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.

34 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
hovered between these extremes, felt to a certain extent the power of reli
gion, and complied with the times in affecting a great deal.
The individual, whose pretensions to sanctity, written as they were upon
his brow and gait, have given rise to the above digression, reached at length
the extremity of the principal street, which terminates upon the park of
Woodstock. A battlemented portal of Gothic appearance defended the
entrance to the avenue. It was of mixed architecture, but on the whole,
though composed of the styles of the different ages when it had received
additions, had a striking and imposing effect. An immense gate, composed
of rails of hammered iron, with many a flourish and scroll, displaying as its
uppermost ornament the ill-fated cipher of C. R., was now decayed, being
partly wasted with rust, partly by violence.
The stranger paused, as if uncertain whether he should demand or assay
entrance. He looked through the grating down an avenue skirted by
majestic oaks, which led onward with a gentle curve, as if into the depths
of some ample and ancient forest. The wicket of the large iron gate being
left unwittingly open, the soldier was tempted to enter, yet with some hesitation, as he that intrudes upon ground which he conjectures may be prohibited-indeed his manner showed more reverence for the scene than could
have been expected from his condition and character. He slackened his
stately and consequential pace, and at length stood still, and looked around
him.
Not far from the gate, he saw rising from the trees one or two ancient
and venerable turrets, bearing each its own vane of rare device glittering
in the autumn sun. These indicated the ancient hunting seat, or Lodge, as
it was called, which had, since the time of Henry II., been occasionally the
residence of the English monarchs, when it pleased them to visit the woods
of Oxford, which then so abounded with game, that, according to old Fuller,
huntsmen and falconers were nowhere better pleased. The situation which
the Lodge occupied was a piece of flat ground, now planted with sycamores,
not far from the entrance to that magnificent spot where the spectator first
stops to gaze upon Blenheim, to think of Marlborough's victories, and to
applaud or criticise the cumbrous magnificence of Vanburgh's style.
There, too, paused our military preacher, but with other thoughts, and
for other purpose, than to admire the scene around him. It was not long
afterwards when he beheld two persons, a male and a female, approaching
slowly, and so deeply engaged in their own conversation that they did not
raise their eyes to observe that there stood a stranger in the path before
them. The soldier took advantage of their state of abstraction, and, desirous at once to watch their motions and avoid their observation, he glided
beneath one of the huge trees which skirted the path, and whose boughs,
sweeping the ground on every side, ensured him against discovery, unless
in case of an actual search.
In the meantime, the gentleman and lady continued to advance, directing
their course to a rustic seat, which still enjoyed the sunbeams, and was
placed adjacent to the tree where the stranger was concealed.
The man was elderly, yet seemed bent more by sorrow and infirmity than
by the weight of years. He wore a mourning cloak, over a dress of the
same melancholy colour, cut in that picturesque form which Vandyck has
rendered immortal. But although the dress was handsome, it was put on
with a carelessness which showed the mind of the wearer ill at ease. His
aged, yet still handsome countenance, had the same air of consequence
which distinguished his dress and his gait. A striking part of his appearance was a long white beard, which descended far over the breast of his
slashed doublet, and looked singular from its contrast in colour with his
habit.
The young lady, by whom this venerable gentleman seemed to be in some
degree supported as they walked arm in arm, was a slight and sylphlike