intrusive, but withal showing only the formality of manner, by no
means that of awkwardness; a countenance, the expressive and
somewhat comic features of which were in complete repose--all
showed a being perfectly different from the choice spirit of the
evening before. A glance of shrewd and piercing fire in his eye
was the only marked expression which recalled the man of 'Saturday
at e'en.'

'I am come,' said he, with a very polite address, 'to use my regal
authority in your behalf in spirituals as well as temporals; can I
accompany you to the Presbyterian kirk, or Episcopal meeting-
house? Tros Tyriusve, a lawyer, you know, is of both religions, or
rather I should say of both forms;--or can I assist in passing the
fore-noon otherwise? You'll excuse my old-fashioned importunity, I
was born in a time when a Scotchman was thought inhospitable if he
left a guest alone a moment, except when he slept; but I trust you
will tell me at once if I intrude.'

'Not at all, my dear sir,' answered Colonel Mannering. 'I am
delighted to put myself under your pilotage. I should wish much to
hear some of your Scottish preachers whose talents have done such
honour to your country--your Blair, your Robertson, or your Henry;
and I embrace your kind offer with all my heart. Only,' drawing
the lawyer a little aside, and turning his eye towards Sampson,
'my worthy friend there in the reverie is a little helpless and
abstracted, and my servant, Barnes, who is his pilot in ordinary,
cannot well assist him here, especially as he has expressed his
determination of going to some of your darker and more remote
places of worship.'