one to whose violent and ever vehement disposition the very working
upon them proves a sin and a snare. Resign utterly the manufacture
of weapons of every description, and deserve the forgiveness of
Heaven, by renouncing all that can lead to the sin which most easily
besets you."

"And what," murmured the armourer, "am I to do for my livelihood,
when I have given over the art of forging arms for which Henry of
Perth is known from the Tay to the Thames?"

"Your art itself," said Catharine, "has innocent and laudable
resources. If you renounce the forging of swords and bucklers,
there remains to you the task of forming the harmless spade, and
the honourable as well as useful ploughshare--of those implements
which contribute to the support of life, or to its comforts. Thou
canst frame locks and bars to defend the property of the weak against
the stouthrief and oppression of the strong. Men will still resort
to thee, and repay thy honest industry--"

But here Catharine was interrupted. Her father had heard her declaim
against war and tournaments with a feeling that, though her doctrine
were new to him, they might not, nevertheless, be entirely erroneous.
He felt, indeed, a wish that his proposed son in law should not
commit himself voluntarily to the hazards which the daring character
and great personal strength of Henry the Smith had hitherto led
him to incur too readily; and so far he would rather have desired
that Catharine's arguments should have produced some effect upon
the mind of her lover, whom he knew to be as ductile when influenced
by his affections as he was fierce and intractable when assailed
by hostile remonstrances or threats. But her arguments interfered