hereafter
charge her with complicity in what should follow.

I hope that in this I do her memory no injustice. It is thus that I read
the sequel, nor can I read it in any other way.

She found him abed, with a piece of taffeta over his face to hide its
disfigurement, and she was so moved--as it seemed--by his condition,
that she fell on her knees beside him, and wept in the presence of her
attendants and his own; confessing penitence if anything she had done
in the past could have contributed to their estrangement. Thus
reconciliation followed, and she used him tenderly, grew solicitous
concerning him, and vowed that as soon as he could be moved, he must be
taken to surroundings more salubrious and more befitting the dignity of
his station.

Gladly then he agreed to return with her to Holyrood.

"Not to Holyrood," she said. "At least, not until your health is mended,
lest you should carry thither infection dangerous to your little son."

"Whither then?" he asked her, and when she mentioned Craigmillar, he
started up in bed, so that the taffeta slipped from his face, and it was
with difficulty that she dissembled the loathing with which the sight of
its pustules inspired her.

"Craigmillar!" he cried. "Then what I was told is true."

"What were you told?" quoth she, staring at him, brows knit, her face
blank.

A rumour had filtered through to him of the Craigmillar bond. He had
been told that a letter drawn up there had been presented to her for her
signature, which she had refused. Thus much he told her, adding that he
could not believe that she would do him any hurt; and yet why did she
desire to bear him to Craigmillar?

"You have been told lies," she answered him. "I saw no such letter; I
subscribed none, nor was ever asked to subscribe any," which indeed was
literally true. "To this I swear. As for your going to Craigmillar, you
shall go whithersoever you please, yourself."

He sank back on his pillows, and his trembling subsided.

"I believe thee, Mary. I believe thou'ld never do me any harm," he
repeated, "and if any other would," he added on a bombastic note, "they
shall buy it dear, unless they take me sleeping. But I'll never to
Craigmillar."

"I have said you shall go where you please," she assured him again.

He considered.

"There is the house at Kirk o' Field. It has a fine garden, and is in a
position that is deemed the healthiest about Edinburgh. I need good air;
good air and baths have