Marjorie Bowen

“ The Earl stared at the mob a moment and his blue eyes darkened; he knew well enough the value of their shout of horror at Glencoe and despised them the more utterly; he was not afraid that all his enemies together could accomplish his ruin; he had England behind him; and during these three years his worldly success had swept him on and up beyond all meddling with.
He helped his wife into the coach; she had turned even whiter: as the crowd shouted she trembled: her husband took no heed of her. ”

“ A stone crashed up at the balcony and again came: "Glencoe!"
He glanced at the clock and rang a bell; when the servant appeared in answer, he asked for lights. "And order the coach," he said.
The man hesitated, stopped.
"My lord—my lord—you will not go abroad?"
"To my Lord Breadalbane's reception," answered the Earl. "My lord—does your lordship hear the mob?"
The Earl flared with impatience.
"I do not ask your attendance—if there be one man in my service not a coward let him drive, it will suffice." ”

“ The coachman whipped up his horses and dashed through the gates at a gallop. Howls, curses, shrieks arose and the mob made a wild onset, but the hoofs of the four plunging horses kept a passage clear and the coach swept free. But the crowd followed and closed about it. Lady Stair cowered in a corner. Stones rattled on the roof and mud was flying at the windows; stones and sticks struck the coachman, the carriage came to a standstill and a wild shout burst forth.
The Earl cursed fiercely and flung the window up ”