’The battle in the High Street of Edinburgh,’ she made answer, and methought smiled as she said it. But there was no bairnly scorn or raw coltish ignorance in Marjorie’s smile, as there mostly was in the face of her sister—who was nothing but a child at any rate, and still wore her hair without a snood, flying daft-like about her shoulders. Then I told Marjorie Kennedy of all the fight, and she listened with face turned away from me to the sea, looking to the hills of Arran that were so blue in the distance, so that for a space I thought she hearkened not to what I said. But in a little she interrupted me. ’And you speak thus with admiration of Gilbert Kennedy of Bargany, he that is an enemy to our house and name! How say ye then that such an one is noble and worthy?’ For I had been telling her of meeting him coming from the king’s palace. ’Ay, noble and generous is Gilbert Kennedy of Bargany, as well as the handsomest man that walks, with a spring to his feet as one that goes upon the deep twigs of the pine trees in the woods. He can twirl a lance in one hand on horseback—for I myself have seen him—never was there such a man!’ For I had given him all my heart and admiration, being then young—or at least not very old in years—and I wished with all my strength that such an one had been chief of our side and Earl of Cassillis, instead of he that was. Though my lord is a good man also, and I deny it not. Then it was that my Lady Marjorie showed me the greatest favour that ever she showed to any man, and caused my heart to beat high with love and hope. For she took my hand in hers, holding it to her side as she walked—ay, and stroked and touched it gently with her other hand as we went along, being hidden by the screen of the leaves in the pleasaunce hedges. Now this was so sweet to me and precious, that I slept with my right hand in a glove of silk for many days—ay, and even forbore to wash it. For I bethought me that though, as a man of war, I had forsworn the society of silly girls, yet every true knight had a lady for his heart’s mistress, whose colours he might wear in his helmet, and whose lightest word he might treasure in his heart. Thus we two walked and talked, while the sun was going down and the colours of a dove’s breast crept over the water from the west. ’And this Gilbert of Bargany—tell me of him—for, being the great enemy of our house, I desire to hear more of him,’ she said. So I told her, being nothing loth to speak of so brave an enemy. ’Was he at all hurt in the combat, think you?’ she asked again, carelessly, as one that thinks of other things. ’Wounded? No,’ I replied, with a laugh; ’on the contrary, he pursued us down to the ford of the Nor’ Loch, and defied us all to come back and have it out. But I think that not he but another, had a hand in the craven’s trick of letting loose on us the offscourings of the prisons—Highland catherans and Border hedgethieves.’