JONES READERS BY GRADES BOOK SEVEN THE ESCAPE OF QUEEN MARY WALTER SCOTT SIR WALTER SCOTT (1771-1832) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He has often been called "The Great Enchanter," so wonderful was his power of description. Scott wrote many novels, which are known as the Waverley Novels, from the name of the first one of the series. NOTE. The life of Mary Queen of Scots was full of misfortune and 5 turmoil. After an unhappy reign the beautiful queen was forced to sign an abdication in favor of her infant son, and in 1567 was carried a prisoner to Lochleven Castle, a lonely residence in the middle of Loch Leven. Before a year had passed Mary found a rescuer in her keeper's brother and escaped from the castle. Scott's novel, "The Abbot," from which this selection is taken, is founded on history and tradition. A still younger brother of the keeper, called the Little Douglas, is represented in the romance by Roland Graeme. 10 At the dead hour of midnight, when all was silent in the castle, the page put the key into the lock of the 15 wicket which opened into the garden, and which was at the bottom of a staircase which descended from the Queen's apartment. Now, turn smooth and softly, thou 66 good bolt," said he, "if ever oil softened rust!" and his precautions had been so effectual that the bolt revolved with little or no sound of resistance. He ventured not to cross the threshold, but asked if the boat were ready. "This half hour," said the sentinel. "She lies beneath the wall, too close under the islet to be seen by the warder, but I fear she will hardly escape his notice in putting off." "The darkness," said the page, "and our profound silence may take her off unobserved, as she came in. 10 Hildebrand has the watch on the tower-a heavy-headed knave! He sleeps for a wager.' "Then bring the Queen," said the Abbot, "and I will call Henry Seyton to assist them to the boat." On tiptoe, with noiseless step and suppressed breath, 15 trembling at every rustle of their own apparel, one after another the fair prisoners glided down the winding stair. Henry Seyton seemed instantly to take upon himself the whole direction of the enterprise. "My Lord Abbot," he said, "give my sister your arm-I will conduct the 20 Queen- and that youth will have the honor to guide Lady Fleming." This was no time to dispute the arrangement, although it was not that which Roland Graeme would have chosen. Catherine Seyton, who well knew the garden path, tripped 25 on before like a sylph, rather leading the Abbot than receiving assistance; the Queen, her native spirit prevailing over female fear and a thousand painful reflections, moved steadily forward, by the assistance of Henry Seyton; while the Lady Fleming encumbered with her fears and her helplessness Roland Graeme, who followed in the rear, and who bore under the other arm a packet of necessaries belonging to the Queen. The door of the 5 garden, which communicated with the shore of the islet, yielded to one of the keys of which Roland had possessed himself, although not until he had tried several, -a moment of anxious terror and expectation. The ladies were then partly led, partly carried, to the side of the 10 lake, where a boat with six rowers attended them, the men couched along the bottom to secure them from observation. Henry Seyton placed the Queen in the stern; the Abbot offered to assist Catherine, but she was seated by the Queen's side before he could utter his 15 proffer of help; and Roland Graeme was just lifting Lady Fleming over the boat side, when a thought suddenly occurred to him, and exclaiming, "Forgotten, forgotten! wait for me but one half minute," he replaced on the shore the helpless Lady of the Bedchamber, threw the 20 Queen's packet into the boat, and sped back through the garden with the noiseless speed of a bird on the wing. "He is false at last!" said Seyton; "I ever feared it." "He is as true," said Catherine, "as Heaven itself, and that I will maintain." "Be silent," said her brother, "for shame, if not for fear. Fellows, put off, and row for your lives!" 25 25 |