een a dangerous preparation for
the King as well as for himself; nor was there any pretext for giving the
wandering scholar an interview with her.

But harsh and strict as was the Duchess of Albany--a tall, raw-boned, red-
haired woman, daughter of the fierce old Earl of Lennox--and resolved as
she was to bend Lilias by persecution to accept her son, she could not
debar a young gentleman of the royal kindred, like James Kennedy, from
entering the apartment where the ladies of the family sat with their
needles; and the Regent, half from pity, half from shame, had refused to
permit Lilias Stewart's being treated as a mere captive.

Thus Malcolm remained in Kennedy's room in much anxiety, while his cousin
went forth to do his best in his cause, and after some hours returned to
him with the tidings that he had succeeded in letting Lily know that he
was in the Castle. Standing over her while she bent over her embroidery,
and thus concealing her trembling agitation, he had found it possible to
whisper in her ears the tidings of her brother having come to save her,
and of hearing her insist that Malcolm, 'wee Malcolm, must run no peril,
but that she would do and dare everything--nay, would prefer death itself
to Walter Stewart.'

'Have you any device in this matter?' demanded James Kennedy, when he had
thus spoken.

'Have you your college gown here?' inquired Malcolm.

'I have, in yon kist,' said Kennedy. 'Would you disguise her therein?
You and she are nearly of a height.'

'Ay,' said Malcolm. 'The plot I thought on is this--the worst is that
the risk rests with you.'

'That is naught, less than naught,' said Kennedy. 'I had risked myself
ten times over had I seen any hope for her in so doing.'

Malcolm then explained his plan, namely, that if Lilias could have
Kennedy's gown conveyed to her, she should array herself therein, and be
conducted out of the castle by her cousin by one gate, he himself in
secular garb going by another, and joining at some place of meeting,
whence, as a pair of brothers, Malcolm and she might gain the English
border.

James Kennedy considered, and then added that he could improve on the
plan. He had long intended leaving Doune for his brother's castle, but
only tarried in case he could do anything for Lilias. He would at supper
publicly announce to the Regent his departure for the next day, and also
say that he had detained his fellow-scholar to go within him. Then
arranging for M