he long journeys in Palmer's dress,
his return to Scotland, meeting Marmion at Norham Castle, the tilt on
Gifford moor, and the interview with the Abbess, when he received from
her the letters proving his innocence.

Already, at Tantallon, he had told his story to Douglas, who had known
De Wilton's family of old. That night, Douglas was to make him again a
belted knight, and at dawn, he would haste to Surrey's camp to fight
again for king and for country. The story heard from De Wilton, the
letters showing the treachery of Marmion, accounted for the cold disdain
shown by Douglas to his guest.

The noble baron of Tantallon had promised to bring to the chapel at
midnight the now happy, yet unhappy Clare, that she might bind on the
spurs, buckle on the belt, and hear the magic words uttered which made
her lover a noble knight. She was unhappy to think that so soon they
must part, perhaps never to meet.

Sweetly, tearfully she pleaded:

"'O Wilton! must we then
Risk new-found happiness again,
Trust fate of arms once more?
And is there not a humble glen,
Where we content and poor,
Might build a cottage in the shade,
A shepherd thou, and I to aid
Thy task on dale and moor?--
That reddening brow!--too well I know,
Not even thy Clare can peace bestow,
While falsehood stains thy name:
Go then to fight! Clare bids thee go!
Clare can a warrior's feelings know,
And weep a warrior's shame;
Buckle the spurs upon thy heel,
And belt thee with thy brand of steel,
And send thee forth to fame!'"

At midnight, the slumbering moon-beams lay on rock and wave. Silvery
light fell through every loop-hole and embrasure. In the witching hour
two priests, the Lady Clare, Ralph de Wilton, and Douglas, Lord of
Tantallon, stood before the altar of the chapel. De Wilton knelt, and
when Clare had bound on sword and belt, Douglas laid on the blow,
exclaiming as it fell:

"'I dub thee knight.
Arise, Sir Ralph, De Wilton's heir!
For King, for Church, for Lady fair,
See that thou fight.'"

De Wilton knelt again before the giant warrior, and grasping his hand,
exclaimed:

"Where'er I meet a Douglas, that Douglas will be to me as a brother."

"Nay, nay," the Lord of Tantallon replied, "not so; I have two sons in
the field armed against your king. They fight for James of Scotland; you
for Henry of England.