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.

52 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
"Yes, sir."
"Be pleased to bring it here."
The volume thus required was a sort of commonplace book, kept by my
father's recommendation, in which I had been directed to enter notes of the
miscellaneous information which I had acquired in the course of my studies.
Foreseeing that he would demand inspection of this record, I had been
attentive to transcribe such particulars of information as he would most
likely be pleased with, but too often the pen had discharged the task without
much correspondence with the head. And it had also happened, that, the
book being made the receptacle nearest to my hand, I had occasionally
jotted down memoranda which had little regard to traffic. I now put it
into my father's hand, devoutly hoping he might light on nothing that
would increase his displeasure against me. Owen's face, which had looked
something blank when the question was put, cleared up at my ready
answer, and wore a smile of hope, when I brought from my apartment, and
placed before my father, a commercial-looking volume, rather broader than
it was long, having brazen clasps and a binding of rough calf. This looked
business-like, and was encouraging to my benevolent well-wisher. But he
actually smiled with pleasure as he heard my father run over some part of
the contents, muttering his critical remarks as he went on.
"Brandies -Barils and barricants, also tonneaux. -At Nantz 29- VeNles
to the barique at Cognac and Rochelle 27 — At Bourdeaux 32 -Very right,
Frank-Duties on tonnage and custom-house, see Saxby's Tables-That's not
well; you should have transcribed the passage; it fixes the thing in the
memory-Reports outward and inward —Corn debentures —Over-sea Cockets
-Linens-Isingham - Gentish-Stock-fish-Titling - Cropling — Lb-fish.
You should have noted that they are all, nevertheless, to be entered as
titlings.- How many inches long is a titling?"
Owen, seeing me at fault, hazarded a whisper, of which I fortunately
caught the import.
"Eighteen inches, sir"" And a lub-fish is twenty-four-very right. It is important to remember
this, on account of the Portuguese trade.-But what have we here?-Bourdeaux founded in the year — Castle of the Trompette —Palace of Gallienus -
Well, well, that's very right too. - This is a kind of waste-book, Owen, in
which all the transactions of the day, emptions, orders, payments, receipts,
acceptances, draughts, commissions, and advices, are entered miscellaneously."
" That they may be regularly transferred to the day-book and ledger,"
answered Owen: "I am glad Mr. Francis is so methodical."
I perceived myself getting so fast into favour, that I began to fear the
consequence would be my father's more obstinate perseverance in his resolution that I must become a merchant; and, as I was determined on the
contrary, I began to wish I had not, to use my friend Mr. Owen's phrase,
been so methodical. But I had no reason for apprehension on that score;
for a blotted piece of paper dropped out of the book, and, being taken up
by my father, he interrupted a hint from Owen, on the propriety of securing
loose memoranda with a little paste, by exclaiming, "To the memory of
Edward the Black Prince-What's all this?-verses!-By Heaven, Frank,
you are a greater blockhead than I supposed you!"
My father, you must recollect, as a man of business, looked upon the
labour of poets with contempt; and as a religious man, and of the dissenting
persuasion, he considered all such pursuits as equally trivial and profane.
Before you condemn him, you must recall to remembrance how too many
of the poets in the end of the seventeenth century had led their lives and
employed their talents. - The sect also to which my father belonged, felt, or
erhaps affected, a puritanical aversion to the lighter exertions of literature.
So that many causes contributed to augment the unpleasant surprise occak