Series 3 > Miscellany of the Scottish History Society (Fourth volume)

32 ON THE EXPEDITION TO SCOTLAND
have preferred to confide in him, for he disliked the idea
of leaving a brother so dear without bidding him farewell,
and the young Duke’s discretion, which had already been
proved several times to be greater than his years, did not
admit of a doubt that he would keep the secret. But after
due consideration he decided not to listen to the dictates
of his heart, for fear that a possible expression of sadness
on his face might awaken suspicion. Edward, meanwhile,
with no other idea in life than the glory of his great enter¬
prise, firmly smothered his feelings, displaying all his usual
gaiety with his brother, the servants, and his friends to
the last, to the astonishment of King James and Dunbar,
who watched his face in silence, well knowing what he
was concealing.
This was even more remarkable on the day before his
start. When it became known in Rome that the Princes
were to leave for Cisterna on the following day, the leading
nobles came, as usual, to pay them their respects in the
evening. Edward’s self-control was absolute. He received
them all with his usual grace, talked affably with them,
addressing some by name, carrying on commonplace shoot¬
ing talk and letting fall a joke now and then, as if he were
going into the country for pleasure and not to undertake
a long and difficult journey, full of hardships, to be cut off
from his family, from all the associations of his early boy¬
hood. James’s fortitude rivalled that of his son. Though
his heart was heavy within him, he played his part in the
conversation with an expression so unconcerned that he
gave not the slightest sign of his feelings. When the recep¬
tion came to an end amid good wishes for a pleasant trip,
it was followed by a private supper, King James sitting
down with his two sons, as usual, nor did the gentlemen-
in-waiting present observe the slightest depression or any¬
thing ususual. Indeed, after the meal, some time was
spent in happy talk until the King rose and dismissed his
sons, wishing them bon voyage. Edward was the first to
retire to his room, but shortly afterwards he repaired to
his father through a secret passage and conversed with him
in private for the space of an hour.