Page:The Family Legend.pdf/143

Withdrawn, sound quickly pacing to and fro?
Look out and see.

(Lorne, going to the door, and calling back to Argyll in a low voice.)

It is Maclean himself.

ARGYLL.

Beckon him hither then.—Thank heaven for this!

Now opportunity is fairly given,
If that constrainedly he cloaks their guilt,
To free him from their toils.

Enter Maclean, conducted by Lorne.

ARGYLL, (to Maclean).

My son, still in restraint before our vassals

Have we conversed; but now in privacy——
Start not, I pray thee:—sit thee down, Maclean:
I would have close and private words of thee:
Sit down, I pray; my aged limbs are tired.

(Argyll and Maclean sit down, whilst Lorne stands behind them, with his ear bent eagerly to listen, and his eyes fixed with a side-glance on Maclean.)

Chieftain, I need not say to thee, who deeply

Lament'st with us our sad untimely loss,
How keenly I have felt it.———