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velled at yeso gleg ye took him up。 How could ye learn it？ And ye are a brave warrior too in battles；' she added； looking him over with a sister's fond pride。
'We have had no battle； no pitched field；' said Malcolm 'but I have seen war。'
'So that ugly words can never be flung in your face again！' cried Lilias。 'Are you knighted； brother？'
'No； but they say I have won my spurs。 I'll tell you all； Lily； as we walk。 Only let me bestow this iron cap where some mavis may nestle in it。 Ay； and the boots too； which scarce befit a clerk。 There； your hand； Clerk Davie； we must make westward to…day； lest poor Duke Murdoch be forced to send to chase us。 After that； for the Border and Patie。'
So brother and sister set forth on their wanderingand truly it was a happy journey。 The weather favoured them； and their hearts were light。 Lilias； delivered from terrible； hopeless captivity； her brother beside her； and now not a brother to be pitied and protected； but to protect her and be exulted in； trod the heather with an exquisite sense of joy and freedom that buoyed her up against all hardships； and Malcolm was at peace； as he had seldom been。 His happiness was not exactly like his sister's in her renewed liberty and restoration to love and joy； for he had known a wider range of life； and though really younger than Lily； his more complicated history could not but make him older in thought and mind。 Another self…abnegation was beginning to rise upon him； as he travelled slowly southwards by stages suited to his sister's powers； and by another track than that by which he had gone。 On the moor； or by the burn side； there was peace and brightness； but wherever he met with man he found something to sadden him。 Did they rest in a monastery； there was often irregularity； seldom devotion； always crass ignorance。 The manse was often a scene of such dissolute life that Malcolm shunned to bring his sister into the sight of it； the peel tower was the dwelling of savagery； the farm homestead either rude and lawless or in constant terror； the black spaces on many a brae side showed where dwellings had been burned； more than once they passed skeletons depending from the trees or lying rotting by the way…side。 And it was frightful to Malcolm； after his four years' absence； to find how little Lilias shared his horror； taking quite naturally what to Alice Montagu would have seemed beyond the bounds of possibility； and would have set Esclairmonde's soul on fire； while Lilias seemed to think it her brother's amiable peculiarity to be shocked； or to long to set such things straight。
He felt the truth of James Kennedy's wordsthat reformation could not be the sole work of the King； but that his hands must be strengthened by all the few who knew that a different state of things was possible； and that； above all； the clergy needed to be awakened into vigour and intelligence。 Formerly； the miserable aspect of the country had merely terrified him； and driven him to strive to hide his head in a convent； but the strength and the sense of duty he had acquired had brought his heart to respond to Kennedy's call to work。
Esclairmonde's words wrought within him beyond her own ken or purpose in speaking them。 He began to understand that to bury himself in an Italian university and dive into Aristotle's sayings； to heap up his own memory with the stores of thought he loved； or to plunge into the mazes of mathematics； philosophy； and music； while his brethren in his own country were tearing one another to pieces for lack of any good influence to teach or show them better things； would be a storing of treasure for himself on earth； a pursuit of the light of knowledge indeed； but not a wooing of the light of Wisdom； the true Light of the World； as seen in Him who went about doing good。 To complete his present course was； he knew； necessary。 He had seen enough of really learned scholars to know the depths of his own ignorance； and to be aware that certain books must be read under guidance； and certain studies gone through； before his cultivation would be on a level with the standard of the best working clergy of the English Churchsuch as Chicheley； Waynflete； or the like。 He would therefore remain at Oxford； he thought； long enough to take his Master of Arts degree； and then； though to his own perceptions only the one…eyed among the blind； he would make the real sacrifice of himself in the rude and cruel world of Scotland。
He knew that his king was well satisfied with Patrick； and also that a man of sound heart and prompt； hard hand was far fitter to rule as a secular lord than his own more fine…drawn mature could ever be； but as a priest； with the influence that his birth and the King's friendship would give him； he already saw chances of raising the tone of the clergy； and thus improving the wild and lawless people。
A deep purpose of self…devotion was growing up in his soul； but without saddening him； only rendering him more energetic and cheerful than his sister had ever known him。
As they walked together over the long stretches of moor； many were Lily's questions； and Malcolm beguiled the way with many a story of camp and court； told both for his own satisfaction in her sympathy； and with the desire to make the Scottish lassie see what was the life and what the thoughts of ladies of her own degree in other lands； so that the Lady of Glenuskie might be awake to somewhat of the high purpose of virtuous home government to which Alice of Salisbury had been trained。
As to the Flemish heiress； no representation would induce Lilias to love her。 Reject Malcolm for a convent's sake！ It was unpardonable； and as to a bedeswoman； working uncloistered in the streets； Lily viewed that as neither the one thing nor the other； neither religious nor secular； and she was persuaded that a little exertion on the part of the brother； whom she viewed as a paladin； would overcome all coyness on the lady's part。
Malcolm found it vain to try to show his sister his sense of his own deserts； and equally so to declare that if the maiden should so yield； she would indeed be the Demoiselle de Luxemburg to whom he was pledged； but not the Esclairmonde whom his better part adored。 So he let the matter pass by； and both enjoyed their masquing in one another's company as a holiday such as they could never have again。
They had no serious alarms； the pursuit must have been disconcerted； and the two young scholars were not worth the attention of freebooters。 Their winsomeness of manner won them kindness wherever they harboured； and thus； after many days； without molestation they came to the walls of Berwick。 And now； while Malcolm thought his difficulties at an end； a horror of bashfulness fell upon Lilias。 She had been Clerk Davie merrily enough while there was no one to suspect her； but the transmutation into her proper self filled her with shame。
She hung back； and could be hardly dragged forward to the embattled gateway of the bridge by her brotherwho； as the guards； jealously cautious even in this time of peace； called out to him to stand； showed his ring bearing the royal arms； and desired to speak within the captain of the garrison； who was commandi