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.

340 WAVE RLEY NO7VELS.
should do their health if I should prejudice my own by quaffing pledges
out of quart flagons.",~,
"Since Awe cannot agree upon this matter," said Lady Peveril, "; we must
find some resource by which to offend those of neither party. Suppose you
winked at our friends drinking these pledges, and we should connive at
your sitting still?"
But neither would this composition satisfy Bridgenorth, who was of
opinion, as he expressed himself, that it would be holding a candle to
Beelzebub. In fact, his temper, naturally stubborn, was at present rendered
much more so by a previous conference with his preacher, who, though a
very good man in the main, was particularly and illiberally tenacious of
the petty distinctions which his sect adopted; and, while he thought with
considerable apprehension on the accession of power which Popery, Prelacy,
and Peveril of the Peak, were like to acquire by the late Revolution, became
naturally anxious to put his flock on their gueard, and prevent their being
kidnapped by the wolf. Ile disliked extremely that Major Bridgenorth,
indisputably the head of the Presbyterian interest in that neighbourhood,
should have given his only daughter to be, as he termed it, nursed by a
Canaanitish woman; and he told him plainly that he liked not this going
to feast in the high places with the uncircumcised in heart, and looked on
the whole conviviality only as a making-merry in the house of Tirzah.
Upon receiving this rebuke from his pastor, Bridgenorth began to suspect
he might have been partly wrong in the readiness which, in his first ardour
of gratitude, he had shown to enter into intimate intercourse with the Castle
of Martindale; but he was too proud to avow this to the preacher, and it
was not till after a considerable debate betwixt them, that it was mutually
agreed their presence at the entertainment should depend upon the condition, that no healths or pledges should be given in their presence. Bridgenorth, therefore, as the delegate and representative of his party, was bound
to stand firm against all entreaty, and the lady became greatly embarrassed.
She now regretted sincerely that her well-intended invitation had ever been
given, for she foresaw that its rejection was to awaken all former subjects
of quarrel, and perhaps to lead to new violences amongst people who had
not -many years since been engaged in civil war. To yield up the disputed
point to the Presbyterians, would have been to offend the Cavalier party,
and Sir Geoffrey in particular,. in the most mortal degree; for they made it
as firm a point of honour to give healths, and compel others to pledge them,
as the Puritans made it a deep article of religion to refuse both. At length
the lady changed the discourse, introduced that of Major Bridgenorth's
child, caused it to be sent for, and put into his arms. The mother's stratagem took effect; for, though the parliamentary major stood firm, the father,
as in the case of the Governor of Tilbury, was softened, and he agreed that
his friends should accept a compromise. This was, that the major himself,
the reverend divine, and such of their friends as held strict Puritan tenets,
should form a separate party in the Large Parlour, while the Hall should
be occupied by the jovial Cavaliers; and that each party should regulate
their potations after their own conscience, or after their own fashion.
Major Bridgenorth himself seemed greatly relieved'after this important
matter had been settled. HI-e had held it matter of conscience to be stubborn
in maintaining his own opinion, but was heartily glad when he escaped
from the apparently inevitable necessity of affronting Lady Peveril by the
refusal of her invitation. He remained longer than usual, and spoke and
smiled more than was his custom. His first care on his return, was to announce to the clergyman and his congregation the compromise which he
had made, and this not as a matter for deliberation, but one upon which he
had already resolved; and such was his authority among them, that though
the preacher luoned to pronounce a separation of the parties, and to exclaim
- To your tents, 0 Israel 1" he did not see the chance of being seconded