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.

70 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
"And what," continued Miss Vernon, "becomes of' those victims who are
condemned to a convent by the will of others? what do they resemble?
especially, what do they resemble, if they are born to enjoy life, and feel its
blessings?"
"They are like imprisoned singing-birds," replied I, "condemned to
wear out their lives in confinement, which they try to beguile by the exercise of accomplishments, which would have adorned society had they been
left at large."
" I shall be," returned Miss Vernon-" that is," said she, correcting herself-" I should be rather like the wild hawk, who, barred the free exercise
of his soar through heaven, will dash himself to pieces against the bars of
his cage. But to return to Rashleigh," said she, in a more lively tone,
"you will think him the pleasantest man you ever saw in your life, Mr.
Osbaldistone,-that is, for a week at least. If he could find out a blind
mistress, never man would be so secure of conquest; but the eye breaks the
spell that enchants the ear.-But here we are in the court of the old hall,
which looks s wild and old-fashioned as any of its inmates. There is no
great toilet; ept at Osbaldistone-Hall, you must know; but I must take
off these things, they are so unpleasantly warm, and the hat hurts my
forehead, too," continued the lively girl, taking it off, and shaking down a
profusion of sable ringlets,'which, half laughing, half blushing, she separated with her white slender fingers, in order to clear them away front her
beautiful face and piercing hazel eyes. If there was any coquetry in the
action, it was well disguised by the careless indifference of her manner. I
could not help saying, " that,:judging of the family from what I saw, I should
suppose the toilette a very unnecessary care."
" That's very politely said —though, perhaps, I ought not to understand
in what sense it was -meant," replied Miss Vernon; "but you will see a
better apology for a little negligence, when you meet the Orsons you are to
live amongst, whose forms no toilette could improve. But, as I said before,
the old dinner-bell will clang, or rather -clank, in a few minutes-it cracked
of its own accord on the day of the landing of King Willie, and my uncle,
respecting its prophetic talent, would never permit it to be mended. So do
you hold my palfrey, like a duteous knight, until I send some more humble
squire to relieve you of the charge."
She threw me the rein as if we had been acquainted from our childhood,
jumped from her saddle, tripped across the court-yard, and entered at a
side-door, leaving me in admiration of her beauty, and astonished with the
overfrankness of her manners, which seemed the more extraordinary at a
time when the dictates of politeness flowing from the court of the Grand
Monarque Louis XIV., prescribed to the fair sex an unusual severity of
decorum. I was left awkwardly enough stationed in the centre of the court
of the old hall, mounted on one horse, and holding another in my hand.
The building afforded little to interest a stranger, had I been disposed to
consider it attentively; the sides of the quadrangle were of various architecture, and with their stone-shafted latticed windows, projecting turrets,
and massive architraves, resembled the inside of a convent, or of one of
the older and less splendid colleges of Oxford. I called for a domestic, but
was for some time totally unattended to; which was the more provoking, as
I could perceive I was the object of curiosity to several servants, both male
and female, from different. parts of the building, who popped out their heads
and withdrew them, like rabbits in a warren, before I could make a direct
appeal to the attention of any individual. The return of the huntsmen and
hounds relieved me from my embarrassment, and with some difficulty I got
one clown to relieve me of the charge of the horses, and another stupid boor to
guide me to the presence of Sir Hildebrand. This service he performed with
much such grace and good-will, as a peasant who is'compelled to act as guide
to a hostile patrol; and in the same manner I was obliged to guard against