The monastery; The abbot.

440 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
"I would,'" he said, "that my earnest wish, my most zealous prayer
could procure to your Grace any blessing or comfort, but especially that in
which alone blessing or comfort is, as easily as the slightest intimation of
your wish will remove me from your presence."
He was in the act of departing, when Mary said to him with much
courtesy, " Do me no injury in your thoughts, good sir; it may be, that if
my time here be protracted longer-as surely I hope it will not, trusting
that either my rebel subjects will repent of their disloyalty, or that my
faithful lieges will obtain the upper hand -but if my time be here: pro-,
tracted, it may be I shall have no displeasure in hearing one who seems so
reasonable and compassionate as yourself, and I may hazard your contempt
by endeavouring to recollect and repeat the reasons which schoolmen and
councils give for the faith that is in me, - although I fear that, God help
me! my Latin has deserted me with my other possessions. This must,
however, be for another day. Meanwhile, sir, let the Lady of Lochleven
employ my page as she lists -I will not afford suspicion by speaking a
word to him before he goes. Roland Grmeme, my friend, lose not an opportunity of amusing thyself- dance, sing, run, and leap - all may be done
merrily on the mainland; but he must have more than quicksilver in his
veins who would frolic here."
" Alas! madam," said the preacher, "to what is it you exhort the youth,
while time passes, and eternity summons? Can our salvation be insured
by idle mirth, or our good work wrought out without. fear and trembling?'"
"I cannot fear or tremble," replied the Queen; " to Mary Stewart such
emotions are unknown. But if weeping and sorrow on my part will atone
for the boy's enjoying an hour of boyish pleasure, be assured the penance
shall be duly paid."
"Nay, but, gracious lady," said the preacher, "in this you greatly err;
-our tears and our sorrows are all too little for our own faults and follies,
nor can we transfer them, as your church falsely teaches, to the benefit of
others."
"May, I pray you, sir," answered the Queen, "with as little offence as
such a prayer may import, to transfer yourself elsewhere? We are sick at
heart, and may not now be, disposed with farther controversy and thou,
Roland, take this little purse;" (then, turning to the divine, she said, showing its contents,) " Look, reverend sir, -it contains only these two or three
gold testoons, a coin which, though bearing my own poor features, I have
ever found more active against me than on my side, just as my subjects take
arms against me, with my own name for their summons and signal.-Take
this purse, that thou mayest want no means of amusement. Fail not-fail
not to bring me back news from Kinross; only let it be such as, without
suspicion or offence, may be told in the presence of this reverend gentleman,
or of the good Lady Lochleven herself."
The last hint was too irresistible to be withstood; and Henderson withdrew,
half mortified, half pleased, with his reception; for Mary, from long habit,
and the address which was natural to her, had learned, in an extraordinary
degree, the art of evading discourse which was disagreeable to her feelings
or prejudices, without affronting those by whom it was proffered.
Roland Grweme retired with the chaplain, at a signal from his lady; but
it did not escape him, that as he left the room, stepping backwards, and
making the deep obeisance due to royalty, Catherine Seyton held up her
slender forefinger, with a gesture which he alone could witness, and which
seemed to say, "Remember what has passed betwixt us."
The young page had now his last charge from the Lady of Lochleven.
"There are revels," she said, "this day at the village - my son's authority
is, as yet, unable to prevent these continued workings of the ancient leaven
of folly which the Romish priests have kneaded into the very souls of the
Scottish peasantry. I do not command thee to abstain from them -that