Aline told him the story and continued;--“Anyway, carpentry could not be as bad as that.” Ian was shocked and looked at her thankfully. “I trust we have broken the evil spell,” he said. “But, princess, you are a lady and such very hard work is beyond that to which you have been used.” “Yes, I hope I am a lady and just because I am a lady it does not matter what I am used to do. I can turn my hand to anything; I do not mind. It is only common people who are afraid of demeaning themselves. I have often noticed”--and then she suddenly stopped:--was not Ian himself one of these “common people,” and was it not unmannerly anyway for a real lady to talk like that? “Noticed what?” asked Ian. “Oh, just noticed that it is so,” and by way of changing the subject she went on,--“but there is one thing I should mind;--I should mind having to cut my hair short.” Ian sighed: “Yes, you must not do that, little one, we must think of some other plan.” “But I have quite made up my mind and I am going to cut it,” she said in her most queenly manner. She said it so firmly and cheerfully that even Ian did not realise the struggle that was going on in the little heart. “Well, princess, if it must be so, it must; but you need not cut it above the shoulders. Many pages wear it down to the shoulders.” “Pages, yes, but not carpenters’ boys.” At the same time Ian’s words gave her a gleam of comfort. That was not quite so terrible. It would have a good start as soon as she could let it grow again. “Do you think a carpenter’s boy could wear it down to his shoulders?” she asked wistfully. “Certainly,” said Ian; “it might be a little peculiar, but if we could afford to dress you a little more like a page though you were a carpenter’s boy, I doubt even if any one would notice.” They had reached Longtown by this time, but Ian decided not to stop if they could get safely over the border. They rode on, therefore, until they met a small patrol near Canonbie but were allowed after a few explanations to pass. At the little inn they made enquiry as to the news of the day. This was surprising, but to Ian by no means altogether unexpected. The Protestant feeling had been growing and some of the Protestant leaders had met at the house of James Sym in Edinburgh and signed the first covenant, called the “Godlie Band.” They were the Earl of Ergyl; Glencarn,--the good Earl; Mortoun; Archibald, Lord of Lorne and John Erskyne of Doun.[26] [26] The spelling of the names is taken from a surviving copy of the covenant. But what was of immediate interest and importance to Ian was that the Earl of Hawick[27] was at that moment raising forces in the border shires, nominally to fight on the border, but in reality to be ready to support the Protestant cause against Mary of Guise. [27] This is a fictitious title and likewise the border incident, although there were several such affrays in this year.