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.

THE FORTUNES OF NIGEL. 195
might imply an expectation of refunding, which, as a Scotch wag said, of
all species of funding, jumped least in the old gentleman's humour. He
was beginninnn to enter a hypothetical caveat on this subject, and to quote
several reasons why no part of the money once consigned as room-rent
could be repaid back on any pretence, without great hardship to the landlord, when Nigel, growing impatient, told him that the money was his absolutely, and without any intention on his part of resuming any of it-all he
asked in return was the liberty of enjoying in private the apartment he had
paid for. Old Trapbois, who had still at his tongue's end much of the
smooth language by which, in his time, he had hastened the ruin of many
a young spendthrift, began to lanch out upon the noble and generous disposition of his new guest, until Nigel, growing impatient, took the old gentle
man by the hand, and gently, yet irresistibly, leading him to the door of his
chamber, put him out, but with such a decent and moderate exertion of his
superior strength, as to render the action in no shape* indecorous, and, fastening the door, began to do that for his pistols which he had done for his
favourite sword, examining with care the fints and locks, and reviewing the
state of his small provision of ammunition.
In this operation he was a second time interrupted by a knocking at his
door-he called upon the person to enter, having no doubt that it was Lowestoffe's messenger at length arrived. It was, however, the ungracious
daughter of old Trapbois, who, muttering something about her father's
mistake, laid down upon the table one of the pieces of gold which Nigel
had just given to him, saying, that what she retained was the full rent for
the term he had specified. Nigel replied, he had paid themuoney, and had
no desire to receive it again.
"Do as you will with it, then," replied' his hostess, "for there it lies, and
shall lie for me. If you are fool enough to pay more than is reason, my
father shall not be knave enough to take it."
" But your father, mistress," said Nigel, "your father told me "
"Oh, my father, my father," said she, interrupting him,- "my father
managed these affairs while he was able -I manage them now, and that
may in the long run be as well for both of us."
She then looked on the table, and observed the weapons.
" You have arms, I see," she said; " do you know how to use them?"
" I should do so, mistress," replied Nigel, " for it has been my occupation."
"You are a soldier, then?" she demanded.
"' No farther as yet, than as every gentleman of my country is a soldier."
"Ay, that is your point of honour - to cut the throats of the poor — a
proper gentleman-like occupation for those who should protect them!"
" I do not deal in cutting throats, mistress," replied Nigel; "but I carry
arms to defend myself, and my country if it needs me."
"Ay," replied Martha, "it is fairly worded; but men say you are as
prompt as others in petty brawls, where neither your safety nor your country is in hazard; and that, had it not been so, you would not have been in
the Sanctuary to-day."
"Mistress," returned Nigel, "I should labour in vain to make you understand that a man's honour, which is, or should be, dearer to him than
his life, may often call on and compel us to hazard our own lives, or those
of others, on what would otherwise seem trifling contingencies."
"God's law says nought of that," said the female; "I have only read
there that thou shalt not kill. But I have neither time nor inclination to
preach to you —you will find enough of fighting here, if you like it, and well
if it come not to seek you when you are least prepad. Fared. Farewell for the
present-the char-woman will execute your commands for your meals."
She left the room, just as Nigel, provoked at her assuming a superior
tone of judgment and of censure, was about to be so superfluous as to enter