"Excuse me, my lord—but this—this money you speak of—I would rather die than accept it!"
"How?"
"Change of situation can never make me forget that I am——"
"What?" asked Kildonan haughtily.
"A gentleman," said I, bowing.
The earl bowed in return, with a smile of pleasure.
"Let this money," I resumed, "be given to the widows of the regiment, my lord"—(my emotion became deeper)—"could I accept money for the rescue of the same colour which my father carried under yours at the siege of Belle-Isle?"
"Bravo!" exclaimed the officers, clapping their hands.
"Pardon the offer, Ellis—you are right," said the earl; "so truly can I appreciate the spirit which animates you, that I now promise you shall carry the standard you have so bravely restored to us; and as you have so sternly avenged the unhappy assassination of the Master of Glenluce, you shall wear the poor boy's sword on receiving the commission which his death has rendered vacant."
I had no words wherewith to thank the earl, but remember old Captain Glendonwyn shaking my hand warmly as he said,—