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.

5-26. WAVERLEY NOVELS.
"0, I understand," said the Duke —" a true-love affair. He was the
grandsire of one you are engaged to?"
"One I was engaged to, sir," said Jeanie, sighing; "but this unhappy
business of my poor sister."
"What!" said the Duke hastily, - "he has not deserted you on that
account, has he?"
"No, sir; he wad be the last to leave a friend in difficulties," said Jeanie;
"but I maun think for him, as weel as for mysell. He is a clergyman, sir,
and it would not beseem him to marry the like of me, wi' this disgrace on
my kindred."
" You are a singular young woman," said the Duke. " You seem to me
to think'of every one before yourself. And have you really come up from
Edinburgh on foot, to attempt this hopeless solicitation for your sister's
life?"
" It was not a'thegither on foot, sir," answered Jeanie; " for I sometimes
got a cast in a waggon, and I had a horse from Ferrybridge, and then the
coach "
"Well, never mind all that," interrupted the Duke. —" What reason have
you for thinking your sister innocent?"
"Because she has not been proved guilty, as will appear from looking at
these papers."
She put into his hand a note of the evidence, and copies of her sister's
declaration. These papers Butler had procured after her departure, and
Saddletree had them forwarded to London, to Mrs. Glass's care, so that
Jeanie found the documents, so necessary for supporting her suit, lying in
readiness at her arrival.
" Sit down in that chair, my good girl," said the Duke, "until I glance
over the papers."
She obeyed, and watched with the utmost anxiety each change in his
countenance as he cast his eye through the papers briefly, yet with attention, and making memoranda as he went along. After reading them hastily
over, he looked up, and seemedabout to speak, yet changed his purpose, as
if afraid of committing himself by giving too hasty an Opinion, and read
over again several passages which he had marked as being most important.
All this he did in shorter time than can be supposed by men of ordinary
talents; for his mind was of that acute and penetrating character which
discovers, with the glance of intuition, what facts bear on the particular
point that chances to be subjected to consideration. At length he rose,
after a few minutes' deep reflection. — "Young woman," said he, "your
sister's case must certainly be termed a hard one."
" God bless you, sir, for that very word 1" said Jeanie.
"It seems contrary to the genius of British law," continued the Duke,
"to take that for granted which is not proved, or to punish with death for
a crime, which, for aught the prosecutor has been able to show, may not
have been committed at all."
"God bless you, sir!" again said Jeanie, who had risen from her seat,
and, with clasped hands, eyes glittering through tears, and features which
trembled with anxiety, drank in every word which the Duke uttered.
" But, alas! my poor girl," he-continued, " what good will my opinion do
you, unless I could impress it upon those in whose hands your sister's life
is placed by the law? Besides, I am no lawyer; and I must speak with
some of our Scottish gentlemen of the gown about the matter."
" 0 but, sir, what seems reasonable to your honour, will certainly be the
same to them," answered Jeanie.
"I do not know that," replied the Duke; "ilka man buckles his belt his
ain gate-you know our old Scots proverb?-But you shall not have placed
this reliance on me altogether in vain. Leave these papers with me, and
you shall hear from me to-morrow or next day. Take care to be at home