To Halbert Glendinning, when his narrative was finished, he spoke with
great kindness.
"He is a bold and gallant youth," said he to those around, "and formed
of the stuff which becomes a bustling time. There are periods when men's
spirits shine bravely through them. I will know something more of him."
He questioned him more particularly concerning the Baron of Avenel's
probable forces--the strength of his castle--the dispositions of his
next heir, and this brought necessarily forward the sad history of his
brother's daughter, Mary Avenel, which was told with an embarrassment
that did not escape Murray.
"Ha! Julian Avenel," he said, "and do you provoke my resentment, when
you have so much more reason to deprecate my justice! I knew Walter
Avenel, a true Scotsman and a good soldier. Our sister, the Queen,
must right his daughter; and were her land restored, she would be a
fitting bride to some brave man who may better merit our favour than
the traitor Julian."--Then looking at Halbert, he said, "Art thou of
gentle blood, young man?"
Halbert, with a faltering and uncertain voice, began to speak of his
distant pretensions to claim a descent from the ancient Glendonwynes
of Galloway, when Murray interrupted him with a smile.
"Nay--nay--leave pedigrees to bards and heralds. In our days, each,
man is the son of his own deeds. The glorious light of reformation
hath shone alike on prince and peasant; and peasant as well as prince
may be illustrated by fighting in its defence.
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