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. 591
the man's proposed civility with the advice given and the signal prescribed
in the letter.
" Nay, and to no good purpose I know of," said the turnkey; " only it is
the fashion to seem white and harmless - a sort of token of not-guiltiness,
as I may say, which folks desire to show the world, whether they be truly
guilty or not; but I cannot say that guiltiness or not-guiltiness argufies
much, saving they be words in the verdict."
" Strange," thought Peveril, although the man seemed to speak quite naturally, and without any double meaning, " strange that all should apparently
combine- to realize the plan of escape, could I but give my consent to it!
And had I not better consent? Whoever does so much for me must wish me
well, and a well-wisher would never enforce the unjust conditions on which
I am required to consent to my liberation."
But this misgiving of his resolution was but for a moment. lie speedily
recollected, that whoever aided him in escaping, must be necessarily exposed
to great risk, and had a right to name the stipulation on which he was willing to incur it. He also recollected that falsehood is equally base, whether
expressed in words or in dumb show; and that he should lie as flatly by
using the signal agreed upon in evidence of his renouncing Alice Bridgenorth, as he would in direct terms if he made such renunciation without the
purpose of abiding by it.
"If you would oblige me," he said to the turnkey, "let me have a piece
of black silk or crape for the purpose you Inention."
" Of crape," said the fellow; "what should that signify? WVhy, the bien
morts, who bing out to tour at you,* will think you a chimney-sweeper on
Mayday."
" It will show my settled sorrow," said Julian, "as well as my determined
resolution."
" As you will, sir," answered the fellow; " I'll provide you with a black
rag of some kind or other. So, now; let us be moving."
Julian intimated his readiness to attend him, and proceeded to bid farewell to his late companion, the stout Geoffrey Hudson. The parting was
not without emotion on both sides, more particularly on that of the poor
little man, who had taken a particular liking to the companion of whom he
was now about to be deprived. "Fare ye well," he said, "my young
friend," taking Julian's hand in both his own uplifted palms, in which
action he somewhat resembled the attitude of a sailor pulling a rope overhead, - " Many in my situation would think himself wronged, as a soldier
and servant of the king's chamber, in seeing you removed to a more honourable prison than that which I am limited unto. But, I thank God, I grudge
you not the Tower, nor the rocks of Scilly, nor even Carisbrooke Castle,
though the latter was graced with the captivity of my blessed and martyred
master. Go where you will, I wish you all the distinction of an honourable
prison-house, and a safe and speedy deliverance in God's own time. For
myself, my race is near a close, and that because I fall a martyr to the overtenderness of my own heart. There is a circumstance, good Master Julian
Peveril, which should have been yours, had Providence permitted our farther intimacy, but it fits not the present hour. Go, then, my friend, and
bear witness in life and death, that Geoffrey Hudson scorns the insults and
persecutions of fortune, as he would despise, and has often despised, the
mischievous pranks of an overgrown schoolboy."
So saying, he turned away, and hid his face with his little handkerchief,
while Julian felt towards him that tragi-comic sensation which makes us
pity the object which excites it, not the less that we are somewhat inclined
to laugh amid our sympathy. The jailer made him a signal, which Peveril
obeyed, leaving the dwarf to disconsolate solitude.
As Julian followed the keeper through the various windings of this penal'he smart girls, who turn out to look at you.