s
Douglas, with his daughter in his hand, as haughty and as harsh featured
as himself, bating touches of age."

"And at Falkland sits in solitude the fairest wench in Scotland," said
Ramorny. "Here is penance and restraint, yonder is joy and freedom."

"Thou hast prevailed, most sage counsellor," replied Rothsay; "but mark
you, it shall be the last of my frolics."

"I trust so," replied Ramorny; "for, when at liberty, you may make a
good accommodation with your royal father."

"I will write to him, Ramorny. Get the writing materials. No, I cannot
put my thoughts in words--do thou write."

"Your Royal Highness forgets," said Ramorny, pointing to his mutilated
arm.

"Ah! that cursed hand of yours. What can we do?"

"So please your Highness," answered his counsellor, "if you would use
the hand of the mediciner, Dwining--he writes like a clerk."

"Hath he a hint of the circumstances? Is he possessed of them?"

"Fully," said Ramorny; and, stepping to the window, he called Dwining
from the boat.

He entered the presence of the Prince of Scotland, creeping as if he
trode upon eggs, with downcast eyes, and a frame that seemed shrunk up
by a sense of awe produced by the occasion.

"There, fellow, are writing materials. I will make trial of you; thou
know'st the case--place my conduct to my father in a fair light."

Dwining sat down, and in a few minutes wrote a letter, which he handed
to Sir John Ramorny.

"Why, the devil has aided thee, Dwining," said the knight. "Listen, my
dear lord. 'Respected father and liege sovereign--Know that important
considerations induce me to take my departure from this your court,
purposing to make my abode at Falkland, both as the seat of my dearest
uncle Albany, with whom I know your Majesty would desire me to use all
familiarity, and as the residence of one from whom I have been too
long estranged, and with whom I haste to exchange vows of the closest
affection from henceforward.'"

The Duke of Rothsay and Ramorny laughed aloud; and the physician,
who had listened to his own scroll as if it were a sentence of death,
encouraged by their applause, raised his eyes, uttered faintly his
chuckling note of "He! he!" and was again grave and silent, as if afraid
he had transgressed the bounds of reverent respect.

"Admirable!" said the Prince--"admirable! The old man will apply
all this to the Duchess, as they call her, of Rothsay. Dwining, thou
shouldst be a secretis to his Holiness t