Waverley; Or, 'Tis Sixty Years Since

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1821. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX. More of the Manor House ana its Environs. After having satisfied his curiosity by gazing around him for a few minutes, Waverley applied himself to the massive knocker of the hall-door, the architrave of which bore the date 1594. But no answer was returned, though the peal resounded through a number of apartments, and was echoed from the court-yard walls without the house, startling the pigeons from the venerable rotunda which they occupied, and alarming anew even the distant village curs, which had retired to sleep upon their respective dunghills. Tired of the din which he created, and the unprofitable responses which it excited, Waverlejr began to think that he had reached the castle ot Orgoglio, which when entered by the victorious Prince Arthur, When 'gan he loudly through the house to call, But no man cared to answer to his cry, There reigned a solemn silence over all, Nor voice was heard, nor wight was seen in bower or hall. Filled almost with expectation of beholding some "old, old man, with beard as white as snow," whom he might question concerning this deserted mansion; our hero turned to a little oaken wicket-door, well clinched with iron nails, which opened in the courtyard wall at its angle with the house. It was only latched, notwithstanding its fortified appearance, and when opened, admitted him into the garden, which presented a pleasant scene. The southern side of the house, clothed ith fruit-trees, and having many evergreens trained upon its walls, extended its irregular yet venerable front, along a terrace, partly paved, partly gravelled, partly bordered with flowers and choice shrubs. This elevation descended by three several flights of steps, placed in its centre and at the extremities, into what might be called the garden proper, ...