Guy Mannering.

208 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
I have resisted, I have subdued, the rebellious feelings
which arose to aid his plea;-yet how to extricate myself
from this unhappy labyrinth, in which fate and folly have
entangled us both!
"I have thought upon it, Matilda, till my head is almost
giddy-nor can I conceive a better plan than to make
a full confession to my father. Ile deserves it, for his
kindness is unceasing; and I think I have observed in
his character, since I have studied it nmore nearly, that
his harsher feelings are chiefly excited where he suspects
deceit or imposition; and in that respect, perhaps, his
character was formerly misunderstood by one who was
dear to him. He has, too, a tinge of romance in his disposition; and I have seen the narrative of a generous
action, a trait of heroism, or virtuous self-denial, extract
tears fiom him, which refused to flow at a tale of mere
distress. But then, Brown urges, that he is personally
hostile to him. And the obscurity of his birth-that
would be indeed a stumbling-block. 0 Matilda, I hope
none of your ancestors ever fought at Poictiers or Agincourt! If it were not for the veneration which my father
attaches to the memory of old Sir Mitiles -liannering, I
should make out my explanation with half the tremor
which must now attend it."
SEVENTH EXSTRACT.
"I have this instant received your letter —your most
welcome letter! Thanks, my dearest friend, for your
sympathy and your counsels-I can only repay them with
unbounded confidence.
" You ask me, what Brown is by origin, that his descent
should be so unpleasing to my father. His story is shortly
told. He is of Scottish extraction; but, being left an