Yet who, in Fortune's summer-shine,
To waste life's longest term away,
Would change that glorious dawn of thine,
Though darkened ere its noontide day?
Be thine the Tree whose dauntless boughs
Brave summer's drought and winter's gloom!
Rome bound with oak her patriots' brows,
As Albyn shadows Wogan's tomb.
Whatever might be the real merit of Flora Mac-Ivor's poetry,
the enthusiasm which it intimated was well calculated to make a
corresponding impression upon her lover. The lines were read--read
again--then deposited in Waverley's bosom--then again drawn out, and
read line by line, in a low and smothered voice, and with frequent
pauses which, prolonged the mental treat, as an epicure protracts, by
sipping slowly the enjoyment of a delicious beverage. The entrance
of Mrs. Cruickshanks, with the sublunary articles of dinner and wine,
hardly interrupted this pantomime of affectionate enthusiasm.
At length the tall, ungainly figure and ungracious visage of Ebenezer
presented themselves. The upper part of his form, notwithstanding the
season required no such defence, was shrouded in a large great-coat,
belted over his under habiliments, and crested with a huge cowl of
the same stuff, which, when drawn over the head and hat, completely
over-shadowed both, and being buttoned beneath the chin, was called a
TROT-COZY.
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