"
"Mother," said Hamish, "on this subject you move me not. I will
fly before no man. If Barcaldine should send every Gael that is
under his banner, here, and in this place, will I abide them; and
when you bid me fly, you may as well command yonder mountain to
be loosened from its foundations. Had I been sure of the road by
which they are coming hither, I had spared them the pains of
seeking me; but I might go by the mountain, while they perchance
came by the lake. Here I will abide my fate; nor is there in
Scotland a voice of power enough to bid me stir from hence, and
be obeyed."
"Here, then, I also stay," said Elspat, rising up and speaking
with assumed composure. "I have seen my husband's death--my
eyelids shall not grieve to look on the fall of my son. But
MacTavish Mhor died as became the brave, with his good sword in
his right hand; my son will perish like the bullock that is
driven to the shambles by the Saxon owner who had bought him for
a price."
"Mother," said the unhappy young man, "you have taken my life.
To that you have a right, for you gave it; but touch not my
honour! It came to me from a brave train of ancestors, and
should be sullied neither by man's deed nor woman's speech.
Pages:
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304