ing-fit had indeed been death," she
said, "that the thread of life had snapped than twisted thus in madness.
Yet thou sayest her purpose seemed firm, her intellect clear, in her
intense desire to reach Scotland. Would this be, thinkest thou, were
they disordered?"

"I think yes; for hadst thou seen, as I, the expression of countenance,
the unearthly calmness with which this desire was enforced, the
constant, though unconscious, repetition of words as these, 'to the
king, to the king, my path lies there, he bade me seek him; perchance he
will be there to meet me,' thou too wouldst feel that, when that goal is
gained, her husband's message given, sense must fail or life itself
depart. But once for a few brief minutes I saw that calmness partly
fail, and I indulged in one faint hope she would be relieved by tears.
She saw old Dermid gaze on her and weep; she clung to his neck, her
features worked convulsively, and her voice was choked and broken, as
she said, We must not tarry, Dermid, we must not wait to weep and moan;
I must seek King Robert while I can. There is a fire on my brain and
heart, which will soon scorch up all memory but one; I must not wait
till it has reached _his_ words, and burned them up too--oh, let us on
at once;' but the old man's kindly words had not the effect I hoped, she
only shook her head, and then, as if the horrible recollection of the
past flashed back, a convulsive shuddering passed through her frame, and
when she raised her face from her hand its marble rigidity had
returned."

"Alas! alas! poor sufferer," exclaimed the princess, in heartfelt
sorrow; "I fear indeed, if such things be, there is little hope of
reason. I would thou hadst conveyed her here, perchance the soothing and
sympathy of one of her own sex had averted this evil."

"T doubt, my kind Joan," replied her husband; "thy words had such
beneficial power before, because hope had still possession of her
breast, she hoped to the very last, aye, even when she so madly went
with thee to Edward; now that is over; hope is crushed, when despair has
risen. Thou couldst not have soothed; it would have been but wringing
thy too kind heart, and exposing her to other and heightened evils." The
princess looked up inquiringly. "Knowest thou not Buchan hath discovered
that his daughter remained with Nigel Bruce, as his engaged bride, at
Kildrummie, and is even now seeking her retreat, vowing she shall repent
with tears of blood her connecti