ne with his thoughts of
Maud Lindesay.

Sholto stood still and quiet on the topmost step of the ascent from
the moat-bridge waiting for the Earl to signify his will.

CHAPTER XIV

CAPTAIN OF THE EARL'S GUARD

"Sholto MacKim," said the Earl of Douglas, abruptly, "saw you the lady
who arrived with the foreign ambassador?"

"She is indeed wondrous fair to look on," answered Sholto, the whole
heart in him instantly wary, while outwardly he seemed more innocent
than before.

"Have your eyes ever lighted on that lady before?"

"Nay, my lord, of a surety no. In what manner should they, seeing that
I have never been in France in my life, nor indeed more than a score
of miles from this castle of Thrieve?"

"Thou art a good lad, and also ready of wit, Master Sholto," said the
Earl, looking at the armourer's son musingly. "Clear of eye and true
of hand, so they tell me. Did you not win the arrow prize this day?"

Lord William raised his eyes to where in the bonnet of the youth his
own golden badge of archery glistened.

"And I also won the swording prize at the last wappenshaw on the moot
hill of Urr," said Sholto, taking courage, and being resolved that if
his fortune stood not now on tiptoe, it should not be on account of
any superfluity of modesty on his own part.

"Ah," said the Earl, "I remember. It was two golden hearts joined
together with an arrow and a star in the midst--a fitting Douglas
emblem, by the bones of Saint Bride! Where hast thou left that badge
that thou dost not wear it along with the other?"

Sholto blushed and muttered that he had forgotten it at home. He was
all of a breaking perspiration lest he should have to tell the Earl
that he had given it to Maud Lindesay, as indeed he meant to do
presently, along with the golden buckle of archery,--that is if the
dainty, mischievous-hearted maiden could be persuaded to accept
thereof.

"Ah," said the Earl, smiling, "I comprehend. There is some maid in the
question, and if I advance you to the command of my house-guard and
give you an officer's responsibility, you will of a surety be ever
desiring to go gadding to the greenwood--and around the loch of
Carlinwark are most truly dangerous glades."

"Nay, indeed nay," cried Sholto, eagerly. "If it is my lord's will to
appoint me to his guard, by Saint Bride and all the other saints I
swear never to leave the island, unless it be sometimes of a Sunday
afternoon for an hour or two--just to see