The monastery; The abbot.

436 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
DBut his place )f retirement was in the present case ill chosen, for he was
presently joined by Mr. Elias Henderson.
" I sought you, young man," said the preacher, "having to speak of something which concerns you nearly."
The page had no pretence for avoiding the conference which the chaplain
thus offered, though he felt that it might prove an embarrassing one.
"In teaching thee, as far as my feeble knowledge hath permitted, thy
duty towards (od," said the chaplain, "there are particulars of your duty
towards man, upon which I was unwilling long or much to insist. You are
here in the service of a lady, honourable as touching her birth, deserving
of all compassion as respects her misfortunes, and garnished with even but
too many of those outward'qualities which win men's regard and affection.
Have you ever considered your regard to this Lady Mary of Scotland, in its
true light and bearing?"
"I trust, reverend sir," replied Roland Graeme, "that I am well aware
of the duties a servant in my condition owes to his royal mistress, especially
in her lowly and distressed condition."
"True," answered the preacher; "but it is even that honest feeling which
may, in the Lady Mary's case, carry thee into great crime and treachery."
" How so, reverend sir?" replied the page; "I profess I understand you.
not."
"I speak to you not of the crimes of this ill-advised lady," said the
preacher; "they are not subjects for the ears of her sworn servant. But it
is enough to say, that this unhappy person hath rejected more offers of grace,
and more hopes of glory, than ever were held out to earthly princes; and
that she is now, her day of favour being passed, sequestered in this lonely
castle,foi the common weal of the people of Scotland, and it may be for the''benefit of her own soul."
"Reverend sir," said Roland, somewhat impatiently, "I am but too well
aware that my unfortunate mistress is imprisoned, since I have the misfortune to share in her restraint myself-of which, to speak sooth, I am heartily
weary."
"It is even of that which I am about to speak," said the chaplain, mildly
but, first, my good Roland, look forth on the pleasant prospect of yonder
cultivated plain. You see, where the smoke arises, yonder village standing
half hidden by the trees, and you know it to be the dwelling-place of peace
and industry. From space to space, each by the side of its own stream;
you see the gray towers of barons, with cottages interspersed; and you
know that they also, with their household, are now living in unity; the
lance hung upon the wall, and the sword resting in its sheath. You see;
too, more than one fair church, where the pure-waters of life are offered to
the thirsty, and where the hungry are refreshed with spiritual food.-What
would he deserve, who should bring fire and slaughter into so fair and happy
a scene -who should bare the swords of the gentry and turn them against
each other-who should give tower and cottage to the flames, and slake the
embers with the blood of the indwellers? What would he deserve who
should lift up again that ancient Dagon of Superstition, whom the worthies
of the time have beaten down, and who should once more make the churches
of God the high places of Baal?"
"You have limned a frightful picture, reverend sir," said Roland Groeme;
"yet I guess not whom you would charge with the purpose of effecting
a change so horrible."
"God forbid,' replied the preacher, "that' I should say to thee, Thou art
the man.- Yet beware, Roland Gra3me, that thou, in serving thy mistress,
hold fast the still higher service which thou owest to the peace of thy
country, and the prosperity of her inhabitants; else, Roland Grieme, thou
mayest be the very man upon whose head will fall the curses and assured
punishment due to such work. If thou art won by the song of these sirens