e flesh？'
'Wherefore not？' demanded Malcolm。
'Nay； but we heard ye were slain； my lord；' explained the portress letting him in； however； and leading them across the court； to where the Mother Abbess； Annabel Drummond； awaited them in the parlour。
'Alas； Sirs； what grievous error has this been？' was her exclamation； while Malcolm； scarcely waiting for salutation； demanded； 'Where is my sister？'
'How？ In St。 Hilda's keeping at Whitby； whither the King sent for her；' said the Abbess。
'The King！' cried Malcolm； 'we come from the King！ Oh； what treachery has been here？'
'And you； Lord Malcolmand you； my kinsman； Sir Patrick of the Braes； how do I see you here？ We had heard you both were dead。'
'You heard a lying tale then； good Mother；' said Patrick； gruffly； 'no doubt devised for the misery of theof my' He could not finish the sentence； and Malcolm entreated the Abbess to tell the whole。
It appeared that about a year previously the chaplain of the monastery had learnt at Coldingham that Sir John Swinton of Swinton had sent home tidings that Patrick Drummond had been thrown from his horse and left behind in a village which the English had harried； and as he could not move； he was sure to have been either burnt or hung。 This conclusion was natural； and argued no malice in the reporter； and while poor Lilias was still in her first agony of grief； Prior Drax sent over intelligence derived from the Duke of Albany himself that Malcolm Stewart of Glenuskie had been stabbed in the forest of Vincennes。 This report Malcolm himself accounted for。 He had heard a Scots tongue among his foes； though national feeling had made him utterly silent on that head to the Duke of Bedford； and he guessed it to belong to a certain M'Kay； whose clan regarded themselves as at feud with the Stewarts； and of whom he had heard as living a wild routier life。 He had probably been hired by Ghisbert for the attack； and had returned home and spread the report of its success。
Some few weeks later； the Abbess Annabel continued； there had arrived two monks from Coldingham； with an escort； declaring themselves to have received orders from King James to transport the Lady Lilias to the nunnery at Whitby； where the Abbess had promised to receive her； till he could determine her fate。
The forlorn and desolate Lilias； believing herself to stand alone in the world； was very loth to quit her shelter and her friends at St。 Abbs； but the Abbess； doubting her own ability to protect her from the rapacious grasp of Walter Stewart； now that she had； as she believed； become an heiress； and glad to avert from her house the persecution that such protection would bring upon it； had gratefully heard of this act of consideration on the King's part； and expedited her departure。 The two monks； Simon Bell and Ringan Johnstone； had not returned to the monastery； but had been thought to be in the parent house at Durham； but Malcolm； who knew Brother Simon by sight； was clear that he had not seen him there。
All this had taken place a year ago； and there could be no doubt that some treachery had been exercised。 Nothing had since been heard of Lilias； none of Malcolm's letters had reached St。 Abbs； having doubtless been suppressed by the Prior of Coldingham； and all that was certain was that Walter Stewart； to whom their first suspicions directed themselves； had not publicly avouched any marriage with Lilias or claimed the Glenuskie estates； or the King； who had of late been in close correspondence with Scotland； must have heard of it。 And it was also hardly possible that the Regent Murdoch and his sons； though they might for a few weeks have been misled by M'Kay's report； should not have soon become aware of Malcolm's existence。
Unless； then； Walter had married her 'on the first brash；' as Patrick called it； he might not have thought her a prize worth the winning； but the whole aspect of affairs had become most alarming； and Malcolm turned pale as death at the thought that his sister might be suffering retribution for the sin he had contemplated。
The danger was terrible！ He could not imagine Lilias to have the moral grandeur and force of Esclairmonde。 Moreover； she supposed her lover dead； and had not the same motive for guarding her troth。 Forlorn and despairing； she might have yielded； and Walter Stewart was； Malcolm verily believed； worse to deal with than even Boemond。 As the whole danger and uncertainty came over him； his senses seemed to reel； he leant back in his seat； and heard as in the midst of a dream his sister's sobs and groans； Patrick's fierce and furious exclamations； and the Abbess's attempts at consoling him。 Dizzy with horror at the scene he realized； Lilias's cries and shrieks of entreaty were ringing in his ear； when suddenly a sweet full low voice seemed to come through them； 'I am bound ever to pray for you and your sister。' Mingled with the cry came ever the sweet soft Litany cadences'For all that are desolate and oppressed： we beseech Thee to hear us； good Lord。' Gradually the cries seemed to be swallowed up； both voices blended in Kyrie eleison and then in the Gloria； and at that moment he became aware of Patrick crying； 'I will seek her in every castle in Scotland。'
'Stay； Patrick；' he said； rising； though forced to hold by his chair； 'that must be my part。'
'Youwhy； the laddie is white as a sheet！ He well…nigh swooned at the tidings。 You seek her； forsooth！' and Patrick laughed bitterly。
'Yes； Patie；' said Malcolm； 'for this I am strong。 It is my duty and not yours； and God will strengthen me for it。'
Patrick burst out at this： 'Neither man nor devil shall tell me it is not mine！'
'You are the King's prisoner still；' said Malcolm； rising to energy； 'you are bound to return to him。 The tidings must be taken to him at once。'
'A groom could do that。'
'Neither so swiftly nor surely as you。 Moreover； your word of honour binds you not to wander at your own pleasure。'
'My honour binds me not to trust youwee Malcolmto wander into the wolf's cage alone。'
'I am not the silly feckless callant I once was； Patie；' answered Malcolm。 'There are many places where my student's serge gown will take me safely； where your corslet and lance would never find entrance。 No one will know me again as I am now： will they； holy Mother？'
'Assuredly not；' said the Abbess。
'A student is too mean a prey to be meddled with；' proceeded Malcolm； 'and is sure of hospitality in castle or convent。 I can try at Coldingham to find out whither the two monks are gone； and then follow up the track。'
Patrick stormed at the plan； and was most unwilling it should be adopted。 He at least must follow； and keep watch over his young cousin； or it would be a mere throwing the helve after the hatcheta betrayal of his trust。
But a little reflection convinced him that thus to follow would only bring suspicion on Malcolm and defeat his plans； and that it were better to obtain some certain information ere the King should come home； and have to interfere with a high hand； and Malcolm's arguments about his obligations as a captive； too； had their effect。 He perceived his own incapacity to act； and in his despair at nothing being done consented to risk Malcolm in the search； while he himself should proceed to the King； only ascertaining on the way that Lilias was not at Whitby。 And so； in grief and anxiety； the cousins parted； and Malcolm alone durst speak a word of hope。
CHAPTER XVII： THE BEGGING SCHOLAR
'The poor scholar；' now only existing in Ireland and Brittanynay； we believe extinct there since the schoolmaster has become not abroad； but at home； in Government collegeswas to be found throughout the commonwealth of Europe in the Middle Ages。 Young lads； in whom convent schools had developed a thirst for learning； could only gratify it by making their way to some university； where between begging； singing； teaching； receiving doles； earning rewards in encounters of wit and learning； doing menial services and using all manner of shifts； they contrived to live a hard life； half savage on the one side； highly intellectual upon the other。 They would suck the marrow of one university； and then migrate to another； and the rank they had gained in the first was available in the second； so that it was no means uncommon for them to bring away degrees from half the universities in Europe； all of which formed one general systemall were like islands of one country； whose common language was queer Latin； and whose terms； manners； and customs were alike in all main points。
Scotland contributed many of her sons to this curious race of vagabond students； when she herself was without any university to satisfy the cravings of her thoughtful and intellectual people。 'No country without a Scot or a flea' was an uncomplimentary proverb due to the numerous young clerks； equally fierce for frays and for lectures； who flocked to the seats of learning on the Continent； and sometimes became naturalized there； sometimes came home again； to fight their way to the higher benefices of the Church； or to become councillors of state。
It was true that Malcolm was an Oxford scholar； or rather bachelor； and that Oxford and Cambridge were almost the only universities where Scots were nottheir place being taken by multitudinous Irish； yet not only were all universities alike in essentials； but he had seen and heard enough of that at Paris to be able to personate a clerk from thence。
It was no small plunge for one hitherto watched； tended； and guarded as Malcolm had been； to set forth entirely alone； but as he had approached manhood； and strengthened in body； his spirit had gained much in courage； and the anxiety about his sister swallowed up all other considerations。 Even while he entreated the prayers of the Abbess； he felt quite sure that he had those of Esclairmonde； and when he had hunted out of his mails the plain bachelor's rabbit…skin hood and black gownwhich； perhaps； was a little too fine in texture for the poor wandererand fastened on his back； with a leathern thong； a package containing a few books and a change of linen； his pale and intellectual face made him look so entirely the young clerk； that Patrick hardly believed it was Mal