"
It was soon after this conversation that a messenger arrived from
London with letters, announcing that King Charles had been crowned in
Scotland, with great solemnity and magnificence.
"The plot thickens," said the intendant; "and by this letter from my
correspondent, Ashley Cooper, I find that the king's army is well
appointed, and that David Lesley is lieutenant-general; Middleton
commands the horse, and Wemyss the artillery. That Wemyss is certainly
a good officer, but was not true to the late king: may he behave
better to the present! Now, Edward, I shall send you to London, and I
will give you letters to those who will advise you how to proceed. You
may take the black horse; he will bear you well. You will of course
write to me, for Sampson will go with you, and you can send him back
when you consider that you do not require or wish for his presence:
there is no time to be lost, for, depend upon it, Cromwell, who is
still at Edinburgh, will take the field as soon as he can. Are you
ready to start to-morrow morning?"
"Yes, sir, quite ready."
"I fear that you can not go over to the cottage to bid farewell to
your sisters; but, perhaps, it is better that you should not."
"I think so too, sir," replied Edward; "now that the snow has nearly
disappeared, I did think of going over, having been so long absent,
but I must send Oswald over instead.
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