She remained thus an unwilling auditor, and by the side of the dancers for nearly an hour, before Wallace reappeared.

But then she sprung toward him as if a spell were broken.
"Where, truant, have you been ?" "In a beautiful solitude," returned he, "amongst a luxuriant grove of willows." "Ah!" cried she, "it is called Glenshealeach, and a sad scene was acted there! About ten years ago, a lady of this island drowned herself in the lake they hang over, because the man she loved despised her." "Unhappy woman!" observed Wallace.
"Then you would have pitied her ?" rejoined Lady Mar.
"He cannot be a man that would not pity a woman under such circumstances." "Then you would not have consigned her to such a fate ?" Wallace was startled by the peculiar tone in which this simple question was asked.

It recalled the action in the citadel, and, unconsciously turning a penetrating look on her, his eyes met hers.

He need not have heard further to have learned more.

She hastily looked down, and colored; and he, wishing to misunderstand a language so disgraceful to herself, so dishonoring to her husband, gave some trifling answer; then making a slight observation about the earl, he advanced to him.