wives are wittily warned against sitting by husbands, and two gentlemen are facetiously interdicted from sitting together; the hostess takes the top of the table to be useful, not ornamental, for fish and joint and turkey, must she carve; while her husband, at the other end of the mahogany, must equally make a toil of a pleasure, and yet smile as if it were a pleasure to toil!  The beasts of the earth and the birds of the air appear upon the board, scorning disguise, in their own proper forms, just as they stepped out of Noah’s ark, always excepting those who are too unwieldy to be present in whole skins; and even they send their joints to table in horrid unsophistication; Sweets follow, but how unlike the souffles of Ude!  Grim green gooseberries, lurking under their heavy coverings of crust; and custards, the plain produce of the dairy, embittered with bay leaves, cinnamon, and cloves!  Cheese follows, with the alternatives of port wine and porter; and all this weary time the servants have been knocking your head about, thumbing your plate, or pouring lobster sauce into your pockets!—­Sharpe’s Mag.

* * * * *

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 the first time, though they had been ten years married.  At such an emergency, the laird said he feared his guest might meet with some apparent neglect.  “Not so, sir,” said the stranger; “my wants are few, and easily supplied; and I trust the present circumstances may even afford an opportunity of showing my gratitude for your hospitality.