The Novelist.

* * * * *

GUY MANNERING.

_By Sir Walter Scott, Bart._


[We quote the following Legend from the _New Edition_ of _Guy Mannering_,
with the Supplementary Notes by the distinguished author.]

The manner in which the novels were composed, cannot be better
illustrated, than by reciting the simple narrative on which _Guy
Mannering_ was originally founded; but to which, in the progress of
the work, the production ceased to bear any, even the most distant
resemblance. The tale was originally told me by an old servant of
my father's, an excellent old Highlander, without a fault, unless a
preference to mountain-dew, over less potent liquors be accounted one.
He believed as firmly in the story as in any part of his creed.

A grave and elderly person, according to old John MacKinlay's account,
while travelling in the wilder parts of Galloway, was benighted.
With difficulty he found his way to a country-seat, where, with the
hospitality of the time and country, he was readily admitted. The owner
of the house, a gentleman of good fortune, was much struck by the
reverend appearance of his guest, and apologised to him for a certain
degree of confusion which must unavoidably attend his reception, and
could not escape his eye. The lady of the house was, he said, confined
to her apartment, and on the point of making her husband a father for