Marjorie Bowen

“ He stared at her, went red and white, and his tea-cup danced in his hand.
"Madam!" he gasped.
Her look of amusement deepened.
"I ken vera weel," she said, "that ye are tampering with King James's agents—weel, cousin, we all do the same. A wise man will be keeping square with both sides."
Argyll, looking agitated and foolish, began to protest. ”

“ Argyll put his letter back in his pocket.
"They must not take the oaths," he said peevishly. "If they do it must be suppressed—surely with the aid o' the Master o' Stair we can do that?"
"I dinna believe they will take them," answered the Countess. "They hate us too much and they think themselves ower safe in Glencoe."
"’Tis a fearfu' place to enter," said her cousin. ”

“ He shrugged his shoulders, sipping his tea; he had the manner of a man with a grievance.
"Certainly I return to the Hielands, but what do I find?" he complained. "The Macdonalds overrunning everything, Campbells hanged at sight, my houses gone to ruin—long arrears of rent due and the Stewarts o' Appin, the Camerons, the Macnaughtens, and these cursed Macdonalds refusing to pay a farthing."
The Countess Peggy gave him a bright glance. "We have our chance noo," she said. "Our chance, Cousin Archibald, for our revenge." ”

“ He looked thoughtfully into the fire and fondled the arm of his chair, with restless thin fingers.
"There is ane person we have no' considered," he remarked, "the King."
"William o' Orange?" she questioned. ”