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.

PREFACE TO THE SURGEON'S DAUGHTER. 455
own. A young lady can afford to talk with an old stager like me without
either artifice or affectation; and we may maintain a species of friendship,
the more tender, perhaps, because we are of different sexes, yet with which
that distinction lhas very little to do.
Now, I hear mly wisest and most critical neighbour remark, " IMr. Croftangry is in the way of doing a foolish thing. IHe is well to pass-Old Fairscribe knows to a penny what he is worth, and Miss Katie, with all her
airs, may like the old brass that buys the new pan. I thought Mr. Croftangry was looking very cadgy when he came in to play a rubber with us
last night. Poor gentleman, I am sure I should be sorry to see him make
a fool of himself."
Spare your compassion, dear madam, there is not the least danger. The
beaux yeux de ma casette are not brilliant enough to make amends for the
spectacles which must supply the dimness of my own. I am a little deaf,
too, as you know to your sorrow when we are partners; and if I could get
a nymph to marry me with all these imperfections, who the deuce would
marry Janet M'Evoy? and from Janet M'Evoy Chrystal Croftangry will
not part.
Miss Katie Fairscribe gave me the tale of Menie Gray with much taste
and simplicity, not attempting to suppress the feelings, whether of grief or
resentment, which justly and naturally arose from the circumstances of the
tale. Her father afterwards confirmed the principal outlines of the story,
and furnished me with some additional circumstances, which Miss Katie
had suppressed or forgotten. Indeed, I have learned on this occasion, what
old Lintot meant when he told Pope, that he used to propitiate the critics
of importance, when he had a work in the press, by now and then letting
them see a sheet of the blotted proof, or a few leaves of the original manuscript. Our mystery of authorship has something about it so fascinating,
that if you admit any one, however little he may previously have been disposed to such studies, into your confidence, you will find that he considers
himself as a party interested, and, if success follows, will think himself
entitled to no inconsiderable share of the praise.
The ieader has seen that no one could have been naturally less interested
than was my excellent friend Fairscribe in my lucubrations, when I first
consulted him on the subject; but since he has contributed a subject to the
work, he has become a most zealous coadjutor; and half-ashamed, I believe,
yet half-proud of the literary stock-company, in which he has got a share,
he never meets me without jogging my elbow, and dropping some mysterious hints, as, "I am saying-when will you give us any more of yon?"
-or, " Yon's not a bad narrative —I like yon."
Pray Heaven the reader may be of his opinion.