Happy at so grateful a demand, Wallace beckoned Edwin, who, just
relieved from his guard, was standing at some distance. "Here," said
he, "is my knight of fifteen! for last night he proved himself more
worthy of his spurs than many a man who has received them from a king."

"He shall wear those of a king," rejoined the Lord Mar, unbuckling from
his feet a pair of golden spurs; "these were fastened on my heels by
our great king, Alexander, at the battle of Largs. I had intended them
for my only son; but the first knight in the cause of rescued Scotland
is the son of my heart and soul!"

As he spoke, he would have pressed the young hero to his breast; but
Edwin, trembling with emotion, slid down upon his knees, and clasping
the earl's hand, said, in a hardly audible voice, "Receive and pardon
the truant son of your sister Ruthven!"

"What!" exclaimed the veteran, "is it Edwin Ruthven that has brought me
this weight of honor? Come to my arms, thou dearest child of my
dearest Janet?"

The uncle and nephew were folded in each other's embrace. Lady Mar
wept, and Wallace, unable to bear the remembrance which such a scene
pressed upon his heart, turned away toward the battlements. Edwin
murmured a short explanation in the ear of his uncle; and then rising
from his arms, with his beautiful face glittering like an April day in
tears, allowed his gay cousin Murray to buckle the royal spurs on his
feet. The rite over, he kissed Lord Andrew's hand in token of
acknowledgment; and called on Sir William Wallace to bless the new
honors conferred on his knight.