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.

638 WAVE I L EY NOVELS.
were likely to do their work negligently, or whether it would not be perilous to attempt to force their way from a house, when all the avenues were
guarded by such as he had now seen-men of war from their childhood
upwards.
"In the name of Heaven," said Julian, without replying to Bridgenorth's
question, " for what desperate purpose have you assembled so many desperate men? I am well aware that your sentiments of religion are peculiar;
but beware how you deceive yourself — No views of religion can sanction
rebellion and murder; and such are the natural and necessary consequences
of the doctrine we have just heard poured into the ears of fanatical and
violent enthusiasts."'
-"4My son," said Bridgenorth, calmly, "in the days of my non-age, I
thought as you do. I deemed it sufficient to pay my tithes of cummin and
aniseed-my poor petty moral observances of the old law; and I thought I
was heaping up precious things, when they were in value no more than the
husks of the swine-trough. Praised be Heaven, the scales are fallen from
mine eyes; and after forty years' wandering in the desert of Sinai, I am at
length arrived in the Land of Promise-My corrupt human nature has left
me —I have cast my slough, and can now with some conscience put my
hand to the plough, certain that there is no weakness left in me wherethrough I may look back. The furrows," he added, bending his brows,
while a gloomy fire filled his large eyes, "must be drawn long and deep,
and watered by the blood of the mighty."
There was a change in Bridgenorth's tone and manner, when he used
these singular expressions, which convinced Julian, that his mind, which
had wavered for so many years between his natural good sense and the
insane enthusiasm of the time, had finally given way to the latter; and,
sensible of the danger in which the unhappy man himself, the innocent and
beautiful Alice, and his own father, were likely to be placed-to say nothing
of the general risk of the community by a sudden insurrection, he at the
same time felt that there was no chance of reasoning effectually with one,
who would oppose spiritual conviction to all arguments which reason could
urge against his wild schemes. To touch his feelings seemed a more probable resource; and Julian therefore conjured Bridgenorth to think how
much his daughter's honour and safety were concerned in his abstaining
from the dangerous course which he meditated. "If you fall," he said,
"must she not pass under the power and guardianship of her uncle, whom
you allow to have shown himself capable of the grossest mistake in the
choice of her female protectress; and whom I believe, upon good grounds,
to have made that infamous choice with his eyes open?"
"Young man," answered Bridgenorth, " you make me feel like the poor
bird, around whose wing some wanton boy has fixed a line, to pull the
struggling wretch to earth at his pleasure. Know, since thou wilt play this
cruel part, and drag me down from higher contemplations, that she with
whom Alice is placed, and who hath in future full power to guide her
motions, and decide her fate, despite of Christian and every one else, is- I
will not tell thee who she is-Enough-no one-thou least of all, needs to
fear for her safety."
At this moment a side-door opened, and Christian himself came into the
apartment. He started and coloured when he saw Julian Peveril; then
turning to Bridgenorth with an assumed air of indifference, asked, "Is Saul
among the prophets? - Is a Peveril among the saints?"
"No, brother," replied Bridgenorth, "his time is not come mote than
thine own-thou art too deep in the ambitious intrigues of manhood, and he
in the giddy passions of youth, to hear the still calm voice - You will both
hear -it, as I trust and pray."
" Master Ganlesse, or Christian, or by whatever name you are called,"
said Julian, " by whatever reasons you guide yourself in this most perilous