"Remember, he is so young and eke so reckless." "Nay," cried David, eagerly, "I am no younger than my cousin James was when he fought the strongest man in Scotland, and I warrant I could ride a course as well as Hughie Douglas of Avondale, though William chose him for the tourney and left me to bite my thumbs at home." The lady sighed and looked at her sons, one of them but a youth and the other no more than a boy.
"Was there ever a Douglas yet who would take any advice but from his own desire ?" she said, looking down at them like a douce barn-door fowl who by chance has reared a pair of eaglets.

"Lads, ye are over strong for your mother.

But I will not sleep nor eat aright till I have my David back again, and can see him riding his horse homeward through the ford.".