Roland Græme was in the same oratory, but at such a distance from Douglas, that he could not overhear what passed betwixt the Queen and him. He also was moody and thoughtful, but cleared his brow at the Queen's question, 'How now, Roland, you are negligent in your attendance this morning. Are you so much overcome with your night's ride ?” 'Not so, gracious madam,' answered Græme; but I am told the Page of Lochleven is not the Page of Niddrie Castle; and so Master Henry Seyton hath in a manner been pleased to supersede my attendance.'

'Now, Heaven forgive me,' said the Queen, how soon these cock-chick. ens begin to spar!-with children and boys, at least, I may be a QueenI will have you friends. Some one send me Henry Seyton hither.' As she spoke the last words aloud, the youth whom she had named entered the apartment. Come hither,' she said, Henry Seyton-I will have you give your hand to this youth, who so well aided in the plan of my escape.' 'Willingly, madam,' answered Seyton, so that the youth will grant me, as a boon, that he touch not the hand of another Seyton whom he knows of. My hand has passed current for her's with him before now-and to win my friendship, he must give up thoughts of my sister's love.'

Henry Seyton,' said the Queen, does it become you to add any condi tion to my command?'

'Madam,' said Henry, 'I am the servant of your Grace's throne, son to the most loyal man in Scotland. Our goods, our castles, our blood, are your's. Our honour is in our own keeping. I could say more, but'

'Nay, speak on, rude boy,' said the Queen; what avails it that I am released from Lochleven, if I am thus enthralled under the yoke of my pretended deliverers, and prevented from doing justice to one who has deserved as well of me as yourself?'

Be not in this distemperature for me, sovereign lady,' said Roland; 'this young gentleman, being the faithful servant of your Grace, and the brother of Catherine Seyton, bears that about him which will charm down my passion at the hottest.'

I warn thee once more,' said Henry Seyton haughtily, that you make no speech which may infer that the daughter of Lord Seyton can be aught to thee beyond what she is to every churl's blood in Scotland.'

The Queen was again about to interfere, for Roland's complexion rose, and it became somewhat questionable how long his love for Catherine would suppress the natural fire of his temper. But the interposition of another person, hitherto unseen, prevented Mary's interference. There was in the oratory a separate shrine, inclosed with a high screen of pierced oak, within which was placed an image of Saint Bennet, of peculiar sanctity. From this recess, in which she had been probably engaged in her devotions, issued suddenly Magdalen Græme, and addressed Henry Seyton, in reply to his last offensive expressions-- And of what clay, then, are they moulded, these Seytons, that the blood of the Græmes may not aspire to mingle with theirs? Know, proud boy, that when I call this youth my daughter's child, I affirm his descent from Malise Earl of Strathern, called Malise with the bright brand; and I trow the blood of your house springs from no higher source.' 'Good mother,' said Seyton, methinks your sanctity should make you superior to these worldly vanities; and indeed it seems to have rendered you somewhat oblivious touching them, since, to be of gentle descent the fa ther's name and lineage must be as well qualified as the mother's.'

And if I say he comes of the blood of Avenel by the father's side,' replied Magdalen Græme, 'name I not blood as richly coloured as thine

own ?'

'Of Avenel ?' said the Queen; is my page descended of Avenel ?' Ay, gracious Princess, and the last male heir of that ancient houseJulian Avenel was his father, who fell in battle against the Southron.'

'I have heard the tale of sorrow,' said the Queen; it was thy daughter, then, who followed that unfortunate Baron to the field, and died on his body? Alas! how many ways does woman's affection find to work out her own misery. The tale has oft been told and sung in hall and bower-And thou, Roland, art that child of misfortune, who was left among the dead and dying? Henry Seyton, he is thine equal in blood and birth."

6

Scarcely so,' said Henry Seyton, even were he legitimate; but if the tale be told and sung aright, Julian Avenel was a false Knight, and his leman a frail and credulous maiden.'

Now, by Heaven, thou liest!' said Roland Græme, and laid his hand on his sword. The entrance of Lord Seyton, however, prevented violence. 'Save me, my lord,' said the Queen, and separate these wild and untamed spirits.'

How, Henry!' said the Baron, are my castle, and the Queen's presence, no checks on thine insolence and impetuosity? And with whom art thou brawling?-unless my eyes spell that token false, it is with the very | youth who aided me so gallantly in the skirmish with the Leslies-Let me look, fair youth, at the medal which thou wearest in thy cap. By Saint Bennet, it is the same!-Henry, I command thee to forbear him, as thou lovest my blessing.'

And as you honour my command,' said the Queen; 'good service hath he done me.'

'Ay, madam,' replied young Seyton, as when he carried the billet inclosed in the sword-sheath to Lochleven-marry, the good youth knew no more than a pack-horse what he was carrying.'

But I, who dedicated him to this great work,' said Magdalen Græme1, by whose advice and agency this just heir hath been unloosed from her thraldont-I, who spared not the last remaining hope of a falling house in this great action-1, at least, knew and counselled; and what merit may be mine, let the reward, most gracious Queen, descend upon this youth. My ministry here is ended; you are free-a sovereign Princess, at the head of a gallant army, surrounded by valiant barons-My service could avail you no farther, but might well prejudice you; your fortune now rests upon men's hearts and men's swords-may they prove as trusty as the faith of wo nen!"

You will not leave us, mother,' said the Queen-you whose practices In our favour were so powerful, who dared so many dangers, and wore so many disguises to blind our enemies and to confirm our friends-you will not leave us in the dawn of our reviving fortunes, ere me have time to know and to thank you ?'

You cannot know her,' answered Magdalen Græme; who knows not herself there are times, when, in this woman's frame of mine, there is the strength of him of Gath-in this over-toiled brain, the wisdom of the most sage counsellor and again the mist is on me, and my strength is weakness, my wisdom folly. I have spoken before princes and cardinals-ay, noble Princess, even before the princes of thine own house of Lorraine; and I know not whence the words of persuasion came which flowed from my lips, and were drunk in by their ears. And now, even when I most need words of persuasion, there is something which choaks my voice, and robs me of utterance.'

'If there be aught in my power to do thee pleasure,' said the Queen: the barely naming it shall avail as well as all thine eloquence.'

Sovereign Lady,' replied the enthusiast; it shames me that at this high moment, something of human frailty should cling to one, whose vows the saints have heard, whose labours in the rightful cause Heaven has prospered. But it will be thus while the living spirit is shrined in the clay of mortality-I will yield to the folly,' she said, weeping as she spoke, and it shall be the last.' Then seizing Roland's hand, she led him to the Queen's feet, kneeling herself upon one knee, and causing him to kneel on both. " Mighty Princess,' she said, 'look on this flower--it was found by a kindly stranger on a bloody field of battle, and long it was ere my anxious eyes saw, and my arms pressed all that was left of my only daughter. For your sake, and for that of the holy faith we both profess, I could leave this plant, while it was yet tender, to the nurture of strangers-ay, of enemies, to whom, perchance, his blood would have been as wine, had the heretic Glendinning known that he had in his house the heir of Julian Avenel. Since then I have seen him only in a few hours of doubt and dread, and now I part with the child of my love-for ever-for ever. O, for every weary step I have made in your rightful cause, in this and in foreign lands, give protection to the child whom I must no more call mine!'

'I swear to you, mother,' said the Queen, deeply affected, that, for your sake and his own, his happiness and fortunes shall be our charge!' 'I thank you, daughter of princes,' said Magdalen, and pressed her lips, first to the Queen's hand, then to the brow of her grandson. And now,' she said, drying her tears, and rising with dignity; Earth has had its own, and Heaven claims the rest. Lioness of Scotland, go forth and conquer, and if the prayers of a devoted votaress can avail thee, they will rise in many a land, and from many a distant shrine. I will glide like a ghost from land to land, from temple to temple; and where the very name of my coun try is unknown, the priests shall ask who is the Queen of that distant northern land, for whom the aged pilgrim was so fervent in prayer-Farewell, honour be thine, and earthly prosperity, if it be the will of God-if not, may the penance thou shalt do here, ensure thee happiness hereafter-Let no one speak or follow me-my resolution is taken-my vow cannot be cancelled.'

She glided from their presence as she spoke, and her last look was upon her beloved grandchild. He would have risen and followed, but the Queen and Lord Seyton interfered.

Press not on her now,' said Lord Seyton, if you would not lose her for ever. Many a time have we seen the sainted mother, and often at the most needful moment; but to press on her privacy, or to thwart her purpose, is a crime which she cannot pardon-I trust we shall yet see her at her needa holy woman she is for certain, and dedicated wholly to prayer and per ance; and hence the heretics hold her as distracted, while Catholics deem her a saint.'

6

'Let me then hope,' said the Queen, that you, my lord, will aid me in the execution of her last request.'

6 What! in the protection of my young second ?-cheerfully—that is, in all that your majesty can think it fitting to ask of me-Henry, give thy hand upon the instant to Roland Avenel, for so I presume he must now be called.'

And shall be Lord of the Barony,' said the Queen, if God prosper our rightful arms.'

It can only be to restore it to my kind protectress, who now holds it said young Avenel. I would rather be landless all my life, than she lost rood of ground by me.'

Nay,' said the Queen, looking to Lord Seyton, his mind matches his birth-Henry, thou hast not yet given thy hand.'

It is his,' said Henry, giving it with some appearance of courtesy, but whispering Roland at the same time. For all this, thou hast not my sister's.'

May it please your Grace,' said are over, to honour our poor meal. flected in the Clyde. We must to

Lord Seyton, now that these passages Time it were that our banners were rehorse with as little stop as may be.'

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Ay, sir-our ancient crown in these wild times,
Oft stood upon a cast-the gamester's ducat,
So often staked, and lost, and then regain'd,
Scarce knew so many hazards.

THE SPANISH FATHER.

It is not our object to enter into the historical part of the reign of the illfated Mary, or to recount, how, during the week which succeeded her flight from Lochleven, her partizans mustered around her with their followers, forming a gallant army, amounting to six thousand men. So much light has been lately thrown on the most minute details of the period, by Mr. Chalmers, in his valuable History of Queen Mary, that the reader may be safely referred to it for the most full information which ancient records afford concerning that interesting time. It is sufficient for our purpose to say, that while Mary's head-quarters were at Hamilton, the Regent and his adherents had, in the king's name, assembled a host at Glasgow, inferior indeed to that of the Queen in numbers, but formidable from the military talents of Murray, Morton, the Laird of Grange, and others, who had been trained from their youth in foreign and domestic wars.

In these circumstances, it was the obvious policy of Queen Mary to avoid a conflict, secure that were her person once in safety, the number of her adherents must daily increase; whereas, the forces of those opposed to her, must, as had frequently happened in the previous history of her reign, have diminished, and their spirits become broken. And so evident was this to her counsellors, that they resolved their first step should be to place the Queen in the strong castle of Dumbarton, there to await the course of events, the arrival of succours from France, and the levies which were made by her adherents in every province of Scotland. Accordingly, orders were given, that all men should be on horseback or on foot, apparelled in their armour, and ready to follow the Queen's standard in array of battle, the avowed determination being to escort her to the Castle of Dumbarton in defiance of her enemies. The muster was made upon Hamilton-moor, and the march commenced in all the pomp of feudal times. Military music sounded, bansers and pennons waved, armour glittered far and wide, and spears glanced and twinkled like stars in a frosty sky. The gallant spectacle of warlike parade was on this occasion dignified by the presence of the Queen herself, ho, with a fair retinue of ladies and household attendants, and a special guard of gentlemen, amongst whom young Seyton and Roland were distinuished, gave grace at once, and confidence to the army which spread its mple files before, around, and behind her.-Many churchmen also joined

the cavalcade, most of whom did not scruple to assume arms and declare their intention of wielding them in defence of Mary and the Catholic faith. Not so the Abbot of Saint Mary's. Roland had not seen this prelate since the night of their escape from Lochleven, and he now beheld him, robed in the dress of his order, assume his station near the Queen's person. Roland hastened to pull off his basnet and beseech the Abbot's blessing.

Thou hast it my son!' said the priest; I see thee now under thy true name and in thy rightful garb. The helmet with the holly branch befits your brows well-I have long waited for the hour thou shouldst assume it.' Then you knew of my descent, my good father!' said Roland.

'I did so, but it was under seal of confession from thy grand mother; nor was I at liberty to tell the secret, till she herself should make it known. 'Her reason for such secrecy, my father?' said Roland Avenel.

< Fear, perchance, of my brother-a mistaken fear, for Halbert would not, to ensure himself a kingdom, wrong an orphan; besides that your title, in quiet times, even had your father done your mother that justice, which I well hope he did, could not have competed with that of my broth er's wife, the child of Julian's elder brother.'

"They need fear no competition from me,' said Avenel. Scotland is wide enough, and there are many manors to win, without plundering my benefactor. But prove to me, my reverend father, that my father was just to my mother-shew me that I may call myself a legitimate Avenel, and make me your bounden slave for ever.'

'Ay,' replied the Abbot, I hear the Seytons hold thee cheap for that stain on thy shield. Something, however, I have learnt from the late Abbot Boniface, which, if it prove sooth, may redeem that reproach.'

'Tell me that blessed news,' said Roland, and the future service of my life'

Rash boy!' said the Abbot,' I should but madden thine impatient tem per, by exciting hopes that may never be fulfilled-and is this a time for them? Think on what perilous march we are bound, and if thou hast a sin unconfessed, neglect not the only leisure which heaven may perchance afford thee for confession and absolution.'

"There will be time enough for both, I trust, when we reach Dumbarton,' answered the page.

'Ay,' said the Abbot, thou crowest as loudly as the rest-but we are not yet at Dumbarton, and there is a lion in the path.'

'Mean you Murray, Morton, and the other rebels at Glasgow, my rever. end father? Tush! they dare not look on the royal banner.'

Even so,' replied the Abbot, speak many of those who are wiser than thou. I have returned from the Southern shires, where I left many a chief of name arming in the Queen's interest-I left the lords here wise and considerate men-I find them madmen on my return-they are willing, for mere pride and vain glory, to brave the enemy, and to carry the Queen, as it were in triumph, past the walls of Glasgow, and under the beards of the adverse army.-Seldom does Heaven smile on such mistimed confidence. We shall be encountered, and that to the purpose.'

'And so much the better,' replied Roland, 'the field of battle was my cradle.'

Beware it be not thy dying-bed,' said the Abbot; but what avails it whispering to young wolves the dangers of the chace. You will know, perchance, ere this day is out, what yonder men are, whom you hold in rash contempt.'