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.

126 W AV E L EY, NOVELS.
" And what did your wisdom do in these circumstances?" said Lord Nigel,
rho, notwithstanding his former resentment, could now scarcely forbear
laughing.
"I put on a look, my lord," replied Richie, bending his solemn brows,
"' that suld give her a heartscald of walking on such errands. -I laid her
enormities clearly before her, and I threatened her, in sae -mony words, that
I would have her to the ducking-stool; and she, on the contrair part, miscawed me for a froward northern tyke - and so we parted never to meet
again, as I hope and trust. And so I stood between your lordship and that
temptation, which might have been worse than the ordinary, or the playhouse either; since you weot well what Solomon, King of the Jews, sayeth
of the strange woman -for, said I to moysell, we have taken to dicing
already, and if we take to drabbing next, the Lord kens what we may land
in."
"Your impertinence deserves correction, but it is the last which, for a
time at least, I sbhall have to forgive- and I forgive it," said Lord Glenvarloch; " and, since we are to part, Richie, I will say no more respecting your
precautions on my account, than that I think you might have left me to act
according to my own judgment."
" Mickle better not," answered Richie-" mickle better not; we are a'
frail creatures, and can judge better for ilk other than in our ain cases.
And for me, even myself, saving that case of the sifflication, which might
have happened to any one, I have always observed myself to be much more
prudential in what I have done in your lordship's behalf, than even in what
I have been able to transact for my own interest-whilk last, I have, indeed,
always postponed, as in duty I ought."
"' I do believe thou hast," said Lord Nigel, " having ever found thee true
and faithful. And since London pleases you so little, I will bid you a short
farewell; and you may go down to Edinburgh until I come thither myself,
when I trust you will re-enter into my service."
"Now, Heaven bless you, my lord," said Richie MIoniplies, with uplifted
eyes; " for that word sounds more like grace than ony has come out of your
mouth this fortnight. -I give you godd'en, my lord."
So saying, he thrust forth his immense bony hand, seized on that of Lord
Glenvarloch, raised it to his lips, then turned short on his heel, and left the
room hastily, as if afraid of showing more emotion than was consistent with
his ideas of decorum. Lord Nigel, rather surprised at his sudden exit,
called after him to know whether he was sufficiently provided with money;
but Richie, shaking his head, without making any other answer, ran hastily
down stairs, shut the street-door heavily behind him, and was presently seen
striding along the Strand.
His master almost involuntarily watched and distinguished the tall rawboned figure of his late follower, from the window, for some time, until he
was lost among the crowd of passengers. Nigel's reflections were not altogether those of self-approrval. It was no good sign of his course of life (he
could not help acknowledging this much to himself,) that so faithful an
adherent no longer seemed to feel the same pride in his service, or attachment to his person, which he had formerly manifested. Neither could he
avoid experiencing some twinges of conscience, while he felt in some degree
the charges which Richie had preferred against him, and experienced a
sense of shame and mortification, arising from the colour given by others
to that, which he himself would have called his caution and moderation in
play. He had only the apology, that it had never occurred to himself in
this light.
Then his pride and self-love suggested, that, on the other hand, Richie,
with all his good intentions, was little better than a conceited, pragmatical
domestic, who seemed disposed rather to play the tutor than the lackey, and
who, out of sheer love, as he alleged, to his master's person, assumed the