Meanwhile, the honest earl surrendering his whole heart to the wiles of
his wife, poured into her not inattentive ear all his wishes for Helen:
all the hopes to which her late meeting with Wallace, and their present
recognition, had given birth. "I had rather have that man my son,"
said he, "than see my beloved daughter placed on an imperial throne."
"I do not doubt it," thought Lady Mar; "for there are many emperors,
but only one William Wallace!" However, her sentiments she confined to
herself: neither assenting nor dissenting, but answering so as to
secure the confidence by which she hoped to traverse his designs.
According to the inconsistency of the wild passion that possessed her,
one moment she saw nothing but despair before her, and in the next it
seemed impossible that Wallace should in heart be proof against her
tenderness and charms. She remembered Murray's words: that he was sent
to set her free, and that recollection reawakened every hope. Sir
William had placed Lord Mar in a post as dangerous as honorable.
Should the Southrons return in any force into Scotland, Stirling must
be one of the first places they would attack.
Pages:
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525