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. 55[
ley does not know that now. He saw this poor weneh.dance; and thought
so much on't, when it was all along of me. I would have defied her to sit
still. And Rowley gives her the credit of it, and five pieces to boot; and
I have only two for my morning's work!"
"True, Master Empson," said the lady; "but you are of the family,
though in a lower station; and you ought to consider " "By G-,
madam," answered Empson, "all I consider is, that I play the best flageolet
in England; and that they can no more supply my place, if they were to
discard me, than they could fill Thames from Fleet-Ditch."
"Well, Master Empson, I do not dispute but you are a man of talents,"
replied the lady; "still I say, mind the main chance -you please the ear
to-day -another has the advantage of you to-morrow."
"Never, mistress, while ears have the heavenly power of distinguishing
one note from another."
"Heavenly power, say you, Master Emnlson?" said the lady.
"Ay, madam, heavenly; for some very neat verses which we had at our
festival say,'What know we of the blest above,
But that they sing and that they love?'
It is Master Waller wrote them, as I think; who, upon my word, ought to
be encouraged."
" And so should you, my dear Empson," said the dame yawning, " were
it only for the honour you do to your own profession. But in the meantime, will you ask these people to have some refreshment? -and will you
take some yourself? - the chocolate is that which the Ambassador Portuguese fellow brought over to the Queen."
"If it be genuine," said the musician.
" How, sir," said the fair one, half rising from her pile of cushions" Not genuine, and in this house!-Let me understand you, Master Empson
I- think, when I firstsaw you, you scarce knew chocolate.from coffee."
"By G —, madam," answered the flageolet-player, "you are perfectly
right. And how can I show better how much I have profited by your
ladyship's excellent cheer, except by being critical?"
"You stand excused, Master Empson," said the petite maitresse, sinking
gently back on the downy couch, from which a momentary irritation had
startled her —"I think the chocolate will please you, though scarce equal to
what we had from the Spanish resident Mendoza. —But we must offer these
strange people something. Will you ask them if they would have coffee
and chocolate, or cold wild-fowl, fruit, and wine? They must be treated, so
as to show them where they are, since here they are."
"Unquestionably, madam," said Empson; "but I have just at this instant
forgot the French for chocolate, hot bread, coffee, game, and drinkables."
" It is odd," said the lady; "and I have forgot my French and Italian at
the same moment. But it signifies little -I will order the things to be
brought, and they will remember the names of themu themselves."
Empson laughed loudly at this jest, anld pawned his soul that the cold
sirloin which entered immediately after, was the best emblem of roast-beef
all the world over. Plentiful refreshments were offered to all the party, of
which both Fenella and Peveril partook.
In the meanwhile, the flageolet-player drew closer to the side of the lady
of the mansion -their intimacy was cemented, and their spirits set afloat,
by a glass of liqueur, which gave them additional confidence in discussing
the characters, as well of the superior attendants of the Court, as of the
inferior rank, to which they themselves might be supposed to belong.'The lady, indeed, during this conversation, frequently exerted her complete and absolute superiority over Master Empson; in which that musical
gentleman humbly acquiesced whenever the circumstance was recalled to
his attention, whether in the way of blunt contradiction, sarcastic insinua