I warrant you, I would embrace
the lovely mischief in the first presentation." A shout rent the air.
"What is that?" cried he, interrupting himself.
"He has followed your advice," answered March, with a satirical smile,
"it is the preliminary trumpet to long live King William the Great!"
Lord Buchan spurred forward to Scrymgeour, whom he knew, and inquired,
"where the new king was to be crowned? We have not yet to thank him
for the possession of Scone!"
"True," cried Sir Alexander, comprehending the sarcasm; "but did Sir
William Wallace accept the prayers of Scotland, neither Scone nor any
other spot in the kingdom would refuse the place of his coronation."
"Not accept them!" replied Buchan; "then why the shout? Do the
changelings rejoice in being refused?"
"When we cannot gain the altitude of our desires," returned the knight,
"it is yet subject for thankfulness when we reach a step toward it.
Sir William Wallace has consented to be considered as the protector of
the kingdom; to hold it for the rightful sovereign, under the name of
regent."
"Ay," cried March, "he has only taken a mistress instead of a wife;
and, trust me, when once he has got her into his arms, it will not be
all the gray beards in Scotland that can wrest her thence again.
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