, who had to hand
over to the pursuivant, in the name of the princesses, a ring from
his own finger. Largesse he could not attempt, but the proud spirit of
himself and his train could not but be chafed at the expectant faces
of the crowd, and the intuitive certainty that 'Beggarly Scotch' was in
every disappointed mind.

And this was but a foretaste of what the two royal maidens' presence
would probably entail throughout the journey. His wife added to this
care uneasiness as to the deportment of her three maidens. Of Annis she
had not much fear, but she suspected Jean and Eleanor of being as wild
and untamed as hares, and she much doubted whether any counsels might
not offend their dignity, and drive them into some strange behaviour
that the good people of Berwick would never forget.

They rode in, however, very upright and stately, with an air of taking
possession of the place on their brother's behalf; and Jean bowed with a
certain haughty grace to the deputy-warden who came out to receive them,
Eleanor keeping her eye upon Jean and imitating her in everything. For
Eleanor, though sometimes the most eager, and most apt to commit herself
by hasty words and speeches, seemed now to be daunted by the strangeness
of all around, and to commit herself to the leading of her sister,
though so little her junior.

She was very silent all through the supper spread for them in the hall
of the castle, while Jean exchanged conversation with their host upon
Iceland hawks and wolf and deer hounds, as if she had been a young lady
keeping a splendid court all her life, instead of a poverty-stricken
prisoner in castle after castle.

'Jeanie,' whispered Eleanor, as they lay down on their bed together,
'didst mark the tall laddie that was about to seat himself at the high
table and frowned when the steward motioned him down?'

'What's that to me? An ill-nurtured carle,' said Jean; 'I marvel Sir
Patie brooks him in his meinie!'

Eleanor was a little in awe of Jeanie in this mood, and said no more,
but Annis, who slept on a pallet at their feet, heard all, and guessed
more as to the strange young squire.

Fain would she and Eleanor have discussed the situation, but Jean's blue
eyes glanced heedfully and defiantly at them, and, moreover, the young
gentleman in question, after that one error, effaced himself, and was
forgotten for the time in the novelty of the scenes around.

The sub-warden of Berwick, mindful of his charge to obviat