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. 495
a merrier life, and had more of the herb called heart's-ease in his bosom,
than they that wear silk and velvet like me, and are as bonny as I am."
Jeanie Deans had never read the fanciful and delightful parable to which
Madge alluded. Bunyan was, indeed, a rigid Calvinist, but then he was
also a member of a Baptist congregation, so that his works had no place
on David Deans's shelf of divinity. Madge, however, at some time of her
life, had been well acquainted, as it appeared, with the most popular of his
performances, which, indeed, rarely fails to make a deep impression upon
children, and people of the lower rank.
"I am sure," she continued, " I may weel say I am come out of the city
of Destruction, for my mother is Mrs. Bat's-eyes, that dwells at Deadman's
corner; and Frank Levitt, and Tyburn Tam, they may be likened to Mistrust and Guilt, that came galloping up, and struck the poor pilgrim to the
ground with a great club, and stole a bag of silver, which was most of his
spending money, and so have they done to many, and will do to more. But
now we will gang to the Interpreter's house, for I ken a man that will play
the Interpreter right weel; for he has eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of
books in his hand, the law of truth written on his lips, and he stands as if
he pleaded wi' men - Oh, if I had minded what he had said to me, I had
never been the cast-away creature that I am i - But it is all over now.But we'll knock at the gate, and then the keeper will admit Christiana, but
Mercy will be left out -and then I'll stand at the door, trembling and crying, and then Christiana - that's you, Jeanie - will intercede for me; and
then Mercy-that's me, ye ken-will faint; and then the Interpreter-yes,
the Interpreter, that's Mr. Staunton himself, will come out and take me -
that's poor, lost, demented me - by the hand, and give me a pomegranate,
and a piece of honeycomb, and a small bottle of spirits, to stay my fainting
-and then the good times will come back again, and we'll be the happiest
folk you ever saw."
In the midst of the confused assemblage of ideas indicated in this speech,
Jeanie thought she saw a serious purpose on the part of Madge, to endeavour to obtain the pardon and countenance of some one whom she had
offended; an attempt the most likely of all others to bring them once more
into contact with law and legal protection. She, therefore, resolved to be
guided, by her while she was in so hopeful a disposition, and act for her
own safety according to circumstances.
They were now close. by the village, one of those beautiful scenes which
are so often found in merry England, where the cottages, instead of being
built in two direct lines on each side of a dusty high-road, stand in detached
groups, interspersed not only with large oaks and elms, but with fruit-trees,
so many of which were at this time in flourish, that the grove seemed enamelled with their crimson and white blossoms. In the centre of the hamlet
stood the parish church, and its little Gothic tower, from which at present
was heard the Sunday chime of bells.
"We will wait here until the folk are a' in the church-they ca' the kirk
a church in England, Jeanie, be sure you mind that-for if I was gaun forward amang them, a' the gaitts o' boys and lasses wad be crying at Madge
Wildfire's tail, the little hell-rakers! and the beadle would be as hard upon
us as if it was our fault. I like their skirling as ill as he does, I can tell
him; I'm sure I often wish there was a het peat doun their throats when
they set them up that gate."
Conscious of the disorderly appearance of her own dress after the adventure of the preceding night, and of the grotesque habit and demeanour
of her guide, and sensible how important it was to secure an attentive and
impatient audience to her strange story from some one who might have the
means to protect her, Jeanie readily acquiesced in Madge's proposal to rest
under the trees, by which they were still somewhat screened, until the commencement of service should give them an opportunity of entering the