The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

120 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
form a connexion, which the world will think low enough, with a very
amiable girl, to whom I have been attached since we were next-door neighbours, at a time when I little thought of the good fortune which has brought
me forward in the service."
" I assure you, Mr. Taffril," replied Lovel, " whatever were the rank of
my parents, I should never think of concealing it from a spirit of petty
pride. But I am so situated at present, that I cannot enter on the subject
of my family with any propriety."
" It is quite enough," said the honest sailor-" give me your hand; I'll
see you as well through this business as I can, though it is but an unpleasant one after all -But what of that? our own honour has the next call on
us after our country; —you are a lad of spirit, and I own I think Mr.
Hector M'Intyre, with his long pedigree and his airs of family, very much
of a jackanapes. HIis father was a soldier of fortune as I am a sailor - he
himself, I suppose, is little better, unless just as his uncle pleases; and
whether one pursues fortune by land, or sea, makes no great difference, I
should fancy."
"None in the universe, certainly," answered Lovel.
"Well," said his new ally, "we will dine together and arrange matters
for this rencounter. I hope you understand the use of the weapon?"
" Not particularly," Lovel replied.
"I am sorry for that - M'Intyre is said to be a marksman."
"I am sorry for it also," said Lovel, "-both for his sake and my own: I
must then, in self-defence, take my aim as well as I can."
" Well," added Taffril, "I will have our surgeon's mate on the field - a
good clever young fellow at caulking a shot-hole. I will let Lesley, who is
an honest fellow for a landsman, know that he attends for the benefit of
either party. Is there anything I can do for you in case of an accident?"
"I have but little occasion to trouble you," said Lovel. "This small
billet contains the key of my escritoir, and my very brief secret. There is
one letter in the escritoir" (digesting a temporary swelling of the heart as
he spoke) "which I beg the favour of you to deliver with your own hand."
"I understand," said the sailor. "Nay, my friend, never be ashamed
for the matter — an affectionate heart may overflow for an instant at the
eyes, if the ship were clearing for action; and, depend on it, whatever your
injunctions are, Dan Taffril will regard them like the bequest of a dying
brother. But this is all stuff; —we must get our things in fighting order,
and you will dine with me and my little surgeon's mate, at the Grseme'sArms over the way, at four o'clock."
"Agreed," said Lovel.
" Agreed," said Taffril; and the whole affair was arranged.
It was a beautiful summer evening, and the shadow of the solitary
thorn-tree was lengthening upon the short green-sward of the narrow
valley, which was skirted by the woods that closed around the ruins of St.
Ruth.
Lovel and Lieutenant Taffril, with the surgeon, came upon the ground
with a purpose of a nature very uncongenial to the soft, mild, and pacific
character of the hour and scene. The sheep, which during the ardent heat
of the day had sheltered in the breaches and hollows of the gravelly bank,
or under the roots of the aged and stunted trees, had now spread themselves
upon the face of the hill to enjoy their evening's pasture, and bleated to
each other with that melancholy sound which at once gives life to a landscape, and marks its solitude. - Taffril and Lovel came on in deep conference, having, for fear of discovery, sent their horses back to the town by
the Lieutenant's servant. The opposite party had not yet appeared, on the
field. But when they came upon the ground, there sat upon the roots of
the old thorn, a figure as vigorous in his decay as the moss-grown but strong
and contorted boughs which served him for a canopy. It was old Ochiltree.