d to her William of Deloraine."

She then gives him the commission, well remembered by every reader, to
proceed on that night to Melrose Abbey to unclose the grave of Michael
{365} Scott, and to rifle it of the magical volume which was accessible
only on St. Michael's night, at the precise moment when the rays of the
moon should throw the reflexion of the red cross emblazoned in the eastern
oriel upon the wizard's monumental stone,--expecting that the possession of
this "Book of Might" would enable her to direct the destiny of her daughter
according to the dictates of her own imperious nature. "Dis aliter visum."
Fate and MICHAEL SCOTT had willed it otherwise. And here I must beg my
readers to take notice that this far-famed wizard, Michael Scott, although
dead and buried, is supposed still to exert his influence from the world of
spirits as the guardian genius of the house of Buccleuch; and he had been
beforehand with the Ladye of Branksome in providing Henry of Cranstoun with
one of his familiar spirits, in the shape of the Goblin Page, _by whose
agency alone_ (however unconscious the subordinate agent may be) a chain of
events is linked together which results in the union of the two lovers.
After this parenthesis I resume the thread of the narrative.

Deloraine rides to Melrose in the night, presents himself to the Monk of
St. Mary's aisle, opens the sepulchre of the wizard, and presumes to take

"From the cold hand the Mighty Book,"

in spite of the _ominous frown_ which darkened the countenance of the dead.
He remounts his steed and wends his way homeward

"As the dawn of day
Began to brighten Cheviot gray;"

while the aged monk, having performed the last duty allotted to him in his
earthly pilgrimage, retired to his cell and breathed his last in prayer and
penitence before the cross.

Ere Deloraine could reach his journey's end, he encounters a feudal foeman
in the person of Lord Cranstoun, attended by his Goblin Page, who is here
first introduced to the reader. A conflict takes place, and Deloraine being
struck down wounded and senseless, is left by his adversary to the charge
of this elf, who in stripping off his corslet espied the "Mighty Book."
With the curiosity of an imp he opens the iron-clasped volume by smearing
the cover with the blood of the knight, and reads ONE SPELL, _and one
alone, by permission_; for

"He had not read another spell,
When on his cheek a buffet fell,