whether negative or acquiescent, Edward could not well distinguish. The hostess, a civil, quiet, laborious drudge, came to take his orders for dinner, but declined to make answer upon the subject of the horse and guide, for the Salique law, it seems, extended to the stables of the Golden Candlestick.

From a window which overlooked the dark and narrow court in which Callum Beg dressed the horses after their journey, Waverley heard the following dialogue betwixt the subtle foot-page of Vich Ian Vohr and his landlord..

"Ye'll be frae the north, young man?" began the latter.

"And ye may say that," answered Callum.

"And ye'll hae ridden a lang way today, it may weel be?"

"Sae lang that I could weel tak a dram."

"Gudewife, bring the gill stoup."

Here some compliments passed fitting

the occasion, when my host of the Golden Candlestick, having, as he thought, opened his guest's heart by this hospitable propitiation, resumed his scrutiny.

"Ye'll no hae mickle better whisky than that aboon the pass ?"

"I am nae from aboon the pass.". "Ye're a Highlandman by your tongue?" "Na, I am but just Aberdeen-a-way."; "And did your master come from Aberdeen wi' you?”, '

"Ay-that's when I left it mysel," answered the cool and impenetrable Callum Beg.

"And what kind of a gentleman is he?" "I believe he is ane o' King George's state officers; at least he's aye for. gang-ing on to the south, and he has a hantle silver, and never grudges ony thing till a poor body, or in the way of lawing."

"He wants a guide and a horse from hence to Edinburgh ?"

"Ay, and ye maun find it him forthwith,' "Ahem! It will be chargeable."

"He cares na for that a boddle." "A weel, Duncan-Did ye say your name was Duncan, or Donald?"

"Na, man-Jamie-Jamie Steenson-I telt ye before."

This last undaunted parry altogether foiled Mr Cruickshanks, who, though not quite satisfied either with the reserve of the master, or the extreme readiness of the man, was contented to lay a tax upon the reckoning and horsehire, that might compound for his ungratified curiosity. The circumstance of its being the fastday was not forgotten in the charge, which, upon the whole, did not, however, amount to much more than double what in fairness it should have been.

Callum Beg soon after announced in person the ratification of this treaty, adding, "Ta auld devil was ganging to ride wi' the Duinhe-wassal hersel."

"That will not be very pleasant, Callum, nor altogether safe, for our host seems a person of great curiosity; but a travel

ler must submit to these inconveniences. Meanwhile, my good lad, here is a trifle for you to drink Vich Ian Vohr's health."

The hawk's eye of Callum flashed delight upon a golden guinea, with which these last words were accompanied. He hastened, not without a curse upon the intricacies of a Saxon breeches pocket, or spleuchan, as he called it, to deposit the treasure in his fob; and then, as if he conceived the benevolence called for some requital on his part, he gathered close up to Edward, with an expression of countenance peculiarly knowing, and spoke in an under tone," If his honour thought ta auld deevil whig carle was a bit dangerous, she could easily provide for him, and teil ane ta wiser."

"How, and in what manner?"

"Her ain sell," replied Callum, “could wait for him a wee bit frae the toun, and kittle his quarters wi' her skene-occle.'. "Skene-occle? what's that?"

Callum unbuttoned his coat, raised his

left arm, and, with an emphatic nod, pointed to the hilt of a small dirk, snugly deposited under it, in the lining of his jacket. Waverley thought he had misunderstood his meaning; he gazed in his face, and discovered in Callum's very handsome, though embrowned features, just the degree of roguish malice with which a lad of the same age in England would have brought forward a plan for robbing an orchard.

"Good God, Callum, would you take the man's life?"

"Indeed," answered the young desperado, "and I think he has had just a lang enough lease o't, when he's for betraying honest folk, that come to spend silver at his public."

Edward saw nothing was to be gained by argument, and therefore contented himself with enjoining Callum to lay aside all practices against the person of Mr Ebenezer Cruickshanks, in which injunction the page seemed to acquiesce with an air of great indifference.