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brought her。 This precaution saddened Mary more than it reassured
her； for she understood that； while she stayed in the castle； this
ceremony would prevent any intimacy at table。 However； it proceeded
from too noble an intention for her to impute it as a crime to her
hosts： she resigned herself； then； to this company； insupportable as
it was to her； only； from that day forward； she so cut short her
meals that all the time she was at Lochleven her longest dinners
barely lasted more than a quarter of an hour。
Two days after her arrival； Mary； on sitting down to table for
breakfast； found on her plate a letter addressed to her which had
been put there by William Douglas。 Mary recognised Murray's
handwriting； and her first feeling was one of joy； for if a ray of
hope remained to her； it came from her brother； to whom she had
always been perfectly kind； whom from Prior of St。 Andrew's she had
made an earl in bestowing on him the splendid estates which formed
part of the old earldom of Murray； and to whom； which was of more
importance； she had since pardoned； or pretended to pardon； the part
he had taken in Rizzio's assassination。
Her astonishment was great； then； when； having opened the letter； she
found in it bitter reproaches for her conduct； an exhortation to do
penance； and an assurance several times repeated that she should
never leave her prison。 He ended his letter in announcing to her
that； in spite of his distaste for public affairs； he had been
obliged to accept the regency； which he had done less for his country
than for his sister； seeing that it was the sole means he had of
standing in the way of the ignominious trial to which the nobles
wished to bring her； as author； or at least as chief accomplice； of
Darnley's death。 This imprisonment was then clearly a great good
fortune for her； and she ought to thank Heaven for it； as an
alleviation of the fate awaiting her if he had not interceded for
her。
This letter was a lightning stroke for Mary： only； as she did not
wish to give her enemies the delight of seeing her suffer； she
contained her grief； and； turning to William Douglas
〃My lord；〃 said she； 〃this letter contains news that you doubtless
know already； for although we are not children by the same mother； he
who writes to me is related to us in the same degree； and will not
have desired to write to his sister without writing to his brother at
the same time； besides； as a good son； he will have desired to
acquaint his mother with the unlooked…for greatness that has befallen
him。〃
〃Yes； madam；〃 replied William； 〃we know since yesterday that； for the
welfare of Scotland； my brother has been named regent； and as he is a
son as respectful to his mother as he is devoted to his country； we
hope that he will repair the evil that for five years favourites of
every sort and kind have done to both。〃
〃It is like a good son； and at the same time like a courteous host；
to go back no farther into the history of Scotland；〃 replied Mary
Stuart；〃 and not to make the daughter blush for the father's errors；
for I have heard say that the evil which your lordship laments was
prior to the time to which you assign it； and that King James V also
had formerly favourites； both male and female。 It is true that they
add that the ones as ill rewarded his friendship as the others his
love。 In this； if you are ignorant of it； my lord； you can be
instructed； if he is still living； by a certain。 Porterfeld or
Porterfield； I don't know which； understanding these names of the
lower classes too ill to retain and pronounce them； but about which；
in my stead； your noble mother could give you information。〃
With these words； Mary Stuart rose； and； leaving William Douglas
crimson with rage； she returned into her bedroom； and bolted the door
behind her。
All that day Mary did not come down； remaining at her window； from
which she at least enjoyed a splendid view over the plains and
village of Kinross； but this vast extent only contracted her heart
the more； when； bringing her gaze back from the horizon to the
castle； she beheld its walls surrounded on all sides by the deep
waters of the lake； on whose wide surface a single boat； where Little
Douglas was fishing； was rocking like a speck。 For some moments
Mary's eyes mechanically rested on this child； whom she had already
seen upon her arrival； when suddenly a horn sounded from the Kinross
side。 At the same moment Little Douglas threw away his line； and
began to row towards the shore whence the signal had come with skill
and strength beyond his years。 Mary； who had let her gaze rest on
him absently； continued to follow him with her eyes； and saw him make
for a spot on the shore so distant that the boat seemed to her at
length but an imperceptible speck； but soon it reappeared； growing
larger as it approached； and Mary could then observe that it was
bringing back to the castle a new passenger； who； having in his turn
taken the oars； made the little skiff fly over the tranquil water of
the lake； where it left a furrow gleaming in the last rays of the
sun。 Very soon； flying on with the swiftness of a bird； it was near
enough for Mary to see that the skilful and vigorous oarsman was a
young man from twenty…five to twenty…six years of age； with long
black hair； clad in a close coat of green cloth； and wearing a
Highlander's cap； adorned with an eagle's feather； then； as with his
back turned to the window he drew nearer； Little Douglas； who was
leaning on his shoulder； said a few words which made him turn round
towards the queen： immediately Mary； with an instinctive movement
rather than with the dread of being an object of idle curiosity； drew
back； but not so quickly； however； but that she had been able to see
the handsome pale face of the unknown； who； when she returned to the
window； had disappeared behind one of the corners of the castle。
Everything is a cause of conjecture to a prisoner： it seemed to Mary
that this young man's face was not unknown to her； and that he had
seen her already； but though great the care with which she questioned
her memory； she could not recall any distinct remembrance； so much so
that the queen ended in thinking it the play of her imagination； or
that some vague and distinct resemblance had deceived her。
However； in spite of Mary； this idea had taken an important place in
her mind： she incessantly saw this little boat skimming the water；
and the young man and the child who were in it drawing near her； as
if to bring her help。 It followed that； although there had been
nothing real in all these captive's dreams； she slept that night a
calmer sleep than she had yet done since she had been in Lochleven
Castle。
Next day； on rising； Mary ran to her window： the weather was fine；
and everything seemed to smile on her； the water； the heavens and the
earth。 But； without being able to account for the restraining
motive；