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.

280 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
whistled up the warlike ditty of Jock of the Side, as a general causes his
drums to beat to inspirit the doubtful courage of his soldiers.
In this state of mind, he was very glad to hear a friendly voice shout in
his rear, and propose to him a partner on the road. He slackened his pace,
and was quickly joined by a youth well known to him, a gentleman of
some fortune in that remote country, and who had been abroad on the same
errand with himself. Young Earnscliff, " of that ilk," had lately come of
age, and succeeded to a moderate fortune, a good deal dilapidated, from the
share his family had taken in the disturbances of the period. They were
much and generally respected in the country; a reputation which thlis
young gentleman seemed likely to sustain, as he was well educated, and of
excellent dispositions.
"Now, Earnscliff," exclaimed Hobbie, " I am glad to meet your honour
ony gate, and company's blithe on a bare moor like this —it's an unco
bogilly bit-Where hae ye been sporting?"
"Up the Carla Cleugh, lHobbie," answered Earnscliff, returned his greeting. "But will our dogs keep the peace, think you?"
"Deil a fear o' mine," said Hobbie, "they hae scarce a leg to stand on.
Odd 1 the deer's fled the country,; I think! I have been as far as Ingerfellfoot, and deil a horn has Hobbie seen, excepting three red-wud raes, that
never let me within shot of them, though I gaed a mile round to get up the
wind to them, an' a'. Deil o' me wad care muckle, only I wanted some
venison to our auld gude-dame. The carline, she sits in the neuk yonder,
upbye, and cracks about the grand shooters and hunters lang sync-Odd, I
think they hae killed a' the deer in the country, for my part."
"Well, Hobbie, I have shot a fat buck, and sent him to Earnscliff this
morning-you shall have half of him for your grandmother."
" Mony thanks to ye, Mr. Patrick, ye're kend to a' the country for a kind
heart. It will do the auld wife's heart gude —mair by token, when she
kens it comes frae you —and maist of a', gin ye'll come up and take your
share, for I reckon ye are lonesome now in the auld tower, and a' your folk
at that weary Edinburgh. I wonder what they can find to do ameang a
wheen ranks o' stane houses wi' slate on the tap o' them, that might live on
their ain bonny green hills."
"My education and my sisters' has kept my mother much in Edinburgh
for several years," said Earnscliff, " but I promise you I propose to make
up for lost time."
"And ye'll rig out the auld tower a bit," said Hobbie, "and live hearty
and neighbourlike wi' the auld family friends, as the Laird o' tarnscliff
should? I can tell ye, my mother - my grandmother I mean -but, since
we lost our ain mother, we ca' her sometimes the tane, and sometimes the
tother — but, ony gate, she conceits hersell no that distant connected wi'
you."
" Very true, Hobblie, and I will come to the Hleugh-foot to dinner to-morrow with all my heart."
"Weel, that's kindly said! We are auld neighbours, an we were nae'kin - and my gude-dame's fain to see you - she clavers about your father
that was killed lang sync."
" Hush, hush, Hobbie - not a word about that- it's a story better forgotten."
"I dinna ken-if it had chanced aluang our folk, we wad hae keepit it
in mind mony a day till we got some mends for't- but ye ken your ain
ways best, you lairds —I have heard that Ellieslaw's friend stickit your sire
after the laird himsell had mastered his sword."
"Fie, fie, Hobbie; it was a foolish brawl, occasioned by wine and politics - many swords were drawn - it is impossible to say who struck the
blow."
" At ony rate, auld Ellieslaw was aiding and abetting; and I am sure if