punishable with death by our law. So there's baith law and gospel for
it. An his honour winna believe the Leviticus, he might aye believe
the Statute-book; but he may tak his ain way o't--it's a' ane to Duncan
Macwheeble. However, I shall send to ask up auld Janet this e'en; it 's
best no to lightly them that have that character--and we'll want Davie
to turn the spit, for I'll gar Eppie put down a fat goose to the fire
for your honours to your supper.'

When it was near sunset, Waverley hastened to the hut; and he could not
but allow that superstition had chosen no improper locality, or unfit
object, for the foundation of her fantastic terrors. It resembled
exactly the description of Spenser:

There, in a gloomy hollow glen, she found.
A little cottage built of sticks and reeds,
In homely wise, and wall'd with sods around,
In which a witch did dwell in loathly weeds,
And wilful want, all careless of her needs;
So choosing solitary to abide
Far from all neighbours, that her devilish deeds,
And hellish arts, from people she might hide,
And hurt far off, unknown, whomsoever she espied.

He entered the cottage with these verses in his memory. Poor old Janet,
bent double with age, and bleared with peat-smoke, was tottering about
the hut with a birch broom, muttering to herself as she endeavoured
to make her hearth and floor a little clean for the reception of her
expected guests. Waverley's step made her start, look up, and fall
a-trembling, so much had her nerves been on the rack for her patron's
safety. With difficulty Waverley made her comprehend that the Baron
was now safe from personal danger; and when her mind had admitted that
joyful news, it was equally hard to make her believe that he was not to
enter again upon possession of his estate. 'It behoved to be,' she said,
'he wad get it back again; naebody wad be sae gripple as to tak his gear
after they had gi'en him a pardon: and for that Inch-Grabbit, I could
whiles wish mysell a witch for his sake, if I werena feared the Enemy
wad tak me at my word.' Waverley then gave her some money, and promised
that her fidelity should be rewarded. 'How can I be rewarded, sir, sae
weel, as just to see my auld maister and Miss Rose come back and bruik
their ain?'

Waverley now took leave of Janet, and soon stood beneath the Baron's
Patmos. At a low whistle, he observed the veteran peeping out to
reconnoitre, like an old badger wit