any but herself, so she begs you to dismiss your
followers and lay your commands upon Constable Stuart of Doune."

"But my followers are all of them old enough to look after
themselves," objected the king, "and the constable is not likely to
leave Stirling where he has remained these many months."

"The Lady Margaret thought," persisted the girl, "that if your retinue
returned to Stirling and learned of your continued absence, anxiety
would ensue, and a search might be undertaken that would extend to
Doune."

"How did my lady mother know I was hunting when you could not have
learned of my excursion until you reached Stirling?" asked the king,
with a glimmer of that caution which appeared to have deserted him.

The girl seemed somewhat nonplussed by the question, but she answered
presently with quiet deliberation,--

"Her ladyship was much perturbed and feared I should not find you at
the castle. She gave me various instructions, which she trusted I
could accommodate to varying contingencies."

"My girl," said the king leaning towards her, "you do not speak like a
serving-maid. What is your name?"

"I have been a gentlewoman, sire," she answered simply, "but women,
alas, cannot control their fortunes. My name is Catherine. I will now
forward to Doune, and wait for you at the further side of the new
bridge the tailor has built over the Teith. If you will secure your
horse somewhere before coming to the river, and meet me there on foot,
I will conduct you to the castle. Will you come?"

"Of a surety," cried the king, in a tone that left no doubt of his
intentions. "I shall overtake you long before you are at the bridge!"
As he said this the girl fled away in the darkness, and then he raised
his bugle to his lips and blew a blast that speedily brought answering
calls.

James's unexplained absences were so frequent that his announcement of
an intention not to return home that night caused no surprise among
his company; so, bidding him good-night, they cantered off towards
Stirling, while he, unaccompanied, set his face to the north-west,
and his spurs to the horse's flanks, but his steed was already
tired out and could not now keep pace with his impatience. To his
disappointment, he did not overtake the girl, but found her waiting
for him at the new bridge, and together they walked the short half
mile to the castle. The young man was inclined to be conversational,
but the girl made brief replies and finally besou