A Monk of Fife. Lang Andrew

13 was in peril, as we say, neither less nor more than half an hour agone, but I had escaped the anger of Elliot; and even, as I deemed, had won more of her good countenance, seeing that I had struck a blow for Scotland and for her friend. This thought made me great cheer in my heart; as I heard, from the room below, the voices of the two girls devising together very seriously for nigh the space of an hour. But, knowing that they might have matters secret between themselves to tell of, for the Maiden had said that she brought good tidings, I kept coy and to myself in my little upper chamber. To leave the house, indeed, was more than my life was worth. Now to fly and hide was what I could not bring myself to venture; here I would stay where my heart was, and take what fortune the saints might send. So I endured to wait, and not gladden myself with the sight of Elliot, and the knowledge of how I now stood with her. To me this was great penance, but at last the voices ceased, and, looking secretly from the window, I saw the Maiden depart, her archer following her.

      1

      Several copies of this book, the Liber Pluscardensis, are extant, but the author’s original MS. is lost.

      2

      This was written after the Act of the Scots Parliament of 1457.

      3

      Daggers.

      4

      Rude wall surrounding a keep.

      5

      Sisters in the rule of St. Francis.

      6

      These tricks of sleight-of-hand are attributed by Jean Nider, in his “Formicarium,” to the false Jeanne d’Arc. – A. L.

      7

      Very intimate.

      8

      When the sky falls and smothers the larks,

      9

      This quotation makes it certain that Scott’s ballad of Harlaw, in “The Antiquary,” is, at least in part, derived from tradition.

      10

      This description confirms that of the contemporary town-clerk of La Rochelle.

      11

      The staircase still exists.

      12

      “My neck would learn the weight of my more solid proportions.”

      13

      Neck.