Page:A Mainsail Haul - Masefield - 1913.djvu/163

Rh IN A CASTLE RUIN

" long ago," said the old man, "the castle was owned by a Scotchman named Carr, whose daughter was the most beautiful woman in the world. The name of this daughter was Clelia. She married Andy MacDonnell, who came over at the time of the Settlement; and after her marriage she lived on at the castle with her husband, helping Carr with the land. When Andy had been married about half a year, he was called away to Scotland on business; for he was a great man in Scotland, and at that time there was to be marrying between the royal families of Scotland and England, and he was wanted to carry a banner at the wedding. So he went to Scotland. And when they heard he was coming back they made all ready for a feast, and they had fires lighted, and all the fiddlers and the pipers came; and the poets came from the back hills making up new songs.