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. 5723
to be feared, this fair attempt to recover our civil and religious rights will
never be honoured by Providence with the desired success."
" Gentlemen," said Morton, " cease this irritating and unavailing recrimuination; and do you, Mr. Balfour, inform us, whether it is your purpose
to oppose the liberation of Lord Evandale, which appears to us a profitable
measure in the present position of our affairs?'"
" You are here," answered Burley, " as two voices against one; but you
will not refuse to tarry until the united council shall decide upon this
matter?"
" This," said Morton, " we would not decline, if we could trust the hands
in whom we are to leave the prisoner. But you know well," he added,
looking sternly at Burley, "that you have already deceived me in this
matter."
" Go to," said Burley disdainfully,-" thou art an idle inconsiderate boy,
who, for the black eye-brows of a silly girl, would barter thy own faith and
honour, and the cause'of God and of thy country."
"Mr. Balfour," said Morton, laying his hand on his sword, " this language requires satisfaction."
" And thou shalt have it, stripling, when and where thou darest," said
Burley; —" I plight thee my good word on it."
Poundtext, in his turn, interfered to remind them of the madness of
quarrelling, and effected with difficulty a sort of sullen reconciliation.
"Concerning the prisoner," said Burley, " deal with him as ye think fit.
I Twash my hands free from all consequences. Ile is my prisoner, mnade by
my sword and spear- while you, Mr. Morton, were playing the adjutant at
drills and parades, and you, MIr. Poundtext, were warping the Scriptures
into Erastianism. Take him unto you, nevertheless, and dispose of him as
ye think meet.-Dingwall," he continued, calling a sort of aid-de-camp, who
slept in the next apartment, " let the guard posted on the malignant Evandale give up their post to those whom Captain Morton shall appoint to
relieve them.- The prisoner," he said, again addressing Poundtext and
Morton, " is now at your disposal, gentlemen. But remember, that for all
these things there will one day come a term of heavy accounting"
So saying, he turned abruptly into an inner apartment, without bidding
them good-evening. —His two visitors, after a moment's consideration, agreed
it would be prudent to ensure the prisoner's personal safety, by placing over
him an additional guard, chosen from their own parishioners. A band of
them happened to be stationed in the hamlet, having been attached, for the
time, to Burley's command, in order that the men might be gratified by
remaining as long as possible near to their own homes. They were, in
general, smart, active young fellows, and were usually called by their companions, the Marksmen of Milnwood. By Morton's desire, four of these
lads readily undertook the task of sentinels, and he left with them Headrigg,
on whose fidelity he could depend, with instructions to call him, if anything
remarkable happened.
This arrangement being made, Morton and his colleague took possession,
for the night, of such quarters as the over-crowded and miserable hamlet
coul.d afford them. They did not, however, separate for repose till they
had drawn up a memorial of the grievances of the moderate presbyterians,
which was' summed up with a request of free toleration for their religion
in future, and that they should be permitted to attend gospel ordinances
as dispensed by their own clergymen, without oppression or molestation.
Their petition proceeded to require that a free parliament should be called
for settling the affairs of church and state, and. for redressing the injuries
sustained by the subject; and that all those who either now were, or had
been, in arms, for obtaining these ends, should be indemnified. Morton
could not but strongly hope that these terms, which comprehended all
that was wanted, or-wished for, by the moderate party among the insur