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.

WOODSTOCK. 123
said Tomkins, "and bore a thousand plaids and bonnets over the beach
before him into the sea. Neither shall I pretermit or postpone your
honour's commands, but speedily obey them, and that without delay."
" Go to, fellow; thou knowest what I would have," said Everard; "speak
at once; I know thou canst if thou wilt. Trusty Tomkins is better known
than he thinks for."
"Worthy sir," said Tomkins, in a much less periphrastic style, "I will
obey your worship as far as the spirit will permit. Truly, it was not an
hour since, when my worshipful master being at table with Master Bibbet
and myself, not to mention the worshipful Master Bletson and Colonel Desborough, and behold there was a violent knocking at the gate, as of one
in haste. Now, of a certainty, so much had our household been harassed
with witches and spirits, and other objects of sound and sight, that the sentinels could not be brought to abide upon their posts without doors, and it
was only by a provision of beef and strong liquors that we were able to
maintain a guard of three men in the hall, who nevertheless ventured not
to open the door, lest they should be surprised with some of the goblins
wherewith their imaginations were overwhelmed. And they heard the
knocking, which increased until it seemed that the door was well-nigh about
to be beaten down. Worthy Master Bibbet was a little overcome with
liquor, (as is his fashion, good man, about this time of the evening,) not
that he is in the least given to ebriety, but simply, that since the Scottish
campaign he hath had a perpetual ague, which obliges him so to nourish
his frame against the damps of the night; wherefore, as it is well known
to your honour that I discharge the office of a faithful servant, as well to
Major-General Harrison, and the other Commissioners, as to my just and
lawful master, Colonel Desborough"" I know all that. - And now that thou art trusted by both, I pray to
Heaven thou mayest merit the trust," said Colonel Everard.
" And devoutly do I pray," said Tomkins, " that your worshipful prayers
may be answered with favour; for certainly to be, and to be called and
entitled, Honest Joe, and Trusty Tomkins, is to me more than ever would
be an Earl's title, were such things to be granted anew in this regenerated
government."
"Well, go on-go on-or if thou dalliest much longer, I will make bold
to dispute the article of your honesty. I like short tales, sir, and doubt
what is told with a long unnecessary train of words."
"Well, good sir, be not hasty. As I said before, the doors rattled till
you would have thought the knocking was reiterated in every room of the
Palace. The bell rung out for company, though we could not find that any
one tolled the clapper, and the guards let off their firelocks, merely because
they knew not what better to do. So, Master Bibbet being, as I said, unsusceptible of his duty, I went down with my poor rapier to the door, and
demanded who was there; and I was answered in a voice, which, I must
say, was much like another voice, that it was one wanting Major-General
Harrison. So, as it was then late, I answered mildly, that General Harrison was betaking himself to his rest, and that any who wished to speak
to him must return on the morrow morning, for that after nightfall the door
of the Palace, being in the room of a garrison, would be opened to no one.
So, the voice replied, and bid me open directly, without which he would
blow the folding leaves of the door into the middle of the hall. And therewithal the noise recommenced, that we thought the house would have
fallen; and I was in some measure constrained to open the door, even like
a besieged garrison which can hold out no longer."
"By my honour, and it was stoutly done of you, I must say," said Wildrake, who had been listening with much interest. " I am a bold dare-devil
enough, yet when I had two inches of oak plank between the actual fiend
and me, hang him that would demolish the barrier between us, say I —I