Henry Seyton placed the Queen in the
stern; the Abbot offered to assist Catherine, but she was seated by
the Queen's side before he could utter his proffer of help; and Roland
Graeme was just lifting Lady Fleming over the boat-side, when a
thought suddenly occurred to him, and exclaiming, "Forgotten,
forgotten! wait for me but one half-minute," he replaced on the shore
the helpless Lady of the bed-chamber, threw the Queen's packet into
the boat, and sped back through the garden with the noiseless speed of
a bird on the wing.
"By Heaven, he is false at last!" said Seyton; "I ever feared it!"
"He is as true," said Catherine, "as Heaven itself, and that I will
maintain."
"Be silent, minion," said her brother, "for shame, if not for fear--
Fellows, put off, and row for your lives!"
"Help me, help me on board!" said the deserted Lady Fleming, and
that louder than prudence warranted.
"Put off--put off!" cried Henry Seyton; "leave all behind, so the
Queen is safe."
"Will you permit this, madam?" said Catherine, imploringly; "you
leave your deliverer to death."
"I will not," said the Queen.--"Seyton I command you to stay at every
risk."
"Pardon me, madam, if I disobey," said the intractable young man; and
with one hand lifting in Lady Fleming, he began himself to push off
the boat.
She was two fathoms' length from the shore, and the rowers were
getting her head round, when Roland Graeme, arriving, bounded from the
beach, and attained the boat, overturning Seyton, on whom he lighted.
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