Marjorie Bowen

“ Delia opened the door; it seemed as if she was to go without another word.
"Stop," cried the Master of Stair.
She paused, holding the door ajar, and looked back.
"Who is the dearer to you," asked Sir John, "your Jacobite friends or these Macdonalds?"
She stared in a slow horror.
"I give you your choice," pursued the Master of Stair. "The Macdonalds did not take the oath before the appointed time—yet they took it. If you and your friends will keep this knowledge secret—if you will neither warn the Highlanders nor rouse the Jacobites—then I will burn those papers I hold." ”

“ As he looked at her, one of his violent impulses seized him to tear to pieces those papers she asked for and scatter them after her; had he had them there upon him he would have turned and cast them into the fire; scheming and intrigue were hateful to him; he wanted the straightforward action; to crush the Jacobites high-handedly, not hold a terror over a woman's head. ”

“ Can I not also be reckless and thank you for the pleasant passing of an hour—can I not, too, forget?"
"I have not forgotten," said the Master of Stair. "Should I have seen you now if I had? I make no excuses. What I have done I have done, but I have not forgotten."
"No," answered Delia. "I do not think you can, and so I come to you to ask your mercy." She moved a step toward him, her head held back, her face composed and very pale in the shadow of her hat.
"Ye are changed," he said somberly.
"I think I died and have arisen again," said Delia. "I am so changed I do not know myself ”

“ Berwick was powerless without his French army and Louis would never send an army till he obtained those letters that would never reach him; the men who had signed those documents would be too frightened by their loss to sign others, certainly he could afford to forego a mere vengeance. ”