cliff
where she was seated ; and, in the sound of
the voices of those aboard, she thought that
there was one which she had heard before ;
so, being moved by curiosity from her listless-
ness, she rose and went near to a little bay in
the shore, to which she saw the boat was mak-
ing; and on drawing near, heard Glenfruin
exclaim—

Sowlls and podics ! King's herald, and

I'^f

THE SPAEWIFE.

255

will we pe here al night like a pird o' te water,
and a kirk and a tower in te veesibility of our
two eyes, where tere will pe te monks wi'
teir goot trinks and festeevitees ? — Oomph !"

The herald explained to him, that it was a
nunnery, and not a monastery, which he saw ;
and that although they might be permitted to
pass the night in the chapel, yet, while the
weather held up, he would rather remain in
the boat.

'* Put," replied Glenfruin, " we would pe
making our pregations, 'caz you know. King's
herald, tut we're in a jeopardee."

" For that," said Keith, " I have no ob-
jection to land for half an hour or so ; but
we must first let the Abbess know ; for there
have been such things done in holy houses, by
perstms seeking admission on pious pretexts,
tliat I doubt we should not else be allowed to
enter the church."

The Lady Sibilla, on hearing this, went
quickly to the convent, and apprised the nuns

:;i

THE SPAEWIFE.

of the arrival of the boat, and mentioned who
Glenfruin was, and in what manner he had so
faithfully protected herself; by which preven-
tion, when Keith and the chieftain came to the
gate to ask admission to the chapel, they were
readily allowed entrance; and the nuns, in con-
sideration of the hospitality that he had shewn
to the Lady Sibilla in her distress, prepared a
repast for ther;* rjy the time they had finished
their orisons ; to the which she was appointed
to invite them, not being professed to the
veil. Accordingly, when they rose from their
kneeling before the altar, she went into the
ciiaj)el, and met them as they were coming
away.

'* Sowlls and podies ! is it a ghost frae te
worm and te tomb, or te Laidie Sibeela a1 py
herselph, tat we spy ?" cried Glenfruin when
he saw her advancing; and immediately,
with many inflexions, brushing the pavement
of the church with his bonnet, he went to-
wards her, saying —

THE SPAEWIFE.

257

" Tis pe a saint and a miracle too ! for Glen-
fruin's in a custodee, and te Laidie Sibeela can
tel te King's herald tat how it \fas al a fair
and a just — Oomph."

This was not stated with sufficient perspi-
cuity to enable the Lady Sibilla to compre-
hend the condition of Glenfruin, and she said
to the herald, desiring s. »me farther explana-
tion, " What does Glenfruin mean ?"

" I am carrying him to be examined," re-
plied Keith respectfully, " touching a charge
of having wantonly hanged a monk."

'* Sowlls and podies ! King's herald, is na
te Laidie Sebeela tere ? Did na she see wi' her
eye, tat Faider Mungo would na come up and
pe hangt at al ?"

" I am grieved to hear," replied the Lady
Sibilla, " that you are brought into such
trouble on account of so unworthy a priest."

'< Tere ! King's herald," cried Glenfruin ;
" and is't a to-be-surely, tat te honest man
and te loyal tee will no get a glorification for

!«58

THE 8PAEWIFH.

1 1 5l|

I'i

his servitudes, nor a smal rewart at al ? —
Oomph !"

'* But,'" resumed the herald, " he is accus-
ed of a still greater offence — no less than of
seizing the Duchess of Albany after she was
set free by the King^s command, and of hold-
ing her as Ins prisoner for a ransom— the
which is an off'ence that the King will not
lightly pardon."

The mention of her Grace's name touched
the wound of the Lady Sibilla''s heart, and
she said, " Alas ! ill-fated Lady ! how is it
with her now P**'

" She's al very well, and a consolation too,"
replied the chieftain ; adding, " her Craze is
a pird on te bough tat sings for a happiness.
Put her oold laidie matam, she walks like te
frog to be sure, caz of her maladie.""

" Then it is true," said the Lady Si-
billa, " that she is in your castle, and a
prisoner ?"

*' SowUs and podies ! goot Laidie Sibeela^

THE SPAEWIFE.

^59

how is't a ting tat can pe, tid na she come on
a veesitation al o' her own gratus mind ?"

" I hope,'' interposed the herald, « that
you will be able to prove it was so ; but it
IS growing late, and we must return to the
boat, that we may get to Burntisland by day-
light, else shall we not be able to reach Perth
to-morrovr night in time to give you a chance
of being included in the general pardon ; for
the day after is appointed for the festival, and
the list of the absolved will be published in
the morning."

The Lady Sibilla then invited them to par-
take of the refection which the charitable
nuns had prepared, and having retired to her
own cell, she communed with herself on what
she had heard, and began to wish that she
had accepted the Queen's invitation, in order
that she might have been on the spot to ob-
t;iin her Majesty's mediation in behalf of
Glenfruin, whose faults were more of his
simplicity and ignorance, than of any innate

Ill

2S0 THE SPAEWIFE.

malice of heart. And the more she thought
of this, her wish began to take the strength
of desire ; in so much, that by the time the
guests finished their repast, she had inform-
ed the Countess of Ross, that she intended
to go with them in the boat, and return for a
time to court, to use her good offices in be-
half of one, by whom, in her extreme distress,
she had been so favoured.

The Countess, whose anger against the
King for the little reverence that was paid to
the submission of the Lord of the Isles, burnt
as fiercely as ever, said all she could to dis-
suade her, and even chided her inconstancy
of mind ; but much of what she urged, in-
stead of weakening the resolution of the Lady
Sibilla, made it stronger. And thus it came
to pass, that she went with Glenfruin and the
herald, and, with the wonted freedom of her
spirit, unattended by any damsel, accompani-
ed them to Perth ; where, on arriving, and
learning that the King was then holding a

THE SPAEWIFE.

261

solemn council at Scone, she exhorted the
herald to take his prisoner at one thither;
and going hers<"lf with them, she was soon
welcomed by the sisterly embraces of the
Queen, who, rejoicing to see her, much laud-
ed her coming, the joy whereof was enriched
by being so unexpected.

THE L-;PAEWIF1^

CHAP. XXIII.

I !

Nigel, after leaving the creek where the Lord
James and the Spaewife had embarked, return-
ed towards the tower of Glenfruin, pondering
on what Anniple had said, and full of a fearful
dubiety concerning the things whereof she
had spoken ; and Celestine, after going some
distance on the road towards Luss, returned
to the same place, considering with himself,
that by the time he again reached the castle-
hill, the herald, with the chieftain and his at-
tendants, would be far advanced on their way
to Dumbarton, whither, as it has been re-
heai'sed, they were minded to go that nicpjit.
Thus it fell out, that N:gel and Celestine met
at the castle-gate, where they respectively con-
ferred of what had come to pass.

By this time the night had set in showery

THE sPAK\riFj:.

and blustering on the hills, so that there was
no choice but for Celestine to abide in the
castle, notwithstanding the prohibition which
Glenfruin himself had laid against all stran-
gers. Accordingly, after some further parley,
partly arising from the jealousy wherewith Ni-
gel saw his clansmen would regard the entrance
of the Campbells into the castle during tlie
absence of their chief, it was agreed, in order
to prevent quarrels, that Celestine alone
should be admitted, and that his men should
pass the night on the hill.

i'i.boit the time that this had been deter-
mined, the boat which passed the Lord James
and the Spaewife arrived at the foot of the
water of Glenfruin, and those who were on
board having landed, walked towards the
tower, the lights of which they had seen from
the lake. But on the shore, the drizzingly
shower so rose on the blast in their faces, that
they were obligated to pass, from time to time,
a ward- word among them, in order that they

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264

THE SPAEWIFE.

might not scatter themselves so far as to lose
one another.

Meanwhile, Celestine being admitted into
the castle, the gates were jealously shut, and a
strong watch set, both on the walls and in the
court, in case of any treachery among the
Campbells; and these wardens, hearing the
sound of many voices approaching as the
strangers drew near, were in great consterna-
tion and alarm, and secretly called Nigel from
the hall, to warn him of danger.

Nor was this without a show of reason ; for
the Campbells, as they lay on the ground in
the lea of the furze on the hill, also heard
the same sounds afar off* ; and listening and
conferring together, they discovered the tie-
word to be one that was their own, whereupon
they rose with a great shout, which struck
such fear into the breasts of the Glenfruins,
that four of them instantly rushed into the
hall and seized Celestine and Father Donich,
as they were sitting together discoursing in

THE SPAEWIFE.

265

the chimney corner, and made them prisoners ;
believing that the arrival of a new band of
Campbells, at that hour, was all of a strata-
gem to possess themselves of the castle,— such
doings being adventures of ordinary custom
during the turbulent rule and regency of the
Albanies.

Celestine and the chaplain, not knowing
what had chanced without, were in grea't
amazement, and bitterly reviled the perfidy of
the Glenfruins.

The manner in which the Duchess had been
made prisoner, the pretext on which the
Campbells had been denied the ordinary
usages of hospitahty, and the marvellous cun-
ning, as it seemed, of a youth so young and
so fair spoken as Nigel, were all things so
much of the same quality and spirit, that Ce-
lestine could find no sufficient words for his
indignation. His greatest alarm, however,
was for his cousin, the Lord James. The
story which Nigel had told him of his embarka-

VOL. II.

■1 '■'

Mil

I i

266

THE SPAEWIFE,

tioii, he believed to be a fraudulent invention,
and he made no doubt that the ill-fated PrWce
was delivered into the custody of the herald,
to win favour with the government for his
father.

The anger of Nigel was not less ardent
against the deceit with which he on his part
conceived himself to have been treated, and
he returned into the hall with his sword un-
sheathed, and upbraided Celestine with many
sharp and rankling taunts. In the midst,
however, of their mutual upbraidings, and the
noise and dissonance that reigned widiin and
without, a horn was heard at the gate.
' Nigel, at the sound, desisted from the
scorn with which he was addressing his sus-
pected guest, and sheathing his sword, went
to learn who it was that so courteously
sought admission. Finding, after some short
parley, that the strangers were clothed with
authority from the King, he gave orders to
let them in, and soon returned, ushering them

THE SPAEWIFE. 267

into the hal], where Celestine and Father
Donich were stiJl standing in the middle of
the floor, with their arms pinioned to their
sides by the fierce and stalwart Glenfruins.

The strangers were, Sir Duncan Campbell
of Loch Aw, the father of Celestine, and Sir
Patrick Graeme of Kincardine, with certain
of their respective retainers.

Sir Duncan was sent by the King to take
the Duchess from Glenfruin, and to conduct
her wheresoever she chose to go ; and Sir
Patrick was empowered with a royal mandate
to raise the country, in order that effectual
search might be made for the Lord James.
They had come together from the Buchanan
shore in the same boat, though their missions
were so different ; and out of tenderness for
her Grace's great sufferings, it was covenant-
ed between them, that until she was removed.
Sir Patrick should say nothing of his war-
rant, nor move in the execution thereof. It
was in consequence thought by Nigel, to

268

THE SPAEWIFE.

whom Sir Duncan had declared the purport
of their visit, that they were come for the
same object.

But the Knight of Loch Aw had no sooner
entorfd the hall, when, seeing the singular
and ignominious manner in which his son
and domestic chaplain were held, than he loud-
ly demanded an explanation.

Celestine, knowing how Uttle his father
would approve of the adventure in which he
had embarked for the Lord James, briefly
stated, that, in pursuit of his game, he had
been led to Lochlomond-side, and had come in
the afternoon to Glenfruin, wherehe was mind-
ed to spend the night : but that in a sudden
manner both he and Father Donich were made
prisoners, and held in the condition in which
lie saw them; the reason wherefor he could
not divine, unless it were to extort from them
a ransom, s\ich as Glenfruin himself had
intended to do with his aunt, the Duchess
of Albany, who was then in the castle.

II I

THE SPAEWIFE.

269

This tale did not, however, satisfy Sir
Duncan Campbell, who was no stranger to
the partiaUties which his son bore towards
his mother's turbulent kindred, and he turned
round abruptly to Father Donich, and de-
manded to know how he too was there.
" What game,'' said he, « has led Father Do-
nich to Lochlomond-side ?"

Sir Patrick Graeme was not a little amazed
at what was thus passing, and listened and
looked on with his mind apert, and his sus-
picions all awake; for he well knew how
much the house of Loch Aw was divided, on
ai count of the filial affections of the lady.

Father Donich being at a loss what answer
to make, instead of replying, struggled to be
free of those who held him in their grip.
In the meantime, Nigel remembering what
Celestine had said with respect to the differ-
ence between him and his father concerning
his kinsman, quicViy discovered the hasty
error which, in a moment of alarm, he had so

270

THE SPAEWIFE.

discourteously committed afrainst his guest,
itud replied, without seeming to have ob-
served what Sir Duncan had said to Father
Donich.

" I am grieved for what has happened ;
but this evening my father was summoned
by horn and caption to appear before the
King ; and having been taken away, it was
his command, that, during his absence, stran-
gers should not be admitted. When, how-
ever, Celestine Campbell came hither, I
could not deny him so much hospitality as
shelter for the night. Still anxious, how-
ever, that my father's orders should not be
altogether contemned, it was agreed that
his clansmen should remain on the hill ;
where, it would appear, when they heard you
coming, they shouted and made a noise ; the
which caused us to fear that the Campbells
were come first with Celestine to gain admis-
sion by streitagem, and then with you to con-
summate the plot."

THE SPAEWIFE.

271

" The tale is plausible/' said Sir Patrick
Graeme; "but how is it that this reverend
friar is also here ?"

Father Donich, now having recovered his
wits, was able to frame a fair story, replied,
" I was sent by my good Lady of Loch Aw,
to bear her kind and loving condolence to
the Duchess."

'*■ May this be credited?" inquired Sir
Patrick, addressing himself to Sir Duncan,
who, evidently in much trouble, said —

" I pray you, do not sift me in this too
curiously. I have ever done my duty as a
true man in the King's service, and I have
never known my son guilty of any dishonour ;
I think it may not be questioned that my wife
was likely to send her chaplain on the errand
which he says, ard I will acknowledge to
you freely, that I suspect my son has also
come with some similar intent."

" I see not," replied the Knight of Kin-
cardine, " much to condemn in all that ;" but

'!t

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272

THE SPAEWIFE.

turning to Nigel, he added, " Have you
lieard ought, in these parts, of the traitor
James of Albany ?"

" Yes,"" replied Nigel : " he was here this
afternoon."

" What, in this castle?" inquired Sir
Patrick eagerly. Celestine Campbell gasp-
ed, and Father Donich stood like one that is
smitten with some inexpressible despondency.

" No ; not in the castle,"" resumed Nigel ;
but just under the walls.""

" And what has become of him ? Why
did you not seize him ? Wherefore was he
allowed to escape ?''"' exclaimed Sir Patrick
Graeme.

" He was not allowed to escape."'"'

" O treacherous villain !"" muttered Celes-
tine, unable any longer to restrain his grief
at such treachery.

Sir Duncan Campbell said nothing, but
ruefully shook his head, while Sir Patrick
resumed, addressing Sir Duncan : —

THE SPAEWIFE.

273

" The poor creature in the boat with tlie
deaf and dumb woman has then told us true.
He lias been carried to Dumbarton."

Nigel immediately discerned that they must
have met the Lord James in his disguise
with Anniple, and he added briskly, " I
know not by whom he was taken, but most
likely it may have been by the governor of
Dumbarton, who has at present with him a
great force."

Celestine looked at Nigel, and felt that he
had done the youth injustice; but he could
make no atonement in the presence of those
before whom he then stood.

" I fear, Celestine," said his father, " that
you have greatly incurred the King's dis-
pleasure ; but, since your unfortunate cousin
is taken, go with Sir Patrick Graeme in the
morning to Perth, and do what you can to
make your peace with his Majesty. As soon
as I have executed my orders with respect to
the Duchess, I will follow you thither."

M 2

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r.v

2T4 THE SPAEWIFE.

Thus was order restored in the hall of
Glenfruin ; and next morning, all due pre-
paration for the same being made, the
l^uchess, with Leddy Glenjuckie and Celes-
tine, embarked along with Sir Duncan Camp-
bell and the Knight of Kincardine for Inch-
Murrin.

THE SPAEWIFE.

UKS

CHAP. ..XIV.

Soon after the aeparture of those who went
away with the Duchess, Nigel, according to
what had been pactioned with the Lord James,
ascended the hill behind le tower of Glen-
fruin, to see if he might discover where the
Prince had landed, by the smoke of any fire
on the Ben Lomond side of the lake. But
although the air was clear and still, in so
much, that the shadows of all things in the
water were not rimpled by the transit of the
softest breeze, he yet could discern no signal
of the kind ; and he returned to the castle in
much tribulation of spirit, and rested his
forehead on his hand, not knowing what he
should then do. For, being scarcely more
than a striphng, he lacked that confidence in
himself which prompts to faith in others;

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THE SPAEWIFE.

and anxious as ho was to consult with some of
those of the clan whom he knew to be bold
and discreet, he was diffident to trust them
with the matter of his fears, on account of the
situation in which his father, their chieftain
and master, then was placed.

He was fearful they would think it their
duty only to search for the outlaw, in order
that he might be given up for Glenfruin, or
for the IX ward that the service of bringing in
so eminent an offender was likely to obtain ;
for he had overheard them murmuring, during
the night, that the opportunity of taking him
should have been so lost.

He had not, however, remained long in
that posture of doubt and rumination, when
Hector MacAllisner of Glenmallochan, one
of those in whom he was most inclined to con-
fide, came and informed him that the clansmen
from all parts were gathering in, much mal-
content that Glenfruin should have been taken
away.

THE SPAEWIFE.

'Zll

" We/' said he, " who accompanied the
herald to Dumbarton, were not permitted
to enter the town, but were driven away
in a contumelious manner. We made not
the value of a cock nor a hen by the jour-
ney/'

" All we do now," continued Hector Mac-
Allisner of Glenmallochan, speaking in the
Celtic tongue, which may be thus rendered—
" All is for a nothing. Hamies Maclvan of
Mollin-cruine wanted to get a cow with calf
for his wife's down-lying; and young Ivan
Maclvan of Ardgask would hae been con-
tent with a sucking horse, as his own foal
was lifted last week by some of the Macfar-
lanes or the Colquhouns ; Alimor MacHa-
mies had promised his new wife a web of
cheque or harn; and Walter Dhue wished
for but a spade, the shaft of his own being
broken. One of the bailies has a saddle,
that would just have fitted my gelding;
but devil a thing got we at all."

278

THE SPAEWIFE.

*' What a pity,'' said Nigel ; " and how
did it so happen ?"

" It conies all of the English King's new
laws/' replied Hector MacAUisncr. " Wards
are set round the town, to warn the burghers
when any Highlanders are seen coming near —
which is a custom that should not be endured.
We shall soon be all fireside sloths like the
Lowlanders ; — for, in consecpience, when we
were within about half-a-mile of the town, the
burghers came forth with swords and bows, in
such force that wo durst aot touch the hair
of a horse's tail. The very wives ran flap-
ping with their a])rons, driving their cocks
and hens into the houses. The time has
been when they all fled screaming to the hills,
and left every thing to our free choosing.
But I fear, I fear that the hearty days of
rugging and rieving are gone— that the age
of lawyers and warders has come — and the
giory of the Highlands is departed for ever !"

Nigel was very sorrowful to hear Hector

THE SPAEWIFE.

279

how

MacAllisner speak in this mournful manner,
and bade him hope for better times.

" Ah !'^ replied Hector, " we shall never
see the blithe days again that we had in Duke
Murdoch^s time. Then the Lowlanders re-
spected the heroic virtues of the Highlanders,
and there was neither scant nor want of the
best things, not only of Dund)artoK, but even
of Glasgow and Renfrew—in the very sheil.
ings of tl)e hills of Lennox— aye, even of
Lorn.'^

" It was indeed a black day for all this
country-side,'' said Nigel, « when the Duke
brought in King James."

" In losing his head for his pains he got
but a just reward," said Hector; "but the
whole Highlands owe the Glenfruins a grudge,
because we took not the Lord James' side at
the burning of Dumbarton. Had we done
so, he might this day have been the JCing on
the throne ; and what a blessing that would
have been to all the Highlanders I"

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280

THE SPAEWIFE.

Nigel was somewhat surprised to liear him
speak after that manner, and said — " It was
always hitherto thought, that my father acted
a wise and a discreet part on that occasion."

" What has he made by it ?" exclaimed
Hector, " Did not the Macfarlanes, the Mac-
aulays, the Colquhouns, and the Macgregors,
feather their nests with the Earl of Lennox's
cattle ; to say nothing of what the Buchanans
and others herrit from his lands beyond the
Levcn before the Highlanders got there; while
the Glenfruins were sitting on the hills with
their fingers in their mouths.'"

" But my father expected,'" said Nigel,
** that he would have been rewarded with some
part of the earldom of Lennox.^'

*' Has he been so rewarded .'^'" cried Hector,
growing more vehement. " What got the
clan by their readiness in rising against the
Macdonalds, but their own meal which they
carrietl with them for the war.^^ What got
Glenfruin for catching Sir Robert Graeme,

THE SPAEWIFE.

281

and taking him to Blair Athol, but cold
thanks for his pains ; and the Duchess, that
we all expected would have paid a rich ran-
som, is not she taken away? And Glenfruin
himself, that should be here, is he not carried
off to be hangt or headed like a traitor ? Call
ye that a reward either to chief or clan?
But, Nigel of Glenfruin, that is not what I
am sent from the clansmen to tell you. We
like not that you should have known how the
Lord James was here yesterday, especially,
that, instead of trusting your own men, you
should have been in league with Celestine
Campbell concerning him."

" What would the clan have done, had I
broken my word and betrayed the Prince ?"

" We would have hangt the King's herald
for daring to arrest Glenfruin in his own cas-
tle, and have set up the Prince — all the Len-
nox men are ripe, and ready to take his part.
But, Nigel of Glenfruin, you have not a true
heart, neither for father nor kinsman, and the

282

THE SPAEWIFE.

clan are resolved to make your cousin, Rodric
MacNigel, chief, till Glenfruin is restored,
unless you will give them satisfaction."

" What satisfaction do they expect ?"*' said
Nigel, struggling to appear calm and col-
lected.

" That you will tell them where the Lord
James is ; for they know it is not as was said,
that he has yet been taken.*"

" And if I do so, what then ?"

" And that you will, as soon as it can safe-
ly be done, either demand, or take from the
Duchess, a sufficient satisfaction for the ran-
som that was expected."

" We might as well declare ourselves in
rebellion at once. Surely you cannot but
know that the King's strength is every where
in the country, and there is no clan, however
powerful, that may venture to measure swords
with it. Have you not but just told me, that
you dare not lift a cow or a carrion from the
very burghers of Dumbarton ? Truly, Hec-

THE SPAEWIFE.

283

tor MacAllisner, this is mutiny and sedition
without reason, and I will not ruin the clan
by lending myself to the blind impulses of
mere rage."

He then paused, and communed with him-
self for some time in silence ; after which he
added —

" This much I will do freely, Hector : let
us seek the Lord James, who must be some-
where about the skirts of the lake ; but let the
clan consider, that as he is our lawful Prince,
and may one day be King, even by right
without might, whether it would not be wise
to refrain from any attempt to molest his
mother. This I was minded to have pro-
posed to you ; for, unless we find and succour
him, hunger will soon drive him into the
hands of others, who will thereby gain all the
advantages that might be ours."

Hector pondered for some time, and then
he said—-

nil':

284

THE SPAEWIFE.

" But what shall we do with him if we do
not set him up ?"

" Keep him in secret, be hospitable to him,
earn his favour, and await what is to come
hereafter."

Some farther discourse ensued, wherein
Hector was made sensible that the young
chieftain counselled more wisely than those
who had sent him to make their complaint,
and he returned to them on the castle-hill
where they were assembled, and reported
what had passed. Nigel soon after also went
thither ; and though for the most part they
received him with joyous shouts, yet were
many among them sullen, and stubbornly
knotted to the mutinous suggestions of his
cousin, Roderic MacNigel, a fierce and head-
strong youth, who thought, by fostering these
discontents, to have been chosen chief till the
return of his uncle, and by course of things,
if he was never permitted to return, to have
remained his successor.

THE SPAEWIFE.

285

Nigel was sorely grieved to observe this di-
vision among his clansmen ; and fearing that
those who were of his cousin's faction would
frustrate the scheme which he had proposed,
and betray the ill-fated outlaw whom he was
so anxious to protect, he returned into the
hall followed by Hector MacAUisner, and
almost wept for bitterness of spirit, at finding
himself environed with difficulties, which, as
it then seemed, could not be mastered with-
out great detriment to his own honour, and
danger beyond all estimate or measure to the
clan.

286

' n

i .

■

i ■

•

THE SPAEWIFE.

CHAP. XXV.

In the meantime, the Lord James and An-
niple being driven by the wind and waves into
the narrow sound between Inchconagan and
Indimo-an, landed on the latter island, and
went in search of a place of shelter ; for the
wind was gusty, and from time to time the
tail of a heavy shower swept over them. The
Lord James, weary at heart, and heavy with
his disconsolate thoughts, walked on in si-
lence, and Anniple followed, ever and anon
lifting the skirt of his plaid to screen her
from the rain, as she went coweringly behind
crooning some old uncouth ditty.

Their search, however, was in vain, for nei-
ther rock nor tree could be found ; and though
from time to time the faint and ghastly light
of the northern streams broke from the

1^'

THE SPAEWIFE.

287

clouds, and dimly showed all around the black
moss and the dark heaving waters, no sign of
any shelter could be discovered. Still the
wind was rising, the showers were coming
heavier and faster, and Anniple not only re-
frained from churming her song, but began
to ban the malicious fairies that had made her
> suffer such a life of molestation.

As they were thus wandering in the gloom,
the Lord James chanced to stumble into a
place whence peats had been delved, and
would have fallen headlong, but that at the
time Anniple had hold of his plaid. When,
however, he recovered, and turned round to
speak to her, she was gone, having darted
away like an arrow from a bow. Notwith-
standing the darkness of the night, she ran
straight back to the boat, on board of which
she leapt at once, and gathered herself as
it were into a bunch in the bottom, say-
ing—

" Beds were made for the blest and the

Pii

Sli

288

THE SPAEWIFE.

born ; but the lea of a deal or a dyke's good
enough for me."

In that situation she fell asleep, and when
she awoke and looked over the side of the
boat, she found that the tempest had ceased,
and that the grey eye of the morning was
just beginning to peer thiough the mist into
which tlie he;: /y clouds of the night had re-
solved themselves.

Being cold and wet, she almost immediately
cowered down again into the bottom of the
boat ; but suddenly recollecting that she was
alone, and in the middle of the lake, she start-
ed up and began to cry and hail with a loud
and shrill voice, in the hope that she might be
iieard. Then she attempted to move the
oars, which swung on pivots, but they were too
ponderous for her strength, and she soon
abandoned the toil. At last she bethought
herself of the rc^r^ged remnant that served
her for a mantle, and getting up on a bench,
she spread it to the wind. In tijs manner

THE SPAEWIFE. jegg

She drifted near to the shore where the
nver Leven runs away ; there, leaving the
boat loose on the margent of the lake, she
went up the country, reckless of the condition
ui which she had left her companion.

It had, however, fared better with the
Lord James than with her; for. after she
left him, he came to a hovel raised by the
peat-makers to sleep i„ when employed i„
d>gg>ng the turf, and he went into it, and
found a better asylum than he could have
hoped to meet with on that lone and melan-
chohous island. Having struck a light with
his sword from a stone, he kindled a fire with
some of the moss and turf wherewith the bield
was covered, at which he sat for some time
expecting the Spaewife; but seeing she came
not, he went often to the door and called her
by name, fearing that some accident had be
fallen her. As, however, she never made h^-r
appearance, he began to conjecture that she
had perhaps found some similar place of shel.
vol,. 11.

I'llil

If"

i 'iK'

290

THE SPAEWIFE.

ter, and composed himself to sleep, to which
he was the more easily invited by the anxieties
and the toil he had undergone.

In this state of defencelessness he con-
tinued till the sun was risen ; and when
he awoke, he beheld an old man of a very
venerable aspect standing mournfully over
him. His countenance was pale, dejected,
and meek, and there was a holiness in his
eyes that betokened the patient melancholy
of a resigned and sorrowful heart. His
garb, and the rosary at his girdle, shewed
that he was a priest ; but he wore no cowl,
and his grey hair fell over his dark vesture
like the breaking of a silvery stream down the
rocky side of a heathy hill.

The Lord James at once started up, and
gazing at him for a moment, rushed into his
fatherly embra<.es ; for in him he discovered
the aged confessor of his grandfather, the
Earl of Lennox. But the old man for some
time could only weep.

THE SPAEWIFE.

291

« Alas ! my dear Lord/' said he, « I
thought that I had shed all my tears, and that
when I had followed my noble master to his
doom, Heaven had reserved for me no great-
er trial ; but the condition in which I have
found you, tells me that there was a pang
which till this morning I had not proved. O
the anguish of that pity with which I beheld
the son of so many kings sleeping forlorn in
such a place as this !"

Father Kessog then told him, that after
the dreadful business at Stirling he had re-
tired from the world, and reared a lowly cell
in one of the neighbouring islands, where he
had since lived in undisturbed solitude the
life of a hermit. *' Come with me thither,
you will be safer than here ; for the people'
around, ever since I took up my abode alone,
have regarded Inchtavannach as a conse-
crated place."

The Lord James wAs right well content to
experience so soon the truth of the predictions

29a

THE SPAEWIFE,

'.'I'

with which Anniple had, in her uncouth sim-
plicity, tried to cheer him ; and he entreated
that she might be sought for and taken with
them. After, however, going all round the
island, and seeing that the boat in which he had
come was not there, they naturally concluded
she had gone away in it, as rehearsed, and they
returned back to a little tree close to the shore
near the hovel, where they embarked on a raft
which the hermit had brought with him, and
which he had fastened to the tree.

" Last night," said the venerable man, " as
he pushed the raft towards Inchconagan, I
saw the dawn of a light rising from Inchmo-an,
and this morning about daybreak I heard a
very lamental j cry, as of one in jeopardy,
afar off on the waters, and I thought that
surely some malchance had happened ; where-
upon I rose. And many trees having been
lately felled on the islands, I put a raft of
them together, and came over to Inchconagan,
where, seeing some vapour of smoke rising

THE SPAEWIFE.

29S

from the sheillin, I framed this also to pass
over to Inchmo-an, to render what assistance I
eould, and had but shortly arrived before you
awoke."

Father Kessog having thus informed the
Lord James in what manner he had been led
to come to him, they conveyed themselves on
the raft, first across the sound of Inchconagan,
and walking over that isle, then they embark-
ed again on the other raft, and passed to the
land whereon the hermit had raised his soli-
tary dwelling.

Verily it was a region meet for holy mus-
ings and heavenly contemplations. Scarcely
had the long-hunted outlaw put his foot upon
the thymy sod, than he felt the gracious spirit
of the place mingling with his feelings, and
like the down and moss of the nest that re-
ceives the panting and harassed bird which
has escaped the fowler, at once ministering to
security and repose. Above, and all around
the little green dell wherein t'jx hermit had

ifti

S94

THE SPAEWIFE.

built his lowly habitation, the boughs of the
birch, the oak, the hazel, and the pine, "were
blended as it were in the embraces of a friend-
ly union. In the woods, the spots on the yel-
low leaf were here and there just beginning to
appear ; but still the fragrant birch had not ,
lost all her vernal beauty, for, as the soft
morning gale played with her foliage, she
turned the silver lining of her vesture to the
light, as if pleased to be caressed by so gentle
a zephyrus of the lingering summer. The oak
too was still in his vigour, and if a tarnished
bough or spray denoted that he had lately en-
countered the forerunners of the Sy thian hosts
of winter, they were like the young warrior's
crest that has felt, but not been dishonoured
by the foe. The hazel also stood green and
bushy on the shelvy banks, a little faded
from the trim of his summev holidays, like
the blithe school-boy, careless of his attire,
who seeks to plunder him of his clusters ; —
but the pine carried his evergi'een tufts un-

THE SPAEWIFE.

295

changed, stately and superior, like some proud
and gallant challenger, who, rich in ancient
pedigrees, boasts of anticipated triumphs ;—
while the brambles, with their flowers and ber-
ries on the same stalk, their thorny branches
and serrated foliage, rose amidst, among, and
around, like notable housewives, that please,
cherish, and vex the loftier lords whom they
encircle with their fond arms and fretting
conjugalities. There also the twice-visiting
primrose was seen among the cliffy rocks
peeping from her mossy nook, like some pale
and timid spinster, who, having eschewed
the summer eyes of mankind, endeavours to
put forth her beauty again when there is no
willingness to look upon her. In a few places,
amidst thistles and other joyless weeds, the
ungenial fox-glove, erect and solitary, held up
his head, with his crimson purses all on one
side, like a rich bachelor that presents but his
barren left hand to the fair ladies.

The birds, and all living things that moved

ffm

THE SPAEWIFE.

II
1 1

llj

there were tamed, as it were by the spirit of
Eden. The hares and leverets on the green
leapt playfully at the skimming swallows.
The deer looked out from the woods, pleased
with the countenance of man, and the fawn
came gamboling to give him welcome.

It was in sooth a still and pleasant solitude,
wherein a holy spirit dwelt in visible beauty,
to win the stranger, whether guided thither
by chance or driven by adversity, to pause and
receive some gentle lesson of virtue. For there
the leaves were eloquent with benignant in-
struction—when the air was still, they taught
in their siience the sweet morality of affection
that delights to cherish unsought and without
ceasing— when stirred by the breeze, they
whispered as with an admonishing counsel, to
beware of the incitements of desire; and,
amidst the storm, they declaimed of the im-
measurable vehemence of passion. " Even
the stones here also preach,^' said Father Kes-
sog, as he pointed out these things to his pen-

THE SPAEWIFE.

297

sive companion. « They remind us, when
they are bright and dry, that the heart of
man is hard and arid in prosperity ; and when
they are moistened by only the dew, do they
not prove how small a thing it is that serves
to sadden the bosom ? Listen also to the run-
ning waters, do they not warn us that life is
flowing away?— and these rocks, so channelled
and worn, and hoary, tell they not of things
that have been from of old, whereof no man
can divine the purpose, and bear witness to
the mysteries wherewith the world has been
conceived, setting at nought the groping
wisdom of presumptuous mortality.""

Thus did the hermit talk with the unfortu-
nate prince, as he led him to his cell, wherein
he had prepared a hollow tomb for himself, '
in which he nightly made his bed. « In this
tomb," said he, « should need ai-ise, you can
be concealed. Alas ! there is no resting-place
for man but the grave."

N 2

298

THE 8PAEWIFB.

CHAP XXVI.

It was some time after the arrival of the Lady
Sibilla with Glenfruin at Scone, before the
King came from the council which he was then
holding ; and he had not heard of her return
till he entered the chamber where she was
sitting with the Queen and the ladies of the
court at their evening pastimes.

The business wherewith he had been en-
gaged being the pardon of prisoners whose
offences were not of a deep dye, and other
resolutions of beneficence, which were to be as
harbingers to the solemnity of the morning—
when the foundations of the abbey which he
had promised to build were to be laid— he en-
tered the room with unwonted cheerfulness-—
so much more in unison with the benevolence
of his nature were deliberations of that kind,

THE SPAEWIFE.

299

than the stern decrees and mandates he had so
often and so long sent forth. Thus it was that,
with a buoyant step and a joyous air, he wel-
comed the unlooked-for return of the fair he-
roine; and his satisfaction was increased by
her visible endeavour to break through the
cloud of melancholy that still obscured the
splendour of her beauty. She had indeed re-
solved to dress her looks to the time and occa-
sion, and to try whether, with a gayety more
in the fashion of the smiling masques worn
by those around her, she might not attain
her purpose better than by the anxious and
regardless earnestness which had formerly
proved of so little avail. Accordingly, she
answered to his playful chidings for having
been so long a truant, with so much of that
happy gracefulness which chaimed all eyes
before she had tasted of disappointment and
sorrow, that he began to hope her gloom was
past, and to rally her again on behalf of
Stuart.

.i:*

300

THE SPAEWIFE.

" He has been ever since," said his Majes-
ty, " the most rueful and forlorn of swains*
This morning he came back with the Earl of
Atho], but so changed, and all by your cruel-
ty, that he hath not confidence to look one in
the face ; and when he answers, for he never
now speaks of his own accord, he starts, and
replies so far from the jet of the question, that
he seems more like the guilty heart-breaker
than the broken-hearted. Verily, sweet cousin,
you have a great indemnity to pay."

" But not to him," replied Sibilla; " for
I must account myself favoured of the stars,
that among the crosses of my lot, I have still
escaped the thraldom of one so easily made
such a malcontent."

In this conjuncture of their discourse, that
renowned gentlewoman, the Lady Katherine
Douglas, who was of a bolder and freer tem-
perament, being then standing near, said to the
Lady Sibilla, from the words of a poem which
his Majesty had shortly before indited—

THE SPAEWIFB.

301

" Of a' those maidens mild and meed,
Were nane sae jimp as Oilly ;;
Like ony rose her rewd was red—
Her lear was like the lily.
O, yellow, yellow was her head,
But she wi' love was silly ;
Though a' her kin had sworn her dead,
She would ha'e but sweet Willy."

** How can you," said the Queen, coming
towards them, " tease her with such poor
madrigals ?"

" Ah !" replied his Majesty laughing, « I
never knew a wife that was not jealous of her
husband's muse. But what can we do to
content our fair cousin, and prove how truly
we esteem this unlooked-for pleasure .f*"

" O ! many things, many," said the Lady
Sibilla, still in a jocund key ; *• but I shall
be too happy with two, and one of them is the
fjlliiment of a promise of an ancient date;
namely, that pretty impress of your Majesty's
mellifluous poesy, ' The Kings Quair,' in-

I i

l*i

302

THE 8PAEWIFB.

scribed on vellum by the Westminster penman ;
and wherein there is that fair limning of the
Queen, as she is depicted in the verse, smil-
ing with the inward delight of some kind
fancy. It is a debt that your Majesty is not
honest in withholding."

" And it shall be paid this same night ;
but what other grace will you demand.? I
pray it may not be even to the half of our
kingdom.*"

A little pause thereon followed, and both
the Queen and the Lady Katherine Douglas
looked grave at eacii other. The Lady Si-
billa, however, put on her gayest smile, and
said- —

" I doubt not it will be more readily ac-
corded to me than the first ; for I would but
ask what will give pleasure to his Majesty
without making him poorer.

" A simple old man, who has been my com-
panion hither, stands somewhat in the shade
of your royal displeasure, and he has come,

THE SPAEWIFE.

303

I find, too late to be included in the general
pardon."

The King's smile disappeared ; but the
Queen took the Lady Sibilla by the hand, and
said to his Majesty —

" Now, were I the King, I would comply
with this charity, and give the pardon on the
suit of our cousin without requiring to know
more. It is sufficient that the offender has
obtained her advocacy/'

His Majesty sighed, and with a mild and
gracious accent replied to tl\e Queen —

"That you love me with all the constancy
and affection which the heart of man can de-
sire in woman, I believe as sincerely as any
worshipper who hath faith in the shrine to
which he kneels ; but I would have you to
love my honour and renown also ; for Kings
have two natures and characters — in the one,
weak, passionate, and froward, they move in
their errors like the lowest vassal ; in the
other they are as gods, abstract and sublime,

304

THE SPAEWIFE.

I i

and according as their edicts and awards
favour right or wrong, they bless or blight,
not only the world in their own time, but in
all time coming.— For whom is it, sweet cou-
sin, that you intercede?''

The Lady SibiUa was, as well as the Queen
and the Lady Katherine Douglas, some-
what dismayed by the altered manner of his
Majesty ; but, still affecting to make light of
the favour, she replied —
• « It is the old loyal chieftain that so kind-
ly treated me during the rebellion in Len-
^lox."

"What! Glenfruin?" said the King. "The
accusation against him is heavy indeed.*"

The Lady Sibilla, perceiving his Majesty
was about to declare that, until the extent
of his guilt was investigated, he could not
give any promise, exclaimed hastily, and with
a sprightly tone, " I do not wish to Jiear of
what he stands accused; but grant me so
much grace on your royal promise, as to call

THE SPAEWIFE.

305

him before your Majesty in private before
he is put upon his trial ; for, poor man, he
hath not much of the art to set off liis plain
tale to any advantage."

His Majesty smiled, and assented that it
should be so. " Ah, thus it is," said he,
" that in their hours of ease princes do things
which, however pure in themselves, often
take the bearing of an ignoble partiality in
the eyes of the world. We need, however,"
he added more gravely, " some little favour
from power to countervail the invidious mis-
representations of our affections. It is hard
to deny to us the practice of one of the best
virtues of other men,— the indulgence of kind
wishes towards those who, in our humbler
nature, have commended themselves to our
esteem."

The Lady Sibilla then recounted apart to
the ladies her adventure on the night of the
burning of Dumbarton; the main tale of
which she had told the Queen before, after

306

THE SPAEWIFE.

her return to court from Glenfruin's castle,^
and particularly of those things which had
moved her to allow Anniple to take her
place in the boat with the monk. These,
her Majesty had, in her turn, imperfectly
rehearsed to the King, not conceiving that,
by any chance, the matter should ever come
again into controversy. It happened, how-
ever, that, while the Lady Sibilla was then
telling what had befallen her, his Majes-
ty, remembering the complaint of the Prior,
by whom he had been induced to order the
summons for Glenfruin, inquired if she
knew the name of the monk that went in the
boat ; and when she answered " Mungo,'" he
exclaimed sudiienly —

" Why, that was the name of the holy
man of whose martyrdom I was obliged to
hear so much. Oh ! it is too true that kings
live in chambers with painted windows,—
the fair and true light rarely shines in upon
them.

THE SPAEWIFE.

307

CHAP. XXVII.

The appointed day being now come on which
the foundation-stone of the King's new abbey
was to be laid, pleasant it would be to depaint
the thronging, the marvelling, and the ming-
ling of all sorts of people together in Perth
that morning, and to rehearse how wards
were set around the town to keep out the
Highlanders, who in latter times have so
meritoriously shown themselves worthy to
bear a part in the peaceful pageantries of
national gratulation ; — how the monks and
friars were all courtesie, in getting commodi-
ous places for tlieir friends, and how the
bailies and others of the city, and the guild ry
thereof, from time to time, got their wives and
daughters cannily slipped into the galleries set

308

THE SPAEWIFE.

apart for ladies of pedigree. But puissant must
be the pen that would set down how, at the
hour of ceremony, the friars came forth
swinging their censers of burning incense, and
with lighted tapers, and banners, and images,
and shrines of relics, and all manner of pomps
ecclesiastical, followed by the gentle nuns,
prolonging like sweet echoes the harmonies
of their masculine anthems; and how, with
the sound of trumpets, and the drum's trium-
phal thunder, the knights and nobles, in
cloaks and mantles of velvet, came as har-
bingers to the King; and with what ritual
and mysteries of masonry the foundation-stone
was laid in its pbce. These things, however,
albeit of great moment, touching the prospe-
rity of the realm, must be overpassed, to
make room for what chanced on that day in
the matters and issue of this eventful history.
When the ceremonial was over, and all those
who had part therein were returned to their
respective places of abode in the town, the

THE gPAEWIFE.

309

Earl of Athol and Stuart, who had accom-
panied the King back to the Abbey-palace of
Scone, retired towards the chambers set apart
for their entertainment ; and it chanced that,
in going along the cloister which led thereto,
Stuart followed the Earl quickly, as if to
speak with him of some matter wherewith his
mind was filled ; but when he was come with-
in two or three paces, he appeared to falter,
and the Earl looking back, and seeing who it
was by whom he had been no followed, in-
creased his pace, and hastened forward, as it
were to esc; t*w him.

The d' lety, however, that caused Stuart
at first to check his speed did not last long,
for he followed the Earl more briskly than
ever, and entered into a chamber with him,
where, as the old man untied the mantle that
he had worn in the pageant, Stuart said—-

" I was alarmed lest the show should
have been interrupted by some dreadful ac-
cident.*"

It]

310

THE SPAEWIFE.

'« How !^ replied the Earl, " What was
there to cause such apprehension? Saw you
any thing to be afraid of?"

" I observed, that as the King strewed the
corn, wine, and oil upon the stone, you grew
very pale.''

The Earl's colour again disappeared, and
his hand so shook that he rather entangled
than untied the knot he was endeavouring to
undo, — ^but he made no answer, while Stuart
continued with a little more confidence in his
manner—

" I saw that your eye was drawn towards
some one in the crowd."

" Think you," said the Earl eagerly, « that
it was remarked of me ?"

" It was," replied Stuart.

The emotion of the Earl on hearing this be-
came so manifest, that he sat down, having his
mantle still untied, and inquired, with an
anxious and alarmed voice, by whom he had
been observed.

THE SPAEWIFE.

311

« By one in the garb of a wild Highlander ;
his locks were shaggy, his beard untrimmed,
and his clothes were made up, seemingly, of
divers rags, the cast weeds of several beggars,
they were so preposterously wi-etched : he
was apparelled as one might be that hath some
flaw in his wit, and yet was he plainly not of
that nature, for his eye was sharp and steady,
and lighted up with a spirit full of menace
and invention.""

" It was not safe that a creature so fierce
and fantastical should have had leave to be
where he was," said the Earl.

" Did you not, my Lord, then know him?''
replied Stuart. But, instead of answering the
question, the Earl said thoughtfully—

" Think you that he was noticed by the
King, or by any of those who were immediate-
ly around his Majesty ? I once or twice ob-
served the eyes of the Chancellor turned to
that side."

What signifies it if he did look ; how

312

THE SPAEWIFE.

should he discover him if your Lordship
could not, who are privy to his purpose T

" To what purpose ?" exclmmed the Earl
with a voice of terror ; « to what purpose?"
and he rose hastily and walked with hurried
steps and perturbed gestures several times
to and fro in the chamber. Suddenly he ap-
peared to become calm, and going to Stuart,
he said with a solemn voice, in which there
was much sadness—

" I charge you^ as you dread my displea-
sure and the King's power, never to speak
with him touching the rights of which I was
defrauded ; for he is so maddened by the sense
of his own wrongs, and hath such a tongue to
make the bad appear the better purpose, that
out of the despite which we have ourselves
borne, he may deduce reasons that shall en-
tice you into great peril."

" My Lord, of whom do you speak ?'' re-
plied Stuart, with well-feigned simplicity and
wonderment "

THE SPAEWIFE.

313

.The Earl wrung his hands rapidly, breath-
ed quickly, and looking round hastily,
cried,—

" I will have nothing to do with your in-
tents. I know not of what you speak. I
pray to Heaven that what I fear may be but
a phantasm."

" I thought you knew not that it was Sir
Robert Graeme r said Stuart, still calmly and
with a searching look.

The mention of the name was like a spell,
and the Earl, who had been so heady, rash,
and distempered in his manner, became at
once serene and collected, saying,—

" He has been too hardly dealt with, and
adversity, like a cruel rust, has defaced the
original brightness of his character. But such
woful change is not rare; I have known
other men, as well as poor Sir Robert Gr^me,
whom Heaven had intended for high pur-
poses, but fortune and irresponsible accident
so transmuted the gold of their nature into

VOL. II.

314

THE SPAEWIFE.

iron, that at their exit from the scene of
this mortal theatre, instead of being honoured
with the peals and plaudits of admiration,
they have been followed by of n and hissing,
and their names loaded with all manner of
contumely, so basely, according to the judg-
ment of men, did they fail in the performance
of their part, and that too from nothing seem-
ingly in circumstance, but altogether from
the meanness — I would say the malice, of
their motiveless endeavours."

'' And shoald honest men stand by and
see spirits of such nobility crushed and cast
away ?" said Stuari somewhat abashed by
the vehemence of the Earl's declamation. " I
could not refrain from saying to myself, when
I saw the mournful plight to which Graeme
was reduced, — Alas ! how wofuUy hath ad-
versity degraded the image of God in that
brave man.'"*

" Hush,"" replied the Earl ; " we must not

give such license to our tongues ; the same

THE SPAEWIFE.

315

merciless justice that haunts him down may
be set on us.'^

" You are watched already," said a dread-
ful voice. • i>' •

Stuart drew his sword, and the Earl looked
like a distracted man — but a loud lauffh soon
relieved their consternation.

It was Sir Robert Grajme, who had, by
tampering with one of the EarPs servants,
by all of whom he was much pitied, ob-
tained admission into the chamber, and stood
concealed within the arras, waiting the Earl's
return.

" My Lord," said Graeme, advancing in
the pride of his might and mastery.

The Earl slirunk away, exclaiming, —

" Avaunt ! fiend ! demon ! tempt me no
more ! I will not be again tempted, remorse-
less and tremendous homicide !""

Graeme looked round to Stuart with a
smile so gaunt, hideous, and triumphant,
that he too was shaken and overawed—

316

THE SPAEWIFE.

and then he again addressed the Earl, say-

ing/

" My Lord, when I had but the hill for
my hall, the stars tor candles, and the snow
for a blanket ; when but the rain, and the hail,
and the sleet, were my visitors,— hunger my
guest, — and, night after night, I heard but
the minstrelsy of the tuneless wind, and Re-
venge roaring from all the waters of the
Tummel, the Garry, and the Tay, I swore—
not to Heaven, my Lord — that I would
have ^"

" I know, I know, all that you would say,"
cried the Earl, sinking into his seat.

" And this day," resumed Graeme, " I had
quenched the thirst of my dirk ; but he was
so fenced beyond my reach. Now this you
shall do for me .""

" Nothing, nothing, nothing !" exclaimed
the Earl, rushing wildly towards the door.
Graeme drew him back.

" This passion is in part feigned,'" said the

THE SPAEWIFE.

317

traitor sarcastically. " My Lord, be still, be
calm, you are in my power /^

" Have you no ruth of manhood in you ?''
cried the Earl to Stuart, " that you will not
help me from the fangs of this fiend ?''"'

" I fear,'' said Stuart to Graeme, " that
we have thought him more with us than he is."

The traitor paused, and eyed the Earl
with a stern and questioning eye, and then
said, " With us, or not with us, he shall be
with us. But he is so already. My Lord,
all we ask of you is, neither to see nor to
heai", and you will soon be Regent of Scot-
land, then make yourself King if you will."

For a moment the Earl paused, and look-
ed alternately at Stuart and Gr.rme ; then he
walked slowly towards his chair, and said, as
he sat down, '* This is fate, be it as you will.
Thou hast, O Heaven ! beheld my inward
agonies, ever since the fiend laid his burning
hand uptm me, and thou hast been deaf unto
my prayers."

318

TirK SPAEWIFK.

** You limy save yourself still,"''' said Gra'nie
conteinptuously, — " by jilarmiiij*' the Abbey.
But, my Lord, now that we* have launehttd
t)urselves in the same enterjirise, let there
henceforth be no more taunts between us —
call me no longer devil — and I shall not for-
get the courtesy due to one that is hereafter
to be a King/"

*' How got you into this apartment ?"''' said
Stuai*t, anxious to break in upon the strain of
their discourse.

'* Nay, rather ask how I am to get out,*"
exclaimed the traitor ; for at that moment a
rapid and sudden noise, with the clank of arms,
was heard approaching in the cloister, and
then an officer, with several soldiers, came
rushing into the room.

END OF VOLUME II.

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