"I hear enough," said she, "my dear aunt; sights like these
overcome me; let me remain where I am."
Lady Ruthven was going to remonstrate, when the loud huzzas of the
people and soldiers, accompanied by acclamations of "Long live
victorious Wallace, our prince and king!" struck Helen back into her
seat, and Lady Ruthven darting toward the window, cried aloud, "He
comes, Helen, he comes! His bonnet off his noble brow. Oh! how
princely does he look!--and now he bows. Ah, they shower flowers upon
him from the houses on each side of the street; how sweetly he smiles
and bows to the ladies as they lean from their windows! Come, Helen,
come, if you would see the perfection of majesty and modesty united in
one!"
Helen did not move; but Lady Ruthven stretching out her arm, in a
moment had drawn her within view of Wallace. She saw him attended as a
conqueror and a king; but with the eyes of a benefactor and a brother
he looked on all around. The very memory of war seemed to vanish
before his presence, for all there was love and gentleness. Helen drew
a quick sigh, and closing her eyes, dropped against the arras. She now
heard the buzz of many voices, the rolling peal of acclamations, but
she distinguished nothing; her senses were in tumults; and had not Lady
Ruthven seen her disorder, she would have fallen motionless to the
floor.
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