The monastery; The abbot.

262 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
pleasure. This would not have answered the views of the Earls, who were
contented, for the time, with a moderate sacrifice of money and lands.
Matters being so far settled, the Abbot became anxious for the fate of Sir
Piercie Shafton, and implored mercy in his behalf.
"He is a coxcomb." he said, " my lords, but he is a generous, though a
vain fool; and it is my firm belief you have this day done him more pain
than if you had run a poniard into him."
"Run a needle into him you mean, Abbot," said the Earl of Morton;
"by mine honour, I thought this grandson of a fashioner of doublets was
descended from a crowned head at least!"
"I hold with the Abbot," said Murray; "there were little honour in
surrendering him to Elizabeth, but he shall be sent where he can do her no
injury. Our pursuivant and Bolton shall escort him to Dunbar, and ship
him off for Flanders. - But soft, here he comes, and leading a female, as I
think."
" Lords and others," said the English knight with great solemnity,
"make way for the Lady of Piercie Shafton - a secret which I listed not
to make known, till fate, which hath betrayed what I vainly strove to conceal, makes me less desirous to hide that which I now announce to you."
"It is Mysie Happer, the Miller's daughter, on my life!" said Tibb
Tacket, " I thought the pride of these Piercies would have a fa'."
"It is indeed the lovely Mysinda," said the knight, " whose merits
towards her devoted servant deserved higher rank than he had to bestow."
" I suspect, though," said Murray,'.' that we should not have heard of
the Miller's daughter being made a lady, had not the knight proved to be
the grandson of a tailor."
"My lord," said Piercie Shafton, "it is poor valour to strike him that
cannot smite again; and I hope you will consider what is due to a prisoner
by the law of arms, and say nothing more on this odious subject. When I
am once more mine own man, I will find a new road to dignity."
" Shape one, I presume," said the Earl of Morton.
"Nay, Douglas, you will drive him mad," said Murray; "besides, we
have other matter in hand-I must see Warden wed Glendinning with Mary
Avenel, and put him in possession of his wife's castle without delay. It
will be best done ere our forces leave these parts."
"And I," said the Miller, " have the like grist to grind; for I hope some
one of the good fathers will wed my wench with her gay bridegroom."
"It needs not," said Shafton; "the ceremonial hath been solemnly
performed."
" It will not be the worse of another bolting," said the Miller; " it is'always best to be sure, as I say when I chance to take multure twice from
the same meal-sack."
" Stave the miller off him," said Murray, " or he will worry him dead.
The Abbot, my lord, offers us the hospitality of the Convent; I move we
should repair hither, Sir Piercie and all of us. I must learn to know the
Maid of Avenel to-morrow I must act as her father - All Scotland shall
see how Murray can reward a faithful servant."
Mary Avenel and her lover avoided meeting the Abbot, and took up their
temporary abode in a house of the village, where next day their hands were
united by the Protestant preacher in presence of the two Earls. On the
same day Piercie Shafton and his bride departed, under an escort which was
to conduct him to the sea-side, and see him embark for the Low Countries.
Early on the following morning the bands of the Earls were under march
to the Castle of Avenel, to invest the young bridegroom with the property
of his wife, which was surrendered to them without opposition.
But not without those omens which seemed to mark every remarkable
event which befell the fated family, did Mary take possession of the ancient
castle of her forefathers. The same warlike, form which had appeared more;