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.

78 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
ing, and confidential tone of voice, to inquire what ailed her pretty flower
of neighbours.
" Nothing, dame," said Margaret, somewhat pettishly, and changing her
posture so as rather to turn her back upon the kind inquirer.
"Nothing, lady-bird 1" answered Dame Suddlechop; " and do you use to
send for your friends out of bed at this hour for nothing?"
" It was not I who sent for you, dame," replied the malecontent maiden.
" And who was it, then," said Ursula; " for if I had not been sent for, I
had not been here at this time of night, I promise you?"
" It was the old Scotch fool, Jenny, who did it out of her own head, I
suppose," said Margaret; " for she has been stunning me these two hours
about you and Mother Redcap."
" Me and Mother Redcap!" said Dame Ursula, "an old fool indeed, that
couples folk up so. -TBut come, come, my sweet little neighbour, Jenny is
no such fool after all; she knows young folks want more and better advice
than her own, and she knows, too, where to find it for them; so you must
take heart of grace, my pretty maiden, and tell me what you are moping
about, and then let Dame Ursula alone for finding out a cure."
"Nay, an ye be so wise, Mother Ursula," replied the girl, "you may
guess what I ail without my telling you."
"Ay, ay, child," answered the complaisant matron, "no one can play
better than I at the good old game of What is my thought like? Now, I'll
warrant that little head of yours is running on a new head-tire a foot higher
than those our city dames wear -or you are all for a trip to Islington or
Ware, and your father is cross and will not consent - or "
"Or you are an old fool, Dame Suddlechop," said Margaret, peevishly,
"and must needs trouble yourself about matters you know nothing of."
"Fool as much as you will, mistress," said Dame Ursula, offended in her
turn, " but not so very many years older than yourself, mistress."
"Oh! we are angry, are we?" said the beauty; "and pray, Madam
Ursula, how come you, that are not so many years older than me, to talk
about such nonsense to me, who am so many years younger, and who yet
have too much sense to care about head-gears and Islington?"
"Well, well, young mistress," said the sage counsellor, rising; "I perceive I can be of no use here; and moethinks, since you know your own
matters so much better than other people do, you might dispense with disturbing folks at midnight to ask their advice."
"Why, now you are angry, mother," said Margaret, detaining her; " this
comes of your coming out at even-tide without eating your supper-I never
heard you utter a cross word after you had finished your little morsel. —
Here, Janet, a trencher and salt for Dame Ursula;-and what have you in
that porringer, dame I -Filthy clammy ale, as I would live -Let Janet
fling it out of the window, or keep it for my father's morning draught; and
she shall bring you the pottle of sack that was set ready for hinm-good man,
he will never find out the difference, for ale will wash down his dusty calculations quite as well as wine."
"Truly, sweetheart, I am of your opinion," said Dame Ursula, whose
temporary displeasure vanished at once before these preparations for good
cheer; and so setting herself on the great easy-chair, with a three-legged
table before her, she began to despatch, with good appetite, the little delicate
dish which she had prepared for herself. She did not, however, fail in the
duties of civility, and earnestly, but in vain, pressed Mistress Margaret to
partake her dainties. The damsel declined the invitation.
"At least pledge me in a glass of sack," said Dame Ursula; "I have
heard my grandame say, that before the gospellers came in, the old Catholic
father confessors and their penitents always had a cup of sack together
before confession; and you are my penitent."
"I shall drink no sack, I am sure," said Margaret; "and I told you