Marjorie Bowen

“ Lord Stair stopped at last in his pacing to and fro, stopped so close to his wife that his shadow fell over her and the fountain brim.
She looked up, then down again at the water. "I think my ruin is assured," said Lord Stair in a hard voice.
"You have no trust in the King?" she asked quietly.
He answered in a proud bitterness:
"The King! He has not shown himself strong enough to withstand a faction—he, the same as the others, will cast the odium on me." ”

“ Her ringed hand stirred through the fountain and the water-lilies trembled at her touch; a low passing cloud cast a shadow over the grass. Lord Stair stood silent with a hard and angry face; his wife spoke again. ”

“ Public excitement flamed high; the greatest gentleman in Scotland had been declared a murderer and as the details of his crime were discussed, there were many who hoped for the pleasure of seeing the unpopular minister hanged in the Grassmarket. The Parliament, clamored in strong debates, roused after the sluggish years, voted to a man that the King's warrant did not authorize the slaughter of the Macdonalds. ”