"What silver cross?"
"That one from which the Abbey was named, Sir; the silver rood that was given, they pretended, to I forget now what king."
"David First, the founder of the Abbey? No, it is not here,
Ellen; David the Second lost it to the English. But why do you
say pretended, Ellen? It was a very real affair; kept in
England for a long time with great veneration."
"Oh yes, Sir; I know the cross was real; I mean, it was pretended that an angel gave it to King David when he was hunting here."
"Well, how can you tell but that was so? King David was made a saint, you know."
"Oh, Sir," said Ellen, laughing, "I know better than that; I know it was only a monkish trick."
"Monkish trick! which do you mean? the giving of the cross, or the making the king a saint?"
"Both, Sir," said Ellen, still smiling.
"At that rate," said Mr. Lindsay, much amused, "if you are such a sceptic, you will take no comfort in anything at the Abbey; you will not believe anything is genuine."
"I will believe what you tell me, Sir."