friends and
acquaintances fell; I could not but feel that the death of William
Baird, and so many of his kin, was a relief, indeed, to me. I have
strengthened my hold, as you see, but I should have been ever obliged
to remain on guard. The Bairds never forgive nor forget, and the manner
in which they were tricked out of their captives must have discomposed
them sorely, and rankled in their minds; and, sooner or later, they
would have tried to wipe out the memory in blood. I wonder that they
had not done it before Homildon, but doubtless they had other matters
in hand.

"Now I can live in peace; but I, too, have not forgotten the injuries I
have suffered at their hands, and should rejoice, greatly, did I hear
that their stronghold had been levelled to the ground."

"I hope that it will be long before our kings march against Scotland
again. The ill success of all our efforts should have taught them that,
do what they will, they will never conquer Scotland; and Henry is not
likely to court another failure, such as he met with two years since.
'Tis not like the wars with the Welsh. They are a different people,
speaking in a different language, while we and the lowland Scots are of
one blood and one language--scarce a noble in Scotland who is not of
Norman descent--and a quarrel between us seems, to me, almost as bad as
a civil war."

"I hope that all will come to think so, some day, Oswald; but as long
as the two kingdoms stand apart, with various interests and different
alliances, it will hardly be likely that there will be a permanent
peace between them."

"That is so," Oswald agreed. "'Tis the part that Scotland plays by her
alliance with France, and the aid she gives her by always choosing the
time when we are fighting there to fall upon us, that keeps the trouble
afoot. If Scotland would hold herself aloof from France, I see no
reason why we should interfere with her in any way."

"No good has ever come to us from such alliance. No French army has
ever gone to Scotland, to aid her when pressed by Englishmen. France
uses Scotland but as a cat's paw, with which to annoy and weaken
England."

"That may be so; but you must remember that France does aid Scotland,
when she keeps the main army of England busily occupied."

"Yes; but she does not fight England with that intent. She simply
fights to gain back the provinces she has lost, and is ready to make
peace when it suits, wholly regardless of the interest of Sco