Queen Catherine and her ladies joined the funeral march at Rouen, or rather followed it at a mile’s interval; but the two trains kept apart, and only occasional messages were sent from one to the other.  Some of the gentlemen, who had a wife or sister in the Queen’s suite, would ride at nightfall to pay her a hasty visit; but Malcolm—­though he longed to be sent—­durst not intrude upon Esclairmonde; and the Duke of Bedford was not only forced to spend all the evening and half the night in business, but was not loth to put off the day of the meeting with his dear sister Catherine—­to say nothing of the ‘Woman of Hainault.’

Therefore it was not until all had arrived at Calais, where a fleet was waiting to meet them, that any visits were openly made by the one party to the other.

Bedford and James went together to the apartments of the Queen, and while they saw her in private, Malcolm came blushing towards Esclairmonde, and was welcomed by her with a frank smile, outstretched hand, and kind inquiry after his recovery.

She treated him indeed as a brother, as one on whom she depended, and had really wished to see and arrange with.  She told him that Alice Montagu and her husband were returning to England, and that her little friend had so earnestly prayed her to abide with her at Middleham for the present, that she had consented—­’until such time as the way be open,’ said Esclairmonde, with her steady patient smile.

Malcolm bowed his head.  ’I am glad you will not be forced to be with your Countess,’ he said.

’My poor lady!  Maybe I have spoken too plainly.  But I owe her much.  I must ever pray for her.  And you, my lord?’

‘I,’ said Malcolm, ’shall go to study at Oxford.  Dr. Bennet intends returning thither to continue his course of teaching, and my king has consented to my studying with him.  It will not cut me off, lady, from that which you permit me to be.  King Henry and his brothers have all been scholars there.’

‘I understand,’ said Esclairmonde, slightly colouring.  ’It is well.  And truly I trust that matters may be so guided, that care for me may not long detain you from more lasting vows—­be they of heaven or earth.’

‘Lady,’ said Malcolm, earnestly, ’none who had been plighted to you could pledge himself to aught else save One above!’

Then, feeling in himself, or seeing in Esclairmonde’s face, that he was treading on dangerous ground, he asked leave to present to her his cousin, Patrick Drummond:  and this was accordingly done; the lady comporting herself with so much sweet graciousness, that the good knight, as they left the hall, exclaimed:  ’By St. Andrew, Malcolm, if you let that maiden escape you now she is more than half-wedded to you, you’ll be the greatest fool in broad Scotland.  Why, she is a very queen for beauty, and would rule Glenuskie like a princess—­ay, and defend the Castle like Black Agnes of Dunbar herself!  If you give her up, ye’ll be no better than a clod.’