settled, and the three ermines passant in actual safety, until you present them with a Mrs Edward Waverley. Now, certain love-affairs of my own-a good many years since-interrupted some measures which were then proposed in favour of the three ermines passant; so I am bound in honour to make them amends. Therefore make good use of your time, for when your week is expired, it will be necessary that you go to London to plead your pardon. in the law court. Ever, dear Waverley,.. your's most truly, "PHILIP TAlbot.”, CHAPTER XIX. Happy's the wooing 4 WHEN the first rapturous sensation occasioned by these excellent tidings had somewhat subsided, Edward proposed instantly to go down to the glen to acquaint the Baron with their import. But the cautious Baillie justly observed, that if the Baron were to appear instantly in public, the tenantry and villagers might become. riotous in expressing their joy, and give offence to the " powers that be," a sort of persons for whom the Baillie always had unlimited respect. He therefore proposed that Mr Waverley should go to Janet Gellatley's, and bring the Baron up under cloud of night to Little Veolan, where he might once more enjoy the luxury of a good bed. In the mean while, he said, he himself would go to Captain Foster and shew him the Baron's protection, and obtain his countenance for harbouring him that night, and he would have horses ready on the morrow to set him on his way to the Duchran along with Mr Stanley, "whilk denomination, I apprehend, your honour will for the present retain," said the Baillie. "Certainly, Mr Macwheeble; but will you not go down to the glen yourself in the evening to meet your patron?" "That I wad wi' a' my heart; and mickle obliged to your honour for putting me in mind o' my bounden duty. But it will be past sun-set after I get back frae the Captain's, and at these unsonsy hours the glen has a bad name-there's something no no that canny about auld Janet Gellatley. The laird he'll no believe thae things, but he was aye ower rash and venturesome-and feared neither man nor de vil-and sae's seen o't. But right sure am I Sir George Mackenyie says that no divine can doubt there are witches, since the Bible says thou shalt not suffer them to live; and that no lawyer in Scotland can doubt it, since its punishable by death by our law. So there's baith law an gospel for it. An his honour winna believe the Leviticus, he might aye believe the Statate-book-but he may tak his ain way o't; it's a' ane to Duncan Macwheeble. However, I shall send to ask up auld Janet this e'en; it's best no to lightly them that have that character-and we'll want Davie to turn the spit, for I'll gar Eppie put down a fat goose to the fire for your honours to your supper." When it was near sun-set, Waverley hastened to the hut, and he could not but allow that superstition had chosen no improper locality, or unfit object, for the foundation of her fantastic terrors. sembled exactly the description of Spen ser: It re: "There, in a gloomy hollow glen, she found In which a witch did dwell in loathly weeds, Far from all neighbours, that her devilish deeds, He entered the cottage with these verses in his memory. Poor old Janet, bent double with age, and bleared with peatsmoke, was tottering about the hut with a birch broom, muttering to herself as she endeavoured to make her hearth and floor a little clean for the reception of her expected guests. Waverley's step made her start, look up, and fall a trembling, so much had her nerves been on the rack for her patron's safety. With difficulty Waverley made her comprehend that the Baron was now safe from personal danger; and when her mind had admitted that joyful news, it was equally hard to make her K |