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.

302' WA VEPI RLEY NOVELS.
to call them together was so peculiarly elfish and shrill, that it was thoughlt,
by those who heard it, more like that of a fairy than a human being.
In this manner she lived three or four years, nor was there the slightest
idea entertained in the family that she was other than the mute and deprived person she had always appeared. But in a moment of surprise she
dropped the mask which she had worn so long.
It chanced upon a Sunday that the whole inhabitants of the household
were at church excepting Dumb Lizzie, whose infirmity was supposed to
render her incapable of profiting by divine service, and who therefore staid
at home to take charge of the house. It happened that, as she was sitting
in the kitchen, a mischievous shepherd boy, instead of looking after his
flock on the lea, as was his duty, slunk into the house to see what he could
pick up, or perhaps out of mere curiosity. Being tempted by something
w~hich was in his eyes a nicety, he put forth his hand, unseen, as he conceived, to appropriate it. The dumb woman came suddenly upon him, and,
in the surprise, forgot her part, and exclaimed, in loud Scotch, and with
distinct articulation, "Ah, you little devil's limb!'" The boy, terrified more'
by the character of the person who rebuked him, than by the mere circumstance of having been taken in the insignificant offence, fled in great dismay
to the church, to carry the miraculous news that the dumb woman had
found her tongue.
The family returned home in great surprise, but found that their inmate
had relapsed into her usual mute condition, would communicate with them
only by signs, and in that manner denied positively what the boy affirmed.
From this time confidence was broken betwixt the other inmates of the
family, and their dumb, or rather silent, guest. Traps were laid for the
supposed impostor, all of which she skilfully eluded; fire-arms were often
suddenly discharged near her, but never on such occasions was she seen to
start. It seems probable, however, that Lizzie grew tired of all this mis-'trust, for she one morning disappeared as she came, without any ceremony
of leave-taking.
She was seen, it is said, upon the other side of the English border, in
perifect possession of her speech. Whether this was exactly the case or
not, my informers were no way anxious in inquiring, nor am I able to
authenticate the fact. The shepherd boy lived to be a man, and always
averred that she had spoken distinctly to him. What could be the woman's
reason for persevering so long in a disguise as unnecessary as it was severe,
could never be guessed, and was perhaps the consequence of a certain aberration of the mind. I can only add, that I have every reason to believe the
tale to be perfectly authentic, so far as it is here given, and it may serve to
parallel the supposed case of Fenella.
ABBOTSFORD, 1st JAly, 1831.
APPENDIX.
No. I.
TnE following Notices were recommended to my attention, in the politest
manner possible, by John Christian, Esq., of Milntown, in the Isle of Man,
and Unrigg, in Cumberland, Dempster at present of the Isle of Man. This
gentleman is naturally interested in the facts which are stated, as representative of the respectable family of Christian, and lineally descended from