AsWilliamDouglashadsaid，fromthistimeforwardthequeenwasaprisonerindeed，andpermissiontogodownintothegardenwasnolongergrantedbutunderthesurveillanceoftwosoldiers；butthisannoyanceseemedtohersounbearablethatshepreferredtogiveuptherecreation，which，surroundedwithsuchconditions，becameatorture。Sosheshutherselfupinherapartments，findingacertainbitterandhaughtypleasureintheveryexcessofhermisfortune。
CHAPTERVII
Aweekaftertheeventswehaverelated，asnineo’clockintheeveninghadjustsoundedfromthecastlebell，andthequeenandMarySeytonweresittingatatablewheretheywereworkingattheirtapestry，astonethrownfromthecourtyardpassedthroughthewindowbars，brokeapaneofglass，andfellintotheroom。Thequeen’sfirstideawastobelieveitaccidentaloraninsult；butMarySeyton，turninground，noticedthatthestonewaswrappedupinapaper：sheimmediatelypickeditup。ThepaperwasaletterfromGeorgeDouglas，conceivedintheseterms：
“Youhavecommandedmetolive，madam：Ihaveobeyed，andyourMajestyhasbeenabletotell，fromtheKinrosslight，thatyourservantscontinuetowatchoveryou。However，nottoraisesuspicion，thesoldierscollectedforthatfatalnightdispersedatdawn，andwillnotgatheragaintillafreshattemptmakestheirpresencenecessary。But，alas！torenewthisattemptnow，whenyourMajesty’sgaolersareontheirguard，wouldbeyourruin。Letthemtakeeveryprecaution，then，madam；letthemsleepinsecurity，whilewe，we，inourdevotion，shallgoonwatching。
“Patienceandcourage！“
“Braveandloyalheart！“criedMary，“moreconstantlydevotedtomisfortunethanothersaretoprosperity！Yes，Ishallhavepatienceandcourage，andsolongasthatlightshinesIshallstillbelieveinliberty。“
Thisletterrestoredtothequeenallherformercourage：shehadmeansofcommunicationwithGeorgethroughLittleDouglas；fornodoubtitwashewhohadthrownthatstone。Shehastened，inherturn，towritealettertoGeorge，inwhichshebothchargedhimtoexpresshergratitudetoallthelordswhohadsignedtheprotestation；andbeggedthem，inthenameofthefidelitytheyhadsworntoher，nottocoolintheirdevotion，promisingthem，forherpart，toawaittheresultwiththatpatienceandcouragetheyaskedofher。
Thequeenwasnotmistaken：nextday，asshewasatherwindow，LittleDouglascametoplayatthefootofthetower，and，withoutraisinghishead，stoppedjustbeneathhertodigatraptocatchbirds。Thequeenlookedtoseeifshewereobserved，andassuredthatthatpartofthecourtyardwasdeserted。sheletfailthestonewrappedinherletter：atfirstshefearedtohavemadeaseriouserror；forLittleDouglasdidnoteventurnatthenoise，anditwasonlyafteramoment，duringwhichtheprisoner’sheartwastornwithfrightfulanxiety，thatindifferently，andasifhewerelookingforsomethingelse，thechildlaidhishandonthestone，andwithouthurrying，withoutraisinghishead，withoutindeedgivinganysignofintelligencetoherwhohadthrownit，heputtheletterinhispocket，finishingtheworkhehadbegunwiththegreatestcalm，andshowingthequeen，bythiscoolnessbeyondhisyears，whatrelianceshecouldplaceinhim。
>Fromthatmomentthequeenregainedfreshhope；butdays，weeks，monthspassedwithoutbringinganychangeinhersituation：wintercame；theprisonersawsnowspreadovertheplainsandmountains，andthelakeaffordedher，ifshehadonlybeenabletopassthedoor，afirmroadtogaintheotherbank；butnolettercameduringallthistimetobringhertheconsolingnewsthattheywerebusyaboutherdeliverance；thefaithfullightaloneannouncedtohereveryeveningthatafriendwaskeepingwatch。
Soonnatureawokefromherdeath-sleep：someforwardsun-raysbrokethroughthecloudsofthissombreskyofScotland；thesnowmelted，thelakebrokeitsice-crust，thefirstbudsopened，thegreenturfreappeared；everythingcameoutofitsprisonatthejoyousapproachofspring，anditwasagreatgrieftoMarytoseethatshealonewascondemnedtoaneternalwinter。
Atlast；oneevening，shethoughtsheobservedinthemotionsofthelightthatsomethingfreshwashappening：shehadsooftenquestionedthispoorflickeringstar，andshehadsooftenletitcountherheart-beatsmorethantwentytimes，thattospareherselfthepainofdisappointment，foralongtimeshehadnolongerinterrogatedit；
however，sheresolvedtomakeonelastattempt，and，almosthopeless，sheputherlightnearthewindow，andimmediatelytookitaway；
still，faithfultothesignal，theotherdisappearedatthesamemoment，andreappearedattheeleventhheart-beatofthequeen。Atthesametime，byastrangecoincidence，astonepassingthroughthewindowfellatMarySeyton’sfeet。Itwas，likethefirst，wrappedinaletterfromGeorge：thequeentookitfromhercompanion’shands，openedit，andread：
“Themomentdrawsnear；youradherentsareassembled；summonallyourcourage。“
“To-morrow，ateleveno’clockintheevening，dropacordfromyourwindow，anddrawupthepacketthatwillbefastenedtoit。“
Thereremainedinthequeen’sapartmentstheropeoverandabovewhathadservedfortheladdertakenawaybytheguardstheeveningofthefrustratedescape：nextday，attheappointedhour，thetwoprisonersshutupthelampinthebedroom，sothatnolightshouldbetraythem，andMarySeyton，approachingthewindow，letdownthecord。Afteraminute，shefeltfromitsmovementsthatsomethingwasbeingattachedtoit。MarySeytonpulled，andaratherbulkyparcelappearedatthebars，whichitcouldnotpassonaccountofitssize。Thenthequeencametohercompanion’said。Theparcelwasuntied，anditscontents，separately，gotthrougheasily。Thetwoprisonerscarriedthemintothebedroom，and，barricadedwithin，commencedaninventory。Thereweretwocompletesuitsofmen’sclothesintheDouglaslivery。Thequeenwasataloss，whenshesawaletterfastenedtothecollarofoneofthetwocoats。Eagertoknowthemeaningofthisenigma，sheimmediatelyopenedit，andreadasfollows：
“ItisonlybydintofaudacitythatherMajestycanrecoverherliberty：letherMajestyreadthisletter，then，andpunctuallyfollow，ifshedeigntoadoptthem，theinstructionsshewillfindtherein。
“Inthedaytimethekeysofthecastledonotleavethebeltoftheoldsteward；whencurfewisrungandhehasmadehisroundstomakesurethatallthedoorsarefastshut，hegivesthemuptoWilliamDouglas，who，ifhestaysup，fastensthemtohissword-belt，or，ifhesleeps，putsthemunderhispillow。Forfivemonths，LittleDouglas，whomeveryoneisaccustomedtoseeworkingatthearmourer’sforgeofthecastle，hasbeenemployedinmakingsomekeyslikeenoughtotheothers，oncetheyaresubstitutedforthem，forWilliamtobedeceived。YesterdayLittleDouglasfinishedthelast。
“OnthefirstfavourableopportunitythatherMajestywillknowtobeabouttopresentitself，bycarefullyquestioningthelighteachday，LittleDouglaswillexchangethefalsekeysforthetrue，willenterthequeen’sroom，andwillfindherdressed，aswellasMissMarySeyton，intheirmen’sclothing，andhewillgobeforethemtoleadthem，bythewaywhichoffersthebestchancesfortheirescape；aboatwillbepreparedandwillawaitthem。
“Tillthen，everyevening，asmuchtoaccustomthemselvestothesenewcostumesastogivethemanappearanceofhavingbeenworn，herMajestyandMissMarySeytonwilldressthemselvesinthesuits，whichtheymustkeeponfromnineo’clocktillmidnight。Besides，itispossiblethat，withouthavinghadtimetowarnthem，theiryoungguidemaysuddenlycometoseekthem：itisurgent，then，thathefindthemready。
“ThegarmentsoughttofitperfectlyherMajestyandhercompanion，themeasurehavingbeentakenonMissMaryFlemingandMissMaryLivingston，whoareexactlytheirsize。
“OnecannottoostronglyrecommendherMajestytosummontoheraidonthesupremeoccasionthecoolnessandcourageofwhichshehasgivensuchfrequentproofsatothertimes。“
Thetwoprisonerswereastoundedattheboldnessofthisplan：atfirsttheylookedatoneanotherinconsternation，forsuccessseemedimpossible。Theynonethelessmadetrialoftheirdisguise：asGeorgehadsaid，itfittedeachofthemasiftheyhadbeenmeasuredforit。
Everyeveningthequeenquestionedthelight，asGeorgehadurged，andthatforawholelongmonth，duringwhicheacheveningthequeenandMarySeyton，althoughthelightgavenofreshtidings，arrayedthemselvesintheirmen’sclothes，ashadbeenarranged，sothattheybothacquiredsuchpracticethattheybecameasfamiliartothemasthoseoftheirownsex。
Atlast，the2ndMay，1568，thequeenwasawakenedbytheblowingofahorn：uneasyastowhatitannounced，sheslippedonacloakandrantothewindow，whereMarySeytonjoinedherdirectly。Arathernumerousbandofhorsemenhadhaltedonthesideofthelake，displayingtheDouglaspennon，andthreeboatswererowingtogetherandvyingwitheachothertofetchthenewarrivals。
Thiseventcausedthequeendismay：inhersituationtheleastchangeinthecastleroutinewastobefeared，foritmightupsetalltheconcertedplans。Thisapprehensionredoubledwhen，ontheboatsdrawingnear，thequeenrecognisedintheelderLordDouglas，thehusbandofLadyLochleven，andthefatherofWilliamandGeorge。Thevenerableknight，whowasKeeperoftheMarchesinthenorth，wascomingtovisithisancientmanor，inwhichhehadnotsetfootforthreeyears。
ItwasaneventforLochleven；and，someminutesafterthearrivaloftheboats，MaryStuartheardtheoldsteward’sfootstepsmountingthestairs：hecametoannouncehismaster’sarrivaltothequeen，and，asitmustneedsbeatimeofrejoicingtoallthecastleinhabitantswhenitsmasterreturned，hecametoinvitethequeentothedinnerincelebrationoftheevent：whetherinstinctivelyorfromdistaste，thequeendeclined。
Alldaylongthebellandthebugleresounded：LordDouglas，likeatruefeudallord，travelledwiththeretinueofaprince。Onesawnothingbutnewsoldiersandservantspassingandrepassingbeneaththequeen’swindows：thefootmenandhorsemenwerewearing，moreover，aliverysimilartothatwhichthequeenandMarySeytonhadreceived。
Maryawaitedthenightwithimpatience。Thedaybefore，shehadquestionedherlight，andithadinformedherasusual，inreappearingathereleventhortwelfthheart-beat，thatthemomentofescapewasnear；butshegreatlyfearedthatLordDouglas’sarrivalmighthaveupseteverything，andthatthisevening’ssignalcouldonlyannounceapostponement。Buthardlyhadsheseenthelightshinethansheplacedherlampinthewindow；theotherdisappeareddirectly，andMaryStuart，withterribleanxiety，begantoquestionit。Thisanxietyincreasedwhenshehadcountedmorethanfifteenbeats。Thenshestopped，castdown，hereyesmechanicallyfixedonthespotwherethelighthadbeen。Butherastonishmentwasgreatwhen，attheendofafewminutes，shedidnotseeitreappear，andwhen，halfanhourhavingelapsed，everythingremainedindarkness。
Thequeenthenrenewedhersignal，butobtainednoresponse：theescapewasforthesameevening。
ThequeenandMarySeytonweresolittleexpectingthisissue，that，contrarytotheircustom，theyhadnotputontheirmen’sclothesthatevening。Theyimmediatelyflewtothequeen’sbed-chamber，boltedthedoorbehindthem，andbegantodress。
Theyhadhardlyfinishedtheirhurriedtoilettewhentheyheardakeyturninthelock：theyimmediatelyblewoutthelamp。Lightstepsapproachedthedoor。Thetwowomenleanedoneagainsttheother；fortheybothwerenearfalling。Someonetappedgently。Thequeenaskedwhowasthere，andLittleDouglas’svoiceansweredinthetwofirstlinesofanoldballad——
“Douglas，Douglas，Tenderandtrue。“
Maryopened，directly：itwasthewatchwordagreeduponwithGeorgeDouglas。
Thechildwaswithoutalight。Hestretchedouthishandandencounteredthequeen’s：inthestarlight，MaryStuartsawhimkneeldown；thenshefelttheimprintofhislipsonherfingers。
“IsyourMajestyreadytofollowme？“heaskedinalowtone，rising。
“Yes，mychild，“thequeenanswered：“itisforthisevening，then？“
“WithyourMajesty’spermission，yes，itisforthisevening。“
“Iseverythingready？“
“Everything。“
“Whatarewetodo？“