, brother Robin," replied
the flexible King. "To little purpose is it to command what I cannot
enforce; and, although I have the unhappiness to do so each day of
my life, it were needless to give such a very public example of royal
impotency before the crowds who may assemble to behold this spectacle.
Let these savage men, therefore, work their bloody will to the uttermost
upon each other: I will not attempt to forbid what I cannot prevent them
from executing. Heaven help this wretched country! I will to my oratory
and pray for her, since to aid her by hand and head is alike denied to
me. Father prior, I pray the support of your arm."

"Nay, but, brother," said Albany, "forgive me if I remind you that we
must hear the matter between the citizens of Perth and Ramorny, about
the death of a townsman--"

"True--true," said the monarch, reseating himself; "more violence--more
battle. Oh, Scotland! Scotland! if the best blood of thy bravest
children could enrich thy barren soil, what land on earth would excel
thee in fertility! When is it that a white hair is seen on the beard of
a Scottishman, unless he be some wretch like thy sovereign, protected
from murder by impotence, to witness the scenes of slaughter to which he
cannot put a period? Let them come in, delay them not. They are in haste
to kill, and, grudge each other each fresh breath of their Creator's
blessed air. The demon of strife and slaughter hath possessed the whole
land!"

As the mild prince threw himself back on his seat with an air of
impatience and anger not very usual with him, the door at the lower end
of the room was unclosed, and, advancing from the gallery into which
it led (where in perspective was seen a guard of the Bute men, or
Brandanes, under arms), came, in mournful procession, the widow of poor
Oliver, led by Sir Patrick Charteris, with as much respect as if she had
been a lady of the first rank. Behind them came two women of good, the
wives of magistrates of the city, both in mourning garments, one bearing
the infant and the other leading the elder child. The smith followed in
his best attire, and wearing over his buff coat a scarf of crape. Bailie
Craigdallie and a brother magistrate closed the melancholy procession,
exhibiting similar marks of mourning.

The good King's transitory passion was gone the instant he looked at
the pallid countenance of the sorrowing widow, and beheld the
unconsciousness of the innocent orphans who had sustaine