Walter Scott

The Fair Maid of Perth Walter Scott

As Catharine Glover and her father, Simon, walk to church, an unidentified young nobleman, muffled in a cloak, joins them and asks the young woman's permission to come to her window the next morning to take part in the traditional Valentine's Day ritual. When she sensibly refuses to make any alliance above her social standing, he leaves in anger. A welcome guest, Henry Gow, appears at the Glovers' home that evening; he has just returned from a trip on which he sold armor throughout Scotland. Although Simon approves heartily of Henry's suit for Catharine's hand, she is disturbed by the young man's propensity for quarreling. Henry's fiery spirit leads him to rise up vigorously that evening against Conachar, Simon's Highlander apprentice, who jealously pours a tankard of beer on the armorer and then tries to stab him. Henry's martial bent is put to better use the next morning, when, coming to present himself to Catharine as her valentine, he discovers a group of men attempting to climb through her bedroom window. While he and Simon are fighting them off, Henry severs the hand of one assailant. Again, a mysterious nobleman is involved. When Simon hears his voice, he sends Henry into his house and frees the other man. In gratitude for Henry's protection, Catharine agrees to be his valentine, but she will not promise to marry him. She assures him that she is not in love with Conachar, who has just returned to his Highlands home, or any other man.