I said:  “I do believe you, Mary.  I beg you to forgive me for having doubted you.  You have been traduced and brutally misused.”

“It is sweet to hear you speak those words.  But it is better to think that at last we have come together with nothing to part us save that I am a prisoner in the hands of my vindictive, jealous cousin.  I thank God that my kingdom of Scotland has been taken from me.  I ever hated the Scots.  They are an ignorant, unkempt, wry-necked, stubborn, filthy race.  But, above all, my crown stood between you and me.  I may now be a woman, and were it not for Elizabeth, you and I could yet find solace in each other for all our past sufferings.  Malcolm, I have a sweet thought.  If I could escape to fair, beautiful France, all would be happiness for us.  You could claim your mother’s estates in the balmy south, and we might live upon them.  Help me, my Malcolm, to escape, and your reward shall be greater and sweeter than man ever before received from woman.”

I struggled against her blandishments for a moment, but I was lost.

“You shall escape and I will go with you,” said I. Man needs to make but one little prayer to God, “Lead me not into temptation.”  That prayer answered, all else of good will follow.

The morning sun had just begun to rise over Bowling Green Hill and the shadows of the night were fleeing before his lances, when our cavalcade entered the grounds of Haddon at the dove-cote.  If there were two suns revolving about the earth, one to shine upon us by night and one by day, much evil would be averted.  Men do evil in the dark because others cannot see them; they think evil in the dark because they cannot see themselves.

With the first faint gray of dawn there came to me thoughts of Madge.  I had forgotten her, but her familiar spirit, the light, brought me back to its fair mistress.

When our coach reached the stone bridge I looked up to the Hall and saw Madge standing at the open casement of the tower window.  She had been watching there all night, I learned, hoping for our speedy and safe return, and had been warned of our approach by the noise of the tramping guard.  I drew back from the coach window, feeling that I was an evil shade slinking away before the spirit of light.

CHAPTER XV

LIGHT

Dorothy had awakened while we were entering Rowsley, and I was glad that Mary could not touch me again.

When our coach reached the stone steps of the entrance tower we found Sir George, Lady Crawford, and Madge waiting to receive us.  The steps and the path leading to them had been carpeted with soft rugs, and Mary, although a prisoner, was received with ceremonies befitting her rank.  It was a proud day for Sir George when the roof of his beautiful Hall sheltered the two most famous queens of christendom.

Sir George assisted Mary from the coach most graciously, and in knightly fashion led her to Lady Crawford and Madge, who were standing at the foot of the tower steps.  Due presentations were made, and the ladies of Haddon having kissed the queen’s hand, Mary went into the Hall upon the arm of his Majesty, the King of the Peak, who stepped forward most proudly.