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.

520 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
terians, there was always mingled a-glow of national feeling, and Jeanie
trembled at the idea of her name being handed down to posterity with that
of the "fause Monteath," and one or two others, who, having deserted and
betrayed the cause of their country, are damned to perpetual remembrance
and execration among its peasantry. Yet, to part with Effie's life once
more, when a word spoken might save it, pressed severely on the mind of
her affectionate sister.
" The Lord support and direct me!" said Jeanie, " for it seems to be His
will to try me with difficulties far beyond my ain strength."
While this thought passed through Jeanie's mind, her guard, tired of
silence, began to show some inclination to be communicative. He seemed
a sensible, steady peasant, but not having more delicacy or prudence than
is common to those in his situation, he, of course, chose the Willingham
family as the subject of his conversation. From this man Jeanie learned
some particulars of which she had hitherto been ignorant, and which we
will briefly recapitulate for the information of the reader.
The father of George Staunton had been bred a soldier, and during service in the West Indies, had married the daughter of a wealthy planter.
By this lady he had an only child, George Staunton, the unhappy young
man who has been so often mentioned in this narrative. He passed the
first part of his early youth under the charge of a doting mother, and in
the society of negro slaves, whose study it was to gratify his every caprice.
His father was a man of worth and sense; but as he alone retained tolerable health among the officers of the regiment he belonged to, he was much
engaged with his duty. Besides, Mrs. Staunton was beautiful. and wilful,
and enjoyed but delicate health; so that it was difficult for a man of affection, humanity, and a quiet disposition, to struggle with her on the point
of her over-indulgence to an only child. Indeed, what Mr. Staunton did
do towards counteracting the baneful effects of his wife's system, only
tended to render it more pernicious; for every restraint imposed on the
boy in his father's presence, was compensated by treble licence during his
absence. So that George Staunton acquired, even in childhood, the habit
of regarding his father.as a rigid censor, from whose severity he was
desirous of emancipating himself as soon and absolutely as possible.
When he was about ten years old, and when his mind had received all
the seeds of those evil weeds which afterwards grew apace, his mother died,
and his father, half heart-broken, returned to England. To sum up her
imprudence and unjustifiable indulgence, she had contrived to place a considerable part of her fortune at her son's exclusive control or disposal, in
consequence of which management, George Staunton had not been long in
England till he learned his independence, and how to abuse it. His father
had endeavoured to rectify the defects of his education by placing him in a
well-regulated seminary. But although he showed some capacity for learning, his riotous conduct soon became intolerable to his teachers. He found
means (too easily afforded to all youths who have certain expectations) of
procuring such a command of money as enabled him to anticipate in boyhood the frolics and follies of a more mature age, and, with these accomplishments, he was returned on his father's hands as a profligate boy, whose
example'might ruin a hundred.
The elder Mr. Staunton, whose mind, since his wife's death, had been
tinged with a melancholy, which certainly his son's conduct did not tend
to dispel, had taken orders, and was inducted by his brother Sir William
Staunton into the family living of Willingham. The revenue was a matter
of consequence to him, for he derived little advantage from the estate of
his late wife; and his own fortune was that of a younger brother.
IHe took his son to reside with him at the rectory, but he soon found that'
his disorders rendered him an intolerable inmate. And as the young men
of his own rank would not endure the purse-proud insolence of the Creole,