She laid aside her work and listened with gentle patience to the hasty tale told by Maud Lindesay.
"I will speak with William," she answered, with a certain hopelessness in her voice, "but I know well he will go his own gait for aught that his mother can say.

He is his father's son, and the men of the house of Douglas, they come and they go, recking no will but their own.

And even so will my son William." "But he is taking David with him also!" cried Margaret.

"I met him even now on the stair, wild in haste to put on his shirt of mail and the sword with the golden hilt which the ambassador of France gave him." A quick flush coloured the pale countenance of the Lady Countess.
"Nay, but one is surely enough to meet the Chancellor.

David shall not go.