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.

PEVE-RIL OF THlE PEAK. T4
that period, until noon was approaching. All readers have heard that the
whole space where the Horse Guards are now built, made, in the time of
Charles II., a part of St. James's Park; and that the old building, now
called the Treasury, was a part of the ancient Palace of Whitehall, which
was thus immediately connected with the Park. The canal had been constructed, by the celebrated Le Notre, for the purpose of draining the Park;
and it communicatpd with the Thames by a decoy, stocked with a quantity
of the rarer waterfowl. It was towards this decoy that Fenella bent her
way with unabated speed; and they were approaching a group of two or
three gentlemen, who sauntered by its banks, when, on looking closely at
him who appeared to be the chief of the party, Julian felt his heart beat
uncommonly thick, as if conscious of approaching some one of the highest
consequence.
The person whom he looked upon was past the middle age of life, of a
dark complexion, corresponding with the long, black, full-bottomed periwig,
which he wore instead of his own hair. His dress was plain black velvet,
with a diamond star, however, on his cloak, which hung carelessly over one
shoulder. His features, strongly lined, even to harshness, had yet an
expression of dignified good-humour; he was well and strongly built,
walked upright and yet easily, and had'upon the whole the air of a person
of the highest consideration. He kept rather in advance of his companions,
but turned and spoke to them, from time to time, with much affability, and
probably with some liveliness, judging by the smiles, and sometimes the
scarce restrained laughter, by which some of his sallies were received by his
attendants. They also wore only morning dresses; but their looks and
manner were those of men of rank, in presence of one in station still more
elevated. They shared the attention of their principal in common with
seven or eight little black curly-haired spaniels, or rather, as they are now
called, cockers, which attended their master as closely, and perhaps with as
deep sentiments of attachment, as the bipeds of the group; and whose
gambols, which seemed to afford him much amusement, he sometimes
checked, and sometimes encouraged. In addition to this pastime, a lackey,
or groom, was also in attendance, with one or two little baskets and bags,
from which the gentleman we have described took, from time to time, a
handful of seeds, and amused himself with throwing them to the waterfowl.
This, the King's favourite occupation, together with his remarkable countenance, and the deportment of the rest of the company towards him,
satisfied Julian Peveril that he was approaching, perhaps indecorously,
near to the person of Charles Stewart, the second of that unhappy name.
While he hesitated to follow his dumb guide any nearer, and felt the
embarrassment of being unable to communicate to her his repugnance to
farther intrusion, a person in the royal retinue touched a light and lively
air on the flageolet, at a signal from the King, who desired to have some
tune repeated which had struck him in the theatre on the preceding evening.
While the good-natured.monarch marked time with his foot, and with the
motion of his hand, Fenella continued to approach him, and threw into her
manner the appearance of one who was attracted, as it were in spite of
herself, by the sounds of the instrument.
Anxious to know how this was to end, and astonished to see the dumb
girl imitate so accurately the manner of one who actually heard the musical
notes, Peveril also drew near, though at somewhat greater distance.
The King looked good-humouredly at both, as if he admitted their musical
enthusiasm as an excuse for their intrusion; but his eyes became riveted on
Fenella, whose face and appearance, although rather singular than beautiful,
had something in them wild, fantastic, and, as being so, even captivating,
to an eye which had been gratified perhaps to satiety with the ordinary
forms of female beauty. She did not appear to notice how closely she was
observed; but, as if acting under an irresistible impulse, derived from the