The monastery; The abbot.

TI-E ABBOT. 517
with these faithful and loyal men?- Call Fleming, however — I trust she
has not forgotten the little mail with my apparel-We must be as brave as
wFc can, mign6ne."
" Nay, madam, our good Lady Fleming was in no case to remember any
thing."
"You jest, Catherine," said the Queen, somewhat offended; "it is not in
her nature surely, to forget her duty so far as to leave us without a change
of apparel?"
"Roland Greeme, madam, took care of that," answered Catherine; "for
he threw the mail, with your highness's clothes and jewels, into the boat,
ere he ran back to lock the gate -I never saw so awkward a page as that
youth-the packet well-nigh fell on my head."
"He shall make thy heart amends, my girl," said Queen Mary, laughing,
"for that and all other offences given. But call Fleming, and let us put
ourselves into apparel to, meet our faithful lords."
Such had been the preparations, and such was the skill of Lady Fleming, that the Queen appeared before her assembled nobles in such attire as
became, though it could not enhance, her natural dignity. With the most
winning courtesy, she expressed to each individual her grateful thanks,
and dignified not only every noble, but many of the lesser barons by her
particular attention.
"And whither now, my lords?" she said; "what way do your counsels
determine for us?"
" To Draphane Castle," replied Lord Arbroath, "if your Majesty is so
pleased; and thence to Dunbarton, to place your Grace's person in safety,.
after which we long to prove if these traitors will abide us in the field."
"And when do we journey?"
"We propose," said Lord Seyton, "if your Grace's fatigue will permit,
to take horse after the morning's meal."
" Your pleasure, my Lords, is mine," replied the Queen; "we will rule our
journey by your wisdom now, and hope hereafter to have the advantage of
governing by it our kingdom.-You will permit my ladies and me, my good
lords, to break our fasts along with you — We must be half soldiers ourselves, and set state apart."
Low bowed many a helmeted head at this gracious proffer, when the Queen,
glancing her eyes through the assembled leaders, missed both Douglas and
Roland Graeme, and inquired for them in a whisper to Catherine Seyton.
"They are in yonder oratory, madam, sad enough," replied Catherine;
and the Queen observed that her favourite's eyes were red with weeping.
" This must not be," said the Queen. "Keep the company amused - I
will seek them, and introduce them myself."
She went into the oratory, where the first she met was George Douglas,
standing, or rather reclining, in the recess of a window, his back rested
against the wall, and his arms folded on his breast. At the sight of the
Queen he started, and his countenance showed, for an instant, an expression
of intense delight, which was instantly exchanged for his usual deep melancholy.
"What means this?" she said; " Douglas, why does the first deviser and
bold executor of the happy scheme for our freedom, shun the company of
his fellow-nobles, and of the Sovereign whom he has obliged?"
" Madam," replied Douglas, " those whom you grace with your presence
bring followers to aid your cause, wealth to support your state, - can offer
you halls in which to feast, and impregnable castles for your defence. I
am a houseless and landless man- disinherited by my mother, and laid
under her malediction -disowned by my name and kindred-who bring
nothing to your standard but a single sword, and the poor life of its owner."
"Do you mean to upbraid me, Douglas," replied the Queen, " by showing
what you have lost for my sake?"
2T