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.

396 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
words of the prophet,'We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a
time of health, and behold trouble-The snorting of his horses was heard
from Dan; the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his
strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land and all that is
in it.' "
"Mr. Balfour," answered Morton, "I neither undertake to subscribe to or
refute your complaints against the Government. I have endeavoured to repay a debt due to the comrade of my father, by giving you shelter in your
distress, but you will excuse me from engaging myself either in your cause,
or in controversy. I will leave you to repose, and heartily wish it were in
my power to render your condition more comfortable."
"But I shall see you, I trust, in the morning, ere I depart? I am not a
man whose bowels yearn after kindred and friends of this world. When I
put my hand to the plough, I entered into a covenant with my worldly
affections that I should not look back on the things I left behind me. Yet
the son of mine ancient comrade is to me as mine own, and I cannot behold
him without the deep and firm belief that I shall one day see him gird on
his sword in the dear and precious cause for which his father fought and
bled."
With a promise on Morton's part that he would call the refugee when it
was time for him to pursue his journey,- they parted for the night.
Morton retired to a few hours' rest; but his imagination, disturbed by
the events of the day, did not permit him to enjoy sound repose. There
was a blended vision of horror before him, in which hisnew friend seemed
to be a principal actor. The fair form of Edith Bellenden also mingled in
his dream, weeping, and with dishevelled hair, and appearing to call on
him for comfort and assistance, which he had not in his power to render.
He awoke from these unrefreshing slumbers with a feverish impulse, and a
heart which foreboded disaster. There was already a tinge of dazzling
lustre on the verge of the distant hills, and the dawn was abroad in all the
freshness of a summer morning.
" I have slept too long," he exclaimed to himself, "and must now hasten
to forward the journey of this unfortunate fugitive."
He dressed himself as fast as possible, opened the door of the house with
as little noise as he could, and hastened to the place of refuge occupied by
the Covenanter. Morton entered on tiptoe, for the determined tone and
manner, as well as the unusual language and sentiments of this singular
individual, had struck him with a sensation approaching to awe. Balfour
was still asleep. A ray of light streamed on his uncurtained couch, and
showed to Morton the working of his harsh features, which seemed agitated
by some strong internal cause of disturbance. He had not undressed. Both
his arms were above the bed-cover, the right hand strongly clenched, and
occasionally making that abortive attempt to strike, which usually attends
dreams of violence; the left was extended, and agitated, from time to time,
by a movement as if repulsing some one. The perspiration stood on his
brow, "like bubbles in a late disturbed stream," and these marks of emotion were accompanied with broken words which escaped from him at intervals —" Thou art taken, Judas-thou art taken-Cling not to my knees
— cling not to my knees-hew him down! —A priest? Ay, a priest of Baal,
to be bound and slain, even at the brook Kishon.-Fire-arms will not prevail againsst him-Strike-thrust with the cold iron!- put him out of pain
-put him out of pain, were it but for the sake of his grey hairs."
Much alarmed at the import of these expressions, which seemed to burst
from him even in sleep with the stern energy accompanying. the perpetration of some act of violence, Morton shook his guest by the shoulder in order
to awake him. The first words he uttered were, "Bear me where ye will,
I will avouch the deed!"
His glance around having then fully awakened him, he at once assumed