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.

OLD MORTALITY. 439
As this was the third time in the course of the conversation that Lady
Margaret had adverted to this distinguished event, Colonel Grahame, as
speedily as politeness would permit, took advantage of the first pause to
interrupt the farther progress of the narrative, by saying, " IWe are already
too numerous a party of guests; but as I know what Lord Evandale will
suffer" (looking towards Edith) "if deprived of the pleasure which we
enjoy, I will run the risk of overburdening your ladyship's hospitality.Bothwell, let Lord Evandale know that Lady Margaret Bellenden requests
the honour of his company."
"And let Harrison take care," added Lady largaret, "that the people
and their horses are suitably seen to."
Edith's heart sprung to her lips during this conversation; for it instantly
occurred to her, that, through her influence over Lord Evandale, she might
find some means of releasing Morton from his present state of danger, in
case her uncle's intercession with Claverhouse should prove ineffectual. At
any other time she would have been much averse to exert this influence;
for, however inexperienced in the world, her native delicacy taught her the
advantage which a beautiful young woman gives to a young man when she
permits him to lay her under an obligation. And she would have been the
farther disindlined to request any favour of Lord Evandale, because the
voice of the gossips in Clydesdale had, for reasons hereafter to be made
known, assigned him to her as a.suitor, and because she could not disguise
from herself that very little encouragement was necessary to realize conjectures which had hitherto no foundation. This was the more to be
dreaded, that, in the case of Lord Evandale's making a formal declaration,
he had every chance of being supported by the influence of Lady Margaret
and her other fiiends, and that she would have nothing to oppose to their
solicitations and authority, except a predilection, to avow which she knew
would be equally dangerous and unavailing. She determined, therefore, to
wait the issue of her uncle's intercession, and, should it fail, which she
conjectured she should soon learn, either from the looks or language of the
open-hearted veteran, she would then, as a last effort, make use in Morton's
favour of her interest with Lord Evandale. Her mind did not long remain
in suspense on the subject of her uncle's application.
Major Bellenden, who had done the honours of the table, laughing and
chatting with the military guests who were at that end of the board, was
now, by the conclusion of the repast, at liberty to leave his station, and
accordingly took an opportunity to approach Claverhouse, requesting from
his niece, at the same time, the honour of a particular introduction. As
his name and character were well known, the two military men met with
expressions of mutual regard; and Edith, with a beating heart, saw her
aged relative withdraw from the company, together with his new acquaintance, into a recess formed by one of the arched windows bf the hall. She
watched their conference with eyes almost dazzled by the eagerness of suspense, and, with observation rendered more acute by the internal agony of
her mind, could guess, from the pantomimic gestures which accompanied
the conversation, the progress and fate of the intercession in behalf of
Henry Morton.
The first expression of the countenance of Claverhouse betokened that
open and willing courtesy, which, ere it requires to know the nature of the
favour asked, seems to say, how happy the party will be to confer an obligation on the suppliant. But as the conversation proceeded, the brow of
that officer became darker and more severe, and his features, though still
retaining the expression of the most perfect politeness, assumed, at least to
Edith's terrified imagination, a harsh and inexorable character. His lip
was now compressed as if with impatience; now curled slightly upward, as
if in civil contempt of the arguments urged by Major Bellenden. The language of her'uncle, as far as expressed in his manner, appeared to be that