"What will be my unhappy fate! Virgin of heaven, take me to thyself!"
"Heaven forbid!" cried the woman, "that you should pray against being
the favorite lady of our noble chief! Many are the scores around
Hermitage Castle who would come hither on their hands and knees to
arrive at that happiness."
"Happiness!" cried Lady Helen, in anguish of spirit; "it can visit me
no more till I am restored to my father, till I am released from the
power of Soulis. Give me liberty," continued she, wildly grasping the
arm of the woman. "Assist me to escape, and half the wealth of the
Earl of Mar shall be your reward."
"Alas!" returned the woman, "my lord would burn me on the spot, and
murder my husband, did he think I even listened to such a project. No,
lady; you never will see your father more; for none who enter my lord's
Hermitage ever wish to come out again."
"The Hermitage!" cried Helen, in augmented horror. "Oh, Father of
mercy! never let me live to enter those accursed walls!"
"They are frightful enough, to be sure," returned the woman; "but you,
gentle lady, will be princess there; and in all things commanding the
kingly heart of its lord, have rather cause to bless than to curse the
castle of Soulis.
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