Scotland (which Wallace had sketched after she left the
banqueting-room), she took Lord Andrew aside, to converse with him on
the subject now nearest to her heart.

"It certainly belongs to me alone, her kinsman and friend, to protect
Helen to the Tweed, if there she must go," returned Murray; "but, my
good lady, I cannot comprehend why I am to lead my fair cousin such a
pilgrimage. She is not afraid of heroes! you are safe in Dumbarton,
and why not bring her here also?"

"Not for worlds!" exclaimed the countess, thrown off her guard. Murray
looked at her with surprise. It recalled her to self-possession, and
she resumed: "So lovely a creature in this castle would be a dangerous
magnet. You must have known that it was the hope of obtaining her
which attracted the Lord Soulis and Earl de Valence to Bothwell. The
whole castle rung with the quarrel of these two lords upon her account,
when you so fortunately effected her escape. Should it be known that
she is here, the same fierce desire of obtaining her would give double
incitement to De Valence to recover the place; and the consequences,
who can answer for?"

By this argument Murray was persuaded to relinquish the idea of
conveying Helen to Dumbarton; but remembering what Wallace had said
respecting the safety of a religious sanctuary, he advised that she
should be left at St. Fillan's till the cause of Scotland might be more
firmly established. "Send a messenger to inform her of the rescue of
Dumbarton, and of your and my uncle's health," continued he, "and that
will be sufficient to make her happy."

That she was not to be thrown in Wallace's way satisfied Lady Mar; and