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.

96 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
I expect him here one of these days; but I will keep him at staff's end, TI
promise you. IHe an innmate of my house! to make my very chairs and
tables tremble at his brawls. No, no —I'll none of Hector M'Intyre. But
hark ye, Lovel: —you are a quiet, gentle-temnpered lad; had not you better
set up y5our staff at Monkbarns for a month or two, since I conclude you do
not immediately intend to leave this country? —I will have a door opened
out to the garden-it will cost but a trifle-there is the space for an old one
which was condemned long ago —by which said door you may pass and
repass into the Green Chamber at pleasure, so you will not interfere with the
old man, nor he with you. As for your fare, Mrs. Hadoway tells me you are,
as she terms it, very moderate of your mouth, so you will not quarrel with
my humble table. Your washing"" Hold, my dear Mr. Oldbuck," interposed Loevel, unable to repress a smile;
"and before your hospitality settles all my accommodations, let me thank
you most sincerely for so kind an offer-it is not at present in my power to
accept of it; but very likely, before I bid adieu to Scotland, I shall find an
opportunity to pay you a visit of some length."
Mr. Oldbuck's countenance fell. " Why, I thought I had hit on the very
arrangement that would suit us both,-and who knows what might happen
in the long run, and whether we might ever part? W~hy, I am master of
my acres, man —there is the advantage of being descended from a man of
more sense than pride-they cannot oblige me to transmit my goods, chattels, and heritages, any way but as I please. No string of substitute heirs
of entail, as empty and unsubstantial as the morsels of paper strung to the
train of a boy's kite, to cumber my flights of inclination, and -my humours
of predilection. 5Well, — I see you won't be tempted at present-But Caledonia goes on, I hope?"
" 0, certainly," said Level; "I cannot think of relinquishing a plan so
hopeful."
" It is indeed," said the Antiquary, looking gravely upward,-for, though
shrewd and acute enough in estimating the variety of plans formed by
others, he had a very natural, though rather disproportioned, good opinion
of the importance of those which originated with himself-" it is indeed
one of those undertakings which, if achieved with spirit equal to that which
dictates its conception, may redeem from the charge of frivolity the literatlre of the present generation."
IHere he was interrupted by a knock at the room-door, which introduced
a letter for Mr. Level. The servant waited, Mrs. Hadoway said, for an
answer. "You are concerned in this matter, Mr. Oldbuck," said Level,
after glancing over the billet, and handing it to the Antiquary as he spoke.
It was a letter from Sir Arthur Wardour, couched in extremely civil language, regretting that a fit of the gout had prevented his hitherto showing
Mr. Level the attentions to which his conduct during a late perilous occasion had so well entitled him-apologizing for not paying his respects in
person, but hoping Mr. Leovel would dispense with that ceremony, and be a
member of a small party which proposed to visit the ruins of Saint Ruth's
priory on the following day, and afterwards to dine and spend the evening
at Knockwinnock castle. Sir Arthur concluded with saying, that he had
sent to request the Monkbarns family to join the -party of pleasure which
he thus proposed. The place of rendezvous was fixed at a turnpike-gate,
which was about an equal distance from all the points from which the company were to assemble.
"What shall we do?" said Lovel, looking at the Antiquary, but pretty
certain of the part he would take.
" Go, man-we'll go, by all means. Let me see-it will cost a post-chaise
though, which will hold you and me, and Mary M'Intyre, very well-and
the other womankind may go to the manse-and you can come out in the
chaise to Monkbarns, as I will take it for the day."