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.

494 WAVERILEY NOVELS.
"Gracious Heaven! —Dear dame, for love or gold, let me have a horse to
make for the Castle!"
"The Castle?" said the dame; "the Roundheads, as my poor Roger
called them, will kill you as they have killed your father! Better creep
into the woodhouse, and I will send Bett with a blanket and some supperOr stay-my old Dobbin stands in the little stable beside the hencoop-e'en
take him, and make the best of your way out of the country, for there is no
safety here for you. Hear what songs some of them are singing at the tap I
-so take Dobbin, and do not forget to leave your own horse instead."
Peveril waited to hear no farther, only, that just as he turned to go off to
the stable, the compassionate female was heard to exclaim,-" 0 Lord! what
will Matthew Chamberlain say?" but instantly added, "Let him say what
he will, I may dispose of what's my own."
With the haste of a double-fee'd hostler did Julian exchange the equipments of his jaded brute with poor Dobbin, who stood quietly tugging at
his rackful of hay, without dreaming of the business which was that night
destined for him. Notwithstanding the darkness of the place, Julian succeeded marvellous quickly in preparing for his journey; and leaving his
own horse to find its way to Dobbin's rack by instinct, he leaped upon his
new acquisition, and spurred him sharply against the hill, which rises
steeply from the village to the Castle. Dobbin, little accustomed to such
exertions, snorted, panted, and trotted as briskly as he could, until at length
he brought his rider before the entrance-gate of his father's ancient seat.
The moon was now rising, but the portal was hidden from its beams,
being situated, as we have mentioned elsewhere, in a deep recess betwixt
two large flanking towers. Peveril dismounted, turned his horse loose, and
advanced to the gate, which, contrary to his expectation, he found open.
He entered the large court-yard; and could then perceive that lights yet
twinkled in the lower part of the building, although he had not before
observed them, owing to the height of the outward walls. The main door,
or great hall-gate, as it was called, was, since the partially decayed state of
the family, seldom opened, save on occasions of particular ceremony. A
smaller postern door served the purpose of ordinary entrance; and to that
Julian now repaired. This also was open-a circumstance which would of
itself have alarmed him, had he not already had so many causes for apprehension. His heart sunk within him as he turned to the left, through a
small outward hall, towards the great parlour, which the family usually
occupied as a sitting apartment; and his alarm became still greater, when,
on a nearer approach, he heard proceeding from thence the murmur of
several voices. He threw the door of the apartment wide; and the sight
which was thus displayed, warranted all the evil bodings which he had entertained.
In front of him stood the old Knight, whose arms were strongly secured,
over the elbows, by a leathern belt drawn tight round them, and made fast
behind; twd ruffianly-looking men, apparently his guards, had hold of his
doublet. The scabbardless sword which lay on the floor, and the empty
sheath which hung by Sir Geoffrey's side, showed the stout old Cavalier had
not been reduced to this state of bondage without an attempt at resistance.
Two or three persons, having their backs turned towards Julian, sat round
a table, and appeared engaged in writing — the voices which he had heard
were theirs, as they murmured to each other. Lady Peveril - the emblem
of death, so pallid was her countenance-stood at the distance of a yard or
two from her husband, upon whom her eyes were fixed with an intenseness
of gaze, like that of one who looks her last on the object which she loves
the best. She was the first to perceive Julian; and she exclaimed, " Merciful Heaven i -my son -the misery of our house is complete!"
" My son i" echoed Sir Geoffrey, starting from the sullen state of dejection,
and swearing a deep oath-" thou art come in the right time, Julian. Strike