Page:The Family Legend.pdf/122

My camp-mate and my friend, I must resign thee.
Bear to him every kind and cordial wish
An ancient friend can send, and——
(A horn heard without.) Hark! that horn!
Some messenger of moment is arrived.——
We'll speak of this again.—The moon to-night
Is near the full, and at an early hour——

Enter a Messenger, bearing a letter.

Whose messenger art thou, who in thy hand

That letter bear'st with broad and sable seal,
Which seems to bring to me some dismal tidings?

MESSENGER.

From Mull, my lord, I come; and the Maclean,

Our chief, commissioned me to give you this,
Which is indeed with dismal tidings fraught.

(Argyll opens the letter, and reads it with affected surprise and sorrow.)

ARGYLL.

Heavy, indeed, and sudden is the loss—

The sad calamity that hath befallen.
The will of heaven be done!

(Putting a handkerchief to his eyes, and leaning, as if for support, upon Sir Hubert; then, after a pause, turning to the messenger.)

How didst thou leave the chieftain? He, I hope,