ABSTRACT
These preliminaries for a lasting friendship being arranged and sworn to by Philip, Wallace dispatched a messenger to Scotland to Lord Ruthven at Hunting-tower, informing him of all that had happened to him since their separation, and of his present designs with regard to Scotland. He made particular inquiries respecting the state of the public mind, and declared his intentions not to introduce Bruce amongst the cabals of his chieftains until he knew exactly how they were all disposed. Some weeks passed away before a reply to this letter arrived. During this time the health of Helen, which had been much impaired by the sufferings inflicted on her by De Valence, gradually recovered; and her beauty became as much the admiration of the French nobles as her meek dignity was of their respect. A new scene of royalty presented itself in this gay court to Wallace, for all was pageant and chivalric gallantry; but it had no other effect on him than that of exciting those benevolent affections which rejoiced in the innocent gaiety of his fellow beings. His pensiveness was not that of a cynic. Though hilarity never awakened his mind to buoyant mirth, yet he loved to see it in others, and gently smiled when others laughed.
