on with a Bruce?"

"I did not indeed; how came this?"

"How, I know not, save that it was reported Buchan had left the court,
on a mission to the convent where the Countess of Carrick and her
attendants are immured, and in all probability learnt this important
fact from them. I only know that at the instant I entered the prisoner's
dungeon, Buchan was demanding, at the sword's point, the place of her
retreat, incited to the deadliest fury at Nigel's daring avowal that
Agnes was his wife."

"Merciful heaven! and Agnes, what did she?"

"I know not, for I dared not, absolutely dared not look upon her face.
Her husband's self-control saved her, for he stood and answered as
calmly and collectedly as if indeed she were in the safety he declared;
her father brushed by, nay, well-nigh stumbled over her, as he furiously
quitted the dungeon, glared full at her, but knew her not. But I dared
not again bring her here, it was in too close vicinity with the king and
her cruel father, for her present state of mind must have betrayed every
disguise."

"And thinkest thou he could have the heart to injure her, separated as
she is by death from the husband of her love?"

"Aye, persecute her as he hath his wife and son. Joan, I would rather
lose my own right hand than that unhappy girl should fall into her
father's power. Confinement, indeed, though it would add but little real
misery to her present lot, yet I feel that with her present wild
yearnings to rejoin the Bruce, to fulfil to the very utmost her
husband's will, it would increase tenfold the darkness round her; the
very dread of her father would unhinge the last remaining link of
intellect."

Joan shuddered. "God in mercy forefend such ill!" she said, fervently;
"I would I could have seen her once again, for she has strangely twined
herself about my heart; but thou hast judged wisely, my Gilbert, her
safety is too precious to be thus idly risked; and this old man, canst
thou so trust him--will he guide her tenderly and well?"

"Aye, I would stake my life upon his truth; he is the seer and minstrel
of the house of Bruce, and that would be all-sufficient to guarantee his
unwavering fidelity and skill. He has wandered on foot from Scotland, to
look on his beloved master once again; to watch over, as a guardian
spirit, the fate of that master's devoted wife, and he will do this, I
doubt not, and discover Carrick's place of retreat, were it at the
utmost boundaries of the eart