Be thine the tree whose dauntless boughs Whatever might be the real merit of Flora Mac-Ivor's poetry, the enthusiasm which it intimated was well calculated to make a corresponding impression upon her love. The lines were read-read again-then deposited in Waverley's bosom-then again drawn out, and read line by line, in a low and smothered voice, and with frequent pauses which prolonged the mental treat, as an Epicure protracts, by sipping slowly, the enjoyment of a delicious beverage. The entrance of Mrs Cruickshanks, with the sublunary articles of dinner and wine, hardly interrupted this pantomine of affectionate enthusiasm. At length the tall ungainly figure and ungracious visage of Ebenezer presented themselves. The upper part of his form, notwithstanding the season required no such defence, was shrouded in a large great-coat, belted over his under habiliments, and crested with a huge cowl of the same stuff, which, when drawn over the head and hat, completely overshadowed both, and being buttoned beneath the chin, was called a trot-cosy. His hand grasped a huge jockey whip, garnished with brass mountIng. His thin legs tenanted a pair of gambadoes, astened at the sides with rusty clasps. Thus accoutred, he stalked into the midst of the apartment, and announced his errand in brief phrase, «Yere horses are ready.» << You go with me yourself then, landlord?» " I do, as far as Perth; where ye may be supplied with a guide to Embro', as your occasions shall require.»> Thus saying, he placed under Waverley's eye the bill which he held in his hand; and at the same time, self-invited, filled a glass of wine, and drank devoutly to a blessing on their journey. Waverley stared at the man's impudence, but, as their connexion was to be short, and promised to be convenient, he made no observation upon it; and, having paid his reckoning, expressed his intention to depart immediately. He mounted Dermid accordingly, and sallied forth from the Golden Candlestick, followed by the puritanical figure we have described, after he had, at the expence of some time and difficulty, and by the assistance of a «<louping-on-stane," or structure of masonry erected for the traveller's convenience in front of the house, elevated his person to the back of a long-backed, raw-boned, thin-gutted phantom of a broken-down blood-horse, on which Waverley's portmanteau was deposited. Our hero, though not in a very gay humour, could hardly help laughing at the appearance of his new squire, and at imagining the asto nishment which his person and equipage would have excited at Waverley-Honour. Edward's tendency to mirth did not escape mine host of the Candlestick, who, conscious of the cause, infused a double portion of souring into the pharasaical leaven of his countenance, and resolved internally that, in one way or other, the young Englisher should pay dearly for the contempt with which he seemed to regard him. Callum also stood at the gate, and enjoyed, with undissembled glee, the ridiculous figure of Mr Cruickshanks. As Waverley passed him, he pulled off his hat respectfully, and, approaching his stirrup, bade him «Tak heed the auld whig played him nae cantrap." Waverley once more thanked, and bade him farewell, and then rode briskly onward, not sorry to be out of hearing of the shouts of the children, as they beheld old Ebenezer rise and sink in his stirrups, to avoid the concussions occasioned by a hard trọt upon a half-paved street. The village of-was soon several miles behind him. CHAPTER VII. Shows that the Loss of a Horse's Shoe may be a serious Inconvenience. THE manner and air of Waverley, but above all the glittering contents of his purse, and the indifference with which he seemed to regard them, somewhat overawed his companion, and deterred him from making any attempts to enter upon conversation. His own reflections were moreover agitated by various surmises, and by plans of self-interest, with which these were intimately connected. The travellers journeyed, therefore, in silence, until it was interrupted by the annunciation, on the part of the guide, that his «naig had lost a fore-foot shoe, which, doubtless, his honour would consider it was his part to replace.» This was what lawyers call a fishing question, calculated to ascertain how far Waverley was disposed to submit to petty imposition. « My part to replace your horse's shoe, you rascal!» said Waverley, mistaking the purport of the inti mation. << Indubitably," answered Mr Cruickshanks; though there was no precise clause to that effect, it canno be expected that I am to pay for the casualties whilk may befall the poor naig while in your honour's service-nathless if your honour-» «O, you mean I am to pay the farrier; but where shall we find one?» Rejoiced at discerning there would be no objection made on the part of his temporary master, Mr Cruickshanks assured him that Cairnvreckan, a village which they were about to enter, was happy in an excellent blacksmith; <«< but as he was a professor, he would drive a nail for no man on the Sabbath, or kirk fast, unless it were in a case of absolute necessity, for which he always charged sixpence each shoe.>> The most important part of this communication, in the opinion of the speaker, made a very slight impression on the hearer, who only internally wondered what college this veterinary professor belonged to, not aware that the word was used to denote any person who pretended to uncommon sanctity of faith and manner. As they entered the village of Cairnvrekan, they speedily distinguished the smith's house. Being also a public, it was two stories high, and proudly reared its crest, covered with gray |