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.

THE ANTIQUARY. 5F
"Be brave," she cried, "you yet may be our guest,
Our haunted room was ever held the best.
If, then, your valour can the sight sustain
Of rustling curtains and the clinking chain;
If your courageous tongue have powers to talk,
When round your bed the horrid ghost shall walk;
If you dare ask it why it leaves its tomb,
I'll see your sheets well air'd, and show the room."
TRUE STORY.
THEY reached the room in which they had dined, and were clamorously
welcomed by Miss Oldbuck.
W WThere's the younger womankind?" said the Antiquary.
"Indeed, brother, amang a' the steery, Maria wadna be guided by me
-she set away to the Halket-craig-head-I wonder ye didna see her."
" h!- what - what's that you say, sister? - did the girl go out in a
night like this to the Halket-head? —Good God! the misery of the night is
not ended yet!"
"But ye winna wait, Monkbarns — ye are so imperative and impatient""Tittle-tattle, woman," said the impatient and agitated Antiquary,
"where is my dear Mary?"
"Just where ye suld be yoursell, Monkbarns — up-stairs, and in her
warm bed."
"I could have sworn it," said Oldbuck, laughing, but obviously much
relieved -" I could have sworn it; - the lazy monkey did not care if we
were all drowned together. Why did you say she went out?"
" But ye wadna wait to hear out my tale, Monkbarns-she gaed out, and
she came in again with the gardener sae sune as she saw that nane o' ye
were clodded ower the craig, and that Miss Wardour was safe in the
chariot; -she was hame a quarter of an hour sync, for it's now ganging
ten - sair droukit was she, puir thing, sac I e'en put a glass o' sherry in
her water-gruel."
"Right, Grizel, right —let womankind alone for coddling each other.
But hear ye, my venerable sister — Start not at the word venerable; it
implies many praise-worthy qualities besides age; though that too is
honourable, albeit it is the last quality for which womankind would wish
to be honouredl-But perpend my words: let Lovel and me have forthwith
the relics of the chicken-pie, and the reversion of the port."
" The chicken-pie! the port!-ou dear! brother-there was but a wheen
banes, and scarce a drap o' the wine."
The Antiquary's countenance became clouded, though he was too well
bred to give way, in the presence of a stranger, to his displeased surprise
at the disappearance of the viands on which he had reckoned with absolute
certainty. But his sister understood these looks of ire. "Ou dear! Monk
bairns, what's the use of making a wark?"
"I make no wark as ye call it, woman."
"But what's the use o' looking sac glun and glunch about a pickle
banes? -an ye will hae the truth, ye maunn ken the minister came in,
worthy man - sair distressed he was, nae doubt, about your precaurious
situation, as he ca'd it (for ye ken how weel lie's gifted wi' words), and
here he wad bide till he could hear wi' certainty how the matter was likely
to gang wi' ye a'- He said fine things on the duty of resignation to Provi
dence's will, worthy man! that did he."
Oldbuck replied, catching the same tone, " Worthy man! - he cared not