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.

132 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
knight had stuck to him, being totally indifferent which way they went,
provided he could keep his talons clutched upon his companion. They
were still, however, at somie distance from the livelier part of the scene,
when Sir Mungo's experienced eye noticed the appearances which occasioned the latter part of his speech to Lord Glenvarloch.
A low respectful murmur arose among the numerous groups of persons
which occupied the lower part of the Park. They first clustered together,
with their faces turned towards Whitehall, then fell back on either hand to
give place to a splendid party of gallants, who, advancing from the Palace,
came onward through the Park; all the other company drawing off the
pathway, and standing uncovered as they passed.
Most of these courtly gallants were dressed in the garb which the pencil
of Vandyke has made familiar even at the distance of' nearly two centuries,
and which was just at this period beginning to supersede the more fluttering
and frivolous dress which had been adopted from the French court of Henry
Quatre.
The whole train were uncovered excepting the Prince of Wales, afterwards the most unfortunate of British monarchs, who came onward, having
his long curled auburn tresses, and his countenance, which, even in early
youth, bore a shade of anticipated melancholy, shaded by the Spanish hat
and the single ostrich feather which drooped from it. On his right hand
was Buckingham, whose commanding, and at the same time graceful, deportlnent, threw almost into shade the personal demeanour and majesty of
the Prince on whom he attended. The eye, movements, and gestures of the
great courtier were so composed, so regularly observant of all etiquette
belonging to his situation, as to form a marked and strong contrast with the
forward gaiety and frivolity by which he recommended himself to the favour
of his "dear dad and gossip," King James. A singular fate attended this
accomplished courtier, in being at once the reigning favourite of a father
and son so very opposite in manners, that, to ingratiate himself with the
youthful Prince, he was obliged to compress within the strictest limits of
respectful observance the frolicsome and free humour which captivated his
aged father.
It is true, Buckingham well knew the different dispositions both of James
and Charles, and had no difficulty in so conducting himself as to maintain
the highest post in the favour of both. It has indeed been supposed, as we
have before hinted, that the Duke, when he had completely possessed himself of the affections of Charles, retained his hold on those of the father
only by the tyranny of custom; and that James, could he have brought
himself to form a vigorous resolution, was, in the latter years of his life
especially, not unlikely to have discarded Buckingham from his councils
and favour. But if ever the King indeed meditated such a change, he was
too timid, and too much accustomed to the influence which the Duke had
long exercised over him, to summon up resolution enough for effecting such
a purpose; and, at all events, it is certain that Buckingham, though suriving.the master by whom he was raised, had the rare chance to experience
no wane of the most splendid court favour during two reigns, until it was at
once eclipsed in his blood by the dagger of his assassin Felton.
To return from this digression: The Prince, with his train, advanced, and
were near the place where Lord Glenvarloch and Sir Mungo had stood aside,
according to form, in order to give the Prince passage, and to pay the usual
marks of respect. Nigel could now remark that Lord Dalgarno walked
close behind the Duke of Buckingham, and, as he thought, whispered something in his ear as they came onward. At any rate, both the Prince's and
Duke of Buckingham's attention seemed to be directed by some circumstance towards Nigel, for they turned their heads in that direction and
looked at him attentively-the Prince with a eountenance, the grave, melancholy expression of which was blended vwith severity; while Buckingham's