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.

88 WAVERLE Y NOVELS.
whilk, he said, were the true ancient way o' counting between tra desmen
and customers; and sae they are, nae doubt."
"But look here, lasses," interrupted Mrs. Mailsetter, "here's a sight for
sair e'en! What wad ye gie to ken what's in the inside o' this letter?
This is new corn - I haena seen the like o' this - For William Lovel,
Esquire, at Mrs. Hadoway's, High-street, Fairport, by Edinburgh, N.B.
This is just the second letter he has had since he was here."
"Lord's sake, let's see, lass! - lord's sake, let's see - that's him that
the hale town kens naething about - and a weel-fa'ard lad he is; let's see,
let's see i" Thus ejaculated the two worthy representatives of mother Eve.
" Na, na, sirs," exclaimed Mrs. Mailsetter; " haud awa - bide aff, I tell
you; this is nane o' your fourpenny cuts that we might make up the value
to the post-office amang ourselves if ony mischance befell it; —the postage
is five-and-twenty shillings - and here's an order frae the Secretary to forward it to the young gentleman by express, if he's no at hame. Na, na,
sirs, bide aff; - this maunna be roughly guided."
" But just let's look at the outside o't, woman."
Nothing could be gathered from the outside, except remarks on the various properties which philosophers ascribe to matter, -length, breadth,
depth, and weight. The packet was composed of strong thick paper, imperviable by the curious eyes of the gossips, though they stared as if they
would burst from their sockets. The seal was a deep and well-cut impression of arms, which defied all tampering.
" Od, lass," said Mrs. Shortcake, weighing it in her hand, and wishing,
doubtless, that the too, too solid wax would melt and dissolve itself, " I wad
like to ken what's in the inside o' this, for that Level dings a' that ever set
foot on the plainstanes o' Fairport - naebody kens what to make o' him."
"Weel, weel, leddies," said the postmistress, "we'se sit down and crack
about it. - Baby, bring ben the tea-water - Muckle obliged to ye for your
cookies, Mrs. Shortcake - and we'll steok the shop, and cry ben Baby, and
take a hand at the cartes till the gudeman comes hamer- and then we'll
try your braw veal sweetbread that ye were so kind as send me, Mrs. Heukbane."
" But winna ye first send awa Mr. Lovel's letter?" said Mrs. Heukbane.
" Troth I kenna wha to send wi't till the gudeman comes hame, for auld
Caxon tell'd me that Mr. Lovel stays a' the day at Monkbarns -he's in a
high fever wi' pu'ing the laird and Sir Arthur out o' the sea."
"Silly auld doited carles i" said Mrs. Shortcake; " what gar'd them gang
to the douking in a night like yestreen?"
" I was gi'en to understand it was auld Edie that saved them," said Mrs.
Heukbane - " Edie Ochiltree, the Blue-Gown, ye ken; and that he pu'd the
hale three out of the auld fish-pound, for Monkbarns had threepit on them
to gang in till't to see the wark o' the monks lang syne."
" HIout, lass, nonsense i" answered the postmistress; "I'll tell ye a' about
it, as Caxon tell'd it to me. Ye see, Sir Arthur and Miss Wardour, and Mr.
Level, suld hae dined at Mlonkbarns""But, Mrs. Mailsetter," again interrupted Mrs. Heukbane, "will ye no
be for sending awa this letter by express? - there's our powny and our
callant hae gane express for the office or now, and the powny hasna gane
abune thirty mile the day; - Jock was sorting him up as I came ower by."
"Why, Mrs. Heukbane," said the woman of letters, pursing up her
mouth, "ye ken my gudeman likes to ride the expresses himsell - we maun
gie our ain fish-guts to our ain sea-maws- it's a red half-guinea to him
every time he munts his mear; and I dare say he'll be in sune - or I dare
to say, it's the same thing whether the gentleman gets the express this night
or early next morning."
" Only that Mr. Lovel will be in town before the express gaes aff," said
Mrs. Heukbano, "and where are ye then, lass? But ye ken yere ain ways
best."