Search -
The Waverley Novels: Fortunes of Nigel. Peveril of the Peak.
The Waverley Novels Fortunes of Nigel Peveril of the Peak Author:Walter Scott Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER SECOND. This, sir, is one among the Seignory, Has wealth at will, and will to use his wealth, And wit to increase it. Marry, his worst folly ... more »Lies in a thriftless sort of charity, That goes a-gadding sometimes after objects, Which wise men will not see when thrust upon them. The Old Couplb. 9 The ancient gentleman bustled about his shop, in pettish displeasure at being summoned hither so hastily, to the interruption of his more abstract studies ; and, unwilling to renounce the train of calculation which he had put in progress, he mingled whimsically with the fragments of the arithmetical operation, his oratory to the passengers, and angry reflections on his idle apprentices. " What d'ye lack, sir ?—Madam, what d'ye lack— clocks for hall or table—night watches—day watches V—Locking wheel being 48—the power of retort S—the striking pins are 48 —What d'ye lack, honoured sir 1—The quotient—tlie multiplicand —That the knaves should have gone out at this blessed minute ! — the acceleration being at die rate of 5 minutes, 55 seconds, BS thirds, 59 fourths—I will switch them both when they coine back—I will, by the bones of the immortal Napier !" Here the vexed philosopher was interrupted by the entrance of a grave citizen of a most respectable appearance, who, saluting him familiarly by the name "Davie, my old acquaintance," demanded what had put him so much out of sorts, and gave him at the same time a cordial grasp of his hand. The stranger's dress was, though grave, rather richer than usual. His paned hose were of black velvet, lined with purple gilk, which garniture appeared at the slashes. His doublet was of purple cloth, and his short cloak of black velvet to correspond with his hose ; and both were adorned with a great number of small silver...« less