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.

398 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
wrongs to which my miserable countrymen are subjected? - And yet, who
shall warrant me that these people, rendered wild by persecution, would
not, in the hour of victory, be as cruel and as intolerant as those by whom
they are now hunted down? What degree of moderation, or of mercy, can
be expected from this Burley, so distinguished as one of their principal
champions, a'nd who seems even now to be reeking from some recent deed
of violence, and to feel stings of remorse which even his enthusiasm cannot
altogether stifle. I am weary of seeing nothing but violence and fury
around me- now assuming the mask of lawful authority, now taking that
of religious zeal. I am sick of my country - of myself- of my dependent
situation - of my repressed feelings - of these woods - of that river - of
that house -of all but -Edith, and she can never be mine! Why should
I haunt her walks? - why encourage my own delusion, and perhaps hers?
She can never be mine: her grandmother's pride -the opposite principles
of our families - my wretched state of dependence - a poor miserable
slave, for I have not even the wages of a servant, - all circumstances give
the lie to the vain hope that we can ever be united. Why then protract a
delusion so painful?
"But I am no slave," he said aloud, and drawing himself up to his full
stature -" no slave, in one respect surely. I can change my abode - my
father's sword is mine, and Europe lies open before me, as before him and
hundreds besides of my countrymen, who have filled it with the fame of
their exploits. Perhaps some lucky chance may raise me to a rank with
our IRuthvens, our Lesleys, our Monroes, the chosen leaders of the famous
Protestant champion, Gustavus Adolphus- or if not, a soldier's life or a
soldier's grave."
When he had formed this determination, he found himself near the door
of his uncle's house, and resolved to lose no time in making him acquainted
with it.
"Another glance of Edith's eye, another walk by Edith's side, and my
resolution would melt away. I will take an irrevocable step, therefore, and
then see her for the last time."
In this mood he entered the wainscotted parlour, in which his uncle was
already placed at his morning's refreshment, a huge plate of oatmeal porridge, with a corresponding allowance of butter-milk. The favourite housekeeper was in attendance, half standing, half resting on the back of a chair,
in a posture betwixt freedom and respect. The old gentleman had been
remarkably tall in his earlier days, an advantage which he now lost by
stooping to such a degree, that at a meeting, where there was some dispute
concerning the sort of arch which should be thrown over a considerable
brook, a facetious neighbour proposed to offer Milnwood a handsome sum
for his curved backbone, alleging that he would sell anything that belonged
to him. Splay feet of unusual size, long thin hands, garnished with nails
which seldom felt the steel, a wrinkled and puckered visage, the length of
which corresponded with that of his person, together with a pair of little
sharp bargain-making grey eyes, that seemed eternally looking out for their
advantage, completed the highly unpromising exterior of Mr. Morton of
Milnwood. As it would have been very injudicious to have lodged a liberal
or benevolent disposition in such an unworthy cabinet, nature had suited
his person with a mind exactly in conformity with it,-that is to say, mean,
selfish, and covetous.
When this amiable personage was aware of the presence of his nephew,
he hastened, before addressing him, to swallow the spoonful of porridge
which he was in the act of conveying to his mouth, and as it chanced to be
scalding hot, the pain occasionedl by its descent down his throat and into
his stomach, inflamed the ill-humour with which he was already prepared
to meet his kinsman. " The deil take them that made them!" was his first
ejaculation, apostrophizing his mess of porridge.