"This it is to be free; this it is to be virtuous; this it is to be
happy; this it is to live the life of righteousness, and to die in the
hope of immortal glory. Say then, dear daughter, if, in praying for
the liberty of Scotland, I said too much in calling it her salvation?"
"Forgive me, father," cried Helen, overcome with shame at having
questioned him.
"Forgive you what?" returned he. "I love the holy zeal which is
jealous of allowing objects, dear even to your wishes, to encroach on
the sanctuary of heaven. Be ever thus, meek child of the church, and
no human idol will be able to usurp that part of your virgin heart
which belongs to God."
Helen blushed.
"My heart, reverend father," returned she, "has but one wish-the
liberty of Scotland; and, with that, the safety of my father and his
brave deliverers."
"Sir William Wallace I never have seen," rejoined the hermit; "but,
when he was quite a youth, I heard of his graceful victories in the
mimic war of the jousts at Berwick, when Edward first marched into this
country under the mask of friendship. From what you have said, I do
not doubt his being a worthy supporter of Bruce.
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