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.

340 WAVER ILEY NOVELS.
"Leave me-leave me, Mr. Ratcliffe," said the unhappy young lady.
"I must not leave you," said Ratcliffe; "I have been repeatedly requesting admittance to take my leave of you, and have been refused, until your
father himself sent for me. Blame me not, if I am bold and intrusive; I(
have a duty to discharge which makes me so."
"I cannot listen to you-I cannot speak to you, Mr. Ratcliffe; take my
best wishes, and for God's sake leave me."
" Tell me only," said Ratcliffe, "is it true that this monstrous match is
to go forward, and this very night? I heard the servants proclaim it as
I was on the great staircase -I heard the directions given to clear out the
chapel."
" Spare me, Mr. Ratcliffe," replied the luckless bride; " and from the
state in which you see me,'judge of the cruelty of these questions."
"Married! to Sir Frederick Langley! and this nightl It must not —
cannot-shall not be."
" It must be, Mr. Ratcliffe, or my father is ruined."
"Ah! I understand," answered Ratcliffe; "and you have sacrificed yourself to save him who-But let the virtue of the child atone for the faults of
the father-it is no time to rake them up. What can be done? Time presses
-I know but one remedy-with four-and-twenty hours I might find many
-Miss Vere, you must implore the protection of the only human being who
has it in his power to control the course of events which threatens to hurry
you before it."
"And what human being," answered Miss Vere, " has such power?"
" Start not when I name him," said Ratcliffe, coming near her, and
speaking in a low but distinct voice. " It is he who is called Elshender the
Recluse of Mucklestane-Moor."
" You are mad, ir. tRatcliffe, or you mean to insult my misery by an
ill-timed jest!"
"I am as much in my senses, young lady," answered her adviser, "as
you are; and I am no idle jester, far less with misery, least of all with
your misery. I swear to you that this being (who is other far than what
he seems) actually possesses the means of redeeming you from this hateful
union."
"And of ensuring my father's safety?"
"Yes! even that," said Ratcliffe, "if you plead his cause with him-yet
how to obtain admittance to the Recluse!"
" Fear not that," said Miss Vere, suddenly recollecting the incident of the
rose; " I remember he desired me to call upon him for aid in my extremity,
and gave me this flower as a token. Ere it faded away entirely, I would
need, he said, his assistance: is it possible his words can have been aught
but the ravings of insanity?"
" Doubt it not-fear it not-but above all," said Ratcliffe, " let us lose no
time-Are you at liberty, and unwatched?"
"I believe so," said Isabella; "but what would you have me to do?"
"Leave the castle instantly," said Ratcliffe, " and throw yourself at the
feet of this extraordinary man, who, in circumstances that seem to argue the
extremity of the most contemptible poverty, possesses yet an almost absolute
influence over your fate. —Guests and servants are deep in their carousethe leaders sitting in conclave on their treasonable schemes —my horse
stands ready in the stable - I will saddle one for you, and meet you at the
little garden-gate-0, let no doubt of my prudence or fidelity prevent your
taking the only step in your power to escape the dreadful fate which must
attend the wife of Sir Frederick Langley."
" Mr. Ratcliffe," said Miss Vere, " you have always been esteemed a man
of honour and probity, and a drowning wretch will always catch at the
feeblest twig,-I will trust you —I will follow your advice-I will meet you
at the garden-gate."