At that time no man was so popular in Scotland as Sir Andrew Wood, unless we except Sir Andrew Barton; but now he was gone to his long home, and the people looked to his old messmate to avenge him. Three loud cheers were given from the shore as the frigates came to anchor; and from aloft and alow their crews responded, with the deep and hearty shout that can only come from the throats of those who are incessantly combating with the waves and winds. "See, dear Lizzie," said Margaret, who, though usually silent and languid, had partaken of the excitement and bustle caused by the admiral's arrival, "a barge is leaving the side of the _Yellow Frigate_." "Oh, the bonny little barge!" exclaimed Beatrix, dancing about her, and comparing the sixteen-oared boat to the towering caravel. "Two gentlemen, clad in grey doublets, are in it." "Margaret, 'tis Barton and Falconer--thou seest his red feather now, Sybilla," said Euphemia, as she flushed again with pleasure. "They will bring us pretty, pretty presents, will they not?" said the younger girls, clapping their hands. "Father Zuill promised you each a box of sweetmeats," said Margaret, with one of her sad kind smiles. "Captain Barton promised me a silver collar from Bruges," said little Elizabeth. "And David Falconer promised _me_ a carcanet of pearls, with a hood and veil," added Beatrix, who was a year younger. "Thou--child?" said Euphemia; "and what would _you_ do with a carcanet, a hood and veil?" "Wear them at mass, and in the Highgaitt, to be sure," retorted the little dame, testily; "no one fell in love with you, sister Euphemia, till you exchanged the coif for a hood and veil." "Nor with Sybilla, either," added Beatrix, making common cause against the elders; "and as for poor sister Margaret, no one has loved her yet." Lady Margaret grew ghastly pale, and turned away. Sybilla, who did not perceive this emotion, laughed; but Euphemia, who had now the place of mother over them all, said gravely, "You are overforward, imps. Eight years hence it will be time enough for Lizzie, and for you, Beatie, to think of lovers, and talk of hoods and veils. Marry come up! child, thou canst not spin yet! But see--Barton's boat hath reached the Rock of St. Nicholas." "Alas!" said Margaret, sadly, "what evil tidings we have to give him of his father's fate." As the two friends sprang ashore, the old seamen who were clustered by the chapel wall, all doffed their bonnets, and murmured a hearty welcome. The rock was the ancient landing-place, and lay to the westward of the old harbour. It was there that David, Crown Prince of Scotland, landed on his return from the Crusades; and there, that two hundred years after, the good Sir James Douglas embarked for Jerusalem, with the heart of Robert Bruce; for "bonnie Dundee" is a place of many old and many stirring memories. "They are coming this way," said Sybilla, in a flutter; "we must hasten to receive them."