Chapter 28 - Page 2

at the tower. These circumstances led her to
entertain most serious apprehension that the life of Sir Piercie
Shafton was in great and instant peril.

Woman is naturally compassionate, and not less willingly so when youth
and fair features are on the side of him who claims her sympathy. The
handsome presence, elaborate dress and address, of Sir Piercie
Shafton, which had failed to make any favorable impression on the
grave and lofty character of Mary Avenel, had completely dazzled and
bewildered the poor Maid of the Mill. The knight had perceived this
result, and, flattered by seeing that his merit was not universally
underrated, he had bestowed on Mysie a good deal more of his courtesy
than in his opinion her rank warranted. It was not cast away, but
received with a devout sense of his condescension, and with gratitude
for his personal notice, which, joined to her fears for his safety,
and the natural tenderness of her disposition, began to make wild work
in her heart.

"To be sure it was very wrong in him to slay Halbert Glendinning," (it
was thus she argued the case with herself,) "but then he was a
gentleman born, and a soldier, and so gentle and courteous withal,
that she was sure the quarrel had been all of young Glendinning's own
seeking; for it was well known that both these lads were so taken up
with that Mary Avenel, that they never looked at another lass in the
Halidome, more than if they were of a different degree. And then
Halbert's dress was as clownish as his manners were haughty; and this
poor young gentleman, (who was habited like any prince,) banished from
his own land, was first drawn into a quarrel by a rude brangler, and
then persecuted and like to be put to death by his kin and allies."

Mysie wept bitterly at the thought, and then her heart rising against
such cruelty and oppression to a defenceless stranger, who dressed
with so much skill, and spoke with so much grace, she began to
consider whether she could not render him some assistance in this
extremity.

Her mind was now entirely altered from its original purpose. At first
her only anxiety had been to find the means of escaping from the
interior apartment, without being noticed by any one; but now she
began to think that Heaven had placed her there for the safety and
protection of the persecuted stranger. She was of a simple and
affectionate, but at the same time an alert and enterprising
character, possessing more than female strength of body, and more than
female courage, though with feelings as capable of being bewildered
with gallantry of dress and language, as a fine gentleman of any
generation would have desired to exercise his talents upon. "I will
save him," she