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.

94 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
from (Gibbie Golightly, the galloping groom. A gude judge o' horse-flesh
Gibbie tauld our lass that he was -for he offered him a beast lie thought
wad answer him weel eneugh, as he was a bookish man, but Mr. Lovel
wadna look at it, and bought ane might serve the Master o' Morphie-they
keep it at the GrTeme's Arms, ower the street;-and he rode out yesterday
morning and this morning before breakfast-But winna ye walk up to his
room?"
"Presently, presently. But has he no visitors?"
"0 dear, Mr. Oldbuck, not ane; if he w-adna receive them when he was
weel and sprightly, what chance is there of onybody in Fairport looking in
upon him now?"
"Ay, ay, very true-I should have been surprised had it been otherwise
-Come, show me up stairs, Mrs. Hadoway, lest I make a blunder, and-go
where I should not."
The good landlady showed Mr. Oldbuck up her narrow staircase, warning
him of every turn, and lamenting all the while that he was laid under the
necessity of mounting up so high. At length she gently tapped at the door
of her guest's parlour. "Come in," said Lovel; and Mrs. HIadoway ushered
in the Laird of Monkbarns.
The little apartment was neat and clean, and decently furnished-ornamented, too, by such relies of her youthful arts of sempstress-ship as Mrs.
Hadoway had retained; but it was close, overheated, and, as it appeared to
Oldbuck, an unwholesome situation for a young person in delicate health,an observation which ripened his resolution touching a project that had
already occurred to him in Lovel's behalf. With a writing-table before
him, on which lay a quantity of books and papers, Lovel was seated on a.
couch, in his night-gown and slippers. Olcdbuck was shocked at the-cha.nge
which had taken place in his personal appearance. Htis cheek and brow
had assumed a ghastly white, except where a round bright spot of hectic
red formed a strong and painful contrast, totally different from the general
cast of hale and hardy complexion which had formerly overspread and
somewhat embrowned his countenance. Oldbuck observed, that the dress
he wore belonged to a deep mourning suit, and a coat of the same colour
hung on a chair near to him. As the Antiquary entered, Lovel arose and
came forward to welcome him.
"This is very kind," he said, shaking him by the hand, and thanking
him warmly for his visit —" this is very kind, and has anticipated a visit
with which I intended to trouble you. You must know I have become a
horseman lately."
" I understand as much from Mrs. Iladoway-I only hope, my good young
friend, you have been fortunate in a quiet horse. I myself inadvertently
bought one from the said Gibbie Golighltly, which brute ran two miles on
end with me after a pack of hounds, with which I had no more to do than
the last year's snow; and after affording infinite amusement, I suppose,; to
the whole hunting field, he was so good as to deposit me in a dry ditch-I
hope yours is a more peaceful beast?"
" I hope, at least, we shall make our excursions on a better plan of mutual
understanding."
"That is to say, you think yourself a good horseman?"
"I would not willingly," answered Level, "confess myself a very bad
one."
" No-all you young fellows think that would be equal to calling yourselves tailors at once-But have yoti had experience? for, crede experto, a
horse in a passion is no joker."
"Why, I should be sorry to boast myself as a great horseman; but when
I acted as aid-de-camp to Sir - - in the cavalry action at -, last
year, I saw many better cavaliers than myself dismounted."
"Ah! you have!'oked in the face of the grisly god of arms then? -you