CHAPTER XIV.
Will you go to the Hielands, Lizzy Lyndesay, Will you go the Hielands wi' me? Will you go to the Hielands, Lizzy Lyndesay, My bride and my darling to be?
Old Ballad.
A former chapter opened in the royal confessional; we are now tointroduce our readers to a situation somewhat similar, though thescene and persons were very different. Instead of a Gothic and darkenedapartment in a monastery, one of the most beautiful prospects inScotland lay extended beneath the hill of Kinnoul, and at the foot ofa rock which commanded the view in every direction sat the Fair Maid ofPerth, listening in an attitude of devout attention to the instructionsof a Carthusian monk, in his white gown and scapular, who concluded hisdiscourse with prayer, in which his proselyte devoutly joined.
When they had finished their devotions, the priest sat for some timewith his eyes fixed on the glorious prospect, of which even the earlyand chilly season could not conceal the beauties, and it was some timeere he addressed his attentive companion.
"When I behold," he said at length, "this rich and varied land, with itscastles, churches, convents, stately palaces, and fertile fields, theseextensive woods, and that noble river, I know not, my daughter, whethermost to admire the bounty of God or the ingratitude of man. He hathgiven us the beauty and fertility of the earth, and we have made thescene of his bounty a charnel house and a battlefield. He hath givenus power over the elements, and skill to erect houses for comfort anddefence, and we have converted them into dens for robbers and ruffians."
"Yet, surely, my father, there is room for comfort," replied Catharine,"even in the very prospect we look upon. Yonder four goodly convents,with their churches, and their towers, which tell the citizens withbrazen voice that they should think on their religious duties; theirinhabitants, who have separated themselves from the world, its pursuitsand its pleasures, to dedicate themselves to the service of Heaven--allbear witness that, if Scotland be a bloody and a sinful land, she isyet alive and sensible to the claims which religion demands of the humanrace."
"Verily, daughter," answered the priest, "what you say seems truth; andyet, nearly viewed, too much of the comfort you describe will be founddelusive. It is true, there was a period in the Christian world whengood men, maintaining themselves by the work of their hands, assembledtogether, not that they might live easily or sleep softly, but thatthey might strengthen each other in the Christian faith, and qualifythemselves to be teachers of the Word to the people. Doubtless there arestill such to be found in the holy edifices on which we now look. But itis to be feared that the love of many has waxed cold. Our churchmen havebecome wealthy, as well by the gifts of pious persons as by the bribeswhich wicked men have given in their ignorance, imagining that they canpurchase that pardon by endowments to the church which Heaven has onlyoffered to sincere penitents. And thus, as the church waxeth rich, herdoctrines have unhappily become dim and obscure, as a light is lessseen if placed in a lamp of chased gold than beheld through a screenof glass. God knows, if I see these things and mark them, it is from nowish of singularity or desire to make myself a teacher in Israel; butbecause the fire burns in my bosom, and will not permit me to besilent. I obey the rules of my order, and withdraw not myself fromits austerities. Be they essential to our salvation, or be they mereformalities, adopted to supply the want of real penitence and sinceredevotion, I have promised, nay, vowed, to observe them; and they shallbe respected by me the more, that otherwise I might be charged withregarding my bodily ease, when Heaven is my witness how lightly I valuewhat I may be called on to act or suffer, if the purity of the churchcould be restored, or the discipline of the priesthood replaced in itsprimitive simplicity."
"But, my father," said Catharine, "even for these opinions men termyou a Lollard and a Wickliffite, and say it is your desire to destroychurches and cloisters, and restore the religion of heathenesse."
"Even so, my daughter, am I driven to seek refuge in hills and rocks,and must be presently contented to take my flight amongst the rudeHighlanders, who are thus far in a more gracious state than thoseI leave behind me, that theirs are crimes of ignorance, not ofpresumption. I will not omit to take such means of safety and escapefrom their cruelty as Heaven may open to me; for, while such appear, Ishall account it a sign that I have still a service to accomplish. Butwhen it is my Master's pleasure, He knows how willingly Clement Blairwill lay down a vilified life upon earth, in humble hope of a blessedexchange hereafter. But wherefore dost thou look northward so anxiously,my child? Thy young eyes are quicker than mine--dost thou see any onecoming?"
"I look, father, for the Highland youth, Conachar, who will be thyguide to the hills, where his father can afford thee a safe, if a rude,retreat. This he has often promised, when we spoke of you and of yourlessons. I fear he is now in company where he will soon forget them."
"The youth hath sparkles of grace in him," said Father Clement;"although those of his race are usually too much devoted to their ownfierce and savage customs to endure with patience either the restraintsof religion or those of the social law. Thou hast never told me,daughter, how, contrary to all the usages either of the burgh or of themountains, this youth came to reside in thy father's house?"
"All I know touching that matter," said Catharine, "is, that his fatheris a man of consequence among those hill men, and that he desired as afavour of my father, who hath had dealings with them in the way of hismerchandise, to keep this youth for a certain time, and that it is onlytwo days since they parted, as Conachar was to return home to his ownmountains."
"And why has my daughter," demanded the priest, "maintained such acorrespondence with this Highland youth, that she should know how tosend for him when she desired to use his services in my behalf? Surely,this is much influence for a maiden to possess over such a wild colt asthis youthful mountaineer."
Catharine blushed, and answered with hesitation: "If I have had anyinfluence with Conachar, Heaven be my witness, I have only exerted it toenforce upon his fiery temper compliance with the rules of civil life.It is true, I have long expected that you, my father, would be obligedto take to flight, and I therefore had agreed with him that he shouldmeet me at this place as soon as he should receive a message fromme with a token, which I yesterday despatched. The messenger was alightfooted boy of his own clan, whom he used sometimes to send onerrands into the Highlands."
"And am I then to understand, daughter, that this youth, so fair to theeye, was nothing more dear to you than as you desired to enlighten hismind and reform his manners?"
"It is so, my father, and no otherwise," answered Catharine; "andperhaps I did not do well to hold intimacy with him, even for hisinstruction and improvement. But my discourse never led farther."
"Then have I been mistaken, my daughter; for I thought I had seen inthee of late some change of purpose, and some wishful regards lookingback to this world, of which you were at one time resolved to takeleave."
Catharine hung down her head and blushed more deeply than ever as shesaid: "Yourself, father, were used to remonstrate against my taking theveil."
"Nor do I now approve of it, my child," said the priest. "Marriage is anhonourable state, appointed by Heaven as the regular means of continuingthe race of man; and I read not in the Scriptures what human inventionshave since affirmed concerning the superior excellence of a state ofcelibacy. But I am jealous of thee, my child, as a father is of his onlydaughter, lest thou shouldst throw thyself away upon some one unworthyof thee. Thy parent, I know, less nice in thy behalf than I am,countenances the addresses of that fierce and riotous reveller whom theycall Henry of the Wynd. He is rich it may be; but a haunter of idle anddebauched company--a common prizefighter, who has shed human blood likewater. Can such a one be a fit mate for Catharine Glover? And yet reportsays they are soon to be united."
The Fair Maid of Perth's complexion changed from red to pale, and frompale to red, as she hastily replied: "I think not of him; though it istrue some courtesies have passed betwixt us of
late, both as he is myfather's friend and as being according to the custom of the time, myValentine."
"Your Valentine, my child!" said Father Clement. "And can your modestyand prudence have trifled so much with the delicacy of your sex as toplace yourself in such a relation to such a man as this artificer? Thinkyou that this Valentine, a godly saint and Christian bishop, as he issaid to have been, ever countenanced a silly and unseemly custom, morelikely to have originated in the heathen worship of Flora or Venus,when mortals gave the names of deities to their passions; and studied toexcite instead of restraining them?"
"Father," said Catharine, in a tone of more displeasure than she hadever before assumed to the Carthusian, "I know not upon what ground youtax me thus severely for complying with a general practice, authorisedby universal custom and sanctioned by my father's authority. I cannotfeel it kind that you put such misconstruction upon me."
"Forgive me, daughter," answered the priest, mildly, "if I have givenyou offence. But this Henry Gow, or Smith, is a forward, licentiousman, to whom you cannot allow any uncommon degree of intimacyand encouragement, without exposing yourself to worsemisconstruction--unless, indeed, it be your purpose to wed him, and thatvery shortly."
"Say no more of it, my father," said Catharine. "You give me more painthan you would desire to do; and I may be provoked to answer otherwisethan as becomes me. Perhaps I have already had cause enough to makeme repent my compliance with an idle custom. At any rate, believe thatHenry Smith is nothing to me, and that even the idle intercourse arisingfrom St. Valentine's Day is utterly broken off."
"I am rejoiced to hear it, my daughter," replied the Carthusian, "andmust now prove you on another subject, which renders me most anxious onyour behalf. You cannot your self be ignorant of it, although I couldwish it were not necessary to speak of a thing so dangerous, even,before these surrounding rocks, cliffs, and stones. But it must be said.Catharine, you have a lover in the highest rank of Scotland's sons ofhonour?"
"I know it, father," answered Catharine, composedly. "I would it werenot so."
"So would I also," said the priest, "did I see in my daughter only thechild of folly, which most young women are at her age, especially ifpossessed of the fatal gift of beauty. But as thy charms, to speak thelanguage of an idle world, have attached to thee a lover of such highrank, so I know that thy virtue and wisdom will maintain the influenceover the Prince's mind which thy beauty hath acquired."
"Father," replied Catharine, "the Prince is a licentious gallant, whosenotice of me tends only to my disgrace and ruin. Can you, who seemedbut now afraid that I acted imprudently in entering into an ordinaryexchange of courtesies with one of my own rank, speak with patience ofthe sort of correspondence which the heir of Scotland dares to fixupon me? Know that it is but two nights since he, with a party of hisdebauched followers, would have carried me by force from my father'shouse, had I not been rescued by that same rash spirited Henry Smith,who, if he be too hasty in venturing on danger on slight occasion, isalways ready to venture his life in behalf of innocence or in resistanceof oppression. It is well my part to do him that justice."
"I should know something of that matter," said the monk, "since it wasmy voice that sent him to your assistance. I had seen the party as Ipassed your door, and was hastening to the civil power in order to raiseassistance, when I perceived a man's figure coming slowly towards me.Apprehensive it might be one of the ambuscade, I stepped behind thebuttresses of the chapel of St. John, and seeing from a nearer viewthat it was Henry Smith, I guessed which way he was bound, and raised myvoice, in an exhortation which made him double his speed."
"I am beholden to you, father," said Catharine; "but all this, and theDuke of Rothsay's own language to me, only show that the Prince is aprofligate young man, who will scruple no extremities which may promiseto gratify an idle passion, at whatever expense to its object. Hisemissary, Ramorny, has even had the insolence to tell me that my fathershall suffer for it if I dare to prefer being the wife of an honest manto becoming the loose paramour of a married prince. So I see no otherremedy than to take the veil, or run the risk of my own ruin and my poorfather's. Were there no other reason, the terror of these threats,from a man so notoriously capable of keeping his word, ought as much toprevent my becoming the bride of any worthy man as it should prohibit mefrom unlatching his door to admit murderers. Oh, good father, what a lotis mine! and how fatal am I likely to prove to my affectionate parent,and to any one with whom I might ally my unhappy fortunes!"
"Be yet of good cheer, my daughter," said the monk; "there is comfortfor thee even in this extremity of apparent distress. Ramorny is avillain, and abuses the ear of his patron. The Prince is unhappily adissipated and idle youth; but, unless my grey hairs have been strangelyimposed on, his character is beginning to alter. He hath been awakenedto Ramorny's baseness, and deeply regrets having followed his eviladvice. I believe, nay, I am well convinced, that his passion for youhas assumed a nobler and purer character, and that the lessons he hasheard from me on the corruptions of the church and of the times will, ifenforced from your lips, sink deeply into his heart, and perhaps producefruits for the world to wonder as well as rejoice at. Old prophecieshave said that Rome shall fall by the speech of a woman."
"These are dreams, father," said Catharine--"the visions of one whosethoughts are too much on better things to admit his thinking justlyupon the ordinary affairs of Perth. When we have looked long at the sun,everything else can only be seen indistinctly."
"Thou art over hasty, my daughter," said Clement, "and thou shalt beconvinced of it. The prospects which I am to open to thee were unfit tobe exposed to one of a less firm sense of virtue, or a more ambitioustemper. Perhaps it is not fit that, even to you, I should display them;but my confidence is strong in thy wisdom and thy principles. Know,then, that there is much chance that the Church of Rome will dissolvethe union which she has herself formed, and release the Duke of Rothsayfrom his marriage with Marjory Douglas."
Here he paused.
"And if the church hath power and will to do this," replied the maiden,"what influence can the divorce of the Duke from his wife produce on thefortunes of Catharine Glover?"
She looked at the priest anxiously as she spoke, and he had someapparent difficulty in framing his reply, for he looked on the groundwhile he answered her.
"What did beauty do for Catharine Logie? Unless our fathers have told usfalsely, it raised her to share the throne of David Bruce."
"Did she live happy or die regretted, good father?" asked Catharine, inthe same calm and steady tone.
"She formed her alliance from temporal, and perhaps criminal, ambition,"replied Father Clement; "and she found her reward in vanity and vexationof spirit. But had she wedded with the purpose that the believing wifeshould convert the unbelieving, or confirm the doubting, husband, whatthen had been her reward? Love and honour upon earth, and an inheritancein Heaven with Queen Margaret and those heroines who have been thenursing mothers of the church."
Hitherto Catharine had sat upon a stone beside the priest's feet, andlooked up to him as she spoke or listened; but now, as if animatedby calm, yet settled, feelings of disapprobation, she rose up, and,extending her hand towards the monk as she spoke, addressed him witha countenance and voice which might have become a cherub, pitying,and even as much as possible sparing, the feelings of the mortal whoseerrors he is commissioned to rebuke.
"And is it even so?" she said, "and can so much of the wishes, hopes,and prejudices of this vile world affect him who may be called tomorrowto lay down his life for opposing the corruptions of a wicked age andbacksliding priesthood? Can it be the severely virtuous Father Clementwho advises his child to aim at, or even to think of, the possession ofa throne and a bed which cannot become vacant but by an act of cryinginjustice to the present possessor? Can it be the wise reformer ofthe church who wishes to rest a scheme, in itself so unjust, upona foundation so precarious? Since when is it, good father, that theprincipal libertine has altered his mo
rals so much, to be likely tocourt in honourable fashion the daughter of a Perth artisan? Two daysmust have wrought this change; for only that space has passed since hewas breaking into my father's house at midnight, with worse mischief inhis mind than that of a common robber. And think you that, if Rothsay'sheart could dictate so mean a match, he could achieve such a purposewithout endangering both his succession and his life, assailed by theDouglas and March at the same time, for what they must receive as an actof injury and insult to both their houses? Oh! Father Clement, wherewas your principle, where your prudence, when they suffered you tobe bewildered by so strange a dream, and placed the meanest of yourdisciples in the right thus to reproach you?"
The old man's eyes filled with tears, as Catharine, visibly andpainfully affected by what she had said, became at length silent.
"By the mouths of babes and sucklings," he said, "hath He rebuked thosewho would seem wise in their generation. I thank Heaven, that hathtaught me better thoughts than my own vanity suggested, through themedium of so kind a monitress. Yes, Catharine, I must not hereafterwonder or exclaim when I see those whom I have hitherto judged tooharshly struggling for temporal power, and holding all the while thelanguage of religious zeal. I thank thee, daughter, for thy salutaryadmonition, and I thank Heaven that sent it by thy lips, rather thanthose of a stern reprover."
Catharine had raised her head to reply, and bid the old man, whosehumiliation gave her pain, be comforted, when her eyes were arrestedby an object close at hand. Among the crags and cliffs which surroundedthis place of seclusion, there were two which stood in such closecontiguity, that they seemed to have been portions of the same rock,which, rendered by lightning or by an earthquake, now exhibited a chasmof about four feet in breadth, betwixt the masses of stone. Into thischasm an oak tree had thrust itself, in one of the fantastic frolicswhich vegetation often exhibits in such situations. The tree, stuntedand ill fed, had sent its roots along the face of the rock in alldirections to seek for supplies, and they lay like military lines ofcommunication, contorted, twisted, and knotted like the immense snakesof the Indian archipelago. As Catharine's look fell upon the curiouscomplication of knotty branches and twisted roots, she was suddenlysensible that two large eyes were visible among them, fixed and glaringat her, like those of a wild animal in ambush. She started, and, withoutspeaking, pointed out the object to her companion, and looking herselfwith more strict attention, could at length trace out the bushy redhair and shaggy beard, which had hitherto been concealed by the droopingbranches and twisted roots of the tree.
When he saw himself discovered, the Highlander, for such he proved,stepped forth from his lurking place, and, stalking forward, displayeda colossal person, clothed in a purple, red, and green checked plaid,under which he wore a jacket of bull's hide. His bow and arrows were athis back, his head was bare, and a large quantity of tangled locks, likethe glibbs of the Irish, served to cover the head, and supplied all thepurposes of a bonnet. His belt bore a sword and dagger, and he had inhis hand a Danish pole axe, more recently called a Lochaber axe. Throughthe same rude portal advanced, one by one, four men more, of similarsize, and dressed and armed in the same manner.
Catharine was too much accustomed to the appearance of the inhabitantsof the mountains so near to Perth to permit herself to be alarmed, asanother Lowland maiden might have been on the same occasion. She sawwith tolerable composure these gigantic forms arrange themselves in asemicircle around and in front of the monk and herself, all bending uponthem in silence their large fixed eyes, expressing, as far as she couldjudge, a wild admiration of her beauty. She inclined her head to them,and uttered imperfectly the usual words of a Highland salutation. Theelder and leader of the party returned the greeting, and then againremained silent and motionless. The monk told his beads; and evenCatharine began to have strange fears for her personal safety, andanxiety to know whether they were to consider themselves at personalfreedom. She resolved to make the experiment, and moved forward as ifto descend the hill; but when she attempted to pass the line ofHighlanders, they extended their poleaxes betwixt each other, so aseffectually to occupy each opening through which she could have passed.
Somewhat disconcerted, yet not dismayed, for she could not conceive thatany evil was intended, she sat down upon one of the scattered fragmentsof rock, and bade the monk, standing by her side, be of good courage.
"If I fear," said Father Clement, "it is not for myself; for whether Ibe brained with the axes of these wild men, like an ox when, worn outby labour, he is condemned to the slaughter, or whether I am bound withtheir bowstrings, and delivered over to those who will take my life withmore cruel ceremony, it can but little concern me, if they suffer thee,dearest daughter, to escape uninjured."
"We have neither of us," replied the Maiden of Perth, "any cause forapprehending evil; and here comes Conachar to assure us of it."
Yet, as she spoke, she almost doubted her own eyes; so altered werethe manner and attire of the handsome, stately, and almost splendidlydressed youth who, springing like a roebuck from a cliff of considerableheight, lighted just in front of her. His dress was of the same tartanworn by those who had first made their appearance, but closed at thethroat and elbows with a necklace and armlets of gold. The hauberk whichhe wore over his person was of steel, but so clearly burnished that itshone like silver. His arms were profusely ornamented, and his bonnet,besides the eagle's feather marking the quality of chief, was adornedwith a chain of gold, wrapt several times around it, and secured by alarge clasp, glistening with pearls. His brooch, by which the tartanmantle, or plaid, as it is now called, was secured on the shoulder, wasalso of gold, large and curiously carved. He bore no weapon in his hand,excepting a small sapling stick with a hooked head. His whole appearanceand gait, which used formerly to denote a sullen feeling of consciousdegradation, was now bold, forward, and haughty; and he stood beforeCatharine with smiling confidence, as if fully conscious of his improvedappearance, and waiting till she should recognise him.
"Conachar," said Catharine, desirous to break this state of suspense,"are these your father's men?"
"No, fair Catharine," answered the young man. "Conachar is no more,unless in regard to the wrongs he has sustained, and the vengeancewhich they demand. I am Ian Eachin MacIan, son to the chief of the ClanQuhele. I have moulted my feathers, as you see, when I changed my name.And for these men, they are not my father's followers, but mine. Yousee only one half of them collected: they form a band consisting of myfoster father and eight sons, who are my bodyguard, and the children ofmy belt, who breathe but to do my will. But Conachar," he added, in asofter tone of voice, "lives again so soon as Catharine desires to seehim; and while he is the young chief of the Clan Quhele to all others,he is to her as humble and obedient as when he was Simon Glover'sapprentice. See, here is the stick I had from you when we nuttedtogether in the sunny braes of Lednoch, when autumn was young in theyear that is gone. I would not exchange it, Catharine, for the truncheonof my tribe."
While Eachin thus spoke, Catharine began to doubt in her own mindwhether she had acted prudently in requesting the assistance of a boldyoung man, elated, doubtless, by his sudden elevation from a state ofservitude to one which she was aware gave him extensive authority over avery lawless body of adherents.
"You do not fear me, fair Catharine?" said the young chief, taking herhand. "I suffered my people to appear before you for a few minutes,that I might see how you could endure their presence; and methinks youregarded them as if you were born to be a chieftain's wife."
"I have no reason to fear wrong from Highlanders," said Catharine,firmly; "especially as I thought Conachar was with them. Conachar hasdrunk of our cup and eaten of our bread; and my father has often hadtraffic with Highlanders, and never was there wrong or quarrel betwixthim and them."
"No?" replied Hector, for such is the Saxon equivalent for Eachin,"what! never when he took the part of the Gow Chrom (the bandy leggedsmith) against Eachin MacIan? Say nothing to excuse it, and believe itwill be
your own fault if I ever again allude to it. But you had somecommand to lay upon me; speak, and you shall be obeyed."
Catharine hastened to reply; for there was something in the youngchief's manner and language which made her desire to shorten theinterview.
"Eachin," she said, "since Conachar is no longer your name, you oughtto be sensible that in claiming, as I honestly might, a service from myequal, I little thought that I was addressing a person of such superiorpower and consequence. You, as well as I, have been obliged to thereligious instruction of this good man. He is now in great danger:wicked men have accused him with false charges, and he is desirous toremain in safety and concealment till the storm shall pass away."
"Ha! the good clerk Clement! Ay, the worthy clerk did much for me, andmore than my rugged temper was capable to profit by. I will be glad tosee any one in the town of Perth persecute one who hath taken hold ofMacIan's mantle!"
"It may not be safe to trust too much to that," said Catharine. "Inothing doubt the power of your tribe; but when the Black Douglas takesup a feud, he is not to be scared by the shaking of a Highland plaid."
The Highlander disguised his displeasure at this speech with a forcedlaugh.
"The sparrow," he said, "that is next the eye seems larger than theeagle that is perched on Bengoile. You fear the Douglasses most, becausethey sit next to you. But be it as you will. You will not believe howwide our hills, and vales, and forests extend beyond the dusky barrierof yonder mountains, and you think all the world lies on the banks ofthe Tay. But this good clerk shall see hills that could hide him wereall the Douglasses on his quest--ay, and he shall see men enough alsoto make them glad to get once more southward of the Grampians. Andwherefore should you not go with the good man? I will send a party tobring him in safety from Perth, and we will set up the old trade beyondLoch Tay--only no more cutting out of gloves for me. I will find yourfather in hides, but I will not cut them, save when they are on thecreatures' backs."
"My father will come one day and see your housekeeping, Conachar--Imean, Hector. But times must be quieter, for there is feud between thetownspeople and the followers of the noblemen, and there is speech ofwar about to break out in the Highlands."
"Yes, by Our Lady, Catharine! and were it not for that same Highlandwar, you should nor thus put off your Highland visit, my prettymistress. But the race of the hills are no longer to be divided into twonations. They will fight like men for the supremacy, and he who gets itwill deal with the King of Scotland as an equal, not as a superior. Praythat the victory may fall to MacIan, my pious St. Catharine, for thoushalt pray for one who loves thee dearly."
"I will pray for the right," said Catharine; "or rather, I will praythat there be peace on all sides. Farewell, kind and excellent FatherClement. Believe I shall never forget thy lessons; remember me in thyprayers. But how wilt thou be able to sustain a journey so toilsome?"
"They shall carry him if need be," said Hector, "if we go far withoutfinding a horse for him. But you, Catharine--it is far from hence toPerth. Let me attend you thither as I was wont."
"If you were as you were wont, I would not refuse your escort. But goldbrooches and bracelets are perilous company, when the Liddesdale andAnnandale lancers are riding as throng upon the highway as the leavesat Hallowmass; and there is no safe meeting betwixt Highland tartans andsteel jackets."
She hazarded this remark, as she somewhat suspected that, in casting hisslough, young Eachin had not entirely surmounted the habits which he hadacquired in his humbler state, and that, though he might use bold words,he would not be rash enough to brave the odds of numbers, to which adescent into the vicinity of the city would be likely to expose him. Itappeared that she judged correctly; for, after a farewell, in which shecompounded for the immunity of her lips by permitting him to kiss herhand, she returned towards Perth, and could obtain at times, whenshe looked back, an occasional glance of the Highlanders, as, windingthrough the most concealed and impracticable paths, they bent their waytowards the North.
She felt in part relieved from her immediate anxiety, as the distanceincreased betwixt her and these men, whose actions were only directed bythe will of their chief, and whose chief was a giddy and impetuous boy.She apprehended no insult on her return to Perth from the soldiery ofany party whom she might meet; for the rules of chivalry were in thosedays a surer protection to a maiden of decent appearance than an escortof armed men, whose cognizance might not be acknowledged as friendlyby any other party whom they might chance to encounter. But more remotedangers pressed on her apprehension. The pursuit of the licentiousPrince was rendered formidable by threats which his unprincipledcounsellor, Ramorny, had not shunned to utter against her father, if shepersevered in her coyness. These menaces, in such an age, and from sucha character, were deep grounds for alarm; nor could she consider thepretensions to her favour which Conachar had scarce repressed during hisstate of servitude, and seemed now to avow boldly, as less fraught withevil, since there had been repeated incursions of the Highlanders intothe very town of Perth, and citizens had, on more occasions than one,been made prisoners and carried off from their own houses, or had fallenby the claymore in the very streets of their city. She feared, too, herfather's importunity on behalf of the smith, of whose conduct on St.Valentine's Day unworthy reports had reached her; and whose suit, hadhe stood clear in her good opinion, she dared not listen to, whileRamorny's threats of revenge upon her father rung on her ear. Shethought on these various dangers with the deepest apprehension, and anearnest desire to escape from them and herself, by taking refuge in thecloister; but saw no possibility of obtaining her father's consent tothe only course from which she expected peace and protection.
In the course of these reflections, we cannot discover that she verydistinctly regretted that her perils attended her because she was theFair Maid of Perth. This was one point which marked that she was notyet altogether an angel; and perhaps it was another that, in despite ofHenry Smith's real or supposed delinquencies, a sigh escaped from herbosom when she thought upon St. Valentine's dawn.