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 PiEAK. 413
"Then demand that answer now," said a voice from without the door,
which was at the same time slowly opened -" Demand that answer now,
for here stands Ralph Bridgenorth."
As he spoke, he entered the apartment with his usual slow and sedate
step-raised his flapped and steeple-crowned hat from his brows, and, standing in the midst of the room., eyed alternately his daughter and Julian
Peveril with a fixed and penetrating glance.
"Father!" said Alice, utterly astonished, and terrified, besides, by his
sudden appearance at such a conjuncture,-" Father, I am not to blame."
" Of that anon, Alice," said Bridgenorth; " meantime retire to your
apartment —I have that to say- to this youth which will not endure your
presence."
" Indeed-indeed, father," said Alice, alarmed at what she supposed these
words indicated, " Julian is as little to be blamed as I It was chance, it
was fortune, which caused our meeting together." Then suddenly rushing
forward, she threw her arms around her father, saying, "Oh, do him no
injury —he meant no wrong i Father, you were wont to be a man of reason
and of religious peace."
"And wherefore should I not be so now, Alice?" said Bridgenorth, raising his daughter from the ground, on which she had almost sunk in the
earnestness of her supplication. "Dost thou know aught, maiden, which
should inflame my anger against this young man, more than reason or religion may bridle? Go-go to thy chamber. Compose thine own passionslearn to rule these -and leave it to me to deal with this stubborn young
mlan.'
Alice arose, and, with her eyes fixed on the ground, retired slowly from
the apartment. Julian followed her steps with his eyes till the last wave
of her garment was visible at the closing door; then turned his looks to
Major Bridgenorth, and then sunk them on the ground. The Major continued to regard him in profound silence; his looks were melancholy and
even austere; but there was nothing which indicated either agitation or
keen resentment. He motioned to Julian to take a' seat, and assumed one
himself. After which, he opened the conversation in the following manner:"You seemed but now, young gentleman, anxious to learn where I was
to be found. Such I at least conjectured, from the few expressions which I
chanced to overhear; for I made bold, though it may be contrary to the code
of modern courtesy, to listen a moment or two, in order to gather upon
what subject so young a man as you entertained so young a woman as
Alice, in a private interview."
" I trust, sir," said Julian, rallying spirits in what he felt to be a case of
extremity, " you have heard nothing on my part which has given offence to
a gentleman, whom, though unknown, I am bound to respect so highly."
"On the contrary," said Bridgenorth, with the same formal gravity, " I
am pleased to find that your business is, or appears to be, with me, rather
than with my daughter. I only think you had done better to have intrusted
it to me in the first instance, as my sole concern."
The utmost sharpness of attention which Julian applied, could not discover if Bridgenorth spoke seriously or ironically to the above purpose.
He was, however, quick-witted beyond his experience, and was internally
determined to endeavour to discover something of the character and the
temper of him with whom he spoke. For that purpose, regulating his
reply in the same tone with Bridgenorth's observation, he said, that not
having the advantage to know his place of residence, he had applied for
information to his daughter.
"Who is now known to you for the first time?" answered Bridgenorth.
"Am I so to understand you?"
"By no means," answered Julian, looking down; " I have been known
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