He is but a lad and knows nothing of these things." For this boy was ever his mother's favourite, far more than either her elder son or her little daughter, whom indeed she left entirely to the care and companionship of Maud Lindesay.
My Lady of Douglas went slowly downstairs.

The Earl, with Sholto by his side, was ordering the accoutrement of the mounted men-at-arms in the courtyard.
"William," she called, in a soft voice which would not have reached him, busied as he was with his work, but that little Margaret raised her childish treble and called out: "William, our mother desires to speak with you.

Do you not hear her ?" The Earl turned about, and, seeing his mother, came quickly to her and stood bareheaded before her.
"You are not going to run into danger, William ?" she said, still softly.
"Nay, mother mine," he answered, smiling, "do not fear, I do but ride to visit the Chancellor Crichton in his castle, and also to bid farewell to the French ambassador, who abode here as our guest." A sudden light shone in upon the mind of Maud Lindesay.
"'Tis all that French minx!" she whispered in Sholto's ear, "she hath bewitched him.

No one need try to stop him now." His mother went on, with an added anxiety in her voice.
"But you will not take my little David with you?
You will leave me one son here to comfort me in my loneliness and old age ?" The Earl seemed about to yield, being, indeed, careless whether David went with him or no.
"Mother," cried David, coming running forth from the castle, "you must not persuade William to make me stay at home.

I shall never be a man if I am kept among women.