H36Ss 
 
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 'L I E> RARY 
 
 OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY 
 Of ILLINOIS 
 
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 v/.| 
 
St. CLAIR OF THE ISLES! 
 
 A SCOTTISH TRADITION. 
 
 Printed by J. Darling, Leadenhall-Street, London. 
 
It 
 
St. CLAIR OF THE ISLFS; 
 
 OR, THE 
 
 <&HJTP1LAWS ©IF 3BA3BIBA, 
 & glottis!) CtaUition. 
 
 IN FOUR VOLUMES. 
 
 ELIZABETH HELME, 
 
 AUTHOR OF THE PILGRIM OF THE CROSS, DUNCAN AND PEGGY, 
 
 FARMER OF INGLEWOOD FOREST, PENITENT OF 
 
 GODSTOJV, MODERN TIMES, 8cc. 
 
 SECOND EDITION, 
 VOL. I. 
 
 ILon&ott: 
 
 Printed at the Minerva Press, 
 
 <Dy Assignment of Longman & Co. Paternoster-Row,) 
 FOR A. K. NEWMAN AND CO. LEA DEN HALL-STREET. 
 
 1817. 
 
VtaiSHT-TOil 
 

 St. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 _0 REAK, ye rude waves of the North- 
 ern Sea f break on the tower qfM'Leod. 
 — Like the rock on which it is founded, 
 it mocks your efforts, — Lonely and for- 
 saken, its halls are desolate, audits cham- 
 bers the retreat of birds, who mistake its 
 galleries for the recesses of the mountain. 
 — Soon, soon shall they afford refuge 
 to the eagle, who under his wing shall 
 rear the bloody arm on which shall hang 
 the future fate of Scotland" 
 
 Rising from one of his prophetic 
 vol, i, b dreams. 
 
2 ST. CLAlIi OF THE ISLES. 
 
 dreams, thus spoke the seer of Roskely& 
 Glen, his affrighted spirit projecting his 
 eyeballs, his cheeks pale, his lips livid, 
 and his grey hair stiffened and erect. 
 
 Again entranced he lay, when wildly 
 starting, he continued — " And ye lofty 
 turrets of Roskelyrts wide domain, your 
 pride shall bow, till the disgrace of your 
 ancient house becomes its highest glory" 
 
 He ceased for some moments, then 
 again exclaimed — " Ah me ! sad sight ! 
 on what afield of blood will shine the 
 glorious sun ! — See, the parties meet /— 
 hark to the clashing of their spears !— 
 they strike, they sink, they fall! — Again 
 they rise ; again renew the attack with 
 more than mortal fury ! — they bleed ! — 
 their spears are broken !—they draw 
 their swords ! — their armour is cleft in 
 twain ! — The bloody arm triumphs, and 
 Scotland k once more fire from the ty- 
 rant yoke of England T 
 
 Such was the vision that intruded it- 
 self 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 3 
 
 self on the aged seer, who, faint and 
 powerless, when nature recovered her 
 usual tone, craved a draught of water 
 from two youthful shepherds, who had 
 witnessed the prophetic speeches which 
 he had uttered ; then praying them to 
 lead him to his humble home, he stretch- 
 ed himself on his couch, and endeavoured 
 to collect his wandering spirit. 
 
 The seer composed to rest, the shep- 
 herds left him. — " Donald," said Ro- 
 bert, as they walked forward, " in good 
 troth, but I tremble in every limb; 
 what think you of what we have heard ? 
 I pray ye heed it well." 
 
 * I will," answered Donald. " When 
 the spirit speaks thus in inspired men, 
 we should indeed mark it ; but a close 
 mouth makes a wise head. The pre- 
 diction seemed to allude, in part, to the 
 house of our noble lord, and to mention 
 that might involve us in ruin." 
 
 " Troth might it ; my advice is for 
 B 2 us 
 
4 ST, CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 us to consult the holy monk John of 
 Inveresk ; we can give him the account 
 together, and he will advise for the 
 best." 
 
 " Right, Robert ; I like your counsel 
 well; we will away thither. The seer 
 spoke of the tower of M'Leod — know ye 
 where that is situated ?" 
 
 " Not in the Lowlands, as I should 
 conjecture," answered Donald, " The 
 seer himself is of the western isles — 'tis 
 probably there; but what think you of 
 the eagle who shall rear the bloody 
 arm?" 
 
 " Nay, I know not ; our poor coun- 
 try is never free from warfare. Some 
 deadly battle is surely foretold, and all 
 we can say is, the will of Heaven must 
 be fulfilled. It may perhaps never take 
 place in our time, for these inspired men 
 see forward for many years.'' 
 
 Thus conversing, by the close of day 
 
 they reached the chapel of Inveresk, 
 
 ' where 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 5 
 
 where they relieved their minds to the 
 monk : he heard them with attention,, 
 and took their depositions down in 
 writing ; then giving them his blessing, 
 dismissed them, with a strict injunction 
 to conceal what they had heard, as it 
 could answer no purpose to disclose it, 
 but might breed confusion, by inflaming 
 weak minds; that the will of Heaven 
 would be, in its own time, undoubtedly 
 accomplished ; and that all erring mor- 
 tality could effect, was to receive its. 
 decrees with pious resignation. 
 
 a 3 CHAP- 
 
ST. CLAIR OP THE ISLES. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 During the latter years of James I. of 
 Scotland, in an ancient fortress, situated 
 in the island of Barra*, resided St. Clair 
 fifonteith, an outlaw. Young, open, 
 and generous, he was universally be- 
 loved, not only by the poor inhabitants 
 of Barra, but throughout the islands 
 which he sometimes indiscriminately 
 visited* and from whence the power of 
 James himself could scarcely* against his 
 will, have forced him. 
 
 St. Clair Monteith, or St. Clair of the 
 Isles, as he was more commonly called, 
 was at the period of his outlawry not 
 more than twenty-two. He had been 
 bred and trained to arms by his uncle 
 
 Monteith* 
 
 * One of the Hebrides. 
 
ST* CLAtR OF TH£ ISLES. 7 
 
 Monteith, * ho at his death left him- 
 considerable possessions in the south of 
 Scotland, but which, on his outlawry, 
 had been seized by the strong hand of 
 power, and the produce devoted to the 
 use of his enemies. Confined by the 
 royal mandate to the isle of Barra, he 
 had taken up his residence in an old 
 fortress, called the Tower of M'Leod* 
 where, could he have forgotten past 
 events, he might have lived happily, for 
 he had four companions, well born and 
 valiant, who had voluntarily shared his 
 misfortunes and disgrace. To these, at 
 different times, others in similar circum- 
 stances, though without the sentence of 
 the law, had joined ; so that St. Clair, if 
 occasion needed, wanted neither com- 
 manders nor men, for in his companions 
 he had chiefs, and in every islander a 
 willing .soldier. The court of Scotland 
 well knew his power, but as he was 
 peaceable, no means were used to check 
 b 4 it* 
 
$ ST* CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 it, either from fear or prudence. The 
 money he had brought to the island on 
 his first outlawry lie had spread with a. 
 liberal hand ; and for cattle, or other ne- 
 cessaries which he had since purchased, 
 he had given orders to the amount on 
 an agent in the vicinity of Edinburgh. 
 
 The outlaws, companions of St. Clair, 
 were, first, sir James Ross, a valiant 
 knight, and a noble gentleman, the com- 
 panion of St. Clair's youthful days, and 
 the sworn friend of his riper years. Al- 
 lan Hamilton, of a similar character, 
 learned and reflective, a disposition 
 which he had yet more cultivated since 
 his residence at Barra. The chevalier 
 de Bourg, a French knight, lively,' ge- 
 nerous, and volatile, and who, involved 
 in St. Clair's disgrace, had voluntarily 
 shared his captivity, rather than attempt 
 an escape to his native country. The 
 last was James McGregor, bold, undaunt 
 ed, and revengeful where he was dis- 
 - pleased* 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES* 9 
 
 pleased, but willing to sacrifice his life 
 and fortune in the cause of honour or 
 friendship. These gentlemen, as well 
 as St. Clair, were bachelors ; and though 
 for some time the rocks of Barra had in 
 general confined them, they looked for- 
 ward to the time when they should burst 
 their bonds, and again become active 
 members of society. 
 
 The characters who had at different 
 times joined them were of divers kinds, 
 but in general men, of talents, and well 
 born, who had either left their country 
 from difference of political opinion,, fami- 
 ly quarrels, debt, or other cause, and, as 
 the name and character of St. Clair were 
 well known, had enlisted under his ban- 
 ners : these last amounted to twelve ; 
 the whole inhabitants making seventeen^. 
 
 b-5 CHAP- 
 
10 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 14 Fill your goblet ; nay, fill to the 
 brim ; my pledge is, ' May the generous 
 soul prosper, and the oppressor sink into 
 deserved infamy P Nay, drink it to 
 the dregs ; what though we are outlaws, 
 we are men. From eighteen to twenty- 
 one, the world plundered and laughed 
 at me ; now, though they still plunder 
 me, they tremble at my name, for fear 
 of what may come. At the final ac- 
 count which priests say we all must 
 give, let the widow I have wronged, 
 the orphan I have oppressed, or the vir- 
 gin I have betrayed, stand forth and 
 bruit it to my face." 
 
 " Your inclinations, St. Clair, did not 
 
 naturally 
 
ST. CLAIU OF THE ISLES. II 
 
 naturally lead to these points," answered 
 the chevalier de Bourg ; " therefore 
 you possess the less virtue in having 
 avoided them; but woe to you, if 
 broken heads y and an invincible spirit, 
 are included in the acts of condemna- 
 tion ! Never since you were sixteen 
 have I seen you so quietly inclined, as 
 since James did us the favour of order- 
 ing us here." 
 
 " The reason is obvious," replied St. 
 Clair ; " from my earliest youth my 
 heart was alive to gratitude ; and do 
 not our poor neighbours here, and the 
 inhabitants of the adjacent isles, all love 
 and regard us ? I am therefore careful 
 to support a conduct proper to justify 
 their opinion; and, by my soul! if I 
 knew one among us stoop to meanness 
 or dishonour, my voice and arm should 
 be the first to banish him from our so- 
 ciety." 
 
 ** Your wishes have hitherto Been our 
 B 6 law, 
 
12 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 law, and strictly observed," answered 
 one of the number. 
 
 " 'Tis well ! then let the proud court 
 of Scotland bow to the barren rocks of 
 Barra, and confess the superiority of na- 
 ture's commoners. Not only our own 
 honour demands our acting as we have 
 hitherto done, but also common pru- 
 dence; for in our old dwelling here, 
 though it be crumbling with age, and 
 perishing with neglect, we are as secure 
 as in a strongly-defended castle, for there 
 is not one of our neighbours but would 
 fight, bleed, or die for us." 
 
 " True," answered M'Gregor ; " yet 
 I have often thought that it would be 
 prudent to repair our fortress, and in- 
 crease our number of inmates. James 
 may not always be so pacific, and in 
 case of danger we are but seventeen." 
 
 "Perish the thought!" replied St. 
 Clair; " seventeen men are enough to 
 procure all the necessaries we want. In 
 
 all 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 13 
 
 all our contests hitherto, seventeen men 
 have been enough for victory ; and in 
 case we fall, seventeen men are enough 
 to die." 
 
 " That's readily allowed," said Ross, 
 " yet methinks M'Gregor advises well ; 
 your enemies are powerful, and will 
 never think themselves secure while you 
 have life." 
 
 " Perhaps so," answered St. Clair, 
 " but my unhappy fortune has already 
 involved too many of my friends ; but 
 our die is cast, and must be abided. 
 For those gentlemen that have volun- 
 tarily joined us, like ourselves, I surmise 
 they have some strong quarrel with the 
 world ; but for the islanders, they have 
 none ; they labour in the manner of 
 their fathers, and are content with the 
 station allotted them. Shall we then 
 break on their quiet ? no surely ; let 
 them vegetate in happy obscurity ; la- 
 bour and peace for them— -the bustle of 
 
 life 
 
T4 stvclair of the isles. 
 
 life and jollity for us ! But see, the gob- 
 lets stand; drink round — drown reflec- 
 tion." 
 
 The party drank. — " I espouse St. 
 Clair's opinion," said Hamilton ; "we are 
 inmates enough for peace,, and in case 
 of danger, the standard of St. Clair would 
 collect an army." 
 
 " For men," said De Bourg, " act as- 
 you please. I am as willing to fight,, 
 nay to die, in a good cause, as another ; 
 but for a Frenchman of my age and con- 
 stitution to be stew r ed up like a monk 
 in a cell is too much. A few women. 
 now would render all easy." 
 
 " Women !" repeated St. Clair ; " hy 
 Heaven ! chevalier, when you introduce- 
 them, ye lose me :. bring me toads, ser- 
 pents, tigers, devils, fiends, but spare me 
 from women. Are ye tired of quiet, 
 that ye name them ? Bring women; 
 and you bring dissensions never to be 
 appeased, and all the concomitant hor- 
 rors 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 15 
 
 rors of quarrels, blood, and murder. — 
 No, we will have no mistresses but the 
 bottle, no crime but drunkenness." 
 
 * St. Clair is right," answered Hamil- 
 ton ; " women would but breed conten- 
 tion, and more men confusion. If we 
 live like monks, at least we are merry 
 ones, and our penances easy." 
 
 " Well observed, wisdom," said one 
 of the party, who had lately come to 
 the island ; " from you I expected as 
 much, but from St. Clair's complexion, 
 far otherwise. Had ye never mothers, 
 or did ye never love ? " 
 
 " A mother 1 undoubtedly had," re- 
 plied St. Clair, a burning blush mant- 
 ling through his dark complexion, and 
 overshadowing his manly features, " but 
 she was a wolf, and so fierce and inhu- 
 man, that she not only refused to nou- 
 rish my infancy, but would, if possible, 
 have devoured me in my riper years. 
 Like other fools too I fell in love ; that 
 
 is, 
 
16 ST. CLAIU OF THE ISLES. 
 
 is, the glittering crest of a serpent caught 
 my eye, and I pursued it till it fixed a 
 sting in my heart.. For a while I yields 
 ed to my folly, but at length, calling 
 reason to my aid, I made a strong effort, 
 and plucked at once the venom from 
 my heart." 
 
 The horn at the gate of the fortress 
 at that moment gave notice of strangers, 
 and proved some herdsmen from Loch- 
 aber, from whom St. Clair had received 
 oxen and sheep, not only for the use of 
 the fortress, but also to help the poo^ 
 islanders, who had been greatly distressed 
 during the winter, which had been un- 
 commonly severe. For the value of 
 these he had given an order on an agent 
 near Edinburgh, but who had declined 
 accepting the drafts* saying, that he had 
 received orders from the earl of Ros- 
 kelyn to disregard any such as might 
 be sent him from St. Glair* whose estate, 
 the king had awarded to his sole use. . 
 
 St 
 
ST. CLAIR OP THE ISLES, 17 
 
 St. Clair rose hastily from table, his 
 face flushing with anger, and his eyes 
 sparkling with indignation, " The mis- 
 creant !" exclaimed he ; " by my soul ! 
 I will once more proclaim him villain, 
 even to the tyrant's face. 'Tis not the 
 order of James that shall confine me to 
 Barra; with the first fair wind I will 
 away to Scotland, and retrieve mine own, 
 or die." 
 
 Ross, Hamilton, De Bourg, and 
 M'Gregor, laid their hands upon their 
 swords. " Let good or ill befall," ex- 
 claimed they in one voice, " we go with 
 you ; neither shall you fail alone, nor mi- 
 re venged." 
 
 " Nay, then, we all go," added some of 
 the party that had joined them ; " St. Clair 
 must leave none of his friends behind." 
 
 St. Clair looked affectionately round 
 him. " Do not unman me," said he ; 
 " no man whose life is in danger shall 
 leave the island. A day may yet come, 
 
 whefl 
 
18 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 when we shall regain our rights, though 
 for a while injustice triumphs. The pre- 
 sent quarrel is only mine, and I alone 
 will meet it." 
 
 " By my honour, shall you not !" re- 
 plied Ross ; " if you resolve to brave 
 destruction, I will share the danger/' 
 
 The whole party interrupted Ross 
 with a cry to the same purport* " Men, 
 friends," exclaimed St. Clair, " can }^ou 
 wish me to live dishonoured* that you 
 use the only means that can dissuade me 
 from my purpose ?" 
 
 ff No," replied McGregor, " but pru- 
 dence is sometimes better than courage ; 
 to go now to the court of Scotland, 
 would be to brave danger, ta die the 
 death of fools. Think you, St. Clair, 
 that vengeance sleeps ? or that the death 
 of the duke of Albany, his sons, and 
 that of the earl of Lenox, is forgotten* ? 
 
 1N t o a 
 
 * These noblemen were condemned to death by. 
 lames I. Their crime is not specified by historians. 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 19 
 
 No, the world yet remembers that the 
 tyrant sent in triumph to the widowed 
 countess the bleeding heads of her sons, 
 of her father, and of her husband. Pre- 
 serve your life then, and those of your 
 friends, for a better cause than petty 
 animosity. Stay till you shall be called 
 upon in the cause of your country, and 
 live or fall nobly." 
 
 " And let the villain Koskelyn revel 
 in my wealth, and even refuse to pay 
 those just debts which necessity forces 
 me to contract ?" 
 
 " Could you gratify your enemies 
 more than by subjecting yourself to the 
 penalty annexed to your returning from 
 your outlawry ?" asked Hamilton. 
 
 St. Clair paused. " 1 will think till 
 to-morrow," answered he ; " Monteith 
 must live with honour, or he must cease 
 to live." 
 
 " Perish the paltry consideration of 
 distinct property among us !" said Ross. 
 
 " What 
 
SO ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 u What man here has not shared St, 
 Clair's ? and what right has he to claim 
 a superiority of friendship over us ? 
 The man who cannot receive an act of 
 kindness is unworthy to confer one." 
 
 One of the party, named Randolph, 
 who was intimately acquainted with all 
 St. Clair's misfortunes, then spoke. He 
 was elder brother to M'Gregor, of the 
 same character, but more deeply colour- 
 ed. " The tide of passion must have 
 way," said he, " and those who attempt 
 to stem its course may be likened to 
 those who reason with madmen. St. 
 Clair, we all know, values not his own 
 life, but he will be careful of those of 
 his friends, lloss, Hamilton, De Bourg, 
 and M'Gregor, must therefore remain 
 with him in Barra. For me, held here 
 by no law, unknown at the court of 
 James, and a stranger to John of Kos- 
 kelyn, I am a proper messenger to carry 
 St. Clair's demand. Myself, and an- 
 other 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 21 
 
 other in similar circumstances, will re- 
 pair to the south with his order; and 
 from the result of our errand he can 
 form his future designs." 
 
 All approved of this measure except 
 St. Clair ; but the danger of his friends 
 abated his ardour, and made him delibe- 
 rate an the subject. 
 
 M For this time give way," said Ross ; 
 "■if Randolph brings not back an an- 
 swer to your wishes, every voice, as 
 well as arm, is in your favour. We 
 will raise the men of the islands, and 
 away to Scotland, call together the vas- 
 sals of your uncle's house, those of mine 
 and of all our friends ; then claim our 
 freedom, rights, and property ; obtain 
 them, or perish in the attempt." 
 
 This arrangement was so warmly se- 
 conded, that Monteith was forced to 
 yield, and that perhaps the more willing- 
 ly, as he conceived that Randolph, being 
 a stranger, incurred no danger. AM the 
 
 party 
 
M ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES, 
 
 party who were free claimed the privi- 
 lege of accompanying Randolph, who, 
 at length, instead of one companion, 
 was obliged to accept of three ; and hav- 
 ing made a provision for the journey, 
 and being well armed, they resolved to 
 adventure with the first fair wind to 
 Scotland, in one of the fishing-boats that 
 lay on the coast. 
 
 In the intervening time, a private con- 
 sultation had taken place between Ross, 
 Hamilton, M'Gregor, and Randolph, in 
 which the three first empowered the 
 last to claim, on their respective estates, 
 what sums of money were due to them, 
 and to give their discharge ; for the pro- 
 perty of Monteith, as principal, had alone 
 been confiscated, 
 
 CHAP- 
 
ST. -CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 23 
 
 CHAPTEIi IV 
 
 All being prepared, Randolph and his 
 
 companions, simply clothed as men of 
 the common rank, departed ; St. Clair 
 giving them a letter to this pin-port : — 
 
 " To the Agent Carnegie, 
 
 " Whereas I some time since 
 sent an order on you for the payment of 
 twenty marks, which sum you have refus- 
 ed to discharge, this is to command the 
 payment of sixty, a small sum compared 
 to what you have of mine in your hands : 
 see therefore that it be paid, or I shall 
 be necessitated to enforce the demand 
 in person, at once, from the villain who 
 
 usurps 
 
£4 ST. CLAIR Or THE ISLES. 
 
 usurps my right, and from you, the des- 
 picable tool of his treachery. 
 
 St. Clair Monteith." 
 
 The journey, after they reached the 
 main land of Scotland, was long ; but 
 they lost no time on their way ; and 
 reaching Edinburgh, they presented St. 
 Clair's letter to the agent. He perused 
 it with visible emotion ; but carefully 
 examining the messengers, and finding 
 nothing in their personal appearance to 
 alarm his fears, he answered them haugh- 
 tily, ordering them to attend on the 
 morrow at Iloskelyn. 
 
 " Troth, master, will we," replied Ran- 
 dolph, assuming a language suitable to 
 his habit, " and I hope you will then 
 dispatch our business, for we are not 
 used to dance attendance like courtly 
 lackeys, and cannot easily brook it. We 
 ask, I presume, nothing but what is the 
 
 brave 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 25 
 
 brave St. Clair's right, and it would not 
 be honest or mannerly to refuse it, as 
 that might give him the trouble to 
 come himself." 
 
 " Insolent varlet," replied Carnegie, 
 " know you that St. Clair dares not 
 shew his face in Scotland, under forfei- 
 ture of his life ?" 
 
 " Marry, I know not the place where 
 St. Clair daises not shew his face ; and 
 for his life, whoever attempts that, 
 with all submission, will rouse a hornet's 
 nest." 
 
 " Do you threaten, villain ?" said Car- 
 negie. 
 
 " Marry, Heaven forbid '!" answered 
 Randolph ; " we poor lads of the isles 
 are not given to threaten ; we are not 
 courtiers, master ; we are more for deeds 
 than words." 
 
 Carnegie viewed the party suspici- 
 ously. " I will consult the lord of Ros- 
 kelyn," said he ; " meet me at his castle 
 
 vol. l c to-morrow, 
 
£6 ST. CLATH OF THE ISLES. 
 
 to-morrow, at noon." So saying, he 
 left them ; and they retired to procure 
 rest and refreshment. 
 
 Careful to their appointment, Ran- 
 dolph and his companions reached Ros- 
 kelyn at the appointed hour. For a 
 considerable time they waited in the 
 outward court, subjected to the gaze 
 and rude jests of the lackeys, who, usu- 
 ally imitating the manners of their mas- 
 ters, and wanting their education and 
 rank, convert pride and haughtiness 
 into vulgar rudeness and illiberal inso- 
 lence. 
 
 At length they were summoned into 
 the great hall, where, seated on costly 
 chairs, covered with rich embroidery, 
 sat the lord of Roskelyn, and his haugh- 
 ty, but beautiful countess, surrounded 
 by a numerous train of ladies and attend- 
 ants. 
 
 Judging by the rudeness of the stran- 
 gers' appearance, they were astonished 
 
 to 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 2T 
 
 to see them shew no signs of admiration 
 or restraint at the grandeur and pomp 
 around them; for Randolph entered 
 with a careless, unembarrassed air, his 
 cap upon his head, and his left arm 
 wrapped in his plaid. 
 
 " You come from the outlaw St. 
 Clair," said the earl; "know you the con- 
 sequence of making a demand of pro- 
 perty no longer his ; ever mine by right, 
 but now mine, both by justice and the 
 will of the king ?" 
 
 " Marry, I understand not that," re- 
 plied Randolph \ " it may however be 
 the courtly fashion ; but in the isles, no 
 king has a right to rob a man of his 
 own." 
 
 " Rude clown," said Carnegie, who 
 stood at a humble distance from the 
 earl, M know you to whom you speak 
 thus rudely* and in whose presence you 
 stand, that you do not move your cap ?" 
 
 " 1 speak to John of Roskelyn, I trow » 
 e 2 I told 
 
28' ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 I told you before I knew no courtly 
 fashions. I wear my eap, for I took 
 cold by waiting so long among the lac- 
 keys in the entry." 
 
 •' The lackeys surely are company 
 good enough for thee," said the lady 
 Roskelyn ; " but thou hast learned inso- 
 lence from thy employer." 
 
 " I came not to talk with women," 
 replied Randolph ; " I am afraid of their 
 tongues. Will the demand of St. Clair 
 be paid ?" 
 
 7 It will not," answered Roskelyn ; 
 •' and mark my w r ords, rogue, if thou 
 dost not depart hence immediately, I 
 will punish thee*for thy insolence." 
 
 K Punish me !" repeated Randolph ; 
 «' if all rogues were punished, honest 
 men would have their right." 
 
 " Wilt thou, once more I repeat it, 
 take thy answerand be gone, ere I make 
 thee repent thy daring?" 
 
 " A time will come for repentance for 
 
 all/ 8 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. &9 
 
 all," answered Randolph, contemptu* 
 ously throwing down his glove. So 
 saying, without waving his cap, or bend- 
 ing his body, he and his companions 
 prepared to leave the hall. 
 
 " Come back," cried Roskelyn ; " what 
 meanest thou by throwing down thy 
 glove? thou surely, hind as thou art, 
 dost not carry thy insolence far enough 
 fo defy me !" 
 
 " I mean," answered Randolph, " that 
 who will may pick it up; and should 
 any one defy me 9 though it were even 
 John of Roskelyn, I would answer as a 
 man." 
 
 " Villain ! thou art not what thou 
 seemest," exclaimed Roskelyn. 
 
 " My good lord," said the countess, 
 " why lose you your temper with this 
 wretch, who, rude as the catterenes*, 
 among whom he dwells, is sent purpose- 
 ly to affront you ? give him in charge 
 c 3 to 
 
 * Highland banditti. 
 
SO ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES, 
 
 to your vassals ; in the prison of the cas- 
 tle let him learn respect." 
 
 " In the halls of the castle — nay, lady, 
 in your bridal chamber, learn you that 
 truth and modesty is the crown of a 
 woman; and that she who prostitutes 
 her person, though under the sanction 
 of marriage, is little better than a har- 
 lot." 
 
 " Insufferable insolence !" exclaimed 
 Koskelyn ; * seize and bear these men 
 to the prison of the tower — I repeat, 
 they are not what they seem, and the 
 public tranquillity may require them to 
 be punished." 
 
 " And who will punish us ?" replied 
 Randolph ; " not John of Roskelyn, I 
 trow ? his fears wont let him, whatever 
 his inclination may be. Come, lead the 
 way," continued he, addressing his com- 
 panions ; " the air of this perfumed hall 
 is too heavy for me — I love a purer atmo- 
 sphere." 
 
 " Awav 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 31 
 
 tt Away with him — I will hear up 
 more," cried Roskelyn. 
 
 " Marry, but you will, and shortly 
 too; you have a long account to dis- 
 charge." 
 
 The attendants prevented more, by 
 attempting to seize Randolph and his 
 companions; but drawing their broad- 
 swords from under their garments, they 
 cleared the way to the gates, where, 
 mounting their horses, they soon lost 
 sight of the towers of Roskelyn, and 
 using their utmost speed, reached tte 
 Frith of Forth, which having crossed, 
 they proceeded to St. John's Town, 
 Perth, were they refreshed themselves 
 and their beasts, considering themselves 
 secure from the pursuit of Roskelyn. 
 
 The business they had to transact for 
 Ross, Hamilton, and M'Gregor, now 
 alone prevented their return to the 
 island. That of Ross was in the shire 
 of Inverness ; that of M'Gregor nearly 
 c 4 in 
 
32 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 in the same place ; and Hamilton's near 
 where they then were. 
 
 A few days completed the last named ; 
 they then journeyed to Inverness, and 
 received various sums for Ross ; but 
 the person Randolph was the most 
 anxious to see was his elder brother, sir 
 Alexander M'Gregor, who at this time 
 happened to be about as far distant as 
 Tiviotdale, upon the English borders. 
 
 Since the outlawry of his younger 
 brother James, sir Alexander had re- 
 ceived his revenues with unblemished 
 honour, and protected his property from 
 depredation. Randolph's wish, however, 
 to see him, was not solely on account of 
 pecuniary concerns, but also to consult 
 him on the measures the outlaws should 
 pursue, as he had no doubt but St. 
 Clair would be deaf to all but revenge. 
 
 After consulting with his companions, 
 they dispatched a trusty messenger to 
 bear a letter to Barra, which was to in- 
 form 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. S3 
 
 form St. Clair that their absence would 
 be unavoidably protracted two months 
 longer ; but fearful of exasperating him, 
 they palliated as much as possible the 
 conduct of Roskelyn ; and concluded by 
 entreating him to bear all with patience 
 until their return, which was only de- 
 layed by their wish to consult sir Alex- 
 ander M'Gregor on the proper steps to 
 pursue. 
 
 This point arranged, they departed 
 for the south, clothed and accoutred in 
 a manner suitable to their rank; and 
 reaching Tiviotdale, enjoyed the satis- 
 faction of meeting the elder M'Gregor. 
 
 A wary politician, as well as a brave 
 warrior, sir Alexander for the present 
 disapproved all hostile measures, as he 
 conceived they must ultimately end in 
 ruin. " James," said he,, " is daily more 
 obnoxious to the people ; but for : the 
 present, surrounded with power, all at- 
 tempts would be vain. St, Clair's cause 
 c5 is 
 
34 ST. CLAIR OP THE ISLES. 
 
 is just, and I would willingly hazard 
 my life to reinstate him in his right : 
 but let us act with prudence, and though 
 we delay the blow, let it be decisive 
 when it falls. My fortune he is wel- 
 come to share, and let him not hesitate, 
 for I feel assured the day will come when 
 he can repay all his friends." 
 
 As sir Alexander McGregor meant 
 speedily to return to the Highlands, 
 "Randolph and his companions awaited 
 his leisure, in order to accompany him ; 
 so that their stay from Barra, by the 
 length of their journey, the delay of 
 business, and other unavoidable causes, 
 had been prolonged to near four months, 
 three of which had elapsed since they 
 quitted Roskelyn. 
 
 All being prepared, they took the 
 way homeward ; the elder McGregor, 
 with four domestics, and Randolph and 
 his companions, in all forming a com- 
 pany of nine. 
 
 On 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 35 
 
 On the second evening, passing a de- 
 solate and extensive moor, a horseman 
 overtook them, his clothes and accoutre- 
 ments richly emblazoned with the arms 
 and devices of the house of Roskelyn. 
 
 "Give you good even!" said Ran- 
 dolph, " you ride hastily — serve you the 
 earl of Roskelyn ?" 
 
 " No, the dowager countess is my 
 lady ; she is behind in a covered litter." 
 
 " A rich mistress, friend, and fame 
 says, once amongst the fairest of our 
 Scottish dames." 
 
 " Troth was she, and even now 
 might vie with most, not more than 
 forty-four summers having passed over 
 her." 
 
 " You may then expect a new lord ; 
 for, personal attractions added to her 
 wealth, she cannot fail of suitors." 
 
 " She doth not, but their suit is vain ; 
 
 all her affections appear wedded to her 
 
 grandson, the young Montrose of Ros- 
 
 c 6 kelvn* 
 
36 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 kelyn, who for the last two months has 
 been her guest at Eusdale : she is now 
 conducting him home." 
 
 " The child must be young," answer- 
 ed Randolph ; " methinks it is not long 
 since the earl was wedded." 
 
 " It is nearly three years," replied the 
 man, " but the child hath not more than 
 two months completed his first year, 
 yet is a fine hearty lad. But fare- 
 well, masters ; the evening draws in, and 
 I ride forward to procure entertainment 
 befitting the quality of the noble guests." 
 
 So saying, he set spurs to his beast, 
 and soon lost sight of the party. Ran- 
 dolph at the same time made a stop, 
 and exclaimed — " Brother, revenge is in 
 our power — St. Clair shall be free ; for 
 you will not surely refuse to join in a 
 plan that cannot fail to liberate him." 
 
 " I see none that is at present likely 
 to effect that purpose," said M'Gregor ; 
 " if you depend on the dowager of Ros- 
 
 kelyn, 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 37 
 
 kelyn, she is among the greatest of his 
 enemies." 
 
 " I know that well — I expect nothing 
 from her ; but what think you of mak- 
 ing the young Montrose the hostage for 
 his father's honour ? Once in. the 
 islands, Roskelyn, nor even James him- 
 self dare attack the outlaws ; or should 
 they, they could away to Norway, and 
 be secure from danger." 
 
 " By mine honour, 'tis a noble daring, 
 if it could be done with safety." 
 
 " Safety !" repeated Randolph . ; " arm- 
 ed as we are, we need not fear treble 
 our number ; the night draws on too, 
 and our persons are unknown ; and for 
 the present, it will only be surmised an 
 incursion of the English for the sake of 
 ransom." 
 
 M'Gregor, after some consideration, 
 agreed to the plan, if it should seem 
 practicable ; and calling his party toge- 
 ther, they were acquainted with the 
 
 scheme 
 
38 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 scheme in agitation, and sworn to se- 
 crecy. 
 
 The business was scarcely arranged, 
 when the cavalcade approached ; four 
 horsemen rode before the litter, six be- 
 hind, and two on each side, a number 
 thought fully adequate, as the country 
 was then at peace. Randolph, as pro- 
 jector of the plan, rode first, and ordered 
 them to halt, which they refused ; but 
 rushing forward, he in a moment threw 
 down the driver, and a scene of universal 
 confusion ensued; for uncertain of the 
 strength of their assailants, their fears, 
 and the darkness of the night, multiplied 
 their number. 
 
 " Let no man stir !" exclaimed Ram 
 dolph ; " we mean no injury ; our busi- 
 ness is a few words with the countess ; 
 we will effect our purpose, or perish — 
 opposition is useless." 
 
 The domestics were however true to 
 their trust, until, seeing some of their 
 
 companions 
 
ST. CLAIH OF THE ISLES. 39 
 
 companions fall an easy prey to the 
 superior skill and valour of Randolph 
 and his party, they fled, or, crying for 
 mercy, threw down their arms. Ran- 
 dolph then approached the litter, in 
 which was seated the dowager of Ros^ 
 kelyn, and three female attendants, one 
 of whom held the young Montrose on 
 her knees, in so sound a sleep, that 
 all the confusion had not awakened him. 
 The lady Roskelyn was busied in 
 taking off her bracelets and jewels, to 
 present to the supposed robbers; but 
 puting back her hand, Randolph said — 
 " Keep your trinkets, lady ; the young 
 lord of Roskelyn is our aim ; he shall, 
 however, be safely returned for ransom, 
 and carefully nutrured during the inter- 
 vening time." So saying, he stretched 
 out his arms for the child ; but lady 
 Roskelyn, throwing herself on her knees, 
 entreated him to relinquish his purpose. 
 Her prayers were vain ; for Randolph 
 
 was 
 
40 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES*. 
 
 was deaf to her entreaties, and callou3 
 to her tears ; and again ordering the 
 trembling woman who held the child to 
 resign him, she reluctantly complied. 
 Wrapping the infant within his cloak* 
 and pressing him to his rough breast, he 
 said to the lady. — " Fear not for the boy ; 
 did our hearts want affection, even as 
 much as yours hath hitherto done, this 
 child is secure from danger ; for interest, 
 the force of which you are well acquaint- 
 ed with, will keep him safe. Fai ewelL" 
 
 " Say then where you bear him, * ex*- 
 claimed she, in an agony of grief, " fcfaajfc 
 the demanded ransom may be prepared 
 and sent ?" 
 
 " To England. Rest satisfied, with 
 the promise obtained." 
 
 So saying, he gave the word to his 
 companions, who, .turning their, horses, 
 retook their way towards the English 
 border, the better to deceive and pre- 
 vent pursuit. . 
 
 After 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 41 
 
 After a journey of some miles, the 
 party, comm odiously concealed between* 
 two mountains, sent forward one of 
 their companions to procure wine, meat, 
 and bread, which Randolph offered 
 the infant when he awoke at day- 
 break. 
 
 Looking round, for a few moments 
 he cried bitterly, but in a short time ap- 
 peared sensible of the caresses of his 
 hardy nurse, examined him carefully , 
 played with his sword, and at length 
 took the fuod offered him. 
 
 * By mine honour," said sir Alexan- 
 der, laughing, " nature made a strange 
 mistake, when she deemed thee a war- 
 rior, for thou art one of the most expert 
 nurses I ever saw." 
 
 " By Heaven !" exclaimed Randolph, 
 " if not corrupted by the court, and the 
 pride and arrogance of his family, I'll 
 warrant he'll be a noble fellow; he 
 
 drinks 
 
42 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLE& 
 
 drinks wine already like an outlaw ; 
 methinks he resembles St. Clair." 
 
 After more conversation of the same 
 nature, they all partook of some refresh- 
 ment ; then remounting their horses, 
 which they had left to graze, they took 
 the way to Dumfries, the young lord 
 of Roskelyn placed before Randolph, 
 apparently well pleased with the novelty 
 of all around him* 
 
 Taking a short repose at Dumfries, 
 they proceeded to Kirkcudbright, where, 
 finding a vessel bound to Port Patrick, 
 they immediately embarked, and with a 
 fair wind reached Ireland. 
 
 Fearful of injuring the infant's health 
 by a continued travel, they devoted a 
 few days to rest ; during which time 
 they engaged a careful nurse to attend 
 him. They then procured a second 
 vessel to convey them to Barra, leaving 
 sir Alexander and his attendants, who, 
 
 after 
 
ST. CLAIB. OF THE ISLES, 43 
 
 after remaining a few weeks in Ireland, 
 returned to his paternal home. 
 
 During this interval, the news of the 
 loss of the child had reached his parents ;■ 
 messengers were dispatched in all quar- 
 ters, in order to obtain information, and 
 particularly to England, where they had 
 no doubt he had been conveyed ; for the 
 most distant idea of his being taken for 
 the purpose of liberating St. Clair never 
 intruded ; and though the earl of Ros- 
 kelyn had no doubt but Randolph and 
 his companions were not what their 
 dress appeared to denote, yet the length 
 of time since their departure, and their 
 destination to the islands, and the cap- 
 ture of his child on the English borders, 
 completely baffled all suspicion respect- 
 ing them, and forced him to yield to 
 time the development of what he could 
 not comprehend. 
 
 In daily expectation of the ransom 
 for the child being claimed, the coun- 
 
 tess > 
 
K) ST. CLAIK OF THE ISLES. 
 
 tess, in the interim, gave birth to a se- 
 cond son, who, though not able to 
 banish the remembrance of their loss, at. 
 least alleviated its bitterness. 
 
 CHAP- 
 
ST* CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 45 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 +■*■*■+■*+■*■■+*+*■++■**■++■ 
 
 Randolph and his companions having 
 reached the shores of Barra, the party- 
 landed ; and leaving the nurse to follow, 
 took the way to the fortress, Randolph 
 carrying the young Roskelyn, who was 
 grown so attached to him, that he pre- 
 ferred him to every other person. 
 
 In their passage from the shore they 
 met a piper, whom Randolph ordered 
 to precede them, playing one of his most 
 lively airs ; and thus arranged, they 
 reached the tower of M'Leod. 
 
 St. Clair and his companions were in 
 the hall, when the mingled sounds of 
 the pipe, a loud exclamation of triumph, 
 and the horn at the gate, struck his ear. 
 
 "By 
 
46 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 u By Heaven !" cried he, starting up, 
 " 'tis surely Randolph ; but why such 
 sounds of satisfaction is beyond my com- 
 prehension." 
 
 As he spoke, he rushed forward, but 
 was met at the entrance by Randolph, 
 who exclaimed — " Triumph St. Clair ! 
 I bring thee a noble prisoner, a mine of 
 wealth ; and what is yet more precious, 
 I have wrung the hearts of all thine 
 enemies. Nay, man, never gape with 
 wonder — hold out thy arms and receive 
 my charge-— 'tis a noble gift — no less, 
 by my soul, than the heir of the house 
 of Roskelyn, the young Montrose." 
 
 St. Clair appeared transfixed with as- 
 tonishment, his eyes rivetted on the 
 child, but drew back his hands, as 
 though they had recoiled from a ser- 
 pent. * It is impossible !" at length 
 cried he ; " but even supposing it as 
 you say, what is the child of John of 
 Roskelyn to me?" 
 
 " What 
 
=ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 47 
 
 ■" What a question !" answered Ran- 
 dolph ; " the son of John of Roskelyn 
 is to thee wealth, liberty, rank, and for- 
 tune restored." 
 
 Xi I know not how," replied St. Clair ; 
 " but prithee, Randolph,* explain this 
 mysterious jest, for I am convinced it is 
 a jest." 
 
 *' Tis the most true one then," an- 
 swered Randolph, " thou ever heardst. 
 In few words, Roskelyn behaved like a 
 villain, and fortune threw revenge in 
 my way, in the person of this boy, 
 whom thou mayst be assured his pa- 
 rents will be glad to regain at the ex- 
 pence of all they have purloined from 
 thee," 
 
 " Poor child !" said St. Clair empha- 
 tically, " art thou too doomed to suffer 
 fGr the crimes of thy parents !" 
 
 " Suffer !" repeated Randolph ; " no 
 sufferings are attached to the part he 
 
 has 
 
48 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 has to act ; and as to the family of Ros- 
 kelyn, their punishment is deserved." 
 
 " It is," answered St. Clair ; " but 
 excuse me, Randolph — -I will never 
 owe the recovery of my right to this 
 child." 
 
 Randolph looked displeased — " Thus 
 it is," said he, " that over-officious friend- 
 ship is ever repaid." 
 
 " Dear Randolph," exclaimed St 
 ,*# Clair, " I feel the extent of your friend- 
 
 ship in its full force ; but consider with 
 what eyes I must view this child ; on 
 one side, the offspring of pride, dissimu- 
 lation, and avarice ; on the other, of 
 treachery, meanness, and falsehood." 
 
 " By my life," said Ross, " if the boy 
 inherits those qualities, they bear good 
 features." 
 
 " He strikingly resembles St. Clair," 
 observed Hamilton. 
 
 " Truly doth he," said the chevalier. 
 
 " Harkee, 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 49 
 
 c ? Harkee, St. Clair, is there any na- 
 tural cause for the likeness ?" 
 
 " A truce with jests !" replied St. 
 Clair ; " for pity's sake, Randolph, ex- 
 plain this business." 
 
 Randolph then related the whole ac- 
 count of his expedition, including the 
 small hopes sir Alexander entertained 
 of success, in an attempt at the present 
 period to recover St. Clair's property , 
 and concluded his relation by saying — 
 " On our arrival in Ireland I was hearti- 
 ly weary of nursing, and engaged the 
 old woman to supply my place. Little 
 explanation was necessary with her, and 
 that simply was, that I was conveying 
 the child to you, its father, its mother 
 being lately dead ; and for a name, 
 thinking it prudent to sink that of "Mon- 
 trose of Roskelyn, I gave him in lieu that 
 of Randolph Monteitli ; and, in faith, 
 I think you may be proud of your 
 son." 
 
 vol. I. D Whatever 
 
50 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 Whatever St. Clair's thoughts were, 
 he suppressed them, only saying — " I 
 should be sincerely sorry if by this 
 business, as the persons of children alter 
 greatly, he should hereafter be disown- 
 ed by his family, and declared an impos- 
 tor." 
 
 "That I defy them to do," replied 
 Randolph ; " Nature herself has stamped 
 his birthright beyond all power of dis- 
 pute ;" so saying, he stripped up the 
 young Montrose's sleeve, and shewed 
 his right arm, which was wine-marked, 
 of the colour of blood, from the wrist to 
 the elbow. 
 
 £ A providential mark," said St. Clair ; 
 " and, as you say, cannot fail to identify 
 him at any future period — as for taking 
 ransom, I decline it. But more of this 
 subject hereafter ; come on — our cellar 
 shall testify we rejoice at your return ; 
 even lloskelyn shall be forgotten ; this 
 night we give to joy. To-morrow we 
 
 will 
 
ST. CLAIJl OF THE ISLES. 51 
 
 will talk of business." So saying, they 
 seated themselves at table, and gave 
 the evening to conviviality until they 
 retired to rest. / 
 
 Even wine had not power to ba- 
 nish from the mind of St. Clair what 
 had passed. In the lonely quiet of his 
 chamber every unpleasant occurrence 
 returned with redoubled violence ; he 
 felt, as he had before truly said, the full 
 force of Randolph's friendship, which 
 had made him stoop to a deed he deem- 
 ed dishonourable, but which Randolph 
 thought no more of than taking a cap- 
 tive in battle. " Ah, St. Clair," said he 
 mentally, " how art thou fallen ! pupil 
 of the valiant and. noble Monteith. 
 wouldst thou be worthy thy tutor, to 
 owe thy freedom to a child ! Revenge 
 indeed is mine ; but this is not the re- 
 venge for which my heart thirsts ; J 
 would have the vengeance of a man, 
 — Oh, Fortune ! give me but once the 
 J) 2 means 
 
 U. OF ILL LIB. 
 
52 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 means to meet this Roskelyn hand to 
 hand, without the minions that protect 
 him, and if I do not prove his blood 
 base, and mine true, may the curse re- 
 main upon me for ever !" 
 
 How to act in respect to the child, he 
 knew not — to return him was impos- 
 sible, without involving Randolph in 
 disgrace, and himself in a quarrel with 
 one who had so truly exerted his friend- 
 ship for him, and indeed with all his 
 companions; for they all appeared to 
 consider such a prisoner as Montrose of 
 the utmost consequence, as at any time 
 he would enable either St. Clair or 
 themselves to make their own terms. 
 
 On the ensuing day a distant apart- 
 ment in the fortress was appointed for 
 the child and his nurse. St. Clair, how 
 ever, felt the most lively vexation on 
 being necessitated to pass for his father ; 
 but Randolph having made that decla- 
 ration to the nurse, it became absolutely 
 
 necessary 
 
ST. CLAIH OF THE ISLES. 5*3 
 
 necessary to continue the deception, lest 
 a change might excite suspicion. 
 
 In a short time the young Randolph, 
 as he was called, became the favourite of 
 the whole party, except St. Clair, who 
 always viewed him with a mixture of 
 concern ; and if not with dislike, a sen- 
 timent nearly resembling it, for he re- 
 called to his memory many unpleasant 
 circumstances. Such, however, is the 
 power of infancy and innocence over a 
 heart naturally kind, that he frequently 
 forgot his disgust, to answer his infantile 
 caresses ; but the tender name of father, 
 which young Randolph began to arti- 
 culate plainly, ever acted like an electric 
 shock, and never failed to awaken all 
 the discordant passions of his soul. 
 
 Young Roskelyn had been about two 
 months at Barra, when one of the fish- 
 ing vessels brought a stranger who in- 
 quired for St. Clair ; and being admitted 
 into the fortress, Monteith was astonish- 
 D 3 ed 
 
54 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 ed to see a young lad whose appearance 
 bespoke him to be far superior to their 
 * general visitors. 
 
 He was formed with the slightest, 
 but most graceful symmetry ; and his 
 face exhibited a model of natural beauty, 
 at once bespeaking sweetness and dig- 
 nity. On his entrance, bowing his 
 head — " My business is with the chief, 
 St. Clair Monteith — I pray you direct 
 me to him." 
 
 * I am so called," replied Monteith ; 
 " and pleasant, I ween, must the business 
 be that is borne by such a messenger." 
 
 " I trust so; five weeks since I left 
 the court of Scotland, and before my 
 departure was entrusted with a small 
 casket to deliver here, if occasion suited. 
 To effect this I have crossed from Ross- 
 shire, and rejoice to have executed the 
 task requested." So saying, he deliver- 
 ed a small box, carefully sealed, into 
 the hands of St. Clair, who said— 
 
 " Gentle 
 
ST. CLAtlt OF THE ISLES. 5£ 
 
 •* Gentle youth, you can perhaps inform 
 me of the contents, and favour me with 
 the name of those who sent it." 
 
 ff My orders went no further than 
 to deliver it," answered he ; " perhaps 
 more information may be contained 
 within : so please you, I will retire while 
 you examine it." 
 
 * Not so," answered St. Clair, " I 
 pray you be seated." So saying, he 
 broke the seal and opened the casket, 
 where, to his great astonishment, the 
 first article that presented was a gold 
 chain, that had appertained to his uncle 
 Monteith, with various other jewels ; 
 under these a purse containing sixty 
 marks, and at the bottom of the casket, 
 a letter to this import : — 
 
 "The enclosed jewels and money ap- 
 pertaining to St. Clair Monteith, are 
 remitted to him by a friend. For the 
 present he is requested to bear his situa*. 
 tion with patience, as any attempt to- 
 p 4 leave 
 
56 ST. CLAIE OF THE ISLES. 
 
 leave the islands would end in his de- 
 struction, his enemies only wanting a 
 pretence to take a life which keeps 
 them in perpetual dread for their own. 
 By the messenger let him remit some 
 trifling memorial that the casket has 
 been received." 
 
 " Strange!" exclaimed St. Clair — 
 " that the jewels were my uncle's and 
 afterwards mine, is most true ; but how 
 these should escape the general wreck 
 is beyond comprehension; the money 
 too. — Indeed, my good youth, thou 
 must tell me who this unknown friend 
 is, that if ever occasion serves, I may 
 thank him." 
 
 " I am a lad, chief," replied he, " but 
 I can keep a secret like a man ; and 
 pardon me, but it becomes you not to 
 tamper for a friend's secrets." 
 
 " Truly said, my brave boy; but is 
 
 there no middle way ? John of Ros- 
 
 kelyn, nor the agent Carnegie, have 
 
 |.\g nothing 
 
ST. GLAIR OF THE ISLES. 57 
 
 nothing to do with this business, I 
 ween ?" 
 
 " Nothing, on mine honour." 
 
 " Yet my whole property is in their 
 hands.." 
 
 " It is ; but It Is impossible for* them 
 to sell or alienate it." 
 
 " Undoubtedly not ; but then it be- 
 comes the property of another, and I 
 have no right." 
 
 " You have a just right to what I 
 have brought, and most probably will 
 hear again from the same quarter ; but 
 your friend must choose another mes- 
 senger, for I love not to be too closely 
 questioned." 
 
 " The gift, for I can consider it no i 
 other, would lose half its value by any 
 other hand — thy spirit charms me. 
 But say, I pray thee, as thou cam'st 
 from court, how tends all there ?" 
 
 " Not pleasantly ; the king is at y& 
 D 5 riance 
 
58 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 riance with many of his nobles, who 
 lament the loss of the old regent. The 
 earl of Roskelyn, three months since, 
 lost his son near the English borders, 
 and can since obtain no tidings of 
 Mm." 
 
 u A severe grief,'* said St. Clair. 
 
 " Yes, to the earl and dowager ; 
 but the lady Roskelyn bears it brave- 
 ly." 
 
 " 'Tis well^j yet a mother's feelings 
 are said to be the most acute." 
 
 " True ; but if I mistake not, the 
 lady Roskelyn was never famed for the 
 softer qualities of her sex." 
 
 " Justly observed ; I find thou know- 
 est her ; her face and heart are at vari- 
 ance ; the first is fair and beautiful — the 
 second' hard, false, and ungrateful." 
 
 " You speak feelingly, chief; the 
 world says she treated you unworth- 
 ily." 
 
 " Thou 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 59 
 
 f Thou art a shrewd youth. What 
 age art thou ?" 
 
 " Nineteen." 
 
 " Thou appear'st not near so much. 
 1 fear to offend by questions, but hast 
 thou preferment near the court ?" 
 
 " No — I love it not ; even this island 
 is more pleasant to me than the court 
 of James." 
 
 " That is strange ; but thou wilt 
 hereafter think otherwise : a few years 
 over, and the down of manhood on thy 
 chin, the courtly dames will emulate 
 each other for thy favour." 
 
 " And when they have gained it, 
 throw me away from them, for the first 
 fool who has more rank or wealth than 
 myself. Think you not so, chief ?" 
 
 "Faith! like enough," replied St 
 Clair; "but, notwithstanding thy youth,, 
 thou appears to be forewarned, and must 
 therefore act with caution." 
 
 " I mean it ; the woman on whom I 
 D 6 bestow 
 
60 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 bestow my heart shall give proofs, not 
 only that she prefers me to all others, 
 but if occasion so wills it, shall be con- 
 tent to share poverty, sorrow, and un- 
 merited disgrace with me; she shall 
 likewise yield up without a sigh the 
 vanities of the world, for the privilege 
 of reigning sole empress over my heart." 
 " Thou art a romantic lad, and think'st 
 like nineteen ; but when thou meetest 
 this phoenix, I pray thee give her this 
 chain, and tell her that St. Clair ho- 
 nours her above all women." 
 
 "^Not so; have you forgotten she is 
 to be superior to a love of trinkets? 
 That gold chain, in the exhausted state 
 of your finances, may be more usefully 
 employed. I will only a ring, or some 
 article of small value, to convey to your 
 friend, that he may know I have exe- 
 cuted his commands." 
 
 " Thou shalt ; but for thyself, I in- 
 sist that thou takest a memorial of me ; 
 
 were 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 61 
 
 were I more fortunate, I would wish 
 thy further acquaintance ; as it is, I need 
 no more companions in sorrow ; but 
 should ever ill fortune so far assail thee 
 as to render so poor a friend necessary, 
 I prithee note in thy memory St. Clair." 
 
 " I will," answered the youth, kissing 
 ills hand. " Time and chance happeneth 
 to all ; and rest assured, the fortune of 
 Monteith will again change. That he 
 hath .friends to whom his happiness is 
 truly dear, rest assured, and who will 
 lose no opportunity to forward his inte- 
 rest." 
 
 M Why not gratify my curiosity by 
 naming those friends ?" said St. Clair ; 
 '" at least tell me thy name." 
 
 " Ambrose — parents I have none, 
 but a tyrannic guardian embitters my 
 days." 
 
 " Poor youth ; but thou hast a friend, 
 for him thou namest mine is doubt- 
 less 
 
€2 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 less thine, by the trust reposed h* 
 thee." 
 
 " He is ; but, alas ! his means are 
 limited as mine own ; could he act 
 according to his wishes, not only wealth 
 and rank would be St. €luiy's, but every 
 worldly Messing." 
 
 " I thank thee for him ; but thy 
 fascinating discourse hath made me re- 
 gardless of the rights of hospitality ; 
 I will present thee to my friends, and 
 thou must gratify us by tarrying a 
 short time with us to repose thyself." 
 
 " It is impossible; I must away to- 
 morrow." 
 
 " I grieve at it — take this ring, I pray 
 thee, for a token to my unknown friend, 
 and tell him that St. Glair's life gains 
 value from his affection. For thyself, 
 I insist thou wearest this chain — nay, I 
 will not be refused," added he, throwing 
 it round his neck ; " in faith, thy com- 
 plexion 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 63 
 
 plexion might vie with the snow of our 
 mountains, for it shames that of the 
 fairest maid I ever saw." 
 
 * Nay, chief," replied the youth, 
 blushing, " reproach me not with what 
 I cannot help; if I cannot otherwise 
 gain a more manly appearance, I will 
 try the wintry winds of Barra, and the 
 summer sun." 
 
 " And welcome shalt thou be ; but 
 come — our board waits ; thou wilt nei- 
 ther find courtly provision nor a courtly 
 welcome, only plain food, and rude 
 honest hearts, more ready to act than to 
 promise." So saying, St. Clair led the 
 way to the hall, where he introduced 
 the youthful Ambrose to his compa- 
 nions, who received him with the kind- 
 ness and cordiality his errand demanded. 
 
 CHAP- 
 
64 ST. CLAIR OF XHE ISLES. 
 
 CHAPTER VI- 
 
 ST. Clair placed his guest by his side 
 at the social board, and the rest being 
 seated around, they vied with each other 
 in attention to the stranger, who ate 
 and spoke little. The meat being with*, 
 drawn, in vain he was urged to take 
 wine; he said it made him sick and 
 feverish, and all their repeated instances 
 could obtain was to make him mingle 
 a small quantity with the water he 
 drank. 
 
 The chevalier sat next him, and ap* 
 peared to view him with an attention = 
 that evidently gave him pain; and at 
 length, addressing him, he said — u In 
 faith, sweet youth, I have seen some of 
 
 the 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 65 
 
 the fairest hands in the French, the 
 English, and the Scottish courts, but 
 thine exceeds them all." 
 
 " I love not compliments," replied 
 the youth, " and should least have ex- 
 pected to find them at Barra." 
 
 " Truth ought to be met with every 
 where," replied De Bourg. 
 
 " I must endeavour then to bronze 
 my complexion, if it will save me from 
 unpleasant remarks." 
 
 " The chevalier is a Frenchman," 
 said St. Clair ; " and thou doubtless has 
 heard, Ambrose, they inherit from na- 
 ture the gift of flattery ; besides, 'tis so 
 long since he possessed the virtue of 
 modesty, that he hath forgotten it, and 
 can make no allowance for thine." 
 
 " I will take lessons from thee, thou 
 woman-hater, but the hour will come 
 when I shall see thee as docile to the sex 
 as I myself am inclined to be." 
 
 " I know not when ; my heart is 
 
 whole 
 
66 ST. CLAllt OF THE ISLES. 
 
 whole now, and I will take care to pre- 
 serve it so." 
 
 Hoss, Hamilton, and the rest, then 
 joined in the con versation, on various, 
 topics. The stranger appeared w T ell 
 acquainted with every subject, and pos- 
 sessed of a thorough knowledge of the 
 court and its dependants, but gaye his 
 opinion with modesty and reserve. 
 
 They sat till the night was far ad- 
 vanced, when St. Clair shewed his guest 
 to an apartment in the fortress, when, 
 taking his hand, he wished him a good 
 rest. 
 
 At my early hour St. Clair arose, the 
 occurrences of the former day having kept 
 him waking. The mysterious manner 
 of his receiving the jewels and money 
 puzzled his imagination ; that the first 
 were his own he could not mistake^ 
 and appeared only sent to ascertain that 
 the money remitted he had an equal 
 right to. The earl of Hoskelyn, his in- 
 
 x veterate 
 
STv CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 6? 
 
 veterate enemy, his countess, or the dow* 
 ager, he too well knew to expect any 
 thing from them, and whom else could 
 be in possession of his jewels ? Thus 
 thinking, he walked down to the sea- 
 shore, where, to his great astonishment, 
 he beheld the little fishing-vessel that 
 had brought the stranger quitting the 
 coast, being already at some distance 
 from the land. Gazing at it, to his 
 further amazement he discovered on the 
 deck the youthful Ambrose, who waved 
 his white hand, and then, as if to testify 
 his friendship, laid it on his breast. St. 
 Clair involuntarily raised his, as if to 
 pray his return, but in vain ; the vessel 
 pursued her way, though the strained 
 eyes of St. Clair could discover the 
 graceful form of the youth in the same 
 posture while she remained in sight. 
 
 Vexed and lost in a labyrinth of con- 
 jecture, he returned to the fortress, and 
 calling together his friends, informed them 
 
 of 
 
68 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 of the strange departure of Ambrose, 
 Their opinions were various ; some re- 
 garded him as a spy sent by the house 
 of Roskelyn, and congratulated St. Clair 
 and themselves that the child had not 
 been seen by him. 
 
 Others deemed his errand merely as 
 he himself had given out, from a con- 
 cealed friend of St. Clair's, in which 
 opinion himself joined, only the private 
 departure of Ambrose made him some- 
 what waver. 
 
 " My opinion differs from you all," 
 said the chevalier ; " you think like 
 men and warriors — 1 consider the subject 
 as a Frenchman, and an admirer of 
 beauty ; and my surmises were not lost, 
 I am convinced, on Ambrose, as he calls 
 himself. I was somewhat at first in- 
 clined to think St. Clair in the secret, 
 but am now convinced of the contrary. 
 The feminine lightness of figure, the ex- 
 traordinary beauty of features, the deli- 
 cacy 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 69 
 
 cacy of complexion, the softness of the 
 eyes, the ivory whiteness and form of 
 the hands — and if all these do not con- 
 firm it, the palpitation of my own heart 
 when I sat next this Amhrose, convinces 
 me that our visitor is either a woman or 
 an angel in disguise." 
 
 " Ridiculous !" cried St. Clair ; " for 
 what purpose should a woman, and such 
 a woman, come to the isle of Barra ?" 
 
 " In troth, to comfort thee," replied 
 the chevalier. ft Oh ! would to fortune 
 she had come on such a charitable er- 
 rand to me ! Hadst thou possessed 
 ought but a heart of stone, thou must 
 have discovered the secret." 
 
 A short consideration made many of 
 the party espouse this opinion, nor did 
 they fail to attribute the sudden depar- 
 ture to a fear of discovery, which the ar- 
 dent gaze of the chevalier might have 
 rendered probable. 
 
 St. Clair treated the whole with ridi- 
 cule, 
 
70 ST. CLAIR Or THE ISLES. 
 
 cule, though the suspicions of De Bourg 
 were not without their effect upon his: 
 mind, and he was no sooner alone, than 
 he walked to the chamber where the 
 stranger had reposed. 
 
 Here fresh astonishment awaited him, 
 for on the table lay the golden chain, 
 and by it the tablets of Ambrose, in 
 which were written : — 
 
 "Oppressed by your generosity, which 
 in the present state of your affairs is 
 mistimed, I return your gift, not for 
 want of value for the donor, but because 
 you may appropriate it in a manner 
 more consonant to my wishes. In the 
 mean time, be assured that your friends 
 will be anxious for your welfare, and 
 among them none more so than 
 
 Ambrose.* 
 
 St. Clair, puzzled with various con- 
 jectures, endeavoured to recall to mind 
 the > discourse he had when alone with 
 
 * the 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 71 
 
 the youthful stranger, and which rather 
 confirmed than refuted the chevalier's 
 conjectures ; yet, unwilling to give into 
 an idea that caused him increased vex- 
 ation, he endeavoured to banish it from 
 his mind. 
 
 " No, no," said he, " the supposition 
 is vague and ridiculous, and built mere- 
 ly on the beauty of the boy's face, and 
 the delicacy of his person — his man- 
 ners too are effeminate, but then his 
 understanding appears strong and cul- 
 tivated. He lias also imbibed romantic 
 notions of love and friendship ; the lat- 
 ter, his leaving the fortress privately, 
 rather than take the chain, most evi- 
 dently proves. — No, if I could think 
 this stranger a woman, I would decline 
 using the money so remitted. The jew- 
 els to a certainty confirm my right; 
 and I will not, for the absurdity of De 
 Eourg, deprive myself of what is at this 
 time so essential." 
 
 As 
 
72 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 As no more was heard of the stranger, 
 and as his mysterious visit was followed 
 by no particular consequence, he insen- 
 sibly became daily less thought of in 
 the fortress. The active mind, how- 
 ever, of St Clair was neither insensible 
 or forgetful of the kindness he had re- 
 ceived from his unknown friend, nor of 
 the injuries he had received from the 
 house of Roskelyn, and ardently as he 
 wished to repay the first, no less ardent- 
 ly did he long to revenge the latter. 
 
 An epidemic sickness that had for 
 some months ravaged the neighbouring 
 isles, at this period reached Barra, and 
 all the kindness of the inhabitants of 
 the fortress was called forth to assist the 
 distressed sufferers. Alive to humanity, 
 they liberally shared their stores with 
 the sick, and personally went among 
 them to see the most proper means used 
 to extirpate the malady. Though fear- 
 less of danger, the infection at length 
 
 reached 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 73 
 
 reached them, and the tower of M'Leod, 
 in its turn, became a receptacle of sick 
 warriors. Death equally attacks the 
 weak and powerful ; and among the 
 first who fell a sacrifice, was the friendly 
 Randolph, a loss that was speedily fol- 
 lowed by two more of the party that 
 had joined the outlaws. 
 
 Even James M'Gregor himself, though 
 much distressed at his brother's death, 
 did not apparently feel it so severely as 
 did St. Clair ; he watched his friend 
 day and night with unweared assiduity, 
 and saw the deadly ravages of disease 
 with an anguish he could not entirely 
 conceal from the sufferer, who himself 
 died as he lived, insensible of danger, 
 and fearless of death. 
 
 " St. Clair," said he, some hours be- 
 fore his decease, * my strength fails me, 
 but my heart is still the same ; one of 
 its warmest w T ishes is, that thou mayst 
 
 vol. i. e be 
 
74 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 be avenged of the house of Hoskelyn; 
 promise me, therefore, that thou wilt 
 not deprive thyself of the means which 
 fortune made me the instrument of put- 
 ting into thy hands. When occasion 
 serves, thou canst bring forward the 
 boy ; or if a length of time should first 
 elapse, thou wilt have the satisfaction of 
 controverting nature, and, if he doth 
 not inherit too much of his father and 
 mother, of making him a brave fellow, 
 and an honest man ; and these qualities 
 once having taken root, they may find 
 some trouble to displace them. As to 
 the arrangement of my property, that I 
 have settled with my brother, and en- 
 tirely to his liking; and I only require 
 a promise from thee to act according to 
 my wishes, after which I shall have 
 nothing to do but to resign myself to 
 the fate which awaits me. Yet, St. 
 Qair, if hereafter spirits live, in the 
 
 hour 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 75 
 
 hour of retribution remember that of 
 Randolph shall hover over thee — give 
 me thy hand, and promise." 
 
 St. Clair swore to act according to 
 the desire of Randolph, who, after 
 shaking hands with all the residents at 
 the fortress, composed himself for some 
 hours, when, turning suddenly, and 
 seeing St. Clair pensively sitting by his 
 side, he said — " Monteith, thou art 
 weak as a woman ; had I fallen in the 
 field, thou wouldst not have been thus 
 sad — away with grief;, death is the 
 common lot of all, and, to a mind re- 
 solved, less painful than thou thinkest. 
 Farewell." 
 
 Such were the last words of Ran- 
 dolph, his companions standing round 
 his couch in deep dejection. " Art 
 thou then indeed gone?" said St. Clair; 
 " would that my fortune was for ever 
 Roskelyn's, sooner than I should have 
 seen this day !" 
 
 e 2 CHAP- 
 
76 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The young heir of Roskelyn, or Ran- 
 dolph as he was called, now two years 
 old, was strong, hardy, and playful as 
 the mountain-kid ; too young to recall 
 to his memory the luxurious indulgence 
 at the castle of his father, the sum of all 
 the greatness he wished or desired was 
 confined to Barra. His young heart 
 attached to Randolph, who warmly re- 
 turned his affection, he had been ac- 
 customed to run constantly after him, 
 and not only plainly articulated his 
 name, but could also express his own wants 
 and wishes. His custom was, at early 
 morn, to escape, if possible, from his 
 nurse, and hasten to Randolph's cham- 
 ber, 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 77 
 
 ber, when, if the door was closed, he 
 beat until it was opened to him, or if 
 unbarred, he climbed upon the couch, 
 and awakened the rough warrior with 
 his caresses. Insensible of the loss of 
 his friend, the morning succeeding his 
 death, he followed his usual custom — 
 the chamber was unbarred, and on the 
 couch lay the lifeless body of Randolph ; 
 lie climbed up, and with infantile fond- 
 ness endeavoured to awaken him by 
 his playful caresses, till at length, weary 
 with the unavailing effort, he laid his 
 head upon his bosom, and fell asleep. 
 In this situation he was found by St. 
 Clair, who, entering the chamber of his 
 friend, was astonished to find him so ac- 
 companied. 
 
 A sentiment of affection which he 
 had never before felt for the infant arose 
 in his bosom, and gently awakening 
 him, he asked him what he did there ? 
 
 " Warm Randolph," replied he, shud- 
 E 3 dering 
 
78 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 dering with the cold that had commu- 
 nicated itself to his own body ; " he 
 wont speak." 
 
 " Boy," said St. Clair, scarcely re- 
 straining a starting tear, " from whence 
 inheritest thou that sentiment of grati- 
 tude?" 
 
 " Wake Randolph," continued the 
 child, gazing at him ; if he w r ont love 
 me now." 
 
 " For his sake I could almost love 
 thee," said St. Clair ; and taking him 
 in his arms, he hastened away to the 
 nurse, whom he chid for her neglect, 
 in suffering him to wander from her; 
 ordering her at the same time to wash 
 him, and change his clothes, to prevent, 
 if possible, the infection. 
 
 From this day it appeared that the 
 chief and young Randolph were more 
 warmly attached to each other, so that 
 the first would sometimes say—" Ran- 
 dolph, boy, was thy friend both living 
 
 and 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 79 
 
 and dead, for he loved thee living, and 
 by his death has insensibly transferred 
 that affection to me." 
 
 The attachment of the islanders to 
 the chief and his friends was strongly 
 exemplified at the funeral of Randolph 
 and the two inmates of the fortress, 
 who dying within a few days of each 
 other, one solemnity served for all. 
 Not only the inhabitants of Barra at- 
 tended, but also several hundreds from 
 the adjacent isles repaired thither in 
 whatever vessels they could procure. 
 A priest also attended from Kismul; 
 and, all prepared, the bodies were de- 
 posited in the highest part of the island. 
 
 The funeral procession was com- 
 menced by pipers playing martial tunes, 
 after which was borne the armour of 
 Randolph, with his spear and sword re- 
 versed. Then walked the priest ; next 
 came the bodies, borne by men who had 
 served in battle; after them followed 
 E 4 the 
 
80 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 the inhabitants of the fortress, armed, 
 but their heads uncovered, and their 
 swords pointed to the earth ; and lastly, 
 the numerous visitors that had assembled 
 on the occasion, with their heads bare, 
 and who at intervals filled the air with 
 piercing and monotonous yells of mourn- 
 ing. The bodies deposited, the earth 
 sprinkled with the sacred water, and the 
 holy rites ended, they all returned to the 
 fortress, where a plentiful entertainment 
 was provided ; which having partaken 
 of, and reposed in the best manner they 
 could during the night, they arose at 
 early dawn, and, the labour rendered 
 light by numbers, they erected a monu- 
 ment of such stones as the island 
 afforded, placing at the top a rude cross, 
 formed of the same materials, to defend 
 those it covered from the power of evil 
 spirits. Pleased with their friendship 
 and attachment, St.. Clair and his com- 
 panions detained them two days, after 
 
 which* 
 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 81 
 
 which, every one took his way to his re- 
 spective home. 
 
 The first effusion of grief over, 
 M'Gregor one day, addressing the par- 
 ty, said — " One duty yet remains un- 
 performed to our beloved Randolph. 
 With his own tremulous hand he wrote 
 a testament, which I myself and Hamil- 
 ton signed. I will take this opportunity 
 to read it." So saying, he unfolded a 
 parchment, and read as follows :■ — 
 
 " Whereas I Kandolph 
 M'Gregor, being called by the will of 
 God to lay down my life in a sickbed, 
 unbefitting a warrior, but best, as he de- 
 crees it, I will that my worldly property 
 be disposed as. follows : — My brothers, 
 Alexander and James, being -well pro- 
 vided with the gifts of fortune, the first 
 from his father, the second by his uncle, 
 I give the whole of my estates, be- 
 E 5 queathed 
 
82 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 queathed me by my patron, Randolph 
 Bruce, unto St. Clair Monteith, for his 
 natural life ; and at his death, to his son, 
 my namesake, the young Randolph — 
 so that if ever I have injured that child, 
 I may make what restitution is in my 
 power. My armour I bequeath to my 
 brother Alexander, my spear and spurs 
 to James, and my sword and shield to 
 St. Clair ; praying them to bear my 
 death as becomes men and soldiers that 
 trust to live again — in which hope I 
 die. 
 
 Randolph M'Gregor." 
 
 St. Clair heard the will in silence, and 
 appeared lost in thought. 
 
 " St. Clair," said Ross, (C rise from 
 this grief that clouds thy future pros- 
 pects. Men, thou knowest, are mortal, 
 and born to die." 
 
 " Men are indeed mortal, and while 
 
 they 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 83 
 
 they are so, they must feel," replied St. 
 Clair. ■" I revere the memory of Ran- 
 dolph, and his intention in my favour, 
 but will never profit by it." 
 
 " And so be forsworn," answered 
 M'Gregor. " Handolph injured not his 
 family by the bequest, as what he in- 
 herited was from Randolph Bruce, who 
 answered for him at the font ; thou 
 must therefore keep thy promise to him, 
 or forfeit thy honour." 
 
 " Why, good Heaven !" exclaimed 
 St. Clair, ** didst thou form me with a 
 mind to confer benefits, yet doom me 
 only to receive them ? Oh Randolph ! 
 would I slept at peace with thee, thou 
 zealous and true friend ! but, wretch 
 that I am ! I am condemned to waste 
 my days in idleness and inglorious 
 ease." 
 
 For some time a heavy gloom hung 
 
 over the inhabitants of the fortress ; it 
 
 at length, however, began to subside, 
 
 E 6 but 
 
84 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 but least so in St. Clair, whose efforts 
 to appear cheerful were evidently forced; 
 The insult and loss he had endured 
 through the lord of Hoskelyn preyed upon 
 his spirits, and though revenge was in his 
 power, in the person of his son, yet it 
 was not that retaliation for which his 
 heart thirsted. For the agent Carnegie, 
 he merely regarded him as he truly was, 
 the creature of the earl, and despised 
 him accordingly. 
 
 Some fishermen, who occasionally 
 traded to the main land of Scotland, at 
 this time brought intelligence that a 
 grand tournament of three days' durance 
 was to be held at Perth, in honour of 
 the queen, at which the flower of the 
 Scottish nation, as well as foreigners, 
 were expected to be assembled. St. 
 Clair declared nothing should prevent 
 him going ; and, to calm the apprehen- 
 sions of his companions for his safety, he 
 promised to go disguised, and to cnt^pr 
 
 into 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. Vo 
 
 into no quarrel that might endanger his 
 safety. 
 
 Though no one approved the plan, 
 yet the heavy oppression that hung 
 over him inclined them to consent, in 
 hopes that it might tend to dissipate it, 
 provided he would select some of his 
 friends to accompany him. This how- 
 ever he warmly declined ; but lifter 
 some consultation on the subject, it. 
 was agreed that Ross and De Eourg 
 should be of the party, and three other 
 of their companions, that were unre- 
 strained by law, that in case of danger 
 they might inform M'Gregor and Ha- 
 milton, who could at a short notice raise 
 a number of men ; which,, added to their 
 having the young heir of Roskelyn in 
 their power, might free them from their 
 enemies. The business arranged, they 
 sailed to the isle of Mull, where St. 
 Cla>r, Ross, and De Bourg, took the 
 
 habits 
 
86 ST. CLAIH OF THE ISLES. 
 
 habits of knights, and their companions 
 those of their esquires ; and crossing to 
 the main land, passed themselves for 
 Danes, who were curious to see the 
 tournament. 
 
 Purchasing chargers, they continued 
 their way, and arrived one day before 
 the celebration of the entertainment aj 
 Perth, where, keeping close, and at 
 some distance from the town, they caus- 
 ed no suspicion. 
 
 The morning of the tournament was 
 ushered in by music and every demon- 
 stration of joy that could be devised ; 
 and at the hour of ten, the whole court, 
 and all the knights, assembled on an ex- 
 tensive plain, near the city, to begin the 
 sport. The queen and the ladies sat in 
 front on raised seats, according to 
 their rank and dignity. On one side 
 were placed the king, his courtiers, at- 
 tendants, and the umpires ; on the other, 
 
 the 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 87 
 
 the knights and visitors who came to 
 view the tilting; in front of whom 
 were the first candidates for fame and 
 conquest. 
 
 St. Clair and his friends gazed fear- 
 lessly around : their faces concealed by 
 their visors, they without restraint re- 
 marked and recognised several, yet re- 
 mained themselves unknown. At some 
 distance from the queen sat the dowager 
 of Roskelyn, and her daughter-in-law 
 the young countess. St Clair, in the 
 glance he cast round, fixed his eyes 
 momentarily on them, .but withdrawing 
 them with a sentiment of contempt, 
 he directed his attention to other objects. 
 
 The earl of Roskelyn, as he was not 
 among the courtiers or umpires, St. 
 Clair concluded, was among the cham- 
 pions, and curiously examined each, to 
 discover him. 
 
 The sport at length commenced, and 
 several knights, both Scottish and fo- 
 reign, 
 
88 ST.CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 reign, tried their skill and fortune with 
 various success, until at length a young 
 Scottish -knight, gallantly accoutred in 
 black embossed armour, advanced, and 
 by the herald proclaimed queen Jane, 
 wife of king James I. of Scotland, 
 the fairest of women, defying all to 
 combat who averred to the contrary. 
 
 An English knight accepted the chal- 
 lenge, asserting the superiority of the 
 countess of Salisbury, and the combat 
 began. Equal prowess and dexterity 
 for a time kept the spectators in sus- 
 pense, but the English knight at length 
 gave way, and the Scot was declared 
 victor. A French knight then took 
 the vanquished's place, but was equally 
 unsuccessful as his predecessor, being 
 obliged to confess the charms of his faii^ 
 mistress, the duchess of Bedford, sister 
 of the duke of Burgundy, eclipsed by 
 those of the Scottish queen. 
 
 Elated with Ins triumph, the young 
 
 knight,. 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 89 
 
 knight, taking the arms of the van- 
 quished, and kneeling, laid them at the 
 queen's feet. " Tlise, sir knight cf 
 Lorn," said she ; " though you have 
 chosen a face and person unequal to 
 contend with the peerless beauties of 
 France and ~Engh,rA, yet yen have sup- 
 ported your claim nobly, and I thank 
 ycu. Your gal 1 an try must please all 
 women, and well I knew there is one 
 who can repay the obligation I owe you- 
 Sir James Stuart, brother to the lord 
 of Lorn, of the noble house cf I^amley, 
 though himself a younger branch, may 
 aspire, both from birth and accomplish- 
 ments, to the highest and fairest cf the 
 Scottish maids*." 
 
 The queen then turning to hor at- 
 tendants, said — " Call forward the dow- 
 ager countess of E,osl:elyn, and pray 
 her to bring in her hand her fair. charge, 
 
 the 
 
 * Sir James Stuart, called the Black Knight of Lorn, 
 after the king's death,. married the queen. 
 
90 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 the heiress of Kin tail ; I would a short 
 conference with them." 
 
 The dowager of Roskelyn immedi- 
 ately advanced with the young maid, 
 whose beauty, added to the queen's re- 
 quest, attracted all eyes but those of St. 
 Clair, who hastily withdrew his from an 
 object so obnoxious as the countess. 
 The heiress of Kintail was dressed in 
 white, her arms and bosom decorated 
 with pearls, her golden locks, held to- 
 gether behind with a cluster of the 
 same, and the luxuriant curls with 
 which nature had decorated her alabas- 
 ter forehead, confined in proper boun- 
 daries by strings of the saixie construc- 
 tion. 
 
 A profound silence reigned through- 
 out the assembly ; the dowager and the 
 young maid knelt at the queen's feet, 
 who condescendingly commanded them 
 to rise, and prepared to address them. 
 
 " Monteith !" exclaimed De Eourg, 
 
 in 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 91 
 
 in a low voice, but with marked asto- 
 nishment, " art thou blind ? my eyes 
 cannot surely deceive me. Do we not 
 in the heiress of Kintail recognise thy 
 friend Ambrose ?" 
 
 St. Clair started. " It is impossible," 
 answered he, forgetting the disgust oc- 
 casioned by the sight of the countess, 
 and gazing ardently on the scene before 
 him. " By Heaven ! 'tis like—yet it 
 cannot be. Peace, De Bourg — attend to 
 her voice — if she speaks, I cannot be de- 
 ceived." 
 
 " To the dowager of Roskelyn," said 
 the queen, " the court owes many 
 thanks, for introducing to it one of the 
 fairest ornaments of the country, the 
 heiress of Kintail. To keep her near us 
 is one of our warmest wishes, and if she 
 would accept a husband from the hand 
 of the queen of Scotland, I should be 
 happy to present her my knight, sir 
 James Stuart. To the dowager of Ros- 
 
 kelyn, 
 
9& ST. CLAIH OF THE ISLES*. 
 
 kelyn, as her guardian, I have some 
 time since expressed my wishes ; she 
 coincides with them ; and though hither- 
 to maidenly modesty may have restrain- 
 ed the young lady, let me hope that the 
 gallant behaviour of the knight of Lorn 
 this day, added to my desire, as well as 
 that of the kin g 5 may influence her to 
 determine in his favour." 
 
 The young heiress for some moments 
 appeared confused, but by the time the 
 queen ended, seemed to collect herself, 
 and raising her downcast eyes, she fixed 
 them with dignified composure, first on 
 the queen, and then on the knight of 
 JLorn. " Gracious lady," said she, ad- 
 dressing the queen, " on this subject I 
 have been long persecuted, and have 
 repeatedly, without subterfuge, declared 
 my repugnance to the lady Roskelyn, 
 who, because sir James Stuart is her 
 relation, or for some other cause, wishes 
 me to espouse him. Now, in the pre- 
 sence 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 93 
 
 sence of the whole court of Scotland, 
 and of all the nobles from foreign courts, 
 the claim is again brought forward, 
 either because your grace meant to do 
 me public honour, or because the lady 
 Roskelyn, presuming on your grace's 
 power, thought that a maid^s courage 
 <!oiild not support her in so full an 
 assembly, and that my consent -must 
 therefore unavoidably be obtained. To 
 sir James Stuart I owe my thanks for 
 his first address, as his distinguishing 
 me from other women was a com- 
 pliment I feel the weight of; but I 
 gave him then my answer, and his per- 
 secution since becomes neither a noble 
 gentleman, nor a brave and courteous 
 knight. Pardon me, my liege — I am 
 rude., being mountain-born and bred, 
 and become not the manners of the 
 court ; and cannot, nay, will not, give 
 my hand without my heart ; and my 
 
 heart 
 
94 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 heart will never beat in unison with 
 that of the knight of Lorn." 
 
 " Amazement !" exclaimed Monteith 
 to De Eourg. " By my soul, 'tis the 
 same ! — a woman, and what a woman ! 
 an angel in mind and person !" 
 
 " Ambrosine," said the dowager of 
 Roskelyn, ".know you in whose pre- 
 sence you stand, that you speak thus 
 boldly, and with unthankfulness dash 
 back the happiness offered by the gra- 
 cious queen ?" 
 
 "If, indeed," resumed the queen, 
 "your heart was engaged, there might 
 be a subject of excuse ; but the lady 
 Roskelyn assures me to the contrary." 
 
 " The lady Roskelyn," replied Am- 
 brosine, " though ; deeply skilled in 
 worldly knowledge, has yet, my liege, 
 to learn to read the human heart." 
 
 " Bold, perverse girl," said the dow- 
 ager, " would you infer to her grace 
 
 that 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 95 
 
 that you have engaged your affections ? 
 If you have done so to one worthy you, 
 declare it ; if to some low-born wretch, 
 you are beneath my care." 
 
 " When, lady, did you ever find me 
 regardless of either my rank in life, or 
 the duties annexed to it ? Never will 
 Ambrosine of Kintail prostitute her 
 person by an ill-assorted marriage, nor 
 ever give her heart to one of baser blood 
 than that which flows in your own 
 veins." - j 
 
 " Enough," said the king. " You 
 vex the maid; she is fair enough to 
 demand a ten years siege, and then, by 
 my faith, the man would be well repaid 
 who won her." 
 
 " We will then," replied the queen, 
 " grant her a truce ; on maturer 
 thoughts, she will, I trust, yield to our 
 wishes." 
 
 " To none, so please your grace, in 
 which the knight of Lorn hath a share." 
 
 So 
 
96 ST. CLAI11 OI^ THE ISLES. 
 
 So saying, Ambrosine followed the 
 lady Itoskelyn to her seat, and the 
 jucting recommenced, which, after last- 
 ing till the day was far advanced, the 
 king, q^een, and court, retired to a 
 grand entertainment, provided on the 
 occasion. 
 
 St. Clair and his companions also re- 
 tired. 
 
 " Well," said De Bourg, " how fare 
 you, St. Clair ? how beats your heart ?" 
 
 " In faith, sickly ; I am overpowered 
 by surprise and curiosity ; I would, if 
 possible, disbelieve my sight ; yet the 
 proof is so strong, it is impossible." 
 
 " Fortune, thou seest, Monteith, in 
 spite of thy enemies," said Hoss, " drops 
 in thy lap." 
 
 " In a very humiliating manner," 
 replied St. Clair; " doubtless this fair 
 maid, if it be indeed the identical Am- 
 brose, hearing of my distresses, contriv- 
 ed a way to relieve them — a curse on 
 
 my 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 97 
 
 my wayward fortune, for subjecting me 
 to such disgrace !" 
 
 " And a curse on my wayward for- 
 tune," said De Bourg " for not subject- 
 ing me to such disgrace ! why, hang 
 thee now, thou phlegmatic Scotchman ! 
 I could quarrel with thee, and almost, 
 in sober sadness, cut thy throat. The 
 connexion of the fair Ambrosine with 
 the family of Roskelyn has doubtless 
 put it in her power not only to learn 
 thy story, but also perhaps to save some" 
 of thy property from the general de- 
 struction ; and that to thee is disgrace ! 
 Marry, I know but one disgrace in the 
 business, and that is throwing away 
 such a heart as bers upon such a pioce 
 of living lumber as thou art." 
 
 " On me ! ridiculous ! could she love 
 a man she never saw ?" 
 
 M Nay, I know not," said Ross, " how 
 that may be, but I think with De 
 Bourg, that love alone could influence 
 
 vol. i. ¥ a woman 
 
98 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLKS. 
 
 a woman to act as she has done. If 
 thou hast indeed won her heart, gain 
 her hand — it will be glorious revenge on 
 the lady Roskelyn." 
 
 "I!" replied St. Clair; "no; no 
 more love for me," 
 
 " And why, I pray ye?" said Ross. 
 " Is not this heiress of Kintail as fair as 
 your once boasted Ellen?" 
 
 " Granted ; she is too fair, and ap- 
 parently too good for the wife of a 
 ruined outlaw, even if she were willing, 
 which I am far from supposing." 
 
 " Ask her the question, man," said 
 the chevalier. 
 
 44 Yes, and be denied like a fool; no, 
 no, De Bourg, I must first borrow some 
 of thy characteristic impudence." 
 
 " Oh to fortune that 1 could impart 
 a portion ! — such a woman ! by Heaven, 
 she inspires me ! — Am-bro-sine ; there 
 is music in the very name ; were I in 
 thy place, I would sing it to an hundred 
 
 different 
 
ST. CLAIR OP THE ISLES. 99 
 
 different tunes ; I would write sonnets 
 to her eyes, her nose, her hands, her 
 hair, and defy any man to the death, 
 who should but dare say there was a 
 single defect in her whole composition." 
 
 " Noted you the wife of John of 
 Roskelyn ?" said Monteith. " From 
 the slight glance I caught, neither -her 
 beauty or spirits appeared lessened by 
 the loss of her son." , 
 
 " I did," replied Ross ; " she seemed 
 uncommonly cheerful. I ever told thee, 
 St Clair, that woman had no heart ; but, 
 fascinated with her beauty, thou wert 
 regardless of more substantial quali- 
 ties." 
 
 " 1 confess it ; but it was merely the 
 ebullition of eighteen; I felt for her 
 not love, but frenzy ; and the paroxysm/ 
 once passed, my mind was again itself. 
 I blushed for my folly, and would have 
 given my life to retrieve it." 
 
 " I wonder how the heiress of Kintail 
 f 2 came 
 
100 ST. CLAIR OF ; THE ISLES. 
 
 came to fall into the hands of the dow- 
 ager," said De Bourg. 
 
 " That I know not, except that I 
 have heard there was once a great in- 
 timacy between the lady Kin tail and 
 the dowager," replied St. Clair. " Sir 
 John was a brave man, and even of the 
 heiress I have heard much, not only in 
 the shire of Ross, but also in the isle 
 of Sky ?" 
 
 *' Mean you of her beauty, or the 
 qualities of her mind ?" said Ross. 
 
 "Of both. My uncle Monteith was 
 well beloved by sir John, but death 
 broke off the connexion; he died after 
 my uncle — I should conjecture, not more 
 than two years since." 
 
 "' What expect you from to-morrow's 
 sport ?" said De Bourg. 
 
 " I know not — I should like to try a 
 breathing, lest our arms get rusty; 
 but as yet have 4 seen no opponent worth 
 meeting, except this knight of Lorn." 
 
 " I heard 
 
ST.- CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 101 
 
 ■' I heard to-day," said Ross, " that 
 he is the particular favourite of the 
 queen, and that she neglects no means 
 to promote his fortune ; hence her wish 
 to unite him to the heiress*.^- We will, 
 however, if we find occasion, try a few 
 turns to-morrow." 
 
 "Agreed," said St Clair, "though 
 this day has brought forward a discovery 
 that cannot, I think, be equalled by any 
 event of the succeeding one," 
 
 r 3 CHAP- 
 
102 ST. Ct.AIK OF THE ISLES. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 + ■++■■*■ +*r *■* r *+-*+*+*■ 
 
 At an early hour the outlaws hastened 
 to the field of sports. The company 
 was assembled, and the victor of the 
 former day, the* knight of Lorn, again 
 proclaimed the charms of his sovereign 
 unrivalled. Twice the trumpet sound- 
 ed, and no one entered the lists against 
 him : at the third charge it was answer- 
 ed from another part of the field, and 
 suddenly St. Clair stepped forward. 
 " Sir knight," said he, affecting a foreign 
 accent, '* are you a lover, and yet stand 
 forth the champion of another lady ? 
 If you see not in Ambrosine all perfec- 
 tion, you deserve her not ; I affirm she 
 is secondary to no woman." 
 
 " Ise^ 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 103 
 
 ** I see in the heiress of Kintail the 
 beloved of my soul," replied sir James, 
 * and would willingly devote my life to 
 her service ; but in my royal mistress I 
 contemplate a goddess, whom at a dis- 
 tance I revere and adore." 
 
 " Well then, sir knight, my gage 
 against yours ; nor goddesses, nor queen s r 
 direct my sword ; neither do I acknow- 
 ledge the charms of any of our Danish 
 virgins ; no, nor even those of the heir- 
 ess of Kintail, but of Ambrosine, the 
 Highland maid, with an angel's form 
 and a hero's spirit : therefore look to 
 your seat, for if I unhorse you not in 
 three turns, the disgrace be mine." 
 
 " Sooner said than done," replied sir 
 James ; " though you challenge me un- 
 fairly, using the name of her I love — 
 but have with you, sir knight." So 
 saying, they spurred their coursers, and* 
 attacked each other with a fury increas- 
 ed by pride and emulation ; but the 
 f 4 skill 
 
104 ST. CJLxlIFv OF THE ISLES. 
 
 skill of the . knight of Lorn was not 
 to be put in competition with the 
 strength, activity, and knowledge of 
 Monteith, who, true to his word, in 
 the third turn unhorsed his adversary. 
 
 " Did not 1 tell you," said Monteith, 
 ironically, and still maintaining his fo- 
 reign accent, " that queens and god- 
 desses must yield to. the. Highland maid ? 
 Axe ye for another encounter, or have 
 ye enough ?" 
 
 " Not so," replied sir James ; " to my 
 last breath I will maintain the charms 
 of the Scottish queen unrivalled." So 
 saying, he drew his sword, but only to 
 experience fresh disgrace, for in spite of 
 liis utmost efforts,, he was disarmed 
 with such violence,, that the king com- 
 manded him, on his favour, not to ha- 
 zard a third encounter. 
 
 No cries of triumph, nor any sound 
 of satisfaction, marked Monteith's vic- 
 tory ; for the Scottish nobles, discom- 
 fited 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 105 
 
 fited at the disgrace of the queen's 
 knight by a stranger, swore to avenge 
 him ; while Monteith, alone in the ring, 
 his visor still down, thus addressed 
 them : — 
 
 " Nobles and knights ! a stranger 
 among ye, I have no wish to carry off 
 unearned the palm of victory. I am 
 not yet breathed ; Ambrosine still hangs 
 upon my sword; let me not earn ho- 
 nour so easily." 
 
 " We mean it not," said the knight 
 of Traquair, riding forward ; " we all 
 allow the beauty of the fair heiress, but 
 the queen of Scotland yields to none." 
 
 " That time will shew," replied Mon- 
 teith. " Come on ; the charms of Am- 
 brosine, though known but yesterday* 
 might sinew a weaker arm than mine." 
 
 A giant strength appeared to animate 
 the graceful but manly body of Mon- 
 teith, for in a few minutes he gave his 
 opponent such a severe fall, that he de- 
 f 5 clined 
 
106 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 dined all farther contest ; nor were three 
 that afterwards replaced him more for- 
 tunate, for they experienced an equal 
 disgrace. 
 
 " Now have with thee, though thou 
 wert the devil," cried a knight, riding 
 forward, whom Monteith knew instantly 
 For the lord Roskelyn. " Hitherto thou 
 hast borne it bravely — the queen of 
 Scotland nerves my arm, as thou saves t 
 of Ambrosine ; therefore beware, thou 
 foreign boaster!" 
 
 The heart of St. Clair beat high, but, 
 preserving his feigned accent and man- 
 ner, he said — ** Alas, poor queen ! I 
 would she had a better champion. But, 
 sir knight, remember you are now per- 
 haps to exhibit your prowess before the 
 chosen of your heart ; if so, let her see 
 that you are not only able to love, but, 
 if occasion need, to protect her." 
 
 The person of Roskelyn was strongly 
 formed and active, yet he was not equal 
 
 to 
 
st: claiu of the isles. 107 
 
 to enter the lists against Monteith ; for 
 though he for some time appeared to 
 support the conflict with great skill, he 
 at length shared the fate of those that 
 preceded him, being unhorsed with: 
 such violence, that he was unable to re-i 
 new the contest. 
 
 " If it be thus in jest," said St. Clair, 
 " we should be unequal opponents in *fc 
 serious contest. I grieve that you have 
 not more bodily strength, as some day 
 you may find occasion for it." 
 
 No other champion presenting for 
 the queen, the sports were adjourned" 
 until the morrow ; Monteith first taking 
 the weapons of the vanquished, and lay- 
 ing them at the feet of Ambrosine. 
 
 " Sir knight," said she, " I can scarcely 
 return you thanks for a compliment 
 that wilL make me many foes. You 
 are apparently strong, skilful, and ex- 
 perienced in warlike encounters, and 
 will doubtless find divers occasions to 
 f 6 distinguish 
 
108 ST. CLAIR OF THE JSLES, 
 
 distinguish yourself against your ene- 
 mies ; but even in that case, I pray ye, 
 remember mercy as the most glorious 
 quality in a conqueror, and Ambrosine 
 will always recollect the undeserved 
 honour you have paid her with grati- 
 tude." 
 
 " Lady," answered Monteith, still in 
 a feigned accent, "while I remember 
 Ambrosine, I must remember mercy — 
 and who that has once seen so fair a 
 maid can forget her; a maid who to 
 the perfection of beauty adds the higher 
 qualities of the mind ; who, unbiassed 
 by rank, power, or wealth,, seeks out the 
 oppressed, and soothes them with the 
 soft language of consolation?" 
 
 " You rate me above my deserts," 
 answered she, blushing; " but I thank 
 you. Prosperous gales waft ye safe to 
 the Danish shore, where some fair maid, 
 I trust, will pay the debt of Ambro- 
 
 sine. ? ' 
 
 " I seek 
 
ST. CLAIll OF THE ISLES. 109 
 
 M I seek no return, lady — I dare not 
 love; but if ever Ambrosine should 
 need a knight, remember she hath one 
 who is ready to sacrifice his life in her 
 service." So saying, St. Clair remount- 
 ed his courser, and with his friends left 
 the field of sports. 
 
 On the ensuing morning, Monteith, 
 Ross, and De Bourg, were the first that 
 entered the lists, proclaiming by the 
 herald the merit and beauty of Ambro- 
 .sine, declaring themselves her knights, 
 and defying all who refused to acknow- 
 ledge her claim ; none, however, were 
 found to oppo.*? them, for the defeats of 
 the second day had damped all valour, 
 and made the whole assembly resolve 
 not to encounter the strange knight, or 
 his companions, who they doubted not 
 were as dangerous as himself. 
 
 " Fair one," said the king, " your 
 knights multiply — in case of danger, me- 
 
 thinks 
 
110 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 thinks your name might raise me an 
 army." 
 
 " A number of champions, my liege, 
 are no boast to a simple maid like me," 
 replied Ambrosine ; " one true knight 
 is all my heart hath a right to expect." 
 
 " And why will you not see that fa- 
 voured knight in sir James Stuart?" 
 said the king. 
 
 " Because my heart refuses to ac- 
 knowledge him," said: she. f I have 
 always found it a faithful counsellor^ 
 and like not to act against its dictates." 
 
 " Beware, lest it at length deceive 
 you. You have bold and powerful 
 champions in these Danes — know ye 
 them ?" 
 
 " I am personally acquainted with no 
 Dane, my liege." 
 
 The sports of the day, as all declined, 
 encountering the strange knights, were 
 few, so that all returned at an early 
 
 hour 
 
ST. <!lair of the isles. Ill 
 
 hour to the feasting provided, and which 
 was to close the entertainment. 
 
 St. Clair and his companions imme- 
 diately left Perth, and took the way to 
 Edinburgh, in order to execute a plan 
 which they had formed ; and reposing 
 themselves in a cottage by the way, on 
 the following morning they pursued 
 their journey. 
 
 In the environs of Edinburgh dwelt 
 Carnegie, on a small estate, which had 
 been a part of the patrimony of St. 
 Clair, and which, in the division of his 
 right, had been given for the residence 
 of the acting agent of the unjust de- 
 cree. 
 
 Thither the outlaws, at the close of 
 day, directed their steps* and demanding 
 entrance at the gate, were speedily ad- 
 mitted by the domestics, who had no 
 idea of other intruders, than some of 
 
 the 
 
112 ST. CLAIR OF THE IfLES. 
 
 the noble knights who were returning 
 from the tournament, and who might 
 have business with their master. 
 
 The pretended esquires were left at 
 the gate; but Monteith, Ross, and De 
 Bourg, were ushered into the hall, 
 where Carnegie, nothing doubting they 
 were visitors, from whom, either his 
 pride, avarice, or perhaps both, might 
 be gratified, rose to receive them, with 
 all the sycophant humility he was ac- 
 customed to use to those he considered 
 as his superiors. 
 
 "Noble knights," said he,, "you 
 honour my dwelling ; I pray ye be 
 seated, remove your helmets, and take 
 such refreshment as my house affords." 
 
 The knights bowed, but remained 
 silent. 
 
 " Ye went out sportively inclined, 
 and returned the same," said Carnegie. 
 " Ye will however take refreshment, 
 when ye may perhaps please to disclose 
 
 yourselves ; 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES* 218 
 
 yourselves ; for if me, it is said 3 gladden? 
 tth the soul, and openeth the heart of 
 man." 
 
 The knights laughed, but made no 
 reply ; while Carnegie called to his men, 
 who, to the number of four, entered 
 with wine and food. 
 
 De Bourg, who was unknown to Car- 
 negie, then raised his visor, and taking 
 a bumper of wine, said — " Carnegie, I'll 
 give thee a health ; nay, fill thy goblet 
 to the brim, for, by my soul ! I will stick 
 my dagger in the man's heart that re- 
 fuses it." 
 
 Carnegie looked somewhat alarmed, 
 but concluding the whole a jest, did as 
 he was commanded. 
 
 " St. Clair Monteith, then," said De 
 Bourg, " and confusion to his ene- 
 mies !" 
 
 Carnegie started, and dropped the 
 cup, while his domestics, no less alarmed, 
 attempted to advance towards the door. 
 
 — " Stir 
 
114 fit. CI^AIK OF THE ISLES. 
 
 — '* Stir not for your lives," said Ross, 
 opposing their passage; "if ye remain 
 quiet, ye are safe, but death attends re- 
 sistance ; remain in your places, and 
 hear all in silence." 
 
 Their enemies were too formidable 
 to be resisted; the men therefore re- 
 sumed their station at the tower end of 
 the hall. 
 
 " Nay, the pledge, the pledge," cried 
 De Bourg, filling another cup, and pre- 
 senting it to Carnegie. " Marry, should 
 it choke thee, it may save thee from a 
 more unworthy end." 
 
 Trembling in every limb, Carnegie 
 drank the pledge, and then remained 
 silent. 
 
 " Carnegie," continued De Bourg, 
 " thou art a wise fellow, and one of thy 
 sayings I will treasure in my memory, 
 * Wine gladdeneth the soul, and openeth 
 the heart of man' Now, to open thy heart 
 is my immediate business. Hark thee, 
 
 Carnegie, 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 115' 
 
 Carnegie, thou hast considerable arrears 
 of St. Clair's in thy hands — these must 
 away with me to Barra, or, by my 
 father's soul ! thou thyself shalt go in 
 their stead." 
 
 Carnegie turned pale. ** Indeed, sir 
 knight," said he r * you treat me harsh- 
 ly — 'tis by the king's owa order I re- 
 ceive the revenues of the chief St Clair, 
 for the lord of Iioskelyn." 
 
 " What right has the king te^seize 
 on what is not his own ?" replied De 
 Bourg. " Mark, Carnegie, I speak no 
 treason ; but if any other man had done 
 this, he would have been a knave. 
 For the lord of Roskelyn, he is an arrant 
 varlet ; and for thee, thou art — nay, 
 never tremble or look pale— thou art 
 safe, man, if thou dost well : but we 
 have tarried long enough; come, give 
 me the money, or prepare to accompany 
 us; we have men at the gate, and a yet 
 
 stronger 
 
:ll€ ST. GLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 stronger reinforcement at & short dis- 
 tance." 
 
 " Patience, good sir — patience, and 
 hear me. Not more than six months 
 since, I accounted with the lord of Ros- 
 kelyn, and at this time have not more 
 than two hundred and fifty marks of 
 the chief Monteith's in my hands ; 
 should I pay that to strangers, which 
 ye are to me, it might be thought I in- 
 vented a story to appropriate the money 
 to my own use." 
 
 " Had ye then Monteith's order, ye 
 would be safe from blame," said De 
 Bourg. 
 
 " Not so ; it could only testify that I 
 paid it perforce." 
 
 " And that those fellows can witness 
 for thee," said De Bourg. 
 
 " Tis not sufficient to insure him 
 belief," said St. Clair, lifting up his hel- 
 met. " Behold, i am here, thou poor 
 
 knave, 
 
ST. C LA Lit OF THL ISLES. 117 
 
 knave, and now what subterfuge hast 
 thou ?" 
 
 Carnegie trembled universally. " I 
 will fetch what money I have," said he ; 
 " so please you to write me a dis- 
 charge." 
 
 " I will accompany thee," said De 
 Bonrg. " By Heaven, I will not lose 
 sight of thee." 
 
 So saying, he accompanied Carnegie 
 into an inner apartment, where, unlock- 
 ing a strong chest, he shewed De Bourg 
 several bags, each of which was marked 
 with the name of the different estate 
 whose revenue it contained. Four of 
 these appertained to St. Clair, and which, 
 with a heavy sigh, Carnegie delivered 
 to De Bourg, who peremptorily de- 
 manded if there was no more ? 
 
 " No, by the Virgin and blessed 
 angels !"' replied Carnegie ; " there is the 
 whe'e now in my hands," 
 
 " Pish, man !" replied De Bourg, 
 
 " what 
 
118 ST. CLAIR OF THK ISLES. 
 
 *■ what are virgins to thee ? and for 
 angels, unless they are golden ones, thou 
 heedest them as little." 
 
 " What then shall I swear by ?" said 
 Carnegie. 
 
 " Faith, by nothing ; varlet that thou 
 art, I would not damn thee ; thou 
 mayest yet live to make a monk, and 
 by enriching some monastery with thy 
 ill-gotten wealth, die surrounded with 
 bald pates singing requiems to thy de-* 
 parting spirit; but look to it, for thy 
 soul once beyond the holy walls, the 
 devil will have a hard struggle for his 
 own." So saying, followed by Carne- 
 gie, he joined St. Clair and Ross in the 
 hall. 
 
 " Bring me ink, and I will write a 
 discharge for the sum I receive," said 
 St. Clair. " But mark me well, and 
 tell the same to Roskelyn, that the next 
 time ye give me this trouble, ye get 
 not off so easily. For James of Scot- 
 land, 
 
ST. CI.AIll OF THE ISLES. 119 
 
 land, if he wishes to chastise me, I am 
 to be found at Barra." 
 
 St. Clair then wrote the acquittal, and 
 striking Carnegie on the back with the 
 flat of his sword, he said — " Remember 
 this lesson, and profit by it. Farewell." 
 With these words they left the dwell- 
 ing without opposition, and joining 
 their friends, travelled during the night 
 with the utmost speed, in the morning 
 concluding themselves safe from pur- 
 suit. 
 
 Carnegie was too much alarmed and 
 panicstruck to leave his dwelling until 
 the ensuing morning, when, somewhat 
 reassured by finding all quiet about his 
 environs^ he ventured to mount his 
 horse, and, attended by his four domes- 
 tics, hastened to the castle of Roskelyn. 
 
 CHAP- 
 
1£0 ST. CLAIB OF THE ISLES, 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 On reaching Roskelyn, Carnegie found 
 the lord of the domain had arrived late 
 the evening before, and being admitted 
 into the hall, found him seated with 
 the countess his wife, the dowager his 
 mother, and the heiress of Kintail. 
 
 Carnegie's looks were indicative that 
 all was not well ; and lord Roskelyn 
 addressing him, immediately asked the 
 cause. To his great astonishment, he 
 learned what had passed with the out- 
 laws, and from the description, had no 
 doubt but the Danish strangers were 
 the same. The disgrace of his defeat in 
 the justing, the contemptuous manner 
 of his opponent, his boldness in demand- 
 
 in a* 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 121 
 
 ing his own, all conspired to awaken the 
 fears, and to wound the pride of Ros- 
 kelyn, who, with the most deadly im- 
 precations, vowed revenge. 
 
 The dowager said little, but appeared 
 confused and grieve:!, while the young 
 countess, with a glance of contempt at 
 her lord, only wished that Heaven had 
 made her a man, jn which case she 
 would neither have suffered personal 
 disgrace, nor have been outwitted by $t 
 Clair Monteith. 
 
 Such was the effect that Carnegie's 
 account had upon three of the party, 
 while on the fourth, Ambrosine, it had 
 a contrary effect, exciting only her 
 mirth, and causing her to laugh so 
 heartily, as to draw upon her the re- 
 bukes of the whole family. 
 
 " Out upon you, rude girl !" said the 
 dowager. M You said truly that you 
 were mountain-born and bred, but why 
 
 vol. i. ' g. an 
 
122 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 an affair, so replete with vexation to us, 
 should be a cause of mirth to you, I can- 
 not comprehend." 
 
 " I pray you pardon me," replied 
 Ambrosine ; " women, you know, are 
 naturally pleased with brave men, and 
 that such a one as St. Clair should suc- 
 ceed, delights me." 
 
 " Delights you !" repeated the dow- 
 ager; " this is surely too much to avow 
 in the presence of the injured party." 
 
 " Heaven forefend that I should in- 
 crease the vexation of any person that 
 was injured!" answered Ambrosine. 
 " Lord Roskelyn comes not under that 
 description." 
 
 " Wonder not at "Ambrosine !" said 
 the countess, spitefully. " Have you 
 forgotten the attention the villain paid 
 her at the tournament ? To a young 
 maid, unaccustomed to the attentions of 
 men, carrying away the claim of beauty, 
 
 was 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 123 
 
 was so flattering a compliment, that I 
 should not be surprised to see her throw 
 herself into the arms of her champion." 
 
 " And should they open to receive 
 me," answered Ambrosine, " I should 
 be an object of universal envy. The 
 proud dames of the fertile south, stretch- 
 ed on silken beds by their listless lords, 
 would envy the wife of Monteith, amidst 
 the barren rocks of Barra, defended by 
 the arms of a hero." 
 
 " Think you so ?" replied the coun- 
 tess scornfully ; " how comes it then 
 that he hath not wedded ? — the world 
 says he has already loved." 
 
 " I have heard so, but I believe it 
 not. Boys and girls form strange fan- 
 cies, and call it love ; but when reason 
 and age give maturity to their know- 
 ledge, such trifles are no longer thought 
 of, or at least only remembered with 
 disgust." 
 
 i( St. Clair's passion was said not to 
 G 2 be 
 
124 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 be of that light nature," replied the 
 countess, with visible pique. 
 
 " At least then," answered Ambro- 
 sine, " he bears disappointment well. 
 On a hero like Monteith, a slight pas- 
 sion, or a love unjustly treated, would 
 make no impression beyond the passing 
 hour ; but one deserving his heart, and 
 worthily returned, would take a root 
 never to be effaced but with life itself." 
 
 " On my word," said the dowager, 
 " had you ever seen Monteith before 
 the tournament, when I am convinced 
 you saw not his face, I should say 
 you were preposterous enough to love 
 him." 
 
 * I never shall love a man for his 
 face ; I could as well love a statue or a 
 picture. Even from my infancy I have 
 been charmed with valiant actions ; and 
 when our minstrels were accustomed to 
 sing of noble deeds, my heart used to 
 swell almost too large for my bosom." 
 
 " I will 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 125 
 
 " I will away to Edinburgh," said 
 lord Roskelyn ; "the king is returned 
 thither — he will not suffer his commands 
 to be broken with impunity." So say- 
 ing, he called for his retinue, and taking 
 horse, lost no time in hastening to the 
 city. He found the king assembled 
 in council with his nobles, and imme- 
 diately preferred his complaint, which 
 was heard with a mixture of wonder 
 and anger ; the first, at the boldness of 
 the outlaws ; the second, at the little 
 heed they paid to the sentence passed 
 against them. 
 
 H Call together," said the king, " a com- 
 petent force, and hasten to bring those 
 traitors before me ; we will shew them 
 we are not to be insulted with im- 
 punity." 
 
 Sir Alexander Livingstone, though 
 
 no friend to Monteith, was too good a 
 
 politician not to see the danger and 
 
 difficulty of such an enterprise. " My 
 
 G 3 liege/' 
 
126 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 liege," said he, " what force, think you, 
 will be necessary on this occasion ?" 
 
 " Nay, I know not ; send fifty, nay, 
 an hundred men, if it be necessary, to 
 sci?:e the varlets." 
 
 " With submission, my liege, on such 
 an errand, I would not command a 
 body of a thousand, to be master of the 
 crown of Scotland. Accustomed to the 
 islands, and to the northern coast, from 
 his infancy, St. Clair is acquainted with 
 every stronghold and fastness of* the 
 country beyond most other men. From 
 being partly bred among the inhabitants, 
 and now again having resided among 
 them for a considerable time, during 
 which he hath carefully cultivated their 
 friendship, they would fight or die in 
 his defence, and, on the appearance of 
 danger, his banner once displayed, 
 would flock to it by thousands; and, 
 glad of a pretence to plunder, cross 
 over to our coasts, and, like swarms of 
 
 locusts, 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 127 
 
 locusts, spread devastation and ruin 
 around them." 
 
 " Though there may he some truth- 
 in this," replied the king, " would you 
 that the traitors should act with im- 
 punity ?" 
 
 " My liege," replied Livingstone, " I 
 could wish that St. Clair Monteith had 
 never been exiled to Barra, from whence 
 I consider he never now can be forced, 
 but by a waste of blood and treasure too 
 great to be expended on so insignificant a 
 subject. Hitherto, himself and his com- 
 panions have been quiet, except in' this 1 
 instance, which, with submission, I think 
 had better be disregarded, unless they 
 could have been seized when here. 
 Their appearance at the tournament 
 should also, I think, be considered as^ 
 only the mere warmth of youth ; arid 
 doubtless a want of money instigated 
 St. Clair's visit to the agent, where he 
 & 4t considered 
 
128* ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 considered the sum, though extracted 
 by force, as only a just appropriation of 
 his own property." 
 
 Livingstone paused, but the king 
 making no reply, he continued — 
 " Strong and ferocious as wolves, the 
 islanders are good friends, but dreadful 
 enemies ; and though, if an insurrection 
 should happen, there is no doubt they 
 would be subdued, yet the toil would be 
 great, and the expence heavy ; and 
 whether it be worth while to incur it 
 in this case, I leave to your grace's bet- 
 ter judgment." 
 
 " There is great truth and reason in. 
 what thou sayest, Livingstone," replied 
 the king ; " but thou dost not consider 
 my contemned authority, and the 
 wounded feelings of RoskelyrL" 
 
 " I do, my liege, and think, as I 
 said before, that could Monteith have 
 been taken when here, his life would 
 
 have 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 129 
 
 have been a necessary sacrifice to insure 
 future tranquillity ; but as the business 
 now stands, I hold my first opinion." 
 
 On a further consultation, the advice 
 of Livingstone was adopted, at least 
 until such time as means could be de- 
 vised to get him into their hands. 
 
 In the mean time, safe from danger, 
 and laughing at what had passed, Mon- 
 teith, Ross, De Bourg, and their com- 
 panions, reached the coast, and speedily 
 sailed to Barra, where they were warm- 
 ly received by their friends, who had 
 not been free from alarm during their 
 absence. What also gave the whole 
 party pleasure, was the revived spirits 
 of St. Clair, who appeared to have 
 thrown off the heavy gloom that hung 
 over him before his departure. The 
 little Randolph clung about his neck, 
 and by a thousand kisses welcomed hi3 
 g 5 return, 
 
130 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 return, while St. Clair pressed him in 
 his arms, saying — " Boy, either thy face 
 and manners partake of the deepest hy- 
 pocrisy, or thou wilt neither resemble 
 father nor mother." 
 
 The discovery of the youth Ambrose, 
 in the person of the heiress of Kintail, 
 astonished all, though all attributed 
 the visit she had made them to one 
 cause, the love of St. Clair ; but no one 
 could conjecture how, or at what period, 
 that affection had taken place. 
 
 St. Clair, however he treated the 
 idea with ridicule, felt his heart flattered 
 by it, and insensibly Ambrosine mingled 
 in his thoughts, until he began to con- 
 jecture, that had his first love been 
 placed upon so worthy an object, it 
 had not been so ungratefully returned. 
 
 About a. month after their return, St. 
 Clair signified an inclination to go to 
 the isle of Sky, in which excursion he 
 was accompanied by De Bourg and 
 
 McGregor. 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 131 
 
 M'Gregor. After passing some time 
 there, they crossed the narrow frith to 
 Kintail, where, in the ordinary guise of 
 travellers, they visited the castle of the 
 heiress. Making such common ques- 
 tions as might give no suspicion, ; they 
 learned that the fair mistress was almost 
 idolized among her vassals ; that by the 
 will of her mother, she was left, for the 
 years of her minority, in the charge of 
 the dowager of *. oskelyn, with whom 
 they expected her soon to visit her pa- 
 ternal, dwelling. 
 
 " Is it long since you saw your mis- 
 tress ?" said St. Clair, carelessly address- 
 ing the domestic. 
 
 " Not more than six months," re- 
 plied he; " but her stay was' short — the 
 lady Xtoskeiyn was impatient to re- 
 turn to the south, and even left the 
 lady Ambrosine for the last month ; 
 but she joined her at Inverness." 
 
 "The identical time," said St. Clair, 
 G 6 in 
 
132 ST. CLAIK OF THE ISLES. 
 
 in a low voice, to De Bourg ; then ad- 
 dressing the man, he added — " You 
 expect her speedily to return — said you 
 not so?" 
 
 " Daily ; several arrangements speci- 
 fied in the lady Entail's testament re- 
 main to be fulfilled, and she must come 
 to execute them." 
 
 Having satisfied their curiosity, they 
 retired ; and after some conversation, it 
 was resolved they should again visit 
 Kintail before they returned to Barra, 
 but in the mean time to tarry in the 
 isle of Sky, to baffle suspicion. 
 
 By passengers that were perpetually 
 crossing the frith, they, in about ten 
 days, learned that the heiress of Kintail 
 was arrived at her castle, and that, by 
 tfcfc orders of lady Roskelyn, great pre- 
 parations were making to entertain a 
 gallant company, which entertainment, 
 
 some 
 
ST. CLAIli OF THE ISLES. 133 
 
 some whispered, would terminate by 
 the marriage of the heiress. 
 
 " If her heart is willing," said St. 
 Clair, " happy may she be ! but, by my 
 soul, if otherwise, not lady Roskelyn, 
 nor all her fiends to back her, shall force 
 the sweet maid." 
 
 De Bourg burst into a fit of laughter. 
 " Give m e tigers, fiends, serpents, de- 
 vils — any tiling but woman /" exclaimed 
 he. " Oh, how I like to see a fellow 
 brought to his senses !" 
 
 " To lose them rather," replied Mon- 
 teith. " Laugh, De Bourg — I give thee 
 free licence — thou art welcome — I deserve 
 it all ; but say, canst thou allow nothing 
 for repentance ? — nay, to gratify thee at 
 once, man, were I master of my fortune, 
 I would lay it at the feet of Ambrosine; 
 but as it is, I decline all but friendship 
 for her." 
 
 " Commend me to the friendship of a 
 fellow of twenty-seven, like thee, and a 
 
 girl 
 
134 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 girl of nineteen, like Ambrosine !" cried 
 De Bourg. ": By Heaven ! if thou ear- 
 nest not off this heiress, I will proclaim 
 thee a poltroon." 
 
 " Then thou undoubtedly will do so," 
 replied Monteith ; " could I give her 
 happiness, rny heart and hand would be 
 ready; but to overwhelm her with my 
 disgrace and poverty, is both against 
 my honour and inclination." 
 
 CHAP 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 135 
 
 CHAPTER X, 
 
 The information which the outlaws had 
 received of the heiress being arrived at 
 her castle of Kintail was true, and many 
 visitors of the highest rank were ex- 
 pected to join them in a short time. 
 Splendour and shew were ever the high- 
 est gratifications to the dowager of Ilos- 
 kelyn, and the loss of the young Mon- 
 trose, her grandson, appeared by no 
 means to have deadened these inclina- 
 tions, for in dissipation she endeavoured 
 to dispel not only that, but also some 
 other very unpleasant recollections. 
 'Tis true, no means of inquiry were 
 spared to discover the youthful heir ; 
 
 but 
 
136 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 but a year having nearly elapsed, it be- 
 gan to be conjectured that his death 
 had prevented the robbers from claiming 
 the ransom. 
 
 Ambrosine, when she could gratify 
 the dowager without injuring her own 
 feelings and happiness, readily coincided 
 in her love of pleasure, not that she was 
 pleased with the bustle and pageantry of 
 greatness, but willingly paid the com- 
 pliment to one her mother had consti- 
 tuted her guardian. 
 
 Some evenings after their arrrival r 
 one of the vassals entering the hall 
 where the dowager and Ambrosine 
 were seated at supper, informed then* 
 that three minstrels requested to be ad- 
 mitted. " They are old men," added 
 he, " and have iu their youth served in 
 the wars, for two are lame, and the third 
 is disfigured by the loss of an eye. But 
 truly they play rarely ; one on the small 
 
 pipes, 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 137 
 
 pipes, another on the harp, and the 
 third, with the blind eye, sings better 
 than any minstrel I ever heard." 
 
 " So much for their merits," said Am- 
 brosine ; " I pray ye give them meat, 
 and, with the lady Roskelyn's leave, ad- 
 mit them. My heart is heavy, and 
 music will banish thought." 
 
 " And why should your heart be 
 heavy ?" said the dowager. " Youth, 
 wealth, and beauty are yours, and one 
 of the first knights in Scotland is will- 
 ing to devote his life to you." 
 
 " If he is inclined to continue his 
 folly, I cannot at present prevent it ; 
 but were it only for the persecution, I 
 should hate him." 
 
 At that moment the lackey entered 
 with the minstrels; they appeared, as 
 he said, to have been sorely wound- 
 ed, for two walked with difficulty, and 
 the third wore an enormous patch, to 
 conceal the loss of an eye. They were 
 
 however 
 
MS ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 however clean and respectfully clad, and' 
 their white hairs and beards demanded- 
 respect and compassion. 
 
 The dowager of Roskelyn was too 
 haughty to exchange words with crea- 
 tures she regarded so far beneath her ; 
 but Ambrosine ? s heart, at once unas- 
 suming and gentle, struck with their, 
 appearance, thus addressed them- — 
 " Good fellows, ye are old to follow 
 this wandering trade ; your country, in- 
 cases such as yours, ought to furnish a 
 secure asylum, for ye have seen hard- 
 service." 
 
 " Truly, lady, have we," said the one- 
 eyed minstrel; " we fought in the wars 
 of Robert Stuart, under the banner of 
 the brave Archibald Douglas, and that 
 of his son William. We were at the 
 bloody field of Otterburn, and saw 
 Henry and Ralph Percy taken prisoners 
 -—but woe's the day ! covered with 
 wounds, we also saw the valiant earl o£ 
 
 Douglas 
 
sr. CL.AI& OF THE ISLES. 139 
 
 Douglas fall. We afterwards fought 
 in the service of Robert III. and were 
 going, under the banner of William 
 Douglas, against the enemies of the 
 cross, when our gallant leader was trea- 
 cherously slain on the bridge of Dans- 
 kin by the dastard arts of the lord Clif- 
 ford." 
 
 " Poor fellows ! give them," said she 
 to the lackey, " each a bumper of wine 
 — it will comfort their age and renovate 
 their spirits." 
 
 The lackey did as he was command- 
 ed, and, the musicians beginning to 
 play, the blind minstrel sung the Coro- 
 nation of Robert Bruce, by the lady 
 Buchan, the Battle of Bannockburn, and 
 various others, all of which his compa- 
 nions accompanied with their instru- 
 ments, until at length he paused, and 
 asked what he should sing next? 
 
 " Lady Roskelyn will choose," said 
 Ambrosine ; " you have a goodly col- 
 lection, 
 
140 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 lection, and shall stay awhile at the 
 castle." 
 
 " Nay," replied the dowager, " I care 
 not what — name some." 
 
 " Will you, lady," said the minstrel^ 
 " Hardicanute, the Lady Barbary, the 
 Danish Defeat, or — " 
 
 '* These are all old," said the dow- 
 ager, interrupting him ; " know ye no- 
 thing new ? know ye none of the court 
 songs ?" 
 
 " None, lady ; they suit not my voice $ 
 but we have an Erse song that pleaseth 
 well ; it is called the Banished Man and 
 the Angel — shall I sing that ?" 
 
 " If you will — but I hate the lan- 
 guage, and do not comprehend it alto- 
 gether ; therefore give us first the argu- 
 ment." 
 
 " Willingly, Fady. In the reign of 
 one of our Scottish kings (I know not 
 which), some men, unjustly treated, 
 were banished to an island on the west- 
 ern 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 141 
 
 tm coast, and left a prey to the most 
 poignant vexation. The song consists 
 of an account of how they were visited 
 by an angel, who not only came to re- 
 lieve their wants, but left an impression 
 of gratitude on their hearts never to be 
 erased." 
 
 Ambrosine started at the beginning of 
 the argument, but at the near conclusion 
 interrupted the minstrel, and, with her 
 cheeks dyed with blushes, said — " I 
 pray you sing not that — I know it well 
 — there is something in it respecting a 
 damsel who forgot the decorum of her 
 sex — I like it not." 
 
 * You mistake, lady ; in the conduct 
 of the maid there was nothing at w Inch 
 the chastity of a sainted virgin need 
 blush; and " 
 
 " Out upon the filthy fellow !" in- 
 terrupted the dowager; " would he 
 shock our ears with his unchaste ditties !" 
 
 "Not so: the purest maid of Scot- 
 land 
 
142 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 land was not more praiseworthy than 
 the damsel — but the young lady mis- 
 takes the song for some other." 
 
 " No, not so," replied Ambrosine ; 
 " to prove that I know it, did not the 
 banished men want to bribe the angel, 
 and to make her tipsy ?" 
 
 " No, on my life, lady !" replied the 
 minstrel, scarce refraining from laughter ; 
 " they knew her not at the time ; but, 
 once discovered, they worshipped her." 
 
 " Oh ! I can tell you every word," 
 answered Ambrosine. " Say what you 
 please, they wanted to bribe her with 
 a chain of gold ; and there was one 
 impudent fellow with great eyes, who 
 frightened her away at daybreak. Was 
 it not so ?" 
 
 " Something like it, I believe, lady," 
 answered the minstrel, glancing at one 
 of his companions : " but were all to be 
 judged by him?" 
 
 " Nay, I know not. Can you sing 
 
 A'exander, 
 
ST-. CLAIR OF Till: ISLES. 148 
 
 Alexander, or Duncan, or the Seer of 
 Sky, or, in short, any thing you please, 
 except the Banished Man and the An- 
 gel r 
 
 " Ay, ay, so as it be proper for us to 
 hear," said the lady Roskelyn. 
 
 Tne minstrel then sung the valorous 
 acts of Alexander I. surnamed the 
 Fierce, in so strong and lofty a strain, 
 that it might have inspired the coldest 
 heart with courage ; then, changing his 
 note to plaintive harmony, he sung the 
 death of the beauteous Maud, wife of 
 David I. and the lamentation of her 
 husband, who for her sake forswore all 
 women. These were in so soft and 
 touching a strain, that Ambrosine's bo- 
 som swelled, and tears streamed from 
 her eyes, for those whose bodies had 
 been three hundred years mingled with 
 the dust. Even the dowager was charm- 
 ed with the harmony, and turning to 
 Ambrosine, she said — " We will retain 
 
 these 
 
144 ST. CLAIIt OF THE ISLES. 
 
 these minstrels — they will furnish amuse- 
 ment for our noble guests." 
 
 Ambrosine made no reply, but re- 
 mained with her eyes cast down, and 
 averted from the musicians. 
 
 The minstrels received the lady Ros- 
 kelyn's order to stay with thanks, and, 
 having been supplied by the vassals 
 with food, retired to an apartment al- 
 lotted them. 
 
 In the mean time, Ambrosine was 
 overwhelmed wifli eon fusion, for on a 
 near examination she had recognised in 
 the minstrels three of the outlaws, and 
 particularly in the singer, the chief 
 Monteith — a discovery which would have 
 escaped her, they were so carefully dis- 
 guised, had not he himself made the 
 avowal, by alluding to what had passed 
 at Barra. How to conduct herself res- 
 pecting them she knew not ; to betray 
 them to the dowager was an act she 
 would sooner have yielded her life than 
 
 have 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 145 
 
 have been guilty of; yet to connive at 
 their stay in the castle, was contrary to 
 the maidenly modesty that reigned in 
 her bosom. That she loved Monteith 
 beyond all men, was most true ; and at 
 the close of the tournament, when he ad- 
 dressed her, she recognised him in the 
 Danish knight, and was most happy- 
 when she learned by Carnegie of his 
 departure. 
 
 Though she ardently wished to speak 
 to Monteith, yet the construction she 
 was convinced must be put on her visit 
 to Barra filled her with confusion ; yet, 
 determined not to consent to their stay 
 in the castle, she resolved to overcome 
 it, and at once to satisfy the decorum of 
 her sex by commanding his absence, 
 and to satisfy her fears for his safety by 
 causing him to return to the fortress. 
 
 vol. i n CHAP- 
 
146 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Ambrosine, accustomed to a country 
 life, rose early ; while the dowager, fol- 
 lowing the manners of the court, slept 
 late. The former, therefore, resolving 
 to take advantage of the opportunity 
 that occurred, ordered the minstrels to 
 be called to play during her breakfast, 
 dismissing the other attendants. On 
 finding her commands obeyed, and her- 
 self alone with the musicians, her con- 
 fusion for some moments was so great 
 as to deny her utterance, until Monteith, 
 stepping forward, said — " Pardon, fair 
 Ambrosine, a deception of which grati- 
 tude is alone the cause. With hearts 
 warm with love and friendship for our 
 
 benefactor 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 147 
 
 benefactor Ambrose, what was our 
 rapture to recognise him in the heiress 
 of Kintail ! To express our thanks in so 
 public an assembly, was impossible, 
 which induced us to practise the subter- 
 fuge we have now made use of I re- 
 turn, sweet maid, the dross which gain- 
 ed value by your gift" — so saying, he 
 laid a bag at her feet — " but the obliga- 
 tion is written upon my heart in cha- 
 racters never to be effaced." 
 
 Ambrosine somewhat collected her- 
 self during the time that Monteith 
 spoke, and with dignified modesty re- 
 plied — " I am convinced my conduct 
 must appear extraordinary, and needs 
 interpretation ; but the secret is with 
 men of honour, and consequently safe. 
 My father," continued she. " first inte- 
 rested me for St. Clair Monteith ; he 
 spoke of him as the victim of the pride 
 and vice of his mother, and a monument 
 II 2 of 
 
* 148 ' ST. CLAIIl OF THE ISLES. 
 
 of the disgraceful weakness of his father ; 
 as the pride of his uncle's age, and, but 
 for some youthful imprudences, an ho- 
 nour to his name and country. Misfor- 
 tunes and valour are interesting to wo- 
 man. I wished to see Monteith, but 
 no opportunity happened, until about 
 two years since, when, after my father's 
 death, I accompanied my mother to 
 Lewis. There again Monteith was re- 
 called to my memory, by repeated ac- 
 counts which I heard of the bene volenee 
 himself and companions had shewn to 
 the inhabitants of the different isles 
 during the preceding winter, which had 
 been uncommonly severe. After this, 
 one morning sailing to Bernera with a 
 youthful party on a pleasurable excur- 
 sion, one of my companions fixed my 
 attention by pointing out the chief him- 
 self, who, with several of his friends, 
 was also just landing on the coast. They 
 passed us with the common salutation 
 
 of 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 149 
 
 of touching their caps, and I saw them 
 no more till I saw them at Barra." 
 
 '* I remember it well," said St. Clair ; 
 " but, blind infidel that I was, I noticed 
 no particular object. Ambrosine, once 
 seen, is not formed to be overlooked." 
 
 " You have not forgotten to compli- 
 ment," said she ; " but excuse me — T 
 wish to take advantage of this opportu- 
 nity to, in some measure, exculpate my 
 own conduct, and also to satisfy the cu- 
 riosity which I am convinced you must 
 have on the subject." 
 
 Monteith and his companions bowed/ 
 and remained silent. 
 
 " Soon after our return to Kin tail, I 
 lost my mother. Distantly allied by 
 blood, but nearer by the friendship of 
 their early days, she left to the dow- 
 ager of Roskelyn the care of my mino- 
 rity; and, the last duties performed, I 
 was for the first time conducted to the 
 south of Scotland. 
 
 h S * When 
 
150 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES, 
 
 " When I became an inmate of the 
 castle of Roskelyn, Monteith there was 
 a constant theme, and, had I not before 
 formed a decided opinion of him, I 
 should from account have considered 
 him a monster. During my stay there, 
 the dowager visited her castle of Eus- 
 dale, and took with her the young heir 
 of Roskelyn, in order to shew him to 
 his future vassals. On her return, they 
 were beset near the borders by English 
 robbers, who seized the infant, who 
 doubtless died, for ransom hath never 
 been claimed for him. 
 
 " A considerable time previous to 
 this event, Monteith had sent an order 
 for sixty marks on his estate ; it was re* 
 fused with insult ; and hearing the ac- 
 count, I racked my imagination how to 
 do an act which I know my honoured 
 father, had he lived, would not have 
 disapproved. I refer to advancing the 
 sum in a manner to insure its being re- 
 ceived. 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 151 
 
 ceived. I neither loved the dowager 
 nor the countess of Roskelyn ; and for 
 the earl, at once the tool of his aspiring 
 mother, and the slave of his arrogant 
 wife, I felt a sentiment to which I can 
 give no other name than contempt. 
 The loss of the young Montrose for 
 some time sat heavily on the dowager 
 and the earl ; but though I could not 
 refuse them commiseration, I felt their 
 punishment just. For the young count- 
 ess, possessed of no affection beyond 
 that for herself, she awakened all the 
 dislike my heart was capable of feeling, 
 by the unconcern she shewed on the 
 occasion. Indeed I ever thought she 
 loved not the unfortunate infant ; her 
 complexion, and also that of the earl, is 
 fair, and their eyes blue ; that of the 
 young Montrose was a clear brown, and 
 his eyes black ; hence she was accustom- 
 ed to call him a true Monteith, or any 
 name to the same allusion which she 
 H 4 considered 
 
152 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 considered as contemptuous; while in 
 reality he was a boy that the proudest 
 mother might have clasped to her bo- 
 som with transport, and, to have judged 
 from infancy, have gloried in the reflec- 
 tion of what he promised to be when 
 time should have stamped him man." 
 
 As the refreshing showers of heaven 
 fall upon parched land, so did the words 
 of Ambrosine on the heart of Monteith, 
 who viewed her with a sentiment of res- 
 pect and admiration that he had never 
 before experienced. 
 
 " My story beguiles me," said she, 
 " and I stray from my subject. The 
 earl's refusal to pay the demand of sixty 
 marks, as I heard it accurately related, 
 filled me with anger and contempt ; and 
 some time after, feigning a dislike to 
 some jewels I wore, I persuaded the 
 countess to exchange with me for those 
 I brought to Barra, and which, I had ac- 
 cidentally heard from an old domestic, 
 
 w T ere 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 153 
 
 were originally yours. — You are now 
 masters of the whole secret, except the 
 means I used to visit the fortress. 
 
 " The countess dowager, at my re- 
 quest, accompanied me to Kintail ; but 
 after a few days stay, finding it, as she 
 said, gloomy, she visited her friends in 
 the vicinity of Inverness. During her 
 absence I executed my project, by en- 
 gaging a small vessel which appertains 
 to my nurse's husband, which conveyed 
 me safely to you, and afterwards home. 
 Such is my story : I confess I stepped 
 over the boundaries prescribed my sex ; 
 but the motive excuses me to myself, 
 and I trust will also to you." 
 
 " As sinners think of blessed spirits 
 who leave their heavenly abode to ad- 
 minister peace and consolation to sinking 
 souls, so doth Monteith consider Am- 
 brosine. Oh maid, most honoured ! I 
 have no words to express my gratitude- 
 and veneration. The slave of folly, the 
 h 5 dupe 
 
154 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 dupe of a face without a heart, to have 
 been an object of attention to such a 
 mind as thine, I blush for myself; but, 
 gaining consequence by the distinction, 
 will endeavour to deserve it." 
 
 " To pretend a disregard to the safety 
 of Monteith, whom I shall ever be hap- 
 py to rank among my friends, would be 
 a pretension to female refinement which 
 1 do not possess. He is not safe at 
 Kin tail, and, if he will listen to the 
 voice of reason, will immediately return 
 to the fortress of Earra. Kay, chief,' at 
 the word safety, you look as if you 
 scorned it ; I must therefore use another 
 incentive. 'Tis against the honour of a 
 maid like me, to connive at young men 
 being in the castle disguised. The 
 punctilious refinements of my sex I do 
 not comprehend, but the road to honour 
 is plain, and never willingly shall Am- 
 brosine deviate from its paths." 
 
 '" Painful as these commands may be, 
 
 they 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 155 
 
 they shall be obeyed," said Monteitb ; 
 " for the honour of Ambrosine is dearer 
 than the blood that warms my heart." 
 
 " I thank you," replied she ; " we 
 shall meet again ; but gratify me, I pray 
 you, by taking back the money ; I need 
 it not, and a time will come for pay- 
 ment." 
 
 " Dearest maid, you forget that in 
 my journey to the south, I robbed my- 
 self in the person of Carnegie, and am 
 yet so well supplied, that you must 
 pardon me for declining your kindness. 
 For the jewels I must still remain your 
 debtor." 
 
 " To contend with you on the sub- 
 ject will, I see, be useless ; but remem- 
 ber, I pray you, sirs, that you have all a 
 friend, should occasion need ; and now, 
 however unwilling, I must bid you 
 farewell." 
 
 Monteith gazed on her in silence, 
 h 6 but 
 
156 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 but De Bourg, throwing himself at her 
 feet, said — " Lady, you have honoured 
 us by calling us your friends ; surely 
 you have not less kindness for that 
 name than for the blind and lame min- 
 strels whom you condescended to invite 
 for a while to remain at the castle." 
 
 " The chevalier de Bourg, if I recol- 
 lect right," said Ambrosine, smiling. 
 
 De Bourg bowed. 
 
 " Indeed, chevalier," continued she, 
 " were you both blind and lame, I 
 know not whether I should suffer your 
 stay; as it is, it is impossible — nay, I 
 owe you a return, for I protest you 
 drove me from the fortress some hours 
 before I intended, and now I do but 
 the same by you." 
 
 " A plague on the impudence of my 
 eyes !" replied he ; " for that offence, if 
 I do not put them under such discipline, 
 that those of the most demure monk in 
 
 Scotland 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 157 
 
 Scotland shall not outdo them; they 
 shall never more dare glance at beauty, 
 except in an oblique direction." 
 
 " I dare not ask," said Monteith, 
 " even the respite of a few hours ; yet 
 our disguise baffles detection, and I 
 wish to ask of Ambrosine a question of 
 some moment." 
 
 " Ask it now. — Nay, you hesitate," 
 added she, after a short pause ; " of 
 what nature can it be, not to be discuss- 
 ed before friends so sincere as those be- 
 fore us ?" 
 
 " My question, lady, concerns only 
 your own happiness; Monteith will 
 never forget he is a banished man." 
 
 The animated face of Ambrosine sud- 
 denly became serious. " That reproach 
 was unmerited," said she ; " but stay, if 
 you so please, until to-morrow morn, and 
 then Heaven send you fair winds and a 
 safe return to Barra ! I grieve to receive 
 you in a manner so little worthy you* 
 
 but 
 
158 ST. CLAIll OF THE ISLES, 
 
 but necessity must plead my excuse." 
 So saying, she held her- hand alternate- 
 ly to each of the outlaws, and then, with 
 a step as light as that fabled of sylph 
 or fairy, left the hall. 
 
 " By my soul," said M'Gregor, " I 
 will never marry ! the graces of all the 
 women I ever saw, collected, would not 
 equal the beauties of this maid." 
 
 " True," replied De Bourg : f how 
 have we heard the beauties of Ellen 
 chanted forth, and what fools have we 
 all been for that jilt, who, compared to 
 this maid, is no more than one of nature's 
 every-day productions, while she is a 
 masterpiece of all that is beautiful and 
 excellent." 
 
 " By my life, but ye are both in 
 love !" said Monteith ; " and, in good 
 faith, if ye need another fool to the 
 number, add St. Clair. Oh, Ellen! 
 Ellen ! never till this day did I feel 
 the extent of my obligation to thee." 
 
 "The 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 159 
 
 " The devil you did not !" replied 
 M'Gregor. " I understand not that." 
 
 " No !" answered Monteith ; " did 
 she not surfeit nie vv r ith ingratitude, 
 folly, and falsehood, leaving me a heart 
 free for an affection which, though I 
 will never indulge, must be the pride 
 and glory of my life ?* 
 
 During the rest of the day the min- 
 strels were so 'diligent in the duties of 
 their profession, that they appeared 
 never to have followed any other, and 
 so far gained the goodwill of the dow- 
 ager, that she repeated her commands 
 for their remaining at the castle. After 
 supper, Ambrosine approaching them, 
 as if to order some particular song, said 
 in a low voice to Monteith — " If you 
 have any thing to communicate to me, 
 I shall be in the south gallery when the 
 bell tolls the hour of midnight." 
 
 The evening concluded, and the dow- 
 ager and the vassals retired to rest ; 
 
 Monteith 
 
160 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLESi 
 
 Monteith hastened to the appointment, 
 where, after waiting near half an hour, 
 he was joined by Ambrosine, who 
 brought with her a lighted taper. " For 
 this condescension much thanks," said 
 he; " what I have to say will not long 
 detain you, and I should have departed 
 heavily, had I' not been permitted to ask 
 a question, which, though our new ac- 
 quaintance may not authorise, your can- 
 dour will, I trust, excuse." 
 
 " In meeting you thus," replied she r 
 " I feel I act improperly as a young un- 
 protected maid, whose actions, as well 
 as her mind, should be free from re- 
 proach ; but 1 know my own heart, and 
 trust in the integrity of yours. Speak 
 freely, therefoie, all you wish to-night, 
 and cross the frith at early dawn, be it 
 only to free me from the anxiety I ex- 
 perience while you are here." 
 
 " Your wishes are commands, dearest 
 maid ; my life, heretofore of no value, 
 
 will 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 161 
 
 will gain estimation in my own eyes, 
 by the consideration that you are in- 
 terested for me." 
 
 " Every hour," said she, " may bring 
 the expected guests, in which case I 
 could not support the dread of a dis- 
 covery; and though I have no doubt 
 your fries! ds and the islanders would use 
 every means in their power, yet they 
 could neither secure you from treachery, 
 which, if all other means should fail, 
 would be had recourse to, nor me from 
 the disgrace of having men disguised in 
 the castle." 
 
 Monteith, almost unknown to him- 
 self, had taken the hand of Ambrosine. 
 " Pardon me," said he, " but who are 
 your expected guests ?" 
 
 " The lord and lady Roskelyn, and 
 the whole of their courtly friends. 
 They mean to pass a month here." 
 
 " Comes the knight of Lorn with 
 them ?" 
 
 " I know 
 
16£ ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 " I know not, but I expect so ; he is 
 the dowager's shadow." 
 
 " The dowager is not his magnet, 
 fair Ambrosine ! May I take the liberty 
 of a friend, and ask you, if you can love 
 him ?" 
 
 " I love him not ; his perseverance is 
 useless ; he comes on a fruitless errand, 
 and will return disappointed." 
 
 " The dowager has caused a report to 
 be spread among your vassals, that you 
 came here to be wedded." 
 
 " She will then have the trouble to 
 tell them that the marriage is postponed 
 till I am in the humour ; I know her 
 well, but am neither to be frightened 
 nor soothed into compliance. Know 
 ye of the attack the queen gave into on 
 the first day of the tournament ?" 
 
 " It was then I first recognised you, 
 or rather the chevalier, for I felt inclined 
 to disbelieve the evidence of my senses." 
 
 " I wonder not at it. It was a busi> 
 
 ness 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 163 
 
 ness arranged among them to take me 
 by surprise in so public an assembly, 
 but the scheme failed. The queen is 
 partial to the knight of Lorn, and 
 wishes to enrich him at my expence. 
 The dowager too has motives, the one 
 to bring wealth into her family, as the 
 knight is her relation, the other to ingra- 
 tiate herself with the queen, who pays 
 her distinguished attention." 
 
 " My question is answered ; from 
 what I heard at the tournament, I 
 judged sir James Stuart was not in pos- 
 session of your heart. The dowager is 
 designing and deep in policy where she 
 wishes to gain her end ; and, pardon me, 
 the gentle Ambrosine will be no match 
 for her arts." 
 
 u She dares not use them ; but even 
 should she, I am here surrounded by 
 the vassals of my father's house, whom, 
 if occasion needed, I would call together, 
 and let her see that whatever I may bo 
 
 ill 
 
164 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISL£& 
 
 in the castle of Roskelyn, I am mistress 
 here." 
 
 " Nobly resolved ! But say, sweet 
 maid, in such a case, whose arm would 
 be nerved so strongly as that of Mon- 
 teith? Methinks the name of Ambro- 
 sine gives me a giant's strength; and 
 must I leave you undefended to perse- 
 cution and insult ?" 
 
 Ambrosine made no reply, and Mon- 
 teith continued — 
 
 " Dearest Ambrosine, friend of my 
 soul ! I speak not to dissuade you from 
 marriage, but it must be to a man 
 worthy of so estimable a heart, one 
 equally loving and beloved ; then will 
 Monteith claim him as a brother, and, 
 in the happiness of Ambrosine, endea- 
 vour to forget his own misfortunes." 
 
 " Monteith," said she, " I will never 
 marry." 
 
 " Oh, yes !" replied he ; " Ambro- 
 sine is formed to make the best and first 
 
 of 
 
ST. CLAIH OF THE ISLES. 165 
 
 of men happy, to live in honour, and to 
 die surrounded by her children, at once 
 the stay and pride of her age." 
 
 Ambrosine was moved at St. Clair's 
 energy. " Is this happiness to be found 
 at court ?" said she, in a tremulous tone. 
 
 " It is to be found wherever you 
 reside," replied Monteith, " be it in a 
 court, or in a cottage." 
 
 " In a court I will never seek it. — 
 But, deceiver that you are," added she, 
 " you were not content in the payment 
 of the exact sum — the contested chain I 
 found concealed in the bag ; and to 
 shew you that I know how to receive a 
 favour, I accept it — it shall be a pledge 
 between us ; and, as there is no man's 
 assistance, in case of necessity, that I 
 would so soon claim as yours, when I 
 return it, it shall be either to demand 
 your presence or counsel. Here, I am 
 convinced, there is no danger ; what 
 
 there 
 
166 ST. CLAIU OF THE ISLES. 
 
 there may be on our return to the south, 
 I know not, though I do not fear." 
 
 " A thousand blessings for this as- 
 surance," replied he, kissing her hand. 
 " Oh, Ambrosine ! I will now hasten 
 back to Barra, and once more remember 
 I am a banished man." 
 
 " The decrees of James are not those 
 of fate," replied she. 
 
 " True ; but I have a deeper sorrow — 
 an outcast to my family and name — 
 that disgrace can never be overcome." 
 
 " Where lies the disgrace, but in 
 your own idea ?" replied she ; " such 
 weakness is beneath Monteith. I pray 
 you, rise superior to it, and thank Hea- 
 ven for having given you a nobler name 
 than your father's, and a better heart 
 than your mother's. But we have be- 
 guiled the time in conversation ; the 
 taper burns in the socket, and the streaks 
 of day enlighten the horizon ; prudence 
 
 requires 
 
ST. CLAIlt OF THE ISLES. 167 
 
 Tequires you should be gone; but ere 
 we part, give me one promise. In case 
 of danger, I have pledged my word to 
 claim your assistance ; give me your 
 honour, that should you need it, you 
 will claim mine ; my revenues are now 
 large, and, I pray you, command them. 
 Hazard no more such encounters as 
 that with Carnegie; nay, in this you 
 must oblige me, or our contract is void." 
 
 Monteith, thus entreated, made the 
 promise required, and pressing Ambro- 
 sine's hand, first to his lips, and then to 
 his heart, he tore himself from her, and 
 left the gallery. 
 
 He immediately joined M'Gregor 
 and De Bourg, and hastening to the 
 frith, they crossed to the isle of Sky, 
 from whence they sailed to Earra. 
 
 CHAP- 
 
168 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 *-4-^r*^rr*r-*^*-**r-r*r*--r*-+*-r* 
 
 Charmed with the music of the min- 
 strels, the dowager called for them at 
 the hour of dinner, when one of the do- 
 mestics being sent to seek them, brought 
 word they were no where to Jbe found. 
 This omission of their duty made but 
 little impression ; but when night came, 
 and also the ensuing day, without 
 bringing them, the dowager ordered a 
 diligent search to be made, lest they 
 should have conveyed ought of value 
 from the castle. Nothing being missing, 
 the surprise in a few days subsided, 
 though it was a cause of wonder that 
 they departed without the pay they 
 had so justly earned. 
 
 Some 
 
ST. CLAIU OF THE ISLES. l6'9 
 
 Some few days after, arrived the noble 
 cavalcade, which consisted of the fa- 
 milies of Roskelyn and Stuart. The 
 young hostess received the guests with 
 a grace and politeness peculiar to her- 
 self, though the combined efforts of 
 both families, added to all the entreaties 
 and address of sir James himself, could 
 effect nothing in his favour ; and, after 
 a stay of a month, the party returned 
 to Hoskelyn, accompanied by the dow- 
 ager and the heiress. 
 
 As Ambrosine conjectured, the per- 
 secution respecting the knight of Lorn 
 was there renewed with greater impor- 
 tunity. The queen also sent for her to 
 Stirling, and pressed her to determine 
 in his favour, or to declare whether her 
 heart felt a predilection for any other, 
 adding, that her best friend, the dow r - 
 ager of Roskelyn, was as anxious for 
 the marriage as herself; and also assured 
 her, that had the lady Kintail been 
 
 vol. i. i living, 
 
170 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 living, she would have warmly adopted 
 it. 
 
 " 'Tis most probable my mother 
 might have done so," replied the heiress, 
 " for the lady Roskelyn had great 
 power over her, and she herself was 
 more attached to the splendour of pub- 
 lic life than I am : but had she even 
 adopted the same measures, I should 
 still have exercised a free will, in a busi- 
 ness of so much importance as my own 
 future happiness. My father, I am 
 convinced, had he lived, would have 
 left me at liberty ; he knew my heart, 
 and that the honour of my family and 
 name was as dear to me as to himself. 
 The dowager of Roskelyn hath in- 
 deed power over me for near two years ; 
 but if that is exerted too far, she may 
 reduce me to the necessity of adopting 
 some hasty measure, or to take refuge 
 in a convent from her tyranny ; in either 
 of which cases she will be more to blame 
 
 than 
 
f 
 
 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 171 
 
 than I. No decided step will I take 
 during my minority, unless compelled, 
 and then self-defence is the first and 
 strongest law of nature." 
 
 " You refuse decidedly then ?" re- 
 plied the queen ; " but you have not 
 answered to the question of your heart 
 being engaged." ' 
 
 w Because, pardon me, I revere your 
 grace as queen of Scotland, and not as 
 my confessor." 
 
 " You are too shrewd and assuming 
 for a young maid ; and I have conde- 
 scended too far, and will trouble myself 
 no more in the business." 
 
 " I thank your grace, and shall be 
 happy to spare you the trouble." So 
 saying, Ambrosine made her obeisance, 
 and left the apartment. 
 
 In the mean time the outlaws had 
 
 safely reached Barra, where the confine- 
 
 i 3 ment 
 
172 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 ment was now doubly irksome to St. 
 Clair. Ambrosine, in spite of all his 
 efforts, became his daily and nightly 
 thoughts : that he had forfeited his li- 
 berty, and lost his fortune for an un- 
 grateful woman, stung him with double 
 violence, when he reflected that it had 
 also debarred him from offering his 
 heart to a maid whose mind, as well as 
 person, could have made him complete- 
 ly happy. The frivolities and vanity of 
 the one, and the dignified and unassum- 
 ing manners of the other, were strongly 
 contrasted in his thoughts ; and the re- 
 membrance of his first love, which used 
 ever to be recalled to his memory with 
 anger and bitterness, now lost its acri- 
 mony, and sunk into that calm con- 
 tempt, that scarcely ever intruded on 
 his fancy, unless to raise the virtues of 
 Ambrosine by the comparison. Much 
 as he loved her, her honour was yet 
 dearer to him than the possession of her 
 
 person ; 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 173 
 
 person ; and he resolved, at all events, 
 never to forget himself so far as to 
 make her the wife of an outlaw. 
 
 De Bourg and the rest of the party- 
 laughed at his scruples ; they all truly 
 wished the happiness of St. Clair, but 
 thwarting the favourite views of the 
 house of Roskelyn gave them yet supe- 
 rior delight. The heir already in their 
 possession, and Monteith once married 
 to the heiress of Kintail, their power, 
 not only in the islands, but also in Ross- 
 shire, where her possessions lay, would 
 be unbounded. While they revolved 
 in their minds the utility of the plan, 
 and the weight and consequence it 
 would give Monteith, he considered 
 only her welfare and honour. Happy 
 he thought he could make her, as he 
 would willingly have devoted his life to 
 that purpose ; but his heart sunk at the 
 unmerited disgrace she must share, and 
 the warm imagery of love, with all its 
 i 3 glowing 
 
174 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 glowing fascination, vanished, leaving 
 only a gloomy retrospection of the past. 
 Sometimes he resolved to leave his 
 country, and in the_ service of some 
 foreign prince to gain fame and fortune ; 
 hut to leave Ambrosine a defenceless 
 prey to persecution, and himself to es- 
 pouse quarrels in which his heart had no 
 share, and to fight for an hireling's price, 
 never failed to crush the idea as it rose, 
 and for the present, at least, made him 
 resolve to remain at Barra. 
 
 In this state three months passed, 
 when one morning a stranger was an- 
 nounced at the fortress; inquiring for 
 Monteith, he was immediately admitted. 
 " I bring a trinket and a letter," said 
 he, " which I was commanded to de- 
 liver into the hands of the chief. I 
 have used much dispatch in travelling 
 from Roskelyn, for I was nobly paid, 
 and will only wait for an answer to re- 
 turn." 
 
 St. 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 175 
 
 St. Clair scarcely heard what he said, 
 before tearing open the letter, he read 
 as follows : — ■ 
 
 " I am beset with fools, and 
 surrounded with knaves, and am resolv- 
 ed to bear it no longer. Use all pru- 
 dence, for I would not avoid a small 
 evil at the expence of a greater. I put 
 no superscription nor name, in case of 
 loss or other failure, but you will know 
 the writer by the token. Adieu." 
 
 At the conclusion, Monteith paused 
 until the messenger recalled him to re- 
 collection, by asking him for a reply. 
 
 " Return, my good friend, with all 
 
 speed," replied Monteith; " but I have 
 
 a messenger that will be more swift than 
 
 you ; however, should you reach Itos- 
 
 I 4 kelyn 
 
176 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 kelyn before him, the answer is — Alt 
 is well, and fear not" 
 
 The outlaws then gave him refresh- 
 ment, and St. Clair making him an am- 
 ple present, he hastened away. 
 
 Willing as they all were to volunteer 
 in this cause, it was thought necessary 
 for two of the principals to remain at 
 Earra, and drawing lots for that purpose,, 
 the chance fell upon McGregor and 
 Hamilton. Monteith, Ross, and De 
 Eourg, with the companions who had 
 attended them to the tournament, then 
 immediately engaged a vessel, and the 
 wind serving, safely reached the port of 
 Ardnamurchan, where they landed, and 
 purchasing horses, continued their way 
 with unremitting speed, until they ar- 
 rived at a small hamlet within six miles 
 of Roskelyn. There they left their 
 horses ; and, according to a hasty plan 
 they had formed at Barra, Monteith, 
 
 Ross, 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 177 
 
 Ross, and De Bourg, clad themselves in 
 palmer's weeds, and so otherwise dis- 
 guised their persons, that it was next to 
 impossible their nearest friends should 
 know them, unless previously apprised 
 of the deception. At a little distance 
 they were followed by their companions, 
 who, vested in the habiliments of herds- 
 men, called themselves brothers return- 
 ing from the Highlands, where they 
 had been to take possession of a small 
 patrimony. 
 
 On reaching the vicinity of Ros- 
 kelyn, the friends of the outlaws took 
 up their residence in a cottage, in order, 
 as they said, to recover from their 
 fatigue, while the pretended pilgrims 
 proceeded to the castle, entreating ad- 
 mittance and refreshment, for the love 
 of the blessed St. Cuthbert, to whose 
 shrine they were travelling, in order to 
 expiate the sins of their youth. 
 
 Though the inhabitants of the castle 
 i 5 were 
 
178 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 were not famed for hospitality, this ap- 
 peal was too strong to be refused, and 
 to the dust of St. Cuthbert was granted 
 what would have been denied to the 
 wants of mortal men ; the vassals imme- 
 diately admitting the supposed pilgrims 
 into an outward hall among the domes- 
 tics, where they were furnished with 
 such food as cold charity allows. 
 
 Thankful of having any how gained 
 an entrance, they soon, by careless ques- 
 tions, and attention to the discourse of 
 the vassals, learned that sir James Stu- 
 art was then at the castle, the lord and 
 lady Roskelyn with the court at Stir- 
 ling, and that the dowager and her 
 young charge were, on their return, to 
 depart to Berwick. 
 
 " Well, to be sure," said one of the 
 lackeys, " it is a strange business, but, 
 according to the old saying, one man's 
 meat is another's poison, for a more gal- 
 lant, or a handsomer knight, than sir 
 
 James 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 179 
 
 James Stuart, doth not tread Scottish 
 ground." 
 
 " However true that may be," re- 
 plied a female servant, that sat spinning, 
 " she is his equal every way, for a fairer 
 maid neither England nor Scotland can 
 produce ; and if she don't like him, that 
 alters the case. I see no reason why 
 she should be sent to a nunnery ; marry, 
 because the dowager says she has some 
 lover in secret. She had better go to a 
 nunnery herself, for there be liars abroad, 
 if she hath not more occasion to mourn 
 the sins of her youth than the lady Am- 
 brosine." 
 
 " Oh ! but a convent will soon bring 
 her to reason," answered he ; " she hath 
 naturally a merry heart, and the moping 
 of the nuns wont suit her, so that she 
 will be glad to change them for sir 
 James. I'm sure you would yourself, 
 Bridget." 
 
 " That's more than you know, fool ; 
 i 6 but 
 
180 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 but, if I was in her place, I would do 
 neither. The lady Ambrosine hath mo- 
 ney enough to choose a husband for 
 herself; and if I was she, I would try 
 whether my legs would not run ■ as fast 
 as the dowager's head could contrive, 
 before I would be a slave to her vaga- 
 ries. One night, when I attended her to 
 bed, I told her as much ; but, poor soul I 
 she only sighed, and said — e Alas ! I 
 have no one to receive me, Bridget." 
 
 At that moment, being the hour of 
 supper, the lackeys went to their re- 
 spective duties, and the maid was left 
 alone with the pilgrims. 
 
 " Holy St. Cuthbert !" said Be Bourg, 
 in a sanctified drawling tone, " have ye 
 forgotten, brethren, the dream I related 
 to ye the night I fell asleep at the foot 
 of St. Bridget's shrine ?" 
 
 Monteith made no reply, but Boss, 
 supposing he had some motive in the 
 question, answered—" No, truly, bro- 
 ther ; 
 
ST. CLAIU OF THE ISLES. 181 
 
 ther ; it was a wonderful inspiration, and 
 you should be careful to obey its dic- 
 tates." 
 
 " I mean it — pardon me, fair maid, 
 the question, but either my ears deceiv- 
 ed me, or some one called you Bridget ?'* 
 
 " My name is Bridget, pilgrim ; but 
 why ask you ?" 
 
 " From no vain motive : St. Bridget 
 hath been my patroness from my youth ; 
 at her feet have I wearied her with my 
 petitions, and at her altar have I offered 
 up my wealth, until at length she yield- 
 ed to my prayers; then by her side 
 have I slept, till, sinner that I am, my 
 wanderings earned me from her, and she 
 sought another votary. Passing lately 
 through Iloss- shire, while my brethren 
 prostrated themselves before St. Duthac, 
 I sought out my saint, and, overcome 
 with involuntary sleep, sunk at the foot 
 of her altar, when methought she stood 
 before me, and striking me with a 
 
 branch 
 
182 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 branch she held in her hand, called 
 thrice, in a severe and solemn tone of 
 voice — ■ Solomon, Solomon, Solomon ! 
 recreant that thou art ! after so long an 
 absence, why visitest thou me ?' Trem- 
 bling at her frown, methought I entreat- 
 ed her pardon, when, assuming a milder 
 air, she said — * Once more then I try 
 thee — observe my words ; and when 
 thou meetest a maiden who shall bear 
 my name, give her, in token from me, 
 the ruby ring thou wearest upon thy 
 finger, and tell her that my commands 
 are, that she disclose the present to no 
 one but to a true virgin, under twenty 
 years of age, of high blood, and the 
 only child of her father, which virgin 
 shall further instruct her in my wishes." 
 
 " Holy saints !" exclaimed the maid, 
 "my name is Bridget, sure enough; 
 but why her saintship should be so 
 kind to me, I cannot tell." 
 
 " Tis not for you to judge," replied 
 
 Be 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 183 
 
 De Bourg. " If you can truly assure 
 me your name is Bridget, and that you 
 will strictly obey her commands, I will 
 execute my commission." 
 
 " Gracious goodness ! ye may search 
 the book ; I was baptized at the church 
 of the Holyrood, in the city of Edin- 
 burgh." 
 
 " No, I will take your word ; I can- 
 not suppose you would seek to deceive 
 me. Brother," addressing Monteith, 
 " give me the ring. Fearful, after so 
 solemn an injunction, of losing the 
 identified jewel, I gave it into the trust 
 of my brother, who is more careful than 
 myself." 
 
 Monteith immediately, gave him a 
 ring which he had received among the 
 jewels from Ambrose. 
 
 " Take it, maiden," said De Bourg ; 
 " but observe the conditions— disclose 
 the mission to no one but a true maiden, 
 under twenty, of high blood, arid the 
 
 only 
 
184 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 only child of her father, and, according 
 to the holy Bridget, you shall then 
 hear further. — Know you any such ?" 
 
 "Marry, I must consider; there's 
 my dear friend Barbara Macgowrie — she 
 is under twenty ; and her own father's 
 mother was second cousin by father's 
 side to M'Lean, who served in king 
 Robert's wars." 
 
 " I think not she is a true maid," 
 said De Bourg. " Is she the only child 
 of her father?" 
 
 " Holy goodness, no ! there be nine 
 of them ; but as for the scandal of John 
 Anderson, I am sure it is false, for she 
 has told me so a thousand times." 
 
 f* Her word is not to be taken ; you 
 must heed how you transgress the com- 
 mands of holy Bridget ; for, if you do, 
 you will hear no more, and also incur 
 her severe displeasure." 
 
 " The goodness forbid ! I fear I shall 
 be obliged to keep the secret, for I 
 
 know 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 185 
 
 know no one who exactly answers the 
 description." 
 
 " You must then have patience ; the 
 saint who sent the ring can also send a 
 maid proper to reveal it to. — Hath the 
 lady Roskelyn a daughter ?" 
 
 "No, she hath only a son; she is not 
 herself more than four and twenty, and 
 the dowager hath no child but the lord 
 of Roskelyn. — Oh, the goodness !" ex- 
 claimed she, after a pause, " what a fool 
 am I ! if there is not the lady Ambro- 
 sine, who, I will be bound to swear, is 
 a true virgin, and the only child of her 
 father, the lord of Kintail." 
 
 " "lis doubtless the very maid St. 
 Bridget intended," replied De Bourg, 
 in his sanctified tone. " If she be what 
 you say, disclose it to her, but with 
 prudence and secrecy." 
 
 A few moments after, Bridget was 
 called to her household duties, when 
 
 De 
 
186 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 De Bourg, repeating his command, and 
 she her promise of observance, left them. 
 
 " A thousand thanks to thy inventive 
 genius, dear Solomon !" said Monteith ; 
 " but for this lie, though we are in the 
 house, we should have found innumer- 
 able difficulties in letting her know it." 
 
 " A lie, quotha !" replied De Bourg ; 
 u the foundation of the story is true — I 
 only heightened the colouring, and add- 
 ed a few incidents." 
 
 " What then," said Ross, laughing, 
 " in truth the holy Bridget visited thy 
 dreams ?" 
 
 " In faith hath she," replied he ; " for 
 when I was a lad in France, the name 
 of my first love was Bridget ; at her feet 
 I sighed and sued, and racked my brains 
 and emptied my purse to obtain her fa- 
 vour ; but, alas ! once gamed, the in- 
 constancy of man assailed me, and tra- 
 velling to Normandy, for a whole year 
 
 I neglected 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 187 
 
 I neglected my love; so that when I 
 returned, I found she had chosen a bet- 
 ter votary, for the duke of Burgundy 
 had taken my place — so far historical, 
 the rest apocryphal ; and marry, St. Brid- 
 get will serve you a good turn, I hope ; 
 in which case you will owe her a wax- 
 taper, of a pound weight at least." 
 
 " And truly will I pay her, so thou 
 wilt place it before her shrine," replied 
 Monteith. " But to a more material sub- 
 ject ; what think you of the conduct of 
 the dowager to Ambrosine ?" 
 
 " Tis worthy of the rest of her deeds," 
 answered Boss : " incapable of bending 
 the will of the heiress to her wishes, she 
 would, if possible, embitter two of the 
 best years of her life ; but thou hast not 
 the heart of a man if thou dost not pre- 
 vent it." 
 
 " Boss, I dare not be a villain ; Hea- 
 ven witness for me, that, had I worlds, 
 I would share them with so noble-mind- 
 ed 
 
188 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 ed a maid ; but to reward her generous 
 friendship with disgrace, I cannot bear." 
 
 " Hist !" interrupted De Bourg, "some 
 one comes; screw up the muscles of 
 your face to the extreme point of hy- 
 pocrisy, and tune your voices to the 
 same note." 
 
 The intruder was one of the vassals, 
 who came to shew the pilgrims to a 
 chamber, allotted for such guests in the 
 left tower of the castle, and where, fur- 
 nishing them with clean straw and cover- 
 lids, he left them. 
 
 CHAP- 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES- 189 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Interested as the pilgrims were to 
 procure an interview with Ambrosine, 
 the impatience of Bridget equalled theirs, 
 and hastening to the apartment of the 
 heiress, she found her seated in deep 
 reflection. " Sweet lady," said she, 
 " you were ever kind and good, and I 
 have news to tell you." 
 
 " To tell me, Bridget ! prithee then 
 relate it." 
 
 " There be three pilgrims come to 
 the castle to-night ; they travel to Dur- 
 ham, to the shrine of St. Cuthbert." 
 
 " Heaven speed them ! I hope the 
 saint will protect them on their journey, 
 
 and 
 
190 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 and reward their piety. — Is this all thy 
 news ?" 
 
 " No, lady ; the blessed St. Bridget 
 herself has sent me a message." 
 
 " A message to thee ! I pray thee to 
 what purport ?" 
 
 " Yes, lady, even to such a poor low- 
 ly damsel as myself ; and I was to de- 
 clare it to no one but a true maid, under 
 twenty, and who was the only child of 
 her parents ; and now, lady, as I am 
 sure that must be you, I will reveal it." 
 
 " What s knave hath persuaded thee 
 to believe such folly ?" 
 
 " No folly, lady ; and for knaves, if 
 the pilgrims be knaves, they be most 
 portly ones ; their faces indeed are hard- 
 ly to be seen for their hair, and the great 
 hats they wear slouched over their fore- 
 heads, but they look like lords at least ; 
 and for one of them, who is quite silent, 
 if noble looks would make a king, he 
 
 would 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 191 
 
 would be king of the whole world. 
 As I stooped to pick up my thread, I 
 caught a better view of his face — such 
 fine black eyes, lady, and such a fine- 
 shaped nose, I never saw before." 
 
 " They have beguiled thee with their 
 hypocrisy — give me my night-rail-— I 
 will away to bed — vexation hath made 
 me heavy." 
 
 ^ Dear lady, ere you go, hear what 
 I have to say, as you alone can inform 
 me what St. Bridget's commands are 
 for me. — Sinner that I am, should I 
 disregard her token, I dare not go to 
 bed." 
 
 " Her token !" repeated Ambrosine ;■ 
 " prithee, Bridget, what token hath she 
 sent thee ? a pair of striped garters, a 
 sweet-cake in the shape of a heart, or 
 the parings of her nails in a silk bag to 
 wear about thy neck, in order to drive 
 away evil spirits ; if the last, I pray thee 
 
 haste 
 
192 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 haste to put it on, that thou mayest not 
 be so easily duped." 
 
 " You have a merry heart, lady, 
 whatever betides you ; but, pardon me, 
 'tis sinful to jest on such subjects. The 
 blessed Bridget commanded one of the 
 pilgrims in a dream to give me neither 
 more nor less than this beautiful ring." 
 
 " Gracious Heaven"!" exclaimed Am- 
 brosine, snatching the ring, " is it pos- 
 sible? Is William returned from the 
 commission I sent him upon ?" 
 
 " No, lady ; had he, right well do I 
 know that he would have been here, 
 not only for your sake, but for mine." 
 
 " True," answered Ambrosine, paus- 
 ing ; " it is impossible he should. But 
 these pilgrims, thou sayest, are men of 
 noble port, one particularly." 
 
 " Yes, lady ; the silent one is so tall 
 and stately, that when he stood by the 
 Vassals of the house, he seemed to look 
 
 down 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 193 
 
 down upon them ; and surely, if stran- 
 gers had come in, they would have 
 drawn back, and have supposed him the 
 lord of the castle at least ; in good truth, 
 I felt ashamed to see them seated in the 
 outward hall." 
 
 " Bridget, I must see these pilgrims." 
 " You, lady ! will you then tell me 
 further of the will of the saint?" 
 
 " Undoubtedly, if she communicates 
 it to me. Where are the dowager and 
 the knight of Lorn ?" 
 
 " In the great hall, at supper." 
 " Where are the pilgrims ?" 
 " In the traveller's chamber in the left 
 tower : shall I order them to attend you, 
 lady?" 
 
 " Not for your life, dear Bridget ; this 
 business must be private ; the family re- 
 tired to rest, we will adventure to the 
 tower, and hear further both of thy fate 
 and mine." 
 
 vol, l k " Think 
 
194 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 " Think you then, lady, that these 
 men be diviners ?" 
 
 " No; yet, if I mistake not, the future 
 Jiappiness or misery of my life depends 
 upon one of them, and 'tis necessary I 
 consult him tiiereon, yet see thou keep 
 it secret." 
 
 " I will ; but I pray you, do not for- 
 get, lady, to ask him further respecting 
 the commands of St. Bridget to me." 
 
 " Undoubtedly not, though I can al- 
 ready in part inform thee. If thou 
 keepest this secret with truth and ho- 
 nour, it is the will of the holy Bridget 
 that thou wed William, and that I give 
 thee a marriage portion." 
 
 " Holy Virgin," exclaimed she, " re- 
 ward the blessed saint for her kindness 
 to me, and you also ! but did you dream 
 it, lady?" 
 
 " It matters not now for you to 
 know how I gained the information I 
 
 possess, 
 
ST. CLAIU OF THE ISLES. 195 
 
 possess, so thou gettest a good husband, 
 and a marriage portion ; but, should a 
 word escape thee, 'tis all void." 
 
 " Never fear me ; I would sooner be 
 dumb a month than hazard such a loss." 
 
 " 'Tis well ; here, take thy ring, but 
 for the present shew it to no one ; and 
 for the white robe I wore yesterday, 
 take that — thou mayest convert it into a 
 wedding garment ; nay, no thanks — de- 
 fer them, I pray thee ; hie thee into the 
 castle, and carefully observe when all are 
 gone to rest; and bring me intelligence, 
 and also a fresh taper to light us to the 
 strangers." 
 
 " Shall you not fear to venture to the 
 tower to-night, lady ?" 
 
 " Surely not ; if thou fearest, remain 
 behind." 
 
 " Marry, Heaven forbid ! I would fol- 
 low you to the world's end ; St. Bridget, 
 I have no doubt, will guide us through 
 every danger." 
 
 k 2 « Haste 
 
196 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 " Haste thee away then, but be cau- 
 tious : I will extinguish niy taper, as if I 
 were retired to rest, and will wait thy 
 return in darkness." 
 
 Bridget did as she was commanded ; 
 a husband, and a marriage portion, were 
 objects too material to be lost for so tri- 
 vial a duty ; and, though she longed to 
 relate the high favour she was in with 
 the saint, yet she resolved to restrain 
 herself until either the pilgrims or Am- 
 brosine set her tongue at liberty on the 
 subject. 
 
 Ambiiosine, left alone, could scarcely 
 believe it possible that the outlaws should 
 have reached Roskelyn in so short a 
 space of time. The conduct of Monteith 
 at Kin tail, and the almost incredible 
 speed he had used, flattered her that she 
 was not indifferent to him ; but the dis- 
 tracted passion he was said to have en- 
 tertained 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 197 
 
 tertained for the lady Roskelyn four 
 years before, sickened her at heart ; yet, 
 reflecting on the subject, she said men- 
 tally — " Away with such thoughts — I 
 blush to let them find harbour a mo- 
 ment in my bosom ; the mind of Mon- 
 teith is superior to such folly — he cannot 
 love without esteem; and let me but 
 once claim an interest in his heart, if I 
 hold it not, the fault be mine. Vanity 
 might prompt him at the tournament to 
 hold me unrivalled, and gratitude might 
 bring him to Kintail ; but his emotion, 
 when we conversed in the gallery there, 
 was surely neither occasioned by vanity 
 nor gratitude. Of women well may he 
 think cheaply — they have been the bane 
 of his life. Oh ! should it be the fortune 
 of mine to retrieve the character of my 
 sex in the mind of so noble a man, how 
 gladly should I relinquish ail the false 
 glare of the court for the dreary rocks 
 am ong which he dwells !" 
 
 k 3 Such 
 
198 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 Such were the reflections of Ambro- 
 sine till Bridget joined her, when she 
 informed her all was quiet in the castle, 
 and the lights extinguished ; after a short 
 consultation, they took the way to the 
 tower where the pilgrims were lodged. 
 As they passed along, an idea of fear 
 struck Amhrosine, that the pilgrims 
 might not be the persons she hoped ; yet 
 the identity of the ring in great measure 
 dispelled it. As they passed through 
 the lower galleries of the castle, and 
 crossed the courts, the owls and bats, 
 disturbed by the glare of the taper from 
 their ivy haunts on the turrets, hooted 
 and skimmed around them, to the great 
 annoyance of Bridget, who, considering 
 them as the harbingers of goblins or de- 
 vils, did not cease a moment recom- 
 mending herself in silent prayer to her 
 patron saint ; while Ambrosine, superior 
 to a dread of objects whom she never 
 knew or injured, passed fearlessly and 
 
 lightly 
 
St. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 199 
 
 lightly forward, waving the taper to de- 
 fend herself from the too near approach 
 of such disagreeable intruders. 
 
 On reaching the tower, Ambrosine 
 left Bridget below, and with less firm- 
 ness ascended the stairs, and having 
 gained the apartment, hesitated several 
 times whether she should knock. At 
 length, with forced courage, she struck 
 gently at the door, and was instantly 
 answered by Monteith, who demanded 
 who was there ? Certified by the voice 
 of St. Clair, she replied — " Ambrosine of 
 Kintail, who wishes to hold a short con- 
 ference with the pilgrims, whom she 
 will wait for in the lower apartment." 
 
 Before Ambrosine could descend, the 
 door was unbarred, and she saw the out- 
 laws all completely clothed, though 
 without their cloaks; and seated on 
 benches in the apartment, had their 
 swords unsheathed before them, and dag- 
 gers in their girdles. 
 
 K 4 She 
 
£00 ST. CLAIH OF THE ISLES. 
 
 She shuddered at the sight, but St. 
 Clair advancing, reassured her — " First 
 of women !" said he, " why have you 
 ventured here at this hour? to-morrow 
 might have been more convenient, than 
 crossing the castle in the dead of night, 
 as you must have done. We have de- 
 vised the means of staying another day ; 
 De Bourg will feign sickness, and the 
 rights of hospitality cannot be denied us." 
 
 Ambrosine held out her hand. " I 
 grieve," said she, " to give you this 
 trouble, and tremble lest I should in- 
 volve you in danger; but young and 
 defenceless, I have no one to take my 
 part, and have only a respite of a few 
 days allowed me, to determine whether 
 I will wed the knight of Lorn, or pass 
 the remaining two years of my minority 
 in the convent of Franciscan nuns at 
 Berwick. The knight I think, not of, 
 nor have I any decided aversion to a con- 
 vent, except to that of the Minoresses, 
 
 whose 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 201 
 
 whose abbess I well know to be a crea- 
 ture of the dowager's, and I have rib 
 doubt would make my situation very- 
 disagreeable there. What I would en- 
 treat is, that you would assist me in get- 
 ting hence. On the north side of the 
 Tay, at the foot of the Grampian Hills, 
 there is a monastery of black monks, and 
 also a convent of nuns, who would 
 doubtless receive me for a good con- 
 sideration, until I could claim my own." 
 
 Monteith pressed her hand to his 
 heart in silence, while De Bourg and 
 Ross swore to die in her defence. 
 
 " Heaven forbid," said she, " I should 
 need so dangerous a proof of your friend- 
 ship ! prepare but fleet horses — I can ride 
 with the best of ye, and we will soon be 
 safe from pursuit." 
 
 " We are," replied Monteith, " al- 
 ready provided; they are not more than 
 six miles from hence, and can easily be 
 brought hither; one for you is alone 
 k 5 wanting, 
 
202 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 wanting, and that we will immediately 
 procure." 
 
 " Need you money ?" said she. 
 
 " No," interrupted De Bourg ; " I am 
 cash-bearer, and the trash is plenty." 
 
 " Tis well," replied she ; " I must 
 hasten, for time wastes. To-morrow, at 
 the hour of midnight, cross the court 
 that leads to this tower, and under the 
 portal, on the right hand, is a small door 
 which opens to the chapel; you may 
 easily unbar it, and in the aisle wait my 
 coming. The lamp that constantly burns; 
 before the altar will give you sufficient 
 light, and I shall bring a taper, as I can- 
 not pass the avenues of the castle in 
 darkness." 
 
 " Suffer me to accompany you through 
 them," said St. Clair. 
 
 " For your life, enter not the interior 
 of the dwelling," replied Ambrosine ; 
 " fear not for me — I am safe. There is 
 a passage through the sacristy which 
 
 leads 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. &03 
 
 leads to the outside of the rampart wall, 
 by which I mean to escape; and in the 
 wood adjoining you may conceal your 
 horses. But adieu — I must away, as I 
 much question whether St. Bridget her- 
 self hath been able to preserve her poor 
 votary from the horrors of fear during 
 the short interval which she hath waited 
 at the entrance of the tower." 
 
 So saying, she held her hand to each, 
 but last to Monteith, who, clasping it, 
 and taking his sword, declared he would 
 see her across the court. Ambrosine 
 would have denied, but St. Clair in- 
 sisting, she gave him the taper, when, 
 placing her arm under his, he descended 
 the stairs, where they found the trem- 
 bling Bridget awaiting the return of her 
 mistress. 
 
 " Bridget," said Ambrosine, " all is 
 well ; remember the promise of secrecy ; 
 not only thy fate, but mine, depends 
 upon it." 
 
 K 6 Bridget 
 
204 ST. CLAIIt OF THE ISLES. 
 
 ^ 
 
 Bridget made no reply, but by a bend 
 of the knees, so great was her astonish- 
 ment to see her mistress accompanied 
 by the handsome pilgrim, who now ap- 
 peared a thousand times more so, when 
 his head was uncovered, and his form 
 undisguised by the palmer's cloak. 
 
 Passing through the courts, the owls 
 and bats again annoyed them ; Monteith 
 used the same means to keep them off 
 as Ambrosine had before done, and con- 
 sidered her with admiration, devoid of 
 that puerile weakness, which, in spite of 
 his former love for Ellen, he could not 
 even then avoid thinking, partook of 
 folly and affectation. 
 
 On reaching the lower gallery, Am- 
 brosine stopped, and would have bidden 
 him farewell, but, holding her hand, he 
 entreated her stay a few moments. Plac- 
 ing the taper in a recess, and Bridget 
 retiring a few paces, he said — " Flattered 
 by the reflection that you consider me 
 
 as 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 205 
 
 as a friend, pardon the question ; but is 
 there no plan that could be formed bet- 
 ter than your wasting two of the best 
 years of your life in a convent, and from 
 whence you are not certain but the par- 
 tiality of the queen for the dowager of 
 Roskelyn, and the knight of Lorn, 
 might force you ?" 
 
 " I see all my danger, but know no 
 alternative," replied she ; " know you of 
 <ui v r 
 
 " Alas, no !" answered he, with a 
 heavy sigh. " Oh Ambrosine, could I 
 recal the past ! but the wish is vain — sor- 
 row is mine for ever." 
 
 " Say not so; when we met last, you 
 questioned me closely; shall I use the 
 same freedom with you ?" 
 
 " Assuredly ; I will shew you my 
 heart as openly as 'tis before the Creator 
 who made it." 
 
 " You asked me if I loved the knight 
 of Lorn ; I replied, truly, that I did not ; 
 
 now 
 
206 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 now answer to me — love you still the 
 lady Roskelyn?" 
 
 " No, on my soul and honour ! Three 
 years has she been to me as nothing ; in 
 the first paroxysm of my disappointment 
 I hated her — in the second I thought of 
 her with contempt, but now without 
 either. If I remember her at all, it is 
 with satisfaction that she has spared me 
 the greatest of all my misfortunes, that 
 of being her husband/* 
 
 " I am a strange bold girl, but pardon 
 me — love you any one else?" 
 
 " Ambrosine, I am a banished man, 
 and dare not love." 
 
 " Ridiculous refinement ! To punish 
 your enemies in the most effectual man- 
 ner, would be to let them see you happy 
 in spite of their machinations ; but we 
 must part — the day will soon dawn. 
 Fail not to be with your companions in 
 the chapel at midnight, and leave the 
 rest to fortune : but ere we part, say — 
 
 know 
 
ST. CLAIU OF THE ISLES. 207 
 
 know you the way back to your 
 friends ? 
 
 " I do — I observed it well ; I was 
 also here once in my boyish days with 
 my uncle Monteith." 
 
 " Farewell, then," said she ; " re- 
 member to-morrow night, and Heaven 
 guide you !" 
 
 " Angels, with hearts pure as your 
 own, watch round you !" answered he, 
 pressing her hand to his lips, and pre- 
 paring to leave her. 
 
 " Will you not the taper ?" said she, 
 detaining him. 
 
 " No. Oh Ambrosine," replied he, 
 with an emotion he could not repress, 
 again seizing and kissing her hand; 
 " would I had known thee sooner, or 
 
 " Finish not the sentence," said she, 
 jestingly ; " know you not the proverb, 
 * better late than never' But, once 
 more, farewell." 
 
 Monteith 
 
208 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 Monteith made no reply, but, leaving 
 the court, gained the tower, where his 
 companions awaited him. 
 
 Ambrosine, in the mean time, with 
 Bridget, crossed through the interior of 
 the castle in silence. They were, how- 
 ever, somewhat alarmed, in passing the 
 dowager's chamber, to hear her dog bark ; 
 but, using their utmost speed, they soon 
 reached the apartment of Ambrosine, 
 where she detained Bridget during the 
 remainder of the night, or rather raorn- 
 
 CHAP- 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 209 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Bridget, on being requested, readily 
 gave Ambrosine an oath of secrecy, who 
 then informed her, that her lover Wil- 
 liam had been the messenger to fetch 
 the pilgrims, though she evaded saying 
 from whence they came. Ambrosine 
 also repeated her promise of giving her 
 a marriage-portion, and commanded her, 
 if she was successful in leaving the castle 
 
 S3 
 
 on the ensuing night, to demand her 
 dismission, and, first making William 
 her spouse, to travel to Kintail, where, 
 to insure her a proper reception, she 
 gave her an order under her own hand, 
 and money also to defray her journey 
 thither ; then, collecting her most valu- 
 able 
 
210 ST. CLAIR OP THE ISLES. 
 
 able jewels, she laid herself down to rest, 
 with Bridget by her side. The latter, 
 though the flattering idea of being un- 
 der the immediate protection of a saint 
 was somewhat diminished, yet consoled 
 herself so well with the patronage of the 
 heiress, that she soon fell asleep. Not 
 so Ambrosine; the bold step she had 
 taken, under a firm reliance on Mon- 
 teith's honour, and the almost certainty 
 that he loved her, kept her awake, and 
 she looked forward with the pleasurable 
 hope of making him amends for all the 
 evils of fortune, and of constituting the 
 happiness s of the only man that could 
 make her so. 
 
 In the morning, De Bourg feigned 
 sickness so artfully, that he was easily 
 permitted to remain all day in the apart- 
 ment allotted the travellers ; Ross, the 
 better to support the deception, remain- 
 ed 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 211 
 
 ed with him ; while Monteith joined his 
 companions at the cottage, and gave 
 them in charge to fetch the horses from 
 where they had left them, and also to 
 purchase one for Ambrosine. 
 
 Twice in the day, under pretence of 
 carrying something to the sick pilgrim, 
 they were visited by Bridget, who 
 brought them intelligence that at noon 
 the same day William had arrived safe. 
 
 De Bourg, perceiving that Bridget 
 treated him with more distance than his 
 companions, from the remembrance of 
 the saint, said — " My dear maid, look 
 not at me with that averted eye, lest ye 
 make me guilty of forswearing St. 
 Bridget for ever, in which case the sin 
 will be yours, not mine. I vow to you, 
 that, satisfied with the candour and 
 beauty of your countenance, I should at 
 once have disclosed the business to you, 
 without any subterfuge; but the over- 
 caution of my companions prevented it, 
 
 and 
 
312 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 and reduced me to have recourse to a 
 deception, for which even at the time 
 my heart reproached me : condemn me 
 not, therefore, for their fault." 
 
 Bridget accepted the apology. 
 
 " Nay then," added he, " give me 
 your hand, and a kiss of reconciliation, 
 I insist. Miserable man that I am ! I 
 have neither rings, chains, lockets, 
 crosses, or trinkets, fit to present to a 
 maiden ; but the will, with a generous 
 mind like thine, Bridget, will be taken 
 for the deed ; suffer me, therefore, I pray 
 thee, to beg thee to accept this piece of 
 gold for my sake." 
 
 " Indeed, generous sir, I cannot; the 
 lady Ambrosine pays me nobly; if she 
 will suffer me, I will live and die with 
 her." 
 
 " Thou art a good girl," answered he : 
 " but thou dost not pardon me unless 
 thou takest my present ; for, though it 
 is not a trinket for thee to wear, thou 
 
 L mayest 
 
mayest hereafter drill a hole through 
 it, and hang it round thy eldest sons 
 neck ; I promise thee it will be of won- 
 derful efficacy in making him cut his 
 teeth." 
 
 Monteith and Ross both laughed, nor 
 could Bridget forbear. — " From which 
 of thy saints doth it possess that virtue ?" 
 said St. Clair. 
 
 "What is that to thee, infidel ?" an- 
 swered De Bourg. " I am punished 
 for thy guilt." 
 
 " Nay, Bridget will accept thy pre- 
 sent," said Monteith, " and also the 
 same from me and Ross, so that the 
 elder child may not have the advantage 
 of the two that succeed." 
 
 u Ye are merry hearts, sirs," said 
 Bridget ; " my lady willed me to ask 
 you if you remembered the way to the 
 chapel?" 
 
 " We do," replied Monteith ; " bear 
 
 to 
 
214 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 to her our best wishes — we will not fail 
 her." 
 
 During the whole of the day, Am- 
 brosine kept her apartment as much as 
 possible, without appearing particular; 
 for, conscious of her intention, she 
 thought the knight of Lorn and the 
 dowager viewed her with scrutinizing 
 eyes ; and towards evening, complaining 
 of indisposition, she retired early. 
 
 It was an hour beyond midnight be- 
 fore all was quiet in the castle, when, 
 taking her jewels, she resolved to ad- 
 venture. Bridget, who had been weep- 
 ing all the afternoon, would fain have 
 accompanied her, but that she peremp- 
 torily refused ; for, however she wished 
 a female companion, she well knew it 
 would impede their flight: repeating, 
 therefore, the former command, for her 
 to wed William as soon as possible, and 
 to repair to Kintail, she took her taper, 
 
 and^ 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 215 
 
 and, dismissing Bridget to rest, left the 
 chamber. With a light but trembling 
 step, she passed the gallery where her 
 own chamber was situated, and, crossing 
 the great stairs that led to the grand 
 apartments, she entered the gallery ap- 
 pertaining to the dowager and her reti- 
 nue. 
 
 She recollected the barking of the 
 dog the preceding' night with some 
 alarm ; but now all appeared quiet 
 around her, until, leaving the suite of 
 chambers to descend to the lower stor)^ 
 she thought she heard a step above, and 
 the whispering of distant voices, which 
 the echo of the high roof conveyed to 
 her ear. Thoroughly alarmed, yet too 
 far advanced to draw back, she extin- 
 guished her taper, and proceeded in 
 silent haste through the lower galleries 
 into the first court, where, by the im- 
 perfect light of the moon, she discover- 
 ed a man leaning against one of the but- 
 tresses. 
 
316 ST. CLAIR OF THE I£LES. 
 
 tresses. Her alarm was however of 
 short duration, for, directed by her 
 white garment, he advanced. — " Dearest 
 Ambrosine," said Monteith, " I have 
 suffered more than I can describe by 
 your stay : a few minutes more, and I 
 should have endeavoured to seek you in 
 the castle." 
 
 " Peace, on your life," said she, in 
 a low voice ; " I fear I am pursued, 
 and that the extinguishing my taper 
 has alone prevented my being over- 
 taken." 
 
 Monteith clasped her hand, and has- 
 tening forward, said — " They must be 
 bold fellows who take you from me; 
 methinks, in this cause, I could encoun- 
 ter an army." 
 
 As they passed forward, he informed 
 her that himself, Ross, and De Bourg, 
 had been in the chapel ever since mid- 
 night ; that, weary with waiting, they 
 had sought out the passage through the 
 
 sacristy, 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 217 
 
 sacristy, and unbarred the gate which 
 opened beneath the ramparts, where 
 their companions, fearful of danger from 
 their protracted stay, had joined them, 
 having first fastened their horses in the 
 wood. — " And now," said he, " surely 
 there is no cause to fear ; we are siy 9 
 and, well armed, are equal to treble our 
 number." 
 
 As he spoke, they reached the door 
 of the chapel, when Ambrosine, turning, 
 saw a light crossing the outward gallery 
 of the court, and the moment after heard 
 several voices articulating her name. 
 Trembling almost to fainting, she threw 
 herself into Monteith's arms. — " Oh fly, 
 St. Clair," said she, " I conjure thee ! I 
 have brought thee here to death (for 
 thy enemies will prevail), wretch that I 
 am, when I would have given my life 
 to have saved thine !" 
 
 " Beloved of my soul !" said St. Clair, 
 forgetting both prudence and caution, 
 and clasping her to his heart, " fear not; 
 
 vol. i. l all 
 
218 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 a-U will be well ; your distress can alone, 
 unnerve my arm." As he spoke, he 
 bore her into the chapel, where he in- 
 formed his companions of the danger, 
 and bade them "stand prepared, as he 
 feared their enemies were too near to be 
 avoided. 
 
 The light which beamed through the 
 door of the chapel, and which Monteith 
 in his haste had left unclosed, directed 
 their pursuers, who a moment after 
 rushed in, to the number of ten, at the 
 head of whom were the knight of Lorn 
 and the lady Roskelyn. 
 
 Monteith instantly placed Ambrosine, 
 who scarcely breathed, on the steps of 
 the altar, and with his companions un- 
 sheathed his sword, advancing in a pos- 
 ture of defence. The vassals had been 
 hastily called, and, most of them being 
 unarmed, drew back at so formidable a 
 sjght ; but sir James, who at his entrance 
 liad caught a glimpse of Ambrosine in 
 the arms of Monteith, coming forward, . 
 
 and 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 219 
 
 and singling him out, said — " If thou 
 art worthy the love of the heiress of 
 Kin tail, thy single arm to mine." 
 
 "Willingly," said St. Clair; * 'tis- 
 not the first time thou and I have met-; 
 thou owest a fall to the Danish knight 
 ■ — take death from the arm of Mon- 
 teith." 
 
 " Monteith !" exclaimed sir James, 
 starting, and drawing back some paces, 
 leaning on his sword. 
 
 " It is Monteith," said the dowager,. 
 " the daring outlaw, who, regardless of 
 his king, sets his commands at defiance, 
 and tramples on the rights of the lord of 
 Roskelyn ; and now, to complete the 
 measure of his guilt, not only commits 
 theft in the person of the heiress, but 
 also adds the crime of sacrilege." 
 
 " Talk you, unfeeling woman, of 
 lights destroyed, when you look at me ?" 
 replied Monteith. " The knight speaks 
 nobly ; hand to hand, let us decide it ; 
 if I fall, so rest my soul, as I free him 
 L 2 from 
 
220 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 from my death ! and as my blood flows, 
 lady, remember it hath no disgrace but 
 what it inherit eth from you." 
 
 The dowager trembled, and leant on 
 one of the attendants, while sir James 
 drew yet farther back. 
 
 " Nay, sir knight, shun me not. See 
 you that monument," continued he, point- 
 ing to one of the late lord Hoskelyn; 
 " under it lies the husband of that wo- 
 man: may his spirit witness the com- 
 bat, and if there be dishonour, that it 
 sits not on the shield of Monteith ! You 
 tremble, vain woman, and turn pale; 
 you — you talk of sacrilege ! you, who 
 have profaned every duty, sacred and 
 humanl Your first fault was venial, 
 but your next was of the dye of hell „ 
 and here I wain you to repentance — 
 here, before the altar of your God, and 
 of my God, and before the tomb of your 
 husband, and of my father !" 
 
 " Gallant Monteith," said the knight 
 of Lorn, throwing down his sword, " if 
 
 it 
 
ST. GLAIR OF THE ISLES. 221 
 
 ft be possible, grant me thy pardon ! 
 The tale of St. Clair's wrongs, sorrows, 
 and oppressions, I have heard indistinct- 
 ly, but till this hour never knew their 
 amount." 
 
 " Xor do you now, brave Stuart," re- 
 plied Mcnteith, following his example, 
 and throwing down his weapon ; "' com- 
 mand my life — at the call of friendship, 
 it shall freely come forth : but for Ara- 
 brosine, she hath a dearer claim — she 
 shall be free ; for though a banished man 
 must not love her, he can still protect 
 her." 
 
 '•' Valiant chief, I yield ; when I add 
 to your misfortunes, may they revert on 
 my own head !" Then, turning to the 
 dowager, he added — " Dismiss your 
 vassr.ls, lady ; neither you nor I shall 
 gain honour by this business : for you, 
 St. Clair, you must yield to necessity ; 
 
 : should opportunity ever offer, re- 
 member you have a friend' in Jarae& 
 Stuarts 
 
 l $ As 
 
222 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 As he spoke be held out his hand, 
 which Monteith receiving, said — " I 
 thank ye, noble knight, and if you can 
 accept that of an outlaw, command 
 mine." 
 
 " And will you suffer him," said the 
 dowager, addressing sir James, " to bear 
 away Ambrosine? Is this the assistance 
 I claimed from you ?" 
 
 " Lady," replied he, " the story of 
 St, Clair Monteith, though his person 
 was unknown to me, has long been fa- 
 miliar to my ear, and- made the "impres- 
 sion which we feel from fabled sorrow 
 and oppression. To-night I find the 
 truth of what I before heard, certified 
 by him, and undenied by you ; and 
 never shall my sword be raised against 
 him. For your designs in my fa- 
 vour, much thanks ; but I relinquish all 
 claim to the lady Ambrosine, and en- 
 treat she may speak her own inten- 
 tions and wishes, in which I swear to 
 coincide." 
 
 Ambrosine, 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 223 
 
 Ambrosine, somewhat recovered by 
 the amicable conversation that had pass- 
 ed, stood up, and said — " Sir James, a 
 better love than mine hangs over you ; 
 may you be blest to the extent of your 
 wishes! For me, here at the holy al- 
 tar, I declare, in the presence of the 
 blessed saints, that I will no husband, 
 unless it be Monteith, and, if he refuses 
 me, to live and die a virgin. For the 
 present, it is my intention to take re- 
 fuge in a convent, for I like not the 
 court, nor the guardianship of the dow- 
 ager of Roskelyn. If I remain single 
 two years, she may receive my revenues 
 during that period; if I marry, I shall 
 claim them, as by my father's testament 
 the right is only mine from the day of 
 marriage, payable to my own discharge 
 and no other." 
 
 " Fortune attend you !" replied sir 
 James. " Lady Roskelyn, I withdraw; 
 I will no more to do in this business." 
 So saying, he left the chapel. 
 
 . " Poltroons !" 
 
; m ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 " Poltroons !" exclaimed the dowager, 
 turning to the vassals, " why stand ye 
 like statues ? call your comrades ; though 
 a woman, I am not to be braved thus." 
 
 w The man that offers to stir dies/' 
 said Monteith. " Your rage and force 
 are equally vain ; Ambrosine shall be 
 secured from your malice. Come, sweet 
 maid," added he, placing her arm under 
 his, and taking his sword in his right 
 hand, " you shall be our pilot ; fear not 
 —they must fight well who rob us of so 
 fair a prize." So saying, he took the 
 way from the chapel through the sa- 
 cristy, preceded by De Bourg with a 
 taper, and followed by the rest of his- 
 companions. 
 
 They lost no time in gaining the 
 wood and mounting their horses ; Mon- 
 teith wrapped his palmer's cloak round 
 Ambrosine, at once to conceal her figure 
 and to shield her from the cool morning 
 air; at the same time, tying the hat 
 over her fe.ee, he said — " In faith, Am- 
 brosine, 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 225 
 
 brosine, thou bafflest my skill — I cannot 
 make thee less lovely." 
 
 Conscious they should be pursued, 
 and also aware that the greater part of 
 the vassals of the house, buried in sleep, 
 would take some time in preparation, 
 they used their utmost speed, Ambro- 
 sine keeping pace with the foremost. As 
 they conjectured their enemies would 
 pursue northward, they took their way 
 to the south, and by ten in the morning 
 reached Selkirk, where procuring some 
 refreshment for themselves and their 
 beasts from a cottager, they continued to 
 Drumlanrig, where they reposed for a 
 few hours, when they pursued their way 
 to the coast, where they embarked in a 
 vessel bound to Carrickfergus, at which 
 place they considered they should be 
 safe from pursuit. 
 
 In the mean time the dowager had 
 dispatched messengers different ways, 
 
 but 
 
226 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 but particularly to the north, in order 
 to gain intelligence of the heiress ; but 
 in vain : none could be obtained, and in- 
 creased vexation was alone the result of 
 the inquiry, not only to her, but to lord 
 and lady Roskelyn, who hastened home 
 on the first intelligence they received of 
 what had happened. 
 
 Bridget was also questioned ; but, 
 true to her trust, she confessed only that 
 she visited the pilgrims with Ambro- 
 sine, but denied that she considered 
 them in no other light. This confession 
 she was reduced to make by the dow- 
 ager, who declared that the night pre- 
 ceding the flight of Ambrosine, a light 
 shining through the lattice over the 
 door of her chamber, and her dog bark- 
 ing, she had hastily risen, and to her 
 oTeat amazement seen the heiress and 
 Bridget passing through the gallery 
 with a taper. 
 
 The circumstance, however, made 
 but a transient impression, as Ambrosine 
 
 frequently 
 
ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 227 
 
 frequently sat till very late in the upper 
 gallery that faced the sea, admiring the 
 view by the light of the moon. 
 
 The restraint of Ambrosine, and her 
 unusual thoughtfulness the ensuing day, 
 were not lost on the dowager; it awak- 
 ened her suspicion, and she communi- 
 cated what she had seen the night be- 
 fore to sir James Stuart, and entreated 
 him to watch with her the ensuing 
 night. An hour after midnight, Am- 
 brosine passed with her taper, and, to 
 their farther astonishment, alone; on 
 which the knight in silence pursued her; 
 but, being deceived by her extinguish- 
 ing the light, he was bewildered in the 
 way, and obliged to return to the dow- 
 ager's chamber. Alarmed at the knight's 
 report of Ambrosine's caution, she im- 
 mediately accompanied him in the pur- 
 suit, awakening the vassals who slept 
 in that department of the castle. Calling 
 loudly on Ambrosine, they hastened 
 through the galleries ; but her speed 
 
 had 
 
228 ST. CLAIR OF THE ISLES. 
 
 had exceeded theirs, and she had in all 
 probability escaped undiscovered, had 
 not the light from the chapel directed 
 their steps : opposition was however 
 fruitless, and the dowager only was pu- 
 nished with hearing harsh truths, which 
 rankled and festered in her heart ; while 
 the knight of Lorn, at once convinced 
 of the impossibility of gaining Ambro- 
 sine from so formidable a rival, nobly 
 gave up his pretensions. 
 
 The disinterested conduct of sir James 
 gave much displeasure to the family of 
 Koskelyn ; but, satisfied with the ap- 
 plause of his own heart, he left the castle, 
 and in the pleasures and bustle of th^ 
 court soon forgot his disappointment. 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 Printed by J. Darling, Leadenhall-street, London. 
 
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