s will to a position of
responsibility.

The thirty spears of the Earl's guard, indeed, constituted the whole
military force within or about the Castle of Crichton.

"I am a lawyer, my lord, a plain lawyer," he said; "all Scots lawyers
are plain. And I must ask you to garrison my bit peel-tower of
Crichton in a manner more befitting your own greatness, and the honour
due to the ambassador of France, than a humble knight is able to do."

So Sholto was put into command of the court and battlements of the
castle, and posted and changed guard as though he had been at Thrieve,
while the Chancellor bustled about, affecting more the style of a rich
and comfortable burgess than that of a feudal baron.

"'Tis a snug bit hoose," he would say, dropping into the countryside
speech; "there's nocht fine within it from cellar to roof tree, save
only the provend and the jolly Malmsey. And though I be but a poor
eater myself, I love that my betters, who do me the honour of
sojourning within my gates, should have the wherewithal to be merry."

And it was even as he said, for the tables were weighted with
delicacies such as were never seen upon the boards of Thrieve or
Castle Douglas.

CHAPTER XXX

THE BOWER BY YON BURNSIDE

And ever as he gazed at her the Earl of Douglas grew more and more in
love with the Lady Sybilla. There was no covert side through which a
burn plunged downward from the steep side of Moorfoot, but they
wandered it alone together. Early and late they might have been met,
he with his face turned upon her, and she looking straight forward
with the same inscrutable calm. And all who saw left them alone as
they took their way to gather flowers like children, or, as it might
be, stood still and silent like a pair of lovers under the evening
star. For in these summer days and nights bloomed untiringly the brief
passion-flower of William Douglas's life.

Meanwhile Sholto gritted his teeth in impotent rage, but had nothing
to do save change guard and keep a wary eye upon the Chancellor, who
went about rubbing his hands and glancing sidelong as the copses
closed behind the Earl of Douglas and the Lady Sybilla. As for the
ambassador of France, he was, as was usual with him, much occupied in
his own chamber with his servants Poitou and Henriet, and save when
dinner was served in hall appeared little at the festivities.

Sholto wished at times for the presence of his father; but at others,
when he saw William