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anced the likelihood of his being recognized。 Kind monks； and friendly gude…wives； hospitably persuaded the worn student to remain and rest； till his blistered feet were whole； but he pressed on whenever he found it possible to travel； and after the first week found his progress less tardy and painful。
Resting at Edinburgh for Passion…tide and Easter Day； he found that the Regent Albany himself； with all his family； were at Doune； and he accordingly made his way thither； rejoicing that he had had some little time to perfect himself in his part； before rehearsing it to the persons most likely to detect his disguise。
Along the banks and braes of bonny Doune he slowly moved； with weary limbs； looking up to the huge pile of the majestic castle in sickening of heart at the doubt that was about to become a certainty； and that involved the happiness or the absolute misery of his sister's life。 Nay； he would almost have preferred to find that she had perished in her resistance； rather than have become wife to such a man as Walter Stewart。
The Duke of Albany； as representing majesty； kept up all the state that Scottish majesty was capable of； in its impoverished irregular state。 Hosts of rough lawless warriors； men…at…arms； squires and knights； lived at free quarters； in a sort of rude plenty； in and about the Castle； eating and drinking at the Regent's expense； sleeping where they could； in hall or stable； and for clothing and armour trusting to 'spulzie'； always ready for violence； without much caring on whom exercisedotherwise hunting； or lounging； or swelling their master's disorderly train。
This retinue was almost at its largest at this time； being swelled by the following of the two younger sons of Murdoch； Robert and Alexander； and the courts of the Castle were filled with rude； savage…looking men； some few grooming horses； others with nothing to do but to shout forth their jeers at the pale； black…gowned student； who timidly limped into their lair。
Timidlyyes； for the awful chances heavily oppressed him； and the horrible scurrility and savagery that greeted him on all sides made his heart faint at the thought of his Lily in this cage of foul animals。 He did not fear for himself； and never paused until a shouting circle of idle ruffians set themselves full in his way； to badger and bait the poor scholar with taunts and insultshemming him in； bawling out ribald mirth； as a pack of hounds fall on some stray dog； or； as Malcolm thought； in a moment half of sick horror； half of resolute resignation； like wild cattlefat bulls of Bashan closing in on every side。 So horrible a moment of distress he had never known； but suddenly； as he stood summoning all his strength； panting with dismay； inwardly praying； and trying to close his ears and commend himself to One who knew what mockery is； there was an opening of the crowd； a youth darted down among them； with a loud cry of 'Shame！ Out on you！ A poor scholar！' and taking Malcolm's hand； led him forward； while a laugh of mockery rose in the distance'Like to like。'
'Ay； my friend and brother； I am Baccalaureus； even as you are；' eagerly said the young gentleman； in whom Malcolm； somewhat to his alarm； recognized his cousin； James Kennedy； the King's nephew； a real Parisian 'bejanus；' or bec jaune； ｛2｝ when they last had met in the Hotel de St。 Pol； and thus not only qualified to confute and expose him； should he show any ignorance of details； but also much more likely to know him than those who had not seen him for many months before he had left Scotland。
But James Kennedy asked no questions； only said kindly； in the Latin that was always spoken in the University； 'Pray pardon us！ Mores Hyperboreis desunt。 ｛3｝ The Regent would be grieved； if he knew how these scelerati ｛4｝ have sorted you。 Come； rest and washit will soon be supper…time。'
He took Malcolm to an inner court； filled for him a cup of ale； for his immediate refreshment； and led him to a spout of clear water； in the side of the rock on which the Castle stood； where a stone basin afforded the only facilities for washing that the greater part of the inhabitants of the Castle expected； and； in effect； more than they commonly used。 Malcolm； however； was heartily glad of the refreshment of removing the dust from his weary face and feetand heartily thanked his protector； in the same dog…Latin。 Kennedy waited for him； and as a great bell began to ring； said 'Pro caena；' ｛5｝ and conducted him towards the great hall while Malcolm felt much impelled to make himself known； but was conscious that he had not so comported himself towards his cousin at Paris as to deserve much favour from him。
A high table was spread in the hall； with the usual appliances befitting princes and nobles。 The other tables； below the dais； were of the rudest description； and stained with accumulations of grease and ale； and no wonder； since trenchers were not； and each man hacked a gobbet for himself from the huge pieces of beef carried round on spitsnor would the guests have had any objection； during a campaign； to cook the meat in the fashion described by Froissart； between themselves and the saddle。 These were the squirearchy； Malcolm's late persecutors did not aspire to the benches around these boards； or only at second hand； and for the most part had no seat but the unclean straw and rushes that strewed the floor。
As James Kennedy entered the hall with Malcolm； there came from another door； marshalled by the seneschal in full feudal state； the Regent Duke of Albany himself； his wife； a daughter or two； two sons… …and Malcolm saw； with beating heart； Lilias herself； pale worn； sorrowful…looking； grievously altered； but still his own Lily。 Others followed； chiefly knights and attendants； but Malcolm saw no one but Lily。 She took her place dejectedly； and never raised her eyes towards him； even when； on the Regent's question； 'What have ye there； Jamie？' Kennedy stood forth and answered that it was a scholar； a student； for whom he asked the hospitality of his kinsman。
'He is welcome；' said the Regent； a man of easy good…nature； whose chief misfortune was； that being of weak nature； he came between a wicked father and wickeder sons。 He was a handsome man； with much of the stately appearance of King James himself； and the same complexion； but it was that sort of likeness which was almost provoking； by seeming to detract from the majesty of the lineaments themselves； as seen in him who alone knew how to make them a mask for a great soul。 His two sons； Robert and Alexander； laughed as they saw Kennedy's companion； and called out； 'So that's the brotherhood of learning； is it； Jamie？forgathering with any beggar in the street！'
'Yea；' said Kennedy； nothing daunted； 'and finding him much better mannered than you！'
'Ay！' sighed Murdoch； feebly； 'when I grew up； it was at the Castles of Perth and Doune that we looked for the best manners。 Now'
'We leave them to the lick…platters that have to live by them；' said Alexander； rudely。
Kennedy； meanwhile； gave the young scholar in charge to a gray…headed retainer； who seemed one of the few who had any remains of good… breeding； and then offered to say Gracehe being the