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.

TH E HEART OF MID-LOTHIAN. 533
of Brunswick in 1715, placed him high in that rank of persons who were
not to be rashly neglected. He had, almost by his single and unassisted
talents, stopped- the irruption of the banded force of all the Highland chiefs;
there was little doubt, that, with the slightest encouragement, he could put
them all in motion, and renew the civil war; and it was well known that
the most flattering overtures had been transmitted to the Duke from the
court of St. Germains. The character and temper of Scotland was still
little known, and it was considered as a volcano, which might, indeed,
slumber for a series of years, but was still liable, at a moment the least
expected, to break out into a wasteful irruption.. It was, therefore, of the
highest importance to retain some hold over so important a personage as
the Duke of Argyle, and Caroline preserved the power of doing so by means
of a lady, with whom, as wife of George II., she might have been supposed
to be on less intimate terms.
It was not the least instance of the Queen's address, that she had contrived that one of her principal attendants, Lady Suffolk, should unite in
her own person the two apparently inconsistent characters, of her husband's
mistress, and her own very obsequious and complaisant confidant. By this
dexterous management the Queen secured her power against the danger
which might most have threatened it —the thwarting influence of an ambitious rival; and if she submitted to the mortification of being obliged to
connive at her husband's infidelity, she was at least guarded against what
she might think its most dangerous effects, and was besides at liberty, now
and then, to bestow a few civil insults upon "her good Howard," whom,
however, in general, she treated with great decorum.* Lady Suffolk lay
under strong obligations to the Duke of Argyle, for reasons which may be
collected from Horace Walpole's Reminiscences of that reign, and through
her means the Duke had some occasional correspondence with Queen Caroline, much interrupted, however, since the part he had taken in the debate
concerning the Porteous mob, an affair which the Queen, though somewhat
unreasonably, was disposed to resent, rather as an intended and premeditated insolence to her own person and authority,.than as a sudden ebullition
of popular vengeance. Still, however, the communication remained open
betwixt them, though it had been of late disused on both sides. These remarks will be found necessary to understand the scene which is about to
* be presented to the reader.
From the narrow alley which they had traversed, the Duke turned into
one of the same character, but broader and still longer. Here, for the first
time since they had entered these gardens, Jeanie saw persons approaching
them.
They were two ladies; one of whom walked a little behind the other, yet
not so much as to prevent her from hearing and replying to whatever observation. was addressed to her by the lady who walked foremost, and that
without her having. the trouble to turn her person. As they advanced very
slowly, Jeanie had time to study their features and appearance. The Duke
also- slackened his pace, as if to give her time to collect herself, and repeatedly desired her not to be afraid. The lady who seemed the principal
person had remarkably good features, though somewhat injured by the
small-pox, that venomous scourge which each village Esculapius (thanks to
Jenner) can now tame as easily as their tutelary deity subdued the Python.
The lady's eyes were brilliant, her teeth good, and her countenance formed
to express at'will either majesty or courtesy. Her form, though rather
embonpoint, was nevertheless graceful; and the elasticity and firmness of
her step gave no room to suspect, what was actually the case, that she suffered occasionally fi'om a disorder the most unfavourable to pedestrian
exercise. Her dress was rather rich than gay, and her manner commanding and noble.
S* ee Horace Walpole's Reminiscences.
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