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.

OLD MORTALITY. 417
lignants-indulgence," still thrilling upon her tongue, to make preparations
for instantly renewing their travels in quest of an asylum.
" Ill-far'd crazy, crack-brained gowk that she is 1" exclaimed the housekeeper, as she saw them depart, " to set up to be sae muckle better than
ither. folk, the auld besom, and to bring sae muckle distress on a douce
quiet family! If it hadna been that I am mair than half a gentlewoman
by my station, I wad hae tried my ten nails in the wizen'd hide o' her!"
I am a son of lIars who have been in many wars,
And show my cuts and scars wherever I come;
This here was for a wench, and that other in a trench,
When welcoming the French at the sound of the drum.
BURNS.
" DON'T be too much cast down," said Sergeant Bothwell to his prisoner,
as they journeyed on towards the head-quarters; " you are a smart pretty
lad, and well connected; the worst that will happen will be strapping up
for it, and that is m.any an honest fellow's lot. I tell you fairly your life's
within the compass of the law, unless you make submission, and get off by
a round fine upon your uncle's estate; he can well afford it."
" That vexes me more than the rest," said Henry. " He parts with his
money with regret; and as he had no concern whatever with my having
given this person shelter for a night, I wish to Heaven, if I escape a capital
punishment, that the penalty may be of a kind I could bear in my own'person.'
"'Why, perhaps," said Bothwell, " they will propose to you to go into
one of the Scotch regiments that are serving abroad. It's no bad line of
service; if your friends are active, and there are any knocks going, you
may soon get a commission."
"I am by no means sure," answered Morton, "that such a sentence is
not the best thing that can happen to me."
"Why, then, you are no real whig after all?" said the sergeant.
" I have hitherto meddled with no party in the state," said Henry, "but
have remained quietly at home; and sometimes I have had serious thoughts
of joining one of our foreign regiments."
"Have you?" replied Bothwell; "why, I honour you for it; I have
served in the Scotch French guards myself many a long day; it's the place
for learning discipline, d-n me. They never mind what you do when you
are off duty; but miss you the roll-call, and see how they'll arrange youD —n me, if old Captain Montgomery didn't make me mount guard upon
the arsenal in my steel-back and breast, plate-sleeves, and head-piece, for
six hours at once, under so burning a sun, that gad I was baked like a
turtle at Port Royale. I swore never to miss answering to Francis Stewart
again, though I should leave my hand of cards upon the drum-head-Ah i
discipline is a capital thing."
"In other respects you liked the service?" said Morton.
"Par excellence," said Bothwell; "women, wine, and wassail, all to be
had for little but the asking; and if you find it in your conscience to let a
fat priest think he has some chance to convert you, gad he'll help you to
these comforts himself, just to gain a little ground in your good affection.
Where will you find a crop-eared whig parson will be so civil?"
VOL. II. -27