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.

PEVERIL OF THE PEAK. 3 93;inswoman is a Catholic; * but her son is educated in the Church of England's principles, agreeably to the command of her deceased husband."
"Is it likely," answered Bridgenorth, " that she, who fears not shedding
the blood of the righteous, whether on the field or scaffold, will regard the
sanction of her promise owhen her religion bids her break it? Or, if she
does, what shall your son be the better, if he remain in the mire of his
father? What are your Episcopal tenets but mere Popery? save that ye
have chosen a temporal tyrant for your Pope, and substitute a mangled
mass in English for that which your predecessors pronounced in Latin. -
But why speak I of these things to one who hath ears, indeed, and eyes,
yet cannot see, listen to, or understand what is alone worthy to be heard,
seen, and known? Pity that what hath been wrought so fair and exquisite
in form and disposition, should be yet blind, deaf, and ignorant, like the
things which perish!"
"We shall not agree on these subjects, faster Bridgenorth," said the
Lady, anxious still to escape from this strange conference, though scarce
knowing what to apprehend; " once more, I must bid you farewell."
"Stay yet an instant," he said, again laying his hand on her arm; "I
would stop you if I saw you rushing on the brink of an actual precipice —
let me prevent you from a danger still greater. IHow shall I work upon
your unbelieving mind? Shall I tell you that the debt of bloodshed yet
remains a debt to be paid by the bloody house of Derby? And wilt thou
send thy son to be among those from whom it shall be exacted?"
"You wish to alarm me in vain, Master Bridgenorth," answered the
lady; " what penalty can be exacted from the Countess, for an action which
I have already called a rash one, has been long since levied."
"You deceive yourself," retorted he, sternly. " Think you a paltry sum
of money, given to be wasted on the debaucheries of Charles, can atone for
the death of such a man as Christian-a man precious alike to heaven and
to earth? Not on such terms is the blood of the righteous to be poured
forth! Every hour's delay is numbered down as adding interest to the
grievous debt, which will one day be required from that bloodthirsty
Nwoman."
At this moment the distant tread of horses was heard on the road on which
they held this singular dialogue. Bridgenorth listened a moment, and then
said, " Forget that you have seen me - name not my name to your nearest
or dearest - lock my counsel in your breast - profit by it, and it shall be
well with you."
So saying, he turned from her, and plunging through a gap in the fence,
regained the cover of his own wood, along which the path still led.
The noise of horses advancing at full trot, now came nearer; and Lady
Peveril was aware of several riders, whose forms rose distinctly on the
summit of the rising ground behind her. She became also visible to them;
and one or two of the foremost made towards her at increased speed, challenging her with the cry of "Stand! Who goes there?" The foremost
who came up, however, exclaimed, " Mercy on us, if it be not my lady 1"
and Lady Peveril, at the same moment, recognized one of her own servants.
Her husband rode up immediately afterwards, with, " Iow now, Dame Margaret? What makes you abroad so f1r fron home and at an hour so late?"
Lady Peveril mentioned her visit at the cottage, but did not think it
necessary to say aught of having seen Major Bridgenorth; afraid, it may
be, that her husband might be displeased with that incident.
"Charity is a fine thing and a fair," answered Sir Geoffrey; " but I must
tell you, you do ill, dame, to wander about the country like a quack-salver,
at the call of every old woman who has a colic-fit; and at this time of night
especially, and when the land is so unsettled besides."
4 I have elsewhere noticed that this is a deviation from the truth — Charlotte, Countess of Derby, was a
Etguenot.