Part 25 (1/2)
The uncle and nephew were folded in each other's embrace. Lady Mar wept, and Wallace, unable to bear the remembrance which such a scene pressed upon his heart, turned away toward the battlements. Edwin murmured a short explanation in the ear of his uncle; and then rising from his arms, with his beautiful face glittering like an April day in tears, allowed his gay cousin Murray to buckle the royal spurs on his feet. The rite over, he kissed Lord Andrew's hand in token of acknowledgment; and called on Sir William Wallace to bless the new honors conferred on his knight.
Wallace turned toward Edwin, with a smile which partook more of heaven than of earth. ”Have we not performed our mutual promises?” said he; ”I brought you to the spot where you were to reveal your name, and you have declared it to me by the voice of glory! Come, then, my brother, let us leave your uncle awhile to seek his repose.”
As he spoke, he bowed to the countess; and Edwin joyfully receiving his arm, they walked together toward the eastern postern. Agitated with the delightful surprise of thus meeting his favorite sister's son (whom he had never seen since his infancy), and exhausted by the variety of his late emotions, the earl speedily acquiesced in a proposal for rest, and leaning on Lord Andrew, proceeded to the citadel.
The countess had other attractions: lingering at the side of the rough knight of Torthorald, she looked back, and when she saw the object of her gaze disappear through the gates, she sighed, and turning to her conductor, walked by him in silence till they joined her husband in the hall of the keep. Murray led the way into the apartments lately occupied by De Valence. They were furnished with all the luxury of a Southron n.o.bleman. Lady Mar cast her eyes around the splendid chamber, and seated herself on one of its tapestried couches. The earl, not marking whether it were silk or rushes, placed himself beside her.
Murray drew a stool toward them, while Kirkpatrick, tired of his gallant duty, abruptly took his leave.
”My dear Andrew,” said the earl, ”in the midst of this proud rejoicing there is yet a canker at my heart. Tell me, that when my beloved Helen disappeared in the tumult at Bothwell, she was under your protection?”
”She was,” replied Murray; ”and I thank the holy St. Fillan, she is now in the sanctuary of his church.”
Murray then recounted to his relieved uncle every event, from the moment of his withdrawing behind the arras, to that of his confiding the English soldier with the iron box to the care of the prior. Lord Mar sighed heavily when he spoke of that mysterious casket. ”Whatever it contained,” said he, ”it has drawn after it much evil and much good.
The domestic peace of Wallace was ruined by it; and the spirit which now restores Scotland to herself was raised by his wrongs.”
”But tell me,” added he, ”do you think my daughter safe, so near a garrison of the enemy?”
”Surely, my lord,” cried the countess, too well remembering the enthusiasm with which Helen had regarded even the unknown Wallace: ”surely you would not bring that tender child into a scene like this!
Rather send a messenger to convey her secretly to Thirlestan; at that distance she will be safe, and under the powerful protection of her grandfather.”
The earl acquiesced in her opinion; and saying he would consult with Wallace about the securest mode of travel for his daughter, again turned to Lord Andrew, to learn further of their late proceedings. But the countess, still uneasy, once more interrupted him.
”Alas! my lord, what would you do? His generous zeal will offer to go in person for your daughter. We know not what dangers he might then incur; and surely the champion of Scotland is not to be thrown into peril for any domestic concern! If you really feel the weight of the evils into which you have plunged Sir William Wallace, do not increase it, by even hinting to him the present subject of your anxiety.”
”My aunt is an oracle!” resumed Murray. ”Allow me to be the happy knight that is to bear the surrender of Dumbarton to my sweet cousin.
Prevail on Wallace to remain in this garrison till I return; and then full tilt for the walls of old Sterling, and the downfall of Hughie Cressingham!”
Both the countess and the earl were pleased with this arrangement. The latter, by the persuasions of his nephew, retired into an inner chamber to repose; and the former desired Lord Andrew to inform Wallace that she should expect to be honored with his presence at noon, to partake of such fare as the garrison afforded.
On Murray's coming from the citadel, he learned that Wallace was gone toward the great tower. He followed him thither; and on issuing from the postern which led to that part of the rock, saw the chief standing, with his helmet off, in the midst of the slain.
”This is a sorry sight!” said he to Murray, as he approached; ”but it shall not long lie thus exposed. I have just ordered that these sad wrecks of human strife may be lowered into the Clyde; its rus.h.i.+ng stream will soon carry them to a quiet grave beneath yon peaceful sea.”
His own dead, amounting to no more than fifteen, were to be buried at the foot of the rock, a prisoner in the castle having described steps in the cliff by which the solemnity could easily be performed.
”But why, my dear commander,” cried Lord Andrew, ”why do you take any thought about our enemies? Leave them where they are, and the eagles of our mountains will soon find them graves.”
”For shame, Murray!” was the reply of Wallace; ”they are dead, and our enemies no more. They are men like ourselves, and shall we deny them a place in that earth whence we all sprung? We war not with human nature; are we not rather the a.s.serters of her rights?”
”I know,” replied Lord Andrew, blus.h.i.+ng, ”that I am often the a.s.serter of my own folly; and I do not know how you will forgive my inconsiderate impertinence.”
”Because it was inconsiderate,” replied Wallace. ”Inhumanity is too stern a guest to live in such a breast as yours.”
”If I ever give her quarters,” replied Murray, ”I should most wofully disgrace the companion she must meet there. Next to the honor of fair Scotland, my cousin Helen is the G.o.ddess of my idolatry; and she would forswear my love and kindred, could she believe me capable of feeling otherwise than in unison with Sir William Wallace.”
Wallace looked toward him with a benign pleasure in his countenance.
”Your fair cousin does me honor.”
”Ah! my n.o.ble friend,” cried Murray, lowering his gay tone to one of softer expression; ”if you knew all the goodness, all the n.o.bleness that dwells in her gentle heart, you would indeed esteem her--you would love her as I do.”