r sent to find us and bring us home," went on the little girl. "It
is three months since we met that horrible old woman in the woods
above Thrieve Island, and believed her when she told us that the Earl
had instant need of us--and that Sholto MacKim was with him."

"None saw us taken away. Margaret," said the elder, "and perhaps, who
knows, they may never have found any of the pieces of flower garlands
I threw down before they put us in the boats from the beach of
Cassencary."

But the eyes of the little Maid of Galloway were now fixed upon
something in the green courtyard below.

"Maud, Maud, come hither quickly!" she whispered; "if yonder be not
Laurence MacKim talking to the singing lads and dressed like
them--why, then, I do not know Laurie MacKim!"

Maud came quickly now. Her face and neck blushed suddenly crimson with
the springing of hope in her heart.

She looked down, and there, far below them indeed, but yet distinct
enough, they saw Laurence daring Blaise Renouf to single combat and
vaunting his Irish prowess, as we have already seen him do. Maud
Lindesay caught her companion's hand as she looked.

"They have found us," she whispered; "at least, they are seeking for
us. If Laurence is here, I warrant Sholto cannot be very far away. Oh,
Margaret, am I looking very ill? Will he think I am as--(she paused
for a word)--as comely as he thought me before in Scotland? Or have I
grown old and ugly with being shut up so long?"

But the Maid of Galloway heard her not. She was pondering on the
meaning of Laurence's presence in the Castle of Machecoul.

"Perhaps William hath sent Laurence to spy us out, and is even now
coming from his French duchy with an army. He is a far greater man
than the marshal, and will make him give us up as soon as he finds out
where we are. Shall I call down to Laurie to let him know that we are
here?"

Maud put her hand hastily over her companion's mouth.

"Hush!" she said, "we must not appear to know him, or they will surely
kill him--and perhaps the others, too. If Laurence is here, I wot well
that help is not far away. Let us be patient and abide. Come back from
the wall and sit by me as if nothing, had happened."

But all the same she kept her own place in a spot where she could
command the pleasaunce below, and looked longingly yet fearfully to
see Sholto follow his brother across the green sward.

* * * * *

"Sweet and fair is the air of th