His headquarters were but a few miles away and Ian wondered whether it was not his duty to throw in his lot with them. His own feelings on the whole were friendly to England and he hated the policy that the regent was pursuing of making Scotland an appendage of France, but if English marauders invaded the border he was quite ready as a true Scot to fight against them, although it was the religious cause that he had more deeply at heart. “Methinks I ought to join them,” he said. “I have seen a good deal of fighting in my day and I might be useful to the cause.” “I will go with you,” said Aline. “Nonsense, child, girls do not fight.” “Joan of Arc fought and why should not I?” she replied. “Joan of Arc was older than you and could stand a strain that would be quite beyond you, little one, hardy as you are.” “But I should go as your page or attendant. Would you fight as a trooper or on foot, because that, of course, would make some difference?” “That would remain to be seen, but in any case it would be absurd for you to be there. But it has given me a new idea, sweet child. They would be glad of my services; and, as they are protestants, they would be only too pleased to look after you in return.” “But I want to come with you.” He looked at her sadly; “It is out of the question,” he said. “Oh, but please let me.” “No, birdeen, you might be killed.” “Well, that would not matter. I have no friends or relatives in the world to care for me; it might be the simplest solution of our difficulties, if I died trying to help a good cause.” “You must not talk like that, Aline; I cannot bear to think of it.” “But I have made up my mind. I am coming. You might be wounded and I might be just the one to help you and prevent your dying.” She drew herself up as she spoke and Ian knew that further argument was useless. “In that case we can wait and rest here, in any wise for to-day, the which we both need. I can then go and see the Earl to-morrow and probably we can continue to rest for some days while he is recruiting his forces.” They retired early. Aline had a little room with a glorious outlook. Oh, how beautiful everything was and how good God had been to her. When she was half undressed she sat down and gazed out of the window. So this was dear Scotland again, the land of her birth. For the moment the recollection of “Moll o’ the graves” clouded the prospect, but it passed away. The sombre hills looked kindly in the gloaming. She felt hardly able to contain herself for joy. It was true that she was about to face new dangers; but that did not trouble her in the least. She would be definitely doing her duty, as she conceived it, fighting for a good cause along with many others; she would no longer be a hunted fugitive merely trying to preserve her own life. She knelt down and prayed and felt happier than she had done since her father died, happier even than during the best days in the secret room.