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.

208 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
man, and of the young royalist, as he deemed him. "Gentlemen," he said,
" I must insist on this business being put to a final end. Nephew Markham,
is this your return for my condescension in coming back to Woodstock on
your warrant, that you should take an opportunity to cut the throat of my
guest?"
" If you knew.his purpose as well as I do,"-said Markham, and then
paused, conscious that he might only incense his uncle without convincing
him, as any thing he might say of Kerneguy's addresses to Alice was likely
to be imputed to his own jealous suspicions —he looked on the ground,
therefore, and was silent.
"And you, Master Kerneguy," said Sir Henry, " can you give me any
reason why you seek to take the life of this young man, in whom, though
unhappily forgetful of his loyalty and duty, I must yet take some interest,
as my nephew by affinity?"
"I was not aware the gentleman enjoyed that honour, which certainly
would have protected him from my sword," answered Kerneguy. "But
the quarrel is his; nor can I tell any reason why he fixed it upon me, unless
it were the difference of our political opinions."
"You know the contrary," said Everard; " you know that I told you you
were safe from me as a fugitive royalist- and your last words showed you
were at no loss to guess my connexion with Sir Henry. That, indeed, is of
little consequence. I should debase myself did I use the relationship as a
means of protection from you, or any one."
As they thus disputed, neither choosing to approach the real cause of
quarrel, Sir Henry looked from one to the other, with a peace-making conscience, exclaiming— "'Why. what an intricate impeach is this?
I think you both have drunk of Circe's cup.'
Come, my young masters, allow an old man to mediate between you. I am
not shortsighted in such matters - The mother of mischief is no bigger
than a gnat's wing; and I have known fifty instances in my own day,
when, as Will says -'Gallants have been confronted hardily,
In single opposition, hand to hand.'
in which, after the field was fought, no one could remember the cause of
quarrel. - Tush! a small thing will do it -the taking of the wall - or the
gentle rub of the shoulder in passing each other, or a hasty word, or a misconceived gesture -Come, forget your cause of quarrel, be what it willyou have had your breathing, and though you put up your rapiers unbloodied,
that was no default of yours, but by command of your elder, and one who
had right to use authority. In Malta, where the duello is punctiliously well
understood, the persons engaged in a single combat are bound to halt on the
command of a knight, or priest, or lady, and the quarrel so intelrupted is
held as honourably terminated, and may not be revived. - Nephew, it is, I
think, impossible that you can nourish spleen against this young gentleman
for having fought for his king. Hear my honest proposal, Markham-You
know I bear no malice, though I have some reason to be offended with you
- Give the young man your hand in friendship, and we will back to the
Lodge, all three together, and drink a cup of sack in token of reconciliation."
Markham Everard found himself unable to resist this approach towards
kindness on his uncle's part. He suspected, indeed, what was partly the
truth, that it was not entirely from reviving good-will, but also, that his
uncle thought, by such attention, to secure his neutrality at least, if not his
assistance, for the safety of the fugitive royalist. He was sensible that he
was placed in an awkward predicament; and that he might incur the suspicions of his own party, for holding intercourse even with a near relation,
who harboured such guests. But, on the other hand, he thought his services
to the Commonwealth had been of sufficient importance to outweigh what