The Project Gutenberg EBook of Old Mortality, Illustrated, Volume 2.
by Sir Walter Scott

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Title: Old Mortality, Illustrated, Volume 2.

Author: Sir Walter Scott

Release Date: August 22, 2004 [EBook #6940]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD MORTALITY, ILLUSTRATED, ***

Produced by David Widger, with assistance from an etext produced by
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[Illustration: Bookcover]

[Illustration: Spines]

OLD MORTALITY

By Walter Scott

[Illustration: Titlepage]

VOLUME II.

CHAPTER I.

And look how many Grecian tents do stand
Hollow upon this plain--so many hollow factions.
Troilus and Cressida.

In a hollow of the hill, about a quarter of a mile from the field of
battle, was a shepherd's hut; a miserable cottage, which, as the only
enclosed spot within a moderate distance, the leaders of the presbyterian
army had chosen for their council-house. Towards this spot Burley guided
Morton, who was surprised, as he approached it, at the multifarious
confusion of sounds which issued from its precincts. The calm and anxious
gravity which it might be supposed would have presided in councils held
on such important subjects, and at a period so critical, seemed to have
given place to discord wild, and loud uproar, which fell on the ear of
their new ally as an evil augury of their future measures. As they
approached the door, they found it open indeed, but choked up with the
bodies and heads of countrymen, who, though no members of the council,
felt no scruple in intruding themselves upon deliberations in which they
were so deeply interested. By expostulation, by threats, and even by some
degree of violence, Burley, the sternness of whose character maintained a
sort of superiority over these disorderly forces, compelled the intruders
to retire, and, introducing Morton into the cottage, secured the door
behind them against impertinent curiosity. At a less agitating moment,
the young man might have been entertained with the singular scene of
which he now found himself an auditor and a spectator.

The pr