His resentment against Dorothy was for the moment neutralized by the great honor of which his house and himself were the recipients.

John and Lord Rutland were taken to the dungeon.

I assisted Dorothy from the coach and led her to Madge, who was waiting for us upon the lowest of the steps leading to the entrance tower doorway.  Dorothy took Madge’s outstretched hand; but Madge, by some strange instinct, knowing of my presence, turned her face toward me.  I could not lift my eyes to her face, nor could I endure to remain in her presence.  While we were ascending the steps she held out her hand to me and said:—­

“Is all well with you, Malcolm?” Her voice was full of tender concern, and it pained me to the heart to hear her speak kindly to me, who was so unworthy of her smallest thought.

“Yes, Lady—­yes, Madge,” I responded; but she knew from the tones of my voice that all was not right with me.

“I fear, Malcolm, that you do not tell me the truth.  You will come to me soon?” she asked.

“I may not be able to go to you soon,” I answered, “but I will do so at the first opportunity.”

The torture of her kindness was almost unbearable to me.  One touch of her hand, one tone of her rare voice, had made me loathe myself.  The powers of evil cannot stand for one moment in a fair conflict with the powers of good.  I felt that I, alone, was to blame for my treason to Madge; but despite my effort at self-condemnation there was an under-consciousness that Mary Stuart was to blame, and I hated her accordingly.  Although Madge’s presence hurt me, it was not because I wished to conceal my conduct from her.  I knew that I could be happy again only after I had confessed to her and had received forgiveness.

Madge, who was blind of sight, led Dorothy, who was piteously blind of soul, and the two girls went to their apartments.

Curiosity is not foreign even to the royal female breast, and while Mary Stuart was entering Haddon Hall, I saw the luminous head of the Virgin Queen peeked out at a casement on the second floor watching her rival with all the curiosity of a Dutch woman sitting by her window mirror.

I went to my room in Eagle Tower, fell upon my bed, and abandoned myself to an anguish of soul which was almost luxurious.  I shall not tease you with the details of my mental and moral processes.  I hung in the balance a long time undetermined what course I should pursue.  The difference between the influence of Mary and the effect wrought by Madge was the difference between the intoxication and the exhilaration of wine.  Following the intoxication of Mary’s presence ever came a torturing reaction, while the exhilarating influence of Madge gave health and strength.  I chose the latter.  I have always been glad I reached that determination without the aid of any impulse outside of myself; for events soon happened which again drove all faith in Mary from my heart forever.  Those events would have forced me to abandon my trust in her; but mind you, I took my good resolve from inclination rather than necessity before I learned of Mary’s perfidy.