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.

564 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
whispering during these manoeuvres - staring broadly at Peveril and his
female companions-and affording them, as they came into contact, none of
those facilities of giving place which are required on such occasions by the
ordinary rules of the pavr.
Peveril did not immediately observe their impertinence; but when it was
too gross to escape his notice, his gall began to arise; and, in addition to
all the other embarrassments of his situation, he had to combat the longing
desire which he felt to cudgel handsomely the two coxcombs who seemed
thus determined on insulting him. Patience and sufferance were indeed
strongly imposed on him by circumstances; but at length it became scarcely
possible to observe their dictates any longer.
When, for the third time, Julian found himself obliged, with his companions, to pass this troublesome brace of fops, they kept walking close
behind him, speaking so loud as to be heard, and in a tone of perfect indifference whether he listened to them or not.
" This is bumpkin's best luck," said the taller of the two, (who was indeed
a man of remarkable size, alluding to the plainness of Peveril's dress, which
was scarce fit for the streets of London) " Two such fine wenches, and
under guard of a gray frock and an oaken riding-rod 1"
"Nay, Puritan's luck rather, and more than enough of it," said his conmpanion. "You may read Puritan in his pace and in his patience."
" Right as a pint bumber, Tom," said his friend- " Issachar is an ass
that stoopeth between two burdens."
"I have a mind to ease long-eared Laurence of one of his encumbrances,"
said the shorter fellow. " That black-eyed sparkler looks as if she had a
mind to run away from him."
"Ay," answered the taller, " and the blue-eyed trembler looks as if she
would fall behind into my loving arms."
At these words, Alice, holding still closer by Peveril's arm than formerly,
mended her pace almost to running, in order to escape from men whose
language was so alarming; and Fenella walked hastily forward in the same
manner, having perhaps caught, from the men's gestures and demeanour,
that apprehension which Alice had taken from their language.
Fearful of the consequences of a fray in the streets, which must necessarily separate him from these unprotected females, Peveril endeavoured to
compound betwixt the prudence necessary for their protection and his own
rising resentment; and as this troublesome pair of attendants endeavoured
again to pass them close to Hungerford Stairs, he said to them with constrained calmness, " Gentlemen, I owe you something for the attention you
have bestowed on the affairs of a stranger. If you have any pretension to
the name I have given you, you will tell me where you are to be found."
" And with what purpose," said the taller of the two, sneeringly, " does
your most rustic gravity, or your most grave rusticity, require of us such
information?"
So saying, they both faced about, in such a manner as to make it impossible for Julian to advance any farther.
"Make for the stairs, Alice," he said; "I will be with you in an instant."
Then freeing himself with difficulty from the grasp of his companions, he
cast his cloak hastily round his left arm, and said, sternly, to his opponents,
"Willt you give me your names, sirs; or will you be pleased to make way?"
" Not till we know for whom we are to give place," said one of them.
"For one who will else teach you what you want -good manners," said
Peveril, and advanced, as if to push between them.
They separated, but one of them stretched forth his foot before Peveril,
as if he meant to trip him. The blood of his ancestors was already boiling
within him; he struck the man on the face with the oaken rod which he
had just sneered at, and throwing it from him, instantly unsheathed his
sword. Both the others drew, and pushed at once; but he caught the point