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.

874 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
"Is the wench turned silly," exclai-med the lady, something angrily,
"' that she does not obey my orders, and return at regular hours?"
"She may be turning silly," said Ellesmere, mysteriously; " or she may
be turning too-sly; and I think it were as well your ladyship looked to
it."
"Looked to what, Ellesmzere?" said the lady, impatiently. "You are
strangely oracular this morning. If you know any thing to the prejudice
of this young woman, I pray you speak it out."
"I prejudice!" said Ellesmere; "I scorn to prejudice man, woman, or
child, in the way of a fellow-servant; only I wish your ladyship to look
about you, and use your own eyes -that is all."
" You bid me use my own eyes, Ellesmere; but I suspect," answered the
lady, " you would be better pleased were I contented to see through your
spectacles. I charge you — and you know I will be obeyed-I charge you
to tell me what you know or suspect about this girl, Deborah Debbitch."
"I[ see through spectacles!" exclaimed the indignant Abigail; "your
ladyship will pardon me in that, for I never use them, unless a pair that
belonged to my poor mother, which I put on when your ladyship wants
your pinners curiously wrought. No woman above sixteen ever did whiteseam without barnacles. And then as to suspecting, I suspect nothing;
for as your ladyship hath taken Mistress Deborah Debbitch from under my
hand, to be spre it is neither bread nor butter of mine. Only," (here she
began to speak with her lips shut, so as scarce to permit a sound to issue,
and mincing her words as if she pinched off the ends of then before she
suffered them to escape,)-" only, madam, if Mistress Deborah goes so often
of a morning to Moultrassie Holt, why, I should not be surprised if she
should never find the way back again."
"Once more, what do you mean, Ellesmere? You were wont to have
some sense - let me know distinctly what the matter is."
"Only, madam," pursued the Abigail, "that since Bridgenorth came
back from Chesterfield, and saw you at the Castle Hall, Mistress Deborah
has been pleased to carry the children every morning to that place; and it
has so happened that she has often met the Major, as they call him, there
in his walks; for he can walk about now like other folks; and I warrant
you she hath not been the worse of the meeting -one way at least, for she
hath bought a new hood might serve yourself, madam; but whether she
hath had any thing in hand besides a piece of money, no doubt your ladyship is best judge."
Lady Peveril, who readily adopted the more good-natured construction
of the governante's motives, could not help laughing at the idea of a man
of Bridgenorth's precise appearance, strict principles, and reserved habits,
being suspected of a design of gallantry; and readily concluded, that Mistress Deborah had found her advantage in gratifying his parental affection
by a frequent sight of his daughter during the few days which intervened
betwixt his first seeing little Alice at the Castle, and the events which had
followed. But she was somewhat surprised, when, an hour after the usual
breakfast hour, during which neither the child nor Mistress Deborah
appeared, Major Bridgenorth's only man-servant arrived at the Castle on
horseback, dressed as for a journey; and having delivered a letter addressed
to herself, and another to M.iistress Ellesmere, rode away without waiting
any answer.
There would have been nothing remarkable in this, had any other person
been concerned; but Major Bridgenorth was so very quiet and orderly in
all his proceedings - so little liable to act hastily or by impulse, that the,
least appearance of bustle where he was concerned, excited surprise and
curiosity.
Lady Peveril broke her letter hastily open, and found that it contained
the following lines: —