The monastery; The abbot.

228 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
" Dame," said he, " I forgot to mention that your son Edward goes with
me to Saint Mary's, and will not return for two or three days."
"You'll be wishing to help him to recover his brother? May the saints
reward your kindness!"
The Sub-Prior returned the benediction which, in this instance, he had
not very well deserved, and he and Edward set forth on their route. They
were presently followed by Christie, who came up with his followers at
such a speedy pace, as intimated sufficiently that his wish to obtain spiritual
convoy through the glen, was extremely sincere. He had, however, othel
matters to stimulate his speed, for he was desirous to communicate to thi
Sub-Prior a message. from his master Julian, connected with the delivery
of the prisoner Warden; and having requested the Sub-Prior to ride with
him a few yards before Edward, and the troopers of his own party, he thus
addressed him, sometimes interrupting his discourse in a manner testifying
that his fear of supernatural beings was not altogether lulled to rest by his
confidence in the sanctity of his fellow-traveller.
"My master," said the rider, " deemed he had sent you an acceptable
gift in that old heretic preacher; but it seems, from the slight care you
have taken of him, that you make small account of the boon."
" Nay," said the Sub-Prior, "do not thus judge of it. The Community
must account highly of the service, and will reward it to thy master in
goodly fashion. But this man and I are old friends, and I trust to bring
him back from the paths of perdition."
" Nay," said the moss-trooper, " when I saw you shake hands at the beginning I counted that you would fight it all out in love and honour, and
that there would be no extreme dealings betwixt ye - however it is all one
to my master-Saint Mary! what call you yon, Sir Monk?"
" The branch of a willow streaming across the path betwixt us and the
sky."
" Beshrew me," said Christie, " if it looked not like a man's hand holding
a sword.-But touching my master, he, like a prudent man, hath kept himself aloof in these broken times, until he could see with precision what
footing he was to stand upon. Right tempting offers he hath had from the
Lords of Congregation, whom you call heretics; and at one time he was
minded, to be plain with you, to have taken their way-for he was assured
that the Lord James* was coming this road at the head of a round body of
ravalry. And accordingly Lord James did so far reckon upon him, that he
~sent this man Warden, or whatsoever be his name, to my master's protection, as an assured friend; and, moreover, with tidings that he himself was
marching hitherward at the head of a strong body of horse."
" Now, Our Lady forfend!" said the Sub-Prior.
"Amen!" answered Christie, in some trepidation, "did your reverence
see aught?"
" Nothing whatever," replied the monk; "it was thy tale which wrested
firom me that exclamation."
"And it was some cause," replied he of the Clinthill, " for if Lord James
should come hither, your IIalidome would smoke for it. But be of good
cheer-that expedition is ended before it was begun. The Baron of Avenel
had sure news that Lord James has been fain to march.westward with his
merry-men, to protect Lord Senmple against Cassilis and the Kennedies.
By my faith, it will cost. him a brush; for wot ye what they say of that
name,-'Twixt Wigton and the town of Ayr,
Portpatrick and the cruives of Cree,
No man need think for to bide there,
Unless he court Saint Kennedie.'"
"Then," said the Sub-Prior," the Lord James's purpose of coming south
* Lord James Stewart, afterwards the Regent Murray.