k at once growled to himself, 'One of
our haughty loons, brimful of _outre cuidance_; and yet how coolly he
bears it off. If he looks to find us his humble servants, he will find
himself mistaken, I trow.'

'Sir Patrick,' said Father Ninian, who was by this time close to him,
'let me present to you Sir James Stewart, a captive knight who is come to
collect his ransom. I fell in with him on the road, and as his road lay
with mine, I made bold to assure him of a welcome from your honoured
father and Lord Malcolm.'

Patrick's face cleared. It was no grace or beauty that he feared in any
stranger, but the sheer might and unright that their Regency enabled the
House of Albany to exercise over the orphans of the royal family, whose
head was absent; and a captive knight could be no mischievous person.
Still this might be only a specious pretence to impose on the chaplain,
and gain admittance to the castle; and Patrick was resolved to be well on
his guard, though he replied courteously to the graceful bow with which
the stranger greeted him, saying in a manly mellow voice and southern
accent, 'I have been bold enough to presume on the good father's offer of
hospitality, Sir.'

'You are welcome, Sir,' returned Patrick, taking the stranger's bridle
that he might dismount; 'my father and my cousin will gladly further on
his way a prisoner seeking freedom.'

'A captive may well be welcome, for the sake of one prisoner,' said his
father, who had in the meantime come forward, and extended his hand to
the knight, who took it, and uncovering his bright locks, respectfully
said, 'I am in the presence of the noble Tutor of Glenuskie.'

'Even so, Sir,' returned Sir David Drummond, who was, in fact, as his
nephew's guardian, usually known by this curious title; 'and you here see
my wards, the Lord Malcolm and Lady Lilias. Your knighthood will make
allowances for the lad, he is but home-bred.' For while Lilias with
stately grace responded to Sir James Stewart's courtly greeting, Malcolm
bashfully made an awkward bow, and seemed ready to shrink within himself,
as, indeed, the brutal jests of his rude cousins had made him dread and
hate the eye of a stranger; and while the knight was led forward to the
hall fire, he merely pressed up to the priest, and eagerly demanded under
his breath, 'Have you brought me the book?' but Father Ninian had only
time to nod, and sign that a volume was in his bosom, before old Sir
David called out, 'W