In hall, during dinner. I cast eyes from time to time on the Queen, and I could not but think Dame Tiffany spake sooth. She looked fair haggard, as though some bitter care were eating out her heart. I never loved her, as I said at the first: but that morn I felt sorry for her. Sorry for _her_! Ah, I soon knew what sore cause there was to be sorry to the very soul for some one else! It was while we were sat at supper that Donald came. I saw him enter from the high table where I sat, and I knew in an instant that he brought some fearsome tidings. I lost him in the crowd at the further end, and then Mereworth, one of the varlets of the King's chamber, came all in haste up the hall, with a face that had evil news thereon writ: and Sir John de Ros, that was then Seneschal, saw him, and guessing, as I think, the manner of word he brought, stepped down from the dais to meet him. Then, in an other minute, I saw Donald brought up to the King and to the Queen. I watched them both. As Donald's news was told, the young King's face grew ashen pale, and he cried full dolefully "_Dieu eit mercie_!" The news troubled him sore and sure enough. But the Queen's eyes, that a moment before had been full of terror and untholemodness [impatience], shot out one flash of triumphant gladness: and the next minute she had hidden her face in her sudary, and was greeting as though her heart had broke. I marvelled what tidings they could be, that were tene [grief] to the King, and blisfulhed [happiness] to the Queen. Sir John de Gaytenby, the King's confessor, was sat next to me at the table, and to him I said-- "Father, can you guess what manner of news Donald de Athole shall have brought?" "Ay, daughter," he made answer. "Would I were in doubt!" "You think--?" I asked him, and left him to fill up. "I think," he saith in a low voice somewhat sorrowful of tone, "that God hath delivered from all labour and sorrow one of His servants that trust in Him." "Why, that were nought to lament o'er!" I was about to say; but I stayed me when half through. "Father, you mean there is man dead?"