Old Mortality

s brow, like t

nature of a

ksp

with every turn of the road; and it was lucky he did not do so, for he had hardly stepped beyond the threshold ere a heavy trampling of horses announced, that the body of cavalry, whose kettle-drums 8 they had before heard, were in the act of passing along the

aid a voice, in a tone o

like your honou

ll affected?” sa

government, and frequents an ind

cowards to wear their principles barefaced. — Had we not better send up a party and search the hous

driac old man, who never meddles with politics, and loves his moneybags and bonds better than any thing else in the world. His nephew, I hear, was at the wappenschaw today, an

house would be lost time, of which we have but little to

march. The moon broke out as the leading files of the column attained a hill up which the road winded, and showed indistinctly the glittering of the steel-caps; and the dark figures of the horses

ons, lay naked across his knees, and the little taper that stood beside him upon the old chest, which served the purpose of a table, threw a partial and imperfect light upon those stern and harsh features, in which ferocity was rendered more solemn and dignified by a wild cast of tragic enthusiasm. His brow was that of one in whom some strong

word, “that you heard the horsemen ride by;

iated with the saints whom they have slaughtered, I am full well aware. And I would, young man, that the hour were come; it should be

uires you should leave this place, in order to gain the hills, so

body, and continue to retain that blinded sense and sympathy for carnal suffering, which makes our own flesh thrill when we strike a gash upon the body of another? And think you, that when some prime tyrant has been removed from his place, that the instruments of his punishment can at all times look back on their share in his downfall with firm and unshaken nerves? Must they not

own I should strongly doubt the origin of any inspiration which seemed to dictate a line of conduct contra

f the covenant upon your forehead, and the son of the righteous, who resisted to blood where the banner was spread on the mountains, shall not be utterly lost, as one of the children of darkness. Trow ye, that in this day of bitterness and calamity, nothing is required at our hands but to keep the moral law as far as our carnal frailty will permit? Think ye o

h the council have directed against you. They affirm, that you pretend to derive your rule of action from what you call an inward light, rejecti

his Charles Stewart returned to these kingdoms, did the malignants bring him back? They had tried it with strong hand, but they failed, I trow. Could James Grahame of Montrose, and his Highland caterans, have put him again in the place of his father? I think their heads on the Westport told another tale for many a long day. It was the workers of the glorious work — the reformers of the beauty of the tabern

repay a debt due to the comrade of my father, by giving you shelter in your distress, but you will excuse me from engaging myself either in

I entered into a covenant with my worldly affections that I should not look back on the things I left behind me. Yet the son of mine ancient comrade is to me as mine own, a

call the refugee when it was time for him to

cipal actor. The fair form of Edith Bellenden also mingled in his dream, weeping, and with dishevelled hair, and appearing to call on him for comfort and assistance, which he had not in his power to render. He awoke from these u

himself, “and must now hasten to forward

orking of his harsh features, which seemed agitated by some strong internal cause of disturbance. He had not undressed. Both his arms were above the bed-cover, the right hand strongly clenched, and occasionally making that abortive attempt to strike which usually attends dreams of violence; the left was extended, and agitated, from time to time, by a movement as if repulsing some one. The perspiration stood on his brow, “like bubbles in a late disturbed s

tern energy accompanying the perpetration of some act of violence, Morton shook his guest by the shoulde

g Church of Scotland, entreating that the blood of her murdered saints and martyrs might be precious in the sight of Heaven, and that the shield of the Almighty might be spread over the scattered remnant, who, for His name’s sake, were abide

ursue his journey. When the animal was saddled and bridled, Burley requested Morton to walk with him a gun-shot into the wood, and direct him to the right road for gaining the moors. Morton readily complied, and they walked for

ength Burley suddenly asked Morton, “Whether the words

erly held, and was determined, at least as far and as long as possible,

ants, papists, papa-prelatists, latitudinarians, and scoffers; to partake of their sports, which are like the meat offered unto idols; to hold intercourse, perchance, with their daughters, as the sons of God with the daughters of men in the world before the flood — Think you, I say, to do all these things, and yet remain free from pollution? I say unto you, that all com

y they go out of their mother’s womb, till the day that they return to the mother of all things; from him who is clothed in blue silk and weare

is horse in motion, and soon disapp

he insufferable wrongs to which my miserable countrymen are subjected? — And yet, who shall warrant me that these people, rendered wild by persecution, would not, in the hour of victory, be as cruel and as intolerant as those by whom they are now hunted down? What degree of moderation, or of mercy, can be expected from this Burley, so distinguished as one of their principal champions, and who seems even now to be reeking from some recent deed of violence, and to feel stings of remorse, which even his enthusiasm cannot altogether stifle? I am weary of seeing nothing but violence and fury around me — now assuming the mask of la

ope lies open before me, as before him and hundreds besides of my countrymen, who have filled it with the fame of their exploits. Perhaps some lucky chance may raise me to a

self near the door of his uncle’s house, and resolv

e, and my resolution would melt away. I will take an irrevo

such a degree, that at a meeting, where there was some dispute concerning the sort of arch which should be thrown over a considerable brook, a facetious neighbour proposed to offer Milnwood a handsome sum for his curved backbone, alleging that he would sell any thing that belonged to him. Splay feet of unusual size, long thin hands, garnished with nails which seldom felt the steel, a wrinkled and puckered visage, the length of which correspond

l of porridge which he was in the act of conveying to his mouth, and, as it chanced to be scalding hot, the pain occasioned by

m!” was his first ejaculation, ap

ut take time to sup them. I made them mysell; but if folk win

is this, sir? And what sort o’ scampering gates are these o’

lieve,” answered Morton

answer is that, sir? Why came ye na

the fortune to be the best marksman of the day, and remained, as i

ike me? But if ye put me to charges, I’se work it out o’ye. I seena why ye shouldna haud the pleugh, now that the pleughman has left us; it wad set ye better than w

such a calling, sir, but I don’

oadsman for the first twa or three days, and tak tent ye dinna o’erdrive the owsen, and then ye will be fit to gang betweeu the stil

a scheme for myself, which will have the same effect of r

e a denty ane!” said the uncle, with a very

hese unhappy troubles broke out at home. His name will not be so entirely forgotten in the countries where

housekeeper; “our young Mr Harry gang ab

eful to him in many respects, was thunderstruck at this abrupt declaration of independence from a p

And ye wad be marrying, I’se warrant, as your father did afore ye, too, and sending your uncle hame a pack o’ weans to be fighting and skirl

s of ever marrying

e to hear a douce young lad speak in that way, since a’

ildly,) “put this nonsense out o’ your head — this comes o’ letting ye gang a-

e to give me the gold chain, which the Margrave gave to my father after

ousekeeper, both aghast with astonis

won, and the place where he won it,” continued Morton; “the rest shall furnish me the m

ed the governante, “my mas

y of opinion it’s a kind of heir-loom, that rather belangs to the head of the house than to the immediate descend

money, and five links of the chain, it will amply serve my purpose, and the res

at will become o’ the rigs o’ Milnwood when I am dead and ga

ain faut. Ye maunna curb his head ower sair in neither; and, to be sure

lars, Alison,” said the old

ry, “Dinna vex him onymair; I’ll pay the lave out o’ the butter siller, and nae mair words about it.” Then proceeding aloud, “And ye maunna speak o’ the young gentlema

ny strait ye wad put us in! — But take your breakfast, Harry, and then lay by your new green coat, and put on your R

r displeased at the obstacles which seemed to present themselves to his leaving the neighbourhood of Tillietudlem. The housek

r your uncle has an unco pleasure in looking on you, and in counting the links of the chainzie; and ye ken auld folk canna last for ever; sae the chain, and the lands, and a’ will

n, that he shook the old dame cordially by the hand, and assured her he was much obliged by her good adv