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.

478 WVAVERLEY NOVELS.
"But what sort of a lad was he?" said Mrs. Bickerton, winking to Jeanie,
as proud of her knowing ostler.
"Why, what ken I?-Jim the Rat-why he was Cock o' the North within
this twelmonth —he and Scotch Wilson, Handie Dandie, as they called him
- but he's been out o' this country a while, as I rackon; but ony gentleman, as keeps the road o' this side Stamford, will respect Jim's pass."
Without asking farther questions, the landlady filled Dick Ostler a bumper
of Hollands. He ducked with his head and shoulders, scraped with his
more advanced hoof, bolted the alcohol, to use the learned phrase, and withdrew to his own domains.
"I would advise thee, Jeanie," said Mrs. Bickerton, "an thou meetest
with ugly customers o' the road, to show them this bit paper, for it will
serve thee, assure thyself."
A neat little supper concluded the evening. The exported Scotswoman,
Mrs. Bickerton by name, eat heartily of one or two seasoned dishes, drank
some sound old ale, and a glass of stiff negus; while she gave Jeanie a history of her gout, admiring how it was possible that she, whose fathers and
mothers for many generations had been farmers in Lammermuir, could have
come by a disorder so totally unknown to them. Jeanie did not choose to offend
her friendly landlady, by speaking her mind on the probable origin of this
complaint; but she thought on the flesh-pots of Egypt, and, in spite of all
entreaties to better fare, made her evening meal upon vegetables, with a
glass of fair water.
Mrs. Bickerton assured her, that the acceptance of any reckoning was
entirely out of the question, furnished her with credentials to her correspondent in London, and to several inns upon the road where she had some
influence or interest, reminded her of the precautions she should adopt for
concealing her money, and as she was to depart early in the morning, took
leave of her very affectionately, taking her word that she would visit her on
her return to Scotland, and tell her how she had managed, and that summum bonum for a gossip, "all how and about it." This Jeanie faithfully
promised.
And Need and Misery, Vice and Danger, bind,
In sad alliance, each degraded mind.
As our traveller set out early on the ensuing morning to prosecute her
journey, and was in the act of leaving the inn-yard Dick Ostler, who either
had risen early or neglected to go to bed, either circumstance being equally
incident to his calling, hollowed out after her, -" The top of the morning
to you, Moggie. Have a care o' Gunnerby Hill, young one. Robin Hood's
dead and gwone, but there be takers yet in the vale of Bever." Jeanie
looked at him as if to request a farther explanation, but, with a leer, a
shuffle, and a shrug, inimitable, (unless by Emery,) Dick turned again to
the raw-boned steed which he was currying, and sung as he employed the
comb and brush,"Robin Hood was a yeoman right good,
And his bow was of trusty yew;
And if Robin said stand on the king's lee-land,
Pray, why should not we say so too?
Jeanie pursued her journey without farther inquiry, for there was nothing