Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — CompleteScott, Walter
History
Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Complete
Scott, Walter
Historical fiction; Jacobite Rebellion, 1745-1746 -- Fiction; Scotland -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction
'He is an innocent, sir,' said the butler; 'there is one such in almost
every town in the country, but ours is brought far ben. [Footnote: See
Note 8.] He used to work a day's turn weel enough; but he helped Miss
Rose when she was flemit with the Laird of Killancureit's new English
bull, and since that time we ca' him Davie Do-little; indeed we might
ca' him Davie Do-naething, for since he got that gay clothing, to
please his honour and my young mistress (great folks will have their
fancies), he has done naething but dance up and down about the toun,
without doing a single turn, unless trimming the laird's fishing-wand
or busking his flies, or may be catching a dish of trouts at an orra
time. But here comes Miss Rose, who, I take burden upon me for her,
will be especial glad to see one of the house of Waverley at her
father's mansion of Tully-Veolan.'
But Rose Bradwardine deserves better of her unworthy historian than to
be introduced at the end of a chapter.
In the mean while it may be noticed, that Waverley learned two things
from this colloquy: that in Scotland a single house was called a TOWN,
and a natural fool an INNOCENT.
CHAPTER X
ROSE BRADWARDINE AND HER FATHER
Miss Bradwardine was but seventeen; yet, at the last races of the
county town of ----, upon her health being proposed among a round of
beauties, the Laird of Bumperquaigh, permanent toast-master and
croupier of the Bautherwhillery Club, not only said MORE to the pledge
in a pint bumper of Bourdeaux, but, ere pouring forth the libation,
denominated the divinity to whom it was dedicated, 'the Rose of
Tully-Veolan'; upon which festive occasion three cheers were given by
all the sitting members of that respectable society, whose throats the
wine had left capable of such exertion. Nay, I am well assured, that
the sleeping partners of the company snorted applause, and that
although strong bumpers and weak brains had consigned two or three to
the floor, yet even these, fallen as they were from their high estate,
and weltering--I will carry the parody no farther--uttered divers
inarticulate sounds, intimating their assent to the motion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account