Bonny abune a' as a noble young man and the desire o' maidens' e'en.

But nane o' them a' loed ye like poor auld Barbara, that wad hae gien her life to pleasure ye.

And noo she canna even steek thae black, black e'en, nor wind the corpse-claith aboot yon comely limbs--sae straight and bonny as they were--I hae straiked and kissed sae oft and oft.

O wae's me--wae's me! What will I do withoot my bonny laddies!" It was with the sound of his mother's lament still in his ears that Sholto rode sadly over the hill to Thrieve.

The way is short and easy, and it was not long before the captain of the guard looked down upon the lights of the castle gleaming through the gathering gloom.