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.

ROB ROY. 189
" Frankly and fairly, it's worth trying. Ye see y6ursell there's some risk
in your staying here. This bit body Morris has gotten a custom-house
place doun at Greenock —that's a port on the Firth doun by here; and
tho' a' the warld kens him to be but a twa-leggit creature, wi' a goose's
head and a hen's heart, that goes about on the quay plaguing folk about
permits, and cockits, and dockits, and a' that vexatious trade, yet if he
lodge an information - ou, nae doubt a man in magisterial duty maun
attend to it, and ye might come to be clapped up between four wa's, whilk
wad be ill-convenient to your father's affairs."
"True," I observed; "yet what service am I likely to render him by
leaving Glasgow, which, it is probable, will be the principal scene of Rashleigh's machinations, and committing myself to the doubtful faith of a
man of whom I know little but that he fears justice, and has doubtless
good reasons for doing so; and that, for some secret, and probably dangerous purpose, he is in close league and alliance with the very person who
is like to be the author of our ruin?"
" Ah, but ye judge Rob hardly," said the Bailie, " ye judge him hardly,
puir chield; and the truth is, that ye ken naething about our hill country,
or Hielands, as we ca' them. They are clean anither set frae the like o'
huz; - there's nae bailie-courts amang them - nae magistrates that dinna
bear the sword in vain, like the worthy deacon that's awa, and, I may say't,
like mysell and other present magistrates in this city-But it's just the
laird s command, and the loun maun loup; and the never another law hae
they but the length o' their dirks - the broadsword's pursuer, or plaintiff,
as you Englishers ca' it, and the target is defender; the-stoutest head bears
langest out; - and there's a Hieland plea for ye."
Owen groaned deeply; and I allow that the description did not greatly
increase my desire to trust myself in a country so lawless as he described
these Scottish mountains.
"' Now, sir," said Jarvie, " we speak little o' thae things, because they are
familiar to oursells; and where's the use o' vilifying ane's country, and
bringing a discredit on ane's kin, before southrons and strangers? It's an
ill bird that files its ain nest."
" Well, sir, but as it is no impertinent curiosity of mine, but real necessity, that obliges me to make these inquiries, I hope you will not be offended
at my pressing for a little farther information. I have to deal, on my
father's account, with several gentlemen of these wild countries, and I
must trust your good sense and experience for the requisite lights upon the
subject."
This little morsel of flattery was not thrown out in vain.
"Experience!" said the Bailie-" I hae had experience, nae doubt, and I
hae made some calculations Ay, and to speak quietly amang oursells, I
hae made some perquisitions through Andrew Wylie, my auld clerk; he's
wi' MacVittie and Co. now- but he whiles drinks a gill on the Saturday
afternoons wi' his auld master. And since ye say ye are willing to be
guided by the Glasgow weaver-body's advice, I am no the man that will
refuse it to the son of an auld correspondent, and my father the deacon was
nane sic afore me. I have whiles thought o' letting my lights burn before
the Duke of Argyle, or his brother Lord Ilay (for wherefore should they be
hidden under a bushel?) but the like o' thae grit men wadna mind the like
o' me, a puir wabster body -they think mair o' wha says a thing, than o'
what the thing is that's said. The mair's the pity - mair's the pity. Not
that I wad speak ony ill of this MacCullum More-' Curse not the rich in
your bedchamber,' saith the son of Sirach,'for a bird of the air shall carry
the clatter, and pint-stoups hae lang lugs."
I interrupted these prolegomena, in which Mr. Jarvie was apt to be somewhat diffuse, by praying him to rely upon Mr. Owen and myself as perfectly secret and safe confidants.