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.

CHRONICLES OF THE CANONGATE. 371
fatigable zeal, a piece of embroidery, which seemed no bad emblem of
eternity.
But I have neglected all this while to introduce my friend herself to the
reader, at least so far as words can convey the peculiarities by which her
appearance and conversation was distinguished.
A little woman, with ordinary features, and an ordinary form, and hair,
which in youth had no decided colour, we may believe Mrs. Martha, when
she said of herself that she was never remarkable for personal charms: a
modest admission, which was readily confirmed by certain old ladies, her
contemporaries, who, whatever might have been the useful advantages which
they more than hinted had been formerly their own share, were now, in
personal appearance, as well as in every thing else, far inferior to my accomplished friend. Mrs. Martha's features had been of a kind which might
be said to wear well; their irregularity was now of little consequence, animated as they were by the vivacity of her conversation; her teeth were
excellent, and her eyes, although inclining to gray, were lively, laughing,
and undimmed by time. A slight shade of complexion, more brilliant than
her years promised, subjected my friend, amongst strangers, to the suspicion
of having stretched her foreign habits as far as the prudent touch of the
rouge. But it was a calumny; for when telling or listening to an interesting and affecting story, I have seen her colour come and go as if it played
on the cheek of eighteen.
Her hair, whatever its former deficiencies, was now the most beautiful
white that time could bleach, and was disposed with some degree of pretension, though in the simplest manner possible, so as to appear neatly
smoothed under a cap of. Flanders lace, of an old-fashioned, but, as I thought,
of a very handsome form, which undoubtedly has a name, and I would endeavour to recur to it, if I thought it would make my description a bit more
intelligible. I think I have heard her say these favourite caps had been her
mother's, and had come in fashion with a peculiar kind of wig used by the
gentlemen about the time of the battle of Ramillies- The rest of her dress
was always rather costly and distinguished, especially in the evening. A
silk or satin gown, of some colour becoming her age, and of a form which,
though complying to a certain degree with the present fashion, had always
a reference to some more distant period, was garnished with triple ruffles;
her shoes had diamond buckles, and were raised a little at heel, an advantage which, possessed in her youth, she alleged her size would not permit
her to forego in her old age. She always wore rings, bracelets, and other
ornaments of value, either for the materials or the workmanship; nay, perhaps she was a little profuse in this species of display. But she wore
them as subordinate matters, to which the habit of being constantly in high
life rendered her indifferent. She wore them because her rank required
it; and thought no more of them as articles of finery, than a gentleman
dressed for dinner thinks of his clean linen and well-brushed coat, the consciousness of which embarrasses the rustic beau on a Sunday.
Now and then, however, if a gem or ornament chanced to be noticed for
its beauty or singularity, the observation usually led the way to an entertaining account of the manner in which it had been acquired, or the person
from whom it had descended to its present possessor. On such and similar
occasions my old friend spoke willingly, which is not uncommon; but she
also, which is more rare, spoke remarkably well, and had in her little narratives concerning foreign parts, or former days, which formed an interesting part of her conversation, the singular art of dismissing all the usual
protracted tautology respecting time, place, and circumstances, which is apt
to settle like a mist upon the cold and languid tales of age, and at the same
time of bringing forward, dwelling upon, and illustrating, those incidents
and characters which give point and interest to the story.
She had, as we have hinted, travelled a good deal in foreign countries: