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.

THE FORTUNES OF NIGEL. 253
I did indeed remonstrate, as was my humble duty, but I scorn to cast that
up to your lordship now-Na, na, I am myself an erring creature-very
conscious of some small weaknesses-there is no perfection in man."
"But, Richie," said Lord Glenvarloch, "although I am much obliged to
you for your proffered service, it can be of little use to me here, and may
be of prejudice to yourself."
" Your lordship shall pardon me again," said Richie, whom the relative
situation of the parties had invested with ten times his ordinary dogmatism;
" but as I will manage the matter, your lordship shall be greatly benefited
by my service, and I myself no whit prejudiced."
" I see not how that can be, my friend," said Lord Glenvarloch, " since
even as to your pecuniary affairs "
"Touching my pecuniars, my lord," replied Richie, "I am indifferently
weel provided; and, as it chances, my living here will be no burden to your
lordship, or distress to myself. Only I crave permission to annex certain
conditions to my servitude with your lordship."
" Annex what you will," said Lord Glenvarloch, " for you are pretty sure
to take your own way, whether you make any conditions or not. Since you
will not leave me, which were, I think, your wisest course, you must, and I
suppose will, serve me only on such terms as you like yourself."
"All that I ask, my lord," said Richie, gravely, and with a tone of great
moderation, " is to have the uninterrupted command of my own motions,
for certain important purposes which I have now in hand, always giving
your lordship the solace of my company and attendance at such times as
may be at once convenient for me, and necessary for your service."
" Of which, I suppose, you constitute yourself sole judge," replied Nigel,
smiling.
"Unquestionably, my lord," answered iRihie, gravely; "for your lordship can only know what yourself want; whereas I, who see both sides of
the picture, ken both what is the best for your affairs, and what is the most
needful for my own."
"Richie, my good friend," said Nigel, "I fear this arrangement, which
places the master much under the disposal of the servant, would scarce suit
us if we were both at large; but a prisoner as I am, I may be as well at
your disposal as I am, at that of so many other persons; and so you may
come and go as you list, for I suppose you will not take my advice, to return
to your own country, and leave me to my fate."
" The deil be in my feet if I do," said Moniplies, —" I am not the lad to
leave your lordship in foul weather, when I followed you and fed upon you
through the whole summer day. And besides, there may be brave days
behind, for a' that has come and gane yet; for
It's hame, it's harne, and it's hame we fain would be,
Though the cloud is in the lift, and the wind is on the lea;
For the sun through the mirk blinks blithe on mine e'e,
Says,-' I'll shine on ye yet in your ain country!"
Having sung this stanza in the manner of a ballad-singer, whose voice
has been cracked by matching his windpipe against the bugle of the north
blast, Richie Moniplies aided Lord Glenvarloch to rise, attended his toilette
with every possible mark of the most solemn and deferential respect, then
waited upon him at breakfast, and finally withdrew, pleading that he had
business of importance, which would detain him for some hours.
Although Lord Glenvarloch necessarily expected to be occasionally annoyed by the self-conceit and dogmatism of Richie Moniplies's character,
yet he could not but feel the greatest pleasure from the firm and devoted
attachment which this faithful follower had displayed in the present instance,
and indeed promised himself an alleviation of ihe ennui of his imprisonment, in having the advantage of his services. It was, therefore, with
pleasure that he learned from the warder, that his servant's attendance
w