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.

350 WAVEiRLEY NOVELS.
shoulders and stepped back. Ellieslaw led, or rather supported, his
daughter to the altar. Sir Frederick moved forward and placed himself by
her side. The clergyman opened his prayer-book, and looked to Mr. Vere
for the signal to commence the service.
"Proceed," said the latter.
But a voice, as if issuing from the tomb of his deceased wife, called, in
such loud and harsh accents as awakened every echo in the vaulted chapel,
"Forbear 1"
All were mute and motionless, till a distant rustle, and the clash of swords,
or something resembling it, was heard from the remote apartments. It
ceased almost instantly.
" What new device is this?" said Sir Frederick, fiercely, eyeing Ellieslaw
and Mareschal with a glance of malignant suspicion.
"It can be but the frolic of some intemperate guest," said Ellieslaw,
though greatly confounded; "we must make large allowances for the excess
of this evening's festivity. Proceed with the service."
Before the clergyman could obey, the same prohibition which they had
before heard, was repeated from the same spot. The female attendants
screamed, and fled from the chapel; the gentlemen laid their hands on their
swords. Ere the first moment of surprise had passed by, the Dwarf stepped
from behind the monument, and placed himself full in front of Mr. Vere.
The effect of so strange and hideous an apparition in such a place and in
such circumstances, appalled all present, but seemed to annihilate the Laird
of Ellieslaw, who, dropping his daughter's arm, staggered against the nearest pillar, and, clasping it with his hands as if for support, laid his brow
against the column.
" Who is this fellow?" said Sir Frederick; " and what does he mean by
this intrusion?"
" It is one who comes to tell you," said the Dwarf, with the peculiar acrimony which usually marked his manner, " that, in marrying that young lady,
you wed neither the heiress of Ellieslaw, nor of Mauley-Hall, nor of Polverton, nor of one furrow of land, unless she marries with mY consent; and to
thee that consent shall never be given. Down- down on thy knees, and
thank Heaven that thou art prevented from wedding qualities with which
thou hast no concern-portionless truth, virtue, and innocence. And thou,
base ingrate," he continued, addressing himself to Ellieslaw, "what is thy
wretched subterfuge now? Thou, who wouldst sell thy daughter to relieve
thee from danger, as in famine thou wouldst have slain and devoured her
to preserve thy own vile life! Ay, hide thy face with thy hands; well
mayst thou blush to look on him whose body thou didst consign to chains,
his hand to guilt, and his soul to misery. Saved once more by the virtue
of her who calls you father, go hence, and may the pardon and benefits I
confer on thee prove literal coals of fire, till thy brain is seared and scorched
like mine i"
Ellieslaw left the chapel with a gesture of mute despair.
" Follow him, Hubert Ratcliffe," said the Dwarf, " and inform him of his
destiny. He will rejoice -for to breathe air and to handle gold is to him
happiness."
"I understand nothing of all this," said Sir Frederick Langley; "but
we are here a body of gentlemen in arms and authority for King James;
and whether you really, sir, be that Sir Edward Mauley, who has been so
long supposed dead in confinement, or whether you be an impostor assuming his name and title, we will use the freedom of detaining you, till your
appearance here, at this moment, is better accounted for; we will have no
spies among us. Seize on him, my friends."
But the domestics shrunk back in doubt and alarm. Sir Frederick himself stepped forward towards the Recluse, as if to lay hands on his person,