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.

236 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
domestic upon whom the fault had been charged, "as soon as you order
payment of my wages."
Sir Arthur, as if stung by a serpent, thrust his hand into his pocket, and
instantly drew out the money which it contained, but which was short of
the man's claim. "What money have you got, Miss Wardour?" he said,
in a tone of affected calmness, but which concealed violent agitation.
Miss Wardour gave him her purse; he attempted to count the bank
notes which it contained, but could not reckon them. After twice miscounting the sum, he threw the whole to his daughter, and saying, in a
stern voice, "Pay the rascal, and let him leave the house instantly!" he
fstrode out of the room.
The mistress and servant stood alike astonished at the agitation and
vehemence of his manner.
" I am sure, ma'am, if I had thought I was particularly wrang, I wadna
hae made ony answer when Sir Arthur challenged me. I hae been lang in
his service, and he has been a kind master, and you a kind mistress, and I
wad like ill ye should think I wad start for a hasty word. I am sure it was
very wrang o' me to speak about wages to his honour, when maybe he has
something to vex him. I had nae thoughts o' leaving the family in this
way."
" Go down stairs, Robert," said his mistress —" something has happened
to fret my father-go down stairs, and let Alick answer the bell."
WVhen the man left the room, Sir Arthur re-entered, as if he had been
watching his departure. "What's the meaning of this?" he said hastily,
ais he observed the notes lying still on the table-" Is he not gone? Am I
neither to be obeyed as a master or a father?"
" He has gone to give up his charge to the housekeeper, sir, - I thought
there was not such instant haste."
"' There is haste, Miss Wardour," answered her father, interrupting her;
-"What I do henceforth in the house of my forefathers, must be done
speedily, or never."
He then sate down, and took up with a trembling hand the basin of tea
prepared for him, protracting the swallowing of it, as if to delay the necessity of opening the post-letters which lay on the table, and which he eyed
from time to time, as if they had been a nest of adders ready to start into
life and spring upon him.
"You will be happy to hear," said Miss Wardour, willing to withdraw
her father's mind from the gloomy reflections in which he appeared to be
plunged, " you will be happy to hear, sir, that Lieutenant Taffril's gun-brig
has got safe into Leith Roads —I observe there had been apprehensions for
his safety-I am glad we did not hear them till they were contradicted."
"And what is Taffril and his gun-brig to me?"
"Sir!" said Miss Wardour in astonishment; for Sir Arthur, in his ordinary state of mind, took a fidgety sort of interest in all the gossip of the
day and country.
"I say," he repeated, in a higher and still more impatient key, "what
do I care who is saved or lost? It's nothing to me, I suppose?"
" I did not know you were busy, Sir Arthur; and thought, as Mr. Taffril
is a brave man, and from our own country, you would be happy to
hear""0, O I am happy -as happy as possible -and, to make you happy too,
you shall have some of my good'news in return." And he caught up a
letter. " It does not signify which I open first —they are all to the same
tune."
He broke the seal hastily, ran the letter over, and then threw it to his
daughter. " Ay-I could not have lighted more happily! —this places the
copestone."
Miss Wardour, in silent terror, took up the letter. " Read it —read it