“Robert, come woe or weal, I will abide with thee; her husband’s side is the best protection for a wife; and if wandering and suffering be his portion, who will soothe and cheer as the wife of his love?  My spirit is but cowardly, my will but weak; but by thee I may gain the strength which in foreign lands could never be my own.  Imaginary terrors, fancied horrors would be worse, oh, how much worse than reality! and when we met again I should be still less worthy of thy love.  No, Robert, no! urge me not, plead to me no more.  My friends may do as they will, but Margaret abides with thee.”

“And who is there will pause, will hesitate, when their queen hath spoken thus?” continued the Countess of Buchan in a tone that to Margaret’s ear whispered approval and encouragement.  “Surely, there is none here whose love for their country is so weak, their loyalty to their sovereign of such little worth, that at the first defeat, the first disappointment, they would fly over seas for safety, and contentedly leave the graves of their fathers, the hearths of their ancestors, the homes of their childhood to be desecrated by the chains of a foreign tyrant, by the footsteps of his hirelings?  Oh, do not let us waver!  Let us prove that though the arm of woman is weaker than that of man, her spirit is as firm, her heart as true; and that privation, and suffering, and hardship encountered amid the mountains of our land, the natural fastnesses of Scotland, in company with our rightful king, our husbands, our children—­all, all, aye, death itself, were preferable to exile and separation.  ’Tis woman’s part to gild, to bless, and make a home, and still, still we may do this, though our ancestral homes be in the hands of Edward.  Scotland has still her sheltering breast for all her children; and shall we desert her now?”

“No, no, no!” echoed from every side, enthusiasm kindling with her words.  “Better privation and danger in Scotland, than safety and comfort elsewhere.”

Nor was this the mere decision of the moment, founded on its enthusiasm.  The next morning found them equally firm, equally determined; even the weak and timid Margaret rose in that hour of trial superior to herself, and preparations were rapidly made for their departure.  Nor were the prelates of Scotland, who had remained at Scone during the king’s engagement, backward in encouraging and blessing their decision.  His duties prevented the Abbot of Scone accompanying them; but it was with deep regret he remained behind, not from any fear of the English, for a warrior spirit lurked beneath those episcopal robes, but from his deep reverence for the enterprise, and love for the person of King Robert.  He acceded to the necessity of remaining in his abbey with the better grace, as he fondly hoped to preserve the citizens in the good faith and loyalty they had so nobly demonstrated.  The Archbishop of St. Andrew’s and the Bishop of Glasgow determined on following their sovereign