human
Gumblegumption, a minister, aged 50, indulged, close, sly, and so forth--Pooh! pooh!--He--He--I have him here--Heathercat; outlawed--a preacher--a zealous Cameronian--keeps a conventicle among the Campsie hills--Tush!--O, here is Headrigg--Cuthbert; his mother a bitter puritan--himself a simple fellow--like to be forward in action, but of no genius for plots--more for the hand than the head, and might be drawn to the right side, but for his attachment to --(Here Claverhouse looked at Morton, and then shut the book and changed his tone.)
gpt
Faithful and true are words never thrown away upon me, Mr Morton. You may depend on the young man's safety.
human
Does it not revolt a mind like yours, said Morton,
gpt
You do not suppose we take the trouble? said the General, haughtily.
human
The curates, for their own sakes, willingly collect all these materials for their own regulation in each parish; they know best the black sheep of the flock. I have had your picture for three years.
gpt
Indeed? replied Morton.
human
Will you favour me by imparting it?
gpt
Willingly, said Claverhouse;
human
Henry Morton, son of Silas Morton, Colonel of horse for the Scottish Parliament, nephew and apparent heir of Morton of Milnwood--imperfectly educated, but with spirit beyond his years--excellent at all exercises--indifferent to forms of religion, but seems to incline to the presbyterian--has high-flown and dangerous notions about liberty of thought and speech, and hovers between a latitudinarian and an enthusiast. Much admired and followed by the youth of his own age--modest, quiet, and unassuming in manner, but in his heart peculiarly bold and intractable. He is--Here follow three red crosses, Mr Morton, which signify triply dangerous. You see how important a person you are.--But what does this fellow want?
gpt
Here is an ally of yours deserted from you, or rather, I should say, an ally of your good friend Burley--Hear how he sets forth--'Dear Sir,' (I wonder when we were such intimates,) 'may it please your Excellency to accept my humble congratulations on the victory'--hum--hum--'blessed his Majesty's army. I pray you to understand I have my people under arms to take and intercept all fugitives, and have already several prisoners,' and so forth. Subscribed Basil Olifant--You know the fellow by name, I suppose?
human
A relative of Lady Margaret Bellenden, replied Morton,
gpt
Ay, replied Grahame,
human
He takes an ill mode of recommending himself, said Morton, suppressing his feelings,
gpt
O, this precious Basil will turn cat in pan with any man! replied Claverhouse.
human
He was displeased with the government, because they would not overturn in his favour a settlement of the late Earl of Torwood, by which his lordship gave his own estate to his own daughter; he was displeased with Lady Margaret, because she avowed no desire for his alliance, and with the pretty Edith, because she did not like his tall ungainly person. So he held a close correspondence with Burley, and raised his followers with the purpose of helping him, providing always he needed no help, that is, if you had beat us yesterday. And now the rascal pretends he was all the while proposing the King's service, and, for aught I know, the council will receive his pretext for current coin, for he knows how to make friends among them--and a dozen scores of poor vagabond fanatics will be shot, or hanged, while this cunning scoundrel lies hid under the double cloak of loyalty, well-lined with the fox-fur of hypocrisy.