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.

346 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
with it. The strictness of his cast and manners permitted him not to sink
on his knee, and kiss the hand which held his little orphan; but the deepness of his obeisance-the faltering tremor of his voice-and the glistening
of his eye, showed a grateful respect for the lady whom he addressed, deeper
and more reverential than could have been expressed even by Persian prostration. A few courteous and mild words, expressive of the pleasure she
found in once more seeing her neighbours as her friends -a few kind
inquiries, addressed to the principal individuals among her guests, concerning their families and connections, completed her triumph over angry
thoughts and dangerous recollections, and disposed men's bosoms to sympathize with the purposes of the meeting.
Even Solsgrace himself, although imagining himself bound by his office
and duty to watch over and counteract the wiles of the "Amalekitish
woman," did not escape the sympathetic infection; being so much struck
with the marks of peace and good-will exhibited by Lady Peveril, that he
immediately raised the psalm,' 0 what a happy thing it is,
And joyful, lbor to see
Brethren to dwell together in
Friendship and unity!"
Accepting this salutation as a mark of courtesy repaid, the Lady Peveril
marshalled in person this party of her guests to the apartment, where ample
good cheer was provided for them; and had even the patience to remain
while Master Nehemiah Solsgrace pronounced a benediction of portentous
length, as an introduction to the banquet. H-er presence was in some
measure a restraint on the worthy divine, whose prolusion lasted the longer,
and was the more intricate and embarrassed, that he felt himself debarred
from rounding it off by hlis. usual alliterative petition for deliverance from
Popery, Prelacy, and Peveril of the Peak, which had become so habitual to
him, that, after various attempts to conclude with some other form of words,
he found himself at last obliged to pronounce the first words of his usual
forcmula aloud, and mutter the rest in such a manner as not to be intelligible
even by those who stood nearest to him.
The minister's silence was followed by all the various sounds which
announce the onset of a hungry company on a well-furnished table; and at
the same time gave the lady an opportunity to leave the apartment, and
look to the accommodation of her other company. She felt, indeed, that it
was high time to do so; and that the royalist guests might be disposed to
misapprehend, or even to resent, the prior attentions which she had thought
it prudent to offer to the Puritans.
These apprehensions were not altogether ill founded. It was in vain that
the steward had displayed the royal standard, with its proud motto of
Tandem Tritumphans, on one of the great towers which flanked the main
entrance to the Castle; while, from the other, floated the banner of Peveril
of the Peak, under which many of those who now approached had fought
during all the vicissitudes of civil war. It was in vain he repeated his
clamorous " Welcome, noble Cavaliers! welcome, generous gentlemen!'
There was a slight murmur amongst them, that their welcome ought to have
come from the mouth of the Colonel's lady- not from that of a menial.
Sir Jasper Cranbourne, who had sense as well as spirit and courage, and
who was aware of his fair cousin's motives, having been indeed consulted by her upon all the arrangements which she had adopted, saw matters
were in such a state that no time ought to be lost in conducting the guests
to the banquetinhgo apartment, where a fortunate diversion from all these
topics of rising discontent might be made, at the expense of the good cheer
of all'sorts, which the lady's care had so liberally provided.
TIe stratagem of the old soldier succeeded in its utmost extent. Hte
assumed the great oaken-chair usually occupied by the steward at his
audits; and Dr. Dummerar having pronounced a. brief Latin benediction,