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in another's life； and was devoted； body and soul； to him who was his
cause of greatness or of abasement。 Mary's fall； which must
necessarily raise Murray； was thus a source of joy for him； and the
Confederate lords could not have chosen better than in confiding the
safe…keeping of their prisoner to the instinctive spite of Lady
Douglas and to the intelligent hatred of her son。
As to Little Douglas； he was； as we have said； a child of twelve； for
some months an orphan； whom the Lochlevens had taken charge of； and
whom they made buy the bread they gave him by all sorts of harshness。
The result was that the child； proud and spiteful as a Douglas； and
knowing； although his fortune was inferior； that his birth was equal
to his proud relatives； had little by little changed his early
gratitude into lasting and profound hatred： for one used to say that
among the Douglases there was an age for loving； but that there was
none for hating。 It results that； feeling his weakness and
isolation； the child was self…contained with strength beyond his
years； and； humble and submissive in appearance； only awaited the
moment when； a grown…up young man； he could leave Lochleven； and
perhaps avenge himself for the proud protection of those who dwelt
there。 But the feelings that we have just expressed did not extend
to all the members of the family： as much as from the bottom of his
heart the little Douglas detested William and his mother； so much he
loved George； the second of Lady Lochleven's sons； of whom we have
not yet spoken； because； being away from the castle when the queen
arrived； we have not yet found an opportunity to present him to our
readers。
George； who at this time might have been about twenty…five or twenty…
six years old； was the second son of Lord Lochleven； but by a
singular chance； that his mother's adventurous youth had caused Sir
William to interpret amiss； this second son had none of the
characteristic features of the Douglases' full cheeks； high colour；
large ears； and red hair。 The result was that poor George； who； on
the contrary； had been given by nature pale cheeks； dark blue eyes；
and black hair； had been since coming into the world an object of
indifference to his father and of dislike to his elder brother。 As
to his mother； whether she were indeed in good faith surprised like
Lord Douglas at this difference in race； whether she knew the cause
and inwardly reproached herself； George had never been； ostensibly at
least； the object of a very lively maternal affection； so the young
man； followed from his childhood by a fatality that he could not
explain； had sprung up like a wild shrub； full of sap and strength；
but uncultivated and solitary。 Besides； from the time when he was
fifteen； one was accustomed to his motiveless absences； which the
indifference that everyone bore him made moreover perfectly
explicable； from time to time； however； he was seen to reappear at
the castle； like those migratory birds which always return to the
same place but only stay a moment； then take their way again without
one's knowing towards what spot in the world they are directing their
flight。
An instinct of misfortune in common had drawn Little Douglas to
George。 George； seeing the child ill…treated by everyone； had
conceived an affection for him； and Little Douglas； feeling himself
loved amid the atmosphere of indifference around him； turned with
open arms and heart to George： it resulted from this mutual liking
that one day； when the child had committed I do not know what fault；
and that William Douglas raised the whip he beat his dogs with to
strike him； that George； who was sitting on a stone； sad and
thoughtful； had immediately sprung up； snatched the whip from his
brother's hands and had thrown it far from him。 At this insult
William had drawn his sword； and George his； so that these two
brothers； who had hated one another for twenty years like two
enemies； were going to cut one another's throats； when Little
Douglas； who had picked up the whip； coming back and kneeling before
William； offered him the ignominious weapon； saying
〃Strike； cousin； I have deserved it。〃
This behaviour of the child had caused some minutes' reflection to
the two young men； who； terrified at the crime they were about to
commit； had returned their swords to their scabbards and had each
gone away in silence。 Since this incident the friendship of George
and Little Douglas had acquired new strength； and on the child's side
it had become veneration。
We dwell upon all these details somewhat at length； perhaps； but no
doubt our readers will pardon us when they see the use to be made of
them。
This is the family； less George； who； as we have said； was absent at
the time of her arrival； into the midst of which the queen had
fallen； passing in a moment from the summit of power to the position
of a prisoner； for from the day following her arrival Mary saw that
it was by such a title she was an inmate of Lochleven Castle。 In
fact； Lady Douglas presented herself before her as soon as it was
morning； and with an embarrassment and dislike ill disguised beneath
an appearance of respectful indifference； invited Mary to follow her
and take stock of the several parts of the fortress which had been
chosen beforehand for her private use。 She then made her go through
three rooms； of which one was to serve as her bedroom； the second as
sitting…room； and the third as ante…chamber； afterwards； leading the
way down a spiral staircase； which looked into the great hall of the
castle； its only outlet； she had crossed this hall； and had taken
Mary into the garden whose trees the queen had seen topping the high
walls on her arrival： it was a little square of ground； forming a
flower…bed in the midst of which was an artificial fountain。 It was
entered by a very low door； repeated in the opposite wall； this
second door looked on to the lake and； like all the castle doors；
whose keys； however； never left the belt or the pillow of William
Douglas； it was guarded night and day by a sentinel。 This was now
the whole domain of her who had possessed the palaces； the plains；
and the mountains of an entire kingdom。
Mary； on returning to her room； found breakfast ready； and William
Douglas standing near the table he was going to fulfil about the
queen the duties of carver and taster。
In spite of their hatred for Mary； the Douglases would have
considered it an eternal blemish on their honour if any accident
should have befallen the queen while she was dwelling in their
castle； and it was in order that the queen herself should not
entertain any fear in this respect that William Douglas； in his
quality of lord of the manor； had not only desired to carve before
the queen； but even to taste first in her presence； all the dishes
served to her； as well as the water and the several wines to be
brought her。 This precaution saddened Mary more th