The monastery; The abbot.

THE MONASTERY. 165
burn Plain and Netherby, as if thou hadst been born with a jack on thy
back, and a lance in thy hand.-What old carle hast thou with thee? —He
is not of the brotherhood of Saint Mary's -at least he has not the buist*
of these black cattle."
"He is a wayfaring man," said Halbert, "who has concerns with Julian
of Avenel. For myself, I intend to go to Edinburgh to see the court and
the Queen, and when I return hither we will talk of your proffer. Meantime, as thou hast often invited me to the castle, I crave hospitality there
to-night for myself and my companion."
" For thyself and welcome, young comrade," replied Christie; "but we
harbour no pilgrims, nor aught that looks like a pilgrim."
" So please you," said Warden, " I have letters of commendation to thy
master from a sure friend, whom he will right willingly oblige in higher
matters than in affording me a brief protection. -And I am no pilgrim,
but renounce the same, with all its superstitious observances."
He offered his letters to the horseman, who shook his head.
" These," he said, " are matters for my master, and it will be well if he
can read them himself; for me, sword and lance are my book and psalter,
and have been since I was twelve years old. But I will guide you to the
castle, and the Baron of Avenel will himself judge of your errand."
By this time the party had reached the causeway, along which Christie
advanced at a trot, intimating his presence to the warders within the castle
by a shrill and peculiar whistle. At this signal the farther drawbridge was
lowered. The horseman passed it, and disappeared under the gloomy portal
which was beyond it.
Glendinning and his companion advancing more leisurely along the rugged
causeway, stood at length under the same gateway, over which frowned, in
dark red freestone, the ancient armorial bearings of the house of Avenel,
which represented a female figure shrouded and muffled, which occupied
the whole field. The cause of their assuming so singular a device was
uncertain, but the figure was generally supposed to represent the mysterious
being called the White Lady of Avenel.t The sight of this mouldering
shield awakened in the mind of Halbert the strange circumstances which
had connected his fate with that of Mary Avenel, and with the doings of
the spiritual being who was attached to her house, and whom he saw here
represented in stone, as he had before seen her effigy upon the seal-ring of
Walter Avenel, which, with other trinkets formerly mentioned, had been
saved from pillage, and brought to Glendearg, when Mary's mother was
driven from her habitation.
"You sigh, my son," said the old man, observing the impression made on
his youthful companion's countenance, but mistaking the cause; "if you
fear to enter, we may yet return."
"That -can ye not," said Christie of the Clinthill, who emerged at that
instant from the side-door under the archway. "Look yonder, and choose
whether you will return skimming the water like a wild-duck, or winging
the air like a plover."
They looked, and saw that the drawbridge which they had just crossed
was again raised, and now interposed its planks betwixt the setting sun and
the portal of the castle, deepening the gloom of the arch under which they
stood. Christie laughed and bid them follow him, saying, by way of encouragement, in Halbert's ear, "Answer boldly and readily to whatever the
Baron asks you. Never stop to pick your words, and above all show no
fear of him-the devil is not so black as he is painted."
As he spoke thus, he introduced them into the large stone hall, at the
upper end-of which blazed a huge fire of wood. The long oaken table,
* Buist —The brand, or mark, set upon sheep or cattle, by their owners.
t There is an ancient English family, I believe, which bears, or did bear, a ghost or spirit passant sable im
a field argent.'lis seems to have been a device of a punning or canting herald.