“Trust me, Nigel; oh, surely you may trust me!  You will not part from me in anger at my wilfulness?” entreated Margaret, as clinging to his arm, she retained him a few minutes ere he placed her in the litter.

“In anger, my sweet sister, nay, thou wrongest me!” he said, a bright smile dispersing a moment the pensive cast of his features.  “In sorrow, perchance, for I love not him to whose care thou hast committed thyself; yet if ill await this castle, and thou wert with me, ’twould enhance its bitterness.  No, tis better thou shouldst go; though I would it were not to the Lord of Ross.”

“And wherefore?” demanded the deep stern voice of the officer beside him.

“Because I doubt him, Archibald Macfarlane,” sternly replied the young nobleman, fixing his flashing eyes upon him; “and thou mayst so inform him an thou wilt.  An I do him wrong, let him deliver the Queen of Scotland and her attendants in safety to King Robert, in the forthcoming spring, and Nigel Bruce will crave forgiveness for the wrong that he hath done him; nay, let his conduct give my doubts the lie, and I will even thank him, sir.”

Turning on his heel, he conducted the queen to her litter, and bade a graceful farewell to all her fair companions, bidding good angels speed them on their way.  The heavy gates were thrown back, the portcullis raised and the drawbridge lowered, and amid a parting cheer from the men-at-arms drawn up in the court in military homage to their queen, the cavalcade departed, attended only by the men of Ross, for the number of the garrison was too limited to admit of their attendance anywhere, save within and on the walls.

With folded arms and an anxious brow, Sir Nigel stood beside the gate, marking the progress of the train; a gentle voice aroused him.  It playfully said, “Come to the highest turret, Nigel, there thou wilt trace their path as long as light remains.”  He started, for Agnes was at his side.  He drew her arm within his own, briefly gave the command to close the gate and make all secure, and turned with her in the direction of the keep.

“Have I done right,” he said, as, when they had reached a more retired path, he folded his arm caressingly around her, and drew her closer to him, “to list thy pleadings, dearest, to grant thy boon? oh, if they go to safety, why did I listen to thee and permit thee to remain?”

“Nay, there is equal safety within these walls, Nigel.  Be assured, thine Agnes hath neither regret nor doubt when thou art by her side,” she answered, still playfully.  “I love not the sanctuaries they go to seek; the stout hearts and trusty blades of warriors like thee and thine, my Nigel, are better and truer safeguards.”

“Alas!  Agnes, I fear me not in cases such as these.  I am not wont to be desponding, but from the small number of true men which garrison this castle, I care not to acknowledge I had loved better to meet my foe on open ground.  Here I can scarce know friend from foe; traitors may be around me, nay, in my very confidence, and I know it not.”