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.

594 WAVERLE Y NOVELS.
made himself partner of their voyage and of their safety. Landed at
Flushing, he was fortunate enough to meet with an old officer who had
been in service with his father. By his advice he shunned going imniediately to the Hague, but forwarded his letters to the court of the Stadtholder. " Our Prince," said the veteran, " must as yet keep terms with his
father-in-law, and with your King Charles; and to approach him in the
character of a Scottish malcontent would render it imprudent for him to
distinguish you by his favour. Wait, therefore, his orders, without forcing
yourself on his notice; observe the strictest prudence and retirement;
assume for the present a different name; shun the company of the British
xiles; and, depend upon it, you will not repent your prudence."
The old friend of Silas Morton argued justly. After a considerable time
had elapsed, the Prince of Orange, in a progress through the United States,
came to the town where Miorton, impatient at his situation and the incognito which he was obliged to observe, still continued, nevertheless, to be a
resident. He had an hour of private interview assigned, in which the prince
expressed himself highly pleased with his intelligence, his prudence, and
the liberal view which he seemed to take of the factions of his native
country, their motives and their purposes.
" I would gladly," said William, "attach you to my own person, but that
cannot be without giving offence in England. But I will do as much for
you, as well out of respect for the sentiments you have expressed, as for the
recommendations you have brought me. Here is a commission in a Swiss
regiment at present in garrison in a distant province, where you will meet
few or none of your countrymen. Continue to be Captain Melville, and let
the name of Morton sleep till better days."
"Thus began my fortune," continued Morton; —" and my services have,
on various occasions, been distinguished by his Royal Highness, until the
moment that brought him to Britain as our political deliverer. His commands must excuse my silence to my few friends in Scotland; and I wonder
not at the report of my death, considering the wreck of the vessel, and that
I found no occasion to use the letters of exchange with which I was furnished by the liberality of some of them-a circumstance which must have
confirmed the belief that I had perished."
" But, dear hinny," asked Mrs. Wilson, " did ye find nae Scotch b9dy at
the Prince of Oranger's court that ken'd ye? I wad hae thought Morton o'
Miilnwood was ken'd a' through the country."
"I was purposely engaged in distant service," said Morton, "until a
period when few, without as deep and kind a motive of interest as yours,
Ailie, would have known the stripling Morton in Major-General Melville."
"Malville was your mother's name," said Mrs. Wilson; "but Morton
sounds far bonnier in my auld lugs. And when ye tak up the lairdship,
ye maun tak the auld name and designation again."
"I am like to be in no haste to do either the one or the other, Ailie, for
I have some reasons for the present to conceal my being alive from every
one but you; and as for the lairdship of Milnwood, it is in as good
hands."
"As gude hands, hinny!" re-echoed Ailie; "I'm hopefu' you are no
meaning mine? The rents and the lands are but a. sair fash to me. And
I'm ower failed to tak a helpmate, though Wylie Mactrickit the writer was
very pressing, and spak very civilly; but I'm ower auld a cat to draw that
strae before me-he canna whilliwhaw me as he's dune mony a ane. And
then I thought aye ye wad come back, and I wad get my pickle moeal and
my soup milk, and keep a' things right about ye as I used to do in your
puir uncle's time, and it wad be just pleasure eneugh for me to see ye thrive
and guide the gear canny-Ye'll hae learned that in Holland, I'se warrant,
for they're thrifty folk there, as I hear tell.-But ye'll be for keeping rather
a mauir house than puir Wauld Milnwood that's gane; and, indeed, I would