than ever, took on her her queenly
dignity with all her wonted grace and graciousness.

She warmly embraced Lilias, hailing her as cousin, and auguring joyously
of the future from the sight of this first Stewart maiden whom she had
seen; and the next moment Patrick Drummond, hurrying forward, fell on his
knee before his lady, grasped, kissed, fondled her hand, and struggled
and stammered between his rejoicing over her liberation and despair that
he had no part in it.

'Yea,' said the King 'it was well-nigh a madman whom you sent home to me,
Malcolm. He was neither to have nor to hold; and what he would have had
me do, or have let him do, I'll not say, nor doth he know either. I must
hear your story ere I sleep, Malcolm.'

The King did not ask for it then: he would not brook the exposure of the
disunion and violence of Scotland to the English, especially the Percies;
and it was not till he could see Malcolm alone that he listened to his
history.

'Cousin,' he said, 'you have done both bravely and discreetly. Methinks
you have redeemed my pledge to your good guardian that in the south you
should be trained to true manhood; though I am free to own that 'twas not
under my charge that you had the best training. How is it to be,
Malcolm? Patrick tells me you saw the Lady of Light.'

'Ay, Sir, but neither her purpose nor mine is shaken. My lord, I believe
I see how best to serve God and yourself. If you will consent, I will
finish my first course at Oxford, and then offer myself for the
priesthood.'

'Not hide thyself in cloister or school--that is well!' exclaimed the
King.

'No, Sir. Methinks I could serve yonder rude people best if I were among
them as a priest.'

James considered, then said: 'I pledged myself not to withstand your
conscience, Malcolm; and though I grieve that the lady should be lost,
she has never wavered, and cannot be balked of her will. Godly and
learned priests will indeed be needed; and between you and James Kennedy,
when both are come to elder years, we may perchance lift our poor
Scottish Church to some clearer sense of what a church should be.
Meanwhile--' The King stopped and considered. 'Study in England! Ay!
You see, Malcolm, I must take my seat, and have the reins of my unruly
steed firm in my hand, ere I take cognizance of these offences. The
caitiff Walter--mansworn that he is--he shall abye it; but that can
scarce be as yet, and methinks it were not well that I entered