Thus flattering himself, he made no hesitations to be the first
who should go to Snawdoun, to communicate to her the brilliant
dispatches of the regent, and to declare the freedom of Scotland to be
now almost secured. He and Lord Loch-awe set forth; but they had been
some time preceded by Edwin.
The moment the countess heard the name of her nephew announced, she
made a sign for her ladies to withdraw, and starting forward at his
entrance, "Speak!" cried she; "tell me, Edwin, is the regent still a
conqueror?"
"Where are my mother and Helen," replied he, "to share my tidings?"
"Then they are good!" exclaimed lady mar, with one of her bewitching
smiles. "Ah! you sly one, like your chief, you know your power!"
"And like him I exercise it," replied he, gayly; "therefore, to keep
your ladyship no longer in suspense, here is a letter from the regent
himself." He presented it as he spoke, and she, catching it from him,
turned round, and pressing it rapturously to her lips (it being the
first she had ever received from him), eagerly ran over its brief
contents. While reperusing it--for she could not tear her eyes from
the beloved characters--Lady Ruthven and Helen entered the room.
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