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.

TlHE F ORTUNES OF NIG EL. 161
Credit me, friend, it hath ever been thus,
Since the ark rested on Mount Ararat.
False man hathl sworn, and woman hath believedRepented and reproach'd, and then believed once rmore.
THEI NEW WOaL i,
BY' the time that Margaret returned with Monna Paula, the Lady Itermione was rising from the table at which she had been engaged in writing
something on a small slip of paper, which she gave to her attendant.
"' Monna Paula," she said, " carry this paper to Roberts the cash-keeper;
let him give you the money mentioned in the note, and bring it hither presently."
Monna Paula left the room, and her mistress proceeded.
"I do not know," she said, " Margaret, if I have done, and am doing,
well in this affair. My life has been one of strange seclusion, and I am
totally unacquainted with the practical ways of this world -an ignorance
which I know cannot be remedied by mere reading. — I fear I am doing
wrong to you, and perhaps to the laws of the country which affords me
refuge by thus indulging you; and yet there is something in my heart which
cannot resist your entreaties."
" Oh, listen to it-listen to it, dear, generous lady!" said Margaret, throwing herself on her knees and grasping those of her benefactress,- and looking in that attitude like a beautiful mortal in the act of supplicating her
tutelary angel (" the laws of men are but'the injunctions of mortality, but
what the heart prompts is the echo of the voice from Heaven within us.":
" Rise, rise, maiden," said Hermione; "you affect me more than I thought
I could have been moved by aught that should approach me. Rise, and tell
me whence it comes, that, in so short a time, your thoughts, your looks,
your speech, and even your slightest actions, are changed fiom those of a
capricious and fanciful girl, to all this energy and impassioned eloquence
of word and action?"
"I am sure I know not, dearest lady," said Margaret, looking down;
"but I suppose that, when I was a trifler, I was only thinking of trifles.
What I now reflect is deep and serious, and I am thankful if my speech and
manner bear reasonable proportion to my thoughts."
" It must be so," said the lady; " yet the change seems a rapid and strange
one. It seems to be as if a childish girl had at once shot up into a deepthinking and impassioned woman, ready to make exertions alike, and sacrifices, with all that vain devotion to a favourite object of affection, which is
often so basely rewarded."
The Lady iermione sighed bitterly, and Monna-Paula entered ere the.
conversation proceeded farther. She spoke to her mistress in the foreign
language in which they frequently conversed, but which was unknown to
Margaret.
"We must have patience for a time," said the lady to her visiter; "the
cash-keeper is abroad on some business, but he is expected home in the
course of half an hour."
Margaret wrung her hands in vexation and impatience.
" Minutes are precious," continued the lady, "that I am well aware of;
and we will at least suffer none of them to escape us. Monna Paula shall
remain below and transact our business, the very instant that Roberts
returns home."
She spoke to her attendant accordingly, who again left the room.
" You are very kind, madam -very good," said the poor little Margaret,
VoL. YII. — I1 o2