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The abbot was sufficiently occupied with the protection of his church lands, and the one skilful soldier who could have organized the defences Sir Piers de Currie was even now defending his own castle of Ranza against the forces of Margad. Nevertheless, the manner in which Kenric defended the sacred buildings of St.
Not long were they in crossing the channel between Bute and Arran, and at the northwest of the latter island they steered round into the beautiful and quiet Loch Ranza. At the head of this inlet of the sea, and standing out upon a narrow neck of land commanding the bay, was Sir Piers de Currie's castle.
But she sings sweetly, and looks as if she would like to see a tree, said the young lady. 'Oh, so much! exclaimed Tessa; adding eagerly, 'my sister Ranza is small and pretty as a baby-angel. She could sit up in the fine tree, and I could sing for her from under the table.
"The man that lives here is a farmer and a fisherman," said he, "and a very po-lite man in his taalk moreover, for I know him well," and he mimicked the Loch Ranza speech, which, indeed, is very proper speech, and I was very startled at one time to hear the very weans with the polite way of it.
"There is no youth in all Bute whom I would rather take with me," said Kenric, "for I have now no comrade of my own years since my brother Alpin is no longer alive; and methinks that Allan might well become to me the true friend that he ever was to Alpin. If he will come with me even now I will take him across to Castle Ranza, and we may then speak of our approaching journey."
'Ah, yes; I shall come with much gladness, and play as never in my life before, cried Tommo, with a flourish of the old cap that made the children laugh. 'Give these to your brothers, said the fairy prince, stuffing nuts and oranges into Tessa's hands. 'And these to the little girl, added one of the young princesses, flying out of the dining-room with cakes and rosy apples for Ranza.
Much concerned was the lady of Ranza at all this for she had heard but a fisherman's account of what had befallen the house of Rothesay and more than all was she grieved at the late illness of her dear friend the Lady Adela.
Before any one could speak, a voice, as fresh and sweet as a lark's, sang the Christmas Carol so blithely that every one stood still to hear, and then clapped till the little angel shook on her perch, and cried out, 'Be 'till, or me'll fall! How they laughed at that; and what fun they had talking to Ranza, while Miss Rose stripped the tree, for the angel could not resist temptation, and amused herself by eating all the bonbons she could reach, till she was taken down, to dance about like a fairy in a white frock and red shoes.
Entering Loch Ranza, they entrapped three ships of the Norsemen that had been sent against the castle while Margad their chief was attacking the castle of Brodick on the eastern side of the island. Attacking these ships, Allan Redmain speedily put the Norse warriors to the sword and took their vessels as prizes.
I have no way to say "thank you;" but Ranza shall be for you a heavenly angel, and I will sing my heart out for your tree! cried Tessa, folding the mittens as if she would say a prayer of thankfulness if she knew how.
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