To rise
by their means, who, you have seen, will at any time immolate all that
is sacred to man to their own caprice, or fancied interests, would be
unworthy of him; therefore, I am sure, if you wish to marry Sir William
Wallace, you must not urge the use he may make of the Cummins as an
argument. He need not stoop to cajole the men he may command. Did he
not drive the one-half of their clan, with the English host to boot, to
seek any shelter from his vengeance? And for them in the citadel, had
he chosen to give the word, they would now be all numbered with the
dust! Aunt! he has a Divine Master, whose example he follows, though
in deep humility! He lays down his power; it is not taken from him.
Earthly crowns are dross to him who looks for a heavenly one.
Therefore, honored lady, believe it no longer necessary to wound your
delicacy, by offering him a hand, which cannot produce the good you
meditate!"
The complexion of the countess varied a thousand times during this
answer. Her reason assented to many parts of it; but the passion she
could not acknowledge to her nephew, urged her to persist. "You may be
right, Edwin," she replied; "but still, as there is nothing very
repugnant in me, the project is surely worth trying! At any rate, even
setting the Cummins aside, a marriage with the daughter of Strathearn,
by allying your noble friend to every illustrious house in the kingdom,
would make his interest theirs, and all must unit in retaining to him
the regency.
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