Page:Allan the freebooter, or, The witch of Glenross (2).pdf/7

7 Maud was summoned to pay the debt of nature, and in her dying moments she requested to see the blooming Wallace. Roderick, who had visited her chamber, to take a last leave of so old and devoted a domestic, was present when she made her request, and anxious to gratify a wish urged with almost convulsive earnestness. He retired, and sent the youth to her chamber; the attendants were instantly dismissed, and Maud left with only the lady Malvina and her son.

Roderick, almost distracted at beholding a conduct so opposite to his wishes, received with pleasure an invitation from Malcolm of Ruthven, to celebrate the birthday of a daughter, which had been born to him shortly after the affair of Allan the Freebooter, and, as she was now about to complete her fourteenth year, Roderick instantly determined upon taking Wallace with him, hoping that a change of scene might restore his wonted cheerfulness. Wallace reluctantly made preparations for the journey, he would have preferred the company of his mother to the promised festivities, but the will of the laird of Glenross was absolute, and in a few days he bade adieu to his native towers, and accompanied by only two domestics, they reached the ancient Castle of Ruthven in safety. Malcolm & Gertrude received them with unfeigned pleasure; the beauty of Wallace seemed to strike them with surprise and admiration, and sending for Edwin, and their daughter Madeline, introduced the young people to each other.—Edwin was a handsome manly youth of eighteen, generous, noble, and animated, but an air of fierceness and hauteur threw a cloud over his good qualities, and cast at a distance those who would otherwise have been his warmest friends.—Madeline was a pretty interesting brunette, whose character as yet only displayed excessive gentleness and timidity. Edwin immediately attached himself to Wallace with all the enthusiastic warmth of his character, but Wallace appeared to shrink from the boisterous effusions of his friendship, and to prefer the society of the blushing Madeline. Their increasing partiality for each other gave both Roderick and Malcolm