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.

118 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
species of habit, which carries so many men into' a certain society at a cer.
tain hour, without expecting or receiving any particular degree of gratification, or even amusement.
His life for several weeks may be thus described. The ordinary was no
bad introduction to the business of the day: and the young lord quickly
found, that if the society there was not always irreproachable, still it formed
the most convenient and agreeable place of meeting with the fashionable
parties, with whom he visited Hyde Park, the theatres, and other places of
public resort, or joined the gay and glittering circle which Lady Blackchester had assembled around her. Neither did he entertain the same
scrupulous horror which led him originally even to hesitate entering into a
place where gaming was permitted; but, on the contrary, began to admit
the idea, that as there could be no harm in beholding such recreation when
only indulged in to a moderate degree, so, from a parity of reasoning, there
could be no objection to joining in it, always under the same restrictions.
But the young lord was a Scotsman, habituated to early reflection, and
totally unaccustomed to any habit which inferred a careless risk or profuse
waste of money. Profusion was not his natural vice, or one likely to be
acquired in the course of his education; and, in all probability, while his
father anticipated with noble horror the idea of his son approaching the
gaming-table, he was more startled at the idea of his becomling a gaining
than a losing adventurer. The second, according to his principles, had a
termination, a sad one, indeed, in the loss of temporal fortune -. the first
quality went on increasing the evil which he dreaded, and perilled at once
both body and soul.
However the old lord might ground his apprehension, it was so far verified by his son's conduct, that, from an observer of the various games of
chance which he witnessed, he came, by degrees, by moderate hazards, and
small bets or wagers, to take a certain interest in them. Nor could it be
denied, that his rank and expectations entitled him to hazard a few pieces
(for his game went no deeper) against persons, who, from the readiness with
which they staked their money, might be supposed well able to afford to
lose it.
It chanced, or, perhaps, according to the common belief, his evil genius
had so decreed, that Nigel's adventures were remarkably successful. He
was temperate, cautious, cool-headed, had a strong memory, and a ready
power of calculation; was, besides, of a daring and intrepid character, one
upon whom no one that had looked even slightly, or spoken to though but
hastily, would readily have ventured to practise any thing approaching to
trick, or which required to be supported by intimidation. While Lord Glenvarloch chose to play, men played with him regularly, or, according to the
phrase, upon the square; and, as he found his luck change, or wished to
hazard his good fortune no farther, the more professed votaries of fortune,
who frequented the house of Monsieur le Chevalier de Saint Priest Beaujeu, did not venture openly to express their displeasure at his rising a
winner. But when this happened repeatedly, the gamesters murmured
amongst themselves equally at the caution and the success of the young
Scotsman; and he became far from being a popular character among their
society.
It was no slight inducement to the continuance of this most evil habit,
when it was once in some degree acquired, that it seemed to place Lord
Glenvarloch, haughty as he naturally was, beyond the necessity of subj.ecting
himself to farther pecuniary obligations, which his prolonged residence in
London must otherwise have rendered necessary. He had to solicit from the
ministers certain forms of office, which were to render his sign-manual effectually useful; and these, though they could not be denied, were delayed' in
such a manner, as to lead Nigel to believe there was some secret opposition,
which occasioned the demur in his business. His own impulse was, to have