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. 423
Urnqter WE4 Wtto
Did I but purpose to embark with thee
On the smooth surface of a summer sea,
And would forsake the skiff and make the shore
When the winds whistle and the tempests roar?
PRIOR.
WVHILE Lady Margaret held, with the high-descended sergeant of dragoons, the conference which we have detailed in the preceding pages, her
grand-daughter, partaking in a less degree her ladyship's enthusiasm for all
who were sprung of the blood royal, did not honour Sergeant Bothwell with
more attention than a single glance, which showed her a tall powerful
person, and a set of hardy weather-beaten features, to which pride and
dissipation had given an air where discontent mingled with the reckless
gaiety of desperation. The other soldiers offered still less to detach her
consideration; but from the prisoner, mufed and disguised as he was,
she found it impossible to withdraw her eyes. Yet she blamed herself for
indulging a curiosity which seemed obviously to give pain to him who was
its object.
"I wish," she said to Jenny Dennison, who was the immediate attendant
on her person, "I wish we knew who that poor fellow is."
" I was just thinking sae mysell, Miss Edith,"' said the waiting-woman;
"but it canna be Cuddie ileadrigg, because he's taller and no sae stout."
" Yet," continued Miss Bellenden, " it may be some poor neighbour, for
whom we might have cause to interest ourselves."
" I can sune learn wha he is," said the enterprising Jenny, " if the sodgers,vere anes settled and at leisure, for I ken ane o' them very weel-the bestlooking and the youngest o' them."
"I think you know all the idle young fellows about the country," answered
her mistress.
" Na, Miss Edith, I am no sac free o' my acquaintance as that," answered
the fille-de-chambre. " To be sure folk canna help kenning the folk by headmark that they see aye glowering and looking at them at kirk and market;
but I ken few lads to speak to unless it be them o' the family, and the three
Steinsois, and Tam Rand, and the young miller, and the five IIowisons in
Nethersheils, and lang Tam Gilry, and"" Pray cut short a list of exceptions which threatens to be a long one, and
tell me how you come to know this young soldier," said Miss Bellenden.
" Lord, Miss Edith, it's Tam Halliday-Trooper Tam, as they ca' him,that was wounded by the hill-folk at the conventicle at Outer-side Muir, and
lay here while he was under cure. I can ask him onything, and Tam will
no refuse to answer me, I'll be caution for him."
" Try, then," said Miss Edith, "if you can find an opportunity to ask
him the name of his prisoner, and come to my room and tell me what he
says."
Jenny Dennison proceeded on her errand, but soon returned with such
a face of surprise and dismay as evinced a deep interest in the fate of the
prisoner.
"What is the matter?" said Edith, anxiously; " does it prove to be Cuddie,
after all, poor fellow?"
"Cuddie, Miss Edith? Na! na! it's nae Cuddlie," blubbered out the
faithful fille-de-chambre, sensible of the pain which her news were about to
inflict on her young mistress. "0 dear, Miss Edith, it's young Milnwood
himsell You ood " e"cld Edith, st in her turn'Young Milnwood 1" exclaimed Edith,,aghast in her turn; "it is impossi