The monastery; The abbot.

THE ABBOT. 291
tress's favour, and petulant from youth and situation, was at all times
willing to pay. His bold and free demeanour, his attachment to rich dress
and decoration, his inaptitude to receive instruction, and his hardening
himself against rebuke, were circumstances which induced the good old
man, with more haste than charity, to set the forward page down as a vessel
of wrath, and to presage that the youth nursed that pride and haughtiness
of spirit which goes before ruin and destruction. On the other hand, Roland
evinced at times a marked dislike, and even something like contempt, of the
chaplain. Most of the attendants and followers of Sir Halbert Glendinning
entertained the same charitable thoughts as the reverend Mr. Warden; but
while Roland was favoured by their lady, and endured by their lord, they
saw no policy in making their opinions public.
Roland Grgeme was sufficiently sensible of the unpleasant situation in
which he stood; but in the haughtiness of his heart he retorted upon the
other domestics the distant, cold, and sarcastic manner in which they treated
him, assumed an air of superiority which compelled the most obstinate to
obedience, and had the satisfaction at least to be dreaded, if he was heartily
hated.
The chaplain's marked dislike had the effect of recommending him to the
attention of Sir Halbert's brother, Edward, who now, under the conventual
appellation of Father Ambrose, continued to be one of the few monks who,
with the Abbot Eustatius, had, notwithstanding the nearly total downfall
of their faith under the regency of Murray, been still permitted to linger in
the cloisters at Kennaquhair. Respect to Sir Halbert had prevented their
being altogether driven out of the Abbey, though their order was now in a
great measure suppressed, and they were interdicted the public exercise of
their ritual, and only allowed for their support a small pension out of their
once splendid revenues. Father Ambrose, thus situated, was an occasional,
though very rare visitant, at the Castle of Avenel, and was at such times
observed to pay particular attention to Roland Greeme, who seemed to return
it with more depth of feeling than consisted with his usual habits.
Thus situated, years glided on, during which the Knight of Avenel continued to act a frequent and important part in the convulsions of his distracted country; while young Groeme anticipated, both in wishes and personal accomplishments, the age which should enable him to emerge from
the obscurity of his present situation.
gaptfr t f narf[.
Anid their cups that freely flow'L
Their revelry and mirth,
A youthful lord tax'd Valentine
With base and doubtful birth.
VALENTINE AND ORSON.
WHEN Roland Grmeme was a youth about seventeen years of age, he
chanced one summer morning to descend to the mew in which Sir Halbert
Glendinning kept his hawks, in order to superintend the training of an eyas,
or young hawk, which he himself, at the imminent risk of neck and limbs,
had taken from the celebrated eyry in the neighborhood, called Gledscraig.
As he was by no means satisfied with the attention which had been bestowed
on his favourite bird, he was not slack in testifying his displeasure to the
falconer's lad, whose duty it was to have attended upon it.
"What, ho! sir knave," exclaimed Roland, " is it thus you feed the eyas