The lamps of the
gallery shone full upon the light grace of her figure, as shrinking
with blushing modesty, and yet eager to be with her preserver, she
stood hesitating before him. He threw his cloak over her, and putting
her arm through his, in the unobscured blaze of his princely armor, he
descended to the lower hall of the castle. One man only was there.
Wallace ordered him to open the great door. "It is a fine night," said
he, "and I shall ride some miles before I sleep." The man asked if he
were to saddle the horses; he was answered in the affirmative, and the
gate being immediately unbarred, Wallace led his precious charge into
the freedom of the open air. As soon as she saw the outside of those
towers, which she had entered as the worst of all prisoners, her heart
so overflowed with gratitude to her deliverer, that sinking by his side
upon her knees, she could only grasp his hand, and bathe it with the
pure tears of rescued innocence. Her manner penetrated his soul, and
he raised her in his arms; but she, dreading that she had perhaps done
too much, convulsively articulated, "My father--his blessing--"
"Was a rich endowment, Lady Helen," returned Wallace, "and you shall
ever find me deserving of it.
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