 journeyman printer - the same in which he had traversed
Germany, and conversed with Luther, Melancthon, Erasmus, and other learned men,
who disdained not his knowledge, and the power he possessed of diffusing it,
though hid under a garb so homely. But what appeared respectable in the eyes of
wisdom, religion, learning, and philosophy, seemed mean, as might readily be
supposed, and disgusting, in those of silly and affected womankind, and Bertha
refused to acknowledge her former lover, in the torn doublet, skin cap, clouted
shoes, and leathern apron, of a travelling handicraftsman or mechanic. He
claimed his privilege, however, of being admitted to a trial; and when the rest
of the suitors had either declined the contest, or made such work as the devil
could not read if his pardon depended on it, all eyes were bent on the stranger.
Aldobrand stepped gracefully forward, arranged the types without omission of a
single letter, hyphen, or comma, imposed them without deranging a single space,
and pulled off the first proof as clear and free from errors, as if it had been
a triple revise! All applauded the worthy successor of the immortal Faustus -
the blushing maiden acknowledged her error in trusting to the eye more than the
intellect - and the elected bridegroom thenceforward chose for his impress or
device the appropriate words, Skill wins favour. - But what is the matter with
you? - you are in a brown study! Come, I told you this was but trumpery
conversation for thinking people - and now I have my hand on the Ossianic
Controversy.«
    »I beg your pardon,« said Lovel; »I am going to appear very silly and
changeable in your eyes, Mr. Oldbuck - but you seemed to think Sir Arthur might
in civility expect a call from me?«
    »Psha! psha! I can make your apology; and if you must leave us so soon as
you say, what signifies how you stand in his honour's good graces? - And I warn
you that the Essay on Castrametation is something prolix, and will occupy the
time we can spare after dinner, so you may lose the Ossianic Controversy if we
do not dedicate this morning to it. We will go out to my ever-green bower, my
sacred holly-tree yonder, and have it fronde super viridi.
 
Sing heigh-ho! heigh-ho! for the green holly,
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly.
 
But, egad,« continued the old gentleman, »when I look closer at you, I begin to
