With this assurance Agnes, or, as she was called, Meg left her father, and bethought her of how she might save the prisoners and secure a husband.
The mother of the laird sat in the midst of her daughters, mourning for him, and looking from the window of the tower, as though, in every form that appeared in the distance, she expected to see him, or at least to gather tidings regarding him, when information was brought to her that he was the prisoner of Murray of Elibank.
“Then,” cried she, and wept, “the days o’ my winsome Willie are numbered, and his death is determined on; for often has Sir Gideon declared he would gie a’ the lands o’ Elibank for his head. My Willie is my only son, my first-born, and my heart’s hope and treasure; and, oh, if I lose him now, if I shall never again hear his kindly voice say ‘mother!’ nor stroke down his yellow hair—wi’ him that has made me sonless I shall hae a day o’ lang and fearfu’ reckoning; cauld shall be the hearth-stane in the house o’ many a Murray, and loud their lamentation.”
Her daughters wept with her for their brother’s fate; but they wist not how to comfort her; and, while they sat mingling their tears together, it was announced to them that a humble maiden, bearing a message from the captive laird, desired to speak with her.
“Show her in!—take me to her!” cried the mother, impatiently. “Where is she?—what does she say?—or what does my Willie say?” And the maiden who has been mentioned as having visited the laird in his prison, was ushered into her presence.
“Come to me, lassie—come and tell me a’,” cried the old lady; “what message does Willie Scott send to his heart-broken mother?”
“He has sent you this bit packet, ma’am,” replied the bearer; “and I shall be right glad to take back to him whatever answer ye may hae to send.”
“And wha are ye, young woman?” inquired the lady, “that speaks sae kindly to a mother, an’ takes an interest in the fate o’ my Willie?”
“A despised lassie,” was the reply; “but ane that would risk her ain life to save either yours or his.”
“Bless you for the words!” replied Lady Scott, as she broke the seal of her son’s letter, and read:—