They were all these that struck at once upon the sight of Lady Mar and made her exclaim within herself, "This is a wonder of man! This is the hero that is to humble Edward!-to bless--whom ?" was her thought.

"Oh, no woman! Let him be a creature enshrined and holy, for no female heart to dare to love!" This passed through the mind of the countess in less time than it has been repeated, and when she saw him clasped in her husband's arms, she exclaimed to herself, "Helen, thou wert right; thy gratitude was prophetic of a matchless object, while I, wretch that I was, even whispered the wish to my traitorous heart, while I gave information against my husband, that this man, the cause of all, might be secured or slain!" Just as the last idea struck her, Wallace rose from the embrace of his venerable friend and met the riveted eye of the countess.

She stammered forth a few expressions of obligation; he attributed her confusion to the surprise of the moment, and, replying to her respectfully, turned again to the earl.
The joy of the venerable chief was unbounded, when he found that a handful of Scots had put two thousand Southrons to flight, and gained entire possession of the castle.

Wallace, having satisfied the anxious questions of his noble auditor, gladly perceived the morning light.

He rose from his seat.