136 A BOOK ABOUT THE GARDEN. 



that it could not be right that her whole life should 

 be turned into a lie that it should be a life of hatred 

 when it might be a life of love that she was gone 

 with him who had won her heart, to be his wife 

 and that she implored her father to forgive her for 

 her mother's sake. 



The duke turned very pale, and the duke sighed 

 very heavily, when he had read the note, as well, 

 with his views, he might. His only daughter was 

 travelling as fast as four horses could take her, and 

 had been travelling for six hours as fast as four horses 

 could take her, to marry a younger son. 



Then his grace wrote a few lines to the viscount, 

 who was waiting for his bride. 



" The kirk was decked at morning-tide, 



The tapers glimmered fair ; 

 The priest find bridegroom wait the bride, 



And dame and knight are there. 

 They sought her baith by bower and ha' 



The ladie was not seen ! 

 She's o'er the Border, and awa' 



Wi' JockofHazeldean." 



And once " o'er the Border " (I may as well state 

 here), they were married in conformity with Scotland's 

 usage, that they might be man and wife, should pur- 

 suers overtake, according to secular law ; and subse- 

 quently, that they might be so according to the laws 

 of their Church and conscience, by an ordained priest. 



Three hours after the viscount had read his note, 

 all the visitors had left the castle ; and in it and 

 around " grim silence held her solitary reign." The 

 only person who passed through our entrance gates 



