The monastery; The abbot.

THE ABBOT. 281
"You have unmed," she said, "the only circumstance which can move
me. I must soon onward, the vision has said it —I must not tarry in the
same spot — I must on, -I must on, it is my weird. - Swear, then, that
you will protect the boy as if he were your own, until I return hither and
claim him, and I will consent for a space to part with him. But especially
swear, he shall not lack the instruction of the godly man who hath placed
the gospel-truth high above those idolatrous shavelings, the monks and
friars."
"Be satisfied, dame," said the Lady of Avenel; "the boy shall have as
much care as if he were born of my own blood. Will you see him now?"
"No," answered the old woman sternly; " to part is enough. I go forth
on my own mission. I will not soften my heart by useless tears and wailings, as one that is not called to a duty."
" Will you not accept of something to aid you in your pilgrimage?" said
the Lady of Avenel, putting into her hands two crowns of the sun.. The
old woman flung them down on the table.
" Am I of the race of Cain," she said, " proud Lady, that you offer me
gold in exchange for my own flesh and blood?"
" I had no such meaning," said the Lady, gently; " nor am I the proud
woman you term me. Alas! my own fortunes might have taught me
humility, even had it not been born with me."
The old woman seemed somewhat to relax her tone of severity.
"You are of gentle blood," she said, "else we had not parleyed thus
long together. You are of gentle blood, and to such," she added, drawing
up her tall form as she spoke, "pride is as graceful as is the plume upon
the bonnet. But for these pieces of gold, lady, you must needs resume them.
I need not money. I am well provided; and I may not care for myself,
nor think how, or by whom, I shall be sustained. Farewell, and keep
your word. Cause your gates to be opened, and your bridges to'be lowered.
I will set forward this very night. When I come again, I will demand from
you a strict account, for I have left with you the jewel of my life! Sleep
will visit me but in snatches, food will not refresh me, rest will not restore
my strength, until I see Roland Grmeme. Once more, farewell."
"Make your obeisance, dame," said Lilias to Magdalen Grmeme, as she
retired, " make your obeisance to her ladyship, and thank her for her goodness, as is but fitting and right."
The old woman turned short around on the officious waiting-maid. " Let
her make her obeisance to me then, and I will return it. Why should I
bend to her? -is it because her kirtle is of silk, and mine of blue lockeram?-Go to, my lady's waiting-woman. Know that the rank of the man
rates that of the wife, and that she who marries a churl's son, were she a
king's daughter, is but a peasant's bride."
Lilias was about to reply in great indignation, but her mistress imposed
silence on her, and commanded that the old woman should be safely conducted to the mainland.
"Conduct her safe!" exclaimed the incensed waiting-woman, while Magdalen Graeme left the apartment; "I say, duck her in the loch, and then
we will see whether she is witch or not, as every body in the village of
Lochside will say and swear. I marvel your ladyship could bear so long
with her insolence." But the commands of the Lady were obeyed, and the
old dame, dismissed from the castle, was committed to her fortune. She
kept her word, and did not long abide in that place, leaving the hamlet on
the very night succeeding the interview, and wandering no one asked
whither. The Lady of Avenel inquired under what circumstances she had
appeared among them, but could only learn that she was believed to be
the widow of some man of consequence among the Grmmes who then
inhabited the Debateable Land, a name given to a certain portion of territory which was the frequent subject of dispute betwixt Scotland and EngY2