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.

582 WAVERL EY NOVEL S.
"I never thought till this instant," said Edith, dropping the Ietter from
her hand, "that Lord Evandale would have acted ungenerously."
"Ungenerously, Edith!" replied her lover,,'"And how can you apply
such a term to my desire to call you mine, ere I part from you perhaps
forever?"
" Lord Evandale ought to hbave remembered," said Eldith, "' that when his
perseverance, and, I must add, a due sense of his merit and of the obligations we owed him, wrung from me a slow consent that I would one day
comply with his wishes, I made it my condition, that I should not be pressed
to a hasty accomplishment of my promise; and now he avails himself of
his interest with my only remaining relative, to hurry me with precipitate
and even indelicate importunity. There is more selfishness than generosity,
my lord, in such eager and urgent solicitation."
Lord Evandale, evidently much hurt, took two or three turns through the
apartment ere he replied to this accusation; at length he spoke —" I should
have escaped this painful charge, durst I at once have lmentioned to Mliss
lBellcnden my principal reason for urging this request.. It is one nwhich she
will probably despise on her own account, but which ought to weigh with
her for the sake of Lady Margaret. My death in battle must give my
whole estate -to 1my heirs of entail; my forfeiture as a traitor, by the usurping Government, may vest it in the Prince of Orange, or some Dutch favourite. In either case, my venerable friend and betrothed bride must
remain unprotected and in poverty.-Vested with the rights and provisions
of Lady Evandale, Edith will find, in the power of supporting her aged
parent, some consolation for haying condescended to share the titles and
fortunes of one who does not pretend to be worthy of her."
Edith was struck dumb'by an argument which she had not expected, and
was compelled to acknowledge that Lord Evandale's suit was urged with
delicacy as well as with consideration.
" And yet," she said, " such is the waywardness with which my heart
reverts, to former times, that I cannot" (she burst into tears) " suppress a
degree of ominous reluctance at fulfilling my engagenment upon such a
brief summons."
" We have already fully considered this painful subject," said Lord Evandate; " and I hoped, my dear Edith, your own inquiries, as well as mine,
had fully convinced you that these regrets were fruitless."
"Fruitless indeed 1" said Edith, with a deep sigh, which, as if by an unexpected echo, was repeated from the adjoining apartment. Miss Bellenden
started at the sound, and scarcely composed herself upon Lord Evandale's
assurances, that she had heard but the echo of her own respiration.
" It sounded strangely distinct," she said, "and almost ominous; but my
foelings are so harassed that the slightest trifle agitates them."
Lord Evandale eagerly attempted to soothe her alarm, and reconcile her
to a measure, which, however hasty, appeared to him the only means by
which he could secure her independence. He urged his claim in virtue of
the contract, her grandmother's wish and command, the propriety of insuring her comfort and independence, and touched lightly on his own long
attachment, which he had evinced by so many and such various services.
These Edith felt the more, the less they were insisted upon; and at length,
as she had nothing to oppose to his ardour, excepting a causeless reluctance,
which she herself was ashamed to oppose against so much generosity, she
was compelled to rest upon the impossibility of having the ceremony performed upon such hasty notice, at such a time and place. But for all this
Lord Evandale was prepared, and he explained, with joyful alacrity, that
the former chaplain of his regiment was in attendance at the Lodge with a
faithful domestic, once a non-commissioned officer in the same corps; that
csi sister was also possessed of the secret; and that lleadrigg and his wife
might be added to the list of witnesses, if agreeable to Miss Bellenden.