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 TIHE PEAK. 447
Julian. That you are walking in a dangerous path I well know; but you
do it with your eyes open, and are actuated by motives of which you can
estimate the worth and value. My sole wish was, that this young man
should not enter blindfold on the same perils; and I had a right to warn
him, since the feelings by which he is hoodwinked had a direct reference to
me.'
"'Tis well, minion," said Bridgenorth, " you have spoken your say.
Retire, and let me complete the conference which you have so considerately
commenced."
" I go, sir," said Alice.-" Julian, to you my last words are, and I would
speak them with my last breath - Farewell, and caution!"
She turned fiom them, disappeared among the underwood, and was seen
no more.
"A true specimen of womankind," said her father, looking after her,
"who would give the cause of nations up, rather than endanger a hair of
her lover's head.-You, Master Peveril, doubtless, hold her opinion, that the
best love is a safe love!"
"' Were danger alone in my way," said Peveril, much surprised at the
softened tone in which Bridgenorth made this observation, " there are few
things which I would not face to - to - deserve your good opinion."
"Or rather to win my daughter's hand," said Bridgenorth. "Well, young
man, one thing has pleased me in your conduct, though of much I have my
reasons to complain —one thing has pleased me. You have surmounted that
bounding wall of aristocratical pride, in which your father, and, I suppose,
his fathers, remained imprisoned, as in the precincts of a feudal fortress -
you have leaped over this barrier, and shown yourself not unwilling to ally
yourself with a family, whom your father spurns as low-born and ignoble."
However favourable this speech sounded towards success in his suit, it so
broadly stated the consequences of that success so far as his parents were
concerned, that Julian felt it in the last degree difficult to reply. At length,
perceiving that Major Bridgenorth seemed resolved quietly to await his
answer, he mustered up courage to say, "The feelings which I entertain
towards your daughter, Master Bridgenorth, are of a nature to supersede
many other considerations, to which, in any other case, I should feel it my
duty to give the most reverential attention. I will not disguise from you,
that my father's prejudices against such a match would be very strong; but
I devoutly believe they would disappear when he came to know the merit
of Alice Bridgenorth, and to be sensible that she only could make his son
happy."
" In the meanwhile, you are desirous to complete the union which you
propose without the knowledge of your parents, and take the chance of their
being hereafter reconciled to it? So I understand, from the proposal which
you made but lately to my daughter."
The turns of human nature, and of human passion, are so irregular and
uncertain, that although Julian had but a few minutes before urged to Alice
a private marriage, and an elopement to the continent, as a measure upon
which the whole happiness of his life depended, the proposal seemed not to
him half so delightful when stated by the calm, cold, dictatorial accents of
her father. It sounded no longer like the dictates of ardent passion, throwing all other considerations aside, but as a distinct surrender of the dignity
of his house to one who seemed to consider their relative situation as the
triumph of Bridgenorth over Peveril. Hie was mute for a moment, in the
vain attempt to shape his answer so as at once to intimate acquiescence in
what Bridgenorth stated, and a vindication of his own regard for his parents,
and for the honour of his house.
This delay gave rise to suspicion, and Bridoenorth's eye gleamed, and his
lip quivered while he gave vent to it. " Hark ye, young man-deal openly
with me in this matter, if you would not have me think you the execrable