But wherefore tarries this knave Smith?
He is ready enough in tumults when his presence is not wanted, and lags he now when his presence may serve the Fair City?
What ails him, doth any one know?
Hath he been upon the frolic last Fastern's Even ?" "Rather he is sick or sullen, Master Bailie," said one of the city's mairs, or sergeants; "for though he is within door, as his knaves report, yet he will neither answer to us nor admit us." "So please your worship, Master Bailie," said Simon Glover, "I will go myself to fetch Henry Smith.

I have some little difference to make up with him.

And blessed be Our Lady, who hath so ordered it that I find him alive, as a quarter of an hour since I could never have expected!" "Bring the stout smith to the council house," said the bailie, as a mounted yeoman pressed through the crowd and whispered in his ear, "Here is a good fellow who says the Knight of Kinfauns is entering the port." Such was the occasion of Simon Glover presenting himself at the house of Henry Gow at the period already noticed.
Unrestrained by the considerations of doubt and hesitation which influenced others, he repaired to the parlour; and having overheard the bustling of Dame Shoolbred, he took the privilege of intimacy to ascend to the bedroom, and, with the slight apology of "I crave your pardon, good neighbour," he opened the door and entered the apartment, where a singular and unexpected sight awaited him.

At the sound of his voice, May Catharine experienced a revival much speedier than Dame Shoolbred's restoratives had been able to produce, and the paleness of her complexion changed into a deep glow of the most lovely red.

She pushed her lover from her with both her hands, which, until this minute, her want of consciousness, or her affection, awakened by the events of the morning, had well nigh abandoned to his caresses.