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.

ROB ROY. 253
but courteously accepted his gift, which he deposited for the time in his
well-secured pouch.
The Bailie next produced the original bond for the debt, on the back of
which he had written a formal discharge, which, having subscribed himself,
he requested me to sign as a witness. I did so, and Bailie Jarvie was
looking anxiously around for another, the Scottish law requiring the subscription of two witnesses to validate either a bond or acquittance. "You
will hardly find a man that can write save ourselves within these three
miles," said Rob, "but I'll settle the matter as easily;" and, taking the
paper from before his kinsman, he threw it in the fire. Bailie Jarvie stared
in his turn, but his kinsman continued, "That's a Hieland settlement of
accounts. The time might come, cousin, were I to keep a' these charges
and discharges, that friends might be brought into trouble for having dealt
with me."
The Bailie attempted no reply to this argument, and our supper now
appeared in a style of abundance, and even delicacy, which, for the place,
might be considered as extraordinary. The greater part of the provisions
were cold, intimating they had been prepared at some distance; and there
were some bottles of good French wine to relish pasties of various sorts of
game, as well as other dishes. I remarked that MacGregor, while doing the
honours of the table with great and anxious hospitality, prayed us to excuse
the circumstance that some particular dish or pasty had been infringed on
before it was presented to us. " You must know," said he to Mr. Jarvie,
but without looking towards me, " you are not the only guests this night in
the MacGregor's country, whilk, doubtless, ye will believe, since my wife
and the twa lads would otherwise have been maist ready to attend you, as
weel beseems them."
Bailie Jarvie looked as if he felt glad at any circumstance which occasioned their absence; and I should have been entirely of his opinion, had it
not been that the outlaw's apology seemed to imply they were in attendance
on Diana and her companion, whom even in my thoughts I could not bear
to designate as her husband.
While the unpleasant ideas arising from this suggestion counteracted the
good effects of appetite, welcome, and good cheer, I remarked that Rob
Roy's attention had extended itself to providing us better bedding than we
had enjoyed the night before. Two of the least fragile of the bedsteads,
which stood by the wall of the hut, had been stuffed with heath, then in full
flower, so artificially arranged, that, the flowers being uppermost, afforded
a mattress at once elastic and fragrant. Cloaks, and such bedding as could
be collected, stretched over this vegetable couch, made it both soft and
warm. The Bailie seethed exhausted by fatigue. I resolved to adjourn
my communication to him until next morning; and therefore suffered him
to betake himself to bed so soon as he had finishdd a plentiful supper.
Though tired and harassed, I did not mnyself feel the same disposition to
sleep, but rather a restless and feverish anxiety, which led to some farther
discourse betwixt me and MacGregor.