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. 55
their mouths with money and civility, or we shall have this foolish encounter
over half the town."
The King then approached Julian, and desired him to take his instrument,
and cause his female companion to perform a saraband.
" I had already the honour to inform your Majesty," said Julian, "that
I cannot contribute to your pleasure in the way you command me; and that
this young person is -"
" A retainer of the Lady Powis," said the King, upon whose mind things
not connected with his pleasures made a very slight impression. "Poor
lady, she is in trouble about the lords in the Tower."
"Pardon me, sir," said Julian, "she is a dependent of the Countess of
Derby."
e" True, true," answered Charles; "it is indeed of Lady Derby, who hath
also her own distresses in these times. Do you know who taught the young
person to dance? Some of her steps mightily resemble Le Jeune's of
Paris."
" I presume she was taught abroad, sir," said Julian; "for myself I am
charged with some weighty business by the Countess, which I would willingly communicate to your Majesty."
" We will send you to our Secretary of State," said the King. " But
this dancing envoy will oblige us once more, will she not? - Empson, now
that I remember, it was to your pipe that she danced-Strike up, man, and
put mettle into her feet."
Empson began to play a well-known measure; and, as he had threatened,
made more than one false note, until the King, whose ear was very accurate;
rebuked him with, " Sirrah, art thou drunk at this early hour, or must thou
too be playing thy slippery tricks with me? Thou thinkest thou art born
to beat time, but I will have time beat into thee."
The hint was sufficient, and Empson took good care so to perform his air
as to merit his high and deserved reputation. But on Fenella it made not
the slightest impression. She rather leant than stood against the wall of
the apartment; her countenance as pale as death, her arms and hands hanging down as if stiffened, and her existence only testified by the sobs which
agitated her bosom, and the tears which flowed from her half-closed eyes.
" A plague on it," said the King, " some evil spirit is abroad this morning; and the wenches are all bewitched, I think. Cheer up, my girl.
What, in the devil's name, has changed thee at once from a Nymph to a
Niobe? If thou standest there longer, thou wilt grow to the very marble
wall - Or - oddsfisl, George, have you been bird-bolting in this quarter
also?"
Ere Buckingham could answer to this charge, Julian again kneeled down
to the King, and prayed to be heard, were it only for five minutes. "The
young woman," be said, "had been long in attendance on the Countess of
Derby. She was bereaved of the faculties of speech and hearing."
" Oddsfish, man, and dances so well?" said the King. " Nay, all Gresham
College shall never make me believe that."
" I would have thought it equally impossible, but for what I to-day witnessed," said Julian; " but only permit me, sir, to deliver the petition of
ray lady the Countess.'"
"And who art thou thyself, man?" said the Sovereign; "for though
every thing which wears bodice and breast-knot has a right to speak to a
King, and be answered, I know not that they have a title to audience through
an envoy extraordinary."
"I am Julian Peveril of Derbyshire," answered the supplicant, " the son
of Sir Geoffrey Peveril of Martindale Castle, who-"
" Body of me - the old Worcester man?" said the King. " Oddsfish, I
remember him well - some harm has happened to him, I think - Is he not
dead, or very sick at least?"
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