only true Deity, who
regards the motives, and not the forms of prayer, and in whose eyes the sincere
devotion of a heathen is more estimable than the specious hypocrisy of a
Pharisee.
    Having commended himself and his helpless companions to the Saints, and to
the keeping of Providence, Quentin at length retired to rest, leaving the friar
much edified by the depth and sincerity of his devotion.
 

                               Chapter Eighteenth

                                   Palmistry.

 When many a merry tale and many a song
 Cheer'd the rough road, we wished the rough road long.
 The rough road, then, returning in a round,
 Mock'd our enchanted steps, for all was fairy ground.
                                                                 Samuel Johnson.
 
By peep of day Quentin Durward had forsaken his little cell, had roused the
sleepy grooms, and, with more than his wonted care, seen that everything was
prepared for the day's journey. Girths and bridles, the horse-furniture, and the
shoes of the horses themselves, were carefully inspected with his own eyes, that
there might be as little chance as possible of the occurrence of any of those
casualties, which, petty as they seem, often interrupt or disconcert travelling.
The horses were also, under his own inspection, carefully fed, so as to render
them fit for a long day's journey, or, if that should be necessary, for a hasty
flight.
    Quentin then betook himself to his own chamber, armed himself with unusual
care, and belted on his sword with the feeling at once of approaching danger,
and of stern determination to dare it to the uttermost.
    These generous feelings gave him a loftiness of step, and a dignity of
manner, which the Ladies of Croye had not yet observed in him, though they had
been highly pleased and interested by the grace, yet naïveté, of his general
behaviour and conversation, and the mixture of shrewd intelligence which
naturally belonged to him, with the simplicity arising from his secluded
education and distant country. He let them under stand, that it would be
necessary that they should prepare for their journey this morning rather earlier
than usual; and, accordingly, they left the convent immediately after a morning
repast, for which, as well as the other hospitalities of the House, the ladies
made acknowledgment by a donation to the altar, befitting rather their rank than
their appearance. But this excited no suspicion, as they were supposed to be
Englishwomen; and the attribute of superior wealth attached at that time to the
insular character as strongly as in our own day.
    The Prior blessed them as they mounted to depart, and congratulated Quentin
on