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 HEART OF MID-LOTHIAN. 477
posit at Libberton, and the necessary expense of her journey, to about
fifteen pounds. "This," she said, "would do very well, providing she
would carry it a' safe to London."
" Safe!" answered Jeanie; " I'se warrant my carrying it safe, bating the
needful expenses."
"Ay, but highwaymen, lassie," said Mrs. Bickerton; "for ye are come
into a more civilized, that is to say, a more roguish country than the north,
and how ye are to get forward, I do not profess to know. If ye could wait
here eight days, our wagons would go up, and I would recommend you to
Joe Broadwheel, who would see you safe to the Swan and two Necks. And
dinna sneeze at Joe, if he should be for drawing up wi' you," (continued
Mrs. Bickerton, her acquired English mingling with her national or original
dialect,) " he's a handy boy, and a wanter, and no lad better thought o'
on the road; and the English make good husbands enough, witness my
poor man, Moses Bickerton, as is i' the kirkyard."
Jeanie hastened to say, that she could not possibly wait for the setting
forth of Joe Broadwheel; being internally by no means gratified with the
idea of becoming the object of his attention during the journey.
"Aweel, lass," answered the good landlady, " then thou must pickle in
thine ain. poke-nook, and buckle thy girdle thine ain gate. But take my
advice, and hide thy gold in thy stays, and keep a piece or two and some
silver, in case thou be'st spoke withal; for there's as wud lads haunt within
a day's walk from hence, as on the braes of Doun in Perthshire. And, lass,
thou maunna gang staring through Lunnon, asking wha kens Mrs. Glass
at the sign o' the Thistle; marry, they would laugh thee to scorn. But
gang thou to this honest man," and she put a direction into Jeanie's hand,
"he kens maist part of the sponsible Scottish folk in the city, and he will
find out your friend for thee."
Jeanie took the little introductory letter with sincere thanks; but, somnething alarmed on the subject of the highway robbers, her mind recurred to
what Ratcliffe had mentioned to her, and briefly relating the circumstances
which placed a document so extraordinary in her hands, she put the paper
he had given her into the hand of Mrs. Bickerton.
The Lady of the Seven Stars did not, indeed, ring a bell, because such
was not the fashion of the time, but she whistled on a silver-call, which was
hung by her side, and a tight serving-maiden entered the room.
" Tell Dick Ostler to come here," said Mrs. Bickerton.
Dick Ostler accordingly made his appearance;-a queer, knowing, shambling animal, with a hatchet-face, a squint, a game-arm, and a limp.
" Dick Ostler," said Mrs. Bickerton, in a tone of authority that showed
she was (at least by adoption) Yorkshire too, "thou knowest most people
and most things o' the road."
"Eye,. eye, God help me, mistress," said Dick, shrugging his shoulders
betwixt a repentant and a knowing expression -" Eye! I ha' know'd a
thing or twa i' ma day, mistress. He looked sharp and laughed - looked
grave and sighed, as one who was prepared to take the matter either way.
" Kenst thou this wee bit paper amang the rest, man?" said Mrs. Bickerton, handing him the protection which Ratcliffe had giVen Jeanie Deans.
When Dick had looked at the paper, he Winked with one eye, extended
his grotesque mouth from ear to ear, like a navigable canal, scratched his
head powerfully, and then said, " Ken!-ay-maybe we ken summat, an it:werena for harm to him, mistress!"
" None in the world," said Mrs. Bickerton; "only a dram of Hollands
to thyself, man, an thou will't speak."
" Why, then," said Dick, giving the head-band of his breeches a knowing
hoist with one hand, and kicking out one foot behind him to accommodate
the adjustment of that important habiliment, "I dares to say the pass will
be kend weel eneugh on the road, an that be all."