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.

244 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
" Fast enough," said the Antiquary; " the gentleman wished to take the
wings of the morning, and bolt in the what d'ye call it, —the coach and four
there. But he would have found twigs limed for him at Edinburgh. As it
is, he never got so far, for the coach being overturned - as how could it go
safe with such a Jonah? - he has had an infernal tumble, is carried into a
cottage near Kittlebrig, and to prevent all possibility of escape, I have sent
your friend Sweepclean to bring him back to Fairport in nomine regis, or to
act as his sick-nurse at Kittlebrig, as is most fitting. And now, Sir Arthur,
permit me to have some conversation with you on the present, unpleasant
state of your affairs, that we may see what can be done for their extrication;"
and the Antiquary led the way into the library, followed by the unfortunate
gentleman.
They had been shut up together for about two hours, when Miss Wardour
interrupted them with her cloak on, as if prepared for a journey. Her countenance was very pale, yet expressive of the composure whieh characterised
her disposition.
"The messenger is returned, Mr. OldbuckY'
"' Returned?-What the devil! he has not let the fellow go?'
" No -I understand he has carried him to confinement; and now he is
returned to attend my father, and says he can wait no longer."
A loud wrangling was now heard on the staircase, in which the voice of
HIector predominated. " You an officer, sir, and these ragam-uffins a party!
a parcel of beggarly tailor fellows-tell yourselves off by nine, and we shall
know your effective strength."
The grumbling voice of the man of law was then heard indistinctly muttering a reply, to which Hector retorted-" Come, come, sir, this won't do;
-march your party, as you call them, out of this house directly, or I'll send
you and them to the right about presently."
" The devil take Hector," said the Antiquary, hastening to the scene of
action; "his Highland blood is up again, and we shall have him fighting a
duel with the bailiff. Come, Mr. Sweepelean, you must give us a little time
-I know you would not wish to hurry Sir Arthur."
"By no means, sir," said the messenger, putting, his hat off, which he
had thrown on to testify defiance of Captain M'Intyre's threats; " but your
nephew, sir, holds very uncivil language, and I have borne too much of it
already; and and I am not justified in leaving my prisoner any longer after the
instructions I received, unless I am to get payment of the sums contained
in my diligence." And he held out the caption, pointing with the awful
truncheon which he held in his right hand, to the formidable line of figures
jotted upon the back thereof.
Hector, on the other hand, though silent from respect to his uncle,
answered this gesture by shaking his clenched fist at the messenger with a
frown of Highland wrath.
" Foolish boy, be quiet," said Oldbuck, " and come with me into the room
-the man is doing his miserable duty, and you will only make matters
worse by opposing him.-I fear, Sir Arthur, you must accompany this man
to Fairport; there is no help for it in the first instance -I will accompany
you, to consult what further can be done — My nephew will escort Miss
Wardour to Monkbarns, which I hope she will make her residence until
these unpleasant matters are settled."
" I go with my father, Mr. Oldbuck," said Miss Wardour, firmly —" I have
prepared his clothes and my own-I suppose we shall have the use of the
carriage?"
"Anything in reason, madam," said the messenger; "I have ordered
it out, and it's at the door I will go on the box with the coachman - I
have no desire to intrude-but two of the concurrents must attend on
horseback."
"i will attend too," said Hlector, and he ran clown to secure a horse foT
himself.