"'Tis false!" cried he, recovering from his first expectation; "'tis a
phantom of my own creating. The pure spirit of Marion would never fly
from me; I loved her too well. She would not thus redouble my grief.
But I shall go to thee, wife of my soul!" cried he; "and that is
comfort." Balm, indeed, is the Christian's hope!"

Such were his words, such were his thoughts, till the coldness of the
hour and the exhaustion of nature putting a friendly seal upon his
senses, he sunk upon the bank, and fell into a profound sleep.

When he awoke the lark was caroling above his head; and to his surprise
he found a plaid was laid over him. He threw it off, and beheld Edwin
seated at his feet. "This has been your doing, my kind brother," said
he, "but how came you to discover me?"

"I missed you when the dawn broke, and at last found you here, sleeping
under the dew."

"And has none else been astir?" inquired Wallace, thinking of the
figure he had seen.

"None that I know of. All were fast asleep when I left the party."

Wallace began to fancy that he had been laboring under the impressions
of some powerful dream, and saying no more, he returned to the wood.
Finding everybody ready, he took his station; and setting forth, all
proceeded cheerfully, though slowly, through the delightful valleys of
Barochan. By sunset they arrived at the point of embarkation. The
journey ought to have been performed in half the time; but the countess
petitioned for long rests, a compliance with which the younger part of