Page:The Family Legend.pdf/52

LORNE.

Argyll is well;

And nothing ill, my sister, hath befallen,
If thou art well and happy.

HELEN.

Speak'st thou truly?

Why art thou come? Why thus upon our coast?
O take it not unkindly that I say,
"Why art thou come?"

LORNE.

Near to the opposite shore,

With no design, but on a lengthen'd chace,
A lusty deer pursuing from the hills
Of Morvern, where Sir Hubert and myself
Guests of the social lord two days had been,
We found us; when a sudden strong desire
To look upon the Castle of Maclean,
Seen from the coast, our eager fancy seiz'd,
And that indulged, forthwith we did agree
The frith to cross, and to its chief and dame
A hasty visit make. But as our boat
Lay waiting to receive us, warn'd by one
Whom well I knew (the vassal of a friend
Whose word I could not doubt,) that jealous rancour,