your life for the value of
your gold earrings. Their whole soul is settled in their eyes to see
prey, and in their hands to grasp it. They have no ears either to hear
lays of music or listen to prayers for mercy. Besides, their leader's
order is gone forth concerning you, and it is of a kind sure to be
obeyed. Ay, great lords are sooner listened to if they say, 'Burn a
church,' than if they say, 'Build one.'"

"Then," said the glee woman, "I were best sit down and die."

"Do not say so," replied the smith. "If I could but get you a lodging
for the night, I would carry you the next morning to Our Lady's Stairs,
from whence the vessels go down the river for Dundee, and would put you
on board with some one bound that way, who should see you safely lodged
where you would have fair entertainment and kind usage."

"Good--excellent--generous man!" said the glee maiden, "do this, and
if the prayers and blessings of a poor unfortunate should ever reach
Heaven, they will rise thither in thy behalf. We will meet at yonder
postern door, at whatever time the boats take their departure."

"That is at six in the morning, when the day is but young."

"Away with you, then, to your Valentine; and if she loves you, oh,
deceive her not!"

"Alas, poor damsel! I fear it is deceit hath brought thee to this pass.
But I must not leave you thus unprovided. I must know where you are to
pass the night."

"Care not for that," replied Louise: "the heavens are clear--there are
bushes and boskets enough by the river side--Charlot and I can well make
a sleeping room of a green arbour for one night; and tomorrow will,
with your promised aid, see me out of reach of injury and wrong. Oh,
the night soon passes away when there is hope for tomorrow! Do you still
linger, with your Valentine waiting for you? Nay, I shall hold you but a
loitering lover, and you know what belongs to a minstrel's reproaches."

"I cannot leave you, damsel," answered the armourer, now completely
melted. "It were mere murder to suffer you to pass the night exposed to
the keenness of a Scottish blast in February. No--no, my word would be
ill kept in this manner; and if I should incur some risk of blame, it is
but just penance for thinking of thee, and using thee, more according to
my own prejudices, as I now well believe, than thy merits. Come with
me, damsel; thou shalt have a sure and honest lodging for the night,
whatsoever may be the consequence. It would be an evil compl