ime to
time, as if he almost regarded him as a relation. No doubt it would have
been absurd to fly from such chances as these to Patrick Drummond and the
opposite camp; and yet there were times when Malcolm felt as if he should
get rid of a load on his heart if he were to break with all his present
life, hurry to Patrick, confess the whole to him, and then--hide his head
in some hermitage, leaving his pledge unforfeited!

That, however, could not be. He was bound to the King, and might not
desert him, and it was not unpleasant to brood over the sacrifice of his
own displeasure.

'See,' said Henry, in the evening, as he came into the refectory and
walked up to James, 'I have found my signet. It was left in the finger
of my Spanish glove, which I had not worn since the beginning of winter.
Thanks to all who took vain pains to look for it.'

But Malcolm did not respond with his pleased look to the thanks. He was
not in charity with Henry, and crept out of hearing of him, while James
was saying, 'You had best destroy one or the other, or they will make
mischief. Here, I'll crush it with the pommel of my sword.'

'Ay,' said Henry, laughing, 'you'd like to shew off one of your sledge-
hammer blows--Sir Bras de Fer! But, Master Scot, you shall not smash the
English shield so easily. This one hangs too loose to be safe; I shall
keep it to serve me when we have fattened up at Paris, after the leanness
of our siege.'

'Hal,' said James, seeing his gay temper restored, 'you have grievously
hurt that springald of mine. His northern blood cannot away with the
taste he got of your fist.'

'Pretty well for your godly young monk, to expect to rob unchecked!'
laughed Henry.

'He will do well at last,' said James. 'Manhood has come on him with a
rush, and borne him off his feet; nor would I have him over-tame.'

'There spake the Scot!' said Henry. 'By my faith, Jamie, we should have
had you the worst robber of all had we not caught you young! Well, what
am I do for this sprig of royalty? Say I struck unawares? Nay, had I
known him, I'd have struck with as much of a will as his slight bones
would bear.'

'An you love me, Hal, do something to cool his ill blood, and remove the
sense of shame that sinks a lad in his own eyes.'

'Methought,' said Henry, 'there was more shame in the deed than in the
buffet.'

Nevertheless the good-natured King took an occasion of saying: 'My Lord
of Glenuskie, I smote without knowin