quick eyes soon detected more men-at-arms and with different
badges from the thyme spray of Drummond, and her brother was evidently
bursting with some communication, held back almost forcibly by the
Bishop, who had established a considerable influence over the impetuous
boy, while Sir Patrick maintained a wise and tedious political
conversation about the peace between France and England, which was to be
cemented by the marriage of the young King of England to the daughter of
King Rene and the cession of Anjou and Maine to her father.

'Solid dukedoms for a lassie!' cried young James. 'What a craven to make
such a bargain!'

'Scarce like his father's son,' returned Sir Patrick, 'who gat the bride
with a kingdom for her tocher that these folks have well-nigh lost among
them.'

'The saints be praised if they have.'

'I cannot forget, my liege, how your own sainted father loved and fought
for King Harry of Monmouth. Foe as he was, I own that I shall never look
on his like again.'

'I hold with you in that, Patie,' said Bishop Kennedy; 'and frown as
you may, my young liege, a few years with such as he would do more for
you--as it did with your blessed father--than ever we can.'

'I can hold mine own, I hope, without lessons from the enemy,' said
James, holding his head high, while his ruddy locks flew back, his eyes
glanced, and the red scar on his cheek widened. 'And is it true that you
are for going through false England, Patie?'

'I made friends there when I spent two years there with your Grace's
blessed father,' returned Sir Patrick, 'and so did my good wife. She
longs to see the lady who is now Sister Clare at St. Katharine's in
London, and it is well not to let her and Annis brook the long sea
voyage.'

'There, Jean! I'd brook ten sea voyages rather than hold myself beholden
to an Englishman!' quoth James.

'Nevertheless, there are letters and messages that it is well to confide
to so trusty and wise-headed a knight as Glenuskie,' returned the
Bishop.

The meal over, the silver bowls were carried round with water to wash
the hands by the two young Drummonds, sons of Glenuskie, and by the
King's pages, youths of about the same age, after which the Bishop and
Sir Patrick asked licence of the King to retire for consultation to
the Bishop's apartment, a permission which, as may well be believed, he
granted readily, only rejoicing that he was not wanted.

The little ones were carried off by Mary and Nurse Ank