He set it down in silence, and withdrew; Bruce then
heard the bolts on the outside of his chamber pushed into their guards.
"There they go," said he to himself; "and those are to be the morning
and evening sounds to which I am to listen all my days! At least
Edward would have it so. Such is the gratitude he shows to the man who
restored to him his wife; who restored to him the consciousness of
possessing that honor unsullied which is so dear to every married man!
Well, Edward, kindness might bind generous minds even to forget their
rights; but thanks to you, neither in my own person, nor for any of my
name, do I owe you aught, but to behold me King of Scotland; and please
God, that you shall, if the prayers of faith may burst these
double-steeled gates, and set me free!"
While invocations to the Power in which he confided, and resolutions
respecting the consequences of his hoped-for liberty, by turns occupied
his mind, he heard the tread of a foot in the adjoining passage. He
listened breathless; for no living creature, he thought, could be in
that quarter of the building, as he had suffered none to enter it since
Wallace had disappeared by that way.
Pages:
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907