The Waverley Novels

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 III. Nay, I'll hold touch?the game shall be play'd out, It ne'er shall stop for me, this merry wager: That which I say when gamesome, I'll avouch In my most sober mood, ne'er trust me else. The Hazard Table. And how doth your kinsman, good mine host? said Tressilian, when Giles Gosling first appeared in the public room, on the morning following the revel which we described in the last chapter. Is he well, and will he abide by his wager? For well, sir, he started two hours since, and has visited I know not what purlieus of his old companions; hath but now returned, and is at this instant breakfasting on new-laid eggs and muscadine; and for his wager, I caution you as a friend to have little to do with that, or indeed with aught that Mike proposes. Wherefore, I counsel you to a warm- breakfast upon a culiss, which shall restore the tone of the stomach; and let my nephew and Master Goldthred swagger about their wager as they list. It seems to me, mine host, said Tressilian, that you know not well what to say about this kinsman of yours; and that you can neither blame nor commend him without some twinge of conscience. You have spoken truly, Master Tressilian, replied Giles Gosling. There is Natural Affection whimpering into one ear, ' Giles, Giles, why wilt thou take away the good name of thy own nephew ? Wilt thou defame thy sister's son, Giles Gosling ? wilt thou defoul thine own nest, dishonour thine own hlood ?' And then, again, comes Justice, and says, ' Here is a worthy guest as ever came to the bonny Black Bear; one who never challenged a reckoning, ' (as I say to your face you never did, Master Tressilian?not that you have had cause, ) ' one who knows not why he came, so far as I can see, or when he is going away; and wilt thou, bei...