Mary was escorted from the island where she had been living, across the country to Dumbarton Castle, with a strong retinue. She was now between five and six years of age. She was, of course, too young to know any thing about the contentions and wars which had distracted her country on her account, or to feel much interest in the subject of her approaching departure from her native land. She enjoyed the novelty of the scenes through which she passed on her journey. She was pleased with the dresses and the arms of the soldiers who accompanied her, and with the ships which were floating in the river, beneath the walls of the Castle of Dumbarton, when she arrived there. She was pleased, too, to think that, wherever she was to go, her four Maries were to go with her. She bade her mother farewell, embarked on board the ship which was to receive her, and sailed away from her native land, not to return to it again for many years. CHAPTER II. HER EDUCATION IN FRANCE. 1548-1556 Departure.--Stormy voyage.--Journey to Paris.--Release of prisoners.--Barabbas.--St. Germain.--Celebrations.--The convent.--Character of the nuns.--Interest in Mary.--Leaving the convent.--Amusements.--Visit of Mary's mother.--Queen dowager.--Rouen.--A happy meeting.--Rejoicings.--A last farewell.--Visit to a mourner.--The queen dowager's return.--The regency.--A page of honor.--Sir James Melville.--Mary's character.--Her diligence.--Devices and mottoes.--Festivities.--Water parties.--Hunting.--An accident.--Restraint.--Queen Catharine.--Her character.--Embroidery.--Mary's admiration of Queen Catharine.--The latter suspicious.--Unguarded remark.--Catharine's mortification.--The dauphin.--Origin of the title.--Character of Francis.--Mary's beauty.--Torch-light procession.--An angel.--Mary a Catholic.--Her conscientiousness and fidelity.