When this was proposed to Wallace, he recollected the conduct of Athol
at Montrose; and, being alone with Lord Mar, he made some objections
against inviting him back into the country. But the earl, who was
prepared by his wife to overcome every obstacle in the way of her
kinsman's return, answered, "That he believed, from the representations
he had received of the private opinions both of Badenoch and Athol,
that their treason was more against Baliol than the kingdom; and that
now that prince was irretrievably removed, he understood they would be
glad to take a part in its recovery."
"That may be the case with the Earl of Badenoch," replied Wallace, "but
something less friendly to Scotland must be in the breast of the man
who could betray Lord Douglas into the hands of his enemies."
"So I should have thought," replied the earl, "had not the earnestness
with which my wife pleads his cause convinced me she knows more of his
mind than she chooses to intrust me with, and therefore I suppose his
conduct to Douglas arose from personal pique."
Though these explanations did not at all raise the absent lords in his
esteem, yet to appear hostile to the return of Lady Mar's relations
would be a violence to her, which, in proportion as Wallace shrunk from
the guilty affection she was so eager to lavish upon him, he was averse
to committing; wishing, by showing her every proper consideration, to
lead her to apprehend the turpitude of her conduct; by convincing her
that his abhorrence of her advances had its origin in principle, rather
than from personal repugnance to herself; and so she might see the
foulness of her crime, and be recalled to virtue.
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