e with me this evening
as a private gentleman to Zion House?" Then I knew that he had
come from the Prince, and altho' much tossed in my mind as to what
was right to do, I consented, and ye will be astonished, Jean, to
hear what happened.

There was none present at my audience, and I contented myself with
bowing when I entered his presence, for your husband is not made
to kiss the hands of one king in the morning and of another in the
evening of the same day. The Prince, for so I may justly call him,
expected none otherwise, and, according to his custom--I have
often spoken of his silence--said at once, "My lord," for he knows
everything as is his wont, "it has happened as I prophesied, you
are on one side and I am on another, and you have been a faithful
servant to your master, as I told him you would be. If it had been
in your power, I had not come so easily to this place, for the
council you gave to the King has been told to me. All that man can
do, ye have done, and now you may, like other officers, take
service in the army under my command." Whereupon I told the Prince
that our house had never changed sides, and he would excuse me
setting the example. He seemed prepared for this answer, and then
he said, "You purpose, my lord, to return to Scotland, and I shall
not prevent you, but I ask that ye stir not up useless strife and
shed blood in vain, for the end is certain." I will not deny,
Jean, that I was moved by his words, for he is a strong man, and
has men of the same kind with him. So far I went as to say that
if duty did not compell me I would not trouble the land. More I
could not promise, and I reckon there is not much in that promise,
for I will never see the Prince of Orange made King of Scotland
with my sword in its sheath. If there be any other way out of it,
I have no wish to set every man's hand against his neighbour's in
Scotland. He bowed to me and I knew that the audience was over,
and when I left Zion House, my heart was sore that my King was not
as wise and resolute as this foreign Prince. The second sight has
been given to me to-day, and, dear heart, I see the shroud rising
till it reaches the face, but whose face I cannot see. What I have
to do, I cannot see either, but in a few days I shall be in
Edinburgh, with as many of my horse as I can bring. If peace be
consistent with honor then ye will see me soon in Dudhope for