It was a few days after this that Madge was summoned to the village of Home, to attend the funeral of a relative; and while she was yet there, the castle of her ancestors was daringly wrested from the hands of the Protector's troops, by an aged kinsman of her own, and a handful of armed men. The gallant deed fired her zeal more keenly, and strengthened her resolution to wrest Fast Castle from the hands of the invaders. She had been detained at Home until the day on which Florence Wilson was to assemble the stout-hearted and trust-worthy in the copse above Houndwood. Her kindred would have detained her longer; but she resisted their entreaties, and took leave of them saying, that "her bit lassie, Janet, would be growing irksome wi' being left alane, an' that, at ony rate, she had business on hand that couldna be delayed." She proceeded direct to the place of rendezvous, without going onwards to her own house; and, as she drew near the narrow opening which led to the green space in the centre of the dark copse, the young moon was sinking behind the hills. As she drew cautiously forward she heard the sound of voices, which gradually became audible. "Well, Florence," said one, "what are ye waiting for? Where is the grand project that ye was to lay before us?" "Florence," said others, "let us proceed to business. It is gaun to be very dark, and ye will remember we have to gang as far as the Peaths[A] the night yet." [A] The Pease Bridge. Florence answered as one perplexed, but in his wonted words--"Hae patience--bide a wee;" and added, in a sort of soliloquy, but loud enough to be overheard by his companions--"She promised to be here before the moon gaed down upon the Lammermoors." "Wha did?--wha promised to be here?" inquired half a dozen voices. "I did!" cried Madge, proudly, as she issued from the narrow aperture in the copse, and her tall figure was revealed by the fading moonbeams. With a stately step, she walked into the midst of them, and gazed round as though the blood and dignity of all the Homes had been centred in her own person. "Weel, Madge," inquired they, "and, since ye are come, for what hae ye brought us here?" "To try," added she, "whether, inheriting, as ye do, yer faithers' bluid, ye also inherit their spirit--to see whether ye hae the manhood to break the yoke o' yer oppressors, or if ye hae the courage to follow the example which the men o' Home set ye the other nicht." "What have they done?" inquired Florence.