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.

194 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
beloved as his daughter. Iis own parts were rather steady than brilliant;
and he had that species of imagination which is not easily excited without
the action of another, as the electrical globe only scintillates when rubbed
against its cushion. He was well pleased, therefore, when Kerneguy pursued the conversation, by observing that Mistress Alice Lee had not explained how the same good fairy that conferred moral qualities, could not
also remove corporeal blemishes.
"You mistake, sir," said Alice. "I confer nothing. I do but attempt to
paint our King such as I hope he is -such as I am sure he may be, should
he himself desire to be so. The same general report which speaks of his
countenance as unprepossessing, describes his talents as being of the first
order. IIe has, therefore, the means of arriving at excellence, should he
cultivate them sedulously and employ them usefully -should he rule his
passions and be guided by his understanding. Every good man cannot be
wise; but it is in the power of every wise man, if he pleases, to be as eminent for virtue as for talent."
Young Kerneguy rose briskly, and took a turn through the room; and
ere the knight could make any observation on the singular vivacity in which
he had indulged, he threw himself again into his chair, and said, in rather
an altered tone of voice-" It seems, then, Mistress Alice Lee, that the good
friends who have described this poor King to you, have been as unfavourable in their account of his morals as of his person?"
" The truth must be better known to you, sir," said Alice, "than it can
be to me. Some rumours there have been which accuse him of a license,
which, whatever allowance flatterers make for it, does not, to say the least,
become the son of the Martyr-I shall be happy to have these contradicted
on good authority."
" I am surprised at your folly," said Sir Henry Lee, "in hinting at such
things, Alice; a pack of scandal, invented by the rascals who have usurped
the government-a thing devised by the enemy."
" Nay, sir," said Kerneguy, laughing, "we must not let our zeal charge
the enemy with more scandal than they actually deserve. Mistress Alice
has put the question to me. I can only answer, that no one can be more
devotedly attached to the King than I myself,-that I am very partial to his
merits and blind to his defects;-and that, in short, I would be the last man
in the world'to give up his cause where it was tenable. Nevertheless, I must
confess, that if all his grandfather of Navarre's morals have not descended to
him, this poor King has somehow inherited a share of the specks that were
thought to dim the lustre of that great Prince-that Charles is a little softhearted, or so, where beauty is concerned.-Do not blame him too severely,
pretty Mistress Alice; when a man's hard fate has driven him among thorns,
it were surely hard to prevent him from trifling with the few roses he may
find among them?"
Alice, who probably thought the conversation had gone far enough, rose
while Master Kerneguy was speaking, and was leaving the room before he
had finished, without apparently hearing the interrogation with which he
concluded. Her father approved of her departure, not thinking the turn
which Kerneguy had given to the discourse altogether fit for her presence;
and, desirous civilly to break off the conversation, "I see," he said, " this
is about the time, when, as Will says, the household affairs will call my
daughter hence; I will therefore challenge you, young gentleman, to stretch
your limbs in a little exercise with me, either at single rapier, or rapier and
poniard, back-sword, spadroon, or your national weapons of broad-sword
and target; for all or any of which I think we shall find implements in the
hall."
It would be too high a distinction, Master Kerneguy said, for a poor page
to be permitted to try a passage of arms with a knight so renowned as Sir
Henry Lee, and he hoped to enjoy so great an honour before he left Wood