I see before
me a long, tedious, and dark path, but it leads to stainless
reputation. If I die in the harrows, as is very likely, I shall
die with honour. If I achieve my task, I shall have the thanks of
all concerned, and the approbation of my own conscience." (19)
And then followed more articles, memoirs, and even sermons--'The
Fair Maid of Perth,' a completely revised edition of his novels,
'Anne of Geierstein,' and more 'Tales of a Grandfather'--until he
was suddenly struck down by paralysis. But he had no sooner
recovered sufficient strength to be able to hold a pen, than we
find him again at his desk writing the 'Letters on Demonology and
Witchcraft,' a volume of Scottish History for 'Lardner's
Cyclopaedia,' and a fourth series of 'Tales of a Grandfather' in
his French History. In vain his doctors told him to give up work;
he would not be dissuaded. "As for bidding me not work," he said
to Dr. Abercrombie, "Molly might just as well put the kettle on
the fire and say, 'Now, kettle, don't boil;'" to which he added,
"If I were to be idle I should go mad!"
By means of the profits realised by these tremendous efforts,
Scott saw his debts in course of rapid diminution, and he trusted
that, after a few more years' work, he would again be a free man.
But it was not to be. He went on turning out such works as his
'Count Robert of Paris' with greatly impaired skill, until he was
prostrated by another and severer attack of palsy.
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