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 PEAK3 475
gence which education gives to the most homely face; and his manners
were so easy and disemrbarrassed, as plainly showed a complete acquaintance with society, as well as the habit of mingling with it in the higher
stages. The alarm which he had evidently shown at Peveril's answer, was
but momentary; for he almost instantly replied, with a smile, " I promise
you, sir, that you are in no dangerous company; for notwithstanding my
fish dinner, I amn much disposed to trifle with some of your savoury mess,
if you will indulge me so far."
Peveril accordingly reinforced the stranger's trencher with what remained
of the bacon and eggs, and saw him swallow a mouthful or two with apparent relish; but presently after, he began to dally with his knife and fork,
like one whose appetite was satiated; and then took a long draught of the
black jack, and handed his platter to the large mastiff dog, who, attracted
by the smell of the dinner, had sat down before him for some time, licking
his chops, and following with his eye every morsel which the guest raised
to his head.
"Here, my poor fellow," said he, " thou hast had no fish, and needest
this supernumerary trencher-load more than I do. I cannot withstand thy
mute supplication any longer."
The dog answered these courtesies by a civil shake of the tail, while he
gobbled up what was assigned him by the stranger's benevolence, in the
greater haste, that he heard his mistress's voice at the door.
" Here is the canary, gentlemen," said the landlady; "and the goodman
has set off the mill, to come to wait on you himself. He always does so,
when conmpany drink wine."
"That he may come in for the host's, that is, for the lion's share," said
the stranger, looking at Peveril.
"' The shot is mine," said Julian; " and if mine host will share it, I will
willingly bestow another quart on him, and on you, sir. I never break old,
customs."
These sounds caught the ear of Gaffer Whitecraft, who had entered the
room, a strapping specimen of his robust trade, prepared to play the civil,
or the surly host, as his company should be acceptable or otherwise. At
Julian's invitation, he doffed his dusty bonnet-brushed from his sleeve the
looser particles of his professional dust - and sitting down on the end of a
bench, about a yard from the table, filled a glass of canary, and drank to
his guests, and "especially to this noble gentleman," indicating Peverii,
who had ordered the canary.
Julian returned the courtesy by drinking his health, and asking what
news were about in the country.
"Nought, sir, I hears on nought, except this Plot, as they call it, that
they are pursuing the Papishers about; but it brings water to my mill, as
the saying is. Between expresses hurrying hither and thither, and guards
and prisoners riding to and again, and the custom of the neighbours, that
come to speak over the news of an evening, nightly, I may say, instead of
once a-week, why the spigot is in use, gentleman, and your land thrives;
and then I, serving as constable, and being a known Protestant, I have
tapped, I may venture to say, it may be ten stands of ale extraordinary,
besides a reasonable sale of wine for a country corner. Heaven make us
thankful, and keep all good Protestants from Plot and Popery i"
"I can easily conceive, my friend," said Julian, "that curiosity is a
passion which runs naturally to the alehouse; and that anger, and jealousy,
and fear, are all of them thirsty passions, and great consumers of homebrewed. But I am a perfect stranger in these parts; and I would willingly
learn, from a sensible man like you, a little of this same Plot, of which men
speak so much, and appear to know so little."
" Learn a little of it? —Why, it is the most horrible-the most damnable,
bloodthirsty beast of a Plot —But hold, hold, my good master; I hope, in