“And trust me for doing so,” laughingly rejoined Douglas.  “Scoff’ at me as you will, Edward, your time will come.”

“Not it,” answered the warrior; “glory is my mistress.  I love better to clasp my true steel than the softest and fairest hand in Christendom; to caress my noble steed and twine my hand thus in his flowing mane, and feel that he bears me gallantly and proudly wherever my spirit lists, than to press sweet kisses on a rosy lip, imprisoned by a woman’s smile.”

“Nay, shame on thee!” replied Douglas, still jestingly.  “Thou a true knight, and speak thus; were there not other work to do, I would e’en run a tilt with thee, to compel thee to forswear thy foul treason against the fair.”

“Better spend thy leisure in wooing Isoline; trust me, she will not be won ere wooed.  How now, Sir Knight of the Branch, has the fiend melancholy taken possession of thee again? give her a thrust with thy lance, good friend, and unseat her.  Come, soul of fire as thou art in battle, why dost thou mope in ashes in peace?  Thou speakest neither for nor against these matters of love; wilt woo or scorn the little god?”

“Perchance both, perchance neither,” replied the knight, and his voice sounded sadly, though he evidently sought to speak in jest.  He had fallen back from the side of Douglas during the previous conversation, but the flashing eye denoted that it had passed not unremarked.  He now rode up to the side of Lord Edward, keeping a good spear’s length from Lord James, and their converse turning on martial subjects, became more general.  Their march being performed without any incident of note, we will, instead of following them, take a brief retrospective glance on those historical events which had so completely and gloriously turned the fate of Scotland and her patriots, in those five years which the thread of our narrative compels us to leave a blank.

END OF VOL.  I.

* * * * *

GRACE AGUILAR’S WORKS.

HOME INFLUENCE. 
MOTHER’S RECOMPENSE. 
VALE OF CEDARS. 
WOMAN’S FRIENDSHIP. 
DAYS OF BRUCE. 
WOMEN OF ISRAEL. 
HOME SCENES AND HEART STUDIES.

1 vol., 12mo, Illustrated, price $1, with a Memoir of the Author,

HOME INFLUENCE,

A TALE FOR MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS.

By GRACE AGUILAR.

“Grace Aguilar wrote and spoke as one inspired; she condensed and spiritualized, and all her thoughts and feelings were steeped in the essence of celestial love and truth.  To those who really knew Grace Aguilar, all eulogium falls short of her deserts, and she has left a blank in her particular walk of literature, which we never expect to see filled up.”—­Pilgrimages to English Shrines, by Mrs. Hall.

“A clever and interesting tale, corresponding well to its name, illustrating the silent, constant influence of a wise and affectionate parent over characters the most diverse.”—­Christian Lady’s Magazine.