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.

404 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
done. Give me my bonnet, or I go without it; surely I am not to be delayed by so trifling a want as that-I, who have gone for years with only a
strap of deer's hide to tie back my hair. Trifle not, but give it me, or I
must go bareheaded, since to stay is impossible."
"My son," said Elspat, keeping fast hold of his hand, "what is done
cannot be recalled; could you borrow the wings of yonder eagle, you would
arrive at the Dun too late for what you purpose,-too soon for what awaits
you there. You believe you see the sun rising for the first time since you
have seen him set, but yesterday beheld him climb Ben Cruachan, though
your eyes were closed to his light."
Hamish cast upon his mother a wild glance of extreme terror, then instantly recovering himself, said- " I am no child to be cheated out of my
purpose by such tricks as these - Farewell, mother, each moment is worth
a lifetime."
" Stay," she said, " my dear-my deceived son! rush not on infamy and
ruin-Yonder I see the priest upon the high-road on his white horse-ask
him the day of the month and week-let him decide between us."
With the speed of an eagle, Hamish darted up the acclivity, and stood
by the minister of Glenorquhy, who was pacing out thus early to administer
consolation to a distressed family near Bunawe.
The good man was somewhat startled to behold an armed Highlander,
then so unusual a sight, and apparently much agitated, stop his horse by
the bridle, and ask him with a faltering voice the day of the week and
month. "Had you been where you should have been yesterday, young
man," replied the clergyman, "you would have known that it was God's
Sabbath and that this is Monday, the second day of the week, and twentyfirst of the month."
" And is this true?" said Hamish.
" As true," answered the surprised minister, " as that I yesterday preached
the word of God to this parish.-What ails you, young man?-are you sick?
-are you in your right mind?"
Hamish made no answer, only repeated to himself the first expression of
the clergyman- " Had you beeie where you should have been yesterday;"
and so saying, he let go the bridle, turned from the road, and descended
the path towards the hut, with the look and pace of one who was going to
execution. The minister looked after him with surprise; but although he
knew the inhabitant of the hovel, the character of Elspat had not invited
him to open any communication with her, because she was generally reputed a Papist, or rather one indifferent to all religion, except some superstitious observances which had been handed down from her parents. On
Hamish the Reverend Mr. Tyrie had bestowed'instructions when he was
occasionally thrown in his way, and if the seed fell among the brambles
and thorns of a wild and uncultivated disposition, it had not yet been entirely checked or destroyed. There was something so ghastly in the present
expression of the youth's features, that the good man was tempted to go
down to the hovel, and inquire whether any distress had befallen the inhabitants, in which his presence might be consoling, and his ministry useful.
Unhappily he did not persevere in this resolution, which might have saved
a great misfortune, as he would have probably become a mediator for the
unfortunate young man; but a recollection of the wild moods of such
Highlanders as had been educated after the old fashion of the country,
prevented his interesting himself in the widow and son of the far-dreaded
robber, MacTavish Mhor; and he thus missed an opportunity, which he
afterwards sorely repented, of doing much good.
When Hamish MacTavish entered his mother's hut, it was only to throw
himself on the bed he had left, and exclaiming, "Undone, undone!" to give
vent, in cries of grief and anger, to his deep sense of the deceit which had been
practised on him, and of the cruel predicament to which he was reduced.