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.

THE ANTIQUARY. 19
litter; his father was a north-of-England gentleman. -He was at present
travelling to Fairport (the town near to which Monkbarns was situated),
and, if he found the place agreeable, might perhaps remain there for some
weeks."
"Was Mr. Lovel's excursion solely for pleasure?"
" Not entirely."
"Perhaps on business with some of the commercial people of Fairport?"
"It was partly on business, but had no reference to commerce."
Here he paused; and Mr. Oldbuck having pushed his inquiries as far as
good manners permitted, was obliged to change the conversation. The
Antiquary, though. by no means an enemy to good cheer, was a determined
foe to all unnecessary expense on a journey; and upon his companion
giving a hint concerning a bottle of port wine, he drew a direful picture of
the mixture which he said was usually sold under that denomination, and
affirming that a little punch was more genuine and better suited for the
season, he laid his hand upon the bell to order the materials. But Mackitchinson had, in his own mind, settled their beverage otherwise, and
appeared bearing in his hand an immense double quart bottle, or magnum,
as it is called in Scotland, covered with saw-dust and cobwebs, the warrants
of its antiquity.
"Punch!" said he, catching that generous sound as he entered the
parlour, "the deil a drap punch ye'se get here the day, Monkbarns, and
that ye may lay your account wi'."
"What do you mean, you impudent rascal?"
"Ay, ay, it's nae matter for that —but do you mind the trick ye served
me the last time ye were here?"
"I trick you!"
"Ay, just yoursell, Monkbarns. The Laird o' Tamlowrie, and Sir
Gilbert Grizzlecleugh, and Auld Rossballoh, and the Bailie, were just
setting in to make an afternoon o't, and you, wi' some o' your auld-warld.
stories, that the mind o' man canna resist, whirl'd them to the back o'
boyont to look at the auld Roman camp - Ah, sir!" turning to Lovel, " he
wad wile the bird aff the tree wi' the tales he tells about folk lang syne -,
and did not I lose the drinking o' sax pints o' gude claret, for the deil ane
wad hae stirred till he had seen that out at the least?"
"D'ye hear the impudent scoundrel!" said Monkbarns, but laughing at
the same time; for the worthy landlord, as he used to boast, knew the
measure of a guest's foot as well as e'er a souter on this side Solway;
"well, well, you may send us in a bottle of port."
"Port? Na, na! ye maun leave port and punch to the like o' us - it's
claret that's fit- for you lairds; and, I dare say, nane of the folk ye speak
so much o' ever drank either of the twa."
"Do you hear how absolute the knave is? Well, my young friend, we
nust for once prefer the Falernian to the vile Sabinum."
The ready landlord had the cork instantly extracted, decanted the wine
into a vessel of suitable capaciousness, and, declaring it parfutmed the very
room, left his guests to make the most of it.
Mackitchinson's wine was really good, and had its effect upon the spirits
of the elder guest, who told some good stories, cut some sly jokes, and at
length entered into a learned discussion concerning the ancient dramatists
-a ground on which he found his new acquaintance so strong, that at
length he began to suspect he had made them his professional study. " A
traveller partly for business and partly for pleasure? —Why, the stage partakes of both; it is a labour to the performers, and affords, or is meant to
afford, pleasure to the spectators. He seems, in manner and rank, above
the class of young men who take that turn; but I remember hearing them
say, that the little theatre at Fairport was to open with the performance of