The Fair Maid of Perth

ir, and bra

hee in the

bower, late w

rooks caw'd ro

A BAI

s to pray for assistance, and when she distinguished the voices of neighbours and friends collected for her protection, she remained in the same posture to return thanks. She was still kneeling when h

rays; I dare no more speak to her t

best thanked, my daughter, by gratitude shown to our fellow creatures. Here comes the instrument by whom God has rescued thee from death,

rateful - perhaps I am too thankful to the instrument of our safety; but let me thank the

only words like a woman that thou hast uttered for these ten days. Truly, son Harry, I would my daughter wou

e, so far as sinful man may. Fare thee well, then, for the moment, fair maiden," he concluded, raising his voice, "and Heaven

nto no farther quarrels tonight; but take the kindest thanks, and with these, try to assume the peaceful

descending the stair which led to Catharine's apartment, was about t

Macgrider! I even love these roysterers, and am sorry for that poor lover who will never wear left handed chevron again. Ay! he has lost that which he will miss all the days of his life, especial

th your permission, watch in the

way of fighting which suits us burghers best - that of resisting from behind stone walls. Our duty of watch and ward te

they had supped, and where the old woman, who was on foot, disturbed

id the glover, "what liquor w

now gazed on the fire, that flashed back a ruddy light over his manly features. He mutte

ar holds none such; but if sack, or Rhenish, or wine of Gascony

ng, "that's more than she ever said to me before -

the glover, "if thou wilt but be ruled, and say

She spoke of my warm heart; but she also spoke of my reckless hand. What earthly thing can I do to get rid of this fighting fan

erious now. I am not to have the risk of my booth being broken and my house plundered by the hell raking followers of the nobles, because she is called the Fair Maid of Perth, an't please ye. No, she shall know I am her father, and w

on, who raised it slowly to his head; then, ere it had reached

the other all would cry fie on her if she should say thee nay. Here am I, her father, not only consenting to the cutting out of the match, but willing to see you two as closely united together as ever needle stitched buckskin. And w

el man like me. I cannot tell how it is, father; elsewhere I can hold up my head like another man, but with your saintly daughter I lose heart and courage, and I cannot help thinki

, crossing himself, "I pay her rights duly and cheerfully - tithes and alms, wine and wax, I pay them as justly, I say, as any man in Perth of my means doth - but I cannot afford the church my only and single ewe lamb that I have in the world. Her mother was dear to me on earth, and is now an angel

e your daughter's property than my own. But what can I do? I cannot think less of her, or more of myself, than we both deserve; and what seems to you so easy and certain is to me as difficult as it would be to work a steel hauberk out of bards of flax. But here is to you, father," he added, in a more cheerful tone; "and here is to my fair saint and Valentine,

r, "But you, what will you do? Will you lie do

me this easy chair is worth a down bed, and I will sleep like a sentin

Goodnight, or rather good morrow, till day pee

spond with his labours at the forge or his combats in the field. Perhaps a little of the hare brained and ardent feeling which he had picked out of old ballads, or from the metrical romances, which were his sole source of information or knowledge, may have been the means of pricking him on to some of his achievements, which had often a rude strain of chivalry in them; at least, it was certain that his love to the fair Catharine had in it a delicacy such as might have become the squire of low degree, who was honoured, if song speaks truth, with the smiles of the King of Hungary's daughter. His sentiments towards her were certainly as exalted as if they had been fixed upon an actual angel, which made old Simon, and others who watched his conduct

ield to his suit. I will not wait till my father compels me to receive him as my Valentine for the year: I will seek him out, and choose him myself. I have thought other girls

r had passed the hours after the fray. Catharine paused at the door, and became half afraid of executing her purpose, which not only permitted but enjoined the Valentines of the year to begin their

t length overcome the stout armourer in the chair in which he had deposited himself. His features, in repose, had a more firm and manly cast than Catharine had thoug

hy - if I should wake my father? But no! it is a thing of custom, and done in all maidenly and sisterly love and honour.

ers must have been slight which such a touch could dispel, and the dreams of the sleeper must needs have been connected with the cause of the interruption, since Henry, instantly starting up, caught the maiden in his arms, and attempted to return in ecstasy the s

paid my vows to St. Valentine, to show how I value the mate which he has sent me for the year. Let but

tasy into the room; "to her, smith - to her: strike while the iron

ve repayment of her salute, a dozen times repeated, and with an energy very different from that which had provoked such severe retaliation. At length she again

rd, the sun that now rises over our fair city shows no sight that can give me greater pleasure. What," he continued, in a jocose tone, "thou thoughtst thou hadst Jamie Keddie's ring, and couldst walk invisible? but not so, my fairy of the dawning. Just as I was about to rise, I heard thy chamber door open, and watched thee

ch hid his daughter's face. She blushed deeply indeed, but there was more

er; "nay - nay, this is more than need. H

herself and to smile, but the smile

f the morning, according to wonted custom, I meant but to show my gratitude to him for his manly and faithful service, and my obedience to you. But do not lead him to think - an

ty shall permit. Come, prithee, have done: wring not thy tiny hands, nor fear farther persecution now. Thou hast done bravely, excellently. And now, away to Dorothy, and call up the old sluggard; we must have a substantial breakfast, after a night of confusion and a morning of joy, and thy hand will be

opes with which the late incident had filled him began to quail, as he reflected upon her altered demeanour - the tears in her eyes, the obvious fear which occupied her features, and the pains she had taken to show, as plainly as de

k as grave as an owl, when a lad of your spirit, having really such a fa

en on her brow which says she loves me well enough to be my Valenti

ldst have been watching the east for the first ray of the sun. But there thou layest, snoring I warrant, thinking nought about her, or anything else; and the poor girl rises at peep of day, lest any one else should pick up her most precious and vigilant Valentine, and wakes thee with a grace which - so help me, St. Macgrider!- would hav

tenure, with smithy, bellows, tongs, anvil, and all, providing it would make your view of the matter the true one. But it is not of her coyness or her blushes that I speak; it is of the paleness which s

wire. Ease your hand, man, and let him rise; take leisure, and in half an hour thou layest him on the bank. There is a beginning as fair as you could wish, unless you expect the poor wench to come to thy bedside as she did to thy chair; and that is not the fashion of mode

kle. I would give the best habergeon I ever wrought, that the difficulty in truth rested with me, for there were then the better chance o

licate kid skin that will exactly suit her hand and arm. I was thinking of her poor mother when I shaped them," added honest Simon, with a sigh; "and except Catharine, I know not the woman in Scotland whom they would fit