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.

362 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
gether sae mony of them, they were as good men in their tartan as the
others in their broadcloth. And there were houses too; and if they were
not biggit with stane and lime, and lofted like the houses at Croftangry, yet
they served the purpose of them that lived there; and mony a braw bonnet,
and mony a silken snood, and comely white curch, would come out to gang
to kirk or chapel on the Lord's day, and little bairns toddling after; and
now, -Och, Och, Ohellany, Ohonari! the glen is desolate, and the braw
snoods and bonnets are gane, and the Saxon's house stands dull and lonely,
like the single bare-breasted rock that the falcon builds on-the falcon that
drives the heathbird frae the glen."
Janet, like many Highlanders, was full of imagination; and, when melancholy themes came upon her, expressed herself almost poetically, owing to
the genius of the Celtic language in which she thought, and in which,
doubtless, she would have spoken, had I understood Gaelic. In two minutes
the shade of gloom and regret had passed from her good-humoured features,
and she was again the little, busy, prating, important old woman, undisputed owner of one flat of a small tenement in the Abbey-yard, and about
to be promoted to be housekeeper to an elderly bachelor gentleman, Chrystal
Croftangry, Esq.
It was not long before Janet's local researches found out exactly the sort
of place I wanted, and there we settled. Janet was afraid I would not be
satisfied, because it is not exactly part of Croftangry; but I stopped her
doubts, by assuring her it had been part and pendicle thereof in my forefather's time, which passed very well.
I do not intend to possess any one with an exact knowledge of my lodging;
though, as Bobadil says, "I care not who knows it, since the cabin is convenient." But I may state in general, that it is a house " within itself,"
or, according to a newer phraseology in advertisements, self-contained, has
a garden of near half an acre, and a patch of ground with trees in front.
It boasts five rooms, and servants' apartments-looks in front upon the
palace, and from behind towards the hill and crags of the King's Park.
Fortunately the place had a name, which, with a little improvement, served
to countenance the legend which I had imposed on Janet, and would not
perhaps have been sorry if I had been able to impose on myself. It was
called Littlecroft; we have dubbed it Little Croftangry, and the men of letters belonging to the Post Office have sanctioned the change, and deliver
letters so addressed. Thus I am to all intents and purposes Chrystal Croftangry of that Ilk.
My establishment consists of Janet, an under maid-servant, and a Highland wench for Janet to exercise her Gaelic upon, with a handy lad who
can lay-the cloth, and take care besides of a pony, on which I find my way
to Portobello sands, especially when the cavalry have a drill; for, like an
old fool as I am, I have not altogether become indifferent to the tramp of
horses and the flash of weapons, of which, though no professional soldier,
it has been my fate to see something in my youth. For-wet mornings, I
have my book-is it fine weather, I visit, or I wander on the crags, as the
humour dictates. My dinner is indeed solitary, yet not quite so neither;
for though Andrews waits, Janet, or, - as she is to all the world but her
master, and certain old Highland Gossips,-Mrs. MacEvoy, attends, bustles
about, and desires to see every thing is in first-rate order, and to tell me,
Cot pless us, the wonderful news of the Palace for the day. When the
cloth is removed, and I light my cigar, and begin to husband a pint of port,
or a giass of old whisky and water, it is the rule of the house that Janet
takes a chair at some distance, and nods or works her stocking, as she mnyr
be disposed; ready to speak, if I am in the talking humour, and sitting
quiet as a nouse if I am rather inclined to study a book or the newspaper.
At six precisely she makes my tea, and leaves me to drink it; and then
occurs an interval of time which most old bachelors find heavy on their