Page:Walter Scott - The Monastery (Henry Frowde, 1912).djvu/466

RV 398 (Rh) courage and presence of mind to the test, and he began to rise so rapidly in his esteem, that those who knew the earl considered the youth's fortune as certain. One step only was wanting to raise him to a still higher degree of confidence and favour—it was the abjuration of the Popish religion. The ministers who attended upon Murray and formed his chief support amongst the people, found an easy convert in Halbert Glendinning, who, from his earliest days, had never felt much devotion towards the Catholic faith, and who listened eagerly to more reasonable views of religion. By thus adopting the faith of his master, he rose higher in his favour, and was constantly about his person during his prolonged stay in the west of Scotland, which the intractability of those whom the earl had to deal with, protracted from day to day, and week to week.

autumn of the year was well advanced, when the Earl of Morton, one morning, rather unexpectedly, entered the antechamber of Murray in which Halbert Glendinning was in waiting.

'Call your master, Halbert,' said the earl; 'I have news for him from Teviotdale; and for you too, Glendinning. News! news! my Lord of Murray!' he exclaimed at the door of the earl's bedroom; 'come forth instantly.' The earl appeared, and greeted his ally, demanding eagerly his tidings.

'I have had a sure friend with me from the south,' said Morton; 'he has been at Saint Mary's monastery, and brings important tidings.'

'Of what complexion?' said Murray, 'and can you trust the bearer?'

'He is faithful, on my life,' said Morton; 'I wish all around your lordship may prove equally so.'