Should you, in any of your visits to Lanark--whither, Marion tells me, you ride frequently with Sir Robert Gordon--hear ought of intended movements of English troops, or gather any news which it may concern me to know, I pray you to ride hither at once.

Marion has always messengers whom she may despatch to me, seeing that I need great care in visiting her here, lest I might be surprised by the English, who are ever upon the lookout for me.

And now farewell! Remember that you have always a friend in William Wallace." Winter was now at hand, and a week or two later Mistress Marion moved into her house in Lanark, where Archie, when he rode in, often visited her.

In one of her conversations she told him that she had been married to Sir William nigh upon two years, and that a daughter had been born to her who was at present kept by an old nurse of her own in a cottage hard by Lamington.

"I tell you this, Archie," she said, "for there is no saying at what time calamity may fall upon us.