The Monastery

found by

ice hallow’

haunt from

teps

’s Ode

nsion. But that was no longer in her power. It was a reign of minority, when the strongest had the best

f its fathers, he gave her to understand, that Avenel, being a male fief, descended to the brother, instead of the daughter, of the last possessor. The ancient philosopher declined a dispute with the emperor who commanded twenty legions, and the widow of Walter Avenel was in no condition to maintain a contest with the leader of twenty

rove of cattle and a bull (which were probably missed by some English farmer) were driven to the pastures of Glendearg; presents of raiment and household stuff were sent liberally, and some little m

secure residence than in the Tower of Glendearg, and she was now in a condition to support her share of the mutual housekeeping. Elspeth, on the other hand, felt pride, as well as

speth and Tibb; the former being jealous of her own consequence, and the latter apt to lay too much stress upon the rank and family of her mistress. But both were alike desirous to conceal such petty squabbles from the lady, her hostess scarce yielding to her old domestic in respect for her pe

timable loss all lesser subjects of regret had ceased to interest her. At times, indeed, she thought of claiming the protection of the Queen Regent (Mary of Guise) for her little orphan, but the fear of Julian Avenel always came between. She was sensible that he would have neither scruple nor difficulty in spiriting away the child, (if he did not proceed farther,) should he once consider its existence as formidable to his interest. B

feeding or living apart from their domestics, was at this period never entertained. The highest end of the board, the most commodious settle by the fire — these were the only marks of distinction; and the servants mingled, with deference indeed, but unreproved and wit

tched the progress of scalding the whey, which hung in a large pot upon the crook, a chain terminated by a hook, which was suspended in the chimney to serve the purpose of the modern crane. Martin, while busied

e of occasionally making excursions into one or two small apartments which opened from it, and gave excellent opportunity to play at hide-and-seek. This night, however, th

quired by her residence in a nunnery during her youth, but she seldom, of late years, put it to any other use than perusing this little volume, which formed her whole library. The family listened to the portions which she selected, as to some good thing which there wa

from time to time, the voice of the lady, and d

was not attended to punctually. Acting under the injunction, the children first played at a greater distance from the party, and more quietly, and then began to stray into the adjacent apart

,” said Martin, rising; “what can

e he in?” s

ising up, “where is my child?” All rushed to the spence, Halbert Glendinning first arming himself with a rusty sword, and the younger seizing upon the lady’s book. They hastened to the spence, and were relieved of a part of their anxiety by meetin

tie of Clint-hi

said little Mary;

and confusion, and their mother proceeded with her lecture. “Could ye find nae night for daffin but Hallowe’en, and nae time but when the leddy was reading to us about the holy Saints? May ne’er be in my fingers, if I

lt — I did say to them, that

child,” said her mother,

lowering her voice,

ll this idle noise, and you could not

,” said Mary; “and because I was surprised to

id Halbert Glendinning, “or i

ther,” said Ed

t.” The Lady of Avenel looked as if she would have interfered, but knew not how; and Elspeth, who was too eagerly curious to regard any distant hin

gentleman — a gentleman with a bright breastplate, li

nued Tibb, who now took s

rling round his neck, and hanging down his breast ower his breastplate; and he had a beautiful

d hastily away, and, walking into the hall, gave them no opportunity of remarking in what manner she received the child’s communication, which she thus cut short. W

kissing her repeatedly. When they entered, she again arose, as if to shun observatio

the hall fire save the faithful Tibb and dame Elspeth, excellen

he subject of the supernatural appearance, for such th

r than Christie o’ the Clint-hill,” said the matron of the mansion, “for the word runs

clean. You kirk-folk make sic a fasherie about men shifting a wee bit for their living! Our Bor

distress the country-side the

e away the lances and broadswords? I trow we auld wives couldna do

ear, has been a main cause of a’ the breach between us and England, and I am sure that cost me a kind goodman. They spoke about the wedding of the Prince and our Queen, but it’s as like to be the driving of the Cumberland folk’s stocking that brought them down on us lik

hat the heiress of Avenel should have

her father, then?” sa

can I think

ng waur, in his likeness

o ride out a-hawking; for having enemies in the country, he seldom laid off the breast-plate; and for my part

her,” said Dame Glendinning; “but I ken there is littl

r stool closer to the huge elbow-chair occupied

t when I was a hempie of nineteen or twenty, it wasna

ut ye hae sobered since that, or ye wa

, “Aweel, Tibb, a lass like me wasna to lack wooers, for I

Tibb, “and you sic a weel-f

o the cuttle-stool on which Tibb was seated; “weel-favoured is past my time of day; but I might pass then, fo

before,” said Tibb; “bu

winnow my three weights o’ naething — sair, sair my mind misgave me for fear of wrang-doing and wrang-suffering baith; but I had aye a bauld spirit. I had not winnowed the last weight clean out, and the moon was shining bright upon the floor, when in stalked the presence of my dear Simon Glendinning, that is now happy. I never saw him plainer in my life than I did that moment; he held up an arrow as he passed me, and I swarf’d awa wi’ fright. Muckle

wish there wasna sic a bird as a goose in the wide wa

ower mony gude words in it to come frae ony body but a priest — An it were about Robin Hood, or some o’ David Lindsay’s ballants, ane wad ken bet

faithful Tibb, something offended; “and touching the bairn, it’s weel kend she was born on Hallow

it had been my Halbert himself, forby Edward, who is of softer nature, he wad hae yammered t

ght ower, and All-Hallow day begun. But for a’ that, the sweet bairn is just like ither bairns, as ye may see yourself; and exce

n,” said Dame Glendinning, “forby

id Tibb; “when we were like to hae perished in the moss-hags — certain

leddy be?” said Elspeth; “

bb; “if ye had lived under grit folk, as I h

said Elspeth, not without emphasis, “and if I haven

Saunt Anthony, Saunt Cuthbert, and the like, that come and gang at every sinner’s bidding, but they hae a sort of saunts or angels, or what not, to themsells; and as for the White Maiden of Avene

“they needna make mony vows to her, I trow. Can she make nae better fen

that, and has dune in the auld histories,” said Tibb, “but I mind o’

are good eneugh saunts for me, and I’se warrant them never leave me in a bog that they can help me out o’, seeing I send four waxen candles to their chape

w it’s time I should hap up the wee bit

use a moment to cast a heedful and cautious glance all around the hall, to see that not

hinks herself grander, I trow, than the bower-woman of a lady of that ilk!” Having given vent to he