He hath escaped from the net of the fowler; and, I thank Heaven, it was by my means." "Thy means, girl--art thou mad ?" said the amazed glover.
"I will not deny what I glory in," answered Catharine: "it was by my means that Conachar was led to come hither with a party of men and carry off the old man, who is now far beyond the Highland line." "Thou my rash--my unlucky child!" said the glover, "hast dared to aid the escape of one accused of heresy, and to invite Highlanders in arms to interfere with the administration of justice within burgh?
Alas! thou hast offended both against the laws of the church and those of the realm.

What--what would become of us, were this known ?" "It is known, my dear father," said the maiden, firmly--"known even to those who will be the most willing avengers of the deed." "This must be some idle notion, Catharine, or some trick of those cogging priests and nuns; it accords not with thy late cheerful willingness to wed Henry Smith." "Alas! dearest father, remember the dismal surprise occasioned by his reported death, and the joyful amazement at finding him alive; and deem it not wonder if I permitted myself, under your protection, to say more than my reflection justified.

But then I knew not the worst, and thought the danger exaggerated.

Alas I was yesterday fearfully undeceived, when the abbess herself came hither, and with her the Dominican.

They showed me the commission, under the broad seal of Scotland, for inquiring into and punishing heresy; they showed me your name and my own in a list of suspected persons; and it was with tears--real tears, that the abbess conjured me to avert a dreadful fate by a speedy retreat into the cloister, and that the monk pledged his word that you should not be molested if I complied." "The foul fiend take them both for weeping crocodiles!" said the glover.
"Alas!" replied Catharine, "complaint or anger will little help us; but you see I have had real cause for this present alarm." "Alarm! call it utter ruin.