Page:Guy Mannering Vol 1.djvu/91

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GUY MANNERING.
81

tlemen insensible to the grievances which occur at elections, quarter sessions, and meetings of trustees.

Curious to investigate the manners of the country, Mannering took the advantage of a pause in good Mr Bertram's string of stories, to enquire what Captain Hatteraick so earnestly wanted with the gypsey woman.

"O to bless his ship, I suppose—you must know, Mr Mannering, that these free-traders, whom the law calls smugglers, having no religion, make it all up in superstition, and they have as many spells, and charms, and nonsense"——

"Vanity and waur," said the Dominie, "it is a trafficking with the Evil One. Spells periapts, and charms, are of his device—choice arrows out of Apollyon's quiver."

"Hold your peace, Dominie—you're speaking for ever—(by the way it was the first words the poor man had uttered that morning, excepting that he said grace, and returned thanks) Mr Mannering can-