The monastery; The abbot.

THE MONASTERY. 241
Warden, young man? is it not so?" Halbert answered in the affirmative.
"And he writes to us, it would seem, in some strait, and refers us to you
for the circumstances. Let us know, I pray you, how things stand with
him."
In some perturbation Halbert Glendinning gave an account of the circumstances which had accompanied the preacher's imprisonment. When he
came to the discussion of the handfasting engagement, he was struck with
the ominous and displeased expression of Murray's brows, and, contrary to
all prudential and politic rule, seeing something was wrong, yet not well
awarewhat that something was, had almost stopped short in his narrative.
" What ails the fool? said the Earl, drawing his dark-red eyebrows together, while the same dusky glow kindled on his brow-" Hast thou not
learned to tell a true tale without stammering?"
"So please you," answered Halbert, with considerable address, " I have
never before spoken in such a presence."
" He seems a modest youth, said Murray, turning to his next attendant,
" and yet one who in a good cause will neither fear friend nor foe. - Speak
on, friend, and speak freely."
Halbert then gave an account of the quarrel betwixt Julian Avenel and
the preacher, which the Earl, biting his lip the while, compelled himself to
listen to as a thing of indifference. At first he appeared even to take the
part of the Baron.
" Henry Warden," he sfif., " is too hot in his zeal. The law both of God
and man maketh allowance for certain alliances, though not strictly formal,
and the issue of such may succeed."
This general declaration he expressed, accompanying it with a glance
around upon the few followers who were present at this interview. The
most of them answered-" There is no contravening that;" but one or two
looked on the ground, and were silent. Murray then turned again to Glendinning, commanding him to say what next chanced, and not to omit any
particular. When he mentioned the manner in which Julian had cast from
him his concubine, Murray drew a deep breath, set his teeth hard, and laid
his hand on the hilt of his dagger. Casting his eyes once more around the
circle, which was now a.ugmented by one or two of the reformed preachers,
he seemed to devour his rage in silence, and again commanded Halbert to
proceed. When he came to describe how Warden had been dragged to a
dungeon, the Earl seemed to have found the point at which he might give
vent to his own resentment, secure of the sympathy and approbation of all
who were present. "Judge you," he said, looking to those around him,
"judge you, my peers, and noble gentlemen of Scotland, betwixt me and
this Julian Avenel —he hath broken his own word, and hath violated my
safe-conduct -and judge you also, my reverend brethren, he hath put his
hand forth upon a preacher of the gospel, and perchance may sell his blood
to the worshippers of Anti-Christ!"
"Let him die the death of a traitor," said the secular chiefs, "and let
his tongue be struck through with the hangman's fiery iron to avenge his
perjury!"
"Let him go down to his place with Baal's priests," said the preachers,
"and be his ashes cast into Tophet!"
Murray heard them with the smile of expected revenge; yet it is probable that the brutal treatment of the female, whose circumstances somewhat
resembled those of the Earl's own mother, had its share in the grim smile
which curled his sun-burnt cheek and its haughty lip. To Halbert Glendinning, when his narrative was finished, he spoke with great kindness.
"He is a bold and gallant youth," said he to those around, " and formed
of the stuff which becomes a bustling time. There are periods when men's
spirits shine bravely through them. I will know something more of him."
IIe questioned him more particularly concerning the Baron of Avenel's
VOL. V.-16 V