But
my friend lost this rose of his bosom, and I the child of my heart, ere
she had been a year his wife. Then was my last and only daughter
married to the Lord Mar; and in giving birth to my dear Isabella she,
too, died. Ah, my good young knight, were it not for that sweet child,
the living image of her mother, who in the very spring of youth was
cropped and fell, I should be alone: my hoary head would descend to the
grave, unwept, unregretted!"
The joy of the old man having recalled such melancholy remembrances, he
wept upon the shoulder of Edwin, who had drawn so near, that the story,
was begun to Murray, was ended to him. To give the mourning father
time to recover himself, Wallace was moving away, when he was met by
Ker, bringing information that a youth had just arrived in breathless
haste from Stirling, with a sealed packet, which he would not deliver
into any hands but those of Sir William Wallace. Wallace requested his
friends to show every attention to the Lord of Thirlestane, and then
withdrew to meet the messenger.
On his entering the ante-room, the youth sprung forward, but suddenly
checking himself, he stood as if irresolute whom to address.
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