A comparison with the plot of Ferrier's novel will show how Tennyson adapted the tale to his ballad: Thomas St. Clair, youngest son of the Earl of Rossville, marries a Miss Sarah Black, a girl of humble and obscure birth.

He dies, leaving a widow and as is supposed a daughter, Gertrude, who claim the protection of Lord Rossville, as the child is heiress presumptive to the earldom.

Meanwhile Delmour by the death of his elder brother succeeds to the title and estates forfeited by the detected foundling, but instead of acting as Tennyson's Lord Ronald does, he repudiates her and marries a duchess.

Delmour not long afterwards dies without issue, and Lyndsay succeeds to the title, Gertrude then becoming after all Countess of Rossville.

[1] The 1842 and all editions up to and including 1850 begin with the following stanza and omit stanza 2:— Lord Ronald courted Lady Clare,  I trow they did not part in scorn;Lord Ronald, her cousin, courted her  And they will wed the morrow morn.