The bishop drew near.
"We come, Sir William Wallace," cried the prelate, in a tone whose
lordly pitch lowered when his surprised eye saw the princely dignity
which shone over the countenance of the man whose domestic appearance,
when descried at a distance, had excited his contempt; "we come from
the King of England, with a message for your private ear."
"And I hope, gallant chief," joined Lord Arundel, "what we have to
impart will give peace to both nations, and establish in honor the most
generous as well as the bravest of enemies."
Wallace bowed to the earl's compliment (he knew by his title that he
must be the brother of De Warenne), and, resigning the child into the
arms of Graham, with a graceful welcome he conducted the Southron lords
into the hall.
Lord Arundel, looking around, said, "Are we alone, Sir William?"
"Perfectly," he replied, "and I am ready to receive any proposals for
peace which the rights of Scotland will allow her to accept."
The earl drew from his bosom a gold casket, and laying it on a table
before him, addressed the regent:-"Sir William Wallace, I come to you,
not with the denunciation of an implacable liege lord, whom a rash
vassal has offended, but in the grace of the most generous of monarchs,
anxious to convert a brave insurgent into the loyal friend.
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