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.

298 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
" Vanity of vanities," said Holdenough, smiling kindly at the same time,
and still holding his recovered friend's arm enclosed and hand-locked in his.
"But the breaking the Principal's orchard, so cleanly done," said the
Doctor; "it was the first plot I ever framed, and much work I had to prevail on thee to go into it."
" Oh, name not that iniquity," said Nehemiah, " since I may well say, as
the pious Master Baxter, that these boyish offences have had their punishment in later years, inasmuch as that inordinate appetite for fruit hath produced stomachic affections under which I yet labour."
" True, true, dear Nehemiah," said Rochecliffe, " but care not for thema dram of brandy will correct it all. Mr. Baxter was," he was about to
say " an ass," but checked himself, and only filled up the sentence with " a
good man, I dare say, but over scrupulous."
So they sat down together the best of friends, and for half an hour talked
with mutual delight over old college stories. By degrees they got on the
politics of the day; and though then they unclasped their hands, and there
occurred between them such expressions" as, "Nay, my dear brother," and,
" there I must needs differ," and, "on this point I crave leave to think;"
yet a hue and cry against the Independents and other sectarists being
started, they followed like brethren in full hollo, and it was hard to guess
which was most forward. Unhappily, in the course of this amicable intercourse, something was mentioned about the bishopric of Titus, which
at once involved them in the doctrinal question of Church Government.
Then, alas! the floodgates were opened, and they showered on each other
Greek and Hebrew texts, while their eyes kindled, their cheeks glowed, their
hands became clenched, and they looked more like fierce polemics about to
rend each other's eyes out, than Christian divines.
Roger Wildrake, by making himself an auditor of the debate, contrived
to augment its violence. He took, of course, a most decided part in a
question, the merits of which were totally unknown to him. Somewhat
overawed by Holdenough's ready oratory and learning, the cavalier watched
with a face of anxiety the countenance of Dr. Rochecliffe; but when he saw
the proud eye and steady bearing of the Episcopal champion, and heard him
answer Greek with Greek, and Hebrew with Hebrew, Wildrake backed his
arguments as he closed them, with a stout rap upon the bench, and an exulting laugh in the face of the antagonist. It was with some difficulty that
Sir Henry and Colonel Everard, having at length and reluctantly interfered,
prevailed on the two alienated friends to adjourn their dispute, removing at
the same time to a distance, and regarding each other with looks in which
old friendship appeared to have totally given way to mutual animosity.
But while they sat lowering on each other, and longing to renew a contest in which each claimed the victory, Pearson entered the prison, and in a
low and troubled voice, desired the persons whom it contained to prepare
for instant death.
Sir Henry Lee received the doom with the stern composure which he had
hitherto displayed. Colonel Everard attempted the interposition of a strong
and resentful appeal to the Parliament, against the judgment of the courtmartial and the General. But Pearson declined to receive or transmit any
such remonstrance, and with a dejected look and mien of melancholy presage, renewed his exhortation to them to prepare for the hour of noon, and
withdrew from the prison.
The operation of this intelligence on the two clerical disputants was more
remarkable. They gazed for a moment on each other with eyes in which
repentant kindness and a feeling of generous shame quenched every lingering feeling of resentment, and joined in the mutual exclamation -" My
brother-my brother, I have sinned, I have sinned in offending thee!" they
rushed into each other's arms, shed tears as they demanded each other's
forgiveness, and, like two warriors, who sacrifice a personal quarrel to dis