The monastery; The abbot.

192 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
The faithful Tibb echoed her complaints, and, more violently clamorous,
made deep promises of revenge on Sir Piercie Shafton, "if there were a
man left in the south who could draw a whinger, or a woman that could
thraw a rape." The presence of the Sub-Prior imposed silence -on these
clamours. He sate down by the unfortunate mother, and essayed, by such
topics as his religion and reason suggested, to interrupt the current of
)ame Glendinning's feelings; but the attempt was in vain. She listened,
indeed, with some little interest, while he pledged his word and his influence with the Abbot, that the family which had lost their eldest-born by
means of a guest received at his command, should experience particular
protection at the hands of the community; and that the fief which belonged
to Simon Glendinning should, with extended bounds and added privileges,
be conferred on Edward.
But it was only for a very brief space that the mother's sobs were apparently softer, and her grief more mild. She soon blamed herself for casting
a moment's thought upon world's gear while poor Ilalbert was lying
stretched in his bloody shirt. The Sub-Prior was not more fortunate,
when he promised that Halbert's body "should be removed to hallowed
ground, and his soul secured by the prayers of the Church in his behalf.'
Grief would have its natural course, and the voice of the comforter was
wasted in vain.
b^li hr tl^e'urnt4-I ghtljt.
He is at liberty, I have ventured for him!
~_- ~ — _____ if the law
Find and condemn me for't, some living wenches,
Some honest-hearted maids will sing my dirge,
And tell to memor y dy eath was noble,
Dying almost a mlartyr.
THE Two NOBLE KINStMEN.
TiHE Sub-Prior of Saint Mary's, in taking his departure from the spence
lb which Sir Piercie Shafton was confined, and in which some preparations
were made for his passing the night as the room which might be most convenaItly guarded, left more than one perplexed person behind him. There
waz connected with this chamber, and opening into it, a small outshot,
or projecting part of the building, occupied by a sleeping apartment, which
upon ordinary occasions, was that of Mary Avenel, and which, in the unusual number of guests who had cometo the tower on the former evening,
had also accommodated Mysie Happer, the Miller's daughter; for anciently,
as well as in the present day, a Scottish house was always rather too narrow
and limited for the extent of the owner's hospitality, and some shift and
contrivance was necessary, upon any unusual occasion, to ensure the accommodation of all the guests.
The fatal news of Halbert Glendinning's death had thrown all former
arrangements into confusion. Mary Avenel, whose case required immediate attention, had been transported into the apartment hitherto occupied
by Halbert and his brother, as the latter proposed to watch all night, in
order to prevent the escape of the prisoner. Poor Mysie had been altogether
overlooked, and had naturally enough betaken herself to the little apartment
which she had hitherto occupied, ignorant that the spence, through which
lay the only access to it, was to be the sleeping chamber of Sir Piercie
Shafton. The measures taken for securing him there had been so sudden,