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.

234 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
treaties, my prayers -have your noble thoughts - the recollections of your
own high duties, no weight with you in this matter? Let me entreat you
to consult reason, religion, and common sense, and return your weapon."
" I am obedient as an Eastern slave, madam," answered Charles, sheathing his sword; "but I assure you, the matter about which you distress
yourself is a mere trifle, which will be much better settled betwixt Colonel
Everard and myself in five minutes, than with the assistance of the whole
Convocation of the Church, with a female parliament to assist their reverend
deliberations.-Mr. Everard, will you oblige me by walking a little farther?
-We must change ground, it seems."
" I am ready to attend you, sir," said Everard, who had sheathed his
sword so soon as his antagonist did so.
" I have then no interest with you, sir," said Alice, continuing to address
the King-" Do you not fear I should use the secret in my power to prevent
this affair going to extremity? Think you this gentleman, who raises his
hand against you, if he knew"" If he knew that I were Lord Wilmot, you would say?- Accident has
given him proof to that effect, with which he is already satisfied, and I
think you would find it difficult to induce him to embrace a different
opinion."
Alice paused, and looked on the King with great indignation, the following words dropping from her mouth by intervals, as if they burst forth one
by one in spite of feelings that would have restrained them -" Cold -
selfish -ungrateful-unkind!- Woe to the land which" -- Here sho
paused with marked emphasis, then added- "which shall number thee, or
such as thee, among her nobles and rulers!"
"' Nay, fair Alice," said Charles, whose good nature could not but feel
the severity of this reproach, though too slightly to make all the desired
impression, "You are too unjust to me-too partial to a happier man.
D)o not call me unkind; I am but here to answer Mr. Everard's summons.
I could neither decline attending, nor withdraw now I am here, without
loss of honour; and my loss of horour would be a disgrace which must
extend to many - I cannot fly from Mr. Everard - it would be too shameful. If he abides by his message, it must be decided as such affairs usually
are. If he retreats or yields it up, I will, for your sake, wave punctilio. I
will not even ask an apology for the trouble it has afforded me, but let all
pass as if it were the consequence of some unhappy mistake, the grounds
of which shall remain on my part unenquired into.-This I will do for your
sake, and it is much for a man of honour to condescend so far- You know
that the condescension from me in particular is great indeed. Then do not
call me ungenerous, or ungrateful, or unkind, since I am ready to do all,
which, as a man, I can do, and more perhaps than as a man of honour I
ought to do."
" Do you hear this, Markham Everard?" exclaimed Alice-" do you hear
this? —The dreadful option is left entirely at your disposal. You were
wont to be temperate in passion, religious, forgiving —will you, for a mere
punctilio, drive on this private and unchristian broil to a murderous extremity? Believe me, if you now, contrary to all the better principles of your
life, give the reins to your passions, the consequences may be such as you
will rue for your lifetime, and even, if Heaven have not mercy, rue after
your life is finished."
Markham Everard remained for a moment gloomily silent, with his eyes
fixed on the ground. At length he looked up, and answered her-" Alice,
you are a soldier's daughter-a soldier's sister. All your relations, even
including one whom you then entertained some regard for, have been made
soldiers by these unhappy discords. Yet you have seen them take the field
-in some instances on' contrary sides, to do their duty where their principles called them, without manifesting this extreme degree of interest,