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.

PEVERI O0F THE PEAK. 409
tiler, as if in a casual manner. But the Lady Peveril instantly conjured
him never to mention the name, especially in his father's presence.
"Was that Major Bridgenorth, of whom I have heard the name mentioned,"- said Julian, "so very bad a neighbour?"
"I do not say so," said Lady Peveril; "nay, we were more than once
obliged to him, in the former unhappy times; but your father and he took
some passages so ill at each other's hands, that the least allusion to him
disturbs Sir Geoffrey's temper, in a manner quite unusual, and which, now
that his health is somewhat impaired, is sometimes alarming to me. For
Hleaven's sake, then, my dear Julian, avoid upon all occasions the slightest
allusion to Moultrassie, or any of its inhabitants."
This warning was so seriously given, that Julian himself saw that mentioning his secret purpose would be the sure way to render it abortive, and
therefore he returned disconsolate to the Isle.
Peveril had the boldness, however, to make the best he could of what had
happened, by requesting an interview with Alice, in order to inform her
what had passed betwixt his parents and him on her account. It was with
great difficulty that this boon was obtained; and Alice Bridgenorth showed
no-slight degree of displeasure, when she discovered, after much circumlocution, and many efforts to give an air of importance to what he had to
communicate, that all amounted but to this, that Lady Peveril continued to
retain a favourable opinion of her father, Major Bridgenorth, which Julian
would fain have represented as an omen of their future more perfect reconciliation.
" I did not think you would thus have trifled with me, Master Peveril,"
said Alice, assuming an air of dignity; " but I will take care to avoid such
intrusion in future-I request you will not again visit the Black Fort; and
I entreat of you, good Mistress Debbitch, that you will no longer either
encourage or permit this gentleman's visits, as the result of such persecution will be to compel me to appeal to my aunt and father for another place
of residence, and perhaps also for another and more prudent companion."
This last hint struck Mistress Deborah with so much terror, that she
joined her ward in requiring and demanding Julian's instant absence, and
he was obliged to comply with their request. But the courage of a youthful
lover is not easily subdued; and Julian, after having gone through the usual
round of trying to forget his ungrateful mistress, and again entertaining. his
passion with augmented violence, ended by the visit to the Black Fort, the
beginning of which we narrated in the last chapter.
We then left him anxious for, yet almost fearful of, an interview with
Alice, which he had prevailed upon Deborah to solicit; and such was the
tumult of his mind, that, while he traversed the parlour, it seemed to him
that the dark melancholy eyes of the slaughtered Christian's portrait followed him wherever he went, with the fixed, chill, and ominous glance,
which announced to the enemy of his race mishap and misfortune.
The door of the apartment opened at length, and these visions were
dissipated.
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