Page:Guy Mannering Vol 1.djvu/80

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70
GUY MANNERING.

have no sort of occasion for any thing of the kind at present."

"Why, then, good morning to you, for business must be minded—unless ye'll go aboard and take schnaps—you shall have a pouch-full of tea ashore—Dirk Hatteraick knows how to be civil."

There was a mixture of impudence, hardihood, and suspicious fear about this man, which was inexpressibly disgusting. His manners were those of a ruffian, conscious of the suspicion attending his character, yet aiming to bear it down by the affectation of a careless and hardy familiarity. Mannering briefly rejected his proffered civilities; and, after a surly good morning, he retired with the gypsey to that part of the ruins from which he had first made his appearance. A very narrow staircase here descended to the beach, intended probably for the convenience of the garrison during a siege. By this stair, the couple, equally amiable in appearance, and respectable by profession, descended to the