Wyseby

OF THE FIRST IRVINGS. 17
" True, true," said the knight, struggling to sup-
press his rising indignation ; " the brave need not to
remind the brave of gallant services, for the truly
brave never forget them, and are ever ready to re-
ward them. But," added he, observing the darken-
ing brow of the chief, " landless, friendless, power-
less, save in the prowess of a single arm, Sir Esecal
is scarcely meet suitor for the sister of a Border
chief."
In stern dignity answered Irving, " Unworthy of
thee, unworthy of me, is thy base insinuation !
Though at this moment thou stoodest reinstated in
the favour of thy sovereign, thy reputation cleared
of all charges, the possessions of thy father thine
again, — though thou wert as I have seen thee, sur-
rounded by the good, the brave, and the noble, yet
should my answer be then as my answer is now —
To accept thee or to reject thee, Catharine Irving is
as free as the wind."
On the brow of Sir Esecal, blackness, as of mid-
night, settled ; his breast heaved ; his eyes glared
malignantly ; his teeth are clenched ; his fingers
open and shut convulsively ; — a moment it is thus :
— the cloud leaves his brow, the motion of his breast
is regular, the agitation of his nerves is past, and,
save an undefinable expression in his eye, all traces
of his late emotions are fled. " By the blessed Vir-
gin ! chief of the Irvings," said he, " thy conduct is
right noble ; happy the sister who has such a bro-
ther. Forgive my hasty words," said he, extending
his hand to the chief, who had again seated himself
at the board ; " forgive my hasty words, for on the
honour of a knight and the faith of a soldier, dearer
art thou to me, by thy noble consistency, than thou
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