sing on her head, had he dared to have blessed, where his 'conduct had fixed a curse;-in unbroken silence he left the apartment. He repaired to the castle hall, whither Donald was again summoned to meet him. The youth came forth; his appearance more composed, and his strength renovated by the care which had been bestowed on him.-After a short and friendly conference, the Baron submitted it to his option, whether he would join the party then preparing to march, or whether he would prefer to await the event of that night's rencounter with Allanrod and his men, at the castle." Your late hardfaring," said Lord William, " has apparently rendered you unfit for the march; and were not this the case, consider what you have to dread should you be taken by Allanrod's party, and submitted to the tyranny of his chastisement;-all this you are risking, only to add to my strength one additional arm, of which I am not in in need, or I could increase my numbers to three hundred, with ease to myself. Donald thanked the Baron for his consideration, but was resolute in becoming the avenger of his own wrongs: "By this hand," he exclaimed, "must perish the murderer of my sister and my father." Lord William finding him earnest in his entreaties, yielded to his prayer; and an English soldier's garb was given to him, instead of the one which he now threw off; a sword was girt by his side, a pike put into his hand, and he was appointed to march by the side of Irwin.. "You are very young"" said Lord William, who was present at his equipment, and during that time more particularly observed his features than he had before done. "I have not yet seen quite twenty, summers," Donald replied. As his bonnet was exchanging for a cap corresponding with his English dress, Lord William again addressed him-" I have somewhere met with a countenance very much like your's, and did I not know it to be almost an impossibility, I should think that I had really seen you before." "It is not improbable, my Lord," replied Donald, "if you have travelled in Scotland; the scenery round Tiviotdale is much resorted to by strangers, and my poor father and I have often been their guides to its beauties." "I have been in Tiviotdale," returned the Baron, "but it is some years ago, and I do not recollect the particulars of my visit." The second bugle was now sounded, and every one dispersed, in order to be reddy at the signal for marching, which would very shortly be given. Meanwhile the evening bell tolled, and the usual guard of the castle was mounted on the ramparts. The third bugle then sounded, and the two parties having taken leave of each other, the massy gates were unlocked, the drawbridge was let down, and the cavalcade, cavalcade, headed by their chief, sallied forth. The country lay before them wrapt in the stillness of night; no warlike instruments gave notice of their march; all was secrecy and silence. CHAP. CHAP. II. What may this mean, That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel Making night hideous; and us fools of nature, So horribly to shake our disposition With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? HAMLET. FOR a length of time past, the fair Ro salind had allowed herself no air or exercise, but what she took in an evening on the eastern rampart of the castle, which led by an easy communication to the apartments appropriated to her use; from this spot she beheld the departure of her father, and his chosen men; she conti nued |