Marjorie Bowen

“ Crossing to the fire, she seated herself, leaving Macdonald in the doorway. He eyed the two Saxons with frank interest; his glance rested long on the beautiful face of Jerome Caryl.
"I am to translate, Perseus," said Delia. "What do you want to say?"
Jerome looked at the huge Highlander with approval.
"Ask him to sit down," he said. "He looks honest."
Delia obeyed with an air almost of disdain; Jerome, glancing at her, wondered what had damped her eager spirits; she was very grave and pale; her eyes were fixed with a curious expression on Macdonald; her mouth had a little lift of scorn. ”

“ Delia Featherstonehaugh laughed as relief to the effect of the romantic wording of the soft tongue and the white coldness of the moonlight; she steadied herself with the thought of her brother and Jerome Caryl talking (very practically) below.
"You are free to go when you will, Macdonald," she said. "Only—if you will see my brother first and take his message to the clans." ”

“ He listened as if she spoke of something of no importance; the names of the rival kings, of the Master of Stair, had clearly no meaning to him, but he flushed when she mentioned Breadalbane.
"The others may do what they will," he flung out, "but the Macdonalds of Glencoe will never submit to a Campbell."
Delia strove, somewhat falteringly, to show him the unreasonableness of this; presently he said drearily: "For the sake of your bread that I've eaten, I will do your errand."
A silence fell. Delia put her foot forward into the moonlight, and watched the long shadow it made ”

“ Delia Featherstonehaugh smiled faintly:
"My brother is a gentleman."
"And I am a prince of the Macdonalds," said the Highlander, "and I can bring two hundred men to serve you when you will. They would give their lives to one who had given Ronald Macdonald his." ”

“ She recovered herself with a half-laugh. "I thought you were gone with Perseus—or abed," she said, "and I—I have let the fire out."
She spoke hurriedly and the color receding from her face, left her very white.
Jerome seated himself. "Miss Delia," he said, "this is a miserable life for you."
"Oh, no," she answered. "No."
"Yes," he insisted gently. "For a woman and a lady, a miserable life; you are very heroic, Miss Delia, to give up so much for King James." ”

“ Jerome Caryl considered.
"Some might hate the Campbells more than they feared the government," he said, "but it would, Miss Delia, hardly matter—they would pay the price—they could not involve the others."
"Pay the price," she repeated. "What would that be?—what would the government do to those who did not take the oaths?" ”

“ Jerome Caryl offered to see him on his way beyond the town gates.
Macdonald declined, gazing from his high window he had marked the gates and could well find them. With cordialities on the part of Sir Perseus, and shy reserve from the Highlander, they took leave of each other.
"I will light you," said Delia.
She rose and took up a candle and led the way down-stairs; Ronald Macdonald, light-footed as a cat, followed. ”

“ She had never known a home or wished for one; even when her father was alive they had been desperately poor and she had alternated between a foreign convent and a Scotch lodging, according as the fortunes of her father's master, the Duke of York, had shifted. ”