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.

PEVERIL OF'THE PEAK. 339
"My present visit to you, madam," said he, " had indeed some reference
to the festivity of to-morrow." Lady Peveril listened, but as her visiter
seemed to find some difficulty in expressing himself, she was compelled to
ask an explanation. " MIadam," said the Major, "you are not perhaps entirely ignorant that the more tender-conscienced among us have scruples at
certain practices, so general amongst your people at times of rejoicing, that
you may be said to insist upon them as articles of faith, or at least greatly
to resent their omission."
"I trust, Master BSi-idgenorth," said the Lady Peveril, not fully comprehending the drift of his discourse, "that we shall, as your entertainers,
carefully avoid all allusions or reproaches founded on past misunderstanding."
"We would expect no less, madam, from your candour and courtesy,"
said Bridgenorth; " but I perceive you do not fully understand me. To be
plain, then, I allude to the fashion of drinking healths, and pledging each
other in draughts of strong liquor, which most among us consider as a
superfluous and sinful provoking of each other to debauchery, and the excessive use of strong drink; and which, besides, if derived, as learned
divines have supposed, fromn the custom of the blinded Pagans, who made
libations and invoked idols when they drank, may be justly said to have
something in it heathenish, and allied to demon-worship."
The lady had already hastily considered all the topics which were likely
to introduce discord into the proposed festivity; but this very ridiculous,
yet fatal discrepancy, betwixt the manners of the parties on convivial occasions, had entirely escaped her. She endeavoured to soothe the objecting
party, whose brows were knit like one who had fixed an opinion by which
he was determined to abide.
"I grant," she said, " my good neighbour, that this custom is at least
idle, and may be prejudicial if it leads to excess in the use of liquor, which
is apt enough to take place without such conversation. But I think, when
it hath not this consequence, it is a thing indifferent, affords a unanimolus
mode of expressing our good wishes to our friends, and our loyal duty to
our sovereign; and, without meaning to put any force upon the inclination
of those who believe otherwise, I cannot see how I can deny my guests and
friends the privilege of drinking a health to the King, or to my husband,
after the old English fashion."
"My lady," said the Major, "if the age of fashion were to command it,
P(-pery is one of the oldest English fashions that I have heard of; but it is
oar happiness that we are not benighted like our fathers, and therefore we
must act according to the light that is in us, and not after their darkness.
I had myself the honour to attend the Lord-Keeper Whitelocke, when, at
the table of the Chamberlain of the kingdom of Sweden, he did positively
refuse to pledge the health of his Queen, Christina, thereby giving great
offence, and putting in peril the whole purpose of that voyage; which it is
not to be thought so wise a man would have done, but that he held such
compliance a thing not merely indifferent, but rather sinful and damnable."
"With all respect to Whitelocke," said the Lady Peveril, "I continue of
my own opinion, though, Heaven knows, I am no friend to riot or wassail.
I would fain accommodate myself to your scruples, and will discourage all
other pledges; but surely those of the King and of Peveril of the Peak
may be permitted?"
"I dare not," answered Bridgenorth, "lay even the ninety-ninth part of
a grain of incense upon an altar erected to Satan."
"How, sir!" said the lady; "do you bring Satan into compatrison with
our master King Charles, and with my noble lord and husband i"
" Pardon me, madam," answered Bridgenorth, " I have no such thoughts
-indeed they would ill become me. I do wish the King's health and Sir
Geoffrey's devoutly, arnd I will pray for both. But I see not what good it