Think, and speak sincerely, what would be your own thoughts if you saw your Catharine standing under yonder canopy, with the command over an hundred hills, and the devoted obedience of ten thousand vassals; and as the price of these advantages, her hand in that of the man who loves her the best in the world ?" "Meaning in your own, Conachar ?" said Simon.
"Ay, Conachar call me: I love the name, since it was by that I have been known to Catharine." "Sincerely, then," said the glover, endeavouring to give the least offensive turn to his reply, "my inmost thought would be the earnest wish that Catharine and I were safe in our humble booth in Curfew Street, with Dorothy for our only vassal." "And with poor Conachar also, I trust?
You would not leave him to pine away in solitary grandeur ?" "I would not," answered the glover, "wish so ill to the Clan Quhele, mine ancient friends, as to deprive them, at the moment of emergency, of a brave young chief, and that chief of the fame which he is about to acquire at their head in the approaching conflict." Eachin bit his lip to suppress his irritated feelings as he replied: "Words--words--empty words, father Simon.

You fear the Clan Quhele more than you love them, and you suppose their indignation would be formidable should their chief marry the daughter of a burgess of Perth." "And if I do fear such an issue, Hector MacIan, have I not reason?
How have ill assorted marriages had issue in the house of MacCallanmore, in that of the powerful MacLeans--nay, of the Lords of the Isles themselves?
What has ever come of them but divorce and exheredation, sometimes worse fate, to the ambitious intruder?
You could not marry my child before a priest, and you could only wed her with your left hand; and I--" he checked the strain of impetuosity which the subject inspired, and concluded, "and I am an honest though humble burgher of Perth, who would rather my child were the lawful and undoubted spouse of a citizen in my own rank than the licensed concubine of a monarch." "I will wed Catharine before the priest and before the world, before the altar and before the black stones of Iona," said the impetuous young man.

"She is the love of my youth, and there is not a tie in religion or honour but I will bind myself by them! I have sounded my people.

If we do but win this combat--and, with the hope of gaining Catharine, we SHALL win it--my heart tells me so--I shall be so much lord over their affections that, were I to take a bride from the almshouse, so it was my pleasure, they would hail her as if she were a daughter of MacCallanmore.

But you reject my suit ?" said Eachin, sternly.
"You put words of offence in my mouth," said the old man, "and may next punish me for them, since I am wholly in your power.