only to go to the Kirk of Saint Bride in Douglasdale, and there set me
down by my auld master's coffin till I die."

At that moment there issued forth from the gateway the young Earl,
holding by the hand the Lady Sybilla. His mother, the Countess, came
to the door to see them ride away. The Queen of the Sports was in a
merry mood, and as she tripped down the steps she turned, and looking
over her shoulder she called to the Lady Douglas, "Fear not for your
son, I will take good care of him!"

But the elder woman answered neither her smile nor yet her word, but
stood like a mother who sees a first-born son treading in places
perilous, yet dares not warn him, knowing well that she would drive
him to giddier and yet more dangerous heights.

The pennons of the escort fluttered in the breeze as the men on
horseback tossed their lances high in the air, in salutation of their
lord. The archer guard stood ranked and ready, bows on their shoulders
and arrows in quiver. Horses neighed, armour clanked and sparkled, and
from the moat platform twenty silver trumpets blared a fanfare as the
Lady Sybilla, the arbiter of this day's chivalry, mounted her palfrey
with the help of Earl Douglas. She thanked him with a low word in his
ear, audible only to himself, as he set her in the saddle and bent to
kiss her hand.

A right gallant pair were Douglas and Sybilla de Thouars as they rode
away, their heads close together, over the green sward and under the
tossing banners of the bridge. Sholto was behind them giving great
heed to the managing of his horse, and wondering in his heart if
indeed Maud Lindesay were looking down from her chamber window. As