glens tomorrow, or taste the tolbooth of the burgh. An assault upon
the life of his master's guest in his house! It breaks all bonds
between us. But let me see to thy wound."

"Catharine!" repeated the armourer--"look to Catharine."

"Dorothy will see to her," said Simon; "surprise and fear kill not;
skenes and dirks do. And she is not more the daughter of my blood
than thou, my dear Henry, art the son of my affections. Let me see
the wound. The skene occle is an ugly weapon in a Highland hand."

"I mind it no more than the scratch of a wildcat," said the armourer;
"and now that the colour is coming to Catharine's cheek again, you
shall see me a sound man in a moment."

He turned to a corner in which hung a small mirror, and hastily
took from his purse some dry lint to apply to the slight wound he
had received. As he unloosed the leathern jacket from his neck and
shoulders, the manly and muscular form which they displayed was not
more remarkable than the fairness of his skin, where it had not,
as in hands and face, been exposed to the effects of rough weather
and of his laborious trade. He hastily applied some lint to stop
the bleeding; and a little water having removed all other marks
of the fray, he buttoned his doublet anew, and turned again to the
table, where Catharine, still pale and trembling, was, however,
recovered from her fainting fit.

"Would you but grant me your forgiveness for having offended you
in the very first hour of my return? The lad was foolish to provoke
me, and yet I was more foolish to be provoked by such as he. Your