“Were they most rich in eloquence, Mary, believe me, we yet should need them not, in confirmation of this most noble lady’s faithfulness and worth,” answered the king, with ready courtesy, and in accents that were only too familiar to the ear of Isabella.  She started, and gazed up for the first time, seeing fully the countenance of the sovereign.  “Rise, lady, we do beseech you, rise; we are not yet so familiar with the forms of royalty as to behold without some shame a noble lady at our feet.  Nay, thou art pale, very pale; thy coming hither hath been too rapid, too hurried for thy strength, methinks; I do beseech you, sit.”  Gently he raised her, and leading her gallantly to one of the cumbrous couches near them, placed her upon it, and sat down beside her.  “Ha! that is well; thou art better now.  Knowest thou, Mary, thine office would have been more wisely performed, hadst thou presented me to the Countess of Buchan, not her to me.”

“Thou speakest darkly, good my liege, yet I joy to see thee thus jestingly inclined.”

“Nay, ’tis no jest, fair sister; the Countess of Buchan and I have met before, though she knew me but as a wild, heedless stripling first, and a moody, discontented soldier afterwards.  I owe thee much, gentle lady; much for the night’s lodging thy hospitality bestowed, though at the time my mood was such it had no words of courtesy, no softening fancy, even to thyself; much for the kindness thou didst bestow, not only then, but when fate first threw us together; and therefore do I seek thee, lady—­therefore would I speak to thee, as the friend of former years, not as the sovereign of Scotland, and as such received by thee.”  He spoke gravely, with somewhat of sadness in his rich voice.  Perhaps it was well for the countess no other answer than a grateful bow was needed, for the sudden faintness which had withdrawn the color from her cheek yet lingered, sufficient to render the exertion of speaking painful.

“Yet pause one moment, my liege,” said Nigel, playfully leading Alan forward; “give me one moment, ere you fling aside your kingly state.  Here is a young soldier, longing to rush into the very thickest of a fight that may win a golden spur and receive knighthood at your grace’s hand; a doughty spokesman, who was to say a marvellously long speech of duty, homage, and such like, but whose tongue at sight of thee has turned traitor to its cause.  Have mercy on him, good my liege; I’ll answer that his arm is less a traitor than his tongue.”

“We do not doubt it, Nigel, and will accept thy words for his.  Be satisfied, young sir, the willing homage of all true men is precious to King Robert.  And thou, fair maiden, wilt thou, too, follow thy monarch’s fortunes, cloudy though they seem? we read thine answer in thy blushing cheek, and thus we thank thee, maiden.”

He threw aside his plumed cap, and gallantly yet respectfully saluted the fair, soft cheek; confused yet pleased, Agnes looked doubtingly towards Nigel, who, smiling a happy, trusting, joyous smile, led her a few minutes apart, whispered some fond words, raised her hand to his lips, and summoning Alan, they left the room together.