Guy Mannering.

214 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
"To answer this was trenching upon too dangerous
ground; so there was a pause.
"' Is the young lady a Scotchwoman, papa?'
"' Yes'-dryly enough.
"'Has she much of the accent, sir?'
"M'Much of the devil!' answered my father hastily:'do you think I care about a's and aa's, and i's and ee's?
-I tell you, Julia, I am serious in the matter. You
have a genius for friendship, that is, for running up intimacies which you call such'-(wvas not this very harshly
said, Matilda?)' Now I wish to give you an opportunity
at least to make one deserving friend; and therefore I
have resolved that this young lady shall be a member of
my family for some months, and I expect you will pay
to her that attention which is clue to misfortune and
virtue.'
"'Certainly, sir. Is my future friend red-haired?'
"He gave me one of his stern glances; you will say,
perhaps, I deserved it; but I think the deuce prompts me
with teasing questions on some occasions.
"'She is as superior to you, my love, in personal appearance, as in prudence and affection for her friends.'
"' Lord, papa, do you think that superiority a recommendation? —Well, sir, but I see you are going to take
all this too seriously: whatever the young lady may be,
I am sure, being recommended by you, she shall have no
reason to complain of my want of attention.'-(After a
pause)-' Has she any attendant? because you know I
must provide for her proper accommodation if she is
without one.'
"'N-no-no-not properly an attendant-the chaplain who lived with her father is a very good sort of man,
and I believe I shall make room for him in the house.'