My residence at Glendearg hath
made me well acquainted with these things. Ill would it beseem my
habit and my calling, to thrust myself into match-making and giving in
marriage, but worse were it in me to see your lordships do needless
wrong to the feelings which are proper to our nature, and which, being
indulged honestly and under the restraints of religion, become a
pledge of domestic quiet here, and future happiness in a better world.
I say, that you will do ill to rend those ties asunder, and to give
this maiden to the kinsman of Lord Morton, though Lord Morton's
kinsman he be."
"These are fair reasons, my Lord of Murray," said Morton, "why you
should refuse me so simple a boon as to bestow this silly damsel upon
young Bennygask. Speak out plainly, my lord; say you would rather see
the Castle of Avenel in the hands of one who owes his name and existence
solely to your favour, than in the power of a Douglas, and of my
kinsman."
"My Lord of Morton," said Murray, "I have done nothing in this matter
which should aggrieve you. This young man Glendinning has done me good
service, and may do me more. My promise was in some degree passed to
him, and that while Julian Avenel was alive, when aught beside the
maiden's lily hand would have been hard to come by; whereas, you never
thought of such an alliance for your kinsman, till you saw Julian lie
dead yonder on the field, and knew his land to be a waif free to the
first who could seize it.
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