The monastery; The abbot.

450 WAVERLEY NOVELS,
the tales of enchantment which he had read in romances realized in this
extraordinary girl? Could she transport herself from the walled and
guarded Castle of Lochleven, moated with its broad lake, (towards which
he cast back a look as if to ascertain it was still in existence,) and watched
with such scrupulous care as the safety of a nation demanded?-Could she
surmount all these obstacles, and make such careless and dangerous use of
her liberty, as to engage herself publicly in a quarrel in a village fair?
Roland was unable to determine whether the exertions which it must have
cost her to gain her freedom, or the use to which she had put it, rendered
her the most unaccountable creature.
Lost in these meditations, he kept his gaze fixed on the subject of them;
and in every casual motion, discovered, or thought he discovered, something which reminded him still more strongly of Catherine Seyton, It
occurred to him more than once, indeed, that he might be deceiving himself by exaggerating some casual likeness into absolute identity. But then
the meeting at the hostelrie of Saint Michael's returned to his mind, and it
seemed in the highest degree improbable, that, under such various circumstances, mere imagination should twice have found opportunity to play him
the self-same trick. This time, however, he determined to have his doubts
resolved, and for this purpose he sate during the rest of the play like a greyhound in the slip, ready to spring upon the hare the instant that she was
started. The damsel, whom he watched attentively lest she should escape
in the crowd when the spectacle was closed, sate as if perfectly unconscious
that she was observed. But the worthy Doctor marked the direction of his
eyes, and magnanimously suppressed his own inclination to become the
Theseus to this Hippolyta, in deference to the rights of hospitality, which
enjoined him to forbear interference with the pleasurable pursuits of his
young friend. He passed one or two formal gibes upon the fixed attention
which the page paid to the unknown, and upon his own jealousy; adding,
however, that if both were to be presented to the patient at once, he had
little doubt she would think the younger man the sounder prescription.
"I fear me," he added, "we shall have no news of the knave Auchtermuchty
for some time, since the vermin whom I sent after him seem to have proved
corbie-messengers. So you have an hour or two on your hands, Master
Page; and as the minstrels are beginning to strike up, now the play is
ended, why, an you incline for a dance, yonder is the green, and there sits
your partner — trust you will hold me perfect in my diagnostics, since I
see with half an eye what disease you are sick of, and have administered a
pleasing remedy.'Discernit sfapiens res (as Chambers hath it) quas confundi asellts."
The page hardly heard the end of the learned adage, or the charge which
the Chamberlain gave him to be within reach, in case of the wains arriving
suddenly, and sooner than expected-so eager he was at once to shalk
himself free of his learned associate, and to satisfy his curiosity regarding:
the unknown damsel. Yet in the haste with which he made towards her
he found time to reflect, that, in order to secure an opportunity of conversing with her in private, he must not alarm her at first accosting her.
He therefore composed his manner and gait, and advancing with becoming
self-confidence before three or four country-fellows who were intent on the
same design, but knew not so well how to put their request into shape, he
acquainted her that he, as the deputy of the venerable Chamberlain,
requested the honour of her hand as a partner.
"The venerable Chamberlain," said the damsel frankly, reaching the
page her hand, "does very well to exercise this part of his privilege by
deputy; and I suppose the laws of the revels leave me no choice but to
accept of his faithful delegate."
" Provided, fair damsel," said the page, "' his choice of a delegate is not
altogether distasteful to you."