Thy sovereign spoke in lowly penitence to me--to me, who frail and lowly unto thee, am yet the minister of Him whom sin offends.

To thee he stands a warrior and a king, who rude irreverence may brook not, even from his brother.

Be peace between us, then, my son; an old man's blessing on thy fierce yet knightly spirit rest." With a muttered oath Sir Edward had strode away at the abbot's first words, but the cloud passed from his brow as he concluded, and slightly, yet with something of reverence, he bowed his head.
"And whither didst thou wend thy way, my fiery brother ?" demanded Robert.

"Bringest thou aught of news, or didst thou and Douglas but set foot in stirrup and hand on rein simply from weariness of quiet ?" "In sober truth, 'twas even so; partly to mark the movements of the English, an they make a movement, which, till Pembroke come, they are all too much amazed to do; partly to see if in truth that poltroon Duncan of Fife yet hangs back and still persists in forswearing the loyalty of his ancestors, and leaving to better hands the proud task of placing the crown of Scotland on thy head." "And thou art convinced at last that such and such only is his intention ?" The knight nodded assent, and Bruce continued, jestingly, "And so thou mightst have been long ago, my sage brother, hadst thou listened to me.

I tell thee Earl Duncan hath a spite against me, not for daring to raise the standard of freedom and proclaim myself a king, but for very hatred of myself.