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.

234 WAVE1LEY NOVELS.
So, while the Goose, of whom the fable told,
Incumbent, brooded o'er her eggs of gold,
With hand outstretched, impatient to destroy,
Stole on her secret nest the cruel Boy,
Whose gripe rapacious changed her splendid dream,
-For wings vain fluttering, and for dying scream.
THE LOVEB OF THE SEA-WEEDS.
FRno the time that Sir Arthur Wardour had become possessor of the
treasure found in Misticot's grave, he had been in a state of mind more
resembling ecstasy than sober sense. Indeed at one time his daughter had
become seriously apprehensive for his intellect; for, as he had no doubt
that he had the secret of possessing himself of wealth to an unbounded extent, his language and carriage were those of a man who had acquired the
philosopher's stone. He talked of buying contiguous estates, that would
have led him from one side of the island to the other, as if he were determined to brook no neighbour save the sea. IHe corresponded with an architect of eminence, upon a plan of renovating the castle of his forefathers, on
a style of extended nmagnificence that might have rivalled that of Windsor,
and laying out the grounds on a suitable scale. Troops of liveried menials
were already, in fancy, marshalled in his halls, and — for what may not
unbounded wealth authorize its possessor to aspire to?-the coronet of a
marquis, perhaps of'a duke, was glittering before his imagination. His
daughter-to what matches might she not look forward? Even an alliance
with the blood-royal was not beyond the sphere of his hopes. His son was
already a general —and he himself whatever ambition could dream of in its
wildest visions.
In this mood, if any one endeavoured to bring Sir Arthur down to the
regions of common life, his replies were in the vein of Ancient PistolA fico for the world, and worldlings base!
I speak of Africa and golden joys!
The reader may conceive the amazement of Miss Wardour, when, instead
of undergoing an investigation concerning the- addresses of Level, as she
had expected from the long conference of her father with Mr. Oldbuck, upon
the morning of the fated day when the treasure was discovered, the conversation of Sir Arthur announced an imagination heated with the hopes of
possessing the most unbounded wealth. But she was seriously alarmed
when Dousterswivel was sent for to the Castle, and was closeted with her
father -his mishap condoled with -his part taken, and his loss compensated. All the suspicions which she had long entertained respecting this
man became strengthened, by observing his pains to keep up the golden
dreams of her, father, and to secure for himself, under various pretexts, as
much as possible out of the windfall which had so strangely fallen to Sir
Arthur's share.
Other evil symptoms began to appear, following close on each other.
Letters arrived every post, which Sir Arthur, as soon as he had looked at
the directions, flung into the fire without taking the trouble to open them.
Miss Wardour could not help suslpecting that these epistles, the contents of
which seemed to be known to her father by a sort of intuition, came fron.
pressing creditors. In the meanwhile, the temporary aid which he had received from the treasure, dwindled fast away. By far the greater part had
been swallowed up by the necessity of paying the bill of six hundred
pounds, which had threatened Sir Arthur with instant distress. Of the
rest, some part was given to the adept, some wasted upon extravagances