It was near a year since the defeat of Dunbar; and although the feats of Wallace in storming small fortalices and cutting off English convoys had excited at once hope amongst the Scotch and anger in the English, the hold of the latter on the conquered country appeared more settled than ever.  Wallace’s adherents had indeed gained in strength; but they were still regarded as a mere band of outlaws who might be troublesome, but were in no degree formidable.

Every great town and hold throughout Scotland was garrisoned by English in force deemed amply sufficient to repress any trouble which might arise, while behind them was the whole power of England ready to march north in case it should be needed.  It seemed, indeed, that Scotland was completely and for ever subjugated.

One afternoon, when Archie had escorted Mistress Bradfute to Lamington, she said to him as he bade her farewell: 

“I think you can keep a secret, Master Forbes.”

“I trust so,” Archie replied.

“I know how much you admire and reverence Sir William Wallace.  If you will come hither this evening, at eight o’clock, you shall see him.”

Archie uttered an exclamation of delight and surprise.

“Mind, Archie, I am telling you a secret which is known only to Sir William himself and a few of his chosen followers; but I have obtained his permission to divulge it to you, assuring him that you can be fully trusted.”

“I would lay down my life for him,” the lad said.

“I think you would, Archie; and so would I, for Sir William Wallace is my husband!”

Archie gave a gasp of astonishment and surprise.

“Yes,” she repeated, “he is my husband.  And now ride back to your uncle’s.  I left the piece of embroidery upon which I was working on your aunt’s table.  It will be a good excuse for you to ride over with it this evening.”  So saying, she sprang lightly from the pillion on which she had been riding behind Archie.  The lad rode back in wild excitement at the thought that before night he was to see his hero whose deeds had, for the last three years, excited his admiration and wonder.

At eight o’clock exactly he drew rein again at Lamington.  He was at once admitted, and was conducted to a room where the mistress of the house was sitting, and where beside her stood a very tall and powerfully built young man, with a singularly handsome face and a courteous and gentle manner which seemed altogether out of character with the desperate adventures in which he was constantly engaged.

In Scotland the laws of chivalry, as they were strictly observed in the courts of England and France, did not prevail.  Sir William Wallace had not received the order of knighthood; but in Scotch families the prefix of Sir descended from father to eldest son, as it does in the present day with the title of Baronet.  Thus William Wallace, when his father and elder brother were killed, succeeded to the title.  Knighthoods,