 a new settlement of the lordship and manor of Waverley Honour, with
all its dependencies. But an hour of cool reflection is a great matter, when
employed in weighing the comparative evil of two measures, to neither of which
we are internally partial. Lawyer Clippurse found his patron involved in a deep
study, which he was too respectful to disturb, otherwise than by producing his
paper and leathern ink-case, as prepared to minute his honour's commands. Even
this slight manoeuvre was embarrassing to Sir Everard, who felt it as a reproach
to his indecision. He looked at the attorney with some desire to issue his fiat,
when the sun, emerging from behind a cloud, poured at once its chequered light
through the stained window of the gloomy cabinet in which they were seated. The
Baronet's eye, as he raised it to the splendour, fell right upon the central
scutcheon, impressed with the same device which his ancestor was said to have
borne in the field of Hastings; three ermines passant, argent, in a field azure,
with its appropriate motto, Sans tache. »May our name rather perish,« exclaimed
Sir Everard, »than that ancient and loyal symbol should be blended with the
dishonoured insignia of a traitorous Roundhead!«
    All this was the effect of the glimpse of a sunbeam, just sufficient to
light Lawyer Clippurse to mend his pen. The pen was mended in vain. The attorney
was dismissed, with directions to hold himself in readiness on the first
summons.
    The apparition of Lawyer Clippurse at the Hall occasioned much speculation
in that portion of the world to which Waverley-Honour formed the centre; but the
more judicious politicians of this microcosm augured yet worse consequences to
Richard Waverley from a movement which shortly followed his apostasy. This was
no less than an excursion of the Baronet in his coach-and-six, with four
attendants in rich liveries, to make a visit of some duration to a noble peer on
the confines of the shire, of untainted descent, steady Tory principles, and the
happy father of six unmarried and accomplished daughters.
    Sir Everard's reception in this family was, as it may be easily conceived,
sufficiently favourable; but of the six young ladies, his taste unfortunately
determined him in favour of Lady Emily, the youngest, who received his
attentions with an embarrassment which shewed at once that she durst not decline
them, and that they afforded her anything but pleasure.
    Sir Everard could not but perceive something uncommon in the restrained
emotions which the young lady testified at the advances he hazarded; but assured
by the prudent Countess that
