第20章

Atlast，attheendofthistime，andasshewasbeginningtodespairofseeingGeorgeDouglasagain，onemorning，onopeningthewindow，sheutteredacry。MarySeytonrantoher，andthequeen，withouthavingstrengthtospeak，showedherinthemiddleofthelakethetinyboatatanchor，andintheboatLittleDouglasandGeorge，whowereabsorbedinfishing，theirfavouriteamusement。Theyoungmanhadarrivedthedaybefore，andaseveryonewasaccustomedtohisunexpectedreturns，thesentinelhadnotevenblownthehorn，andthequeenhadnotknownthatatlastafriendhadcome。

However，shewasthreedaysyetwithoutseeingthisfriendotherwisethanshehadjustdone-thatis，onthelake。Itistruethatfrommorningtilleveninghedidnotleavethatspot，fromwhichhecouldviewthequeen’swindowsandthequeenherself，when，togazeatawiderhorizon，sheleanedherfaceagainstthebars。Atlast，onthemorningofthefourthday，thequeenwasawakenedbyagreatnoiseofdogsandhorns：sheimmediatelyrantothewindow，fortoaprisonereverythingisanevent，andshesawWilliamDouglas，whowasembarkingwithapackofhoundsandsomehuntsmen。Infact，makingatruce，foraday，withhisgaoler’sduties，toenjoyapleasuremoreinharmonywithhisrankandbirth，hewasgoingtohuntinthewoodswhichcoverthelastridgeofBenLomond，andwhich，eversinking，diedownonthebanksofthelake。

Thequeentrembledwithdelight，forshehopedthatLadyLochlevenwouldmaintainherill-will，andthatthenGeorgewouldreplacehisbrother：thishopewasnotdisappointed。Attheusualtimethequeenheardthefootstepsofthosewhowerebringingherherbreakfast；thedooropened，andshesawGeorgeDouglasenter，precededbytheservantswhowerecarryingthedishes。Georgebarelybowed；butthequeen，warnedbyhimnottobesurprisedatanything，returnedhimhisgreetingwithadisdainfulair；thentheservantsperformedtheirtaskandwentout，astheywereaccustomed。

“Atlast，“saidthequeen，“youarebackagain，then。“

Georgemotionedwithhisfinger，wenttothedoortolistenifalltheservantshadreallygoneaway，andifnoonehadremainedtospy。

Then，returningmoreatease，andbowingrespectfully——

“Yes，madam，“returnedhe；“and，Heavenbethanked，Ibringgoodnews。“

“Oh，tellmequickly！“criedthequeen；“forstayinginthiscastleishell。Youknewthattheycame，didyounot，andthattheymademesignanabdication？“

“Yes，madam，“repliedDouglas；“butwealsoknewthatyoursignaturehadbeenobtainedfromyoubyviolencealone，andourdevotiontoyourMajestyisincreasedthereby，ifpossible。“

“But，afterall，whathaveyoudone？“

“TheSeytonsandtheHamiltons，whoare，asyourMajestyknows，yourmostfaithfulservants，“——Maryturnedround，smiling，andputoutherhandtoMarySeyton，——“havealready，“continuedGeorge，“assembledtheirtroops，whokeepthemselvesinreadinessforthefirstsignal；

butastheyalonewouldnotbesufficientlynumeroustoholdthecountry，weshallmakeourwaydirectlytoDumbarton，whosegovernorisours，andwhichbyitspositionanditsstrengthcanholdoutlongenoughagainstalltheregent’stroopstogivetothefaithfulheartsremainingtoyoutimetocomeandjoinus。“

“Yes，yes，“saidthequeen；“Iseeclearlywhatweshalldooncewegetoutofthis；buthowarewetogetout？“

“Thatistheoccasion，madam，“repliedDouglas，“forwhichyourMajestymustcalltoyouraidthatcourageofwhichyouhavegivensuchgreatproofs。“

“IfIhaveneedonlyofcourageandcoolness，“repliedthequeen，“beeasy；neithertheonenortheotherwillfailme。“

“Hereisafile，“saidGeorge，givingMarySeytonthatinstrumentwhichhejudgedunworthytotouchthequeen’shands，“andthiseveningIshallbringyourMajestycordstoconstructaladder。Youwillcutthroughoneofthebarsofthiswindow，itisonlyataheightoftwentyfeet；Ishallcomeuptoyou，asmuchtotryitastosupportyou；oneofthegarrisonisinmypay，hewillgiveuspassagebythedooritishisdutytoguard，andyouwillbefree。“

“Andwhenwillthatbe？“criedthequeen。

“Wemustwaitfortwothings，madam，“repliedDouglas：“thefirst，tocollectatKinrossanescortsufficientforyourMajesty’ssafety；

thesecond，thattheturnfornightwatchofThomasWardenshouldhappentobeatanisolateddoorthatwecanreachwithoutbeingseen。“

“Andhowwillyouknowthat？Doyoustayatthecastle，then？“

“Alas！no，madam，“repliedGeorge；“atthecastleIamauselessandevenadangerousfriedforyou，whileoncebeyondthelakeIcanserveyouinaneffectualmanner。“

“AndhowwillyouknowwhenWarden’sturntomountguardhascome？“

“Theweathercockinthenorthtower，insteadofturninginthewindwiththeothers，willremainfixedagainstit。“

“ButI，howshallIbewarned？“

“Everythingisalreadyprovidedforonthatside：thelightwhichshineseachnightinthelittlehouseinKinrossincessantlytellsyouthatyourfriendskeepwatchforyou；butwhenyouwouldliketoknowifthehourofyourdeliveranceapproachesorrecedes，inyourturnplacealightinthiswindow。Theotherwillimmediatelydisappear；then，placingyourhandonyourbreast，countyourheartbeats：ifyoureachthenumbertwentywithoutthelightreappearing，nothingisyetsettled；ifyouonlyreachten，themomentapproaches；ifthelightdoesnotleaveyoutimetocountbeyondfive，yourescapeisfixedforthefollowingnight；ifitreappearsnomore，itisfixedforthesameevening；thentheowl’scry，repeatedthriceinthecourtyard，willbethesignal；letdowntheladderwhenyouhearit“。

“Oh，Douglas，“criedthequeen，“youalonecouldforeseeandcalculateeverythingthus。Thankyou，thankyouahundredtimes！“

Andshegavehimherhandtokiss。

Avividredflushedtheyoungman’scheeks；butalmostdirectlymasteringhisemotion，hekneeleddown，and，restrainingtheexpressionofthatloveofwhichhehadoncespokentothequeen，whilepromisinghernevermoretospeakofit，hetookthehandthatMaryextended，andkisseditwithsuchrespectthatnoonecouldhaveseeninthisactionanythingbutthehomageofdevotionandfidelity。

Then，havingbowedtothequeen，hewentout，thatalongerstaywithhershouldnotgiverisetoanysuspicions。

Atthedinner-hourDouglasbrought，ashehadsaid，aparcelofcord。

Itwasnotenough，butwheneveningcameMarySeytonwastounrollitandletfalltheendfromthewindow，andGeorgewouldfastentheremaindertoit：thethingwasdoneasarranged，andwithoutanymishap，anhourafterthehuntershadreturned。

ThefollowingdayGeorgeleftthecastle。

ThequeenandMarySeytonlostnotimeinsettingabouttheropeladder，anditwasfinishedonthethirdday。Thesameevening，thequeeninherimpatience，andrathertoassureherselfofherpartisans’vigilancethaninthehopethatthetimeofherdeliverancewassonear，broughtherlamptothewindow：immediately，andasGeorgeDouglashadtoldher，thelightinthelittlehouseatKinrossdisappeared：thequeenthenlaidherhandonherheartandcounteduptotwenty-two；thenthelightreappeared；theywerereadyforeverything，butnothingwasyetsettled。Foraweekthequeenthusquestionedthelightandherheart-beatswithouttheirnumberchanging；atlast，ontheeighthday，shecountedonlyasfarasten；

attheelevenththelightreappeared。

Thequeenbelievedherselfmistaken：shedidnotdaretohopewhatthisannounced。Shewithdrewthelamp；then，attheendofaquarterofanhour，showeditagain：herunknowncorrespondentunderstood。

withhisusualintelligencethatafreshtrialwasrequiredofhim，andthelightinthelittlehousedisappearedinitsturn。Maryagainquestionedthepulsationsofherheart，and，fastasitleaped，beforethetwelfthbeatthepropitiousstarwasshiningonthehorizon：therewasnolongeranydoubt；everythingwassettled。

Marycouldnotsleepallnight：thispersistencyofherpartisansinspiredherwithgratitudetothepointoftears。Thedaycame，andthequeenseveraltimesquestionedhercompaniontoassureherselfthatitwasnotalladream；ateverysounditseemedtoherthattheschemeonwhichherlibertyhungwasdiscovered，andwhen，atbreakfastandatdinnertime，WilliamDouglasenteredasusual，shehardlydaredlookathim，forfearofreadingonhisfacetheannouncementthatallwaslost。

Intheeveningthequeenagainquestionedthelight：itmadethesameanswer；nothinghadaltered；thebeaconwasalwaysoneofhope。

Forfourdaysitthuscontinuedtoindicatethatthemomentofescapewasathand；ontheeveningofthefifth，beforethequeenhadcountedfivebeats，thelightreappeared：thequeenleaneduponMarySeyton；shewasnearlyfainting，betweendreadand’delight。Herescapewasfixedforthenextevening。

Thequeentriedoncemore，andobtainedthesamereply：therewasnolongeradoubt；everythingwasreadyexcepttheprisoner’scourage，foritfailedherforamoment，andifMarySeytonhadnotdrawnupaseatintime，shewouldhavefallenprone；but，thefirstmomentover，shecollectedherselfasusual，andwasstrongerandmoreresolutethanever。

Tillmidnightthequeenremainedatthewindow，hereyesfixedonthatstarofgoodomen：atlastMarySeytonpersuadedhertogotobed，offering，ifshehadnowishtosleep，toreadhersomeversesbyM。Ronsard，orsomechaptersfromtheMerdesHistoires；butMaryhadnodesirenowforanyprofanereading，andhadherHoursread，makingtheresponsesasshewouldhavedoneifshehadbeenpresentatamasssaidbyaCatholicpriest：towardsdawn，however，shegrewdrowsy，andasMarySeyton，forherpart，wasdroppingwithfatigue，shefellasleepdirectlyinthearm-chairattheheadofthequeen’sbed。

Nextdaysheawoke，feelingthatsomeonewastappingherontheshoulder：itwasthequeen，whohadalreadyarisen。

“Comeandsee，darling，“saidshe，——“comeandseethefinedaythatGodisgivingus。Oh！howaliveisNature！HowhappyIshallbetobeoncemorefreeamongthoseplainsandmountains！Decidedly，Heavenisonourside。“

“Madam，“repliedMary，“Iwouldratherseetheweatherlessfine：itwouldpromiseusadarkernight；andconsider，whatweneedisdarkness，notlight。“

“Listen，“saidthequeen；“itisbythiswearegoingtoseeifGodisindeedforus；iftheweatherremainsasitis，yes，youareright，Heabandonsus；butifitcloudsover，oh！then，darling，thiswillbeacertainproofofHisprotection，willitnot？“

MarySeytonsmiled，noddingthatsheadoptedhermistress’ssuperstition；thenthequeen，incapableofremainingidleinhergreatpreoccupationofmind，collectedthefewjewelsthatshehadpreserved，enclosedtheminacasket，gotreadyfortheeveningablackdress，inordertobestillbetterhiddeninthedarkness：and，thesepreparationsmade，shesatdownagainatthewindow，ceaselesslycarryinghereyesfromthelaketothelittlehouseinKinross，shutupanddumbasusual。

Thedinner-hourarrived：thequeenwassohappythatshereceivedWilliamDouglaswithmoregoodwillthanwasherwont，anditwaswithdifficultysheremainedseatedduringthetimethemeallasted；butsherestrainedherself，andWilliamDouglaswithdrew，withoutseemingtohavenoticedheragitation。

ScarcelyhadhegonethanMaryrantothewindow；shehadneedofair，andhergazedevouredinadvancethosewidehorizonswhichshewasabouttocrossanew；itseemedtoherthatonceatlibertyshewouldnevershutherselfupinapalaceagain，butwouldwanderaboutthecountrysidecontinually：then，amidallthesetremorsofdelight，fromtimetotimeshefeltunexpectedlyheavyatheart。ShethenturnedroundtoMarySeyton，tryingtofortifyherstrengthwithhers，andtheyounggirlkeptupherhopes，butratherfromdutythanfromconviction。